By Charlotte Cox
Soul food, chic shows and more Manhattans than you can shake a mixer at. Your social schedule just got busier…
NIGHTLIFE: Ministry of Sound’s 24th Birthday
So how does an internationally renowned superclub celebrate a birthday? Not with a Victoria sponge and party blowers, we can tell you. Nope, they’ve planned something far cooler – a night of achingly hip house and tech DJs, including Derrick May, Detroit DJ, Lee Curtiss and Jimpster. Plus, we’re promised two truly ‘special guests’. And the best news of all? You’re invited.
19 Sept; £20 103 Gaunt Street, Elephant & Castle SE1 6DP ministryofsound.com
DRINK: Manhattans Project at POND Dalston
Take a cool warehouse bar in a cool east London locale, add in a super-cool cocktail pop-up and what do you get? Possibly hypothermia. But it’s well worth the risk at this, the latest residency by the Manhattans Project. There are classic cocktails done right (Mai Tai with eight rums; Manhattan with Rittenhouse whiskey), classic cocktails done wrong (check out the Monthly Old Fashioned with seasonal fruit syrups) and new ones entirely on us (Chartreuse hot chocolate, anyone?). Oh, and a mix of premium spirits served in a glass eagle. As the menu says: ‘You’ve not drunk alcohol until you’ve drunk it from a massive glass eagle.’
Until the end of Nov. Stamford Works, 3 Gillett Street, Dalston N16 8JH, manhattansproject.com
FILM: Hot Tub Cinema
Watching movies at the cinema is good. On the sofa, also not a bad option. But in a hot tub? Now you’re talking. Especially when those movies are classics such as Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids and Back To The Future, the hot tub is under the stars on a London Fields terrace, and there are waiters to take care of your every refreshment need. Sure, this will ruin the multiplex for you for evermore; but it’ll be oh so worth it.
17-27 Sept; from £24 Space Courtyard, 18 Warburton Road, Hackney, E8 3RT, hottubcinema.com
COMEDY: Greenwich Comedy Festival
Knock knock, who’s there? A big-top-full of big-name comedians, that’s who – including Jerry Sadowitz, Reginald D Hunter, Ed Byrne, Adam Buxton, Bridget Christie (pictured) and Sara Pascoe, to name a few. There’s no punchline to that, by the way – if it’s punchlines you want, we suggest you get down to Greenwich for this five-day stand-up fest, where you’ll also find street eats, bars and all sorts of chuckle-inducing action. Ho ho.
16-20 Sept; from £15 National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 9NF greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk
EVENT: London Fashion Week comes to Carnaby
Front row ticket to LFW get lost in the post? No matter. Because this year, shows by the likes of Gareth Pugh, Peter Pilotto, Sibling and Marques’Almeida are being beamed live to a giant screen on Carnaby Street, meaning you’ll clap eyes on the coolest new collections at the same time as the fashion eds and FROW-ers. Plus, you’ll be able to catch LFW highlights between shows, take advantage of special offers at stores including Cheap Monday, AQ/AQ and Lazy Oaf, and knock back a Louboutin Cocktail at Whyte & Brown while you’re at it. How fabulous, dahling.
18-22 Sept; free Carnaby Street W1F 9PB, carnaby.co.uk
POP-UP: The Bayou Banquet
Word association time: we say New Orleans, you say… Jazz? Blues? Soul food? You’d be right on all counts. But here’s a word you might not expect: Waterloo. Because for the next two weeks, foodie collective Slap Ya Papa are bringing a little piece of Louisiana right to SE1, taking over subterranean venue The Vaults for a series of immersive supper clubs, jumpin’ live music and interactive art exhibitions. Highlights include Deep South menus from Michelin-trained chefs, performances from festival faves Riot Jazz and arty bargains at the Bizarre Bazaar. Let the good times roll, indeed.
16-27 Sept; prices vary Leake Street, London SE1 7NN, the-vaults.org
EXHIBITION: Louis Vuitton Series 3
Ah, the creative process. A mystery to all but the genius designers at the heads of major fashion houses… But not any more. Because at this new exhibition at the Strand, LV invites you on an immersive, hi-tech tour through Nicolas Ghesquière’s inspirations for the a/w 2015 collection, featuring 3D-printed mannequins, LED trunks and even a ‘rain of light’ to represent needles (obviously). With 13 rooms and even an on-site atelier creating the brand’s famous micro trunks, we can guarantee you two things: 1. You’ll be fascinated; and 2. You’ll want to shop the collection. BADLY.
21 Sept-18 Oct; free 180 Strand WC2R 1EA, uk.louisvuitton.com
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