Things To Do In London: June 30 - July 2
One weekend of awesome, coming right up
FOOD: Vauxhall Street Food Garden
We've had street food in warehouses, street food on top of car parks and street food on pop-up beaches. You might struggle to remember when you last ate street food in a street. But let's not get pedantic folks, because here's a chance to eat street food in a garden. And instead of boring old begonias, in this garden in Vauxhall you'll find eats from the likes of City Burger, MacStreetBoys, Zoe's Ghana Kitchen and Don Donburi, beats from top DJs and drinks from the Smirnoff bar and Red Bull Lodge. Horticulture for the hungry, if you will.
1-2 Jul; free
Vauxhall Street Food Garden, 6A S Lambeth Pl, SW8 1SP
ART: Fashion Illustration Gallery's Art Fair
Now, we never need any persuasion to head to The Shop at Bluebird. But this weekend, rather than the usual running down of our bank balance, we'll be able to brush UP on our art appreciation instead. Because for three days, the designer boutique will be hosting Fashion Illustration Gallery's Art Fair, bringing together gorgeous works by the likes of Gill Button, Rosie McGuinness, Luke Edward Hall, David Downton and Richard Haines, as well as exciting up-and-comers. There'll also be talks, opportunities to meet artists and collectors… and, of course, the chance to shop for a mini masterpiece of your own at entry-level prices. We KNEW we couldn't leave there without buying anything.
30 June-2 July
The Shop at Bluebird, 350 King's Road, Chelsea, SW3 5UU
POP-UP: Fiz Sparkling Wine Bar
There's only one thing we love more than a back-street Barcelona cava bar: a back-street Barcelona cava bar that's ACTUALLY in Soho. And the good news is, such a bar has just come into existence at neon-art gallery Lights of Soho. As well as Spanish cavas, Fiz is also serving up Italian prosecco, English sparkling wines, Austrian sekts, bubbles from Brazil, semi-sparkling vinho verde from Portugal, and even sparkling reds. Basically, if it's got bubbles, it's bang on the menu. Plus there's Spanish bocadillo-style buns, summery tapas and a bottomless brunch for just £22. We'll drink to that…
Until late August
Fizbar, Lights of Soho, 35 Brewer Street, Soho, W1F 0RX
FOOD: Wimbledon in Hoxton
The best things in life are free, so Janet Jackson told us in the 90s. But we're afraid we're going to have to take issue with that, Jazza: actually, the best things in life are not only free, but also covered in cream. Which brings us to the Wimbledon-themed goings-on at Hoxton bars The Book Club, The Queen of Hoxton and Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen (pictured). Because when you watch The Championships screened live at the any of those venues and order a jug of Pimm's or a Wimbledon-themed cocktail, you'll receive a bowl of strawberries and cream for FREE. That's right: gratis, complimentary, for NADA. Which is, to use the tennis lingo, rather ace.
3-16 July
The Book Club; 100-106 Leonard St, EC2A 4RH
The Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Rd, EC2A 3JX
Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, 2-4 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU
NIGHTLIFE: Glitterbox London: Music is the Answer
The prospect of a Glitterbox night is usually excitement enough (confetti cannons! Sequins! Acrobats! More confetti cannons!). But on top of all those things, THIS Glitterbox night also involves headline sets from dance music royalty Jellybean Benitez and Ralphi Rosario. And on top of THAT, it includes appearances from The Shapeshifters (all together now: 'I'm a different person, turn my world around') and – wait for it – Crystal Waters. That's right: of Gypsy Woman fame. La da dee da la, la da dee da la… Go, get shiny and very, very silly.
1 July; £26
Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt St, SE1 6DP
DRINK: Rum Festival at The Jam Tree
It's a festival. OF RUM. Which, let's face it, has probably sold you already on this month-long shindig at The Jam Tree in Clapham and Chelsea. However, sticklers for detail that we are, we feel it's worth specifying that it'll involve speciality cocktails and punch bowls, a rum-soaked Caribbean BBQ menu, tastings, masterclasses and – rather marvellously – Mojito Mondays, when classic, jammy and royale mojitos will come free with every meal. It all kicks off this Saturday with a live steel-drum-sound-tracked brunch in the gardens. Sure to get you into the spirit, in more ways than one.
1-31 July
The Jam Tree Chelsea, 541 King's Road, London, SW6 2EB; The Jam Tree Clapham, 13-19 Old Town, London SW4 0JT
CULTURE: Gurls Talk
On 1 July, Gurls Talk will be hosting its first day-long festival of female empowerment, focussed on offering girls a safe and inspiring environment to be heard and to listen. The programme will kick off with a talk by Gurls Talk founder and model-activist Adwoa Aboah, followed by an action-packed day of talks, workshops and pop-ups.
With speakers such as 2016 ELLE September cover star activist, actress and model Hari Nef, intersex advocate and model Hanne Gaby Odiele, feminist columnist and author Laurie Penny, and Professor KM Abel scheduled to attend, there's no doubt in our mind you'll come out of the event feeling inspired. There will also be a range of workshops focussing on movement and mindfulness, as a well as a Coach Dream Station and a photo studio.
180 The Strand, London WC2R 1EA; 12:00pm-6:00pm; Free Admission. RSVP to rsvp@gurlstalk.com
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