Things To Do In London This Weekend July 14 - 16
Well hello there, weekend. You're looking mighty fine
FESTIVAL: Lovebox
It's back: Victoria Park's annual two-day trip into beats-fuelled, hard-partying festival fun. And with Chase & Status, Jamie xx, Solange and Kano all on the bill, not to mention DJ sets by Seth Troxler, Andy C and Jamie Jones, festival-chic shopping aplenty and – by crikey – a Hip Hop Karaoke Camp, this year's 'Box sure does have a lot to Love.
14-15 Jul; from £72.25
Lovebox, Victoria Park, Grove Road, London, E3 5TB
ART: Soul of a Nation
Tate Modern's new blockbuster might just be its most inspiring yet – focusing, as it does, on black activist artists working in the turbulent era between 1963 and 1983. It was a time when Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Black Power rallies strived to change the white-dominated world – while artists including Elizabeth Catlett, Barkley L Hendricks and Emory Douglas strived to change the white-dominated art world. In a time of political upheaval and the Black Lives Matter campaign, their works feel every bit as relevant and powerful today. Go see for yourself.
Until 22 Oct; £16.50
Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
POP-UP: Big Screen on the Beach
Sure, it would be all right watching this weekend's Wimbledon finals on Centre Court. But there are two major drawbacks with this plan: 1. You don't have a hope in hell of getting a ticket, unless you actually are Kate, Wills, or possibly Cliff Richard. And 2. Even if you DID get in, Centre Court can't offer deckchairs, sand between your toes and a beachside bar, can it? Huh, huh? Happily, somewhere that CAN provide all these things is Camden Beach, along with street food, cool tunes and a carnival atmosphere at this weekend's free, unticketed screenings of all the on-court action. Ace.
15-16 July; free
Big Screen on the Beach, Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH
FOOD: Gabeto
Quick Spanish lesson: 'Gabeto' is a friendly term for 'our house'. Quick Camden-ese lesson: 'Gabeto' is a friendly term for 'super-stylish new all-day cocktail bar and restaurant in Stables Market, with a chic terrace, on-point music policy, and British-Latin fusion menu of tacos and small plates created by a former Chiltern Firehouse chef'. Don't tell us that we never teach you anything.
Gabeto, Camden Market, entry via Stables Gate, Chalk Farm Rd, Camden, London NW1 8AH
FESTIVAL: Citadel
There's only one thing better than a festival: TWO festivals. So it's straight back to Victoria Park we go for this rather fabulous Sunday shindig, which has an altogether more lo-fi, folksier vibe. Music comes from the mighty Foals in their only UK festival appearance, plus Bonobo live, Wild Beasts, Laura Marling and Michael Kiwanuka. Food-wise you're in for London's best street eats (Patty & Bun, Bubbledogs, Anna Mae's Crabbieshack), while hydration comes from The Rioja Terrace and Fever Tree's Ultimate Gin Bar. Still not convinced? We'll leave you with the following thought: there's a SPANDEX STAGE. Yes.
16 July; £55.25
Citadel, Victoria Park, Grove Road, London, E3 5TB
ART: Ultimate Angels
Back in the 80s many of Paris' transgender community lived in squalor in Pigalle, funding their surgery through sex work and becoming something of a tourist side show. British photographer Bryon Newman spent months documenting their lives and shooting them as Playboy centrefolds. This new exhibition showcases his work alongside paintings by Aphrodite Papadatou (above), who has spent the past five years collaborating with and painting ELLE's favourite drag act (and stars of the ELLE Style Awards 2017 ), Sink the Pink.
Ultimate Angels, Herrick Gallery, 93 Piccadilly. W1J 7NQ. From July 14 - July 23rd
DRINK: Virtual Reality Champagne Tasting
Now what, you may wonder, is virtual-reality champagne tasting, and how could it possibly improve upon reality-reality champagne tasting? Valid queries, we agree – but wait until you get a load of this. On Friday, the UK's best-selling bubbly brand Nicolas Feuillatte is offering you the chance not only to drink, but to STEP RIGHT INSIDE your champagne bottle, immersing yourself in a multi-sensory world via the wonders of virtual reality. Yup, pop on a headset and find yourself within four fizz-filled scenes, each designed the match the flavour and style of NF's top varieties, before sampling the goods in the real world at the chic champagne bar. The future is here.
14 July; £20
FUN: The Hot Tug
Stop everything! Take out your diary, clear whatever was in there and replace it with 'rent a hot tug'. That's right: a HOT TUG. A mash-up between a hot tub and a tug-boat ride has now come into existence, and it's happening along the Regent's Canal – involving an electric-powered, self-drive, wood-fired jacuzzi that you can ride in down the waterways for a whole 90 minutes. Better yet, you can take your own drinks to store in the ice-bucket, AND you can even rent a sailor's hat. Because obviously one can't drive a motorised hot tub without one of those.
Now open; £220 for 90 minutes, max 7 people
The Hot Tug, 16-35 Graham St, Islington, London N1 8JX
DRINK: Bulldog Gin x Pikes Brunch
Love gin? Course you do. Can't get enough of Ibiza? But of course. Even if you've never been to the White Isle, this new series of pop ups is bringing all the hedonistic fun straight to your door. Pikes is a 100-year-old Ibiza institution and, as one of the most famous hotels, also hosts some of the best parties. So it makes sense they've teamed up with gin brand Bulldog to throw three brunch aka parties in three different locations across London. The first will be tomorrow on15 July, on the roof of Sisu (Oxford Street), but if that's too soon the next two installments are yet to be announced.
All summer, £35
Bulldog Gin x Pikes Brunch, select London locations
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