Words: Charlotte Cox
INTRO: What’s that, you’ve got a quiet weekend ahead? Not any more you don’t
EVENT: Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair
Fact: there's no better feeling than giving the answer, 'Oh this? It's vintage, darling'. (It really doesn't matter what question you've been asked.) And it's with that in mind that you should get down to Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair’s Christmas Special this Sunday. Recently voted London's best vintage event, not only is it a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind gifts, but there's a tea room, nail bar and alterations service. And, of course, the chance to shop for unique dresses, ready for all those party-season 'ooh, where's that from?' moments. You know what the answer will be. Oh yeah. 1pm-5pm, 29 Nov; £4 The Old Finsbury Town Hall, Rosebery Avenue EC1R 4RP, clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk
FOOD: Jingle Bells Weekend Brunch
If there’s one thing we love better than shopping, it’s Christmas shopping (guilt-free, you see). And if there’s one thing we love better than Christmas shopping, it’s Christmas shopping with BRUNCH. Which brings us nicely to this festive team-up from 34 Mayfair and Georg Jensen. So this is how it goes: first, sample a lavish Scandi-themed brunch at 34, featuring eggs-all-ways, lobster mac and truffles and champagne galore. Next, pop over to Danish design house Georg Jensen’s new Mount Street boutique, pick up a free Christmas collectible, and browse for gorgeous gifts for the budding interior designer in your life. Last, go home feeling VERY smug indeed. Perfect. 28-29 Nov 34, 34 Grosvenor Square W1K 2HD, 34-restaurant.co.uk
DRINK: Wine Car Boot
A car boot sale. With wine. Sounds like a most excellent idea, you’ll agree. And that’s before we get to the detail: these car boots belong to London’s best independent wine shops, who each fill them with five of their favourite wines to taste, buy or take home. When we say ‘best’ wine shops, we’re not kidding – Berry Bros & Rudd, Borough Wines and Vinoteca are just a few of the grape and the good (sorry) involved. Throw in street food, music and the fact that your ticket price covers your first five samples, and you have the perfect day out whether you’re a first-time wino or a seasoned session drinker. Guess which we are… 27-28 Nov; £12 West Hand Side Canopy, Granary Square, King’s Cross N1C 4AA, winecarboot.com
ART: God’s Own Junkyard – My Generation
Want to know what’s better than seeing your name up in lights? Seeing a bunch of other stuff in lights. More specifically, pieces by neon artists God’s Own Junkyard. Inspired by the work of late founder Chris Bracey, who started out making signs for Soho sex clubs, his wife Linda and son Marcus are among the artists showing off (literally) dazzling works at this (literally) illuminating new show. Sometimes kitsch, sometimes seedy, always downright cool – this will light up your weekend in more ways than one. Opens 26 Nov; free 35 Brewer Street, Soho W1F 0RX, lightsofsoho.com
DRINK: NT’s
As the old saying (nearly) goes, ‘what pops up, must pop down’. And so it always has been with street-food event par excellence, Night Tales. But no longer! Because this new opening is here to stay – with bricks and mortar and everything. Introducing NT’s, their new permanent cocktail bar in London Fields. And it’s no less cool than you’d expect: hidden in a 1960s building, accessed by buzzer (it’s 207 you’re after), the space is huge, open-plan and decked out like a 90s New York loft. Massive windows offer the best views over the city, street-food faves Morty & Bob’s serve up their signature grilled cheese… and then there’s the fact that NT’s has the biggest back-bar selection of spirits in east London. Good job it’s not going anywhere, so you can work your way through them all, eh? Netil House 207, 1 Westgate Street E8 3RL, ntbar.co.uk
FOOD: Mildred’s Camden
For anyone who’s vegan or veggie (or, in fact, a carnivore who just loves delicious food), we have three pieces of good – nay, potentially life-changing – information. 1. Legendary Soho vegetarian restaurant Mildred’s, purveyor of dreamy Sri Lankan sweet potato curries, oh-so-tasty risotto cakes and the kind of salads Ottolenghi can only wish he’d thought up first, has opened a second location. 2. It’s right near Camden High Street, meaning never again shall you have to resort to those mystery fried Chinese balls from the market. And 3. Until 30 November (Monday), there’s 50% off your food bill. There: life changed. For this weekend at least. 9 Jamestown Road, Camden NW1 7BW, mildreds.co.uk
EVENT
Live music, discount shopping, Elle’s Market Editor, Harriet Stewart, waxing lyrical on all the latest trends, plus a whopping 20% off the bill in gourmet restaurants like the brilliant Marcus Wareing's Tredwell's? Yes, we thought you'd like that – so we're telling you early so you can make sure you get down to Seven Dials on Thursday Dec 3.
Dec 3, free, 5pm – 8pm, Seven Dials
FILM: Carol
When you hear a film features ‘a career-best performance’, it can be easy to just write it off as hype. But when that career belongs to one Cate Blanchett, you sit up and take notice. Here, she stars in the title role as Carol, a middle-class 1950s woman whose marriage is crumbling. When she is served by pretty shopgirl Therese (Rooney Mara), so begins a sensuous, slow-burning love affair at a time when being gay was so disapproved of, it was branded a mental disorder. Beautifully shot, full of mesmeric period detail and featuring THAT performance from Cate Blanchett (anyone hear an Oscar envelope opening?), this is essential viewing. Out 27 Nov; cinemas nationwide
FILM: Backyard Cinema’s Winter Night Garden
Reckon that Winterville, the Victoria Park shindig featuring yuletide markets, ice rinks and pantos, couldn’t get any more festive? Well, venture through a wardrobe in the Woodland Bar, follow a secret tunnel of trees and, behold! Things just went and got off-the-charts Christmassy. Because immersive cinema specialists Backyard Cinema have conjured up a ‘magic woodland’ (well, it’s indoor, heated and has access to mulled wine, which is plenty magic enough for us). There, you can watch your favourite Christmas movie – from Frozen to Elf to Home Alone – surrounded by flickering glow worms, woodland locals and wintery street-food stalls. Yes. 26 Nov-23 Dec; from £8 Winterville, Victoria Park, Grove Road E3 5TB, backyardcinema.co.uk
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