Words Charlotte Cox
Oh hello there, weekend, we’ve been expecting you. That’s why we’ve lined up the finest in beats, eats and designer treats – not to mention a cultural icon or two
FOOD: The Blindfold Dinner
Whether you fancy a more mysterious kind of supper club,enjoy testing your fork-to-mouth accuracy skills, or just don't like the look of your dinner date (damn you, Tinder) – this is the pop-up for you. Because, yes, here you eat blindfolded. The idea is that by losing one sense you heighten the others, making chef Chris Jordan’s delicious seasonal dishes extra- delicious. Word to the wise, though: this is neither the time nor place for that new white shirt…
Saturdays in July; £38.50 for three courses Three Little Birds, 59 Mount Pleasant, WC1X 0AY grubclub.com/the-blindfold-dinner
SHOPPING: Designer Sales UK’s Super Summer Sample Sale
Bet we can make you happy with one little sentence: ‘Designer buys, up to 90% off’. See? And if you’re cheerful now, you’ll be positively delirious if you head down to this bumper sale, bringing together names including See by Chloé, Valentino, Marc Jacobs and Moschino, all at whopping discounts. With prices as low as £10, shop along and you’ll feel like a room without a roof.
4 July, 12pm-7pm; entry £2 Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, Chelsea SW3 5EE designersales.co.uk
DRINK: Flamingo Pier at Counter Café
You may have noticed that outside it is quite sunny. Hotter than Thailand, in fact (oh yeah). So what better way to celebrate than at a pop-up party on a floating pontoon, complete with disco and house DJs, street food, craft beer and a new tropical theme each week? Spoiler alert: there is no better way. You can keep Thailand – we’re off to Ko Pha Hackney.
From 3 July; £10 Counter Café, 7 Roach Road, Hackney Wick E3 2PA flamingopier.net
MUSIC: Blissfields Festival
Important things to know about Blissfields: 1. It may be small, just 4,000 people in fact, but it books BIG names – this year's line-up includes The Horrors, Simian Mobile Disco, DJ Yoda and Grandmaster Flash. 2. You can roll up and buy tickets on the day, which means you can make the most of those last-minute, heat-wave-inspired festival cravings. And 3. It's promising fields full of bliss, people. Bliss! See you in Winchester.
3-4 July; from £53.45 Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 3BL Blissfields.co.uk
FOOD: Balls & Company
In the interests of good taste, we shall be refraining from 'balls' jokes during this preview. We're better than that. And so is this brand-new Soho restaurant, where the chef (a former Masterchef Australia finalist), sure does have... Bravery. Because they're dedicating their WHOLE menu to gourmet meatballs. Options include Wagyu beef, chicken with thyme, lemon and Dijon and pork, ricotta and parmesan, all in pleasing spherical shapes. What a load of...
Open now 58 Greek Street, Soho W1D 3DY Ballsandcompany.london
EXHIBITION: Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon
The word 'icon' is thrown around a lot these days. But we're talking major league here. We're talking Audrey Hepburn, who taught the world the joys of large sunglasses, pioneered the pixie crop and defined the word ‘waif’ way before Kate Moss was even a twinkle in a talent scout’s eye. And here’s a chance to bask in the sheer stylishness of the woman at this gorgeous new exhibition, which brings together her most famous shots along with rare and intimate family photos. Very special indeed.
2 July-18 October; £9 National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0H
FILM: Amy
On the subject of icons, here comes another. Talented and tragic, Amy Winehouse became the most famous singer of a generation, whose meteoric rise to fame was matched only by her heartbreaking fall. But there is far more to the story – as documentary film-maker Asif Kapadia (of Senna fame) discovers. Weaving together unseen footage and candid interviews with family, friends and colleagues including Mark Ronson and her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, this unmissable portrait is by turns harrowing, humorous, poignant and utterly compelling.
Out 3 July in cinemas nationwide
The Magic Of Marseille
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A First-Timers Guide To Visiting Jamaica
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