Things To Do In London This Weekend: Nov 2 -4
Because your weekend deserves better than a box set
EVENT: Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival
Remember, remember… the 2nd and 3rd of November, as the song shall henceforth run. Because the 5th is officially OVER. You see, not content with a mere fireworks night, the fine folks of Ally Pally are going a step further and throwing a fireworks festival in the days before. Which is excellent news because, as well as the usual ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ inducing explodiness and a huge bonfire, we’re also in for an awe-inspiring laser show, a high-flying performance by Cirque Bijou, the UK’s largest German bier festival AND a special DJ set on Friday night from the legendary Norman Jay MBE. Bangin’, then, in more ways than one.
2-3 Nov; £12
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
SHOPPING: Coal Drops Yard Opening Weekender
Holy. Moly. We think we've found our new spiritual home. If not our new ACTUAL home: we may never leave new King's Cross shopping district Coal Drops Yard. Because as well looking as edgy-chic as only a Victorian coal depot revamped by architects du jour Heatherwick Studio could, this place doesn't have your average line-up of stores, oh no. Instead we're in for concept boutiques from the likes of Wolf & Badger, The Sports Edit, Cubitt's, Ally Capellino, Maya Magal and Universal Works, pop-ups from Christopher Raeburn and Stockholm design brand Hem, and restaurants such as Barrafina and Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse. AND as if that wasn't enough, this weekend there are street parties, DJ sets, workshops and all manner of special offers... Excuse us while we set up camp.
2-4 Nov; free
Coals Drops Yard, Stable Street, N1C 4AB
FOOD: The Meet
Are you ready to play 'hip new food market bingo'? Well, new Clapham pop-up The Meet has an industrial railway-arch backdrop (tick), has a menu featuring posh burgers (tick), jerk and Mexican-influenced sharing plates (tick) and a bottomless brunch (double tick), plus it has a craft-beer and specialist seasonal cocktail list from the team behind Fu Manchu (triple tick). And one more thing for the win: the WHOLE THING IS VEGAN. And that's a full hipster house.
Opens 2 Nov
The Meet, Fu Manchu, 15-16 Lendal Terrace, Clapham, SW4 7UX
EXHIBITION: Good Grief, Charlie Brown!
We all know that Peanuts is cute. But did you know that Charlie Brown, Woodstock and co also do a fine line in razor-sharp, forward-thinking and at times incendiary political thinking? No? Well, get to this new exhibition at Somerset House and behold: Snoopy the social commentator. Featuring original strips rarely seen in the UK or Europe, you can expect themes including faith, existentialism, race, war, feminism, anxiety, depression, alienation… the human condition, all bundled up in neat, chuckle-inducing little panels.
Until 3 Mar; £14
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
POP-UP: Curl Runnings
http://www.roofeast.comAs mash-ups go, a Jamaican-themed-curling-rooftop-bar isn’t among the more obvious. But logic be damned! We’re on board – on-bobsleigh, rather – with Roof East’s latest pop-up. As well as the return of Sliders curling lanes (which have had a neon makeover, natch), you can expect a steel-pan band, ‘festive-Jamaican cocktails’ (go with it) and, most importantly, bobsleighs, ready for feeling the rhythm, feeling the rhyme etc. Go on, grab your lucky egg and get involved – ’90s kids, you know what we’re talking about.
Until 22 Dec; free
Roof East, Level 8, Stratford Multistorey Car Park, Great Eastern Way, E15 1XE
DRINK: Heads + Tails
Nope, not a coin-tossing fanclub, nor a restaurant with a decidedly experimental approach to meat. In fact, Heads + Tails is an uber-cool new bar – or bars, plural, more accurately – with a contrasting light/dark, ying/yang concept. Set in West Hampstead and founded by a team with the likes of Wax Jumbu and Disrepute on their cocktail-soaked CVs, upstairs you’ll find the bright, airy Heads serving light concoctions including The Dove (pisco, jasmine cordial, sparkling wine) and the West End Spritz classic aperitivo. Go downstairs, however, and you'll find Tails, a dark, moody speakeasy serving Old Fashioneds, cognac and rum. How to decide which to visit first? Well, you could always flip for it...
Opens 2 Nov
Heads + Tails, 175 West End Lane, NW6 2LH
TO BOOK: Lost + Found
OK, we know what the title of this column is - and that this isn’t strictly a thing to do THIS weekend. Or even in London, to be fair. But what better way to spend a cold November day than planning a sun-soaked Mediterranean festival at an early-bird price? Exactly. On sale this weekend is Annie Mac’s Lost + Found, returning to Malta for a fifth beat-laden year next May. This shindig is known for its seriously cool music policy and 2019 is true to form, with DnB pioneers Chase & Status, underground icon The Black Madonna and the Givenchy-approved Martinez Brothers already on the bill. It's also worth pointing out that almost half the selectors announced so far are female, what with the likes of Heidi, Peggy Gou, Honey Dijon and Moxie... Throw in a beachside setting, pool parties, boat trips and - whisper it - a castle rave, and BOOM. You have yourself an awesome Thing To Do in Malta next bank holiday weekend.
2-6 May; tickets go on sale 2 Nov for £109, or £32 deposit then monthly instalments
Lost + Found, St Paul's Bay, Malta
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