Things To Do In London This Weekend: 6-8 Oct
It's ALL going on in London this weekend. No exaggeration
ART: Frieze London
What is art? Tough question, and one you may have spent hours stroking your chin over at A-level. Much easier to answer is: WHERE is art? Because this weekend, it's at Regent's Park. Returning for its 15th year, Frieze London gathers together over 160 of the biggest, best and most boundary-pushing galleries into a big fancy tent, letting you see all that's causing a stir in sculpture, painting and installations. Frieze Projects is where you'll find the emerging Next Big Things, while at Frieze Masters you can check out everything from ancient artefacts to Picasso. Grab a glass of fizz, furrow your brow and people-watch – that, at least, we have down to a fine art.
5-8 Oct; from £27.95
Frieze and Frieze Masters, Regent's Park, NW1 4NR
ART: The Other Art Fair
The trouble with Frieze is that it triggers art-appreciation addiction. We need even edgier pieces! By even more exciting artists! NOW! Thank goodness, then, we can get our next fix right away at this alternative showcase of 130 emerging artists at The Old Truman Brewery. From Dex X's maps made into art, to the gorgeous graphics of Lene Bladjberg and the intricate 3D 'book sculptures' of Alexander Korzer-Robinson, it's four days of nothing but the most cutting edge on the scene. Just don't ask what we'll do afterwards *shakes from art withdrawal*
5-8 Oct; from £6.60
The Other Art Fair, Old Truman Brewery, Hanbury Street, E1 6QR
DRINK: London Cocktail Week
It's the most wonderful week of the year… A time when you can swap Yorkshire Tea for Long Island Ice Tea, green juices for Grand Marnier and water for, well, ANYTHING. Yep, London Cocktail Week is back, bringing us seven magical days where our £10 pass entitles us to bargain £6 cocktails at 250 of the city's top bars (that's right: 250), plus entry to the Old Spitalfields Market cocktail village. And for the first time, this year's passes are downloaded on to your smartphone, meaning no wristbands, no queues – and more drinking time. Ain't technology grand?
Check out The Belvedere Single Estate Rooms, done up like a woodland glade, where tickets get you four complimentary cocktails, canapes, tasting of the new 100% rye vodkas, and entry to the private bar.
Tickets £30. Friday 6th October, sessions at 6.30-7.30pm and 8.00 – 9.00pm
The Estate Rooms Private Bar remains open until 11pm
The Estate Rooms, Motel Studios, Arch 407 & 408, Long Street, London E2 8HG
London Cocktail Week, Spitalfields, London E1 6EW; plus bars citywide
Until 8 Oct; £10
FOOD: Tacu Tacu
You know those fridge magnets you can get with randomly selected words on, which you then rearrange to create lunatic sentences? We suspect they may have been used in the making of Tacu Tacu's menu for this new six-month London Fields residency (only they're all delicious). Mexiclam fries. Lychee ceviche. Octopus burgers. Mojito cheesecake. Lavender and chilli margaritas… Expect all this tastiness and more from the Latin-food mavericks. Here are some more words for you to rearrange: Try. Should. Definitely. You.
Until March 2018
Tacu Tacu, 175 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 3RH
FILM: BFI London Film Festival
Once again, the biggest event of the UK film-going calendar is upon us, which means two things: 1. You can catch everything from advance screenings of major Hollywood films (Emma Stone as Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes, Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig in Downsizing), to big Brit premieres (Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy in the Andy Serkis-directed Breathe, pictured above) to buzzed-about indies (try Call Me By Your Name) at film houses all over the city. 2. It's your chance to eat pick 'n' mix and popcorn for 12 days straight. Ace.
4-15 Oct; prices and locations vary
To find out which tickets are still available, see here
NIGHTLIFE: Printworks Opening
Winter is here. Not usually cause for celebration, we admit. But celebrate you should, because winter now comes with a massive upside: The Printworks, London's newest, coolest and downright loudest venue, is opening its doors for the season. And WHAT a season - coming weeks see massive daytime raves with the likes of Modeselektor, Andy C, Tale of Us, Jamie Jones, Richie Hawtin and The Chemical Brothers taking to the decks. But first thing's first: this weekend's kick-off has a heavyweight line-up including Maceo Plex, Daniel Avery and the amazing Rodhad. Just: YES.
From 7 Oct; from £22.50
Printworks, Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7PJ
POP-UP: Underground Knees Up
OK, so the Underground is not known for its partying potential (the lighting's rubbish, and the MC keeps going on about minding the damn gap). But that is all changing this weekend, when retro cocktail bar Cahoots takes over the disused tunnels of The Vaults in Waterloo for a 1940s-themed knees up of almighty proportions. We're talking DJs spinning electro-swing, live jazz and lindy hop, a dedicated whisky snug, an espresso-martini-serving postwar coffee shop... Oh, and unlimited beers, spirits and cocktails, all night long. Which you just don't get with your Zone 1-6 travelcard.
6 Oct; £95 including champagne reception, canapes and mess tins, unlimited drinks
Underground Knees Up, The Vaults, Arch 236, Leake Street, London SE1 7NN
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