Weekly Steals 6th February-16th February
Once again I have searched far and wide, and put together a nice bundle of Steals for our weekly column on Spindle Magazine named ‘Whats On In London’. So here goes, cast your eyes on the steals below
It is that time again…weekly steals time! And there are some mighty good ones if I do say so myself. I’ve covered all spectrums of art, music, fashion and lifestyle. I must note that I am not oblivious to the fact that inside this weekly steals bundle falls the beloved, but also dreaded date, February 14th. Also known as Valentine’s Day. Whether you are in love or sailing the seven seas of solitude I have something for all of you! If the latter is making you sad then you’ll be glad to know that the next paragraph, my first steal, could really help in the drowning sorrows department.
Today, Thursday 6th February The Craft Beer Social Club returns to Shoreditch with another pop-up pub running right through Feb till the 8th March. It is absolutely FREE to reserve a table and it is open Thursdays and Fridays 4pm-12am and Saturdays 1pm-12am. Find the pop-up at 87 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4QS and have yourself some best of British beer!
If you’re more of a shopper than a drinker then we have a very exciting event for you! On Saturday February 8th at The Hoxton Hotel you will find The Stylist Rail. They are a fun-filled fashion and shopping event where London’s top stylists and independent designers sell a mixture of designer, vintage and statement pieces. Now, entry is FREE from 12.30pm onwards but if you have £10 (the absolute maximum price we allow in A London Steal) you do get V.I.P entry between 11.30am-12.30am to secure yourself that statement piece you want before the rest hit the rails! Also included is a complimentary Bloom Gin cocktail and a guaranteed goody bag with treats from Frame Shoreditch, Beauty MART, Blue Tit, Goody Good Stuff, Dalston Cola and Propercorn to name but a few. So you part with £10 but get more than your money’s worth back. That is why it is a STEAL ladies and gentlemen. Tickets must be pre-booked in advance here.
Also available is ‘The Stylist Package’ which includes half an hour with a friend of A London Steal, Emma Slade, founder of Back Of The Wardrobe. She will be at the event to help with any styling, mixing and matching dilemmas you may have. The package also includes 20% off purchases made on the day and a goodie bag worth £200 including jewellery from Dinny Hall, a Wick and Tallow candle, 3 free classes at Frame Shoreditch and products from Sugar + Style, Cowshed Cheeky, Beauty MART, Blue Tit and more. These tickets are £50, a price we would never include, however, what you get for it out ways your purchase so it is, essentially, a STEAL!
Check out our blog entry here to find out more about Back Of The Wardrobe here and watch this space to read the follow up on The Stylist Rail event because Elle, Chi and I will be there! Possibly battling each other through the rails….
After this you may well be in the mood for music! Slightly different to the usual gigs I send you to, this is not so much indie, folk, blues or electronic; it is a little more commercial but all the same worth a mention! At 3pm on Saturday 8th, Britain’s Got Talent contestants, Luminites, play a FREE music concert at The Southbank Centre.
They are a four-piece band with 2 singers (one boy, one girl) a beat boxer and a guitar playing rapper. If you fancy some pop filled with various musical elements then get yourself down there and have a boogie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8r4vCNYyME&list=PLh7DDFviCv9M3-_Zg_PUhHVY-pW-pbbU5
But if you have more of a rock soul then check out Cheatahs, playing for FREE at Rough Trade East, Brick Lane on Tuesday 11th. Their self-titled EP comes out on Feb 10th and it’s a STEAL to see them for FREE since the very next day, Wednesday 12th they play the NME Awards Show with Primitive Parts at Birthdays in Dalston with a £9.60 advanced entry fee.
For photography lovers and those who enjoy portraits as much as I do without a doubt must visit the Mallet Ely House where you will encounter a FREE exhibition to celebrate Harry Benson: 50 Years Behind the Lens.
The Scotsman has shot various famous personalities in his time including Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Al Pacino, Dolly Parton, Amy Winehouse, Kate Moss, President Ronald Reagan and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He also produced images of The Beatles first American Tour in 1964-remember that photo of the boys having tremendous fun with some pillows? Yeah, that’s Benson taking the photo. He famously documented the band in the ‘Beatlemania’ piece.
His work has appeared in Life, Vanity Fair, People and The New Yorker and you now have the opportunity to see his work right up till the 15th February! Opening times are as follows: Mon to Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11am-5pm. Not to be missed!
So to recap, for this week’s steals you have a beer festival, a fashion event, two FREE gigs (one Pop, one Rock) and a Photography exhibition. But I do have more! Yes, because it is Valentine’s day on Friday 14th and even though I am a very happy single pringle it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t provide some romantic steals!
Firstly though, for all those other single pringles I have the perfect plan! The Camden Head hosts a great night called The Comedy Back Rub: Valentine’s Day Massacre on Thursday 13th for the price of £1! For just one shiny pound you can either celebrate your single status (that’s what you should do, celebrate because you are FREE) or if you insist you can distract your thoughts from your solitary existence with some great comedy. Acts include: Daniel Simonsen (Edinburgh Festival Award Winner, Star of Vic n’ Bob’s House of Fools) Aisling Bea (Edinburgh Festival Award Nominee) Miss London (Star of ITV’s Scrambled,) Lou Sanders (As seen on Russell Howard’s Good News) and all hosted by MC Sarah Campbell described by the Britsh Comedy Guide as “One of the stand-out stand-ups of the future”
So ladies, there are no excuses to delve into a massive pile of Nutella and watch Bridget Jones. And Gentlemen, don’t hit the town looking for meaningless sex to fill the void of your loveless life. But do have a one-night stand if you are in fact thrilled with being single and enjoying your freedom as you should!
For those lovebirds who are in love, happy and devoted, well, I have an idea for you. Romance has never been about money, in the wise words of J-Lo ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing.’ So perhaps take a walk down Southbank or cook a lovely meal at home. The latter means you are closer to the bedroom anyways and it saves you money as well as the journey back from the restaurant, theatre or bar where you are looking deep into each other’s eyes wishing to tear off your clothes.
But if you really really want to head out but not be broke by the end of the night then head over to the Mexican restaurant Chilango’s (there are few scattered around London) well known for its beautiful burritos. The average food spend per person is under a tenner, around the £8 mark. Not only is it good food for a good price, but also the place is infused with Latin spirit, and as a Spaniard myself, I know there is nothing sexier than a hot Latin dish.
If you are visualising a more ‘Lady And The Tramp’ scenario where the soundtrack to your meal are Italian violins and your lips meet at the end of a shared spaghetti string, then Vapiano, (Great Portland Street or Southwark Street) is for you. All dishes are under £10 and the staff are very friendly and smiley.
Hope that has covered all areas…more steals next week! Expect a London Fashion special with my partner in crime and ultimate Stealer, Elle Ford.
Catch my A London Steal radio show this Saturday 8th Feb from12-2pm on Hoxton FM. Music, London Steals and interview from rapper Antix
Now go have fun!
Words: Irune Rue Chamberlain
A LONDON STEAL 