London Food & Drink News: 12 May 2011
Londonist, May 12, 2011 at 16:00 pm
A taste of what’s what in recent and upcoming London food and drink news …
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London Food & Drink News: 12 May 2011
In Pictures: Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads at Somerset House
Londonist, May 11, 2011 at 16:00 pm
Detained Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s first outdoor public sculpture in London has gone on display in the fountain clocked courtyard of Somerset House. A series of 12 monumental bronze heads representing …
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In Pictures: Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads at Somerset House
Hats off to Mexican Street Photography at Benito’s Hat New Oxford Circus Restaurant
Qype does London, May 7th 2011
To celebrate the opening of [Benito’s Hat’s] Oxford Circus location, a “Hat’s Off to Mexican Street Photography” exhibition is on show now and through the summer featuring a number of fantastic photos by a handful of young photographers from Mexico City. The photos are big and glossy and available for sale as limited edition prints (£42 each) … The shots offer an awesome eye candy backdrop for sipping margaritas and savouring tacos. But in full disclosure, I should admit that I might be a bit biased: I helped curate the show …
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Hats off to Mexican Street Photography at Benito’s Hat New Oxford Circus Restaurant
You know that old saying about personal opinions, right? Yes, everybody’s got one. And with all the user review sites, the blogosphere, Facebook, Twitter and such out there on the internet, personal opinions are more readily available (and possibly just as stinky) than ever. Of course, there are benefits to being able to read the thoughts of others about, well, pretty much anything that someone can actually have an opinion about.
Need the low down on a decent pub or restaurant in an area you’re not familiar with? Want to see what former students thought of a professor whose course you’re about to take? Is that blockbuster Hollywood movie really worth checking out? Thinking about blowing a sizeable chunk of money of some shiny new gadget? Yep, there’s an app or site for such ponderous considerations with plenty of passionate accounts of whatever you’re seeking reviews or opinions about.
As far as I can tell, the “growing power of online reviews” will continue to increase more and more for yet some time to come. I reckon it’s a good thing as long as people can still from time to time unglue their eyes from their monitors and mobile screens and simply rely on chance, instinct and the advice of real flesh and blood friends and neighbours.
Being able to share opinions online gives the disgruntled as well as the delighted a voice. With all its potential flaws, social media as a means of review is still an incredibly democratic way to broadcast one’s message and can help lots of people better navigate the world. A universe of opinions merely a click or so away – handy (if sometimes overwhelming) … and like it or not online reviews are definitely here to stay for a long, long time.
Free Burritos for Cinco de Mayo at New Chilango on Chancery Lane
Londonist, May 4, 2011 at 21:26 pm
From noon to 8pm tomorrow (Thursday 5 May), free burritos will be offered at the new Chancery Lane location of Mexican eatery, Chilango. Along with the freebie food, the restaurant will turn Chancery Lane into an “all day Mexican fiesta” with live music during the afternoon and a party lasting through the evening.
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Free Burritos for Cinco de Mayo at New Chilango on Chancery Lane
Dining Beyond Zone 1: The Bishop-out-of-Residence, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 1PY
Londonist, May 4, 2011 at 13:00 pm
From its street entrance The Bishop-out-of-Residence might not be much to look at, but go round the corner to the pub’s riverside terrace and it’s soon obvious why it’s a winner. This Kingston-upon-Thames pub is one to keep in mind when you want to have a few pints and soak up some precious rays, ponder what life’s like living in the moored houseboats across the river and enjoy the pretty view. The menu’s okay, service is hardworking and friendly and the variety of ales on offer is noteworthy.
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Dining Beyond Zone 1: The Bishop-out-of-Residence, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 1PY
New Restaurant Review: Kêu Banh Mi Deli
Londonist, May 3, 2011 at 13:30 pm
Rivalling the burrito mania of the recent past, banh mi madness seems to be in full effect…especially in Shoreditch where a new benchmark of London’s best SE Asian baguette sarnie is available.
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New Restaurant Review: Kêu Banh Mi Deli
Zabludowicz Collection: Six Weeks in New York
Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art, April 2011
What do you do with six weeks access to the top floor of a skyscraper located at one of the busiest street corners in Manhattan? If you’re the folks behind London’s Zabludowicz Collection, you turn it into a pop-up gallery with compelling installations to rival its sweeping midtown views.
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Zabludowicz Collection: Six Weeks in New York
The Korean graphic novel ‘Priest’ by Hyung Min-woo (TOKYOPOP) has been brought to life by emerging director Scott Stewart supported by a stellar production team which includes Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Drag Me to Hell). The film follows a Warrior Priest who returns from hiding to rescue his abducted niece from a group of ancient vampires who are intent on turning her into one of them! Paul Bettany stars as the Warrior Priest, Lily Collins plays his niece and their co-stars include Cam Gigandet & Maggie Q, playing the role of Sheriff Hicks and former Warrior Priestess.
What’s the deal with vampires and popular culture? Buffy, True Blood, Twilight, yadda yadda yadda … I suppose the concept of vampires is one that storytellers throughout the ages have found particularly worthy of sinking their teeth into. Now Sony‘s come along with a way to make the vampire genre even juicier … or at least for aspiring filmmakers Josh, Moritz and Saba, three media students in London who took up a challenge from Sony to create their own version of The Priest trailer.
Here’s a short video about these creatives and the process of how they went about making their trailers:
And here’s the winning trailer:
Apparently, what impressed the judges most about the chosen trailer was the winning student’s use of narrative. I reckon that’s a good way to go about it – tell a story with just enough detail (but not too much!) so that you have your viewers craving for more. It also fits snuggly with Sony’s commitment to enabling others to “make.believe“. I certainly enjoyed watching the trailer; it gave me a good idea what the movie’s going to be about but still left me with a feeling of intrigue.
Adding even more intrigue along with some Facebook fun, Sony has designed an app that allows you to choose a photo and “priest yourself” or others and apply the facial appearances of the film’s characters.
Are you a priest or a vamp?
Nunhead Cemetery
Qype does London, April 25th 2011
Just let me say that if you’re keen for a mortality pondering picnic, a fantastic shutter bug day out or an evocatively excellent place to jog or walk the dogs, think Nunhead Cemetery. I’ll certainly be back. Although there weren’t crowds of visitors when I was there, I have heard it’s an especially popular destination. Since opening in 1840, people literally have been dying to get in (sorry, couldn’t resist).
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Nunhead Cemetery
London Food & Drink News: 21 April 2011
Londonist, April 21, 2011 at 16:00 pm
A taste of what’s what in recent and upcoming London food and drink news …
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London Food & Drink News: 21 April 2011