The Chocolate Festival

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Easter

It's nearly here. Four whole days to lie on the sofa, go for walks in the sunshine (hopefully) and eat so much chocolate, hot cross buns and lamb that you can barely move when it comes to getting up for work on Tuesday.

Having made a trip to the Cheese, Wine and Chocolate festival I now feel like an expert on the stuff...

The Festival

After treating ourselves to some champagne and lots of incredible cheese, we took a wander round the Chocolate Festival, that this year has hijacked some of the floor space of The Cheese and Wine Festival in the Business Centre in Islington.

Now, as cheese and chocolate are pretty much my two favourite things in life, I was having a pretty good day. Stall after stall of free samples of some of the best cheese and chocolate not just in the UK, but world over.

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Added bonus was Lush Cosmetics were there showing off their collection of chocolate based beauty goodies, and offering chocolatey treatments to the festival punters. Some better know brands like Rococos chocolate's and Paxton and Whitfield Cheese where there, but it was a fabulous place to discover some exciting new brands (particularly in chocolate) who - from what I learnt in my tasting are doing pretty groundbreaking things in the world of chocolate.

But there will be more on my fave brands, and tasting experience later...

 

Alexander McQueen - Savage Beauty at the V&A

A couple of day's ago I headed down to the V&A for the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty exhibition. I stood in the greatest room I have ever and think will ever see. Floor to ceiling cabinets on all four walls of some of McQueen's greatest designs, interspersed with screens showing some of his greatest catwalk triumphs.

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What is most evident from the exhibition is that McQueen was an artist rather than a fashion designer. His imagination was astounding, and it gave us the beautiful, troubled, and out of this world works of art that stand in the V&A at the moment. His artistry is evident in his truly spectacular catwalk shows. One that stands out, a model stands spinning in a clean white dress, being sprayed with paint by machines either side. If you take it out of the fashion context, it's live art not a fashion show.

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What makes the exhibition so worth seeing, is not just to see these masterpieces close-up. (Although that is worth it). The curation of the exhibition is what makes it so spectacular. The rooms perfectly accompany the theme's of each of McQueen's collections or 'periods'.

The only criticism I could give is that the exhibition kind of reaches it's climax half way through, and we are left to wander slightly disappointed through to the final room. Perhaps this too reflects how since the loss of McQueen's great mind, the company has turned it's focus back to fashion and my guess would be profits in making clothes more wearable. As a result will lost the element of the fantastical that makes McQueen's designs so spectacular.

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The exhibition is on until 2nd August 2015.

Things happening in London: March

You know what it's like in winter -  you leave work, it's dark, it's cold, it's probably raining and you go home. But as the days are getting longer, and the sun occasionally decides to show its face around town, I find myself wanting to do more stuff.



I've been browsing trying to plan my spring/summer adventures way in advance (over-organised much Mil?) But as I've discovered some pretty cool, and affordable things going on in the next half of March I thought I'd share them with you.

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Free and Fun

Camberwell Free Film Festival: Running from 19th-29th March in various venue's, big and small, around Camberwell. Check out the listings here. I'm looking forward to Pride at The Flying Dutchman on 28th, as I missed the film the first time round!

Bloomsbury People:  Wednesday 25th 1pm (Free) If, like me, you have to read every blue plaque you see around London, or often find yourself fawning over big beautiful houses you will never own, - you won't want to miss this guided walk around Bloomsbury. It will take you to the houses of Bloomsbury's most famous former residents. More info here. 

Talking Points

Alexander Mcqueen: Savage Beauty: (until August 2nd) I mean, wildly excited doesn't do it justice. If you are organised enough to have booked tickets, congratulations! If not - don't fret - they are releasing 200 on the door each morning, and it's here till August 2nd. More info on tickets here.  Watch this space for my review.

Clarence Darrow at The Old Vic : Until April 11th (Price Varies) If you have been a fan of Kevin Spacey's work at the Old Vic, you won't want to miss his big finale. You may have already seen it as it was on last year, but a one-man show Spacey is often worth a peek. Tickets are sold out, but day tickets are available if you can bare the queuing. Info here. 

The Unconventional Choice

Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho:At the Leicester Square Theatre 17th-21st March.  having this show recommended to me highly at last years Edfringe - I was rather pleased to see it coming to London - and in its rightful place - Soho - no less. If a disco-dancing drag-act version of Maggie Thatcher sounds like your thing - this is probably perfect for you. Tickets here. 

Please note, I as I have not yet been to many of these events myself - I am not vouching for their quality - just providing inspiration and information.

Peder Balke Exhibition at The National Gallery

The other day, I was in the area and had a free half an hour so popped into the National Gallery to find out a bit more about their new Inspiring Impressionism exhibition. I ended up not going to the paid exhibition, but instead I stumbled into the (free) Peder Balke Exhibit.

Whilst only small, it was quite the beauty. Balke's scene's from scandinavia - mainly water themed and using oil based paints are quite something to see all together in one place. It is the first time many of the paintings have been shown in the UK. Balke was active in the late  late 1800's and is considered now to be a forerunner of the modernism movement.

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When you see his impressive sea-scapes you'll wonder why you've not heard of him before. His use of dark blue's and grey's, really captured my imagination. My favourite was a small oil on board (that was in a case rather than a wall so I very nearly missed it.) entitled Sun Breaking Through Clouds at Vardohus.

The exhibition is at the National Gallery until 12th April, and is completely free, so definitely worth a look if you have a spare 15mins in the area.

 

 

Mother's Day Gift Guide - For the cultured Mum

So, Mother's Day is upon us, and I have put together an alternative culture-inspired gift guide.

Mum's are great aren't they? They give you hugs and make you tea. They encourage you to reach for the stars, and follow your dreams - even if your dream might be to run away with the circus, or go to clown school. (I have occasionally considered this and my mum has been nothing but supportive of it).

I may have already bought my mum a sparkly David Bowie fridge magnet for Mothers Day, but here is my little gift guide for other mum's who might want something a little different to usual smellies, and jewellery this year. (Unless of course your mum loves smellies and jewellery  in which case go for it!)

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Clockwise from top left:

For the fashion mum: Audrey Hepburn in hats £19.99 - if you were unlucky enough to miss out on tickets to Savage Beauty, this might be a nice consolation prize. Who doesn't love the most elegant lady of all time in fancy headwear?

For the arty mum: Membership to the Tate -  For £62 you get free entry to all exhibitions for a year (and normally get to skip to the front of the queue.) As well as access to the members lounge. Not too shabby.

For the performance arty mum: Tickets for Auf dem Gebrige by Tanztheater Wuppertal (price varies)- Pina Bausch's company, and legendary stars of 'Pina' the movie. A safe bet for an inspiring night out at the theatre. They are at Sadlers Wells from the 15th-18th April.

For the Danc - y and arty mum: A replica of Degas 'little dancer aged fourteen' £30 - perfect for either a mum who likes dance or art. It will look very cute on a mantel piece.

For the theatre mum: Theatre tokens (price varies) -it's like copping out and getting vouchers - just better! They are available to buy online and at most theatres, and are eligible to be used on the majority of shows in the West End. Perfect if you aren't too sure what her thing is (or if you'd rather she took someone else)

Show of the Month: Gecko 'Missing' - a review.

A new feature on my Blog. Show of the Month!  Kind of does what it say's on the tin to be honest. A review of my absolute must-see dance or theatre in London that month.

For March, it is the turn of Gecko (again) to steal the show (pun intended), with their triumphant physical theatre show Missing. 

There is something about the way Gecko use text that excites me. With all dancers (mostly) speaking their own languages, we are left to take in smorgasbord of words, sounds, movement and technology to decipher the story. We see the non-linear narrative through the eyes of a women - 'Lily'. It is a story about love. Love between Lily and her new husband, Lily and her mother, Lily's parents, and really it's just about love the whole world over.



I could sit here and describe the performance, detailing the most impressive scenes, and a summarizing the characters, but the details are not what is important, or impressive about the show. It is the way it is told.

The performer's commitment to the movement, and to their characters - there is a passion that shines through from them and brings the world to life. They are assisted by the impressive staging, particularly the large screens behind which we see photographs and film come to life, and the conveyor belts used expertly as a choreographic tool.

The story itself could be anyone's - but that's what makes such a seemingly niche piece of theatre so accessible. It's a show about life, essentially...or maybe love...or both, or maybe they are one in the same? These are just a few of the questions running around my mind after the show.



This was the third time I've seen Missing (creep alert, I know) and it has yet to disappoint me. In fact, it somehow manages to get better every time. I enjoyed every second that I was engrossing myself into the multi-mediatized (not really a word) masterpiece of Missing. I don't want to say it's the best show I've seen. But there is a reason I keep going back. If I'm honest, I would go again in a second (extra creep-alert).

Missing is at the Battersea Art's Centre until the 21st March. Book Tickets HERE. 

Save Ideastap!

#saveideastap #loveideastap

This morning I received an email that made me very sad, worried, panicked, confused and upset all in one go. It was from Ideastap informing me that their funding had run out and they would be closing up shop, so to speak, at the beginning of June.



I'd been speculating for a while about the lack of new 'Spa' days on the site, and presumed they had faced a cut - along with all other arts orgs out there-but I never expected something as drastic as this.

Those of you who know it, will appreciate the huge impact it made on the lives of emerging artists in all forms. Free training, job listings, a great blog, and most of all funding opportunities. The end of this organisation, is a threat to the future of the arts across the country. If you don't know them, it only takes a minute of browsing their site to start to understand their significance, and how much they do to support artists.

Artists will continue to work, continue to emerge, but in the current culture of 'arts is bad' that exists across national and local government spending - it's going to be harder than ever for them to do so. As a result, we will once again find ourselves in an age, where art as a career or hobby is only accessible to the wealthy elite. (Hence the emotions stated at the top).

If you would like to join a cause that is fighting to save this vital organisation please sign up here. If you just want to share your thoughts, feel free to comment.

International Women's Day - Inspiring Female Artists

Happy International Women's Day! (For tomorrow)

I thought I'd share a bit about a few of the women in the arts who have inspired me over the last year.  All three are using their art and position to fight the good fight for female equality the world-over!

Matilda Ibini - Playwright. Her first play Muscavado is currently on tour after selling out a London run in a fringe venue. Tackles issues of slavery from the female perspective. I've not yet seen the play myself, but I've only heard good things, and from reading this interview, I knew Ibini deserved a place on my list.

Find out more here

Bryony Kimmings - Writer, Performer and general all round brillianter. - One of my all time feminist heroes. Occasional Sex Idiot, or 7 day's drunk, but has now taken on the alter-ego of Catherine Bennett, Palaeontologist pop-star and Tweenage Icon and is potentially on the verge of international stardom giving young girls everywhere a positive inspiring role-model singing songs about animals, and apathy! Her show Credible Likeable Superstar Rolemodel - about Catherine Bennett's creation was one of the best things I've ever seen!

Find out more here

Emma Watson  - Actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.  She may already by internationally famous and I'm sure many would dispute her as working in the arts -  but her incredible work on the He for She campaign and this speech she did at the UN means she is well deserving a spot on every single list of great women this year - I couldn't really leave her off mine then could I?

If you are after something to do this weekend in London, head down to the Women of the World festival at the Southbank Centre, and celebrate the achievements of women and girls across the globe!

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