From the Spirit of Rio to Alex Katz: Your July Culture Guide

Go: Kew Gardens, The Hive – Beauty and science come together at Kew’s exploration of the British Bee. The Hive is an open-air structure standing at 17 meters high and weighing 40 tonnes. The Hive captures the story of the honeybee and the valuable role of pollination in feeding the planet. Visit to discover the secret life of bees.  

See: Alex Katz until 11th September 2016, The Serpentine Gallery. To top off an already pleasant day in Hyde Park, drop into the Alex Katz exhibition at The Serpentine Gallery. Don’t miss this chance to see paintings by a modern American master. 

Alex Katz at The Serpentine Gallery

Alex Katz at The Serpentine Gallery

Visit: Alex Eagle, Lexington Street. The newly opened Alex Eagle store on Soho’s Lexington Street offers a carefully curated selection of home ware and fashion. Go to see the Luke Edward Hall x Alex Eagle collaboration and the exquisite Le Monde Beryl shoes. 

Eat: The Continental Pantry, W11. The Continental Pantry offers a delightful blend of European cuisine and wine.  Perfect for after work on a Friday, indulge in the hand sliced 42 month aged Iberico ham and an impeccably chilled glass of Rose. 

Read: In the Spirit of Rio, Assouline. Ahead of this summer's Olympics, In the Spirit of Rio outlines a guide to the best hotels, restaurants, shopping, art galleries and attractions.  Bursting with dazzling imagery celebrating this lively city.

Bruno Astuto's In the Spirit of Rio, Assouline 2016

Bruno Astuto's In the Spirit of Rio, Assouline 2016

Handpicked Food For Soul: June Culture Guide

Spending your summer 2016 in London? Before heading overseas for true outdoor adventures, follow our handpicked ABC of the month's go-to destinations, hidden gems, flavours and entertainment for the ultimately satisfying culture boost in the city. 

Yayoi Kusama at the Victoria Miro Gallery

Yayoi Kusama at the Victoria Miro Gallery

Go – With the Summer upon us, Hyde Park will soon become the place to see and be seen. Don’t miss this year’s futuristic Serpentine Pavilion. This year we will see work by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels who has designed the pavilion to resemble an unzipped wall.

See – Yayoi Kusama’s retrospective comes to the Victoria Miro Gallery in North London. Get lost in the surreal sea of pumpkins, polka-dots and magical mirror room. Until July 30th.  

Yayoi Kusama at the Victoria Miro Gallery

Yayoi Kusama at the Victoria Miro Gallery

Visit – Be sure to swing by The Switch House, the new staggering 10 story building at the Tate Modern. Opens on 17th June. 

Eat – Ostuni.  Our favorite Italian haunt in Queen’s Park launches their sister venue on June 13th in Hampstead Road, the perfect treat after a long walk around the Heath. Don’t leave without trying the slow-cooked octopus. 

Read - Anne Sijmonsbergen’s debut cookbook Eivissa (Ibiza), packed full of inspiring Mediterranean recipes for every season, start on a hot summer evening and recreate the white island delicacies in your own home. 

'The Ibiza Cookbook' by Anne Sijmonsbergen

'The Ibiza Cookbook' by Anne Sijmonsbergen

Exhibitionism: Rolling Stones

What’s not to love about the Rolling Stones? Well, nothing really. The first international Rolling Stones exhibition recently opened at London’s Saatchi Gallery. The exhibition takes over nine rooms across two floors in true rock star fashion. You will find an astounding 500 Rolling Stones artifacts from the band’s personal archives, incorporating 50 years of fashion, film, art and sound. 

Go go go.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

April 5th 2016 – September 4th 2016

Saatchi Gallery, Kings Road, SW3 4RY

Chelsea, London

 

Slow Food Movement Taking Over in Tartu, Estonia: Aparaat & Barlova

Historically, Tartu is somewhat notorious for its café traditions. The university town attracts young crowd from all over the country and abroad, so cafés have long served as socialising places for the youth. My grandmother would tell me stories about she and her friends enjoying fresh pastries at Café Werner before heading to lectures as a favourite pastime. Werner has been around since 1882, making it one of the oldest cafés in Estonia. Many Estonian writers and artists gathered there to play chess, read poetry, and of course, drink coffee. But times have changed and so has café culture. People’s lives have grown faster and it seems like we have simply lost connection with time to enjoy an indulgent drink or sit down for a chat.

Yet amid the hectic day-to-day life in today’s Tartu, there are those who choose to enjoy the little moments. Whether we are sipping coffee at a quaint local café before heading to work or venturing into a new hip restaurant at the creative district for lunch break, we try to embrace a slower lifestyle. And the city responds to the yearning. A new wave of cafés, bars and restaurants with sassy names are popping up all over the town, and we’re excited.

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