T-Shirt: Cult – Culture – Subversion: A tale of reinvention
words Alexa Wang The T shirt may seem like a humble item but it has proved to be anything but. In fact, its simplicity has been its strength from the start. It’s stripped back white minimalism struck a cord in the fifties under leather and denim jackets. It was...
Turbowolf release Domino from forthcoming album The Free Life
There's been a lot of nonsense talked around the idea of authenticity in art and in music in recent years. I think what people are really after is believability in their bands and artists. Many bands come across as doing it by numbers, like a brand marketing exercise...
In search of the perfect bowl of ramen at Yamagoya
Words: Lawrence Hunt Ramen is the simple dish on which no one can agree and everyone has a strong opinion. Some ramen lovers stop when they find a specimen that ticks their boxes, and never go anywhere else. Others are still out there, trying everything in their quest...
Double IPAs and a mocha chilli stout – Stone Brewery have arrived
Glass after glass, can after can, craft beer has officially taken the UK by storm. It’s been over a decade since 2007, when Brewdog opened their doors in Aberdeen and began to brew kegs of hoppy, hazy IPA, influenced by the growing tide of West Coast breweries taking...
Welcome to Little Havana, Camden’s latest Cuban hotspot
Cuba and Camden have more in common than you might think. Rebellious, warm (in spirit), and a love of rum and dancing make them a good match. All of which makes the opening of Little Havana, a new Cuban restaurant and bar promising salsa, frozen margaritas and proper...
A speakeasy in an old Victorian jail – it’s Knowhere Special
Words: Rajan Virdee Just when you were starting to tire of London’s overdone ‘subterranean speakeasy’ thing, Knowhere Special comes along to reinvigorate your love of boozing below street level. Nestled inconspicuously amongst the bustle of Kentish Town’s high street,...
5 free activities to enjoy in London over Christmas
London is not the cheapest city in the world, but there are a huge number of free events and activities taking place throughout the year. The Christmas period is no different. In fact, there may be even more fun things to do at this time of year that won’t cost you a...
Bingo: The King of the Mornings – Interview with Daniel Rezende
The Brazilian Oscar and BAFTA submission Bingo: The King of the Mornings is the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Daniel Rezende. More known for his editing work with director Fernando Meirelles on City of God (2002) and Blindness (2008), he also edited Walter...
How to choose a decent ground coffee – don’t be fooled by packaging
When it comes to buying a decent ground coffee, we’re often drawn in by the packaging rather than the facts. Brightly coloured artisan packaging is supposed to entice us into believing the coffee inside the packet packs an equal punch. Sadly, that’s not always the...
Sip a better tipple this Christmas with Lant St Wine
Words: Rajan Virdee Ozzy Osbourne once observed that ‘wine is fine but whiskey’s quicker’. That may be true, but really, what’s the rush? Christmas is just around the corner, and those after-work drinks are invariably going to go on ‘til last trains. At least, that’s...
The most moving self-portrait ever painted – Giovanni Battista Armillei
Why is veteran Italian artist Giovanni Battista Armillei not visible in his affecting self portrait? Ian Whiteling travels to a small Etruscan town to find out, uncovering the moving and inspirational story of an incredible hidden talent and his devoted wife. “When I...
7 steps to organising your own mini music festival
Are you planning a fundraising event, a milestone birthday celebration or a corporate hospitality jolly? Do you want the event format to be informal and fun, ideally with music and dancing for old and young? Mini music festivals are becoming increasingly popular and...
Raw fish for breakfast? At Sushi in the City, it’s delicious
Guy Beringer invented the idea of brunch in 1895 in his essay, 'Brunch: A Plea'. Established as a meal designed to help people deal with hangovers, it’s since swept across the world, before returning to nest in London over the last decade or so. With this history in...
Caribbean brunch? It’s here, and it’s got rum
Perhaps the only thing worth getting out of bed for on a bitterly cold, windy winter’s Sunday is the promise of a bottomless brunch. And when you add ‘Caribbean’ to that promise, it’s enough to make you dance into the street. Cottons, one of London’s best-established...
How selvedge denim was salvaged
How selvedge denim was salvaged - words Al Woods ‘Selvedge’ is the word on the lips of every sartorialist who dares to be denimpressive. But it isn’t just a topic for tailors - followers of fashion are increasingly drawn to this particular denim, marked out by its...