Friday 29 October 2010

Because i really need another excuse to drink...



With a very fun (drunken) and successful launch night, ninetyeightbar&lounge reopened its doors to bring us a new quirky drinking den on Curtain Road London. Step in and you will be transported to a beautiful world of magic, luxury and charm. Whilst lounging among the plush surroundings of
ninetyeight’s signature tongue in cheek chic make sure you try at least one of their specially designed tounge-tantaslizating, body intoxicating cocktails. As the website put it so well themselves 'Think Alice-in-Wonderland and expect the unexpected'

As well as a kitsch haven of sweets and treats, the venue will also be serving up delights in art, music, cocktails and fashion; from mixology master classes, to burlesque shows and vintage `high' tea parties - served up by ladies in 1940s attire to a suitably retro sounds.

Thursday 28 October 2010

18+ Cake Store comes to London


Really ? Yes its true the first ever 18+ cake store is coming to London to bring you delicious delights in the most offensive offering and mutilated manner. Its even being opened by a Heavy Metal Band!

Open between the 29th – 31st October 2010, located in the ‘dungeon’ of Maiden Shop on Shoreditch Highstreet, 'Eat Your Heart Out & The PRETOX Potion is a Halloween inspired treat fest brought to you by The Mad Artists Tea Party & Pretox drink Alibi. In keeping with the Halloween theme they will be selling 666 terrifying creations each day....once its sold out they shut up shop until the next day!

Oh and if your wondering if they contain gruesome ingredients they don't! Infact all of them will contain some of the PRETOX potion Alibi‘s 17 beneficial vitamins & herbs, specifically chosen to help offset the bad things in life.

This is weird, mental, yummy and gross...i love it! Shame i only like to talk about cakes and don't actually eat them.....Find out more about the project, artists and pop up store head to www.evilcakeshop.com

Tuesday 26 October 2010

MEN are coming.....

MEN
......Finally...Well there are infact two types of men i would like to come into my life....one is just men in general and the other is MEN the sexy New York trio! The first is not happening and doesn't look like its going to be happening anytime soon...so i was over the moon to see that one of the MEN are arriving on our shores this week for a UK Tour - 3 of which are london dates! If your a fan like me go check them out....easy - hard to not like music, not to alternative but not to samey!Have a little watch of the video if you yet undecided...

TOUR DATES AND MORE: www.myspace.com/men

Sunil Pawar / PCF


I've mentioned this guy here before on the blog and just had another little gem of his work pop into my life! One of his most recent work and i'm loving it. It was a commission of campaign posters for a PCF - appearing all over the streets of France. I could try and explain the work in my own words...but this is so much easier so take a goosey gander and his own explanation..

The history of the French Political poster dates back to the Forties, these works of art were created by the leading creative practioners of their time, with artists including Pablo Picasso providing artwork for the PCF political party. The posters of Mai 68 have also featured in numerous exhibitions recently.
Present day and Sunil Pawar was charged with the task of carrying on this strong graphic lineage by giving a nod to the slick graphic style of these classic posters, but to create artwork that was relevant today, for this a series of four posters were created.

Along with myself (obviously the most important!) some of his more notable fans include the likes of Kayne West and Junya Watanabe, hes an ace guy and whilst i wouldn't normally like this style of art im a big fan of Sunil and of his amazing Slingshot London Mixes!!!Keeps me runnng for miles....

Check out the site for more Slingshotlondon.co.uk

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Design It, Post It, Wear It

COLLECT CALLING....
A call to all you doodle manic's, part time artists, professional illustrators or whatever you do and draw, London based brand Collect London is asking you to be apart of the brand and design a t-shirt. A label that supports UK based art and designers through their exciting collaborations has launched a new post card competition. The challenge: Create a design of your own - no limits - just doodle away your design (although it has to fit into the quirky collect shape on the postcard). Then fill out the details on the back of the card and post...free of charge! The Prize - see your design become apart of Collect London's amazing tee collection.....

My attempt No. 1 you can see above - Im not a sexual fiend or lesbian but my specialism harks back to my female form obsession and allen jones project in my A levels. I'm not sure ill be posting this one may do a few more trials first!....

Pick up a postcard from Orange Dot Gallery, 54 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9RG or loads of other places...check the website

Trophy Wife



In the words of this Oxford trio themselves this is 'ambitionless office disco' and while this may sound like the dullest of descriptions it seems to fit the bill pretty well for this happy-sad-well formed beat compilation. Its a little step away from the more beachy dreamy sounds of late - with a bit more of an indie gruff edge to it.

I don't quite get this rather strange video, but it does seem to fit quite well! Check them out and then head to Electrowerkz on Novemeber 9th for the single launch. On stereo their music works well so it will be interesting to see what impact their melodic bop has live.

Tuesday 19 October 2010

Long Clothing

Formed by Gareth Emmett and Rhys Dawney, Long clothing along with its simple yet bold design aesthetic and dark graphic style has been building a strong cult following over the years. Not just a clothing range but the name behind some pretty fun parties i will be checking out their new range tonight and a very special basement art installation at the lovely Jaguar Shoes space/bar in Shoreditch tonight. Crazy, Nice, Fun.

Check out the Long Clothing Video Shoot - what a tune. Makes me want to go out again!

Friday 15 October 2010

Play and Patterns


Wednesday was play day and after a route around most of london, i ended the night at the Dazed:Diesel Party at The Pattern Cutting Factory.
Two years ago, Dazed and Diesel teamed up to find emerging young filmmakers and the night showcased the result. three strong and beautifully shot short films from three very talented young up-comers. Check out the Videos on the Dazed sight now.....my favourite is Cult Youth.

PATTERN CUTTING FACTORY
It was a standard great night and loads of great people (bonus you could smoke in the venue too! although remembered why i hate it when i woke up to stale smoke smelling hair!). The venue - the perfect stage for the showcase - is also home to one of my favourite markets - The Pattern Market. If you haven't been there make sure you head down and check it out, a hidden gem full of cheap goodies and vintage buys its tucked away in an old railway arch like warehouse just off the Kingsland Road

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Uli Weber: Portraits


PORTRAITS by Uli Weber
For the first time, Uli Weber has assembled, to showcase a 20 year retrospective of his work. A legend in portrait and fashion photography last night at the Hospital Club saw the Private View of Portraits by Uli Weber. From Sting to Boy George, Twiggy and Lily Cole, Uli has shot some of the most iconic british icons from the past two decades. Expect a select range of 40 stunning images which showcase some of his most greatest achievements....its definitely worth checking out, even if you don't recognise the name you will no doubt recognise some of his iconic shots. Its only on the a few days so head there asap to check out this rare showing from this highly accomplished photographer.

Portraits is published by Skira.
An exhibition of 40 portraits by Uli Weber is at The Hospital Club.
13th - 16th October
Hospital Club, London

Friday 8 October 2010

Guards

GUARDS
Closely affiliated with CULTS - Guards are proof that you don't need much more than some old old modern social networking to get noticed. It may be another band who are channeling the new wave, dreamy pop sounds but punchy vocals in the chorus give them a little kick to lift it out of the normal hazy wave of tunes you get from dreamwave music. Really don't know much more about this band apart from their blood relation with one CULT member and the fact they formed in New York.....but its friday, my head is sore and my brain is ready for the weekend and their melancholic modern, retro twanged tunes are keeping me ticking over until 5 o clock when i will unleash some big tune MJ Cole style riding riddims and get myself ready for a steak dinner with Mr Sauvignon.

Im still questioning if without the help of so called clever networking if they would be as known as they are now - but for now i'm happy to just enjoy what they have to offer and they aren't exactly all over the radio just yet....

Check out their bandcamp and download their EP here

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Fanny and Jessy / Watch this Space....


Celebrating and launching their new SS11 line in true F&J unique style, the girls stormed London Fashion Week to bring us a showcase with a difference. Ambushing events and parties throughout LFW models were dressed in the new collection and masked as Fanny or Jessy - getting photographed by various well loved party paps.

Their distinct style of intricate designs and experimental use of cuts and silhouettes has resulted in another great collection from the only recently graduated design duo. Speaking on the collection the girls said “There is always a continuing theme of humour and light heartedness in our collections using fabrics that could look vile in the wrong contexts." Taking inspiration from the OTT italian designers of the nineties they have shaken up some rather tasteless ideas and made them truly desirable. Some pieces may be more for show than share and wear - note the coyote ugly style leather lace up skinnies - but what they have done is created a balance of pieces. A use of subtle uglyness lies in their collection in crypt patterns (look closely!) but combined with elegant lines, subtle shades of nudes and strikes of slick black, all elegantly laid together - the result is something gaudy and grotesque but in a good way!

The use of masks in the campaign cleverly reflecting the title of their new collection 'Watch this Face' and ill tell you one thing you should definitely be watching these girls faces as they only get bigger, bolder and better....