A world of Frieze art fair alternatives hits the city

Doing the blog-rounds from the States at the mo is a YouTube clip of last Sunday’s Simpsons intro credits. So what? you ask. Who cares? Because they got Banksy’d. Well and truly. Amusing, self-referential and socially subversive – the intro certainly ticked all the Bansky boxes that we know and predict love.

But talk about hot timing: while Frieze (essentially LFW’s arty cousin, with all its launch parties, celeb-ish line-up, etc.) is set to once again unfurl its allegedly art-for-all banner in Regent’s Park, the rest of the city is alight with vaguely anti-Frieze (see what we did there?) alternatives.

During the week, Christies is hosting its emerging art Multiplied fair, Moniker’s is shaking up the urban art scene and the self-monikered Mayoress of Dalston is unveiling the Royal Dalston Hotel replete with Tranny Tour Guides and performances from Scottee Scottee, the Fabulous Russella and Ryan Styles.

But it’s not just the left-of-centre, Hauser & Wirth have their new gallery in the middle of Savile Row which is launching with a stunning Louise Bourgeois exhibition. All while the HG2 lot are releasing their Hedonist’s Guide to Art featuring essays and top-tips by everyone from Gilbert and George to Tammy Smulders.

So that’s art for hedonists and queens, covered. Egalitarians and elitists, the sartorially-inclined, and thanks to Banksy now even we TV-watching, cartoon-loving, ordinary folk can get cultural. Apparently the revolution will be televised.

Info
A Hedonist’s Guide to Art
Published Oct 15

Hauser & Wirth
Launches Oct 15

Royal Dalston Hotel
Oct 14-17, 6pm-3am

The Simpsons: MoneyBART
Airs October 21, on Sky1

Competition

Initial wrist-bands for London Cocktail Week may be sold-out, but there’s still loads of ways to join in the alco-fun. We’ve blagged a bunch of free event tickets from the nice chaps at LCW and picked a few of our favourite sessions for you to check out (and have a beverage or two).

Read the full feature…

DRINK – to New Orleans and listen to the Sunshine Kings: Courvoisier New Orleans Speakeasy. 5pm-10pm, The Future Gallery, 5 Newport Street, WC2H 7JB. Free.

TASTE – Bompass and Parr's 3-course meal and Hendricks' matching cocktails: Hendricks Horseless Carriage of Curiosities. 7:30pm-10:30pm, until Fri, 96-100 Clerkenwell Road, EC1M 5RJ. £100.

EXPERIENCE – a reinterpretation of Dante's Inferno underground, in Lazarides: Hell's Half Acre. 6pm-11pm, The Old Vic Tunnels, Station Approach, SE1 7NN. Free.

OFFER – Get 50% off all food orders at the newly-opened culinary hotspot: Les Deux Salons. From 5pm-11pm until 14th Oct, 40-42 King William IV Street, WC2N 4DD. 50% off.