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London's cultural highlights this month
After a brief artistic break for the New Year (spent mostly feigning detox while boozing through the month at various bar, restaurant and product launches), it’s time to get back on the Culture Wagon… And with both Valentine’s and the Chinese New Year rearing their heads, February holds lots to please in that department - along with a tonne of theatrical, artistic and musical distractions to round the month out nicely.
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ART: Love From Darkroom
Feb 1 - 14, Free
Darkroom, 52 Lamb’s Conduit St, WC1N 3LL
You could bah-humbug your way through Valentine’s again. But where’s the fun in that? Instead, embrace it in all its glory - with a twist, natch. Following on from last year’s Valentine success, Darkroom have once again invited a fleet of artists and designers to reclaim that much over-used heart shape - with print sales going to the Kids’ Company charity. Sure beats a cheap rosé and clichéd dinner, no?
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EAT: Gordon Ramsay Pop-Up
Feb 4, 12-2pm
How do you sell snow to eskimos? Well, if your name’s Gordon Ramsay it’s easy: make a pop-up with proceeds going to charity. To celebrate the launch of Red Nose Day, Lord Ramsay himself will be working behind a pop-up curry stall on Dray Walk. Sure you could be all cynical about the mainstream-ization of the pop-up phenomenon or selling curry on Brick Lane. But it’s Red Nose Day. And you just know it’s going to be the best lunch in town. At least we hope so for his sake…
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MUSIC: Grandmaster Flash
Feb 10, £18.50
Scala, 275 Pentonville Rd, N1 9NL
Grand. Master. Flash. (Yes, that’s right. But shush now and get a hold of yourself.) He - the legendary DJ icon arguably vital to the very development of the hip-hop/rap form - is hitting the Scala. He’s played for the Queen, is in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and was featured in the Smithsonian Institute’s recent exhibition for Black History Month. This should definitely be one for the memory books.
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FILM: Chinese New Year
Feb 3-12, £9.50
BFI, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XT
Proving that London’s interpretation of Chinese New Year can embody more than just non-Asian restos serving ‘traditional dishes’, the BFI is on-hand to celebrate with a smattering of Chinese director Tian Zhuangzhuang’s cinematic offerings. There’s the breathtaking The Horse Thief, The Blue Kite, The Go Master and the poetically self-indulgent supernatural erotic movie starring Maggie Q, The Warrior and The Wolf.
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TALK: Culture Now
Feb 4, 11, 18, Free
ICA, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH
Forego your usual Pret-in-front-of-the-laptop session this month and hit up the ICA’s season of entirely free cultural lunchtime talks. First up is ‘06 Turner Prize winner Mark Titchner (he of the massive faux propaganda pieces) settling in for a little chat with Tim Marlow on the 4th. He’s followed by Grayson Perry on the 11th, and Matthew ‘Frieze’ Slotover on the 18th. |
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WILD CARD: Suka & School of Life
Feb 14, £70
The Sanderson, 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG
As part of their ongoing collaboration with the School of Life, the Sanderson Hotel’s Suka restaurant will be the venue for this couples’ conversation counseling session with UJ’s own David Waters. Touching on everything from flirting and pillow talk to real heart to hearts, it’s sure to loosen the tightest of tongues. Now you just have to figure out how to get your partner to come to therapy on the most romantic day of the year. The three course meal and champagne should help create sufficient cover to at least get them there.
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MUSIC: Anna Nicole
Feb 17 - March 4, £4-£111
Royal Opera House, Bow Street, WC2E 9DD
From the genius co-creator of ‘Jerry Springer - The Opera’ and composer Mark-Anthony Turnage, comes this new production featuring everyone’s favourite troubled Playboy bunny/stripper/geriatric lover. There’s sex, extreme language (should be interesting in song) and drug abuse, as well as a challenging look at the way society treats its media darlings. The party always ends; in this case - too early. And yes we're totally serious - check out the preview vid if you're still unsure.
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ART: Susan Hiller
Feb 1 - May 15, £10
Tate Britain, Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG
With highlights from her vast 30-year opus, the Tate’s retrospective of American-born, British-based artist Susan Miller is this month’s must-see. Collating everything from her earlier 1970s postcard pieces to more recent projections and iconic mixed-media works, the show explores her fascination with the subconscious and is a moving, insightful place to start your Hiller-ian experience.
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WILD CARD: Disappearing Dining Club
Every Tues/ Wed evening at 7:30pm
Old Street Dining Room, 31 Featherstone Street, EC1Y 2BJ
We introduced you to this new dining concept at the end of last year, and are pleased to say it’s now up and running on a permanent basis (check out the ‘Land’, ‘Sea’ and ‘Air’ menu at £45 with fish, fowl and meat options). With one table and ten places up for grabs (bookings can be made for 1-5 people), the new mid-week Dining Club is £30 per person for three courses and a glass of champagne.
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LAST CHANCE: PHOTOGRAPHY: Shadow Catchers
Until Feb 20, £5
V&A, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Yes, yes, we know it’s hard to get your head around camera-less photography - but there’s something sincerely magical about this exhibition that if you still haven’t managed to get your derriere over, then consider this a call-to-arms. Closing shop at the end of this month, Shadow Cat chers explores the art of photograms through five international contemporary artists. Part painting, part sculpture, part photography; your old camera will never seem the same…
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LINK TO THESE FEATURES: ART & CULTURE
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