Wine, cocktails, neons, sample sales – ‘tis the freakin’ weekend! On the food front, we have a new French/Mediterranean restaurant to try and an Aussie café giving us a reason to head to Balham. Plus, we have some ideas for stocking fillers, Moët & Chandon included. Enjoy! This Weekend’s Picks • FRI The Ninth • SAT Milk Lates • SUN Lights of Soho presents God’s Own Junkyard TOP 5 ways to have your wine and drink it too 1. Bring home your favourite holiday tipple with the VinGardeValise suitcase 2. For fine dining and even finer wines, eat out at Noble Rot 3. Visit B.I.B in Dalston for some cheap and cheerful bag in box wine 4. From tastings to investments, WineChap has got you covered 5. Head to Soho’s latest Enoteca for a large selection of wine by the glass at Vetro FRIDAY EAT: The Ninth DRINK: Oriole Jun Tanaka’s highly anticipated restaurant, The Ninth, has opened. Dine on house-cured meats, salted beef cheeks with oxtail consommé and king prawn macaroni at the new French/Mediterranean restaurant. And – refreshing news – although it’s small (43 covers), Tanaka has dedicated the ground floor to walk ins. Half reservation, half walk ins – a trend we’d like to see more of. One of our favourite cocktail haunts, Nightjar, has birthed a sibling. Oriole channels the spirit of colonial times with its menu dedicated to the drinking habits of the Old World, New World and Asia. We’ll be starting with the Prairie Horn (a blend of bourbon, tea, and mustard foam) before sampling the Forest Sprite (a gin, arlette beer, wormwood matcha, and thaiberry tea concoction) before getting serious with the Zen garden-inspired Ryōan-Ji (Japanese whisky, blue rose milk, seaweed syrup and a rambutan). 12pm-10.30pm Prices vary 22 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NB 5pm-2am Prices vary East Poultry Avenue, EC1A 9LH FOLLOW US! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram See what we’ve been snapping this week on Instagram! First Thursdays Christmas Night Market Sponsored listing It’s all happening in Spitalfields at the moment. There are new openings from McQ, Rapha, and, with Christmas around the corner, it’s about to get a whole lot better. Next week, December 3, the Vintage and Antique Market is transforming into a ‘Christmas Night Market’ full of late night festivities – think live music, street food, festive cocktails, and, the official switching on of the Spitalfields Christmas lights. There will also be discounts and DJs in selected shops including Dr. Martens, Mercantile and The Dandy Lab. Let the festivities begin! First Thursdays Christmas Night Market, Old Spitalfields Market, E1 6EW December 3, 5.30pm - 9.00pm Book now Love Brunch 6th Birthday and Xmas Special at Studio 338 Love Brunch is turning 6, and they’re throwing a double whammy – a birthday bash/Xmas party. Robert James (Hot Creations/DC10) has been confirmed for the line up with a host of others. As for the venue, it’s at Studio 338, which thanks to its winter proofed, glass covered huge terrace – channels the vibe of Space a la daytime terrace days. Get into the birthday spirit here. Book now Love Brunch at Studio 338, December 5, 338 Boord St, SE10 0PF SATURDAY EAT: Wine Car Boot EAT: Milk Lates Wine Car Boot is back! Head to King’s X to bag bargains from independent wine shops such as Vinoteca, Borough Wines and New Street Wine Shop selling their top five affordable vinos. But, it’s not just about buying bottles. There’s street food vendors (Bob’s Lobster, Traiteur, Made of Dough, Kimchinery), plus paraphernalia such as glassware, Coravin wine gadgets and wine books. While Balham may not be our usual stomping ground, for one of our favourite Australian cafes, exceptions can be made. Launching its first round of Milk Lates, the go-to brunch spot will, for the first time, be opening up after sundown. The menu will be filled with game, roots and berries cooked over an open fire: think campfire cod with celeriac broth and smoked lamb marrow, ember grilled venison and game pie – all washed down with unfiltered wine, vintage ciders and perry (that’s pear cider). Tickets have sold out, but there are some tables reserved for walk ins. Get there early! 11am-10pm £12 West Handyside Canopy, N1C 4AA Sittings at 7pm and 8pm Hildreth Street Market, SW12 9RG SUNDAY SEE: Lights of Soho presents God’s Own Junkyard SHOP: Roksanda Sample Sale We’re big fans of God’s Own Junkyard and the work of the late, great neon master Chris Bracey, so we’re happy to hear his family of neon makers will showcase their own work at Lights of Soho. Head in to see the work of three generations, including his widow Linda, and their riffs on the iconography of Soho, a reaction and homage to the gentrification of the ‘hood once lit by Bracey’s naughty neons. Roksanda at up to 80% off? Statement colour blocking, paintbox-bright shades and show-stopping dresses… don’t mind if we do. Get to The Hoxton, Holborn early and join the queue for past season’s ready-to-wear and swimwear. What else is there to say? Well, except that MasterCard and Visa are accepted… 11am – 6pm Free 35 Brewer Street, W1F 0RX 10am-5pm Free but tickets must be purchased here 199-206 High Holborn, WC1V 7BD Stocking Fillers Say My Name On our Xmas wish list: personalised Moët bottles and monogrammed bathrobes and silk pyjamas… hint hint. Selfridges and Moët & Chandon Yolke monogrammed silk pyjamas Ralph Lauren monogrammed bathrobe WEEKEND GUIDE BY CS & SK LIKE SHARE FORWARD PREVIOUS EDITION (c) 2015 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved. Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free weekly mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.