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This week, we’ve got art and design on the mind. Saturday kicks off the 60th Venice Biennale, and the Salone del Mobile Milano is on this week, too. If you’re heading to the States, Frieze LA may have just finished, but Frieze NYC is on at the beginning of May, and our own Summer Exhibition at the RA is just around the corner. Spring is here and it’s feeling good!
Have great weeks all.
xx Taryn and Team UJ xx
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 | |  | | | Domo Arigato | | Los Robots | | | Yes, the robots are coming. When you check in to LUMA, a new hotel in San Fran’s Mission Bay neighbourhood, it will be a robot who will hand over your room keys; Emirates also has a check-in assistant of the metal kind, and following in Din Tai Fung’s footsteps, we’re seeing more and more robots in restaurants (especially ramen spots).
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|  | |  | | | July | | Low Intervention Wines | | Soho | | | For ages, there were only a handful of places you could get natural wines in the West End. Ducksoup, Rita’s, Bubala, Antidote, Bar Crispin, Firebird, Carousel and, a bit further, The Hoxton Holborn, but now, they’re coming in fast and furious. Three newish ones to note: Carmel Fitzrovia, Akoko, and July. Salut!
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| | |  | | | Birmingham Royal Ballet at Sadler’s Wells Theatre | | 24-27 April | | Sponsored Listing | | You know the story: cursed by a wicked fairy, a beautiful princess pricks her finger and falls into a deep sleep that can only be broken by true love’s kiss.
The Sleeping Beauty is a true classic, and has been delighting audiences for well over a hundred years, sprinkling ballet magic on this favourite childhood story and its cast of familiar characters. This production includes sparkling virtuoso dance from BRB’s brilliant dancers, fairy-tale characters, a dazzling spectacle, and Tchaikovsky’s glorious music played live by the acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Tickets from £15.
★★★★
“Magic for audiences”– The Guardian
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|  | |  | | | The Cocochine | | Around Town | | To note | | Recently Opened
Starting with an opening that fits our art theme: Mayfair’s The Cocochine, by renowned gallery owner, Tim Jefferies, with a kitchen manned by ex-Pétrus (Ramsay) chef. The menu is innovative modern European, and the restaurant’s design, especially at the seven-seater chef’s counter, lets you know that someone with a great eye is behind this place. 20 Berkeley has been rebranded as NIJŪ, with Endo Kazutoshi at the helm; there’s also an accompanying Japanese-inspired bar called Nipperkin, which is fun to say. Endo is also currently refurbishing his Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda, to make it feel more like a home – it’s expected to re-open this summer.
Coming Soon
If you’re a Fallow fan, they’ve opened Roe in Canary Wharf; might be time for a city trip. While you’re there, you could also pop your head into the new Los Mochis, too. Also on the bling Japanese tip, Sushisamba is opening a new cocktail and lounge bar, SAMBAROOM, this Wed, on the 39th floor. Over in Battersea, the Harts Group are opening two venues on the 26 April: El Pastor and Two Drops, which will be a neighbourhood spot that focuses on wine, beer, and, excitingly, cheese toasties. Also one to watch out for: Jackson Boxer is collaborating with the Experimental gang again; this time at their Henrietta Hotel with a new restaurant, Henri. That room has needed some fairy dust, and if anyone can bring the magic, it’s Jackson.
Pop Ups and Events
Did you know Guy Ritchie had an estate in Wiltshire? Neither did we, but he’s (smartly) teamed up with London’s Carousel to offer eight weekends, with eight chefs, cooking over fire in their outdoor kitchen. Booking the dining experience gives you access to an overnight stay in the farmhouse, complete with transfers. Their first dinners are on 10 and 11 May, with the acclaimed Mexican chef, Andria Cavita; tickets here.
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|  | |  | | | Biennale | | Finally, we get to the point. Some art! The Biennale is always a magical time in Venice. For what to see, we’re leaving it to the experts: Frieze have published their picks for Venice’s Giardini and Arsenale, as well as their off-site exhibition selection, too.
If you’re not going to Venice but want some Venetian flavours at home, the city always makes us think of the late, great Russell Norman. Buy his Venice cookbook and get cooking.
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|  | |  | | | London Fashion Week, June | | New format | | | This is an interesting one. To celebrate their 40th year, the format of the menswear-focused LFW in June will become a bit more of a ‘cultural moment’, with panels and events, brands that don’t have shows, and things for the public, too. Follow LFW for more info, which will be released closer to the time.
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|  | | | Salone del Mobile Milano | | Today-21 April | | | A trade fair that’s open to the public for two days (this Saturday and Sunday), The Milan Furniture fair is always a great place for home inspiration. Here are notes from London’s Design Festival on what not to miss if you’re there.
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|  | |  | | | Carbone | | NYC>LDN<IBZ>LDN<SING | | 204/25 | | | A few restaurant transfers for your radar. To start, in case you missed it, Burnt Ends, a Singaporean-Australian-style BBQ spot that’s number 41 on Asia’s Best List, will be coming to Harrods next year. Also opening in 2025 is NYC’s Carbone (yes! We love an overpriced bowl of pasta with white tablecloths) and Ibiza’s Jul’s, slated to open in St James next winter, too.
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|  | |  | | | Agoria Live | | At Musée d’Orsay | | | Musée d’Orasay commissioned Agoria to create an original composition, Gateway, inspired by the museum. Recorded in the museum’s nave, a 19th century railway station on the Seine’s left bank, the collective musical work created includes three styles and three generations of artists including Madison McFerrin, Agoria, and Nile Rodgers.
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|  | |  | | | East Hampton | | LDV at the Maidstone Hotel | | | Feels like it’s the year of the upstate NYC getaway and we’ve got our eyes set on LDV (Scarpetta NYC, Sette LDN), Hospitality’s new project and first hotel, where they are re-imagining the historic Maidstone Hotel. Bookings open from 17 June – 2 September. Check out their homepage, even if only to admire the art!
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|  | |  | | | News | | Salon C Stellar | | | Somehow, we missed this. Andrea Pfeffer, the founder of the excellent Pfeffer Sal, has left and set up her own spot on Beak Street. The treatments look like the perfect combo of top tech with cosmic elements; we’ll be there for the Astro Facial.
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|  | | | Spotlight | | Picante! | | | There’s a whole lot of interesting Mexico coming through. First, KOL’s Santiago Lastra is opening Fonda, a contemporary Mexican, on Heddon Street; stay tuned for more news. He’s also just launched a new collection of six house mezcal and agave distillates (a name which supports small producers who haven’t been given the right to label themselves as ‘mezcal’), available to buy and try at KOL, and KOL Mezcaleria. Jesús Durón, an ex-Pujol (CDMX) chef who has also worked at the three Michelin star El Celler de Can Roca, is opening DUÉ in London in ‘25, which will be French- and Mexican-inspired. Dalson fave, Corrochio’s, will be opening a new street-level Mexican below the main restaurant, on Cinco de Mayo. And lastly, in actual Mexico, Belmond have opened Maroma, a hotel in the Riviera Maya that began life as the private home of architect José Luis Moreno, who kept adding cottages to the property so that his friends could stay.
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|  | |  | | | London Marathon | | Mile 21 | | | It’s almost the London Marathon, and you know what to do! Get yourself to mile 21 to cheer everyone on with the best around, Run Dem Crew; if those participating can get up to run and raise money, we can surely be there to give positive vibes. The nearest stations are Limehouse and Westferry. They have a ticketed post-race soirée too.
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|  | |  | | | Team Retreat | | April and May | | | If you’re looking for some creative inspiration, the community-driven La Pandilla in Ibiza is running two team building retreats that will be run by a local artist and focus on collaboration, creativity, and good times! Retreats are three nights and two days, and you can request the date you’d like between 15-21 April and 20-26 May.
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|  | |  | | | Rooftop Time | | Sessions Arts Club | | | Finally, it’s rooftop season! We’re going to highlight just one: Sessions Arts Club in Clerkenwell has an invite-only (or also open to tenants, and for private events) secret roof-top. Looks great, now time to get that invite.
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|  | | | Three exhibitions to check out.
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