NYE 2012...

 

It's that time of year again, New Years Eve 2012 but what to do? Where to go? Well we've given you 5 London recommendations below - something for all social souls...


One. Clocking in at number one is Trash The Disco, taking place at The Rising Sun home of Disco Bistro EC4. This should be the venue of choice for foodies as the night sees three of Londons hottest chefs (Neil Rankin - ex-Pitt Cue and now John Salt having controversially taken over from Ben Spalding, Matthew Chatfield - The Cornish Grill and resident chef Carl Clarke) combine to cook a four course meal which includes a whole crab cooked on coals, Pure Devon Ruby Steak and The Fat Elvis for dessert. Tickets cost £80 which includes food and a welcome drink and a 90s rave up after.

Two. At number two we have a treat for the revellers amongst us. CRATE, home to bad-ass pizzas and craft beers are opening there doors until 2am with pizzas, beer and bingo - what more do you need? It's free to get in and should be a great place to start your celebrations which can then be continued (for days should you wish) at one of the many warehouse parties on it's doorstep in Hackney Wick.

Three. Ok we'll this isn't actually on NYE it's on New Years Day which is why it should be attempted by only the hardcore. Taking place at Paradise by Way of Kensal Green Tayo's Tracksuit Party is offering the perfect place to retox all day long. That's right you heard us a Tracksuit party so don your old school kappa and head on down for rave classics, hip hop karaoke and general mayhem. It's £5 in and you might want to think about your sickness excuses for work the next day.

Four. Those people down at The Shackelwell Arms have a decent line up of bands and DJ's which see's local psychedelic rockers TOY headline the night. The annual SEXBEAT NYE party hand picked line up goes a little like this: TOY / Cherrystones / Charlie Boyer And The Voyeurs / The History Of Apple Pie / COP / Beach Creep / SEXBEAT. Plus the first 50 people get a copy of the poster...tickets are £10 in advance or £15 on the door.

Five. Head to the Shakespeare (Allen Road) with a group of friends; laugh, drink and be merry. Ok we're biased as it's our local boozer but for those looking for a laid back, low key affair without all the fancy, smancy s**t and door charges head along to your local. Who knows you might even make some new friends from the hood. Now repeat after us 'should auld acquaintance be forgot......'

And if none of those float your boat there is a cracking warehouse party kicking off in The Designers Block, a NYE spesh Blitz Party or The Candle Light club with killer cocktails and bar food.

Whatever you do stay safe people and have a real good time...

 

CHRISTMAS FILM CLUB X HACKNEY DOWNS

This is our last Christmas film post for 2012 we promise....The Christmas Film Club rides into Hackney Downs Studios this month for an absolute blinding line-up, everything from The Nightmare Before Christmas to Love Actually and National Lampoons Winter Holiday.

What's more it's pretty cheap with prices from just £11.50 a ticket which even includes a free mulled wine or hot cider and there are plenty of sofas and bean bags and it's BYO booze. There are lots of dates to choose from so gather your mates (or take a date) and head on down.

All together now "It's beginning to look alot like Christmas"

Until 23rd Dec
Amhurst Terrace, E8
www.experiencecinema.com

PINGTRON POP UP

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Ping Pong is the new rock n roll. Don’t believe us then just head to Bounce and you’ll sharp change your narrow little mind. Anyhow there is some brand new ping and a ponging action in the form of a pop up from Pingtron which takes it one step further by dimming the lights. That's right this is ping pong in the dark.

The night launches tomorrow (13th) and for anyone still doubting the riot that ping pong causes then take on board what Russell Brand says on it, ‘The most fun you can have in the dark with your clothes on’ and he would know right?! The Notting Hill Brasserie will be home to the Pingtron pop up for the dates presented on the flyer below and, as you can see they have a whole host of special guests helping you fuel up for duel from Boom Burger to Snr Ceviche and a few surprise guests along the way. Don those sweat bands kids, balls are about to start flying.

PingTron Pop Up
Wed 13th Dec – Sat 22nd Dec
Notting Hill Brasserie, 92 Kensington Park Road, W11 2PN
www.pingtron.com

PROTEIN CHRISTMAS FOOD MARKET

Has there ever been more Winter Wonderlands taking place at any one time? We don’t think so, but you can never have too many right? So here’s another one from the people who brought you Hewett Street Block Party, a 3 day Christmas bash all about festive food. From the 14th December 18 Hewitt Street will be turned into a Winter Wonderland to house the festive treats of their Protein Christmas Market - mince pie popcorn, edible Christmas cards, choco smoked walnuts, special Christmas pud, pickles, Srriracha, kimchi, jerky and the list goes on and on.... It’s all about the food, the booze and you’ll be able to purchase a few gifts if you so wish and take advantage of their Christmas wrapping services.

Most of the produce comes from local suppliers including the likes of Lily Vanilli, We are Noble, Gelupo and more. All of the profits go to Foodcycle so not only will you be having fun stuffing your face you will also be helping others. There is all sorts going on. Get involved!

Protein Christmas Market
Fri 14th Dec, 12pm - 5pm
Sat 15th Dec,12pm - 8pm
Sun 16th Dec, 12pm - 6pm
18 Hewett Street EC2A 3NN
Facebook

MIDWINTER BALL

Let’s have a ball and a biscuit sugar. This Thursday you could do just that as Kensington Palace comes to life as an icy winter wonderland for their Midwinter Ball. A special one off night of jaw-dropping magic and stunts, decadent dancing and infectious live music. Whether you are a Snow Queen or Jack Frost the Midwinter Ball sounds like a masquerade like no other. Just picture escape artists, fire hoola hooping (easy on the hair spray then), mind reading as well as dramatic and death defying stunts, yes death defying. It’s all very weird and wonderful. Definitely something different to dive into this Christmas, come on, where’s you will to be weird.

Tickets are priced £20 from here.

Thurs 13th Dec, 7:30pm carriages 11:30pm
Kensington Palace State Apartments Kensington Gardens London W8 4PX
Entry is via Orme Square Gate and Jubilee Walk ( off Bayswater Road)

 

LITTLE WHITE WEDDING CHAPEL...

To celebrate the launch of event app YPlan those crazy cats have installed the wedding ‘chapel’ in BOXPARK a'la Las Vegas. Where the King himself, Elvis Presley, will be on hand this weekend to "marry" anyone who's up for it. The chapel is open until 11pm so in true Vegas style you can head out and have a few shandies, get blotto, get hitched wake-up and not remember a thing.

Fri 7th Dec, 6pm – 11pm
Sat 8th Dec, 4pm-11pm
Sun 9th Dec, 4pm-9pm
2-4 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1
www.boxpark.co.uk

HENDRICK'S LECTURE SERIES

There's only so many bars to go drinking in and sometimes you need a little bit of culture instead. Luckily the two come together nicely as Hendrick's gin are hosting a series of lectures, incorporating the weird, wonderful and macabre.

One particular highlight is coming up on Thursday 13th of December as Dr Pat Morris hosts 'A history of taxidermy: Art, science and bad taste'. A retired staff member of Royal Holloway College, he specialises in mammal physiology and shares his home with the largest collective and archive of historical taxidermy in Britain, making him the definitive expert in the subject.

Hosted at 11 Mare Street in Hackney, doors open at 6pm with the presentation starting at 7pm with discussions around whether or not taxidermy can be considered as 'art'. Some consider stuffed and mounted animals to be attractive ornaments, some as a way of preserving the presence of a loved family pet while others consider it to be unnatural and in bad taste. Whatever your viewpoint, the debate is sure to provide food for thought.

Thurs 13th Dec, 6pm
11 Mare Street, E8 ARP
www.thehendrickslectureseries.co.uk

SANTA BABY POP UP...

Popping up this month is a Christmas cocktail bar aptly named ‘Santa Baby’ who’s retro 1950’s American décor is modeled on a living room from that same era. The pop up is part of the Street Feast Xmas grotto and features top notch mixologists doing the shiz with nitrogen, high pressure distillation and more crafty and quirky refreshing beverage things. Just hold on to your stomachs...

There will be mulled red and white wines, mulled champers, eggnog, snowballs and homemade mince pies to provide that essential Christmas cheer. Open every day but Monday, well who likes Mondays anyway?

Did we mention the mulled champers?

Open now to 22nd Dec, 12pm – 11pm
Santa Baby 347 Old Street, EC1V 9LP

TOTALLY BAZAAR X YELP

The run up to Christmas has now begun and now is the time to start planning what to buy for those awkward to please family members. You dad already has enough ties and socks, and your mum probably is probably fed up of receiving perfume gift sets, it's time to get some new inspiration.

Luckily, Totally Bazaar will be popping up in Camden on 6th December for one evening only to help provide all the gifts you'll need this Christmas, supported by Yelp, the local online directory. It's a fresh twist on the traditional German market, celebrating the best independent London businesses, showcasing over 50 suppliers of unique gifts, crafts and ingredients all aiming to provide the perfect Christmas present. As if that wasn't enough, free nibbles will be provided and London-based DJs and singers will be performing throughout the evening, making this much more than just a shopping trip!

Best of all though, there's no entrance fee and all this Christmas atmosphere is free for everyone to enjoy, first come first served. If, like us, you'll do anything to avoid the major shopping centres during December, this might just be the answer to your prayers.

Thurs 6th Dec, 7.30pm – 10pm
The Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH
www.yelp.co.uk

CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA'S UNIQUE 'END OF THE WORLD'' LECTURE

Apparently The End of the World is nigh, and what better way to understand this than to take part in an intriguing debate around our possible impending doom…and enjoy an evening of killer cocktails too. For on Wednesday the 5th of December, in a 13th century crypt hidden beneath St Andrews Church in Holborn the Crystal Head Vodka’s unique ‘End of the World’ Lecture will be taking place. The vodka is the brain child of iconic actor Dan Aykroyd, inspired by the world of the supernatural and archeological mystery of the 13 crystal heads. It is predicted the world will end on the 21st December and this evening is to explore the reality of that but with the aid of Crystal Head’s mixologists who will be providing specially-created cocktails and signature serves along the way.

RSVP now as spaces are extremely limited: crystalheadvodka@wcommunications.co.uk

Crystal Head Vodka’s unique ‘End of the World’ Lecture
Wed 5th Dec, 7pm – 10pm
St.Andrews Crypt Holborn, 7 St Andrews Street, EC4A 3AB