Matt Costain
“March always feels like a time of transition, of possibility and new life. This year it feels as though we are emerging from a very long winter indeed. At Secret Cinema we have just opened Bridgerton, our first full scale live UK show in two years, and it is a huge thrill to be back with a joyful audience. I am extremely proud of the show, it doesn’t feel like anything else; it is a theatre show, a cinematic experience, an immersive world and a massive celebration. As the show finds its rhythm, the team here start to turn our attention to the next projects and breathe life into new worlds. I am just not ready to let Bridgerton go yet, so I’ll be at the show more nights than I should be. But then it is quite the party…”
Matt Costain - Creative Director - Secret Cinema
Bar: Common Counter
Perched on the corner of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green Road is Glass House, a new multidisciplinary LGBTQIA+ venue led by Glass House Projects. It consists of three spaces which are Common Press- a bookshop café, The Commons- a multimedia events space and Common Counter- a new bar offering a hub for London's diverse creatives and community to thrive as well as sipping a cheeky cocktail or three. The bar menu has been designed as a celebration of queer history. For example, Dance of the Forty One is a drink named in reference to a 1901 raid on a house in Mexico City that led to the arrest of 41 men, some of whom were wearing dresses — an incident which led to scandal at the time, but has since become a landmark moment for queer culture in Mexico. Other cocktails include Divine Intervention, Plum De Ma Tante and Lady Erzulle! The beer on offer is supplied by The Queer Brewing Project which has a focus on queer-led UK brewers and the wine is from GRAFT who deliver drinks from kegs rather than glass bottles, reducing the environmental impact. Mocktails are of course on offer for those who prefer not to drink and during the day you can indulge in a locally roasted coffee and baked goods too. No bar would be complete without an occasion or two so stay tuned to the website for info on upcoming creative events that will take place including voguing classes, poetry nights and book club-style discussions.
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Restaurant: Mallow
Event: Crick Nights
If you haven’t heard of it before then the Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical research centre near St Pancras which opened in 2016. The institute is a partnership between Cancer Research UK, Imperial College London, King's College London, the Medical Research Council, University College London and the Wellcome Trust. Their work and research is all to understand more about how living things work to help improve treatment, diagnosis and prevention of human disease, and generate economic opportunities for the UK. Well, they want to get more people interested in the work they do and part of this is their Crick Nights that are taking place on the 2nd March and also the 6th April. Have you ever wondered if cancer can be cured? How DNA works and perhaps in the last two years more than ever you have wondered what viruses really are? These two FREE upcoming event nights are where curiosity takes centre stage and gets us behind the science. Chat to world class scientists, get crafty with hands-on activities, and explore their immersive exhibition. You even get a complimentary drink!
One of the UK’s leading immersive theatre companies, Wet Picnic, are bringing a WW2 experience to life at the Imperial War Museum on the 10th, 11th and 12th of the month. Operation Black Door needs you to solve missions inspired by the real people who worked in secret government headquarters, based on stories from the second world war. With five different journeys to choose from, become part of the mysterious Department as you take on challenges to uncover the stories hidden underground in the labyrinthine corridors of Churchill War Rooms. These War Rooms were built under the treasury building in 1938 as a command bunker for the British fightback against the German conquest of Europe and have been open to the public as a tourist attraction under the auspices of the Imperial War Museum since the ’80s. Like any good immersive experience, fancy dress and looking the part is key to your success. Participants are encouraged to dress in the finest 1940s costumes to fully immerse in a time where every second counts and every decision could change the course of the war. I mean, that’s a lot of pressure on some shoulder pads right there. At £35 a ticket, it’s a pretty good deal for a night out with a difference. Book via the website link above.
Exhibition: Fashioning Masculinities, The Art of Menswear
Opening on the 19th of the month, the V&A opens its first ever exhibition dedicated solely to menswear. Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear will follow how men's fashion has changed over the centuries and how designers, tailors and style icons and fashion followers alike have crafted the male fashion look over the years. From renaissance styles to Harry Styles, there will be 100 looks and 100 artworks on display showcasing paintings, sculptures, films and more that highlight both contemporary and historical fashion. Famous faces appear that include names such as Sam Smith, Billy Porter and David Bowie as well, of course, as designers such as Raf Simons, Grace Wales Bonner and Harris Reed. The V&A says of the exhibition “At a moment of unprecedented creativity in men's fashion and reflection on gender, we will explore how designers, tailors and artists – and their clients and sitters – have constructed and performed masculinity and unpicked it at the seams.”
Event: Hackney Flea Market
Vintage lovers rejoice because on the 12th March the Hackney Flea Market is back with all the best fashion, furniture, interior decor, accessories, records, kitchen wares and more. It’s a bit of a cult event in London these days for the antique loving, sustainably living, circular economy conscious and you can be sure to pick up so many incredible discoveries when there. You just have to find them before everyone else does! This is the largest flea market in north London, and you can peruse the stalls of over 50 handpicked traders for the bargain price of a £1 entry. This event began as a pop-up event in the summer of 2013 in the busy heart of Stoke Newington's Church St and has gone on to expand across several locations across the capital and also now includes the D.I.Y. Art Market & Independent Ceramics Market. These are art fairs that champion a diverse community of emerging independent publishers, artists, and ceramic artists, providing visitors the opportunity to engage directly with artists, and discover a broad selection of affordable artwork. Doors open at 11am on the Saturday and you can shop until 6pm on Sunday 13th…if there is any treasure left of course!
Event: Head of the River Race
Since 1926, every March, 400 crews of eight rowers jump into boats and compete against each other in the Head of the River Race along the Thames Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney (the Boat Race route in reverse). Taking place this year on Saturday 26th March, why not head down to the river to watch this great race in person and marvel at the onslaught of boats that cross the finish line. Launching off at 10 second intervals, the boats race professionally and the winner is the crew that finishes in the quickest time. Over 50 teams travel from overseas to take part including rowers from Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, France Italy, and the Netherlands all taking to the Thames. It all kicks off at 10am and lasts for about two hours so a perfect Saturday morning activity with a warm coffee and pastry in hand. Regulars to the event recommend Hammersmith Bridge or Putney Embankment as two of the best viewing spots, both of which are close to riverside pubs and cafes to keep you fuelled.
Charity of the Month: Ukraine conflict
In light of the ongoing horrific situation in Ukraine we wanted to highlight some different charities who are looking for support at this time. More than 100,000 people have been displaced so far during the conflict and this number is sadly going to keep growing, with the United Nations refugee agency warning up to five million could be displaced. Here are five of the many different charities that you can help at this time: Unicef have an emergency appeal to support families and children affected, there is the Red Cross Ukraine crisis appeal, The International Rescue Committee is on the ground in Poland and ready to respond. The UN Refugee Agency is working with local authorities and other partners in Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance when needed and lastly Sunflower of Peace is a local charity which aims to gather medical supplies for paramedics and doctors on the front lines of Ukraine. Please donate whatever you can manage to help those in need right now.
App of the month: Whering
90’s film Clueless was a cult obsession and we all desperately wanted to be Cher and more importantly have her digital wardrobe that helped her choose her daily outfits. Well, the time has come people, we too can digitise our wardrobe and get help styling our already owned pieces without having to buy anything new. Whering catalogues your clothes, creates unlimited outfits, offers styling suggestions and if you do need some new key pieces then it will help you shop more mindfully. All so we can save time, money and reduce consumption. Find outfit combo’s you hadn’t thought of and learn to shop sustainably in your own wardrobe.