Autumn is just around the corner and adjustments to the wardrobe are gonna have to be made. I’m hoping to get some key purchases in early to get full use of them, these are two items that recently caught my eye; SeaVees trail Boots, I’m into the moccasin style and I prefer these to the Yuketen ones and this Ally Capellino rucksack, which offers a really good modern twist on the vintage scoutpack.
Etienne De Crecy live at matter.
So far this year I haven’t been to any weekend festivals and frankly, with the exception of Glastonbury, I’m not that bothered. Previous summers have been spent weekend after weekend under canvas getting grubby, so it’s felt good to have a summer off. However as we roll into August and the realisation that the summer is on the way out, the Englishman in me couldn’t quite accept that this would be a season with no festival antics. With the market at saturation organisers are being forced to up the ante on detail in order to make their event stand out; for the bigger festivals line-up and bar space are all important but small or ‘boutique’ festivals need something extra.
My friend and owtic contributor Dan Avery put me onto Standon Calling; set forty minutes out of Liverpool Street in the grounds of country manor in Hertfordshire it has a 5000 capacity (a quarter of the size of Field Day) and boasts amongst other things a pool, excellent food, a 24hour music license, plenty of space in the campsite and festival fairies that leave a refreshing drink outside every tent in the morning. What’s more for its size the line-up is cracking, Buena Vista Social Club headline with; Liars, Etienne De Crecy, Gold Panda, Clock Opera, Summer Camp and Dolorean all making appearances, whilst Filthy Dukes and Greco-Roman host the late night parties. I can’t wait. Weekend tickets are still on sale, we’ll be covering the event and hopefully sneaking a slot on Diesel radio. See you there..
I’m currently trying to talk myself into regular excersise, I haven’t done any since I was 18 and the beer consumption is starting to show. I think swimming is the way forward and alfresco is alot more pleasant, so living in Hackney, London Fields Lido is the place but what to do when it closes over the winter? indoor public pools are usually so rank. The newly re-opened Marshall street baths (yes I read the Metro too) in the middle of soho looks to be the answer, originally opened in 1931 and closed in 1997 for health and safety reasons, Westminster council have spent a few million quid refurbing them for the public and as you can see they look bloody great. What a great setting to swim in.
My mate Joe was cracking me up with his impression of Coco last night and as a result I’ve had the song stuck in my head so I figured I’d post it this morning. It also gives me the perfect opportunity to mention that she’s playing at the Queen of Hoxton tomorrow night after Field Day, supported by the excellent Phantom, they’ve got a late license and a new funktion One soundsystem, sounds good, see ya there.
Shacklewell Nights is a new hidden dining Venture based in a former clothing Factory in Dalston. It is a collaboration between Claire Roberson of Green Onion’s Supper Club and Jonathan Woolway of St Johns Restaurant, it’ll be open for two nights every two months. It opens this weekend, so better book now. Check out the blog for the menu and reservations.
I had my first supper club experience last Friday At Fernandez and Leluu’s, I highly recommend it, the food was great and good value (6 courses for £35) definitely a fun and different way of dining out. Good article over at Timesonline with info on a selection of londons best supper clubs.
I can’t wait to see Phoenix, lets all hope that the curse of Field Day is lifted and its super sunny. As always the lineup is bang on point, bar Phoenix we are especially looking forward to seeing the likes of Gold Panda and Caribou, whatever the weather the east end crowd are shore to turn out for Victoria Parks best festival, see you down the front. Loving this vid of the P22 Chorus posted on the website, they’re a 5th grade choir from New York, something like the real life Glee, their Gaga cover is BIG.
I don’t intend to spread OWTIC into the sphere of food blogging but like most normal people I love my food and occasionally something comes along that has to be posted about. My good pal Iggy put me on to this, the Peckham Meatwagon, no not a truck full of ghetto booty but a pop-up burger van selling the best goddamn burger this side of the pond! Owner Yianni Papoutsis travelled the states in search of great street food and inspired by his travels now runs the Meatwagon in his spare time. Follow him on twitter to find out when it’s next open and make the pilgrimage to Peckham. More info on Will Eat For Money.
Whilst I’m on the subject I had lunch at Koya noodle bar on frith street yesterday, open since mid-April it specialises in udon-ya noodles (the thick ones), the food is simple but delicious and the stylings all 45rpm. 8.50 a dish and probably the most authentic japanese noodles in central London, 4 out of 5 stars on timeout, well worth a visit.
Totally late on this one but saw it on PTLDME the other day and loved it, to quote; “It captures the feeling of summer break in the 90′s; the days of near- sighted wanderlust and learning how to play Nirvana songs on the guitar.” Sophmore are a New York based label, check their shit here.
