Who. What. Where?
Fancy swapping out your local boozer for an evening of fine dining and world-class wines with a sprinkling of artistry? Well, Shoreditch eatery Oranj has got you covered on all three of those bases. Firstly, a number of new chefs will be bringing their culinary skills to the wine bar throughout the coming months. Ariel Mcqueen willl provide a nostalgic take on Mexican gastronomical traditions (October 3rd-21st), then Sami Tamini will be offering up a Palestinian feast (October 24th-29th) and for something a little more permanent, Toronto-based collective See You Soon will be stepping into the kitchen from October 31st – December 23rd). Oranj will also be presenting a collection of the latest works from London-based artist Frida Wannerberger, whose poignant biographical pieces explore womanhood through pencil and collage on paper, alongside a whole host of other exhibits, running from now until October 28th. To make a reservation and find out more, click here.
Next up, we have illusive London artist Kelvin Krash’s debut album, HARSH. For an artist who’s worked with the likes of Skepta, Playboi Carti, Giggs and more, Krash has somehow managed to stay tucked away in the shadows over the past few years; however, this record is our greatest insight into the artist yet. It’s incredibly difficult to pin down, but an eclectic mix of hyper-pop, melodic rap, R&B and almost punk-like energy make it one of the most intriguing projects to arrive this year. Oh, and there’s also a killer A$AP Rocky verse on the standout track ‘GET A GRIP’ that you won’t want to miss, trust us.
Apologies in advance for anyone reading this week’s segment on an empty stomach because our next inclusion comes from yet another restaurant you won’t want to miss out on. The Colony Grill Room – located at London’s luxurious The Beaumont Hotel – is run by Head Chef Ben Boeynaem, who offers up his take on transatlantic favourites such as shellfish, grills, steaks and more, with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant itself comes with a clubby 1920s New York atmosphere, alongside large-scale murals, so there’s more than just the food to feast your eyes on, too. And if you’re looking for a brunch spot, on Saturdays and Sundays, The Colony Grill Room offers guests a special brunch menu featuring dishes such as Corn fritter with avocado and a fried duck egg, Buttermilk pancakes with syrup and cured bacon and more. If that’s got you drooling like us, you can whet your appetite and make a reservation here.
Celebrating 31 years of supporting contemporary artists, Illy Caffè partners with The Cultivist for Art for Thought coffee cocktail talks on October 9th and 23rd at Michelin-starred Apricity in London. As the official Frieze London partner, Illy presents curated discussions by renowned curators like Joey Lico and Dr. Madeline Haddon. Meanwhile, guest can enjoy signature illy coffee cocktails and a menu of canapés by illy Chef Ambassador Chantelle Nicholson. The evenings feature topics, such as ‘How to Build an Art House’ and ‘Art Through the Ages’, while offering a unique blend of art, coffee, and culinary delights. Tickets are available here.
You’re in luck this week as we have yet another addition to your playlist courtesy of COUCOU CHLOE (who also features on HARSH), who provides a nocturnal, bass-heavy banger with her latest single, ‘POKERFACE’. Arriving from her upcoming project, FEVER DREAM, it’s a track that you can imagine will tear the roof off underground raves across the country and leave ear drums slightly worse off as CHLOE’s vocals seemingly come at you from all angles. But hey, it’s just a small price to pay for such a menacingly unique tune.
Black History Month kicked off here in the UK at the start of October, and to celebrate, Wray and Nephew’s Music Accelerator program is offering support from top music industry experts to help Black entrepreneurs progress in all areas of the UK music business. The program provides a free, three-month intensive programme supporting Black music business founders who work both in front of and behind the mic, such as producers, A&R, booking agents, artists, event promoters and more. It will offer a series of workshops, coaching sessions and networking events to help Black music entrepreneurs increase visibility, scale up their business and even pitch their ideas to investors. For more information on the programme, click here.
