Something For The Weekend

hot gigs this weekend...

Up and coming 10 piece dnb/breaks/rock/world/classical orchestra Keiretsu are about to release their new EP, and we guarantee, bands like this don't come around very often! Check out their Myspace

The new EP will be available on the night for a mere £3, or downloadable from www.keiretsumusic.com. One full track, Addict, from the EP is up on their myspace player NOW, so check it out before the gig.... which is all set for this Saturday (31st March) at *The Spitz* - Commercial Street, London E1. We love The Spitz, with its trendy proximity to Hoxton and the infamous Spitalfields market. There are plenty of bars on Brick Lane to lube you up before the show, then it's just a quick stroll to the gig.

Playing alongside them are longtime friends Breakmaus, delivering phat soul and funk, plus some fantastic DJ support.

Tickets are £6 adv / £8 door and can be pre-purchased here
Be sure to book ASAP as this gig WILL SELL OUT!

sizzling like a sausage at the BAC...

The Battersea Arts Centre is having a standup comedy evening from 8:00 this Friday, called Sausage Night III: The Revenge of the Sausage, which has quite a tasty line-up...

For one night only, London sees the return of BAC's fantastic fundraising event - Sausage Night. This year they're offering another meaty line-up of sizzling stand-up stars, including Simon Amstell (anchor man of BBC 2’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks), Scott Capurro (Perrier Award winner and star of Channel 4’s The Truth About Gay Animals), Stewart Lee (co-creator of Jerry Springer: The Opera), Josie Long (winner of if.comeddies Best Newcomer award 2006) and Mark Thomas (star of Channel 4’s The Mark Thomas Comedy Product).

Head over and enjoy comedy you can really get your teeth into, while raising money that will help BAC to continue developing the future of theatre - £12.50 from every ticket, to be precise.  Even better, your ticket price (£25) includes entry to the event and a tasty sausage.There will be a full bar on the night, too. No need to go thirsty! Head here for more info

Get discounted entry to Smartie Partie @ Turnmills 14th April…

One of London’s longest-running and most consistent house clubs – Smartie Partie, returns to its EC1 home at Turnmills on Saturday 14th April with another huge night of house music. And if clubbing's your bag then you'll be pleased to hear that SFTW readers can get an exclusive discount pass. Just print this blog entry with the pass below and you're laughin'!

Last month’s session was one of Smartie Partie’s busiest nights ever, so big things are planned for April’s effort. The line-ups remain special and exclusive to Smartie Partie and the atmosphere of the club continues to put other club nights to shame. Heck, not many other clubs can boast such a friendly and sexy crowd as Smartie Partie - singletons - get your hottest gear on.

This month’s special guests feature Argentinean sensation Ariel. Probably best known for his weekly 8 Hour sets at Freedom, Bagleys back in the day, his former Latinaries residency at The Gallery, Turnmills and his regular slots at DTPM.  Ariel is also one of today's most successful international DJs, having sold over 2 million records and played in more than 40 different countries!  Joining Ariel in the new look main room box will be old pro Alex P - one of clubland’s great characters and a Smartie Partie veteran to boot. He’s still very much in the thick of the action on the house scene and ALWAYS rocks the crowd. Expect nothing less this month! Smartie Partie’s beloved residents Carlos Francisco and Matty Wells join the revelry with additional DJ firepower, backed up by Funky SP regular Funky Disciples who gets his break in the main room. SP Promoter Trace Harris gets busy on his bongos, alongside the jaw-droppingly-sexy SP Dancers. Cameras at the ready boys (and girls).

One of the things that makes Smartie Partie such a treasured club, is its sense of variety. With 6 rooms of music on offer there’s something for everyone. Yes, even you.

In T2 dust down your disco shoes ready for a night of house retrospective featuring all the classic cuts from yesteryear supplied by the likes of Huckleberry Finn, Rasslin and Ramone. Over in T3, Danny Dove, Chris Biscuit, Nobby Smiles, Chris Joy and Charlie Cantanka are amongst the guests mixing up ‘All things House’, whilst In House we Trust host Topfloor and Over The Top do the damage in the Anexo Bar.

You know what to do: see ya down the front…

Saturday 14th April
Turnmills  - 63B Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5NP
Nearest Tube: Farringdon
10pm till 7am
£8 B4 11pm; £12 After 11pm

a taste of Moti Mahal....

Our resident foodie, Koulla Joannou tantalised her tastebuds with a taste of London's best...

"Moti Mahal is a world away from your local Indian. It’s billed as “contemporary fine dining Indian restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden” and it’s just that and more. Inside, it has the kind of décor that makes you want to order a Martini and exchange witty double-entendre with the bar staff. That’s to say, it’s warm and classy with soft cream leather sofas at the bar area and kitsch, retro chandeliers. The best feature has to be the open kitchen, which not only means the air is scented with the mouth-watering Tandoori spices, but it also brings a little drama to your food as you watch the chef work his magic.  The only problem is, with so much great food being cooked in front of you, you might get a serious case of menu-envy.

It’s the little touches that make this restaurant so fab. It wasn’t long after we’d sat down before the Head Waiter came to help us pick from the enormous wine list with his personal recommendation (a light, tasty Spanish white).  The food menu was extensive too with tons of choice and lots of veggie options. After much deliberation I opted for the grilled king prawns, which had a beautiful, delicate flavour.  The chef Anirudh Arora came out to see how we enjoyed our starters and recommended our main courses.  The lamb shank was absolutely divine and was so tender that it just fell off the bone.  It was perfectly spiced and tasted wonderful.  The rabbit in a creamy sauce was also delish and we had a variety of side dishes including a wonderful spinach and paneer dish and also a lentil dhal.  The presentation of the food is just as good as the flavours – it almost seemed a shame to cut it up.

When it came to dessert, I was worried I would not have enough, but managed to squeeze it in (there’s always room for dessert). I opted for the classic cheesecake and my partner went for the more daring dim-sum inspired parcels filled with chocolate, accompanied by hot strawberries, it was a winning combination and really unusual. 

The atmosphere in the restaurant, partly created by the friendly staff, was so serene and relaxing I had to remind myself that the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden was right outside.  If you like the sound of Moti Mahal,  you’ll find the prices are reasonable with some great set menus available.  I would say it would be a shame to rush such a wonderful meal before going to catch a show but being in the location that it is, Moti Mahal would be a lovely treat either pre-theatre or for the whole evening as you will not want to leave!   

Book your table at Moti Mahal.

By Koulla Joannou

when chocolate meets wine, meets Deb...

“Would you like to test out our ‘wine and chocolate’ tasting evening?” What a ridiculous question to ask a greedy freeloader like myself.  I bravely put on some stretchy trousers, undid some buttons and prepared myself for an evening of indulgence.  It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.

This connoisseur course is to educate the educated in choosing the correct wine to accompany their dessert.   I’m not really that fussy on what booze accompanies my pudding, but wanting to become more of a young lady, I was eager to learn.  We were given 8 different tipples, ranging from Pinot Noir to port.  We had to taste each and note its appearance, nose and palate.

I was then dismayed to realise that I didn’t seem to have a sense of taste.  Being a heavy smoker and suffering from the office lurgi is a lethal combination.  No one around me seemed to be having the same problem, and the yells of ‘mmm I’m sensing mangos, peppers and grass’ made me feel even more inadequate.  Our wise, elegant and rather scary teacher then turned for my opinion.  I’m ashamed to say that my answer went like this, “It is nice, and it tastes of wine”. 

My faux pas was corrected by a more detailed instruction on how to taste the wine properly.  I needed to let it breathe and swish it around a bit like mouthwash.  It wasn’t long before I was echoing the shouts of ‘lavender’, ‘raspberry’ and ‘butter’.  Once I had sampled the Shiraz, Sauvignon and the rest of the fine wine, it was onto the choccies, and we had the gruesome task of scoffing six different types in order to figure which went best with which drink.

All safely sampled, I wrote down which went with which and settled back feeling full and pleased with myself.  Turned out, according to the experts, I got them all wrong.  My main problem was that I thought all the desserts went with all the wines, my conclusion is thus: I like alcohol and chocolate far too much.  Tell me something I don’t know!  Anyway, I’ve heard whispers about a cheese tasting course tomorrow tonight – the stretchy trousers will be coming out of the wardrobe again. 

By Deborah James

For Delia's food and wine workshops, click here
For a chocolate-making workshop, click here

Win a weekend at the Holland House Hotel, Bristol...

We’ve always thought Bristol was quite a fun place, with tons to do and see, like the zoo, with its 400 exotic and endangered species, fab shopping at Broadmead and The Mall galleries, and oodles of buzzing bars and restaurants.  In fact, a weekend in Bristol could present that perfect getaway for those who don’t have the time, or funds to take a trip overseas. Well, it’s good to get away from your house sometimes, try something new, be a tourist somewhere you never really thought about going.

If it’s Bristol that beckons, we’ve found a fabulous hotel right in the centre with tons more to offer than just a bed for the night. In fact, a stay at the Holland House hotel is more of an experience than a room somewhere strange and new.  Situated opposite the beautiful St Mary Redcliffe Church, Holland House is located within minutes of the city centre. It’s an impressive four-star hotel that successfully combines state-of-the-art conference and business facilities with luxurious accommodation. We absolutely love the stylish restaurant and bar, and deluxe leisure club and spa. Each room plays host to some seriously lavish textiles and furnishings, complete with en suite bathroom and air-conditioning – there’s even free broadband Internet, so you don't have to break away totally. 

The ambient Phoenix Restaurant & Bar is situated in elegant surroundings – you’ll feel quite pampered actually as you peruse a menu of delicious and tempting brasserie style cuisine. The restaurant is complimented by a stylish bar, ideal for after dinner drinks – cocktail anyone? Well, you’re almost on holiday after all.

The hotel spa offers an ideal escape from the hectic pace of modern life. Sit back, relax and enjoy a selection of health and beauty treatments designed to relax the mind, body and soul. Treatments include Rasul Mud Ceremony - a relaxing Arabian cleansing ritual with exotic herbal mud and aromatic steam, Thermal Oasis with a choice of herbal sauna, salt infusion and dry floatation aiding deep cleansing of the skin, and a range of Holistic Therapies.  For those energetic guests, the fitness suite offers modern exercising equipment and even better, it’s all complimented by professional personal trainers. Keep your eyes on the task in hand though, people…

To win a luxury weekend at the Holland House, complete with full use of facilities, click here

Win Stranger than Fiction DVD's

Will Ferrell in a serious role needs to be seen to be believed, which is why we're giving away 5 DVD copies of his triumphant Stranger than Fiction, available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray on 2nd April. Email us with your name and address to be in with a chance of winning.

Harold Crick is an ordinary man, but all that is about to change. Stranger than Fiction is an inventive and heartfelt comedy drama from acclaimed director MARC FORSTER (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball).

This quirkily brilliant debut from writer ZACH HELM boasts an outstanding cast that includes WILL FERRELL (Talladega Nights, The Producers), EMMA THOMPSON (Nanny McPhee, Sense and Sensibility), DUSTIN HOFFMAN (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, I Heart Huckabees), MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL (Monster House, Happy Endings) and QUEEN LATIFAH (Beauty Shop, Chicago).

Karen Eiffel (THOMPSON) is an author writing her latest novel about an isolated man named Harold Crick. Little does she know that her fictionalised character is real. Taxman Harold Crick (FERRELL) leads a dull existence, regulated to the minute by his wrist watch. His well-ordered world is turned upside down, however, when he begins to hear a woman’s voice narrating everything he does and thinks. Enlisting the help of eccentric literary professor Jules Hilbert (HOFFMAN), Harold struggles to come to terms with the idea that he is in fact a character in an as yet unfinished novel. With Hilbert’s help, Harold finally starts to enjoy his life, even beginning a relationship with his IRS client, a government-hating bakery owner named Ana (GYLLENHAAL).

Meanwhile, Karen is struggling to overcome writer’s block and finish her story. Only one question remains: how to kill Harold Crick?

The Stranger Than Fiction DVD includes unmissable added value, including interviews with cast and crew. Email us with your name and address to win

It takes two, baby

If a picture can speak a thousand words, just think of the emotional depths a delicately choreographed ice-dance can dredge. And, if you don’t think Will Ferrell and Jon Heder mincing around in spandex all-in-ones can move you to tears, you clearly haven’t seen their crotch-interlocking scissor slide.

Jon Heder, of Napoleon Dynamite fame, plays Jimmy MacElroy, an Olympic figure skater whose rise to athletic fame began when he was plucked from an orphanage by his domineering coach/foster father. He eats, breathes and sleeps figure skating and performs with the kind of feminine grace and technical accuracy that can only be gained from the finest of montage scenes.

Chazz Michael Michaels, on the other hand, is a chubby, pelvic thrusting, whiskey swilling, sex-god on ice.  He’s a loose canon, a lone ranger, a wild pony… “Chazz Michael Michaels is figure skating”.

When a podium cat-fight gets the two rivals stripped of their medals and banned from their category, they find out their only way back onto the ice is to become the first male-male figure skating duo.

Putting everyone’s favourite Anchorman in shiny lycra, on ice and in the campest recognised sport on earth was a stroke of genius. Ferrell is hilarious as Chazz; he and Heder pull off some of the most wince-worthy slapstick and silliest banter you can imagine. Look out for Chazz’s man-boob jiggling rendition of the Black-Eyed Peas' “My Humps” and Heder’s tender manipulation of a peacock glove-puppet. To quote an illustrious critic:
“It’s like Zoolander on ice” (Dan, lastminute.com newsletter manager).
An accolade the film truly deserves. Blades of Glory will reach the silver screens of the UK on April 6th where you can see it at a Vue cinema for just £4.25.

Sara Sha'ath

Lady of the Rings...

Our resident theatre-guru and all round middle-Earth fan Claire Taylor could hardly sit still in anticipation of her "behind the scenes" tour of the upcoming Lord of the Rings musical last week. The show is getting tongues wagging all over town,... I mean, just how are they planning to bring a story (and set of movies) of such epic proportions to the stage in the Theatre Royal  this May? And surely the live horses will poop everywhere, and the Hobbits will molt, and the grass on those rolling hills will wither under the spotlights? HOW, CLAIRE? Tell us how! 

"Once I got wind that we were invited to see backstage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, wild horses could not keep me away. That’s because this theatre is now home to the most exciting show to come to the West End this year...
The Lord of the Rings.

For me, and I am sure countless others, the curiosity levels around this show are far higher than anything else that has swept onto the stage for a long time. ‘How will this classic and epic tale be adapted for the theatre?’ is the question on everybody’s lips. I have heard reports back from a few who ventured to Toronto, where Kevin Wallace debuted his show last year, but this does not rival the chance to take a peak for myself.

Entering the function room at the Theatre Royal there is already a bubbling anticipation from everybody in the room as we wait to see the results of the cast and crew’s toils during the last two months of rehearsals. Even for those who saw the show in Toronto, there’s still an excitement about all the work since then to make this show even bigger and better.

It isn’t long before our anticipation is satisfied, and we are led forward into the theatre where we can take a peak at the work going on behind the scenes. As theatre-goers, it is sometimes easy to forget the amount of sweat shed backstage to provide us with the delights that we witness when we go to the theatre, so it was fabulous to be able to see this first hand. Rows upon rows of laptops and equipment, taking up the seats that will be filled with eager faces in May, indicate the amount of work involved in creating this new stage masterpiece.

I make my way through the technical throngs to find myself onstage, looking back at what seems to be an immense space of seats. This is my first time on a West End stage, especially in a theatre of this size, and it is humbling to realise what will face the performers as they bring this show to their new audience. It’s also exciting to see the space of the stage and to wonder at the potential it can provide.

The potential is quadrupled once the mechanics of the stage are revealed. Imagine a floor made up of a puzzle of interlinking pieces, each with a mind of its own. We each took to a piece of the stage and began our ride, not for the faint hearted. Not only was the stage revolving at quite some pace, it was also moving up and down, unlike anything I had ever seen in a theatre before. I finished my ride more than a little dizzy but also awestruck at the performance that my imagination was unveiling. Once the scenery, performers and costumes are in place this is going to be a spectacular of gargantuan proportions.

It's time to get excited...."

Book your LOTR tickets now
Visit the backstage blog here

Going Doon, Doon, Doon...

Going out on a school night is naughty, but we all know that’s why it’s fun. Still, you shouldn’t be drinking your way towards a week-day bacon-craving in a darkened cavern. And you really shouldn’t be doing it with Patrick from tech on a post-work “just the one”, even if he has been stalking you for months around the water-cooler. 

If you need a place to hide with your illicit love interest, sexy  Doon in Trafalgar Square, a glamourous themed hideaway downstairs from Scottish restaurant Albannach, is pretty much the perfect place. Say the name in a Scottish accent!  This happy hot-spot has just launched a “wicked” new cocktail menu, and with fresh fruit in a berry blast, and chocolate shavings in a coffee-toffee cup of calories, you’ll be forgiven for wanting to treat the entire tech team in turn. Naughtiness beckons from every corner.

Doon invites you down Thursday to Saturday for the resident DJ - spinning a mix of jazzy house, funk and Brazilians beats.  It might be better to save it for the weekends, when you can schmooze till the early hours without fear of waking up late next to the office no-no. But then again...Koulla and I managed to steer our way out of mid-week trouble last Wednesday, look, (almost).

Doon, Doonstairs at Albannach, 66 Trafalgar Square - dine in the sexy restaurant from just £15 for two courses - exclusive to lastminute.com

Door policy: Friday and Saturday, free before 10pm, £7 after
(or £5 on Guest List).
To get on the guest list email here
To book one of the 5 intimate vaults for 10 people or more call: 020 7930 0066