Something For The Weekend

Astor Noshing...

Tucked away in Piccadilly, right next to the Piccadilly Theatre is Astor Bar and Grill - formerly Atlantic Bar and Grill.  Don't let the modest exterior put you off - this is a joint that loves itself on the inside, and your insides will love it too. In fact, I’m actually drooling a little bit….

Astor is based in a Grade II listed building, which only adds to the exquisite interior.  Think art Deco on the walls, high ceilings, candlelit lamps on every table and purple glowing alcoves. The word plush springs to mind - good job I was wearing a shirt! 

The well-trained Maitre' D led us to our table and served us the menu. I’ve got to say, being as famished and parched as I was, the service was out of this world.  My long-awaited glass of the good stuff was delivered immediately and re-filled when necessary – (a lot, obviously).  But seriously, the waitress serving us was amazing, always there when we needed her, (ever seen Mr Deeds?)  The food was definitely no greasy burger fare either.  Apparently the steaks here are aired for 35 days before being served, mmmmm.  How anyone could wait that long is beyond me.

I started with a pint of prawns. Yes, a pint.  Not the usual bevy of bitter I’ll admit...

and this one took me a while to finish.  Well, I had to de-shell them all myself, but a bowl to wash my fishy fingers was placed before me and actually, there’s something quite satisfying about man-handling your food before you stuff your face.  The steak (did I mention it was hung-dried for over a month?) comes with fries, button mushrooms and shallot onions, and you get the choice of 8oz or 10oz - guess what I got? 

Finally for dessert, I had a chocolate fondant with pistachio cream.  Amazing!  I reckon this restaurant will fast become a regular haunt of mine. I’d say it’s suitable for pre-theatre and also meeting up with friends for a pre-event cocktail, (the atmosphere is buzzing). Oh, also, you can’t get a much tastier night out than a slab of steak with a hot date. Lads, take your lady here for one meaty treat she won’t forget in a hurry. - By Alex Peppis

Astor Bar and Grill, now 50% off all food

The Blue Man Group...

Sara Sha'ath reviews The Blue Man Group:

Who on earth are The Blue Man Group?

Well… imagine if you took three smurfs, robbed them of their chirpy white caps and endearing little dungarees, dressed them in black and locked them away for an eternity with only strobe lights, pvc pipes, regurgitation, broadband internet access and their innate, impeccable sense of rhythm to keep them amused. When the eternity has passed you seek them out, only to find that they have evolved into a small race of glistening blue humans. Mute and attentive, like fully-grown-man bunnies, they show you the instruments they have fashioned, the music they have created, the tricks they have learnt and the insights and conclusions they’ve drawn about modern society during their seclusion.

What should I expect?

It’s best not to expect anything at all. There is no way that you can prepare yourself for seeing this show, in fact if you go so far as to research it before you go (as I misguidedly did) you run the risk of bursting the bubble before it’s even been blown  – not that this piece has any ‘Mouse Trap’-esque twists but the truth is that its novelty is its charm. 

What’s it about?

Well, here’s the tricky bit – it’s about art, about elitism, about alienation in the modern age and, in a way, it’s a sort of expose of the strange and more instinctive aspects of human behaviour, like dancing, courting and covetousness. But don’t worry; you don’t need to know any of that to enjoy watching the spectacle. At times you sense the ghost of a unifying “message” among the madness, but blink and you could miss it. For the most part, the show seems to be about multi-sensory stimulation and good old-fashioned entertainment  - executed with a dazzling array of complex props, effects and a slick grease-painted expertise.

Will I like it?

This is show is so universal you’d think it was Disney and so varied that only the most practiced of apathetic teenagers could fail to find anything to impress. That said, there is a strong element of audience interaction from the word go; so if you are the type of person who cringes at karaoke you might not be so keen. Without giving too much away about the performance, I think you should also steer clear if you are a churlish intellectual-type, a green-peace campaigner or an epileptic.

So what’s the verdict?

The Blue Man Group definitely get brownie points for thinking out of the box. While there aren’t really any acrobatics (save an opening act that takes catch-the-peanut to new and awe-inspiring heights), the stunts are adeptly executed, bizarre ideas rather than your traditional box-splits and jazz-hands. It’s a messy noisy anarchy – massively engaging, incredibly surreal and well worth a visit.

What our customers thought:

“Even better than I expected – it’s intelligent art”  (Jesus, London)
“I’ve never been to the theatre before and this was really original” (Sibylle, London)
“Like nothing I’ve ever seen before – very original” (Brian, Hounslow)
“You’ve got to try it” (Susan, Hounslow)

Book The Blue Man Group – now 50% off

Take THIS...

We’ve been hearing about it all week, and since our last feature on Take That we’ve had an explosion of emotional emailage from fans around the country, so here are a few thoughts from the  fans themselves…

Hayley Greaves went to the show on Monday night:
“They definitely re light my fire!  I went with the thought that I have grown up a little since my poster on the bedroom door days and expected to stand in the audience politely nodding my head and clapping my hands.... But oh no! there I was screaming like a 14year old! Whoooohaaa!!!

I had forgotten how well they could dance unless they have had a few lessons or I just didn't appreciate it back in the day!

They did a great bit about the Manager and the making of the band and a beetles cover and added a little bit of humour or it could have just seemed funny to me (not really sure!)

There was a distinct lack of the good looking one (Mr Williams I am here when you need a wife!) There was however a smattering of knickers on the stage which I felt was unjustified because their only talent was the break dancing, songs from the old days and their ability to make 10,000 people scream all at the same time!

I would also just like to add that Wembley Arena looks better for the lick of paint however, it is now a non smoking venue, which is fine, except, if you do want a cigarette you have to go outside and you are not allowed back in! So once you're out, you're out! (Surely that's discrimination of us weaker willed fag addicts!)”

Katy Greenbank from Manchester wrote the following, and sent us these photos. Aaah, to be 16 again...

“To hear that they’ve reformed and are kicking off a tour reminiscent of the old days, well it’s just too much for a twenty-something’s brain to cope with. I’d like to say that, as a mature adult, when I see them twice in the coming weeks, I won’t scream and jump up and down like an embarrassing loony; that my heart won’t simultaneously be in my mouth and in my shoes when they sing “Never Forget”; or that I won’t be convinced that when Gary Barlow points vaguely into the crowd, he is actually singling me out as his future bride. But who am I kidding?”

Emeline Ham Yiing went to see them last week…
“Their first Wembley gig in 12 years.  It was AMAZING!!!!!! AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. And a little bit emotional actually.  You are SO in for a treat – the stage show is spectacular, there was fire, rain, sexy dancers. Woo. I wanna go again!! Bev Knight sang relight my fire – awesome.”

So there you go folks, just a little something straight from the mouths of those who should know. They haven’t lost it after all,… take THAT and party!

Click here to win tickets to the Milton Keynes concert

fresh prince of the South Bank...

QUITE EXCITINGLY... We've just been informed that Geoffrey from the Fresh Prince is currently starring in a play at the Globe Theatre. I KNOW!!! Geoffrey the Butler is apparently a very talented Shakespearean actor and played Claudius in Hamlet last year in Basingstoke.

We should all go and support Geoffrey (aka Joseph Marcell) in Coriolanus at the Globe. It's running til August 13th so book it in your diaries.

It might be three hours long and all about politics (gulp) but come on.... god knows he put up with enough gyp from that pesky Will....

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

On Friday night, we managed to get some cheeky tickets to the Snow Patrol gig at the Forum in Kentish Town, and being the obnoxious buggers we've been trained to be, we pushed right to the front to snap their snow-ness up close. Their new album, Eyes Open is out now, and the boys'll be playing a few festivals this year including Latitude and Get Loaded in the Park (Cardiff).              

              Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

                                    

BECKY ON: it's been a short week...

...but we've still never been as deserving of a weekend. I mean, CHECK OUT THE WEATHER!!!

Right, what's going on out there? Well, obviously the word on the street is "elephant" and if you've been on Mars and the photos below mean nothing to you, click here to get with the program. The Sultan's Elephant will be winding its mechanical way round the streets of London all weekend, freaking people out with high decibel roars, no doubt. It's all in the name of art and thankfully, not dung. Can you imagine??

Anyway, what else?

Obviously the Happy Days shopping blowout is not to be missed, happening all weekend round Brick Lane area. Snatch yourself a bagel while you're down there, mmmm baby...

Also going on all weekend in Wembley is The London Guitar Show 2006, Europes biggest guitar show, apparently. Strum on THAT.

It's gonna be swinging down on Archway Road at The Boogaloo as they kick off May with some weirder stuff than the giant elephant. There are two fab sounding shows not to miss:

Sunday - The Medieval Babes - Showtime 9pm....FREE

These girls have achieved legendary status in the last few years, singing 13th century songs while looking like they just walked out of the Baywatch set.

Monday - Declan O' Rourke  in Concert - Doors open at 7pm - advance tickets here 

Nominated for 3 Meteor Awards this year, Declan's hailed as the next big thing and a successor to Damian Rice. He begins his first of 3 shows here this month.

Also, psssst, NEWS JUST IN. Apparently "a big band" as in name, not size, will be playing at Boogaloo this month. Keep checking the website for updates...

Have a good one ya'll, and happy elephant spotting!

the elephant has landed...

when tuesday is the new friday...

Every year the Fat Tuesday tent at the Big Chill festival is the bit that rocks the most, by far.
 
And after a string of successful events and festival appearances in 2005, Southern Comfort Fat Tuesday returns on the 5th May (this Friday, not Tuesday!) to showcase the best of underground New Orleans at a secret central London location... oooooh.

Legendary author and social commentator Nik Cohn will be performing a spoken word account of life   in New Orleans following Katrina. He'll be sharing the live stage with the strangely-named New Orleans rappers Shorty Brown Hustle, Snoop and Chicken. What were their mothers thinking??? Also in the main room, alongside the New Orleans showcase will performances from Crazy P, Sunday Best/Bestival creator and Radio 1, DJ Rob da Bank, one-man-band and human beatboxer Son of Dave, and hotly-tipped covers band Barefoot.

Amongst other stuff, something that sounds REALLY COOL is the interactive theatre company Gideon Reeling, who'll create a surreal parallel party of seedy jazz and speakeasy ambience, where, apparently, the line between performer and audience is blurred to invisibility. Come, don a mask and navigate your way through a labyrinth of themed rooms, where dark corridors, mysterious secret rooms and unexpected fun are all part of the evening's offering.

Sounds pretty fab right? For more information and tickets click here

BECKY ON: a step back in time...

We just got word about this awesome sounding bar, opening this week in W1. It's called Volstead and comes from the team behind uber-cool establishments, Cocoon, Boujis and Eclipse bar. It claims to be a new club/lounge that is just as good-looking as you are.  Have you looked in the mirror lately, darling you're faaaabulous! Built on the site of former 60s hotspot Sybilla's, Volstead is named after the wally who passed the Prohibition Act (ironically inducing one massive party).

Cocktails like the Flying Yellowly or Chicago Ginger come from London's grooviest barman, Andreas, formerly of Momo's, whilst dinner includes a sophisticated Wagyu (i.e., massaged to perfection) beef burger, truffled mac 'n' cheese and home fries with sour cream and caviar. Mmmmmm, be still my rumbling stomach!

Plus, unlike anywhere that we can think of in the Big Smoke, Volstead has a swanky 1920s vibe: there are mirrored panels (most of which are Sybilla's originals) on almost every wall. Get those gloves and sexy ciggy holders out ladies, let's step back in time.

Volstead, 9 Swallow Street, W1 (020 7287 1919) or see a pretty video here

absinthe makes the heart grow fonder...

What do you get when you cross eighteen red, white and rose wine samples, a glass of beer, two Bombay Sapphire cocktails and four shots of Absinthe with an empty stomach?  VERY DRUNK, that's what. And I should know. A few weeks ago, purely for research purposes of course, Dan and I ventured down into the depths of London’s underground to discover the magic of Vinopolis – a literal taste of brilliance built on ancient Roman foundations and spread over two and a half acres beneath the arches of a Victorian railway viaduct. As if that’s not cool enough, it’s filled with booze.

We had to wait 45 minutes for a sampling class when we first got there, so we wandered round for a bit, learning all about how wine is made and carefully reading every lovingly designed exhibit.  Sort of.  Oh, alright, yes, we headed straight to the first wine room and filled our glasses with the good stuff. Well it would have been silly to wait around when, in a room filled with vines and expert smiles, we could taste the delights of pretty much any country in the world, fresh from the rim of a shiny new glass.  Delicious.

Eventually a nice little man gave us a talk about how one should taste wine properly, without spilling half on the floor of a dingy old man’s pub near the office, as a bemused, ageing war veteran informs you of the growing red crust around your mouth. The proper procedure amused Dan, who until that point believed that the glass to mouth to jukebox to dancing on table action was as complex as the whole thing got.  Luckily for me, I’m a bit of a connoisseur because not only did I recently take eight wine tasting classes at the LSE, I only got horrendously drunk to the point of forgetting everything I’d learned in six of them.  Proper wine tasting it seems, is a world of metaphors, where nothing just tastes like grapes.  The taste is quite often replaced by a feeling, such as “walking through a field of clover in June, watching ladies picnic on jam sandwiches.” Bizarre.

A couple of hours later, most of which was spent in the Whiskey Room sampling Scotland’s finest, (one of which was so smoked it tasted like the liquefied remains of a garden bonfire) we headed to the Bombay Sapphire Lounge for a gin binge. The soothing room bathed us in blue and was somewhat reminiscent of a posh New York cocktail bar. Well it definitely didn’t feel like we were sipping our drinks in a hole in the ground beneath a London bridge. 

Some time later and by now, suitably sizzled, we wound up in the Absinthe room, where a girl with a greenish tinge was boiling up the stuff on a spoon with sugar, or something very weird.  I thought I was hallucinating before I’d even tasted any and we’ve all heard the stories about this potent brew.  Oh yes, it's banned in the US and Canada, as well as most of Europe, but widely available to the general public using a token system right here at Vinopolis. Bring it on! 

Four shots and two beer tokens in the brewery later, I do remember sharing a bowl of pasta in an Italian restaurant with Dan and I think I may have had a beer, although it could have been water. Hmmm.  The walls were gold and the lights were red, I think, although they were moving around a bit.  I'm told we got the bus home.... who knows. I do remember, however, that a night at Vinopolis opened my eyes as well as my stomach to the joys of wine tasting, and the experts on hand to share their knowledge left us both thirsty for more. After a big pint of water, of course… - By Becky Wicks

Book Vinopolis, now 2 for 1 in May

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