Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category
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Savour these halcyon days… three ideas for Londoners
I’ve been abroad for a couple of weeks and I was pleasantly surprised – ok, thrilled beyond reason and actually pinching myself to ensure I wasn’t experiencing some jet lag-induced fugue of delirium – when I touched down at Heathrow this morning to… sun.
The British summer is a fickle beast, and I’ve learned not to question her often disappointing ways. You get what you’re given. But this summer, it seems we’re being given a break. And with a possible month of hazy days and rose-hued evenings ahead, I’m sharing a few London-based, oola activities I plan to hit up before the sun sets on summer 09.
Swim at the London Fields lido
London Fields lido - photo by purpaboo at Flickr
I spent a good stretch of my formative years in a swimsuit, and like most ex-competitive swimmers, I’m an absolute snob when it comes to swimming pools. I like them clean, cold, tightly laned off, empty, and if at all possible, 50 metres long. Read full post
Posted in Entertainment
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iWon iTunes!
It is a fairly well-known fact that iTunes is hosting the iTunes Live Festival this month – 31 bands playing over 62 nights at Camden’s Roundhouse. A much less well-known fact is that these tickets are actually winnable.
Now, I hear you logicians revving up your engines (“Everything’s winnable, you innumerate fool, it’s simply a matter of probability”) and I’m going to cut you off here: some things are just not that winnable. £10,000,000. Porsche Speedsters. Two-week holidays in the Maldives. I have entered competitions to win these very things many, many times, and I have not won. (It is likely I never will.) But tickets to the iTunes Festival? Entered once, and won.*
Posted in Entertainment
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Sayonara, Cineworld!
I will never, ever pay full-price (currently £9.80 for an adult at Cineworld, and a truly offensive £10.50 for an adult at Odeon) again. For I have been to Riverside Studios, and to quote the hero of a film you’re unlikely to see there, I’ll be back.
Riverside Studios on a summer evening
Riverside Studios is located in deepest, darkest West London… but Easties, I assure you it’s worth the trek. It houses a theatre, a cinema and an actual production studio, as well as a bar and terrace, and the staff treat regulars as favourite guests.
Posted in Entertainment
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Croquet, anyone?
Snacks, bubbly and very long sticks
Last weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a tournament-style event of that most exalted of British summer sports… croquet. Yes, croquet. And you know what? It was fantastic fun.
Two things this Moola is willing to bet you didn’t know about croquet:
Posted in Entertainment
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Dinner party: sushi on a Sunday
I promised a dinner party… and here’s the first.
I was initiated into the pleasures of sushi making at a young age (no Japanese heritage; rather, I babysat for a hip foodie family) and make-your-own sushi is one of my favourite party tricks. What’s more, it hits a satisfying note in terms of affordability and impressiveness. Naturally, this makes it a prime candidate for an oola dinner party.
The supplies…
Ingredients for a sushi feast: five of your best girlfriends, and the following:
my most photogenic ingredients -- see full list below
Posted in Entertainment, Food
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Superclub, surprising prices
I love a night of clubbing – from basement bars that require a password for entry, to Balearic balconies and zone one superclubs, if the music’s chest-thuddingly loud and the crowd is up for it, I’m in.
But clubbing is not, alas, the most oola of activies. In fact, it can be proper pricey. So when some visiting friends suggested an epic London club night, sans epic price tag, how could I resist the challenge…
As it turns out, this one was easy: we went to Matter.
Matter is the new superclub (2,600 capacity over three levels) run by the clever minds behind Fabric. And right now, Matter is hosting a series of summer specials: huge nights out at just £5 for Fridays and £8 for Saturdays.
We went to Night Music on Saturday 13 June, and I paid £8 (plus booking fee, so £10.75) to see Moby and Trentmoller, amongst others. (In a word, excellent.) This was a full £20 cheaper than the other clubs on our shortlist.
people in matter -- thanks bigaila for the photo
Getting to Matter is easy, too. You can hop the Jubilee line (alas not when we went – engineering works) or take a bus or boat. There’s also a queue of licensed taxis for the ride home, should you feel like splashing out (a big splash if you’re going into Central London, though).
Here are a few of the reasons – oola and otherwise – that I love Matter:
Unexpected prices: Not only is admission ridiculously cheap for such a brilliant venue, but coat check (£1/item) and drinks (£4 for wine, beer and spirits; £2 for soft drinks and water) are also really fairly priced.
Mega space and sound: Epic without being intimidating, the venue has the same steel-and-concrete industrial feel Fabric has, and the first-rate sound and light you’d expect. What’s more, you can feel the bass through the bouncy (they call it ‘Body Kinetic’) floor. Our visitors were impressed.
Powerhouse staff: The place is run with dazzling efficiency. Staff are polite, non-intrusive, and always cleaning. What’s more, just as at Fabric, the loos are huge and unisex, so there’s no queuing for hours to get into the women’s toilet (one of my clubbing pet hates).
The morning after: Spat out the door into morning, those who don’t jump in a taxi get a blissful riverside walk back to the car park and transport links. It’s perfectly quiet and the empty river is awash with orange sunrise. You couldn’t ask for a better exit.
early morning Greenwich -- thanks Andy Lockley for the photo
I paid £10.75 for my ticket, £10.00 for drinks, and £1 for coat check. Tube to North Greenwich and from zone 1 (and then back again the next morning) was £1.60 each way. All in, that’s £24.95.
Given that I’d normally spend up to £80 on a big club night, that’s a savings of £55.05 — enough to warrant another night out!
Posted in Entertainment
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Make your own pottery for £12
Make your own pottery from OolaMoola on Vimeo.
My parents have been visiting the last two weeks to help me move. I needed to find something fun for us to do together as a family to thank them - the typical dinner out didn’t seem very creative (or affordable!). So when I came across Merton Abbey Mills‘ weekend market and learned about the £12 pottery classes in the Wheelhouse, I could not help but eying a massive opportunity to kill ‘three’ birds with one stone: Entertain the family, learn something new.. at the same time as adding some beautiful pottery to my glass cabinet.
Some of the beautiful pottery at Merton Abbey Mills
The classes are run by Stephen Llewellyn and cost only £12 per person for a 45 minutes session - this includes using the wheel, clay, as well as Stephen’s wonderful tutelage. As if that’s not enough, at the end of the session you’ll get to pick one of your masterpieces for firing and glazing, ready for pick up about 4 weeks later.
Pottery wheel
That’s me trying to shape the clay into something usable - with Stephen’s help. There’s a technique (or science?) to this - pressing the clay from the inside will force the clay to widen outwards, while adding pressure from the outside will make they clay rise upwards. Also - you’ve got to keep a very steady arm, using your right hand to shape the clay while your left hand should only to support your right hand so it keeps steady.
Mr. Teen gets help to shape the clay
Let me tell you - pottery is so much fun but it’s not easy at first! I find the whole concept of not using both hands very confusing, so I learned the hard way…
Doing it right - Doing it wrong..
The atmosphere in the Wheelhouse is historic and relaxed - dating back to 1885. Stephen was an amazing teacher, letting us know when we did well, and telling us not to worry when it all went awry: “It’s just a piece of clay,” he said with a smile as I tossed my fifth vase attempt in the recycle bin. Ay.
We had so much fun on our session. We even got to bring Flint The Wheaten to the session which was an added bonus to the family experience. My parents and Mr. Teen enjoyed themselves and they’re really excited to see the fnished result of their efforts when the clay has been glased and burned. Moolah well spent - so much better than a dinner out!
Below are a few of our finished pottery pieces that we get to pick up in about four weeks time. Don’t worry if you can’t choose just one of your beautiful creations though - you can have your other pottery glazed for only £3 per piece.
The results of our 45 min workshop!
I plan on going again soon - this is a great way to stock up precious Christmas presents (it’s never to early, is it?). And if you don’t want to bring your family around - it’s also a great start to a girl friend’s night out - or you can even bring a special date… there are excellent bars and restaurants in the area to visit afterwards.
Tip for you Londoners: There’s a festival in Colliers Wood this weekend. Get in line for a free ticket to try the pottery wheel this Saturday - show up around 10 to be sure you get on the wait list!
The Wheelhouse
Merton Abbey Mills
A24 Merantun Way (behind Sainsbury’s at Colliers Wood).
0208 647 0076 on weekdays/ 0208 543 6656 at weekends
Individual tuition is in a small group of up to four people. Classes are held from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, and at other times by arrangement.
The Wheelhouse accommodates only 4 people per session, so don’t leave the booking until it’s too late - two weeks in advance is usually enough time to get your reservation in.
http://www.stephenllewellynpottery.co.uk/
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Beauty, Crafting, Entertainment, Family
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Challenge: Spend a whole day in London without spending a penny
Now this one is easy. Too easy, in fact, as London is one of those brilliant cities which is actually chockers with free stuff to do.
One of the most obvious places to start is London’s world-class museums and galleries, which unlike other cities around the world, offer free admission to many of their permanent collections. You could easily spend days wandering the capital’s great galleries without spending a penny. But there’s a chance you could suffer from a serious case of gallery fatigue. Plus there’s loads more to see and do. Here’s a sample itinerary of a full (free) day in London:
11am Free 80 minute yoga class
Dermalogica, KensingtonThe Dermalogica store in Kensington hosts a whole line-up of free health and well-being classes and workshops. Check online to see what’s coming up and book in advance.
1pm Take a packed lunch and picnic in the splendour of Kensington Gardens. People-watch, squirrel-watch and bird-watch for free.
2pm. Take in some culture and visit a free gallery or museum. The V&A Museum is nearby and houses an extensive collection of art and design.
4pm Get ready for a big night out with a free makeover at The Body Shop.
6pm. Go to a free taping of a TV show and spend the night with your favourite celebrities. Some of them even give you free booze! Apply well in advance for free tickets at the BBC or at Applause Store. Just keep in mind that you need to queue up very early for tickets on the night, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get in.
9pm. Time to hit the (free) night clubs! Death Disco in at Notting Hills Arts Club is my pick of the bunch –with guest DJ sets (including the likes of Courtney Love, Tim Burgess, and Mercury Rev) and free live acts as well. (Wednesday nights only)
Posted in Beauty, Entertainment, Health & Fitness, Travel
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Day trip to Paris for £50 [Part 3]
I’m back from Paris – and despite the fact that I “failed” the challenge by exceeding the £50 budget before setting foot in France, I think I did fairly well by only spending a grand total of €11.20 on the day. I enjoyed a glorious day of the very best that Paris has to offer in terms of sight-seeing, shopping and eating local food. (You could definitely get by on less than €10 a day in Paris, but unfortunately the hot weather got the better of me and I succumbed to the lure a €2.50 strawberry icecream on Ile St Louis.)
I saved money by packing my own bottle of water and preparing a “grazing” box of nuts, dried fruit and bits of chocolate I found in the pantry. This really helped as the pound has taken quite a beating in recent months – for instance, a latte will set you back around €3.80, whilst the asking price from a bistro for a glass of Coke is €5. I could have prepared a packed lunch as well, but part of the challenge was that I actually eat local food, so that was out of the question.
Here’s how my day panned out:
7.15am Departed St Pancras International on Eurostar.
9.30am Arrived at Gare du Nord station in Paris.
9.45am Purchased a single Metro ticket (€1.60) to the Marais.
10am Arrived in the Marais and spent some time window-shopping and picking up a few items for my picnic lunch. I found a bakery, patisserie and fromagerie on rue de Bretagne, and spent a total of €5.50. This was actually a really good, budget-wise move, as I had enough bread and cheese for both lunch and dinner – score!
12 noon. Headed to the Musée Carnavalet, which offers free admission. Spent a couple of hours checking out the extensive collection devoted entirely to the history of Paris. The beautiful manicured hedge garden was also a highlight – like a mini Versailles! – and provided a valuable resting stop in between all the history and art.
2pm. Found the most gorgeous little park just opposite Musee Carnavalet on rue des Francs Bourgeois for my picnic lunch. The cheese and baguette went down a treat – with lots left over for afternoon munchings and dinner! (So much more affordable and thrifty than getting a single take-away Croque Monsieur for €6.50.)
2.30pm. Walked back through the Marais towards the Seine, stopping to look at a few discount and vintage shops. If you’re up for a fashion bargain, you might like to check out these shops:
Free ‘P’ Star Bretonnerie – cheap vintage fashion (see below). Climb the ladder to the little loft area and rummage through the €5 handbags. 8 rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie
La Belle Epoque – vintage fashion. 10 rue du Poitou
Come on Eileen – vintage fashion. 16 rue des Taillandiers
L’Habileur – discounted second-hand designer fashion, including A.P.C. and Vanessa Bruno. 44 rue de Poitou
3pm – Walked across Pont Louis Philippe to Ile St Louis, stopping to admire the Seine in the afternoon sunshine. Joined the queue at Berthillon for a delicious €2.50 fraise glacee (strawberry icecream).
3.15pm – Crossed Pont St Louis and watched street buskers for a bit of free entertainment. Stopped for a rest in the square at the back of Notre Dame, which is also a great place to pass some (free) time in Paris. I made a beeline for the seats under the shady avenue of trees.
3.30pm – Visited Notre Dame, which is free entry (although you have to pay if you want to go up the towers) – and marvelled at the stained glass windows and vaulted arches. Amazing building.
4.30pm – Crossed to the Left Bank and browsed legendary bookshop Shakespeare & Co. (Tip: the upstairs window gives you one of the best (free!) views of Notre Dame. There are also lots of chairs and benches for (free!) reading.
5pm – Wandered around the back streets of the Left Bank, visiting tiny churches and looking in shop windows, before getting another single Metro ticket (€1.60) back to Gare du Nord station to catch the Eurostar back to London.
TOTAL SPENT: £70.20
USUAL COST OF DAY TRIP TO PARIS:
£309 (Fully-flexible standard Eurostar fare)
£15 (Standard bistro lunch for one)
£20 (Standard bistro dinner for one)
£5.80 (One day Mobilis Metro ticket)
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£349.70
TOTAL SAVED: £279.60Take a look at the video of my glorious €11.20 day in Paris…
Oola Moola goes to Paris from OolaMoola on Vimeo.Posted in Entertainment, Fashion, Food, Travel, Vintage
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See the latest bands in London for £0
For me, one really annoying thing the recession has really impacted on is last-minute purchases, especially when it comes to entertainment.
But with ticket prices to bands costing up to £60 for two, I’m finding it really difficult to justify the expense. I usually only find out about a new gig at the last minute, so I haven’t had time to allow for it in my budget. Which means that I keep missing out on my favourite bands.
But I’ve managed to catch quite a few new bands – and a couple of favourites – at one of my favourite record shops in London, Rough Trade East. I signed up for their newsletter last year, and they email through weekly updates about upcoming instore concerts. They’re always free gigs, but sometimes you have to turn up at the store and queue to get a wristband to guarantee entry. But it’s well worth the effort. Last year I got an email about an upcoming Spiritualized show, so I headed over to the Shoreditch store to get my wristband. The show was brilliant, and I also got my new CD signed by the band. One of the best things about instore gigs is the size and intimacy - I’d never get that close to a band at a concert.
Check out the free gigs coming up over at Rough Trade - there’s Paper Cuts on Monday 13th April and Marianne Faithfull on Wednesday 15th April.
Many record shops in cities around the world have free in-store gigs from time to time. In New York, there’s Sounds Fix in Williamsburg.
What about you? Are there good record shops with free in-store gigs near you?
Images courtesy of Spiritualized (that’s them playing at Coachella - yep, couldn’t afford those tickets!) and Rough Trade East.
Posted in Entertainment
