Right, we’re off.

One of the perks of having Spanish overlords running the le cool empire is the fact that they like us to take a couple of weeks off in the summer. So for the next two weeks there’ll be no newsletter, but if you keep hitting the website we’ll still be publishing a few of our favourite bars, restaurants, shops and parks of 2010. And we’ll be back Aug 11 with suntans and a general sense of smugness.

See you on Brighton beach say Chloe, Tom, Josh and Mat.

A taste of South America with Lewis Heriz
... Read More

July 22 2010

where
Home House Club, 21 Portman Street, W1H 6LW
Location Map

when
7:00pm - 3:00am

how much
Donation

exhibition
Joystick Junkies 10th Anniversary

Thursday night celebrates the ten-year anniversary of fashion label Joystick Junkies, whose casual men and womenswear, inspired by digital culture and retro gaming clogs up many a modern wardrobe. It’s a charity event, raising money for Debra, an organisation helping children with the skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa, and GamesAid, a video games industry charity supporting all manner of good causes for young people. So that’s two great reasons to go along, but there’s a third: look at the freakin’ venue! Further attractions will include DJs playing disco, funk and house sounds, a fashion show, a play room with all sorts of fun and games, and a poker tournament (by donation), hosted by Ian Livingstone (co-founder of Games Workshop), with cash prizes. Donate to Debra or GamesAid in advance, or bring some cash for the door. / Lara Kavanagh

July 22 2010

where
Jumbo Eats, 59 Brewer Street London W1F 9UN
Location Map

when
Mon-Fri 7am-5pm Sat 8am - 4pm

how much
£4 - £6

le other
Jumbo Eats

Sometimes you just want food. Know what I mean? Sometimes you don’t want to seek out some hidden treasure, or wait for a table, or call your mate who knows every restaurant in the Northern hemisphere. Sometimes you just want to walk into a place and say “FOOD” and they hook you up. Don’t get it twisted, there’s a time and place for all the above, but if you just want to be fed (well and quick) and you’re in SOHO, then hit up Jumbo Eats. Normally it goes like this: I walk in and say “I’m hungry” and he guy says “OK, do you like…?” and I say, “Yes. All of it.”. Then he makes a HUMONgous wrap with 2 chicken fillets, peppers, tomatoes, luxury humus etc. Then I hand over about £5-£6 and sit down to stuff my greedy, greedy face. You could eat and walk, but it’s not really a good idea, unless you want to wear most of it. There is NO neat way to eat a Jumbo Wrap. / Foo-D

July 23 2010

where
Queen Of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX‎
Location Map

when
8:00pm

how much
£5 - £7

club night
Roots Manuva presents Dub College

Weird Al Yankovic isn’t so clever. You see, my housemate has an office job that requires him to wear a nice tie and shirt to work, so each morning we like to belt out the chorus of Roots Manuva’s, Witness (1 Hope) with fitness oh so cleverly substituted for business. I find it hilarious every time, he less so, especially on Monday mornings. If Roots Manuva knew his work was being murdered daily in such a hideous fashion he would surely be disgusted, so hopefully I will have a chance to apologise in person for the flagrant misuse of such a great song at Dub College, a new night at the Queen of Hoxton. Billed as an exploration of ‘bass culture,’ the night will see a number of acts from seminal label Big Dada take to the stage, alongside artists from the Banana Klan, Roots Manuva’s own label/gang. And please feel free to sing along if you know the words. / Justin Biggar

July 23 2010

where
Theatre Royal Stratford East, Theatre Square, London E15 1BN
Location Map

when
7:30pm

how much
£12 / £8. Book at http://www.stratfordeast.com/

festival
Create

Create is a festival of arts, music dance that is celebrating homegrown talent from each of the Olympic boroughs, which, geographically-speaking means east and southeast London. It looks super cool actually, with too much great stuff to mention here from Ping, a ping pong project (ping pong being the new hip hop or something), festivals in Victoria Park, to these musical shows, Definition at Stratford. Screw Chicago – this feisty musical looks at them folks who hail from east (not you, Tower Hamlet regeneration migrant…), their hopes and ambitions around the Olympic buzz and more importantly everyday life. Worth seeing for home grown cast alone; soul legend Omar, Shola Ama, Crazy Cousinz, grime upn’commer Maxsta and a full live band. / Charlie Hope

July 23 2010

where
Battersea Arts Centre, BAC, Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5TN
Location Map

when
8pm

how much
£10 (various concessions)

comedy
N20 Comedy Festival

Battersea Arts Centre is one of the great bastions of independent arts. The fact that it is surrounded by green and yellow estate agents shouldn’t deter you from making the ten-minute walk from Clapham Junction. The whole week sees BAC hosting the N20 Comedy Festival, and there are some belting acts, all of whom will be testing their new material in preparation for Edinburgh. Check their website for the week’s entertainment. Tonight you’ve got Daniel Kitson (brilliant), and Richard Herring (one of my favourites). Remember 1995, Fist of Fun, Simon Quinlank and his weak lemon drink, (ok, that was the impressive Kevin Eldon). Wonderful comedy. The man behind the idea to reclaim the Hitler moustache is back with brand new material, and for a tenner of your well-earned, you can get to sample a bunch of laughs. Plus it’s my birthday, if that’s adds any extra incentive. / Jake Jones

July 23 2010

where
Corsica Studios, 4/5 Elephant Road London, SE17 1LB
Location Map

when
8pm till 6am

how much
£5 before 10 / £12 after

club night
Summer Ekstravaganza

This Friday one of London’s best loved clubs, Corsica Studios, marks its annual summer party with a night of cosmic disco, techno, house and, most importantly, cocktails and BBQ. Again they’ve joined forces with Norwegian cosmic disco legend Prins Thomas, whose Ekstravaganza parties have been amongst the highlights of the past 12 months’ London clubbing. To ensure things go right off, they’ve assembled a star-studded lineup including DJs and producers from Canada (The Mole), Japan (Discossession and Dubby) and France (Ivan Smagghe). Get down before 10 for a warm up in the courtyard where you’ll be able to fill your boots with laid-back tracks, charred meat and muddled mixtures. Once the sun sets the pace is sure to pick up as the action heads indoors and Corsica’s no-nonsense warehouse space provides the perfect backdrop to a long night of spacey sounds and freaky dancing. / Jacques Lefauve

July 24 2010

where
Towner & Hoxton, 233 Well St Hackney E9 6RG
Location Map

when
10am - 7pm daily (Party - 2pm - 9pm)

how much
Free

exhibition
Towner and Hoxton Launch

Seven quails lay seven organic eggs. Over in the Tea Room, 20 different tea leaves simmer in 20 different tea cups. Once a derelict Hackney pet shop, seven studios for seven amazing creative visionaries now accompany a newly converted gallery, big indoor lawn with DJs to boot! Outside a luscious backyard hosts live bands, a free BBQ and free Sailor Jerry cocktails! Quench that thirst! Yes, it’s all in a day’s work for this recycled pet sanctuary. Hackney won’t know what hit it! After party at Kenton Arms! / Jasmine Fool

July 24 2010

where
The Brittania , 360 Victoria Park Road E9 7BT
Location Map

when
1pm - 2am

how much
Free

club night
Four Roses Speakeasy

Booze and music. Boozik. That’s what you want. And you can go and get it at The Britannia pub. The first of four events from Clash Magazine and Four Roses – a bourbon purveyor that I’ve not heard of before – this show is curated by Trojan Sound System, with Rob Mello, Soul Jazz sound system and is headlined by The very Special (geddit) Jerry Dammers. There’s an all American BBQ/hog roast for your belly, and The Secret Garden Party’s on this weekend, so it’s probably the best time to go and have a wander around east London while most of the inhabitants have left. It’s a limited guestlist type of affair, so you’ll have to bag your spot by going here. / Josh Jones

July 24 2010

where
Altab Ali Park, White Church Lane, Tower Hamlets, London E1 7QR
Location Map

when
11am

how much
Free with signup

game
Conspiracy For Good

Well last week one was quite an experience. Three hours of speedboats, clambering down onto the Thames’ shoreline, being accosted by drunks who turned out to have valuable clues, an initiation ceremony in Shunt Money AND a free party featuring the likes of Giggs. And week two looks pretty good too – the story line’s pretty closely guarded but we know it takes place in the East End, with excursions to the Kidsco Toy Drive and the 1234 Festival up for grabs for some. Just a few tips from someone who completed week one; trust no one, look out for the guys in black suits AND keep an eye on the streets’ graffiti – clues are everywhere. Sign up for week two is here. / Rob Valid

July 24 2010

where
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Location Map

when
11:00am - 10:00pm

how much
Varies

exhibition
Barbican Weekender

Is there a better setting for a surrealism exhibit than the Barbican? It’s crazy but wonderful architecture is almost Escher-like before you even get started. This weekend sees an event based around the Surreal House exhibition but also provides so much more. Highlights include the Silent Disco Surreal Ball, the solar powered cinema showing surreal shorts from the likes of David Lynch and a raft of live music from the Latin Dub Soundsystem on Saturday and a night celebrating 200 years of Colombian independence on Sunday. Dot Comedy have a maze of wonder in Get Lost and Strangework’s Head In A Box sounds like a trippy experience too. Lots of the stuff is free so there really is no excuse but to expand your mind in a stretchy way this weekend. / Ian Marshall

July 24 2010

where
Shoreditch Park, 10 Rushton Street London N1 5DR
Location Map

when
12pm - 2am

how much
£20

festival
1234 Shoreditch Festival

Back up north the only things you find in urban parks are empty bottles of £3 rose, wild pit bulls laying countless impossible-to-remove-from-your-shoe sh!ts, and the occasional un-openable porn mag. But in London they’re the epicentre of summer living, resplendent with beautiful people in cutting edge fashion, bountiful Waitrose picnics with endless Pimms, and happy go lucky dogs retrieving brightly coloured Frisbees. Where better then, to host another day festival and its late night aftershows, than in Shoreditch, where even the canines wear Raybans and trilbies. With over 100 bands and DJs including Drop the Line, MC Sorocee, Dum Dum Girls, These New Puritans, We Have Band, Screaming Tea Party and the only UK festival appearance from Peter Hook formerly of Joy Division. Don’t forget to leave your poo sticks at home. / Simon Owen

July 24 2010

where
Waterloo,
Location Map

when
See website for details or call 07967 879421

how much
£55 ph, £150 for 3

craft
Graffiti Lessons

To quote Banksy, the would-be godfather of 21st Century graffiti, “So many people are willing to die for their art; so few are willing to learn how to draw.” Yes indeed, who has not dreamt about stalking the streets of the East End under the cover of darkness and making their mark with a can of paint, but stayed at home for want of actual artistic ability? See, the trouble with tagging is that you can’t really practice at home (tried it once, landlord not impressed) before busting out on a bigger canvas/underpass/tube carriage. Well, to give you that much needed nozzle know-how, to fill you in on filling in, street artist Andy Seize is giving lessons. And, even if you’ve never picked up a paint can, don’t know your ear’ole from your aerosol, in just a few short hours he promises to turn you into a veritable Van Gogh of vandalism … / Vyvian Raoul

July 24 2010

where
195 Piccadilly W1J 9LN,
Location Map

when
9am - 5pm

how much
£200

meditation
Help, I can’t stop thinking

Sometimes my thoughts are way too loud for my head. Sometimes I can’t sleep. Sometimes I try and concentrate on my breathing and force myself not to think of anything else until inevitably, I’ll come up with the most amazing invention that steady breathing just cannot ignore. Of course everyone needs an automatic letterbox opener! So yes, perhaps I do need some Headspace. Help, I can’t stop thinking promises no name badges, hugging or sandals. It’s more practical mediation, making it way less scary and likely that you’ll need to turn vegan (sorry, got a bit carried away with the clichés). You’ll get to know all the techniques and apply them how you see fit. But it doesn’t stop on the day, even though they say one session will be enough to meditate all the way home, there’s personal online support and resources in case you need it. I say, if you can afford it, why not? / Vanessa Morrish

July 24 2010

where
Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
Location Map

when
10am - 4pm

how much
Donations or purchase a toy here

charity
Kidsco Toy Drive

OK, this is simple. Every Christmas one of le cool’s favourite charities, the wonderful Kidsco, opens up the doors of one of their offices for any vulnerable child who has nowhere else to go that day. Last year 2,000 turned up. That’s 2,000 children, just in London, who already knew about Kidsco’s open-door policy. This year le cool, in collaboration with the Conspiracy For Good, are going to do their damnedest to make sure that every one of those kids has a toy to open on Christmas Day. How can you help? Easy – come down to the car park at the Truman Brewery at 12pm with a NEW toy, and we’ll make sure that it gets to a Kidsco kid. Can’t get along? (Shame – it’ll be fun). There’s a very easy Amazon wishlist here. Choose a toy, click the Kidsco delivery address, and your gift will be winging its way to their HQ post haste. / Rob Valid

July 25 2010

where
Various venues,


when
Varies

how much
Free

sport
Ping!

Cast your minds back to August 2008, the British Embassy in Beijing, the post ‘passing on of the Olympic flag’ party. Whiff Whaff is coming home. Well Boris, you are absolutely right. Whiff Whaff has come home, starting right here. For a whole month, there are various ping pong (I prefer table-tennis) events for all of us enthusiasts to practice our top-spin, back-spin and secret serves. As well as just free play, there are spin master-classes, ping pong quizzes and singles for singles. Rock up to any one of the 100 tables, pick up a bat, and get practising that foot-stamp to disguise the type of spin you are planning. Check the website for details. / Jake Jones

July 25 2010

where
Pappagone, 129-131 Stroud Green Road, London, N4 3PX
Location Map

when
Noon - Midnight

how much
£6-£10 per pizza

le other
Pappagone

You know that saying “Even Bad Pizza is Good Pizza”? Well that’s bollocks and if you believe it, you deserve all the greasy, pineapple topped, stuffed crust abominations that come your way. You loser. What should be an unf*ckupable (its a word) cheap meal has been bastardised beyond the point of no return. I mean Pizza Hut? Really? You can call me a snob, but whatever. My Dad, who is Italianish, took me out for a meal in North London a week or so back and not only was it decent, it was VERY tasty. Not tasty in the “Oh yeah, that was pretty good” kinda way, but more the “Demolish-your-own-&-then-steal-slices-from-other-people’s-unguarded-plates fashion”. I know you know. The place is called Pappagone. It’s near Finsbury Pk. Go school yourselves. Ya herd. / Foo-D

July 26 2010

where
Gelupo, 7 Archer Street, W1D 7AU
Location Map

when
11am-11pm (until 1am Thurs-Sat)

how much
Cups £2-6, cones £3-6

le other
Gelupo

Our fratelli from Bocca Di Lupo have popped over the road and set up this snazzy and rather stylish little enterprise. There’s an excellent coffee bar serving your everyday espresso and macchiato, alongside some lush speciality numbers such as the truly nutty affogato alla nocciola; at the back you’ll find a well-stocked and top quality deli. However, the main draw is the wide selection of gelato, tangy sorbet and mouthwatering granita. I demolished a fair-sized £4.50 portion of blackcurrant sorbet, with both hazelnut and pistacchio ice cream – the culinary equivalent of a saucy, soapy bath with Cleopatra. Though a huge fan of traditional Italian flavours, their slightly more creative take on the theme will – in this world of uncertainties – certainly have me right back here ready to launch into the sour cherry granita, if nothing else. Another W1 winner. / Eamon Downes

July 26 2010

where
Salon D'ete, 21 Duke St, W1U 1LB
Location Map

when
8pm – 1am

how much
Cocktails from £8-15. Small plates from £4-10

le other
Salon d'Eté

Summer arrives, and a man’s thoughts turn to foliage, of course. How better to celebrate than in a lush conservatory in a former church? A live, raucous jazz band features each night, interspersed with burlesque (Amber Topaz and Vicky Butterfly among others have graced the stage) acts. The kitchen serves up tasty small plates, from pommes frites with truffle oil aioli, to whole artichokes with an anchovy remoulade. The crowd is classy, dressy and friendly, and swing dancers occasionally take to the floor to strut their stuff. After the shows, the former hotspot L’equipe Anglaise comese to life, replete with disco floor and comfy sofas until the early hours. Like all good things, including summer, the Salon D’ete must come to an end; so head down before September to experience the great outdoors indoors. / Justin Toh

July 26 2010

where
Lahore Kebab House, 2 Umberston Street, Whitechapel, London E1 1PY
Location Map

when
Monday - Sunday 11:30am-1am

how much
Mains - £7 average

le other
Lahore Kebab House

I’m writing this, not because I think you don’t know about the place, but because you might have forgotten. Lahore was actually in the original le cool London guide book and it was there for a reason. The reason being awesomeness. I went, for the first time in years, last weekend and was reminded why the place has such a rep. If anything, it was even better than I remember. To be fair, that could’ve been down to nostalgia not being what it used to be, but the food IS in-arguably good. I had lamb chops for starters and even though, by the end of the meal I couldn’t breathe properly (due to gluttony), I was seriously thinking of having another batch for desert. It’s that good. If you’ve never been, it’s a crying shame, but I can forgive you. However, if you’ve not been for a while, deep down, you know there’s a void that only Lahore can fill. With Awesomeness. / Foo-D

July 27 2010

where
Scream Bar, 141 Bethnal Green Road
Location Map

when
7:30pm - 10:30pm

how much
Free

spoken word
Chill Pill

Poetry is so hot right now. Rhyming things – or not – in verse is totally in. Forget goatee beards, a faint smell of nutmeg and clicking fingers as applause, the sonnet is officially on it. From the Southbank’s Year of the Poet to more street spoken wordists like Scroobius Pip, everyone’s a poet (and, yes, they very definitely do know it). But how should one separate the marvellously metronymic from the iambic pap? Well, getting yourself down to lessons Chill Pill at Shoreditch’s Scream Bar is a fantastic start. Hosted by Mr. Gee, the Russell Brand Show’s poet laureate, it boasts all of the backstreet-basement, NYC vibe and none of the pretentiousness that can sometimes be associated with the avant garde. And with a door fee of absolutely nada, why drift in and get down with what’s happening tonight? / Vyvian Raoul

July 27 2010

where
Niven's, 157 King's Cross Rd, WC1X 9
Location Map

when
Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 11am-3pm

how much
A really good feed plus drink, around £7

le other
Niven's

I recently performed a not-so-thorough survey of not-so-randomly-selected Londoners, asking them what they associated with Kings Cross? “What, the station?” was a common response. “Full of prossies” also fared well. That no-one opted for the KX’s foodie offerings wasn’t too surprising – but watch this space. Where once was only cheap takeaways and doorstop sandwiches now exists contemporary British fare at The Brill, Itadaki Zen’s vegan and organic sushi and, most recently, Niven’s – a café-deli serving wholly home-made meals from sausage rolls and salads to tagines and tarts using Exmouth Market ingredients. It has a nice yellowy cosiness, nicer smells and a large communal table for paper-reading. / Richard Mellor

July 28 2010

where
Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street, NW1 8QP
Location Map

when
8:00pm

how much
£13.50

gig
OK GO

The Dance off. Legendary love child of too much sun and too many Jaeger Bombs. The Lawnmover. The Running Man. The Jump Splits. The Robot. Dealing the Cards. The Leg Grab and Pump. No better way to induce mass group fervour, full body sweating, rips in your jeans, and a hole in the dance floor the size of a tennis court. A few years ago, Chicago band, OK GO cottoned onto the idea that including dance routines in their offering, delivered with all the poise and style that band geeks with two left feet can muster, might be popular with fans. Cue worldwide fame courtesy of YouTube, most famously, with Here it Goes Again, to the tune of 50 million hits and counting. Their music, if you’re interested, is part-indie/rock/pop. Plenty of room at the Electric too for throwing some shapes down, I’ll be the ones doing the Shopping Trolley. / Simon Owen

July 28 2010

where
Secondo, 642 Voltaire Road, SW4 6DH
Location Map

when
6pm - 9pm

how much
Cake and coffee £4, Mojito £5

le other
Secondo

Here in Clapham, the bars are generic and the people fall into three camps: Yummy Mummies, posh grads who can’t (yet) afford to live in Chelsea and the Local Crazies. My working life in Clapham revolves around the Greek man who runs a junk shop and his party of alcoholics who are full of pleasantries “Alright darling?”, chatting to my favourite Sainsbury’s check-out ladies and the occasional ice-cream from the French patisserie. I was therefore quite surprised when Dalston Jazz Bar owner, Robert Bleck opened up here. Secondo sits under the Clapham High Street railway bridge and is part café, part vintage clothes haven. The food is freshly made on site and since obtaining their alcohol license, mojitos go for a fiver. It’s a quirkly little place, providing something that’s missing in the area, a good helping of soul. / Audrey Khew

July 28 2010

where
Cube, 47 Lambs Conduit Street, WC1N 3NG
Location Map

when
10-6pm weekdays and 11-7 weekends

how much
I got 3 pairs of socks for a tenner!

le other
One True Saxon Pop Up Store

The latest occupants of Cube Company’s innovatively utilised Lambs Conduit St. location are the refined, causal tailors One True Saxon. If you’re looking for some eye-catching, well-crafted threads then look no further, as everything from the socks to the selvedge denim smacks of Max Moseley (allegedly) quality. The feel of the clobber to touch makes the quality obvious, and at £35 for a sharp new t-shirt I felt good value for my dough. There’s a range of footwear, a pile of Redwing boots for sale, and regular discounts on last season’s stock until they disppear in September. What’s more the service is helpful and not pushy, and they even have one of those doctor’s screens on wheels to protect your modesty, it’s like being in a scene from Carry On Matron (if that’s what bounces your monkey, fellas). / Eamon Downes

le cool is a free weekly magazine distributed every Thursday that features a selection of cultural events and leisure activities, revealing the things you really shouldn’t miss. We filter out, among other things, the best art, film, music, and club nights, as well as a careful selection of extraordinary bars, restaurants and other fine places.

Our new 2.0-oriented website offers le cool readers new ways of sharing our recommendations and organising their own weekly agenda. le cool content is chosen because we believe it is worth your time and will never be traded for money.

To contact our editorial team, email Mat

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