Posted on

Indian Summer: where to eat outdoors

London is basking in sunshine. Make the most of it and enjoy the tables that have spread out onto the pavements everywhere, transforming traffic-filled streets into al fresco dining spots. Soho is a good place to start with 17 streets staying car-free until the end of September. This includes Greek Street, Frith Street, Dean Street and Old Compton Street where you could book a table for an hour at Bar Termini, just enough time for a negroni or two before heading round the corner to Barrafina, which started taking bookings this July for the first time in its history. Noble Rot’s Soho restaurant also opens on 18 September in the former home of Gay Hussar on Greek Street. Further West, we’re loving The Hawk’s Nest in Shepherd’s Bush. Tucked in off the Goldhawk Road it’s a little oasis garden with informal trestle tables and a wood fired oven serving up really good, crispy pizzas as well as spritzes and ice cream from local parlour, Bertotti’s. Comedy nights and live jazz are on the way soon.

The Hawk’s Nest

Borough Market’s Stoney Street has just re-opened, now transformed into a wine bar by night that spills out onto the pavement with candlelit tables. Order natural wines by the glass or bottle and small plates like honey sweet melon with prosciutto and lamb merguez sausage wrapped in filo and served with peach chutney, for sharing.

Stoney Street

The whole of Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross is a great place to hang out: most of its restaurants have seating outdoors and there’s the huge fountain square for children. We’re still obsessed with the sandwiches at Sons + Daughters. The shop might still be closed but they’ve now set up a van on the roof above with tables and chairs in the sunshine where you can order their doorstopper sandwiches and cold beers.

And a year after closing Bellanger, Corbin & King had a change of heart and decided to re-open this August and make use of the its big outdoor terrace overlooking Islington Green. There have been some changes including a more casual re-furb and a cheaper, more informal menu that still sticks to the French brasserie formula. Currently a pop up until Christmas, we hope it’s here to stay.

 

Posted on

Small exhibitions to see this September

There’s lots to get out and see this month – though in all cases you need to pre-book a timed entry slot. First up, Grayson Perry’s new exhibition, The MOST Specialest Relationship is on display at the Victoria Miro Gallery until 31 October with new ceramics, a tapestry and an enormous print, American Dream that features Mark Zuckerburg’s devilish red face atop a map of America (and which Grayson writes about here). The works are inspired by Grayson Perry’s Big American Road Trip, which comes to Channel 4 on 23 September. It’s a three-part documentary in which the artist travels through the US on his specially-designed motorbike, chatting to people in his characteristic way about about identity, race, money and class. We’ll definitely be tuning in.

The American Dream by Grayson Perry

Luke Edward Hall’s show, Summer Ghost was postponed due to lockdown but will now run from Tuesday 22 September at Quo Vadis. There will be new drawings and ceramics on show in the upstairs rooms which will be available to buy too. To arrange a viewing email Eleanor Vening (eleanor.vening@hartsgroup.co.uk)

We swooned over Princess Beatrice’s wedding dress back in July – especially after learning that it was borrowed from her Granny the Queen, who had previously worn it in 1962 to the premier of Lawrence of Arabia in Leicester Square. Now the exquisite vintage dress designed by Norman Hartnell will go on display at Windsor Castle, where you can view it in all its splendour from 24 September – 22 November 2020.

A small exhibition, Donald Judd Furniture has just opened at EDIT. at 243 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill. Curated by Oscar Humphries, it runs until 5 October – don’t miss it. The Garden Museum has extended its excellent Derek Jarman exhibition, My garden’s boundaries are the horizon until 13 December 2020. Crunch across Dungeness shingles, step into his writing room, discover his driftwood sculptures and immerse yourself in the Prospect Cottage all without leaving Lambeth.

Finally – you don’t have to leave home to view Hold Still, the 100 pictures selected by the Duchess of Cambridge (from 31,598 public submissions!) for the National Portrait Gallery’s digital exhibition, A Portrait of our Nation in 2020. Focussed on three themes, Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal and Acts of Kindness it presents a snapshot of the UK during lockdown with pictures that are brilliant and moving.

We’re really lucky to have a garden by Robert Coyle

 

 

Posted on

The most hydrating beauty products

Are you feeling depleted from a long, hot summer? Here are some old and new classics guaranteed to make you shine like new from tip to toe.

Face Serum Murad Revitalixir Recovery Serum £70 from Murad

This new serum combats signs of stress and hydrates at the same time. And it’s in a fab pink bottle.


Face Mask: Kielh’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask £36 from Kiehls

One of the serious benefits of a facemask is that it pretty much ensures you down tools for period of time. This one includes all-important moisture to plump up your face. With the added bonus, you’ll scare the kids/neighbours/delivery man.


Hair: Nutri Plenish shampoo £25 from Aveda

Just the thing for dry ends and giving you that end-of-summer boost. Even good on not so thick hair.

Legs: Guerande Salt Exfoliating Body Scrub £25 from REN Skincare

How a scrub can be also a moisturiser is something of a miracle. But your legs are smooth and silky after this classic product.


Body Moisturiser: Embryolisse Lait-Creme Fluide, £21.60 from Feel Unique

A cult product (since the 1950s), this cream quickly absorbs into the skin.


Handwash: Restoring Hand Wash Lemon, Geranium & Clary Sage £18 from Jurlique

You can never have too many hand washes in the current climate. This is our latest obsession.


Hand Cream: Reverence Aromatique Hand Balm £21 from Aesop


Bath Salts: 100 Acres Peppermint and Fennel Bath Salts, £16 from Hundred Acres

These bath salts really do smell of the countryside. Cleanse and feel hydrated all in one.

Lip Balm: Houve Ruby lip balm, £8 from & Other Stories

Luxuriously hydrating with stunning subtle colour

Nails: Shea Nail and Cuticle Nourishing Oil, £14 from L’Occitane

For stronger nails try this nourishing brush

Posted on

The best fiction books to buy this autumn

Following on from last week’s non-fiction literary lowdown, this week we look at some of the very best new novels, short stories and poetry out in the next few months. There is a huge amount of new writing from the literary big guns plus some extraordinary fiction from up-and comers. This list is by no means exhaustive as there is SO MUCH being published at the moment. Instead these are our picks of very best – the titles that we are itching to read or already love.

Inside Story – Martin Amis
Exciting autofiction that has the book world all a-flutter. Amis tells tales of youthful sexual escapades and gives frank portraits of friendships with other literary greats.

Trio – William Boyd
Yes! A new Boyd novel for us to sink into. Please can this be in our stockings at Christmas…

V2 – Robert Harris
The second world war thriller that every dad in the land will be wanting (and getting) for Christmas.

The Lying Life of Adults – Elena Ferrante
To say there is a stampede of interest in this book would be an understatement. More Neapolitan life from the Italian bestseller.

Islands of Mercy – Rose Tremain
Reviews are five star for this absorbing novel that travels from 19th century Bath to Dublin, Borneo and Paris.

Jack –  Marilynne Robinson

Fans of Gilead rejoice. This rare new novel returns to the same world in a story of post-war interracial love.

Just Like You – Nick Hornby
A young love affair explored by the comic master.

Red Pill – Hari Kunzru
A disturbing state of the world novel that delves into the alt-right, online culture and the role of history. Extraordinary writing.

Summerwater – Sarah Moss
We love this disconcerting tale of twenty four hours in the Scottish Highlands. Moss is a fantastic writer.

Must I Go – YiYun Li
Family tragedy explored in a cleverly devised epistolary novel by a wonderful storyteller. Meg Wolitzer loves her and so do we.

Ghosts – Dolly Alderton
For fans of the High Low podcast, a funny and clever debut novel from Pandora Sykes’ co-host.

The Silence – Don Delillo
Moving, prescient, illuminating – and all in 128 pages. Classic, perfect Delillo

And in case you have been waiting, the last two unpublished novels from the Booker long list have finally been released

Who They Was – Gabriel Krauze

The New Wilderness – Diane Cook

In the world of crime and thrillers…

The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman
This has been the biggest seller so far in this autumn’s rush of publishing and everyone is falling themselves to get a piece of the Pointless co-host.

Troubled Blood – Robert Galbraith
JK Rowling alter ego delivers once again with the next in her Cormoran Strike series.

Snow – John Banville
A lovely country house mystery by the master storyteller.

The Searcher – Tana French
American reviews have raved about this latest from the author of The Witch Elm.

There are times when a short read, or something to dip into, is what is needed. These are all perfect for those moments.

Daddy – Emma Cline
Author of The Girls brings her best to this short story collection

Reality and Other Stories – John Lanchester
Chilling tales to cool the blood. Excellent reading to freak you out at Halloween.

Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grapes – Lana Del Rey
A fabulous poetry debut from the singer/songwriter. This edition is attractively produced with original photography and typewritten manuscript.

Clemmie Jackson-Stops runs Vellum Libraries, curating book collections and libraries for individuals and discerning businesses.  Check out their Lockdown Libraries – five books, chosen to suit the reader’s taste, gift-wrapped and sent with a handwritten note.

Posted on

Watch Stitchers online

As we go into semi-lockdown again, there is no doubt that many theatres are struggling to survive.  To help Jermyn Street Theatre, buy a ticket to watch Esther Freud’s play Stitchers directed by BAFTA- winning filmmaker Gaby Dellal and starring Sinead Cusack (every penny goes directly to the theatre).  Based on a true story, Cusack plays Lady Anne Tree who taught needlework in prisons to help inmates, and founded the wonderful charity Fine Cell Work (Freud writes movingly about what inspired her to write the play here). First shown in 2018, it’s been hailed as ‘an inspiring and heartwarming debut play’ by Freud whose first novel Hideous Kinky was made into a film starring Kate Winslet. Granta named her one of the Best Young Novelists under 40 and she is the author of seven novels. Dellal is a British director of film, television and theatre based in America. Her most recent feature film, Three Generations, starred Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon.  The plays go live at 7.30pm on September 10th, 11th and 12th and you can buy the tickets here.
Posted on

Charleston Print Sale

Kit Kemp, Beata Heuman and Rose Electra Harris are just some of the artists and designers who’ve been invited by Molly Mahon to contribute a picture to The Great Potato Printing Society, a special auction in aid of The Charleston Trust. Using Molly’s signature potato printing technique, the 18 contributors were given free rein over their designs – we’ve had a sneak peek and will share a few here – with vibrant, colourful results. The unique artworks are all A3 in size and will go on auction on Monday 14 September here, with all profits going to Charleston where funds are badly needed after COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of the house and cancellation of Charleston Festival. Works start at £200, and they are all one-off prints.

Beata Heuman:

Emily Maude:

Annie Sloan:

Kit Kemp:

Posted on

Back to School Cooking

Routines resume this week, and it’s going to be an adjustment for us all. Here are a few great tools to help out at tea-time, from speedy meals to kits and printable plans:

Best for meal plans: Lizzie Loves Healthy

Lizzie’s offering free downloads this week on her Wellness 7 Day Plan, a complete back-to-school nutrition guide. The 28 recipes (3 meals a day plus a snack) include summer roast chicken with salsa verde, hummus pitta pockets and buckwheat pancakes – so it’s proper food that’s also rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, balanced to support the immune system. The idea is that you also buy her highly-rated new Be Well and Be Sleepy natural wellness sachets and incorporate these into the plan too. Download and print the weekly calendar – there’s also a blank version to fill in yourself.

Best for speedy suppers: Potage

Potage has pivoted their business away from fresh salads pots and snacking boards and now specialise solely in their heartier home-made hot meals. Stock up your freezer with things like lasagna, mac ‘n’ cheese and massaman curries that are ideal for the days you don’t have time or energy to cook. Fans will be relieved to hear the cookie dough and brownies can still be added to your basket at checkout. Nationwide delivery now available.

If you’re looking to get your children involved in cooking for themselves, Little Cooks Co is a good place to start. A baking recipe arrives every month through the letterbox along with all the organic, dry ingredients you’ll need to make it. You buy the fresh ingredients meaning you’re not under time pressure. We tried the key lime pies, and were impressed with the natural ingredients – dates instead of refined sugars etc. Kits also contain a child-friendly savoury recipe card with a simple dish that takes about 15 minutes to prepare. Plus, every box bought pays for a vulnerable school child in the UK to receive a healthy breakfast through its partnership with the charity Magic Breakfast.

Best for fresh fruit and veg: Oddbox

These boxes are made up of surplus produce, or rather the stuff the supermarkets deem too knobbly or wonky to sell. Delivered overnight you wake up to it on your doorstep on a fixed day per week. It’s just fruit and veg – no extras – and great value for money.

Best for tackling food waste: OLIO

If you find yourself about to go away for the weekend and sitting on a fridge of food, share it via the OLIO app. This rocketed in popularity during lockdown, with people able to share fresh food, homemade creations (sourdough anyone?) and store cupboard supplies with their neighbours. Everything on there is free – download here.

Posted on

September Knits

Clara cardigan, £325 from Shrimps

Statement collar knit cardigan, £75 from & Other Stories

Styrene cardigan, £230 from Alexachung

Happy sweater, £295 from Alex Gore Browne

Janiker cropped knit, €120 at Musier Paris:

Tortoise button cardigan, £65 from & Other Stories:

Marty ballerina sweater, €175 from Rouje

Rainbow button cardigan £215 from Olivia Rubin

Lace collar striped mohair-blend cardigan, £1240 from Miu Miu

Moe Cardigan, £130 from LF Markey

Ines de la Fressange chunky crew cardigan, £39.90 from Uniqlo

Square necked knitted cardigan, £29.99 from Topshop

Lena slouchy Geelong Aran cardigan, £350 from &Daughter

Wool and cashmere cardigan, comes in lots of colourways, £165 from Benetton

The Bennett cardigan sold out in record time. A second run will be released, pre-order before 15 September 2020 for delivery this autumn. £350 from Shrimps

Posted on

The best non-fiction books to buy this autumn

If silver linings are the best we can hope for these days, then let us mark the glut of exciting new writing being published this autumn as one. Books originally due out in the spring are being published now and some top authors have spent lockdown putting pen to paper, all in addition to the usual drop of pre-Christmas books. So with a bumper crop of literary treats over the next few of months we have complied our list of some of the best new nonfiction coming out this year.

Lockdown Thinking

How anyone got through lockdown and managed to produce work fit for publication we don’t know but apparently it is possible…

Zadie Smith – Intimations 

Six essays on her experiences of lockdown, this is sure to be absorbing and thought provoking.

Dawn O’Porter – Her Life in Pieces: Thoughts from a Year That Changed Us All

If anyone can be relied upon to tell us how it is, TV presenter and acclaimed author Dawn O’Porter certainly can. A brilliant collection of essays on life as it has been in 2020. 

Arundhati Roy – Azadi: Freedom, Facism, Fiction

Writing during lockdown and the Delhi riots, legendary writer Arundhati Roy looks at how freedom is being challenged in a world of growing authoritarianism. She offers the idea that the pandemic provides an invitation to humankind to imagine another world.

Current Affairs/Politics/History

Elif Shafak – How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division

A pocket-sized polemic from this much-lauded writer on living in an age of pessimism, when misinformation and fear seem the norm.

Bob Woodward – Untitled

This (as yet unnamed) book on President Trump by the renowned journalist is due to drop just before the election for maximum impact.

Carlo Rovelli – There Are Places in the World where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness

One of the world’s most inspiring and innovative thinkers reflects on science, history and humanity. Author of bestselling Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.

Isabel Wilkerson – Caste: The Lies That Divide Us

Probably the most discussed book of the last month, we had to include it here. Essential reading for anyone interested in why society looks and feels like it does today.

Memoir/Biography

Hilary Mantel – Mantel Pieces

Fans of the Wolf Hall trilogy mustn’t miss this collection of essays and memoir from 30 years of writing for The London Review of Books.

David Attenborough – A Life on our Planet: My Witness Statement and Vision for the Future

This is being touted as his ‘legacy-defining book’ and is one we should probably all be reading.

Claudia Winkleman – Quite

Her debut book is everything her fans could hope for. She shares her thoughts on friendship, art, parenting and, of course, eyeliner.

Caitlin Moran – More Than A Woman

How to grow old, a decade (we know) after the success of How To Be A Woman.

Ben Macintyre – Agent Sonya: Mother, Lover, Soldier, Spy

Finally, the extraordinary stories of the female Cold War operatives are being told. This the life of ’the greatest female spy in history’ by a master storyteller.

Kate Summerscale – The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story

One for a cold Halloween night by the author of The Confessions of Mr Whicher.

Barbara Amiel – Friends and Enemies: A Memoir

A long anticipated and shockingly honest memoir from the journalist wife of Conrad Black ‘I love fashion, sex and opera,’ she once told an interviewer, ‘but life would have been easier if my passions had been for train-spotting and stamp collecting.’ The cast include Elton John, Princess Diana, Tom Stoppard, Ghislaine Maxwell and many others.

Tamsin Calidas – I Am An Island

We have been waiting impatiently for this to be published. Vogue called it the ‘memoir of the year’ and all the reviews agree.

Natural World/Food

James Rebank – English Pastoral

Rebank returns after the success of A Shepherd’s Life with an engrossing history of three generations of a Lake District farming family. English Pastoral is an elegy to the past and yet full of hope for the future of rural life. 

Raynor Winn – Wild Silence

Hotly-awaited follow up to Raynor Winn’s hugely successful The Salt Path 

Helen Macdonald – Vesper Flights

Wonderful essays on our relationship with the natural world from the author of H is for Hawk.

Jonathan C Slaght – Owls of the Eastern Ice 

A spectacular story of Slaght’s passionate mission to save the Blakiston’s Fish Owl from extinction in remote ice bound Russia. This debut is receiving lots of good critical attention.

Yottam Ottolenghi – Flavour

Full of sure fire hits for vegetarians with limited time to spare for culinary gymnastics.

Sabrina Ghayour – Simply

More from the author of bestselling Persiana

Merlin Sheldrake – Funghi: How Mushrooms Make Our Worlds, Change our Minds and Shape Our Futures

A mind-altering journey to discovering the key role mushrooms play in our everyday world

 

Clemmie Jackson-Stops runs Vellum Libraries, curating book collections and libraries for individuals and discerning businesses.  Check out their Lockdown Libraries – five books, chosen to suit the reader’s taste, gift-wrapped and sent with a handwritten note.

Posted on

Bay Garnett’s Oxfam Pop-Up at Selfridges

We’re loving Selfridges this month, where Project Earth has just launched with lots of commitments towards sustainability. We’ll be heading straight for the fashion department on Level 2 where Bay Garnett’s Oxfam pop up opens on 7 September and runs for a month. This will include 1500 hand-picked pieces from sequin skirts to silk shirts and Ossie Clark dresses, all with charity shop price tags. Read all about it here – the idea is to get people behind Oxfam’s #SecondHandSeptember campaign – of which Michaela Coel is this year’s face – and pledge to not buy anything new all month.

Whilst you’re in store check out the smart Repairs Concierge service that will mend handbags, shoes and clothes that are past their best, and the new HURR rental service that lets you rent dresses from just £20. There’s also masses of sustainable beauty on the ground floor including the REN Clean Skincare pop up that runs from now until October showcasing their new packaging that’s fully recyclable and made with sustainable materials. We’ve been trialling some of their gorgeous products and especially rate the Ready Steady Glow tonic for retaining post-holiday skin. Thank you Selfridges for giving us a good reason to return to the shops this September.

Posted on

September Sample Sales

Who: GANNI
What: Up to 70% off past season womenswear
When: Until midnight 3 September
Where: Online. Get access here.

Who: Aspinal
What: Up to 80% off leather goods and accessories. £2 entry fee donated to charity. Please bring a face covering to guarantee entry.
When: 3 September: 10am – 7pm & 4 September: 10am – 6pm
Where: Showcase, 12 Regent Street, SW1Y 4PE.  Book a time slot here.

Who: Alice Temperley
What: Prices start from £50 for womenswear. £2 entry fee donated to charity. Please bring a face covering to guarantee entry.  1 hour shopping slots only, maximum of 10 people inside the showroom at all times.  Track and trace system with signature required upon arrival.  All customers will be temperature checked prior to entering the building.
When: 3 September: midday – 8pm; 4 – 6 September: 8am – 8pm
Where: Temperley London Showrooms, 2nd Floor, 27 Bruton Street, W1J 6QN

Who: Maje
What: Big discounts on womenswear and accessories.
When: 3 September: 11am – 8pm, 4 – 5 September: 11am – 7pm
Where: Arlettie London, 13 – 14 Margaret Street, W1W 8RN.  Book a time slot here.

Who: Molton Brown
What: Up to 70% off  luxury fragrances, bath and body products. Prices start from £1.60
When: 4 – 8 September: 8am – 8pm
Where: Online.  Get access and book your time slot to the sale here.

Who: Paul Smith
What: Up to 70% off womenswear, menswear and accessories.  All details, including Covid precautions, here.
When: 10 September: 8am – 8pm; 11 September: 11am – 7pm & 12 September: 11am – 7pm
Where: Arlettie London, 13 – 14 Margaret Street, W1W 8RN

Who: Monica Vinader
What: Up to 70% off jewellery
When: 17 September: from 11am – 20 September: 9pm
Where: Online. Get access to the sale here

Who: Hugo Boss
What: Big discounts on all womenswear, menswear, shoes & accessories.  Selected sizes only: menswear: suits, jackets, trousers & coats: 38/Medium, formal shirts: 15.5, jeans: 32 & 33, shoes: UK 8. Womenswear: clothing: 8/small, jeans: 27 & shoes: UK 4.  Book your free ticket here. £2 entry fee for charity.
When: 23 September: 1 – 7pm; 24 – 25 September: 11am – 7pm; 26 September: 10am – 5pm & 27 September: 10am – 2pm (no entry after 30 minutes before closing time except Sunday when it is 1 hour)
Where: The Yard, 89 Worship Street, EC2A 2BF

Posted on

McQueen Fashion Illustration Masterclass

We’re not done with Zoom quite yet and will definitely be signing up to this Fashion Illustration Masterclass on 10 September. Hosted by renowned artist and illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer (who has worked with Dior, Valentino, Prada, Chanel, Galliano and more) in collaboration with Connie Gray of Gray M.C.A gallery and in partnership with The Courtauld, the class will use McQueen as design inspiration. As Palmer’s debut masterclass she’ll be sharing her skills on creating beautiful fashion drawings, with anecdotes and insight about the fashion world along the way. The class is free to attend, you just need to register in advance by emailing graymca@purplepr.com. Bring along pencils and paper to draw along, or just sit back and listen to the Q&A. Following the session, Palmer’s work will be up for auction via Gray M.C.A.

 

It’s goodbye for now…

The team at A Little Bird are taking a break to recharge and make some exciting changes behind-the-scenes. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

CONTINUE TO SITE

A Little Bird Told Me…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO STAY IN-THE-NOW. ONLY LANDING IN YOUR INBOX ON THURSDAY MORNINGS AT 11AM.