What to See
“As We Rise: Photography From the Black Atlantic”
Jamel Shabazz’s “Two Women in Blue on Subway.”
Courtesy of the Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is exhibiting the works of Black artists from Canada, the U.S., the U.K., the Caribbean and the African continent in “As We Rise: Photography From the Black Atlantic.” The exhibition includes the works of established and new talent, from Horace Ové, James Barnor, Gordon Parks to Texas Isaiah and Arielle Bobb-Willis.
A majority of the works in the showcase are from the Wedge Collection, Canada’s largest privately owned collection of art from Black artists.
“The 80s: Photographing Britain”
Anna Fox’s 1988 “Workstations, Café, the City. Salesperson (9).”
Courtesy of Tate Britain / Anna Fox / The Hyman Collection
Tate Britain is revisiting the ‘80s in Britain and is tracing the country’s social, political and economic shift through 350 images and archive materials.
The exhibition includes the works of Martin Parr, Syd Shelton, Anna Fox, Paul Graham and more to depict the Black arts movement, queer experience and South Asian diaspora.
Merlin James at Maureen Paley
The Scottish artist and curator Merlin James is getting two solo shows at once, at Maureen Paley’s gallery in East London and at Studio M, the space owned by the veteran gallerist.
The showcase includes paintings from James’ studio inventory in Glasgow, with the earliest piece dating back to 1982.
“I am actually working with temporality. I’m using the way work gets old, or changes over time, physically and in terms of its readings. I’m interested in how paintings time travel,” the artist says.
What to Watch
“Ruination”
This winter the Royal Ballet and Opera in London is going all mythical by putting on a show about the Greek myth of Medea with the dance theater company Lost Dogs.
“Ruination” tells the story of Medea from her perspective, where she explains why she allegedly murdered her children. Hades and Persephone decide her fate as they take on the role of prosecuting and defense attorneys.
“The Importance of Being Earnest”
“The Importance of Being Earnest” at the National Theatre.
Courtesy of the National Theatre
Oscar Wilde’s flamboyant play “The Importance of Being Earnest” takes on new life at the National Theatre with “Sex Education” actor Ncuti Gatwa and Hugh Skinner from “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.”
The play follows two men, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who taken on the fictional identity of Ernest that shakes up their whole world.
“The Devil Wears Prada”
“The Devil Wears Prada” at the Dominion Theatre.
At the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End, “The Devil Wears Prada” musical goes high camp with Vanessa Williams in the role of Miranda Priestly, the icy and quotable editor in chief of Runway magazine.
It’s also an onstage fashion feast. “We wanted to represent as much fashion as possible — there’s a little bit of Tom Ford, Chanel, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood,” says Gregg Barnes, the lead costume designer on the musical.
Where to Eat
Sparrow
The interior of Sparrow.
Courtesy of Sparrow
Inside the Mayfair restaurant Sparrow Italia, there are several floors — one for drinking, another for dining and an intimate cigar lounge with its Master of Havana Cigars. But what makes it stand out from the rest of the restaurants nearby is Sparrow’s signature, fluffy tiramisu.
The hidden location of the restaurant has also made it a hotspot for famous faces, such as Alicia Keys, Serena Williams and Cameron Diaz.
Café François
Fare from Café François.
Courtesy of Café François
Maison François in St. James’s now has a little sibling restaurant at Borough Market in London Bridge called Café François. The opening is a less formal version of the original and the menu isn’t scared to have a little fun, including crispy frog’s legs and a whole rotisserie chicken.
Cadet
Inside Cadet.
Courtesy of Cadet
Less than a 10-minute walk away from Canonbury station, Cadet combines the art of charcuterie with wine. The wine bar was opened by wine importers Beattie and Roberts and charcutier George Jephson in the summer of 2022 and has since been offering daily changing menus — some days there are snails, bacon and Paris brown mushrooms on toast and on others, saffron risotto or veal kidneys with Alsace bacon. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a wine bar that borders East and North London — a bit of cool with a touch of bourgeoisie.
Bottarga
Bottarga
Courtesy of Bottarga
Bottarga, a new restaurant in Chelsea from the Pachamama Group, the restaurant group behind Zephyr and Pachamama, is a love letter to Greece. The restaurant has already become an Instagram favorite with snapshots of its tzatziki, lamb chops and hazelnut semifreddo making the rounds everywhere.
