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Things To Do In London This Weekend: 18-20 May
No wedding invite? No worries. We've got way better plans
FOOD: Lina Stores
Italian food shop Lina Stores has been putting the 'deli' in delicious on Soho's Brewer Street for 75 years now. So it's about time they gave us a full-on restaurant to enjoy their tasty wares in, frankly. And here it is: a two-floor, mid-century Italian-themed space on nearby Greek Street, featuring an open kitchen, traditional terrazzo and, of course, a truck-ton of pasta. Think freshly made Fusi all’Arrabbiata, Tortelloni Con Zucchine e Metna (that's courgette and mint tortelloni with tomato cream sauce)... not to mention authentic cheeses, antipasti, Italian wines and classic cocktails. Salivating yet? Then please form an orderly Lina-round the block...
Now open
Lina Stores, 51 Greek St, Soho, W1D 4EH
DRINK: London Wine Week
Now, we know what you’re thinking: isn’t EVERY week London Wine Week? Well, yes, in a way. But for the next few days it is in a much more official capacity, meaning it’s acceptable to sip on even more sauvignon than usual (cheers to that). It also means we’re in for all manner of vino-based events (masterclasses! Tours! Parties!) citywide, plus a funk’n’soul-fuelled Rogues’ Terrace, truck of Muscadet, Land Rover of champagne and even a pop-up vineyard at LWW’s hub at Flat Iron Square in London Bridge. Perhaps best of all, you can buy a £10 wristband that gets you £5 wine-tasting flights in over 125 bars citywide. Sounds like a challenge to us…
Until 20 May; £10
London Wine Week, Flat Iron Square, 64 Union Street, London, SE1 1SG
ART: Royal Academy Art Party
It’s not every 250-year-old institution that throws a birthday party starring super-cool Peckham collective Born N Bread. But then, the RA is the place where Damien Hirst shocked the world with dead livestock and Tracey Emin turned an unmade bed into art, so maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised after all. It’s reopening this weekend after a multimillion-pound revamp, and chucking a free, weekend-long bash to celebrate – featuring print-making workshops, ‘sonic prism’ stairwell installations and THAT art-filled after-party with the BNB team toting hip-hop, grime, dancehall and Afrobeat. Getting crazy just got cultural, folks.
19-20 May; free
Royal Academy Art Party, The Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD
FUN: Night of 1,000 Markles
So, there's a wedding going on this weekend – you might have heard. And there's been plenty of chat as to what the bride will be wearing. Chances are, it won't be a bondage-leather catsuit, sequinned ballgown or feather headdress... And if you agree that's a really quite a shame, get yourself to drag/cabaret super-pub The Glory on Saturday night, where you'll find a mass wedding extravaganza featuring – and we quote – 'jilted brides, ginger go-gos and slut-dropping show-offs'. The highlight? Multiple alt-Markles sashaying in their own fabulous takes on royal wedding looks. One imagines the Queen would not be amused... but we certainly are. Bow down, indeed.
20 May; free before 10pm
The Glory, 281 Kingsland Road, E2 8AS
THEATRE: Killer Joe
From elf to pirate to psychotic-killer cop is not an obvious career path. But hey, it's one that's brought Orlando Bloom back to the West End stage, so we're not arguing. He's now starring in the lead role of Tracy Letts' dark and gritty play at Trafalgar Studio – and as you can probably guess from the title, he ain't no Mr Nice Guy. In fact, he's a policeman who moonlights as a contract killer, and when he's hired by a family to murder their estranged matriarch for her insurance money, it triggers a gut-wrenchingly tense (and grisly) series of events. Grab your tickets quick: it's not every day you get to see a bona-fide A-lister mere metres away. Much less on a killing spree.
18 May-18 August; from £15
Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, Westminster, SW1A 2DY
FOOD: Street Feast does National Vegetarian Week
Non-meat eaters are renowned party animals. They're living on the veg, you see... And this week they have more reason than ever to get down at fab foodie fest Street Feast, as it is indeed National Vegetarian Week. Not that you need to be veggie to join in the fun: at Dinerama, Club Mexicana's Hot Nachos are topped with Al Pastor 'pork' as good as the real thing; at Hawker House, Petare's Venezuela Chip Butty is all cassava/plantain/avocado indulgence; while Yum Bun's crispy, light 'n fluffy baos (at all five Street Feast markets) will turn you on to tofu for good. Throw in Street Feast's usual mix of cocktails, music and good-time vibes, and this party is sure to get lentil.
Street Feast at Dinerama, Shoreditch EC2A 3EJ; Hawker House, Canada Water SE16 7PJ; Giant Robot, Canary Wharf, E14 5AR; Public, Woolwich, SE18 7BZ; Model Market, Lewisham, SE13 6LS
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