What’s that? That faint sound on the horizon. That soft, glorious chime… It can’t be! It is! It’s the Christmas holidays slowly peeking into view!! It’s here! The bloody Christmas run-up is here! Let’s get our sprint on!

Must-see biopic
Maestro, Bradley Cooper’s second directorial offering is hitting cinemas this weekend, a biopic charting the life of one of classical music’s most prolific figures: composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Unravelling the life of a man whose life literally played out to a stirring soundtrack, Cooper stars in the titular role in a transformative performance as we see Berstein go from his early 20s to mid-70s. However, at the centre of the narrative is a love story, exploring Bernstein’s turbulent marriage to stage and screen star Felicia Montealegre Bernstein played by the inimitable Carey Mulligan.

Maestro is out in cinemas now. 

All-day music + chat
Founded in 2019 by Samantha Togni, Boudica is a multidisciplinary platform formed to spotlight Female, Trans+ and Non-Binary people within music. This year, Boudica’s Music Conference takes over London venue Fold for a day and night dedicated to exchanging knowledge, informative panels, sets, a one-to-one Mentorship Hub and a DJ Workshop in collaboration with Pioneer DJ. This year’s programme will host industry pros such as Planningtorock, Southbank Centre, Notting Hill Carnival, BMG, Pxssy Palace and more. The nighttime line-up will then host performances from Blasha & Allatt, LYDO, Samantha Togni and Swan Meat.

Day tickets are available here, night tickets here.

Painting, Smoking, Eating
For the past five decades, Philip Guston has created artwork detailing the intricacies of the tyrannical world in which we live. One of the most prolific abstract painters of the 50s and 60s alongside the likes of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock, a major retrospective of his body of work has arrived at the Tate Modern. Documenting social and political upheavals alongside the nightmarish nature of the everyday (Arghhhhh!), topics are explored in Guston’s unique artistic language.

Philip Guston will run at Tate Modern until 25th February 2024, more info here. 

New digs
Spanish jewellery brand TwoJeys has landed in London, opening the doors on a new physical location on Brewer Street, Soho. Conceived as an immersive, curated space, the store features custom-designed furniture, industrial materials and a special double star (the brand’s distinctive logo) podium. Stocking TwoJeys’ extensive range of men’s jewellery and apparel, the store is a must-visit on your Christmas gifting run.

TwoJeys is located at 21 Brewer Street, W1F 0RL. 

Gingerella & friends
West London vagabonds Gingerella are putting on an intimate night at Laylow this Saturday. Befitting the venue’s rock ‘n’ roll decor (velvet seats, mirrorball, mirrors you can barely see yourself in), Gingerella bring their imitable sound to the stage, supported by Oscar Dunbar and Tom Hurn.

Get your tickets here. 

Shop ’til ya drop
It’s a big weekend for bargains and 16Arlington is getting in on the action. Taking over a studio space in Dalston Pier for the weekend, the London-based brand is offering up its archive at a fraction of the price and there are some real gems (trust us, our arm still hurts from carrying away our sparkly haul). We don’t need to say anymore, just go and buy yourself a feathery top – everyone needs one.

Identity explored
Texan-born Nigerian artist Chinaza Agbor is making her solo debut at Cob Gallery with a show titled Kindness and Hospitality from a Foreigner. Through a series of figurative paintings, Agbor examines the intense white and male gaze, examining their pervasive influence on her lived experiences as a girl with Nigerian heritage growing up in the American South. Bridging the gap between conflicting identities, Agbor’s artwork offers an intricate survey of beauty in twilight hues, inviting visitors to relish in memory.

Kindness and Hospitality from a Foreigner by Chinaza Agbor will run at Cob Gallery until 16th December, more info here. 

Another one!
In the spirit of Black Friday, Aries are hosting an archive sale in the basement of their Soho store. The London-based brand is best known for its experimental graphics and streetwear meets high fashion silhouettes, the pop-up sale will include all the best pits of Aries’ past seasons and sold-out collaborations with prices discounted up to 70% off. Dress the whole family in Aries this Christmas.

Tequila, it makes me happy (and messy)
Having just opened its doors on the King’s Road this week, Ixchel is London’s newest Mexican restaurant and tequila bar. Complete with a dimly lit interior, rattan seating and cacti in every corner, the head chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez is on a mission to transport us to Mexico’s south-eastern shores. Offering up a tapas-style menu of everything from tortillas and guacamole or pork belly tacos to Suffolk Wagyu sirloin or roasted celeriac pastor. Accompanied by a hidden Tequila bar with one of the largest collections of agave-based liquor in Europe sourced directly from distilleries in Mexico, plenty of spicy margaritas will be on hand to make life fun.

Ixchel is located at 33h King’s Road, SW3 4LX, more info here.