If, like us, you’re trying to avoid your Christmas shopping then fear not because we’ve sussed out the best things to fill your time with this weekend devoid of festive cheer. We’re not scrooges though, we promise! 

Dark comedy meets psychological thriller
Directed by William Oldroyd and based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Ottessa Moshfegh, Eileen is a seductive psychological thriller set in 1964 Massachusetts. Thomasin McKenzie starts in the titular role as a seemingly unassuming young woman working as a filing assistant at a juvenile prison in small-town America who becomes enthralled by the arrival of the new consultant psychologist played by Anne Hathway. Towing the line between dark comedy and psychological thriller, Moshfegh’s story is a captivating tale which revels in the art of suspense.

Eileen is screening at Ciné Lumière Institut Français this weekend, more info here. 

A retrospective 
To celebrate 24 years of collaboration between Alison Jacques and The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, the London-based gallery is presenting a solo exhibition of Mapplethrope’s work. A prolific figure within 20th-century photography and a prominent face on the Lower East Side’s infamous 70s art scene, Mapplethorpe’s inimitable style is placed at the fore within Subject Object Image, which spans 20 years of life and work. Approaching his subjects with an unapologetic intention of exploration, Mapplethorpe’s body of work traverses the uptown glamour, of Manhattan, the disco-fuelled hedonism of Studio 54 and the underground world BDSM subculture.

Robert Mapplethorpe: Subject Object Image runs at Alison Jacques until January 20th 2024, more info here. 

A musical but not a musical
When Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War was released in 2018 it was quickly helmed as one of the best films of that year for its tragic love story and stylish black-and-white cinematography. Now, the story has found itself on the stage of the Almeida in an adaptation by Conor McPherson with songs by Elvis Costello.

Zula is bold and brilliant, a singer who ignites the stage. Wiktor is withdrawn and damaged, a composer longing to write. Irresistibly drawn to each other, they dream of escape. But in communist-controlled Poland that can be a dangerous thing. Directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold, Cold War stars Anya Chalotra and Luke Thallon.

Cold War runs at the Almeida Theatre until 27 January 2024, more info here. 

End of an era
One of the biggest shows on streaming, The Crown, is finishing this weekend. Chronicling the trials and tribulations of the Royal Family over the decades, the show has been one of Netflix’s biggest hits since it debuted in 2016 and has made household names of actors such as Claire Foy, Emma Corrin, and Josh O’Connor.

Something for die-hard Crown-heads, however, is happening at the BFI this Sunday where you will have the opportunity to watch the final ever episode on the big screen along with the episode’s director Stephen Daldry and the Queen herself, Imelda Staunton. Both will take part in a Q&A after the episode screening where you will be able to directly ask all of your hardest-hitting questions.

The Crown is streaming on Netflix now, tickets for BFI’s screening are available here.

Seriously spicy pizza
London-based Tunisian harissa brand Lamiri Harissa is partnering with New York-style pizza joint World Famous Gordos and hot sauce specialists Kold Sauce for a weekend-long pop-up at Netil Market. Bringing together a menu of Gordo’s bodega breakfast slice, Kold’s white mozzarella-based pizza topped with applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, a fried egg and fiery Kold Ketchup and a Lamiri special featuring pulled lamb, pomegranate and Lamiri Harissa yoghurt. A Hot Hamper full to the brim of the trio’s spiciest products will also be available to purchase as a last-minute Xmas gift for any spice-loving adrenaline junkie you may be stuck on present ideas for.

Netil Market is located at 13-23 Westgate St, E8 3RL

Hospital
Since beginning his career in the 1970s, Pope. L’s career has centred on crafting work which sits in constant dialogue with society, politics and contemporary culture. Currently showing at South London Gallery, Hospital is the American artist’s first solo exhibition in a London institution. Bringing together a series of installations and interventions, all of which are reconfigurations of previous works, the multidisciplinary artist presents work ranging from a video of chickens pecking apart and destroying a model of the Capitol building to Buckfast bottles dripping into empty hospital cups – continually commenting on the world as he sees it.

Pope. L’s Hospital runs at South London Gallery until 11th February 2024, more info here. 

New kid on the block
After a series of killer pop-ups, Whyte Rushen whose credentials include stints at the likes of Brat, Scully and Kerridge’s, has finally opened a permanent spot in Hackney. Complete with a minimalist interior and low lighting, Whyte’s allows for Rushen’s experimental dishes to do the talking. The menu consists of dishes for which he has become best known such as oysters topped with pickled onion Monster Munch and braised rabbit pizza as well as new introductions in the form of tempura octopus leg with katsu curry and bulldog sauce, chicken fried lamb chops with cranberry BBQ sauce, and turnip cake with Chinese sausage and dry shrimp.

Whyte’s is located at Unit 3, 143 Mare St, E8 3RH, check them out on Instagram here.