It’s Friday the 13th. Burn the sage, set the altar and avoid all ladders!

Lost love and last love
Since premiering at Venice Film Festival in September, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer has become one of the most talked about movies of the year – now it’s time to actually watch it! Based on the semi-autobiographical novella of the same name by William S. Burroughs, the plot follows an American expat in 1950s Mexico City who becomes infatuated with a younger US Navy serviceman. Starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, it’s a surreal tale of obsession, desire and identity in Guadagnino’s signature visceral style. For true mega-fans, wear the JW Anderson x Queer collection to the cinema for extra points.

Queer is out in cinemas now. 

Mr. Dob at large
A great of Japanese art, the work of Takashi Murakami is currently taking over the Gagosian’s Burlington Arcade space. Best known for his multicoloured works and smiling flower motif which first appeared in 1995, characters such as Mr. Dob and Miss Ko2. have gone on to populate his work as vibrant, surrealist scenes. The exhibition reveals the man behind the smiles, featuring five newly commissioned works alongside a series of archival pieces, placing the artist’s exploration of traditional Japanese techniques at the fore.

Takashi Murakami runs at Gagosian until March 8th 2025, more info here. 

Femme Vortex
Struggling to find something to buy your nan for Christmas? You’re in luck! Dilara Fındıkoğlu is holding a sample sale just in time for the holiday season! The London-based designer’s signature pieces will be available in North London for just a fraction of the price and if it’s anything like the garments debuted in her FW24 show Femme Vortex, you’ll be in for a treat – as will your sexy nan.

The sample sale will run at 1-3 Victorian Grove, Bonsoir House, N16 8EN from 10 am – 7 pm. 

Anyone got a lighter?
Arriving at Rocket Gallery this weekend, Martin Parr’s latest exhibition No Smoking is a survey of smoking culture across the last five decades. To coincide with the release of the photobook of the same name, the gallery has curated a selection of the British photographer’s most iconic observations of the habit. We’ll meet you at the smoking area.

Martin Parr: No Smoking runs at Rocket Gallery until 31st May 2025, more info here. 

A Tennessee Williams classic
Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning 1955 three-act play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is a story of desire and deception set in the Deep South. Beginning its run at London’s Almeida this weekend, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Kingsley Ben-Adir take centre stage as Williams’ protagonists Gooper and Maggie, directed by Almeida Associate Director Rebecca Frecknall following her Olivier Award-winning production of the author’s A Streetcar Named Desire. 

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs at The Almeida until February 1st 2025, more info here.

Halloween in December
Away from their Vaccines day job, Justin Young and Timothy Lanham have been moonlighting as Halloweens since 2019. With the release of their sophomore record this year – the brilliantly titled, Opera Singing at the Salsa Bar – the duo return to London for a night of… well, opera singing at the salsa bar, we hope.

Halloweens play at Village Underground on Friday 13th December – tickets here.

Filipino cuisine
British-born Filipino chef Rex De Guzman has been heading up Turo Turo through a series of pop-ups for the past decade, garnering a reputation for exquisite Filipino barbecue and traditional cuisine. After testing out hotspots across the city, De Guzman has now opened up a permanent spot in South London to call home. On the menu are dishes experimenting with classic Filipino street food such as oxtail kare kare croquettes with peanut sauce, rice noodles with shrimp sauce and coconut rice cake cooked in banana leaves and topped with grilled cheese.

Turo Turo is located at 102 Tooting High Street, SW17 0RR, more info here.