Yes, we’re back. Christmas and New Year’s are but blurry memories, and the icey chill of January is upon us. But with a new year comes new cultural gems in this great ice cube we call London. 

Nicole Kidman is Babygirl
One of the most hyped films of the year, Babygirl is finally out today. Starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson, the film has already attracted a lot of attention due to the steamy and raunchy scenes between the two actors. It follows Kidman as a CEO who puts her career on the line after she gets into a dom/sub relationship with a younger intern, played by Harris Dickinson. The film is the latest feature from Bodies Bodies Bodies director Halina Reijn. Our advice: take a date, test the waters…

Babygirl is out in cinemas now. 

Emo nostalgia
For those of us who were coming-of-age in the 00s things such as asymmetrical fringes, wearing a tie over a t-shirt, and covering your arms with ‘shag bands’ will conjure fond(?) memories of the emo years. That period of British subculture where My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday were all you listened to, your Myspace profile picture was 90 percent hair, and smudged eyeliner simply meant you were doing it well. As the twenty-year cycle dictates, now emo is being celebrated in all its miserable glory as part of an exhibition by the Museum of Youth Culture, housed at Barbican. Next week sees the exhibition come to a close, so this weekend is your final chance to catch it – dress code: black.

I’m Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective (2004-2009) will run at Barbican Music Library until 15th January, more info here. 

Shake it Down
South London outfit C Turtle are taking the stage at Two Palms this Friday eve to blow away the memories of 2024. One of the most exciting young bands around, C Turtle’s potent mix of languid rhythms, back-and-forth vocals and a commitment to riding the distortion pedal hard proves a thrilling lo-fi cocktail. FFO Sonic Youth, Pavement, Silver Jews, The Pixies… basically all of the coolest bands to have emerged from the US in the 90s. We love them and don’t care if you do too.

C Turtle play at Two Palms on Friday 10th January, buy tickets here.

Music a little different to the above
Angelina Jolie stars as one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, Maria Callas, in Pablo Larraín’s biopic Maria. Already earning Jolie a Golden Globe nomination, her performance is sure to be a transformative one, having spent seven months training operatics to emulate the legendary performer. Set in Paris, the story follows the seven days before her death in 1977 as Callas reflects on her inimitable life and career.

Maria is out in cinemas now. 

Hot grub for cold days
The Compton Arms has garnered a reputation for hosting some of the best chefs in the city with past residents including the likes of Four Legs who have gone on to open The Plimsoll and Tollington. Rake is next to hold a long-term residence in the Islington pub, operated by Jay Claus and Syrus Pickhaver, the British cooking concept was born from working in acclaimed London restaurants such as Acme Fire Cult, Brat and Quo Vadis. The menu will change regularly to focus on using the best produce available, but you can expect to see hearty dishes such as sardines on toast, braised squid, ale and potato pie, beef ribeye with onion rings and deep-fried summer berry pie with cold custard to finish. Ideal for these freezing cold temperatures. Plus, if you’re an Arsenal fan, on match days Rake will be doing Cumberland sausage hot dogs with French dip gravy.

The Compton Arms is located at 4 Compton Ave, N1 2XD, more info here.