Another bank holiday, you say? Aren’t we lucky?! Summer is coming, get out there and enjoy it. 

Wes Anderson is back
Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme arrives in UK cinemas this weekend, fresh off its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival just last week. Boasting a stellar ensemble cast, including Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, and a breakout performance from Mia Threapleton, the film centres on del Toro’s Zsa-Zsa Korda, a wealthy business tycoon with grand ambitions to construct an industrial megalopolis in the barren deserts of Phoenicia.

The Phoenician Scheme is out in cinemas now. 

Follow the yellow brick road…
Following the success of Trackie McLeod’s solo exhibition FRUIT in Glasgow last November, the Scottish artist has opened an aptly named follow-up show, FRUIT II, at The Bomb Factory in Holborn. Exploring themes of early 2000s masculinity, queer identity and a youth spent growing up in Glasgow, McLeod’s latest body of work manifests across textiles, screen prints and sculpture.

FRUIT II by Trackie McLeod runs at The Bomb Factory Holborn until June 11th, more info here. 

‘Tis the season
Ah, festival season, how we have missed you. Earmarked in the cultural calendar as London’s official start to summer, GALA is returning to Peckham Rye Park to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Taking place over three days, the line-up brings together some of the biggest artists in techno, house and funk. Names to note on the bill this year include Floating Points, Caribou, Ben UFO, KiNK and Bradley Zero.

GALA will take place at Peckham Rye Park until Sunday 25th, more info here. 

Pop Mart is popping up
If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you’ll know that Chinese toy manufacturer Pop Mart is selling out Labubus, Sonny Angels, and Skullpandas left, right and centre. For the first time in Europe, Pop Mart is launching an immersive exhibition and store in Covent Garden this weekend to celebrate one of its most beloved characters, Hirono, created by renowned artist Lang.

The pop-up will take place at Unit X Gallery in Covent Garden until 8th June. 

In the Mood for Love
Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert is bringing together some of David Hockney’s early works from the years 1960-1963, marking one of the first in-depth looks into the era following his graduation from the Royal College of Art. At a time when homosexuality was criminalised in Britain, the works on display show Hockney’s exploration of sexuality, including pieces such as The First Love Painting, The Cha Cha that was Danced in the Early Hours of 24th March 1961, and The Salesman.

In the Mood for Love: Hockney in London, 1960–1963 runs at Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert until 18th July, more info here. 

Repair your clothes and mind
As part of a series of workshops hosted by Hart Shoreditch, this Saturday, take part in the Mindful Mending Club, which teaches you how to take a sustainable approach to your wardrobe, mending and repairing your favourite, well-worn pieces. Led by Andrea Cheong, author of Why Don’t I Have Anything To Wear, the workshop also takes a therapeutic, wellbeing approach that restores your mindfulness as well as your clothes.

Buy tickets for the Mindful Mending Club here.

Gou Talk
Another one! There are too many day festivals going on this bank holiday weekend to choose just one, and Field Day is making it hard to resist, taking over Brockwell Park this Saturday with a top bill. Now in its seventeenth year, this year’s edition sees Peggy Gou take on the headline set alongside Folamour, Dixon, Jayda G and SWIM. Do two day festivals in one weekend for maximum kudos.

Field Day takes place at Brockwell Park on 24th May, more info here. 

Ukrainian cuisine
Founded by a Ukrainian duo, Polina Sychova and Eugene Korolev, SINO is the newest address to note in West London. Serving up a menu of authentic Ukrainian dishes with quality British and Ukrainian ingredients, dishes to note include cherry-glazed BBQ catfish, vareniky dumplings served with ox tail, hay-infused wild mushroom broth and aged walnut ice-cream with smoked plum chocolate mousse to finish.

Sino is located at 7 All Saints Rd, W11 1HA, more info here.