Culture Crawl

By Hazel Last edited 209 months ago
Culture Crawl
CultureCrawl5.10.06.jpg

It's a bit of a mixed bag this week, to match the weather and the annual wardrobe meltdown that we are facing as we try to cover all potential weather situations. It's been a bit of a scramble to bring the Culture Crawl indoors after such a great summer of outdoor pursuits but inside we go... and there's plenty to see and do...

Shunt, the people who brought us Tropicana and Amato Saltone in the extraordinary space under London Bridge have a new project: the Shunt Lounge, a late bar in the vaults that will be curated by a different Shunt artist each week. It promises to be unrecognisable from the previous week each time it runs - some artists will organise live music, performance or maybe recreate cocktails from well-known films with a spot of sword-swallowing and trampolining (not at the same time) on the side. Regular attendance will pay off, and for the first month of this new enterprise, entry is free until 27 October. The Shunt Lounge, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night in the Shunt Vaults, entry through London Bridge Underground Station. Doors open at 6.00pm, last entry is 11.00pm, bar stays open late. The Shunt website is under construction at the moment, but if you're interested, then join the mailing list here.

It's the first Friday of the month which means it is time for the Late at Tate Britain again. To celebrate the current Holbein in England exhibition, Tate Britain have organised"a night of feasting and excess, inspired by Tudor decadence" - this means a contemporary court jester, food talks by Fay Maschler and Richard Fitch and, if you can get a ticket, a very special Late at Tate Tasting Dinner by the Tate Catering team. For £50.00, lucky guzzlers can sample a five course meal accompanied by a range of excellent wines. For those who are happy just to watch, there is a free screening of Babette's Feast as part of the evening's events. Late at Tate Britain, Friday 6 October, 6.00pm to 10.00pm, entry is free.

Over the weekend, there are some major exhibitions and shows that are hard to choose between: first there is the Cycle Show at the ExCel Centre in the Docklands. Absolutely anything and everything to do with bikes is on show and yours to explore, with demonstrations, stalls and the launch of several new ranges from cycle specialists.Cycle Show 2006, at the ExCel Centre, 6-8 October. For more information and to book tickets, go to the Cycle Show website here.

The London Tattoo Convention comes to the Truman Breweries for the weekend - whether you're keen to show off what you've already got or want inspiration for your next lot of needlework, head east for the biggest gathering of body art artists and artistry. The London Tattoo Convention, 6 to 8 October at the Truman Breweries, one day tickets are £15.00, a three day pass is £40.00. For more information and to book, go to the convention website here.

Celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street will take place, unsurprisingly, on Cable Street from 12noon on Sunday. Among the many things scheduled are the Cardboard Citizens Samba Band leading the procession, a street performance called "They Shall Not Pass", a klezmer band and appearances by a range of East End art and community groups. The Battle of Cable Street celebrations, 8 October, 12noon to 4.00pm on Cable Street (nearest tube station is Shadwell). Entry is free. For more information on the event, go to the website here.

Although not an event or something to go along and see, we thought we'd include something that is fun to do and for a good cause too. WaterAid and London-based knitting group I Knit have come up with a different approach to the usual petition and direct mail with a free pen to complete the donation form used by most campaigns. In order to raise awareness for WaterAid's efforts to bring clean, safe water and good sanitation to those who need it, I Knit is asking for people to "Knit A River" by donating knitted squares in blue yarn, 15cmx15cm that will be sewn together to form the "river." The final object will be used by WaterAid as a campaign tool at their various awareness and fundraising events. If you don't know how to knit but have been looking for an excuse to learn, take part in knitting this river. More information about the WaterAid and I Knit campaign to Knit A River campaign can be found here. To see the river in progress, go to the Knit A River blog here.

The picture shows a pile of contributed knitted squares from the Knit A River campaign, as featured on the Knit a River blog here.

Last Updated 05 October 2006