Highlights of this weekend include a documentary festival in Amsterdam, Australian chef Bill Granger’s first London restaurant and an Aether pop-up in New York.
1 FESTIVAL: AMSTERDAM
—The International Documentary Film Festival
Prepare to celebrate real life as one of the most important documentary film festivals in the world starts this weekend. Amsterdam’s been hosting its own International Documentary Film Festival since 1988 with over 250 films on show for 2011. This Saturday, take an inside look at one of the most isolated countries in the world with Robert H. Lieberman’s They Call it Myanmar – Lifting the Curtain at the Pathé Tuschinski theatre.
The festival is at multiple venues in Amsterdam.Until 27 November
idfa.nl
2 EXHIBITION: LONDON
—Royal College of Art Secret
Over 1,000 visual artists have donated their postcard-sized works to the 18th edition of the Royal College of Art Secret exhibition, including Anish Kapoor, Paul Smith, David Bailey and Mike Leigh. The catch is that you can only find out the author of the work after you buy it. So for £45 you might just get the artwork of a celebrated master or of a recent RCA graduate – keep it close though, they might be famous one day.
Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London. Until 25 November
dams.rca.ac.uk/res/sites/RCA_Secret
3 RETAIL: NEW YORK
—Aether pop-up store
This week marks the opening of AETHERstream, the traveling concept shop from Los Angeles-based Aether apparel. Designed by Thierry Gaugain, the shop has the looks of a typical boutique, save for the fact that it is housed within a 10m Airstream PanAmerica trailer and travels behind a Land Rover. The AETHERstream will carry key pieces from the brand’s autumn/winter collection, which brings together functional, yet smartly styled clothing designed for outdoor sport enthusiasts.
47 Prince Street between Mulberry and Lafayette. Open daily, 11.00 – 19.00. Until 31 December
aetherapparel.com
4 EXHIBITION: HONG KONG
—Roy Lichtenstein: Landscapes in the Chinese Style
Seize an opportunity to see an icon in a different light this weekend with an exhibition of Roy Lichtenstein’s landscapes. Although pop art was Lichtenstein’s bread and butter he also had a weakness for traditional Chinese painting from the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). This collection pays homage to this period and its ethereal and delicate style while still including Lichtenstein’s trademark techniques.
Gagosian Gallery, 7th Floor, Pedder Building, Hong Kong. Until 22 December
expovina.ch
5 FOOD: LONDON
—Granger & Co
Unassuming and unshowy just like the man himself, the simply named Granger & Co is the self-taught Australian chef Bill Granger’s first London food spot. The Notting Hill restaurant offers all-day casual dining and signature Granger dishes such as ricotta hotcakes with fresh banana & honeycomb butter for breakfast. Dinner shouldn’t be a challenge either, as Granger & Co has a strictly walk-in, no booking necessary door policy.
Granger & Co, 175 Westbourne Grove, London
grangerandco.com