In case you’re not among the lucky ones at the Olympic Stadium or sports are just not your thing, here are our recommendations for fun and art this weekend.
1. ART: LONDON
—Exhibition Road Show
Exhibition Road in London’s cultural heartland is home to the Science Museum, a stone’s throw away from the Natural History Museum and the V&A. It will host the Exhibition Road Show to welcome the Olympics with some of London’s finest culture. Commissioned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea the week of festivities features readings of specially commissioned Road stories from a range of authors, paper sculptures by Mandy Smith, visual arts and musical performances, all commissioned by leading arts producer Di Robson.
Exhibition Road, London. Until 5 August
exhibitionroadshow.co.uk
2. MUSIC: GLOBAL
—Purity Ring: Shrines
Ticking boxes left, right and centre for what a band “should” be today (girl/boy duo? Yep. Slightly ambiguous way with the electro pop genre? Absolutely), Montréal’s Purity Ring are up against it when it comes to standing out from the crowd. But luckily Shrines is filled with great off-kilter pop songs to make you think, so the band are ahead of competitors immediately. Megan James’ vocals skip across the playful beats of Corin Roddick’s accompaniment, which when playing live comes in the form of homemade synths and samplers that you won’t see anywhere else. So they are quite unusual but just aren’t making a song and dance about it. Purity Ring’s Shrines is out nowpurityringsongs.com
3. ART FESTIVAL: HUDSON
—NADA Hudson
Following its successful inauguration last summer, the New Art Dealers Alliance will hosting NADA Hudson this weekend in upstate New York. This year’s second edition features 48 site-specific projects by NADA affiliated artists and galleries. Held in the Basilica Hudson, a convert 19th-century factory, NADA Hudson will feature contemporary sculpture, installations and film. Among the participating entrants are Marlborough Chelsea alongside a roster of other New York galleries and international exhibitors from London, Tel Aviv and Toronto. There will also be a special music performance by Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo. Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street, Hudson New York. Open daily 11.00-19.00. Until 29 Julynewartdealers.org/public-events/nada-hudson
4. FILM: LONDON
—Woman in a Dressing Gown
Digitally remastered, the 1957 British classic Woman in a Dressing Gown hits the screens of Curzon cinema in Mayfair this weekend before its official DVD release on 13 August. Written by Ted Willis and directed by J Lee Thompson, the kitchen-sink drama draws on the daily incidents of a household of three: a middle-aged married couple portrayed by Anthony Quayle and Yvonne Mitchell and the other woman, pretty sectary Sylvia Sims. Enthralling and at times sentimental, it’s a must-see re-release. Curzon Mayfair, 38 Curzon Streetcurzoncinemas.com
5. FOOD: WASHINGTON
—The Brixton
Located at the heart of Washington’s U Street, the Brixton is the capital city’s newest restaurant offering a British-themed menu in a refined pub atmosphere. Part Highlands hunting lodge, part London pub, the Brixton offers a typical British menu featuring beef Wellington and Scotch duck eggs alongside a long tap list of draughts. While the interiors are most suitable for a chilly autumn day in DC, we recommend taking advantage of the Brixton’s spacious rooftop terrace while the sun is shining.
901 U Street NW (between N Florida Avenue and N 9 1/2 Sreet). Open Monday to Friday 17.00-1.30, Saturday to Sunday 11.00-1:30Brixtondc.com
