This weekend’s highlights include Everlane’s pop-up store in New York, a music festival in London celebrating African roots music’s worldwide appeal and Hong Kong Design Institute’s graduation show.
1. RETAIL: NEW YORK
—Everlane pop-up shop
San Francisco-based Everlane has just opened the doors of their first East Coast pop-up shop in the heart of SoHo. Open until Sunday, “Not a Shop” features Everlane’s core collection and also offers a glimpse of several previously unreleased items including the brand’s new canvas backpack. Everlane’s founders will also be on hand throughout the event to explain how the business got started and offer a firsthand look at the e-retailer’s best sellers.
65 Prince Street. Open 11.00-19.00. Until 01 July
everlane.com
2. FESTIVAL: LONDON
—Back2black festival
Rio de Janeiro’s annual celebration of African roots music makes an early stop in London this weekend as Back2Black takes over the Old Billingsgate Market by the River Thames. The venue will be revamped by Brazilian visual artist Bia Lessa, with musicians playing samba, funk, reggae, dub and hip-hop over three days. Saturday sees local London MC Roots Manuva take the stage, while veteran bossa nova icon (and former Brazilian minister of culture) Gilberto Gil will be opening up the variety on Sunday, alongside Malian musicians Amadou and Mariam. But we recommend getting there a little earlier to check out fellow Malian star Toumani Diabaté, too.
Old Billingsgate Market. 29 June until 1 July
back2blackfestival.com.br
3. DRINKS: AUSTIN
—Weather Up
We’ve long been fans of English-born Kathryn Weatherup’s eponymous New York cocktail bars and this weekend we’re delighted at her new location – Austin. Located in a charming old house in the city’s east side, Weather Up Austin offers several of the same cocktails that New Yorkers have come to love including the Weather Up Jr, made with Cognac, Amaretto, dry vermouth and Champagne. There’s also a raw bar with oysters and mussels and a healthy selection of charcuterie. While Weather Up Austin’s interior is no less smart than its New York siblings, we suggest going for a drink on the neatly landscaped back terrace.
1808 E Cesar Chavez Street. Open Tuesday – Sunday 16.00–00.00, Saturday 16.00–1.00weatherupnyc.com
4. DESIGN: HONG KONG
—HKDI Design Graduation Show 2012
Hong Kong Design Institute has quietly been changing the creative landscape of the city for years. Every year, 1,600 students graduate in everything from fashion to architecture and landscaping. This weekend HKDI puts on its design graduation show. Pop by for a peak at Hong Kong’s emerging creative talent, as well as exhibits from other celebrated visiting schools such as London College of Fashion.
HDKI and IVE, 3 King Ling Road, Tseung Kwan O, NT. Open 10:00-20:00. Until 9 July
hkdi.edu.hk
5. MUSIC: GLOBAL
—Beachwood Sparks: The Tarnished Gold
Back in the late 1990s, California’s unashamedly retro Byrds-indebted psych crooners Beachwood Sparks stuck out like a sore thumb amid nu-metal, Britpop hangovers and the 20th century’s desperate attempts to find the “new thing” as it closed up shop. Naturally, their two country rock albums were listened to by about four people and the band split up. But 2012 is a different musical landscape, where listeners seem to appreciate a well-crafted post-modern reflection on the early 1970s’ most cosmic sentiments. The band have reformed, signed to Sub Pop and The Tarnished Gold is the result. Thirteen tracks of effortless, sunny, country pop. It’ll probably be listened to by around four people again, but this time around we’re not counting the band.
The Tarnished Gold is available to buy now
subpop.com/artists/beachwood_sparks
