It is now officially the astronomical spring, the clocks go forward one hour this weekend and shops are full of open toed shoes. That means that you no longer have any excuse for sitting on the sofa ignoring your friends’ calls to even go across the road for a drink (boo) but also that soon you won’t be shivering on a night out as you wait for the bus / run around nearby streets because your phone is dying and you cant find the Uber.
The event that’s putting your 5-a-day veg in a cocktail…
Gulptivate @ Hoe Street Walthamstow, London
It's meat free week and veg is great, but this night from Bestowed Kitchen takes things to the next level with specially created cocktails featuring veg and herbs as well as the usual booze and fruit as they celebrate one year of delicious cooking. Entry is free but RSVP (there's a limited cap) at http://gulptivate.splashthat.com/ if you like the idea of a beetroot bellini or a gin, tonic and tarragon or a celeriac slinger*
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may have just made these up
The market if you’re obsessed with food (meat edition)
Urban Food Fest @ Shoreditch, London
Sat Mar 28
Can’t stay away from meat, even for a charitable initiative? Then you’ll be pleased that Urban Food Fest is back in London every Saturday night through the summer, starting this weekend. This week’s event is Alice and Wonderland themed (so imagine there will be lots of whimsical sweet treats) alongside the burgers, tapas, pulled pork, wood fired pizzas and bagels. Who knows, maybe those will be given a whimsical twist too.
The place to brush up on the best indie labels…
Independent Label Market + London Brewers Market, Spitalfields, London
Sat Mar 28
It’s tempting to stay far far far away from the Spitalfields area of London on weekends now that it’s properly up there as a tourist destination alongside the Tower Of London and the Bookshop in Notting Hill from the film Notting Hill (that isn’t even the actual shop they used in the film, sorry). But it’s always worth a trip for the Independent Label Market, now with a new spring edition joining the summer sweat fest and Xmas one. A lot of indie labels, indie beers and a sea of tote bags (seriously it’s a trend that never dies)
The exhibition to have you pining for the summer sea…
Natural History Museum Late @ Natural History Museum, London
Friday 27 Mar
Even the idea of this month’s Natural History Museum late has us pining for the sea - specifically a type of warm blue clear sea that right now we really cannot afford to visit. As well as the Wildlife Photographer Of The Year exhibition, there’s a first chance to see ‘Coral Reeds: Secret Cities of the Sea’ featuring spectacular underwater photography and a virtual reef dive which will in no way spin you out after a few drinks in the Hintze hall. After Hours: Extreme Makeover @ Aberdeen Art Gallery Fri Mar 27 The Aberdeen Art Gallery is also open late this weekend but with a twist - it’s closing for a while and this is the last time you can visit. Rather than paintings, they’ve filled the gallery with competitions (dressing up), DJs (from Tuff Wax Records and more), 10 Dollar Shake putting on a bar and more.
The film that comes with free dancing…
**GRRRL Jam **
@ Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College Move from the sofa (but take a pillow with you if you fancy a comfier seat) and get down to the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh for a screening of ‘The Punk Singer: A film about Kathleen Hanna’. Directed by Sini Anderson it’s a fascinating and fun documentary about feminist artist and voice of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre and Julie Ruin plus there are DJs going until late afterwards.
The gigs to prep you for festival time…
Charli XCX @ Queen Margaret Union
Glasgow Mar 27
Sheffield Plug Mar 28
**Courtney Barnett @ Concorde 2, Brighton **
Mar 27
**Wolf Alice @ Sheffield Leadmill **
Mar 27
It’s that key time of year when seeing bands is an investment in your credibility at festivals during the summer months (joking, sort of). Enjoying Charli XCX infront of a big crowd at Wireless? “OH she was so much better in a clubbier setting” you say nonchalantly, remembering that great night at Sheffield Plug. As Courtney Barnett (Pitchfork approved second album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is out now) smashes it in the hills at Green Man you can do the whole ‘I saw it first’ if you see her in Brighton and Leeds this weekend and Wolf Alice are superstars at Reading and Leeds (although sorry, they’ve already played a lot of shows you missed) you’ll know you were there when it all started to go big.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.