Once strictly the fashion domain of men like Ray Winston and south London gent my Uncle Maurice, chunky knit cardigans with shawl necks are now a fashion thumbs up. H&M have a good range. Love this beige number for £9.99.
Lights Camera Action
Launching tonight and on for the next couple of weeks is Peckham and Nunhead free film festival. A true community festival, everyone from the local youth to Peckham’s bubbling art scene take part. There’s lots of free films (duh) including a screening of Flash Gordon powered by bike (environmental, people!), silent movies accompanied by piano on Peckham Rye, cult Japanese animation flick Spirited Away shown at a community centre in East Dulwich and a Saturday morning screening of Disney’s The Aristocats for kids in Nunhead. Local art galleries show moving image, visuals and animation. There’s also film making workshops for younger children, see the website for details. Take the family for good times.
Everybody Wants To Be A Cat, from The Aristocats
Hey Mama
These mothers are so hip it hurts. The MM crew includes one half of new hot production duo Royalty, the lovely Chesca, and everybody’s favourite Wah! girl Sharma. Check out the website. Great job ladies!
Three Nights In Rio
Dalston Rio cinema have film sessions for Mums (or Dads) and babies. Babies have to be under 1 year old. Hear that babies? Normally it’s all ‘you must be over 12 to see this’ or ‘PG’ or ‘You must be taller than this to ride that’ until you reach 18 and then it’s all on you so you go crazy. In the Mums and babies slot the cinema is slightly lighter than normal, there is plenty of secure buggy room and no one gives a hoot if your son or daughter has a crying fit mid movie. Instead you get KNOWING and SYMPATHETIC smiles.
Films are screened in the mornings, and £7 or £5.50, and you must become a member to attend. Membership is free. They are currently showing films like Lars Con Trier’s Melancholia, Jayne Eyre and Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In.
Rio Dalston / www.riocinema.org.uk
107 Kingsland High St, Dalston E8 2PB / 020 7241 9410
Tuesdays / Thursdays / 10.30am – 12.45 / see website for timings
B’ Day
Congratulations Miss Bootie and Mr Shawn Carter on their baby news. That’s gonna be one cool baby. Knocked these cool babies off the perch: Erykah Badu and Andre 3000′s baby, Lauren Hill and Steven Marley’s brood of babies, Faith Evans and Notorious, and the cool baby everyone always forgets, Angie Stone and D’Angelo’s baby. The ultimate baby. This is why Beyonce wins:
That’s mummy, here’s Daddy:
Go out now and buy the new Jay Z and Kayne West album to celebrate. Bey and J need the money now, nappies cost dollar.
Carnival
For all the Mommas who took the little ones to carnival today, here’s something to listen to when they’re tucked up in bed. FRESH mix from Deviation’s Benji B recorded at his carnival after party last year. Holler!
Colour Blind
Hervé Tullet is a children’s illustrator and author who the Tate commissioned to create this colouring book. It is an amazing book. It takes colouring in to a whole new level, firing up imagination, wordplay, creative drawing and even dress designing skills in today’s toddlers and babies. Would the youth be rioting if they had had colouring books like this back in the day? Yeah, probably. Punks.
Colouring In book, £9.99
What’s Beef?
I know we’d be saving the planet if we all went vegetarian but sometimes you just want a steak – fat and rare and juicy – and when you get that urge run with it but just do it properly. Sometimes you want a glass of Prosecco before you start on your steak, mac and cheese, four times fried fries, and half a lobster on the side. For realz. Looking after a young child saps energy, you know? Visited the original Hawksmoor in Spitalfields on Friday lunch, strictly road testing their place for blogging purposes. The steak there makes you feel like you’ve died and gone to, well gone to Hawksmoor. They’re the steak kings. Their baby friendliness is ok-ay, but let’s face it you don’t open a steak restaurant with the aim of encouraging babies along do you. High chairs were available and they were happy to have the buggy by the table when lil one wanted to sleep. Noisy as a busy restaurant should be with boozy chatter and eating so steer clear if your baby is of a delicate nature. Apart from that, the lovely staff were v. accommodating. Changing facilities zilch but I wouldn’t expect a mother and baby room. It’s a steak house, it don’t come any more alpha male than that! Amazing steak, lazy afternoon.
Hawksmoor / www.thehawksmoor.co.uk
157, Commercial Road, E1 6BJ / 020 7247 7392
Brunch Saturday 11am – 4pm Sunday 11am – 5pm / Lunch Monday – Friday 12pm – 3pm / Dinner Monday – Saturday 6pm – 10.30pm
Beamer, Benz or Bentley
Before vintage sales there were jumble sales and car boot sales. The latter just doesn’t sound as happening as the former and you do have to hunt harder – it’s all about where you go. If you are a Mum you can stockpile pushchairs, toys, high chairs, whatever. Road tripped to Edenbridge in Kent which is ripe for the picking. People who live in these greenbelt ends have serious dough. Mums who live here have too much money and way too much time. They spend their cash in baby boutiques, on ponies and on designer threads for their kids and then sell them on out of the back of their Land Rover Defender for £1. Well, the clothes, not so much the ponies. NSTB saw Baby Bakers for cheap, Baby Armani for less, a silk Liberty scarf for a quid, but is rolling with a picture of a plastic troll doll because that’s all the baby was interested in. Entry price £1, fun filled family day out.
Edenbridge Boot Fair
Gabriels Farm, Marsh Green, Edenbridge TN8 5PP / 07807 259561
Open Saturday and Sunday
American Boy
Fresh, preppy baby wear from Gants. Straight outta a Tommy Hilfiger ad for that wholesome all American look. Add some chinos and you’ve got yourself an outfit.
Gant Bab’y Royal Eccentrics Boys Washer Pinpoint Oxford Shirt, £28.00. Can be worn by baby girls or boys.
Gant / www.gantuk.com
47 – 49, Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1ED / 020 7590 2430
Mon, Tue, Wed Sat 10am – 7pm / Thurs, Fri 10am – 8pm / Sun 10.30am – 5pm
