What to see
“Skateboard”
From Tony Hawk’s first professional model skateboard to Sky Brown’s first pro model, the Design Museum’s latest major exhibition takes a look at the history of the skateboard from the 1950s to the present day.
There will be 90 rare and unique boards on display, as well as wheels and tucks, safety equipment, VHS tapes, DVDs, magazines and ephemera on the subject of skateboarding.
“Robert Mapplethorpe: Subject Object Image”
The Alison Jacques gallery will showcase works by Robert Mapplethorpe across 13 years, starting from 1976 documenting his transition from Polaroid images to using a Hasselblad 500 camera.
His muses Lisa Lyon, Ajitto, Derrick Cross and Ken Moody make a cameo in the exhibition, as well as his use of Italian glass, antique silver and classical statuary.
“Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the U.K. 1970-1990”
More than 100 women artists are exhibited at the Barbican including Rita Keegan, Melanie Friend, Bhajan Hunjan, Jill Westwood and Helen Chadwick in “Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the U.K. 1970 to 1990,” featuring moments from Miss World to the Equal Pay Act.
What to watch
“Infinite Life”
American playwright Annie Baker’s new play “Infinite Life” invites five women from Northern California to examine the themes of suffering and desire.
The play is directed by James Macdonald, whose other works include “The Arrest of Ai Weiwei” at the Hampstead Theatre in 2013 and “Bakkhai” at the Almeida Theatre in 2015.
“Edward Scissorhands”
The Tim Burton classic “Edward Scissorhands” is back at Sadler’s Wells for the holiday season with a Matthew Bourne twist, setting it in the 1950s rather than the ’80s like the original film. The entire tale is told through dance and music by Terry Davies.
“The Nutcracker”
This Christmas, Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Royal Opera House’s “The Nutcracker” with choreography by Peter Wright. The story is told through Clara at a Christmas Eve party fighting the Mouse King with the Nutcracker with beautifully embellished costumes.
Where to eat
Kinkally
Come Dec. 6, the Georgian-inspired restaurant Kinkally opens on Charlotte Street with its own cocktail den, called Bar Kinky. The menu features a local dish called khinkali, a twisted dumpling traditionally filled with beef, pork or lamb and a touch of parsley. Other items on the menu include aubergine carpaccio; tomato ceviche in a spicy sesame sauce and smoked beetroot, goat’s cheese and persimmon.
43 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 1RS
Sushi by Masa at Harrods
Critically acclaimed Japanese chef Masayoshi “Masa” Takayama takes the art of food more seriously than most at the Harrods restaurant hall, his sushi station serves rice washed in Evian water. The three Michelin-star chef behind New York’s Masa, Bar Masa and Kappo Masa serves a sashimi platter with 15 pieces of five different fish; tuna carpaccio and black cod with miso butter at Sushi by Masa.
Harrods Dining Hall, 135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X 7XL — 020 7225 6800
Eve
Eastern and southern Mediterranean cuisine meet at Eve in West London headed up by executive chef Talia Prince, who has held positions at Le Gavroche, The Fat Duck and her own chef residency at Soho House White City. Her menu at Eve features dishes such as smoked almond hummus; cured trout with pomegranate, orange and fennel; spiced rice pilaf, and fattoush.
202-220, Cromwell Road, London, SW5 0SW
Where to treat yourself
By Dr. Vali
Dermatologist Dr. Vali has set up shop at Selfridges with a treatment menu that can rival a Michelin-star restaurant with a skin lab that offers prescription grade medi-facials to a hair lab that includes treatments such as hair loss intravenous vitamins and laser hair removal. There’s a wellness and body lab on site too.
Selfridges, By Dr. Vali 360 Experiential Centre, third floor, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB — 020 3096 3884
Margaret Dabbs
With six locations across London, Margaret Dabbs is the city’s go-to pedicurist, from medical pedicures and diabetic medical pedicures to luxury pedicures. The clinic also provides biomechanical assessment using a 2D laser scanning technology.
7 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 8UU — 020 7487 5510
Aesop Facial
Luxury personal care brand Aesop’s two locations in London, one in Northcote Road and the other on Regent Street, now offer bespoke facial treatments ranging from a 45-minute session that includes double cleanse, exfoliation and dry skin brushing to a 75-minute one that uses custom-blended products applied under steam, extractions and a purifying clay masque.
185 Regent Street, London W1B 4JP — 020 4559 8300
