stuffwelikeapartfrommusic-blog

[stuffwelikeapartfrommusic-blog]

Ryan Gosling

Despite having a very girl-heavy office, we haven't posted about Ryan Gosling on here yet, a little strange perhaps.

Well I thought I would rectify the situation by talking about his new film 'The Place Beyond The Pines' as I just booked tickets for the BFI preview.

The film is directed by Derek Cianfrance, who has worked with Gosling before on 'Blue Valentine'.

Gosling is a motorbike stunt rider who leaves his job with a travelling carnival to help support his new child. He thinks robbing banks is the best way to do this, so soon has an ambitious cop (Bradley Cooper) on his tail.

Anyways, I'm pretty excited for it.

Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjes7u9Vewc

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Voodoo Ray's

Being a New Jersey native, I’m no stranger to greasy, amazing pizza. If there isn’t oil dripping off your pizza, it’s not worth eating. When I heard there was a “Brooklyn style” pizzeria opening just a couple minutes away from me, I ran out the door and ordered 3 of everything.  Not only does this place do excellent pizza, but they also serve East India Pale Ale and grilled mac and cheese. While your standard cheese slice is a must-try, they do a stellar meat pizza called “Got Beef” (Minced steak, béchamel, aubergine, mozzarella, tomato sauce). My inner fat kid died and went to heaven.

  Unlike the rest of London, Voodoo Ray’s  is open late. Go, bring friends, and wear your stretchy trousers.

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Danish Politics

Saturday night wasn't spent out on the town, that would be silly as Borgen was on the telly. In fact it was the last two episodes of the series. Better than The Killing by a mile (only comparisons being its Danish and shares actors from what seems to be a small pool of thespians in Denmark) and wipes the floor of anything currently being churned out by the BBC, not including The Hour of course. Brilliantly crafted characters and story lines that cover everything from sexism, child abuse and mental health to the good old fashioned passing of bills, taxes and international issues you expect from a political drama. By the end of the series you want to be Birgette or if your a man, have her as your wife. And from not warming much to Kasper and Katrine to being moved to tears twice by their relationship. It may still be on iPlayer, check now and watch it quickly if it is.

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Subterranean London

This weekend, I'm taking a visit to Aldwych tube station. It was closed in 1914 and London Transport Museum are opening it up for a few days for the public to explore.

The tickets were a little pricey but I love all the subterranean London things to discover (recently went to the Brunel Museum/Tunnel - awesome engineering there guys!) and it's good to arm yourself with London factoids.

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The Jewel in E4's Crown

No, not the horror punk band founded by Danzig or Monroe’s last film which the band are named after but the British sci-fi comedy-drama Misfits. At first look you may think this is Skins with super powers. But it's a million miles away. For a start the sex is cruder, funnier and darker. Right from the outset in episode 2 season 1 Nathan discovers he’s having sex with a very, very old women to where we are now, in season 4, where we see Fin’s girlfriend using her power to make him perform “hours of cunnilingus” - and let’s not get started on Rudy, the cling-film and the rubber band. The fact they actually do have powers after ‘the storm’ is almost just an excuse to come up with the most outlandish and ridiculously brilliant story-lines season on season. With humour so dark and fuelled by cynicism, only a 30 something would find it entertaining - honestly it’s lost on anybody younger. Don't get me wrong, I’m not hailing it as the saviour of TV. It's no Breaking Bad or Twin Peaks but it is completely enjoyable, clever and more importantly very, very watchable. I'm just waiting for the episode where someone actually discovers all those bodies buried in the wood…

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Wildlife photographer of the year

Went last sunday, it's the best exhibition I've been to in AGES.  Natural History Museum, London. On til March. Totally inspiring.  Fuck, some of the photos were taken by 11 years olds. WHAT?!  I don't even like photo exhibitions but it inspired awe every 5 seconds. Here is a photo from last year. It looks fake, but it's a photo. In fact this doesn't do it justice, you need to go see them blown up big

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Lardo

I read Grace Dent's recent review of new restaurant Lardo in ES mag the other day... it's on Richmond road in Hackney (top of London Fields, Mare st end) and have now been three times in two weeks - it's worth a visit.

New York vibes on the decor, big pizza oven, great cocktails and even better italian tapas bits - highly recommend the risotto balls, the veal cheek and the tomato salad. It's cheap too - bonus.  Cash only though

www.lardo.co.uk

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Nice threads

Propping Anoraks and their style... Loving the jumper Emily is wearing today. Tomato orangey red. Good colour - BOLD

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Skin revolution

This shit has changed my skin - no lie.  I've used it day and night for 4 days (since I got it) and my skin which was a bit dry and not in great condition is now super slinky and glowing. FOR REAL.  It's an expensive habit, annoyingly - but for your face.. it's worth it. Especially at my age.

Nude - progenius oil

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Shut Up and Play the Hits

Earlier this week, I went to see 'Shut Up and Play the Hits', the film about the last ever LCD Soundsystem show.

The film is split between footage of the Madison Square Gardens gig, preparation for the show including an intense interview and the morning after for James Murphy et al. 

I'm a big fan so was bound to enjoy it but the live show footage was stunning, a great mix of shots from the stage, backstage breaks and the whole arena. There was a lot of footage of fans which felt oddly voyeuristic as everyone was very emotional and you almost felt you shouldn't see people's reactions this openly. However, it added a great level of intimacy and the resounding feeling you got from the crowd was one of huge joy.

The name of the film comes from a moment when Arcade Fire join LCD on stage at Madison; whilst James is fluffing an intro, Win shouts out "Shut up and play the hits" and they kick into 'North American Scum'. It's a good name for a film about a band who only have hits.

James spoke pretty candidly about everything and as you might expect this probably won't be the end of his music career, just the end of LCD.

I don't think it's getting a full cinema release, so check it on DVD soon, in the mean time, enjoy this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xG4oFny2Pk

Plus his French bulldog was a bit of a star:

[stuffwelikeapartfrommusic-blog]

Bouncey bouncey bouncey

Very excited about hitting up Jeremy Deller's Sacrilege this weekend in the Hackney Marshes. It's a life sized replica of Stonehenge as a bouncy castle.

I really enjoyed his recent Hayward exhibition and whilst I'm not entirely sure what this is all about, it's a bouncy Stonehenge, so that's all I need to know.

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street feast

I'm off there tonight. It's another pop up food stall thing thing in dalston *kills self*

http://londonist.com/2012/07/preview-street-feast-market-in-dalston.php 

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Lipstickz

I used to think Mac did the best lipsticks, til I tried Lancome.  Lancome lipsticks are the best, fact.  It's all about consistency.  The Mac ones are creamy but they dry up quicker than you think. Lamcome have a good range of colours, stay moist and last a long time. £20. Pricey but worth it

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Beating the holiday blues

After driving back from Porto this week - that's about 2000km door to door - on Wednesday I was suffering a big holiday comedown.

I thought the best way to tackle this would be with food - I also can't believe we haven't posted about food yet.

So I headed to Shrimpy's for dinner, it's from the people that brought us Bistrotheque - not that I've been - and is situated at The Filling Station, a disused petrol station round the back of Kings Cross.

I had the sweetcorn chowder with salsa and sour cream to start... it was beautiful, perhaps the best soup I have ever had. Worth visiting the place alone for this. For my main, I chose the soft shell crab burger with avocado and shoestring fries. The fries were almost like a tasty version of McDonald's fries - this is a good thing - and the crab burger was delightful, lots of complementing flavours on a grilled bun. The menu is a little pricey, but not unaffordable - good for a treat.

I followed up Shrimpy's with an evening at The National Theatre last night, we went to see 'The Last of the Hausmanns'. Having booked it as part of a theatre binge in February, I couldn't recall anything about it, but soon enough Julie Walters appeared on stage. The play has just started its run and I would thoroughly recommend, it was very witty and as it moved into the second half, very raw as well - the acting was superb.

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Maura Lercier

Two weeks ago I was bridesmaid for the first time.  

As part of my duties, it was requested that I do the bride’s make up.

FUCKING HELL WHAT?!  

That, as I’m sure you realise, is a very BIG responsibility.  

So I dragged the bride to Space NK for a Laura Mercier makeover. And filmed it.  The make up woman thought I was some unhinged psychopath, which is fair enough since I was waving an iphone 2 inches from her face for an hour.

So anyway the point of this story is jesus christ, there is a LOT of make up in the Laura Mercier range all of which you need, of course - and in fact the whole ‘look’ came to a meagre total of…. £270.  

WTF?! How can make up cost that much?  It’s the brushes that really piss me off. OF COURSE we don’t need that brush which is two mm bigger than the last one she showed us which also cost £40 (Boots, £8 fyi).

So now I'm thinking we should create an Anorak make up range.

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Riddles

I watched Alien for the first time last weekend, of course, I knew about certain scenes but I had never seen the whole thing.

It was incredible, everything about it.

The set was absolutely breathtaking, and having Ripley as the "hero" was surely very groundbreaking for 1979 - and probably even for now. She is never really portrayed as a woman - more so as a fighter who happens to be female - apart from at the end when Scott has some of her androgynous sexuality slip out.

If you haven't seen it, you must!

Next up, is Blade Runner (& Prometheus obvs).

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Nail envy!

In my eyes one of the best parts of seven hour photo shoots is getting completely lost in rails and rails of Mulberry, Moschino, Alexander Wang, Jonathan Saunders or rummaging around tables covered in Mac, Nars and Armani make up. However on a recent shoot the majority of my time was taken up fawning over the handy work of manicurist Rebecca Jade Wilson. After only a few minutes talking I discovered Rebecca's painted pretty much every name in music, film and fashion. It took just one glance from her at my 6 week old chipped polish to send me straight to the salon. Glamour doesn't stop at the fingers ladies. 

Learn something new today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj9MnWhIdNM