A competition for budding snappers

Jaguar (Panthera onca), Pantanal, Mato grosso, Brazil © 2002 Staffan Widstrand, All Rights Reserved

© Per-Anders Pettersson

Amazon is a free exhibition, currently being held at the brand new East Wing galleries at Somerset House. Showcasing photography by Sebastião Salgado and Per Anders Pettersson, the exhibition brings together some stunning and remarkable images that highlight the plight of the Amazonian rainforest – and the people living within it (see above).

If you are, yourself, a budding snapper, you’ll be interested to know that WWF and Sky are running a competition in conjunction with the exhibition, to find out what ‘Your own Amazon’ looks like. Get out your iPhone or your fancy camera, step into your own local environment and get photographing. In doing so, you will not only help raise awareness of the Sky Rainforest Rescue and their vital work in tackling deforestation in North-West Brazil, but you could also be in with a chance of winning an SLR camera worth £800. Plus, the chosen winning entry and four runners-up photographs will be selected for exhibition in Somerset House for the final week of the exhibition.

You can submit pictures by Tweeting @SkyBiggerPic and including the hashtag #SkyRainforest. All the images will be collated on the SRR Facebook page and winners will be selected on the 22nd November 2011. For terms and conditions and further info, please visit Sky Rainforest Rescue.

Exhibition details

When? 2 November 2011- 4 December 2011, open daily from 10am to 6pm
Where? The new East Wing Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2
Web? http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/amazon
Wonga? Free

Halloween in London: 3 top spooky events

Get your ghoul on this weekend with some of the capital’s creepy offerings.

1. Alice Cooper: Welcome 2 My Nightmare Movies, £13 (concs £9.75 & members get £1.50 off)

On 28th October, this famously theatrical rocker will walk the ‘black carpet’ to the BFI Southbank and discuss the effect that film has had on his song-writing, performances and life. Alice will present chosen a range of film clips to illustrate his talk before putting questions to the audience. The night includes some special guests and freakish performers, and finally a screening of the classic horror film, Halloween.

When: Fri 28 Oct, 6.30pm
Where: NFT1, BFI, Southbank (nearest tube Waterloo)
Web: bfi.org.uk
Box office: 020 7928 3232

 

2. Belle Epoque Party: Halloween Special, £20

Step into a spell-binding world of absinthe-tinged fantasy, daring dancers and vampish drama with the Belle Epoque’s seasonal party this weekend. The music hall venue will be draped in velvet and the organisers encourage costumes as elaborate as you dare… Men should look ‘devilishly dashing’ and ladies, you are asked to ‘reach into your inner desires’. Ooooh. Expect a lavish night of cocktails, enchantment and trapeze artists throwing shapes above you.

When: Sat 29 Oct, 8pm-2am
Where: The Grand Hall, Euston Road, London, WC1
Web: belleepoqueparty.com

 

3. You Make A Cake Halloween Parties, £28 each for groups of age 5+, £35 each age 5+ if attending a workshop

Children (and adults) will love these fun workshops and group baking sessions. You Make A Cake provide all ingredients and utensils, so all you need to do is turn up, follow some simples steps, give your kids a major sugar-overload and come away with 12 delicious cakes. Classes and workshops to help you create creepy cakes are currently being run in the build up to Halloween.

Parties for groups last about 90 mins and workshops attended by individuals last for about two hours. Under-8s must be accompanied by an adult.

When: Until Sun 29 Oct
Where: You Make A Cake, 10 Bellevue Road, London, SW17 7EG
Web: youmakeacake.com

The Little Big Peace Event

A dollop of world peace and culture comes to South London

This brand new little festival aims to promote world peace – from Streatham outwards. Set up and run entirely by volunteers, the event is open to everyone and includes various activities from meditation to movies. The founder, Mel Larson, says: “The little big peace event sets out to explore the culture and concept of peace in a fun, friendly and open-minded atmosphere. The event aims to draw in the local community, both as participants and event-goers. At its heart is the idea of inclusiveness and acceptance. This is peace in its widest sense – not just political but personal too”

We at EggMag think it’s going to be pretty special. Here’s our pick of events:

FREE SCREENING OF THE DAY AFTER PEACE
An actor-packed, award-winning documentary film by Jeremy Gilley, outlining his efforts to create an annual day of global ceasefire and peace. Featuring Jude Law, Annie Lennox, Angelina Jolie, The Dalai Lama to name a few, we see Gilley struggle against cynics and financial blows, but will he ultimately succeed in his quest?
Monday 19 September, 6pm at the Streatham Odeon

PEACE MEANS PRIZES AND LIVE MUSIC
Try your luck at winning a nice selection of goodies (including an EggMag bag of fun) at this pub quiz. Stick around for some live music by Tara Brown, Sonja Byrne, Great Gustos, Lianne La Havas and Rún – and for a spot of performance art and poetry. Taking place on Wednesday 21 September at 6pm at The White Lion.

CULTIVATION DAY
Get back to nature and de-stress with some gardening on Streatham Common. Meet the community garden team and other green-fingered types while you prepare the site for planting.
Sunday 25 September, Time TBA

For more information, visit the website.

Organic September

It’s that time again: time to get our your muddy carrots and wave them around to celebrate The Soil Association’s Organic September. Why? Well, shopping organic means less chemicals in your system, a happier environment, better animal welfare, protected wildlife and no GMs. And you can’t say fairer than that. Here are EggMag’s picks for enjoying organic in all aspects of your life.

PLANET ORGANIC
Having just popped in to visit their new store in Devonshire Square, London, Planet Organic have indelibly inked themselves in as our favourite whole foods retailer. This new shoppy, in particular, tickles our fancy with its amazingly clean water bar courtesy of Pure H2O and it’s large selection of organic beers and wines. Try the Sam Smiths Organic Lager (£2.19 per bottle). They also have a large beauty section, selling such delights as John Masters hair care. (The Honey and Hibiscus Hair Reconstructing Shampoo, £27 for 177ml is a dream for post-holiday hair). And, of course, you can peruse their large selection of food or have a meal from their astonishingly good lunch bar (hot and cold).

THE HARVEST COCOA CLUB POP-UP DINING CLUB
Niko B Organic Chocolates are hosting this desserts only pop-up dining experience. Teaming up with Stoke Newington’s Growing Communities Farmer’s Market, they will offer a four course, totally organic, locally-grown menu including such lip-lickers as Cocoa Cake and Chocolate and Raspberry Mint Truffle Cocktails. Wow. Click here for more.

LOVE LULA
This organic apothecary stocks all sorts of wonderful natural beauty, skin care and health products. You won’t go far wrong filling your bathroom cabinet up here. We love Evolve’s Mega Omega Moisture Cream (200ml for £12.99) and Dr Hauschka’s Volume Mascara (£19.95 for 10ml)

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE
This is the UK’s only certified organic gastropub. Everything you buy here is organic and it’s a treat. Set in the residential backstreets of Islington (London) enjoy the large airy space, an incredible selection of natural drinks and a mouth-watering seasonal menu to boot. Find it here.

FASHION CONSCIENCE
Probably the biggest and best retailer specialising in ethical fashion, this online shop has plenty of pieces to choose from that are made with organic fabrics. From shirts to trousers via shoes and back, you name it, they stock it. We are loving this Mudd & Water organic cotton breton-style tee, £44.85.

For a list of UK-wide organic events taking place this month, click here.

 

Make do and me-time (…and save the world a little bit)

The Make Lounge

Oh, switch it off. ‘What? Never!’ I hear you cry. But recently I discovered that we all should. And frequently. As we all know, in this age of 3G, cloud-computing and Twitter feeds, it’s hard to remember to take a break from all the i-noise (she says as she types her blog).

I heard on Radio 4 the other day about a new scheme where depression sufferers are recovering through learning how to garden. The nurturing aspect of this past-time gives them great personal reward: it forces them into a new surrounding – and to switch off from their normal routine.

Ok, so I know our addiction to net noise isn’t the same as depression, but the key point is that escaping a routine can be good soul food. Too long without that break can leave us feeling frazzled, tired or wired. It’s to those of you nodding in agreement (and to those of you who just like crafty shit) that I am speaking.

Our e-escape lies, rather excitingly, in a bunch of inanimate objects, just waiting – like dirty buried truffles – to be turned into something beautiful. And by your fair hands, no less. I found total and unexpected relief, recently, in making beaded necklaces with my niece. The careful formulation of colour patterns and shapes became stupidly mesmeric and busied us for the best part of two hours, which flew by like seconds. As we beaded, the stress of my Getting Stuff Done Yesterday working day evaporated and I totally forgot that I hadn’t refreshed Twitter in more than ten minutes. (Gasp).

So, there it is. Craft is therapy. And luckily for us there are plenty of workshops  popping up to prove this point. The Papered Parlour in Clapham put on various workshops from dressmaking to printing your own wallpaper and The Make Lounge in Islington have a wonderful, broad range of classes such as creative cross stitch, making festive fascinators and ‘knockout’ knickers. If you’re down Brighton way, Sew in Brighton teach how to sew, design, mend and alter your own clothes.

If you don’t fancy taking a class, get inspiration at home from Indie Craft by Jo Waterhouse, a sweet book that showcases the work of a band of inventive handy-folk, who make everything from crocheted fried breakfasts to knitted graffiti.

Someone who truly understands this form of escapism – and gets even more out of it than just that – is John-Paul Flintoff. (Yes, a man). In the welcome note to his book, Sew Your Own, he says: ‘I never intended to go searching for the meaning of life – far less to find it in making my clothes. But one thing led to another and it gradually dawned on me that the best way to save cash, reduce emissions, and take control from ‘the system’ would be to modify a shirt, then make a pair of jeans, and eventually to harvest nettles, spin the fibres and knit myself a pair of Y-fonts.’

So, what are you waiting for? Switch off, make some ‘you time’, and save the world while you’re at it.

Summer fun

EggMag’s top ideas for a splendid couple of sunny (we hope) months

Hackney City Farm and Frizzante Cafe
This sweet little city farm keeps a few animals (pigs, goats, donkey and more) and hosts a number of sustainable living and craft-based activities like pottery, food growing, upholstery and beekeeping. Head down there for a relaxed afternoon and make sure you finish up at the cafe, Frizzante. Serving up seasonal and home-made Italian food, they also have live music on Thursday evenings. Find more info here.

Cool Camping’s Escape Routes
Our favourite campsite reviewers have created a new book, mapping out 60 wonderful cycle journeys to take around the UK. So pick a weekend, dust off that saddle and get that tent down from the loft… Buy the book here.

Pootle about the Thames on a canoe
Yes, you heard me right! Hiring a traditional wooden canoe and rowing about the Thames will get you acquainted with the famous river’s less built-up stretches. Try Thames Canoes, which offers three different routes of either one or two days long. Stop for pub lunches, do some bird-watching and generally enjoy being out of town. Prices start from £75 for one day.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

29-31 July: Vintage at Southbank, London
Get your retro glad-rags on for this three-day knees up brought to you by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway. Celebrating everything vintage, from music to fashion, cinema to art and more, the festival will entertain through all decades from the 20s-80s. Last year’s Vintage at Goodwood was a huge success, so this new London venue for the festival promises to bring an interesting new angle. Head to the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer for free DJ sets, or buy tickets for each day, with an optional evening extra. Tickets start at around £60 per day. You’d be mad to miss this one… Click here for more info.

7 August: The Apple Cart, Victoria Park, London
Pop down to Victoria Park for this exciting, new kind of festival. Not only will there be music from the likes of Saint Etienne, Patrick Wolf and Steve Mason of the Beta Band, but expect comedy from Tim Minchin and Marcus Brigstocke, food from Venn Street Market, an art car boot sale, a whole load of cabaret and some magic fun for the littlies. Tickets are a snip at £29.95 and can be bought here.

17 August: Capital Growth’s ‘Growing Autumn and Winter Vegetables’ course, Regent’s Park, London
Try your hand at growing veg to feed you and yours during the winter months with this beginner/intermediate level session that explains all you need to know on what to sow, when and how. More details here.

25 August: Lexi Cinema & Saab present Neverending Story, Woodland Gardens Pheasantry Welcome, Bushy Park, London
One of the best kid’s films ever made? You better believe it. Re-live your childhood by starlight in this beautiful park. The organisers promise special guests, live music and other surprises along the way. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available here.

27 August: Nigel’s Eco Market, Friend’s Meeting House, Brighton
This little market, brought to us by Nigel’s Eco Store aims to show us just how easy savvy living can be. From organic food to handmade clothes, you can expect a good mix of ideas to green every aspect of your life. Keep your eye on the website for further info.

29 August: Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair, Old Spitalfields Market, London
Vintage fans will love this market full of affordable vintage clothing, home wares and accessories on this Bank Holiday Monday. Now the largest vintage fair of its kind serving 23 cities it has been hailed by the national press as a ‘shopping phenomenon’. Find out more here.

3 September: Artisan Bread-making day, Plumpton Mill, Lewes
As part of the Brighton & Hove Food & Drink Festival, this day-long course will teach you how to make sourdough bread using the mill’s own organic wheat and rye. Also enjoy a delicious seasonal lunch included in the ticket price (£75 each). Click here for more info.

Rant: The London GREEN Fair? Really?

I have absolutely nothing against holistic therapies, world music or ethnic jewellery, but why is it that the word ‘green’ is inextricably linked to all things boho and hippy?

The annual London Green Fair stepped up a notch this year, so on June 4th, I hopped along with high expectations of finding this, as the website says, a “free festival that reflects the green aspirations and achievements of London as a whole, as well as providing an enjoyable and engaging day out for people from all walks of life”. Umm. Not really. There was a fair bit of suspiciously fast-looking food and it seemed the focus was on world music, alternative lifestyles and the aforementioned ubiquitous market-stand jewellery. What’s green about that?

I did spot Rice Dream, The Land Trust, Riverford Organic, Capital Growth and Thrifty Couture stands – and a lovely corner (yes, corner) dedicated to permaculture. But that was pretty much it out of a whole – if somewhat thin – festival. Harrumph.

My apologies in advance to any other greenies I didn’t spot.

Comments welcome…

Stuff to do in June

As always, we’ve had our ears flapping busily, and have heard news of some smart goings on in the next couple of weeks. We thought we’d share some of them with you:

3-30 June: The Lost Collection at KK Outlet

See around 60 accidental works of art on show for the first time ever. The art spans from graphic doodles to full-on Impressionistic landscapes – all of which have been lost or dropped on trains, the tube, in buses and black cabs. If ever there was a reason to use a sketchbook, this is it…

 

8-11 June: TASTE MUSWELL HILL FESTIVAL

Visit the first ever Taste Festival for Muswell Hillians and enjoy all sorts of fun stuff from music and poetry to food and drinks and more. Our old favourites, Planet Organic will be putting on tastings, demos, an artisan bread market (Fri & Sat only) and, to top it of, giving shoppers £3 off, when you spend over £15. Simply email  mh@planetorganic.com to get your special voucher.

12 June: Open Farm Sunday

Spend a day in your wellies – that’s not at a festival! At this annual event visitors can meet our good British farmers to learn how they grow our food and care for the countryside. Many will offer trailer rides, self-guided or hosted walks and, of course, you can have a real root around some lovely farm shops.

 

12-18 June: Two Degrees 2011

Rally together and make your voice heard in this festival combining climate change action and art. Try your hand at bingo bike-riding, sit back and enjoy some stories, or simply have a rant.

Sundays throughout June: Creative Summer Sundays at Here Today Here Tomorrow

Join the Dalston-based sustainable fashion foursome for a choice of workshops from making your own zipped purse from vintage materials to learning how to dye and batik fabrics and more. Prices are between £30-40 and the team promise that tea, cake and refreshments will be provided. Crafty fingers at the ready…

May’s flick of the month

Attack the Block  

There’s been a whole lotta hype about this one – and for good reason: we have a new Brit director out there in the moviesphere. Feedback from Joe Cornish’s first foray into film-making has been pretty glowing, but having been burnt in the past by believing the hype I went into the film with an open mind. It paid off.

Set in deepest darkest Oval, the story follows a group of troublesome yoofs as they attempt to save mankind from a very dark black bunch of bitey aliens. Nurse Sam, posh stoner Brewis, and slob dealer Ron (Nick Frost) all get caught up in the action and some unlikely camaraderie comes about.

Despite the film wanting to be too many things at once (the film contains nods to B movie horrors but then some slick sci-fi effects, occasional film noir-esque lighting and an out-of-place opening title sequence reminiscent of Star Wars) Cornish creates a wonderfully ludicrous situation in a mundane setting that the viewer can’t help but romp along with. Our new director also presents us with a load of new acting talent playing the teenage gang – most notably John Boyega (hoodie leader Moses) who gives a truly outstanding performance. With a healthy dose of both tension and comedy, Attack the Block is a good fun flick that you should definitely catch while it’s on the big screen.
P.S  I did notice one big plot-hole. When you’ve seen the film, come back and read this, below. See if you agree…

SPOILER ALERT: Did anyone else wonder why the aliens were trying to kill rather than hump all the characters covered in pheromones? Thoughts please.

UK Aware 2011

It’s UK Aware next week, and I highly recommend a visit there if you can. In fact, we still have a bunch of free tickets up for grabs on the EggMag website. It promises to be a good show this year, with all sorts of companies present from natural beauty brands to electric scooters. Yours truly is off on a well needed holiday, but there will be a few EggMags around at the event, so make sure you hunt one out if you still haven’t picked up your White Issue. For more details, click here

And read the UK Aware blog here

Be inspired and enjoy!