Review: The Little Dog Laughed

The Little Dog Laughed

Douglas Carter Beane's satire The Little Dog Laughed ('TLDL') is a fast moving and biting reminder of the hypocrisy of Hollywood in relation to sex. Dianne, is a Machiavellian Hollywood agent,(Tamsin Grieg) Her top client, Mitchell, is very gay and very much in the closet. (Rupert Friend). Trouble and chaos ensures when Michell falls for a rent boy (Harry Lloyd) who also has a girlfriend Ellen (Gemma Aterton). Dianne hatches a plan to buy off Ellen and match her up with Mitchell. What could go wrong? She also has to work on Michell's next project by convincing the script writer to change the leading character from gay to straight. Are you keeping up? Yes, there's a lot going on and it's fun.

TLDL is a reminder to us that the dream factory of Hollywood is still full of sexual hypocrisy and secrecy about the true sexual orientation of leading men and women. We are pointedly reminded that there are still no openly gay leading men on our screens. As a satire on Hollywood, The Little Dog Laughed brings nothing new to the conversation but the performances are strong, the production is well paced and it is a thoroughly entertaining night out at the theatre.

TLDL is a real showcase for Greig's splendid comic talents and she revels in the role of Diane. A real 'tour de force'. Lloyd is engaging as the rent boy with a heart and Friend and Aterton provide solid support to Greig.

Take along your gay best friend and have some champus at intermission for a fun night out in the West End.

Reviewed by Snazzy Shoes

At The Garrick Theatre, London
Directed by Jamie Lloyd
www.garrick-theatre.com

Selected market estate pictures.

See the market estate pictures here.

Spring is here. Cherry blossoms are out at the Columbia Road Flower Market.

The cherry blossoms are out. This means spring is on its way.


The columbia road flower market is perfect on a Sunny sunday afternoon. Rummage for bargains in the flee market, or in one of the designy stores.


A nice little beer, a pot of prawns or perhaps an asparagus+egg bagel will help you on your journey.


Brave the ever-so-polite crowds to get four pots of lavender for a fiva. Or perhaps some safron bulbs for a pound. Or maybe you like pansies?


Have a listen to the stall owners shouting out to the punters... it's quite funny.

happy hour

Happy hour can be three hours long. Happy hour can be at the end of a work day, or on a 4am dance floor. Happy hour can be for ladies only. Happy hour can be illegal.

Happy hour can be in a laundry mat.


Happy hour may cause you to balance drinks on your man bag.

Hackney vegetable gardening workshops.

London underground construction

Weekends on the Tube are getting more exciting. London is starting to panic. Something is happening in 2012, and London hasn't quite got its shit together yet. Can't have everyone thinking London stinks. First the tubes need a bit of a clean out, and the weekends are the time to clean things up.


In a well articulated voice, the announcer calls out via speakers littered around the stations : 'there are closures at X... between Y and Z. Closures on the N line between X and Z...'. It goes on, and on. The announcers message runs for five minutes listing all of the closed lines.


Meanwhile construction goes on around the clock. Intensifying on weekends. London does not want to inconvenience its workers too much. So a lot of the stoppages do not happen on the weekdays. However, now the panic is setting in - 2012 is approaching fast! So week day closures are starting to happen too.

Comic Strip Live at Screen on the Green

"Everyman Screen on the Green is proud to present Comic Strip Live, a two month season of great comedy and music entertainment taking place every Friday at midnight until 3am, from 19^th March until 21^st May.

From Friday 19^th March, customers will be able to experience a plethora of some of the finest comedic talent in the UK. The comedy night will provide customers with the chance to get up close and personal with comedians, have a drink or two, whilst relaxing in the stylish surroundings of The Green.

The line up includes: The Resident Rhythm and Melodies and ‘Tankus the Henge’ through to comedy acts such as Simon Brodkin and Rufus Hound.

Every Friday for 8 weeks there is only one place entertainment and thrill seekers should be and that is at Everyman Screen on the Green. Laughter after all is the best medicine of life!"

Source: Screen on the Green

What are some good party themes?

It is always fun coming up with a party theme. There are classic themes like 'pirate party'. Then there are edgy ones like 'Crack pipe and concrete slippers'. Interactive ones like 'rubik's cube', where you have to swap around pieces of your clothes with other people to match all the colors. Or a 'red' party where you have to wear red, and a 'white' party where you have to wear... white. A good one was a 'mix tape' party, where everyone had to bring a mix CD and swap it for one someone else made.

What are some good party themes you've heard of or made up?

Berlin calling....

Berlin. She's so hot right now. Europe's capital of edgy cool and artsy fun. She's cheap and sexy. Wanna go party in Berlin but don't have local knowledge? Check out some of my favourite websites for helpful tips on what's fun, what's on and where to go...

I Heart Berlin is a weekly party and happenings blog that is real treasure trove of groovey. Kind of like having a local chum fill you in on where the best parties are going to be each week.

Want to check out the fashion on the dance floor before you get there? Check out photographer Katja Hentschel's blog Glamcanyon, with loads of party shots to wet your appetite for Berlin nightlife. [like we needed an excuse?]

Bit more of a travel guide, Exberliner is a wealth of information about places to eat out, gigs, exhibitions, bars and more.

So what are you waiting for? Get packing baby, Berlin is calling.

Hala xox

Have you ever squatted an airport?

Saw this old flier in Berlin...

I once spent three days in Singapores airport. Does that count?

Broadway Market

I love Broadway Market on a Saturday arvo...great coffee, people watching and fantastic market foods all compressed into about 2-3 of the funkiest blocks of real estate in East London.


At Ca Phe Vn, sidewalk Vietnamese Cafe, Broadway Market.

Eija-Liisa Ahtila: private view

"Parasol unit is delighted to present a major solo exhibition by the renowned Finnish film and video artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila (26 February- 25 April 2010). It will include three important video installations never before seen in England."

DATE: 26 February – 25 April 2010 WHERE: Parasol unit, 14 Wharf Road, London, N1 7RW

Sup Magazine 21 release party

http://www.supmag.com/2010/%E2%80%98sup-magazine-21-release-party-london/

A party for the release 21 of Sup Magazine with DJs and stuff... where stuff means free vodka till 10pm. Check invite for how to RSVP, and the address. Friday 19th of Feb.

Market Estate Project - art before it's bulldozed.

60's apartment block about to be knocked down, is now filled with what 75 artists(and there non artists friends) put there. Saturday 6th of March for the exhibition on Caledonian Road near Broadway market.

http://www.marketestateproject.com/

Review: Rasa

There are a lot of good Indian restaurants in London but Rasa is special and has a strong following to illustrate this. Rasa is a showcase for innovative and delicious vegetarian Kerala cuisine from South India that won't break the bank.

From the start to finish the service was warm and attentive without being over bearing.

We started with some delicious appetizers. The Medhu Vadai - spongy delicious dumplings served with coconut chutney are a must try together with mixed pickles and chutneys.....save room for mains though! They can also put together a mix of appetizers which would work well with a bigger group.

We tried the Beet Cheera Pachadi which is a vibrantly colored beetroot and spinach curry served with yoghurt sauce with roasted coconut, mustard seeds and curry leaves....mouth watering. The Cheera Curry made of Paneer (curd cheese) and spinach cooked with garlic, peppers and tomato in a creamy sauce was rich and tasty and was a nice accompaniment to the beet curry.

To compliment these two dishes we had coconut rice and the Kerala specialty of Paratha, a wheat dough layered and coiled into then grilled.

Rasa has a number of restaurants around the UK but we visited the one in Stoke Newington N16.....delicious! Can't wait to go back and try the other dishes next time.

Location: Rassa 55 Stoke Newington Church Street London N16 OAR
Bookings: Tel: 020 7249 0344

Reviewed by Hala.

Film Review: Up in the Air

Excellent satire staring George Clooney as Ryan Bingham. Ryan spends his life traveling around America firing people for a living. His life is all airports, car rentals, hotels and air miles. His company is booming during the recession as employers outsource their firing of workers to Ryan's company. Ryan is only a few miles short of fulfilling his dream of 10 million air miles when his company decides it might be time to make changes.

This is a witty and warm film that is in part a modern love story and part cautionary tale about the problems of human isolation in a modern status driven world. Clooney's best performance to date and a great script make this film a must see.

Reviewed by Hala.

Jay Phelps and friends at Lady Bird Bar Islington

A great opportunity to see top jazz performances from Jay Phelps and friends every Tuesday night at Lady Bird Bar on Upper Street N1. These guys are super talented and it's not often you get to see such high quality musicians up close and personal....recommended!

Loop jazz festival @ Vortex, Dalston

A five day jazz festival at Vortex in Dalston with performances from Loop members and other European artists and collective members and friends.

Doors are 7.30pm – start time 8.00pm unless shown otherwise.
Seating will be on a first come first serve basis for all events.

3-day pass | £25 (phone booking only – pre-booking required)

5-day festival pass | £40

See www.vortexjazz.co.uk for details and bookings.

Kiss her now... now!

Kiss her now... now!

Nice little piece of street art from Geneva.

Ron Arad at the Barbican: Restless

The Barbican Spring 2010 exhibition is of Israeli born designer Ron Arad. Exploring three decades of his work the show is supported by a series of talks and events.

"Design maverick" Ron Arad: Restless
Main Gallery Mon/Fri and Sat 11-8pm
Tues/Wed until 6pm
Thurs until 10pm