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The Jones Family Project Restaurant and Bar.The Jones Family Project Restaurant and Bar.

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The Jones Family Project Restaurant and Bar recently opened opposite the Hoxton Hotel.

The venue offers customers a select choice of fine craft beers and a sumptuous food menu within a warm and welcome atmosphere.

Our Hackett Spitalfields' talented duo of barbers Sam and Stephen were invited along to the opening night, and Sam has kindly shared his experience in recomendation..

"Taking a seat in the upstairs bar space, the clean-cut feel of the space is enhanced by the unusual sight of trees growing through the tables. The ambiance is very relaxed and it's a great atmosphere to dine in.
 

 

To drink, I'd thoroughly recommend the Beavertown Brewery Smoked Porter. The drinks menu itself was concise, however featured enough options to suit a variety of personal tastes.
 

 

The food on offer was second to none; the Mexican Spiced Chicken with sage followed by the Triple Chocolate Brownie with salted caramel sauce was the perfect meal choice to encompass the homely feel of the place."

The Jones Family Project is open Monday - Friday: 11.00am - midnight, Saturday & Sunday: Noon to 10.30pm at 78 Great Eastern Street.


The Visual Inspiration Behind Dapperland.The Visual Inspiration Behind Dapperland.

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Our Dapperland Somerset House pop-up is heavily inspired by the glamour of 1950s French and Swiss ski resorts Chamonix, St Moritz and Gstadd. Working with designer Andres Ros Soto we have created an a stylish and fun alpine-influenced winter lodge. When researching and designing our festive pop-up we spent a good while rifling through ski resort tourism posters from the 50s.

All of these fantastic bold and colourful vintage ski prints can be viewed at our lodge, as well as additional seasonal props that set the mood to warm you through and entice you into a stylish Christmas spirit (just in case skating on the grand rink underneath the gigantic christmas tree wasn't quite enough).

 

 Funiculaire Le Brevent

 Ski Colorado

 Verbier

Winter In Germany

La Chaine Du Mont Blanc

Austria

Ski

Our winter lodge will be open until the 4th January, so come and pay us a visit to browse our extensive range of luxury grooming goodies and the inspired interior decor to match.

All posters available at http://www.zazzle.co.uk/

Lachie's Big Mo Is Big In Japan! Lachie's Big Mo Is Big In Japan!

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The new issue of Japanese menswear magazine Popeye is out and it's an international street style special. The team went around the major style capitals of the world to find the best dressed 'city boys' in London, LA, Tokyo, Copenhagen, New York and Paris. Who stands out amongst all those incredibly well dressed men, young and old? It is of course, the irrepressible Covent Garden barber Lachlan Watson. He was photographed on the moustache page when he was doing he was reverse Movember (shaved his beard, left the mo').

If you thought street style was getting tired then this excitingly designed and extremely well edited (groups are curated by occupation and style rather than city - so we get everything from New York Baristas, to Salt Lake City skaters via Central Saint Martins students and Savile Row shop assistants) special issue may just change your mind. And it's always novel to flip through a far eastern mag which appears to be in reverse to the western reader.

 

 

 

You can pick up a copy of Popeye in the Japan Centre in Piccadilly Circus 

The Story Behind The Cologne: The Napier Race Car.The Story Behind The Cologne: The Napier Race Car.

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©theoldmotor.com

The Gordon Bennett Cup winning 1902 Napier car

 

The last two years have seen a keen interest in the story of Formula One, especially in cinema with the documentaries Senna and 1: Life on the Limit (released last week) and Ron Howard's Rush. Our new Napier 1903 Cologne continues this exploration and celebration of the history of motor racing by paying tribute to the famous British race cars of the early 20th century.

The 1903 Napier in particular represents the pioneering era of continental road races and the Gordon Bennett Cup, as it remains one of Britain’s oldest surviving racing cars.

The Gordon Bennett International Cup for automobiles ran between 1900 and 1905 for teams of cars representing individual nations. The rules for the competition stipulated that each car had to be wholly constructed within the country of origin - hence Britain's disqualification for having to resort to emergency French tires. There was also a requirement that the winning nation should stage the following years’ event. Famously the races came to be the origins of traditional national racing colours.

In 1902, Britain’s Selwyn Francis Edge won the Cup with Napier, and the following year, when Britain played host, they painted their cars a striking dark green. Our distinctive cologne bottle recognises Napier’s influence upon the creation of the now iconic colour, British Racing Green.

 

©theoldmotor.com

The Gordon Bennett Race in 1903. S.F. Edge, Charles Jarrott and J.W. Stocks

 

For the race, Napier constructed and entered a small and light 50 horse power car. The race covered 350 miles from Paris to Innsbruck in conjunction with the Paris-Vienna race. There were 219 entries for Paris-Vienna but only six of the drivers were competing for the Gordon Bennett Trophy; three French and three British cars.

The race proved highly challenging for these early, primitive vehicles and all of Edge’s competitors were eliminated after a steep climb up the 2000 meter high Arlberg pass. All Edge found himself needing to do was finish the race in order to win the Gordon Bennett Trophy for England. He and the Napier car achieved the task, arriving at Innsbruck with an official time of 11 hours, 2 minutes, 52.6 seconds. He then continued on to Vienna, finishing 11th overall.

The year after in 1903, Edge finished 5th in the Gordon Bennett Napier car that fronts our cologne bottle.

The car was sold afterwards and re-bodied for road use. It went to America in the 1950s and became a part of the Harrah Collection. It has been part of the National Motor Museum’s Collection since 1987 whilst an older 1902 Gordon Bennett Napier also survives in private ownership, restored from original parts.

 

Fantastic Video of Italian Filmmakers Giacomo Bruno's Murdock Experience Fantastic Video of Italian Filmmakers Giacomo Bruno's Murdock Experience

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Some things are worth travelling for. And for suave Italian videography duo Giacomo Bruno, the fact that having a Full Beard Reshape in Murdock Shoreditch would mean a day return plane journey from Italy did not dampen their desire for better beards. True MurdockMan dedication like that deserves to be commended and recorded. Thankfully then, they did record the trip so that we can watch and indeed commend the pair on their commitment to good grooming - as well as marvelling at barber Steven Chapman's mighty fine beard work.

 

MurdockMen filmmakers Giacomo Bruno with barber Steven Chapman post-reshape experience

Short Film: The Flight of the PompadourShort Film: The Flight of the Pompadour

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Flight of the Pompadour on Nowness.com

When we were on our digital lunch time stroll through our favourite blogs and websites, we were excited to see that the featured video of the day on Nowness.com starred one of our favourtie haircuts - the Rockabilly championed Pompadour. The Pompadour's had a good few years with Alex Turner and David Beckham both sporting the style and bringing it to wider world attention.

The director Karan Kandhari has personal quiff experience and says 'I find quiffs funny. As a sort of display of masculinity they are the most delicate, temperamental things. There was a constant battle on set to keep them erect as they were melting under the lights. I had a quiff for many years but it started to rule my life so I hung up the comb. I now look like a bum, but at least there's no grease on my pillow.”

At Murdock, we certainly get a fair few clients asking us for help to achieve a similar look which isn't the easiest to style. Maybe they too, like the boy in the film, had to ask their Mums before the experts saved their quiffs.

Nowness.com

Inside Llewyn Davis Inside Llewyn Davis

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Cheer up Llewyn. You might have been lumbered with a Countdown Conundrum of a name
but you've got really great hair


Inside Llewyn Davis, the new film by the Coen Brothers is released this week, telling the tale of the title character's attempt to crack the emerging folk scene of America in 1961, just pre-Dylan. Shot in a sombre palette that perfectly conjures the mood of a downtrodden folk singer trying to stay warm in the Greenwich Village winter as he and his guitar travel from one disappointment to another, it's both funny and, like all great folk songs, melancholy. With a breakthrough performance from lead actor Oscar Isaac (who performs the songs in the film himself) it shares much with the Coen's other great music focused, period piece O, Brother Where Art Thou? Not only in the music but also in references to Homer's Odyssey and Ulysses in the character's journey. Llewyn's journey though, seems as if it may never reach his destination as he rotates sofa to sofa of the few friend's who'll still have him to stay.

Along with being one of my favourite works by the filmmaking siblings (it's currently in my top 3) it's also got some of my favourite hair from any of their films - certainly better than the the mo' and burns' combo Nicholas Cage sports in Razing Arizona. Justin Timberlake looks like he could have just stepped out of Murdock Shoreditch with his neat side-parted quiff and well groomed beard but it's Oscar Isaac's hair we really like. He has the hair and beard of a free spirit, anti-commercial artist. A strong beard and ever-messy bed head. In reality this means with no fixed abode, grooming isn't very far up his list of priorities and the longer hair length signalling someone who hasn't the money for regular trips to the barber. But this isn't real down on your luck hair. This is Hollywood down on your luck hair and it's been, as well as his beard, well looked maintained to achieve that look. His beard is in fact, very neat - the tell-tale sign being his clean neck line. And we like that.

The facial hair in this photo is on a descending scale of mightiness from left to right

 

Again the facial hair in this photo is on a descending scale of mightiness from left to right but we think the clean shaven look works well on Carey Mulligan

Inside Llweyn Davis is released in UK cinemas on January 24th.

Derek Jarman: Pandemonium. An Interview With Exhibition Curator Mark Turner.Derek Jarman: Pandemonium. An Interview With Exhibition Curator Mark Turner.

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 © Raymond Dean

As this year marks the 20th anniversary of his death, the career of Derek Jarman, the influential British artist and film maker is being widely celebrated across London with a host of events.

Amongst these is Pandemonium, which recently opened at Somerset House and was curated by Mark Turner, English Professor at King's.

Covering the spectrum of Jarman's career and showcasing the innovative nature of his work, We took a few moments to discuss Mark's inspiration and focus behind celebrating the vastly talented artist and former King's student.

 

© Raymond Dean

Pandemonium is part of a year-long event programme in London that highlights just how significant an artist Derek Jarman was. What was it about Derek’s work that first drew you in to curating this exhibition?

Firstly, Jarman was a student, long ago, at the university where I teach, King’s College London. To mark the 20th anniversary since his death, it seemed natural for the university to honour his work and memory. I also wanted to demonstrate two things – how his studies here at King’s (English literature, History and Art History) helped to shape and influence his later work and thinking, and how his living in London, in particular in warehouses along the Thames in the 1970s, was central to his artistic vision and output.

 

The title ‘Pandemonium’ naturally suggests an air of chaos and confusion. Is this representative of the variety of work on show as much as it is of Derek’s approach to art?


In his final film, ‘Blue,’ Jarman writes about a ‘pandemonium of images’ and you get that sense of layered imagery in a number of the works on show in the exhibition. For example, in the short Super 8 film ‘Garden of Luxor’ and in the feature film ‘The Last of England.’ With the feature film, we are showing it across 5 different screens, so that you can see the film at different points, but all at once. It’s a deeply immersive but somewhat chaotic way of seeing the film, completely different from seeing it in a linear way.

 

Jarman was a crucial figure in British gay politics throughout his career. How far does this stem beyond just the visual impact of his work?

Jarman’s commitment to ending homophobia and to challenging norms and conventions – particularly in the 1980s during the Thatcher years (which he calls a ‘reign of terror’!) – was a strong element of his work and public persona. He writes a great deal about queer rights in his journals, and in addition to his feature films, it’s probably in the writing that he is much direct and uncompromising about queer politics and politics more generally.

 

Derek has been highly praised for his work across a variety of artistic fields in the past. Is opening yourself up to numerous creative directions something that you feel all artists should look to do?


I think it depends on the artist and what they have to say. Most artists tend to specialise and art school training encourages that kind of specialisation – in painting, or sculpture or digital media or whatever. Jarman was unusual in the breadth of media across which he worked – painting, sculpture, set design, film (of various kinds), writing. It can be challenging to think about an artist’s work across so many different forms, but it’s also one of the most exciting things.

 

The exhibition displays work from Derek’s years as a King’s student through to his later offerings. How challenging was it to condense such an extensive amount of art?

A real challenge! The hard part was finding a clear, concise way to give the visitor a journey through his work, given that there is so much of the work, and it is so varied. The exhibition includes early work – painting and the covers he designed for the student magazine at university – plus set designs, Super 8 films, a feature film, and more paintings from his later periods. What holds the exhibition together, I hope, are the two strands – his education and his London life. The works on offer deepen our understanding of these two aspects of his life and art.

 

Was there a period in Derek’s life or selection of works that you were most eager to display?


Yes, the 1970s! This is when he lived in warehouses along the Thames, at places like Bankside and Butler’s Wharf. Those areas of London housed lots of different types of artists, before the re-development of the warehouses and the land in the 1980s under Thatcher. It was a really interesting period in London’s artistic history – a period still little known to many people – and it was here that Jarman really explored the potential of inexpensive, Super 8 filmmaking, which I particularly admire.

 

What can visitors expect to take away from experiencing the exhibition?


My hope is that they’ll either learn about Jarman for the first time and want to know more – or they’ll learn something new about Jarman, and want to know more. What good exhibitions should do is provoke curiosity. They shouldn’t be ‘final words’ on an artist or their work, rather spurs to further engagement. Go buy one of his books if you don’t know them. Watch a DVD or read the great biography of him by Tony Peake. There's lots to do!

 

Derek Jarman: Pandemonium is located at the Inigo Rooms, Somerset House East Wing, Strand WC2R 2LS

The exhibition is open to the public until the 9th March. The gallery is open daily 12.00-18.00 (until 20.00 on Thursdays).

Presented by the Cultural Institute at King's. Curated by Mark Turner, Professor of English.


Find Your Fragrance This Valentines.Find Your Fragrance This Valentines.

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Our collection of luxury colognes individually represent and reflect personal character. Locations across the world have inspired our fragrances and their natural ingredients encapsulate a variety of gentlemanly interests, tastes and passions.

So gents, whether your Valentines plans next week are as simple and intimate as an evening spent at home, or the boat is being literally pushed out and you're taking a weekend break out of your calendar, there's not a scenario to find yourself in this year that couldn't be perfected by one of our refreshing scents.

 

 

Location: The City

Date: The Table For Two

Fragrance: Bright Leaf

Notes: Tobacco Leaves, Cedar Woods

It doesn't get much more traditional than this. Perhaps you've opted for a new recommendation, dared to endure a bustling  trend spot or chosen the old favourite where you met for the very first time. Whichever choice you make, allow Bright Leaf's sweet and sultry headiness to air confidently within a restaurant environment.

With nods to vintage Hollywood and Old Havana, take the time to sip on a cocktail that Hemingway would be proud of and enjoy feeling comfortable within what some may consider a potentially very stressful environment.

 

 

Location: Paris, Rome

Date: The Classic Romantic Long Weekend

Fragrance: Fougère

Notes: Lavender sourced from the Isle of Wight, Ferns and Spices, Oakmoss

Possibly the most appealing fantasy date cliché, there isn't a single soul who wouldn't want to escape their stresses and spend the weekend in a hotel abroad. You've the option of romantic walks and culture absorbing to play with, or you could similarly spend the whole time in clean comfort with room service at your beck and call.

Fougère's herbal freshness will uplift your skin after long lie-ins and lazy afternoons whilst also providing its mountainous inspiration if you do decide to boldly venture outside for supplies.

 

 

Location: Bali

Date: The Exotic Long, Long Weekend

Fragrance: Black Tea

Notes: Clove, Nutmeg, Basil and Pepper, Leather, Musty Woods, Musk, Birchtar

For those with romance in their heart and adventure in their soul (plus enough money in their account to use Valentine's as an excuse to jet away from the grey skies of home). This date is set to provide some of the wildest experiences of your life. There's always time to sleep when you get home.

Black Tea is a spicy fragrance with exotic, bold ingredients that adhere to the bohemian nature of such a date scenario.

 

 

Location: Your Place

Date: The Freshly Cooked Meal With Wine

Fragrance: Patchouli

Notes: Cardamom, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, Petitgrain, Jasmine, Rose, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Indonesian Patchouli, Suede, Olibanum

As the pressure of heavy crowds, securing a table and potentially vast expense declines, the pressure of having to impress, keeping your house tidy and nailing a three-course meal whilst maintaining the image of 'keeping it cool' increases. Our best advice would be to trial the cooking a few days in advance to get a firm grasp of what you're doing (you could even cheat and slyly freeze what you do manage to make). Anyway, we're not here to pin point your evening - we're sure you'll be fine, but do keep your eyes peeled for further date night advice coming from us in the build up to next Friday!

Patchouli's intricate mix of velvety scents evoke confidence and spontaneity, the perfect accompaniment to a self-curated evening we'd say.

 

 

Location: Austria

Date: The Ski Trip

Fragrance: Napier 1903

Notes: Sage, Cypress, Hyssop & Fig Leaf, Patchouli, Fig & Dried Fruit, Oakmoss & Amber

As adventurous as it can be relaxing, a trip to the mountains will provide a fresh, luxurious experience for you and your partner. Embrace the cold throughout the afternoon as you hit the hills to take in the glorious views and have yourselves plenty of snow-based fun. A roaring fire in the evening with the hug of a blanket and mugs of cocoa will top off your indulgent cabin experience to a tee.

Napier's warm, green combination of ingredients creates an appropriate air of sophistication to match these surroundings.

 


 

Location: Wherever Tinder Leads You

Date: The First

Fragrance: Vetiver

Notes: Citrus, Woody Tree Moss

Apparently if you're not in a relationship these days then you're on Tinder. As a user, no matter how humorously you may decide to approach it there is always going to be a chance of scrolling to reveal the glorious profile photo of 'the one' (along with possibly all their friends). By the time you've both matched up and got to the point of texting, you'll have little to worry about come the first date.

The adventurous scent of our Vetiver cologne matches completely with the keen-spirited nature of first dates. 

 

Location: The secret spot that only you know about

Date: The Hipster Arrangement

Fragrance: Avalon

Notes: Sicilian Bergamot and Calabrian Lemon, Neroli, Rosemary and Lavender from Haute Provence, Musk

Cool, calm and collected, this is your time to shine in territory that possibly no one else even knows about. That in its own right is going to impress your date, and don't you just know it. Just make sure you've got the conversation and interest in you to match the setting!

Avalon's sweet and evocative nature airs the right levels of confidence and passion to truly meet the occasion here.

Murdock For Hackett At The BAFTA Style Suites.Murdock For Hackett At The BAFTA Style Suites.

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The BAFTA awards took over London this weekend, providing an annual ensemble of style meeting the substance behind the year's fantastic film and TV offerings. Last night's ceremony was as grandiose as ever, from the surprise arrival of Mr & Mrs Pitt to Tinie Tempah's royal high 5, there's very little that the world of Twitter isn't still raving about.

Our Master Barber Alex and Head Barber at Hackett David were at hand once again in Hackett's glorious Style Suite over the weekend at The Savoy. Our highly skilled barbers were able provide some of the BAFTA stars with the finest levels of grooming to match their immaculate Hackett awards wear.

 

 

We couldn't help but freeze in admiration of these stunning suits curated exclusively for the awards as soon as we entered the room.

 

 

British GQ's Nick Carvell receiving the full haircut works from Alex on Saturday to help stylishly breeze through the weekend reporting.

 

 

David's award-worthy grooming arsenal for the Sunday.

 

 

As pre-ceremony preparations began at the Savoy yesterday, we were honoured to be greeted by the presence of Outstanding British Contribution To Film Winner Peter Greenaway.

 

©David M Benett/Getty Images

 

 

Also looking to make a sharp impression on the red carpet was the great Matthew Modine, who later popped in for a quick beard trim and condition. We think the end result tidily speaks for itself..

 

©contactmusic.com

 

 

Suits, suits and more suits. The Hackett range was a tantalising distraction throughout the day.

 

 

Sporting his immaculate tailored Hackett suit, the charming Craig Roberts was styled by David above neck level to match.

 

©contactmusic.com

 

 

Luke Pasqualino looking immensely dapper on the red carpet in his Hackett suit, complimented with the use of Murdock Hair Play.

 

A huge thank you to Hackett for inviting us once again to their Style Suite and also to the talented array of visitors that we were able to welcome and groom for this year's BAFTAs.

Opening Ceremony's New 'Her' Collection. Opening Ceremony's New 'Her' Collection.

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This Valentines weekend saw the release of the highly anticipated Spike Jonez's sci-fi romance Her.

The film is visually stunning and in true MurdockMan form, we were sat in grand admiration of Joaquin Phoenix pulling off a fantastic pair of high waisted trousers with the addition of brightly coloured Oxford shirts. Not only this, but his round spectacles aired stylish nods to our Seven Dials friends Bailey Nelson. With a loosely unkempt yet admirable haircut too, there's basically very little we didn't like in regards to Mr Phoenix's attainable near-futuristic appearance.

 

 

 

The same thoughts are evidently shared by Opening Ceremony, as the creative fashion brand have released a collection in honour of the film's aesthetic, which was actually contributed to by their founder Humberto Leon. Casey Storm was Her's official costumer designer, whose bright colours contrast  boldly against the clean, crisp cityscape backdrops and clear interiors throughout. OC's inspiration is evident throughout the range, and here are a few of our favourite picks:

 

Double Breasted Quilted Shearling Coat

 

Device Pocket Contrast Rib Crewneck

 

Double Layered Long-Sleeve Shirt

 

High-Waisted Side Tab Trousers


As Her leaves us willing our operating systems to remotely catch up in intelligence, it's great to see our currently inspired fashion options reaching far beyond the limits of asking Siri for the nearest cash machine.

View the entire Her collection here and check out Opening Ceremony's flagship European store on King St. (Just next to our branch in Hackett Covent Garden.)

Her is in cinemas now.

The First Murdock Wedding! The First Murdock Wedding!

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Would you ever get a more dapper and well groomed wedding than that between two MurdockMen? No way would you. And here's the proof! We are incredibly happy to announce that Shoreditch barber Tom Harrigan and Covent Garden manager Kial Pound tied the knot on Monday 17th February 2014 and everyone at Murdock London wishes them a happy and handsome life together.

Top 5 Art Members Cards in London. Top 5 Art Members Cards in London.

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With arts venues spread across the city showcasing some of the finest creative talent, rarely does a London weekend go by in which a gallery or theatre visit isn't on the cards. At hand to help make such potentially regular visits as easy and accesible as possible are membership schemes. If it's a regular discount you're looking for, exclusive offers or the understated comfort of a private bar, we've picked out our five favourite membership cards that we believe every MurdockMan's wallet should reserve space for.

 

National Art Pass

The National Art Pass makes crossing over the cost barrier at galleries for the featured shows easy. With 50% off major exhibitions at the likes of Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery and V&A along with free entry to over 200 venues and a magazine included- there isn't a chance this card is going to gather dust. The sheer satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing towards the welfare of the UK's museums and galleries is also a pretty damn good feeling. Anybody lucky enough to be under the age of 26 also gets a generous 50% discount upon the annual fee. Make this one your top priority.

 

 

Prince Charles Cinema

At just £10 a year or £50 for life, the Prince Charles Cinema card is another must for every Londoner's wallet.

Film buff or weekend casual, there are two very different screen options - upstairs providing the atmosphere of an intimate preview and downstairs of a grand theatre, both offering a great cinematic experience whichever your preference.

Regular discounts (especially at off-peak times) make seeing films new and old, blockbuster and independant so accesible. Weekend marathons in honour of great directors and film collections also contribute to making this venue truly unique and appealing to film fans. Centrally located in Leicester Square, the Prince Charles is very much the black sheep amongst its overly expensive chain neighbours.

 

English National Opera

For those inclined towards live performance, the English National Opera membership is a great way of supporting the great arts company whilst enjoying exclusive benefits. Included in the Solo Membership is access to discounted dress rehearsals, priority booking, special events and the chance to meet some of the artists.  Higher levels of subscription introduce drinks receptions, extended guest allowances and seasonal launch events. A true touch of class.

 

Barbican

With three options available, there's a membership scheme to suit each and every visitor's needs.

Starting with Yellow from £20, your receive 30% off gallery entry (which extends to a plus one), cinema and restaurant discounts, private views and the Barbican guide. Upgrading to Orange from £40 sees your entry fee cleared and priority booking benefits included. The top tiered Red membership from £100 a year provides you with access to enhanced priority booking - tickets before events are even announced? - and entry to the private Members' bar for you and a friend.

 

 

ICA

The ICA is an isolated gem of an arts venue. Primarily a gallery, its intimate scale filters through the art space and bar to even its cinema screens which show an excellent array of films.

Concessionary memberships are available and extend again to those under the age of 26. Discounts apply upon all of the venue's outlets, with £3 films on Tuesdays and 12 annual free preview screenings. A 10% discount at Cass Art shops is also thrown in for good creative measure.

Hoxton Mini Press Exhibition at The Proud Archivist. Hoxton Mini Press Exhibition at The Proud Archivist.

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If  you've happened to browse through the at book shops of East London such as Broadway Market's Artwords in the last couple of years, you're sure to have seen Hoxton Mini Press' first two publications. The young publisher was founded by photographer Martin Usborne and Anne Waldvogel in 2013 to release Martin's photographic series of Hoxton born and bred pensioner Joseph Markovitch, 'I've Lived in East London for 86 1/2 Years' . Last year this was followed up with the illustrations of Adam Dant's '50 People of East London' and there are more books documenting the people and places of Hackney to be released in the coming months.

Now a new exhibition is presenting prints from these two debut releases at gallery space/restaurant/cafe  The Proud Archivist in Dalston. 51 Faces of Hackney runs from today until 30th March 2014.

The Grand Beard of Jeff Goldblum in The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Grand Beard of Jeff Goldblum in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

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Last night we were lucky enough to see the BFI Southbank's preview screening of Wes Anderson's marvellous new film The Grand Budapest Hotel. A joyous cinematic adventure, set in a fictional inter-war eastern European country with a cast list that very few other directors would be able to pull together. Inspired by the 30s and 40s works of Austrian writer Stefan Zweig, it has all the wit, painstakingly detailed set design and framing that so many adore Anderson for and others can't stand. (For the record, I love his films.)

The writings of Zweig, whom Anderson, a usually self-professed slow reader became obsessed with, are clearly a perfect match for the filmmaker's highly visual imagination and The Grand Budapest Hotel is perhaps the director's most rounded film and accordingly, the most likely to please mainstream audiences with a story that encapsulates classic elements of cinema from murder mystery to jail-break via film noir. It also packs a little more emotional heft thanks to three actors new to Anderson's regular troupe - Jude Law, F Murray Abraham and the undoubted star of the film, Ralph Fiennes as Monsieur Gustave, enigmatic concierge of The Grand Budapest. All of whom who act beyond the director's usual mannered style and add a little more human warmth and reality that one could argue is stylised out of some of his other films.

We loved it all, but as always, with one eye on grooming, we couldn't help but notice the wise magnificence of Jeff Goldblum's salt and pepper facial hair which falls somewhere between a goatee and a beard, being as it is, full on the front and chin but clean shaven on the upper cheek.

The Grand Budapest Hotel is released in UK cinemas March 7th.

 

Watch Goldblum's grand beard in relaxed, behind-the-scenes chat mode in this featurette from Fox Searchlight here:

 

And watch the film's trailer here:


Best Grooming Scenes In Film. Best Grooming Scenes In Film.

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We showed you some of cinema's best barbershop scenes back in the summer so we thought it was high time to show those representations on film of grooming at home.


Saturday Night Fever - Teenage paint shop assistant Tony Manero may be stuck in a dead-end job and an overbearing traditionally Catholic home life but he finds release on the dance floor of his local night club. And that all starts with making sure his hair is just so.

 


Home Alone - Kevin McAllister wakes up to find he is the man of the house and immediately relishes the grooming regime inherent to such a role.

 


American Psycho - So some of Patrick Bateman's behaviour may be questionable but he certainly knows how to look after his skin!

 


North by Northwest - Cut-throat versus mini travel razor. The chap on the left may think less of Cary Grant's masculinity but we think his dedication to remaining dapper by shaving with whatever's at hand is highly commendable.

 


Skyfall - Warning! If you come to Murdock expecting a wet shave this sexy, you will be sorely disappointed.

 


A Single Man - More of a dressing scene  really but we do see Colin Firth's George put cologne on as he meticulously puts himself together to become the person expected of him.

Derek Jarman at the BFI. Derek Jarman at the BFI.

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As the celebration of the bold and provocative Derek Jarman’s career continues across London, we wanted to highlight the BFI’s March calendar, which will see an exhibition amongst daily screenings of the artist’s films at the Southbank venue.

In the second part of the BFI’s two-month retrospective, the focus lies on the artist’s work from 1987 onwards.

‘No matter what the style was, or how they finally got made, Jarman’s films were created to affect change’ says William Fowler in the season’s introduction. With bold views on homosexuality, the Falklands, social breakdown and capitalism, each film of Jarman’s makes for eager viewing as the retrospective intends to celebrate such controversial concerns.

‘New Queer Cinema’ sees Derek’s films newly restored by John Maybury, Cerith Wyn Evans, friends and collaborators.

There is still time to visit Mark Turner's Pandemonium Exhibition at Somerset House which closes this Sunday. Further screenings of Jarman’s work are also being shown at the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, starting 20th March.

The Society of the Crossed Keys: Wes Anderson Selects His Favourite Stefan ZweigThe Society of the Crossed Keys: Wes Anderson Selects His Favourite Stefan Zweig

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If you're excited about Wes Anderson's latest, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and have been reading up on interviews with the idiosyncratic filmmaker, then you will have seen him mention the writings of Stefan Zweig. Indeed the start of his new film declares that it is inspired by this Austrian author that Anderson discovered in Paris' famous English language bookshop Shakespeare & co. Having falling out of print in English, Pushkin Press started to publish his works again (originally published in the 30s and 40s) and have now worked with the director on a new book containing his selections of Zweig's work, The Society of the Crossed Keys, taking it's title and cover art from a chapter in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

As Anderson says, 'I had never heard of Zweig until six or seven years ago, as all the books began to come back into print, and I more or less by chance bought a copy of Beware of Pity. I immediately loved this book, his one, big, great novel-and suddenly there were dozens more in front of me waiting to read.'

You can buy the book from Pushkin Press' site here, and Anderson's picks, as well as a conversation with the modern auteur of indie cinema  are listed below:

A CONVERSATION WITH WES ANDERSON

Wes Anderson discusses Zweig's life and work with Zweig biographer George Prochnik.

THE WORLD OF YESTERDAY
Selected extracts from Zweig's memoir, The World of Yesterday, an unrivalled evocation of bygone Europe.

BEWARE OF PITY
An extract from Zweig's only novel, a devastating depictionof the torment of the betrayal of both honour and love.

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS IN THE LIFE OF A WOMAN
One of Stefan Zweig's best-loved stories in full-a passionate tale of gambling, love and death, played out against the stylish backdrop of the French Riviera in the 1920s.

SXSW: This Year's Key Highlights.SXSW: This Year's Key Highlights.

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Yesterday saw the musical offerings at the acclaimed South By South West Festival take over the event's outstandingly large schedule.

 

Think less Google Glass and Skype discussions, more skinny jeans, raw feedback and erm, Coldplay as six days of audio bliss are now in full swing. From some of the most commercial names in the industry - attendees with the right phone and app were able to 'Watch The Throne' last night, to unsigned artists looking to make their big break. The festival is still asserting itself on the music map despite its ever-expanding range of media based events.

 

Whilst attempting to grasp SXSW's line-up isn't quite as comparable to simply mulling over a Reading & Leeds poster, we've picked out a few of our favourite artists playing, along with a few uprising acts that we'd make that extra effort to catch before they're whisked away to future stardom:

 

Cyril Hahn

The remix master and producer extraordinaire continues to impress as one of many talented artists flying PMR's flag. Regularly fuelling the Murdock office on a Friday afternoon, we wouldn't miss his set for the world.

 

Kurt Vile

Simply put, Kurt Vile has slowly and quietly become one of the great American guitarists and songwriters of our time. If that's not convincing enough then trust us to just put him on and absorb.

 

Chet Faker

Fusing acoustic song writing with an electronic soul, Chet Faker's glorious blend of influences instantly demands your attention. When listening through a speaker you find yourself grasping at every tone, let alone if he were to be stood on a stage right in front of you.

 

Cloud Nothings

Dylan Baldi's basement rock project has gone from strength to strength over the past few years, gaining more members whilst maintaining their authentic sound. With an intense and raw live show to match the energy levels of the music on record, this young band should be attracting crowds in their masses.

 

Warpaint

Having recently released their highly anticipated new album, the Warpaint girls continue to hypnotise and captivate audiences in their own unique way. If you're looking to be dazed and blown away, this would be the right way to go.

 

Machinedrum

Hailing from Brooklyn, Machinedrum has produced some incredible electronic music that's actually befitting of London's urban landscape and continues to impress. Having produced for over a decade,  he earned his place at the forefront of electronica.

 

The Beaches

The new all-girl band on the block look set to capitalise on a successful 2013 and continue to expand on an already passionate fan base.

 

Waylayers

One of the UK's brightest young bands, Waylayers create fantastic atmospheric pop that fuses elements of electronica and indie-rock. Another Murdock office favourite.

 

Broken Bells

The duo of Brian 'Danger Mouse' Burton and The Shins' James Mercer made waves with their debut album and continue to impress having recently released their sophomore. Two great talents in music working together should always sound this accomplished.

 

Chlöe Howl

Receiving critical acclaim throughout the past year, Miss Howl's name is becoming unavoidable. We first took note of her at last year's Great Escape and her lively synth pop is sure to continue to earn its fans.

 

Kelela

Cut 4 Me, Kelela's debut mixtape has been described as 'a synthesis of pop and the underground, songs equally at home in the club as in the bedroom'. Her diverse range of influences and natural vocal talent combine to produce perfect contemporary R&B.

How To Live Like A Modern Day Bohemian In London.How To Live Like A Modern Day Bohemian In London.

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Inspired by the free-thinking style of the great British bohemian tradition, Our Patchouli fragrance is an intricate scent that harks back to long nights at the Café de Paris in the 1890s along with the rowdy mayhem of Fitzrovia in the 1950s.

Whilst such classic romanticism might be slightly out of modern day boundaries, there are still certain opportunities across London to adhere to such bohemian settings and behaviour. Here are some of our favourites:

 

The New Evaristo Club, Greek Street
A genuine take on a contemporary speakeasy. Met by a bright blue door, you would think you had arrived to a house party. Take a right and head downstairs however and you soon find yourself in one of London's busiest area's quietest bars. Cafe tables and Italian decorations fill the room as a barman awaits your order. There are no signs or adverts and even when you're inside there's no talk about the facade or acknowledgment of you finding the gem. You simply get the pleasure of being able to sit and drink away from the crowds and in your own intimate company.

 

ECC
Chinatown's Experimental Cocktail Club is the perfect spot for excellent service and a taste of something out of the ordinary. The expert barmen assert themselves as bona fide artists, creating fantastic cocktails rapidly and with flair - our favourite has been known to be a certain Swedish inspired Dill flower concoction. The atmosphere is dark and moody and a mirrored ceiling with art deco crystal chandeliers combine to create an elegant 20's inspired environment.

 

Happiness Forgets
Continuing with the cocktail theme, this basement bar in Hoxton Square offers some of the City's finest alcoholic creations. 'Great cocktails, no wallies' is the tagline, and to any creative person looking to enjoy themselves without too many a lairy distraction, we think this fits the bill just right.

 

Sadie Coles Gallery
With a flagship location in Mayfair, Sadie Coles branched out last year to Kingly Street with this glorious 6000 square foot space. As contemporary art's colony continues to expand across the city, be sure to visit this location whilst it is kept fairly discreet from mass public awareness. Our highlight so far was seeing Urs Fischer sculptures last year.

 

Critical Mass
A monthly 'mass coincidence' occurs across the city in which cyclists, skaters - anybody not causing pollution - happen to be travelling along the same path to promote a more natural and less damaging means of transport. With no set route, you have the freedom to tag along for as long as desired whilst enjoying the company of fellow green-living commuters.

 

Spuntino

This Soho eatery takes no reservations and doesn't even have a phone for you to try and blag a spot. Raw metallic objects decorate the room with exposed brick and wooden furnishings. The bar itself is a thing of beauty with an appealing menu to match - the truffled egg toast a particular highlight. From the outside you could easily stroll past assuming it to be either disused or in repair. Take a closer look through the dark windows however to catch the golden glow of hanging bulbs reflecting on the stacked spirit and wine bottles.

 

Lounge Bohemia
The entrance to this bar, as wth the New Eravisto is not an easy initial find. Once you've entered the dark narrow corridor and see newspaper sprawled across the wall however, you'll know you're in the right place. The dress code is 'no suits' and the layout is very much a sprawl of inidividual furnishings in a tight squeeze. Hardback books contain the menu cards amongst further Eastern European inspirations. You can't help shake the feeling of being in an anti-government secret society, but several fine cocktails will soon take the edge off your sense of danger.

 

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