Tony Shrimplin of The Museum of Soho explained, to see Soho’s history you have to look up… And so it was with great pleasure to join him and other neighbourhood locals for the unveiling of the Lady Jane green plaque displayed above 29 Carnaby Street, on Thursday 10th October.Continue reading “Lady Jane plaque unveiled to celebrate the first Women’s Boutique to open on Carnaby Street in the Swinging Sixties”
My Soho Times popup at WeWork Great Chapel St
And Soho the journey begins…
We’re finally out of the closet! Yesterday we held our first My Soho Times pop up at WeWork Soho’s Great Chapel St. What a surreal yet fulfilling experience it was to share this magazine venture out in public for the first time – outside of social media!
From blog to print magazine
My Soho Times initially started as a blog platform in 2015, and it was only this summer that I decided to take a bold step by turning it into a physical print magazine as the internet is already saturated with lifestyle content for Soho. Our afternoon at WeWork was an opportunity to speak to startups and businesses we can possibly feature for our New Year New Career theme.
I particularly loved the positive affirmations dotted around the WeWork venue as a reminder to ‘Do What You Love‘… An apt philosophy since it also happened to be World Mental Health Day.
We’ll be at WoWork Soho again this time at Medius House on the 24th October!
Special thanks to Ivo (DoGoodFilms) for coming along to support, the people we spoke to, Junia for the spontaneous footage, WeWork community associates Jacob and Kashif who started his first day at this WeWork site and showered us with positivity, and the WeWork Soho team for this amazing opportunity!
📍16 Great Chapel St, Soho, London W1F 8FL
T: 020 3695 7895
Photos: Ivo Belohoubek
Have you checked out the pilot issue of My Soho Times? CLICK HERE to view online!
My Soho Times is a brand new hyper local print magazine launching this winter. We’re looking for contributors and local businesses to partner with! Email us to find out more info@mysohotimes.co.uk
Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below!
p.s I’m #DelightfullyDyslexic – please see beyond any minor spelling errors or let me know in the comment box below!
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Dinner Date: Aqua Kyoto Wabi Sabi menu (Autumn)
Japanese cuisine is more than just sushi… That’s why events such as Japan Week (23rd – 3rd Oct) are a great way to showcase the diversity of Japanese food and drink. I joined the celebration at the tail end by choosing Aqua Kyoto – one of London’s most trendy and unique dining destinations for Japanese cuisine, for my date night. I’m no stranger to this 5th floor Bar and Restaurant, having spent a few summer dates on their outdoor terrace with a cocktail in had enjoying the views above Regents Street. Aqua also sits in place of the renowned former Dickens & Jones department store – where I had one of my first retail jobs in my late teens whilst living in Soho… So the connection runs deep!
This particular autumn evening, I wanted to try something new. I’m an indecisive Libra (fyi it’s birthday month) – and an endless menu often leaves me overwhelmed (I usually ask the staff for recommendations or I’d be reading the menu for hours!) Aqua Kyoto’s Japanese inspired Wabi Sabi menu eliminates any indecisiveness by offering a simple choice of specially selected options for a delicious 3 course meal plus a cocktail (mocktail option available) for just £29! This is a menu which doesn’t disappoint!
For starter we went with…
Tori kara age, purple sweet potato mayo, wasabi furikake & Cobia sashimi salad, ponzu, zuma salad.
For our mains we went with…
Asparagus yuzu kosho dashi, edamame, shiso yaki udon, sea bass, sesame sudachi soy, tsuma salad, and a Japanese egg rice prepared at the table in a performance-like style to accompany your main course.
Japanese egg rice prepared at the table
Our mains
Vegetarian: Asparagus yuzu kosho dashi, edamame, shiso yaki udon
Love at first taste!
My smile says it all… Delicious!
Sea bass, sesame sudachi soy
Unlike the other courses, the dessert section doesn’t come with options and that’s possibly because there need only be one option to top it all off… The green tea brulee served with yuzu chocolate, and Japanese strawberry sorbet!… This was one part of the meal I didn’t mind not sharing!
Overall, we had a wonderful date night and we simply couldn’t fault anything! Great atmosphere (surprisingly not too busy during our Thursday night 6.30pm reservation), delicious food beautifully presented, and the hospitality was on point!
The Wabi Sabi menu is a special deal of 3 courses and a cocktail £29. *Available Monday to Friday 12pm – 2:30pm, Monday to Thursday 5.30pm – 10.30pm, Friday and Saturday 5.30pm – 7.00pm.
Refurbishment plans
Aqua Kyoto is known for it’s central sushi bar, open sumibiyaki charcoal grill, and sleek theatrical black and red Japanese decor. However from the *10th October 2019 the restaurant will be closed for refurbishment until end of November. Manager Federico indulged me with some pictures of the new layout and decor… I have to say the current signature look will be missed however there’s a treat in store for us when the restaurant re-opens! The roof terrace will also have a do-up to make it cosier in the milder months and keep us protected from the typical London rain!
During this closure you can still visit sister restaurant Aqua Nueva serving contemporary Spanish cuisine, and enjoy views from their outdoor terrace. To make a reservation please click here
📍Aqua, 5th Floor, 240 Regent Street (Entrance 30 Argyll Street) London, UK W1B 3BR
Reservations: +44 020 7478 0540
Photos: Ivo Belohoubek
Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below!
Have you checked out the pilot issue of My Soho Times? CLICK HERE to view online!
My Soho Times is a brand new hyper local print magazine launching this winter. We’re looking for creative contributors and local businesses to partner with! Email us to find out more info@mysohotimes.co.uk
p.s I’m #DelightfullyDyslexic – please see beyond any minor spelling errors or let me know in the comment box below!
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Willow Smith on the Central Line for Prada Linea Rossa collection Launch
The central line isn’t a usual part of my London commute on a Monday morning, however today I found myself thankful to be at the right place, at the right time – just in time to meet Willow Smith and a Prada entourage at Tottenham Court Road station for a musical appearance to launch her Prada Linea Rossa Fall/Winter collection.Continue reading “Willow Smith on the Central Line for Prada Linea Rossa collection Launch”
Chef’s Specials: The Italian at 40 Dean Street…
Soho has a long and rich history of Italian culture, and this family-run restaurant in the heart of Soho is a contemporary addition, having served Italian cuisine for nearly two decades.
Conveniently named after its street address, there’s no forgetting where 40 Dean Street is located sitting amongst a cute cluster of quaint restaurants. The restaurant boasts a mahogany bistro-style interior, with a small (dog-friendly) dining space exterior which gives a postcard image of Soho-life and the restaurant’s clientele – clearly a favourite with the media crowd, local residents and theatre goers. I’ll admit, in all my years living in the area, it wasn’t until fairly recently that I became intrigued by Forty, which perhaps comes down to its refurbishment a few years ago.
So for my date night, I took my cousin Freda for a treat and much needed catch up. Nothing quite says ‘girly catch up’ like a cocktail in hand and comforting seafood pasta dishes. For our mains, we got Chef Rodrigo Morais to recommend a few of his specials…
We also went for…
THE DUCHESS OF SOHO: Ratafia, Frangelico, STARWARD wine cask and double espresso
Aubergine parmigiana
Fried squid and zucchini with an aioli and sweet chilli sauce
Pan-fried tiger prawns with shellfish and brandy sauce
40 Dean Street is perfect for anyone looking for an authentic Italian experience – with the hospitality to match! Its set menu offers an affordable dining experience, and the à la carte menu includes a selection of classics which have been tried, tested and approved by its regulars… I’ll be back again soon for more of that black ink seafood linguini!
📍40 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 4PX
020 7734 1853
www.fortydeanstreet.com
Have you checked out our pilot issue of My Soho Times online? CLICK HERE!
That’s it for now! Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below
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Shida is the theatrical magic London needs to see!
All the way from across the pond, broadway star and Gospel sensation Jeannette Bayardelle – writer and performer, and director Andy Sandberg bring Shida to London. Showing at the Vaults Theatre, I made my way to Waterloo on opening night by invitation of Mr London, Talentbanq’s CEO Ray Jones. The show had such an impact on me – I knew I’d be back for more!
Inspired by a true story, Shida is a one-woman musical with the same velocity of a full cast, which makes it all that much more magical. There’s something in Shida that anyone can relate to. For me it was the story of a young girl with dreams of being a writer, and having them almost snatched away by life’s odds stacked against her… On the day I watched Shida for the first time, I’d just received copies of the My Soho Times magazine pilot. My heart was full, yet like Shida, I too had faced my fair share of challenges to get to that moment, which made me connect to Bayardelle’s powerful performance even more.
In the intimate theatre setting, I found myself releasing emotions I had bottled in on my own journey, and – together with Shida, felt inspired to give my dreams a second chance.
It was only a matter of time before I was sitting with Jeannette Bayardelle and Andy Sandberg for an interview for my personal blog Travelmaker Kai, however I came with copies of the My Soho Times, and they both showed their support for it.
London, you know how to show a gal some love… This musical is an ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE!
For bookings visit www.thevaults.london/shida
For more about Shida the musical visit www.shidathemusical.com/about
📍The Vaults Theatre, Leake St (Theatre entrance address is Launcelot St SE1 7AD)
Have you checked out our pilot issue of My Soho Times online? CLICK HERE! Follow My Soho Times across our social media platforms @mysohotimes
That’s it for now! Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below.
Find Your Route… On A Santander Bike!
Getting Out and About
With 8 docking stations in Soho, and plenty more in neighbouring areas, Santander Cycles offers all the convenience and fun of cycling in London without any of the hassle of owning your own bike. Whether seasoned cyclist, or you bike on a ad hoc basis, it’s easy to hire a cycle from one of more than 700 docking stations across the capital.Continue reading “Find Your Route… On A Santander Bike!”
My Soho Times popup at WeWork pt1
Join us on the 10th Oct at Great Chapel Street from 12:00 – 14:00. Pop-in to find out more about My Soho Times and how you can get involved as a business or contributor!
Continue reading “My Soho Times popup at WeWork pt1”Sustainable September: Let Vintage Reign
…and at last we have it! A campaign for sustainable fashion: Oxfam, media, businesses and shoppers together are agreed: the trend this months shall be less consumerism and more responsibility… and may I add, more style too!
Whilst serious concerns are rising on working conditions in the factories that make cheap clothes for the high street, here is now the additional awareness of the impact clothing industries may have on nature and our ecosystem (Cotton growing, for instance, is responsible for the usage of 22.5% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides, chemicals which can be dangerous for the environment and harmful to the farmers who grow it, according to the Ethical Fashion Forum).
So, when preparing the autumn/winter wardrobe, this September, let’s find a different way for staying stylish and devour less of the world’s precious resources.
Reign Vintage
For my chic and sustainable look this autumn, I am checking out Reign: a little hidden gem on Berwick Street, selling carefully selected garments ranging from the 1940s to the 1990s. David, the co-owner, tells me that the shop is currently ready for the Autumn/Winter season and very much keeping in vogue with the latest trends; in his words: “…whilst fashion always takes from the past, this year we are stocking on flared hems and A-line skirts echoing that cool 70’s look that the main fashion houses are now re-launching.”
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So why not look at their website and give your apparel a dose of sustainable originality? As Albert (photographed) explains; “If you buy Vintage it’s a lot easier to curate your own individual style!”
Words by Liza Adebisi @liza_mine108, Photos by Kai Lutterodt @the.soho.girl
📍Reign Vintage, 12 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0PN www.reignvintage.com
My Soho Times magazine pilot is OUT NOW! CLICK HERE to view online.
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All you need to know about Soho Media Club: London’s most diverse networking club for media professionals
Underpinned by monthly meetups in a secret Soho location, the club brings together passionate people with stories to share. “You never know where your next inspiring moment will come from and that’s the beauty of Soho Media Club” says co-founder, Tom Witkowski.
Since its launch in July 2019, members network Soho Media Club has attracted a membership of over 300 media professionals from production, post-production and distribution and has successfully ran two dynamic meetups in Soho. Set up by friends Jaisica Lapsiwala and Tomasz Witokowski, Soho Media Club is turning networking in the media industry on its head. My Soho Times explores what the network is about and how it is different…
Collaboration and diversity are part of the Club’s DNA
Jaisica and Tom share 3 key beliefs: collaboration, inclusion and everyone having a voice. They saw an opportunity to create a club for those in the media community who share these beliefs, and want to make the whole industry better. Anyone can join the network, regardless of their seniority, position or status. The only criteria is that you have to be an active media professional; whether that is in film, tv, digital or music. The network is designed to advocate collaboration, inclusion and diversity across the media production, post-production and distribution community. Once qualified as a member, EVERYONE receives an invite to the Club’s monthly Soho meetups.
Passionate speakers with stories to share
Guest speakers take to the mic at each meetup to share personal stories of their careers. This summer’s events took place at the Warner Bros. facility on Dean Street and the Dropbox bar in Broadwick Street in July and August respectively. The meetups attracted a hugely diverse mix of guests including large corporates such as Netflix, BBC and Disney to mid-sized production companies and independent producers, editors and cinematographers who came together for a dynamic evening of exchanging ideas and making new connections in a very democratic environment.
July’s meetup speakers included Olivier award-winning theatre director and playwright Jessica Swale; Senior Colourist at Goldcrest, Jet Omoshebi and Nick Roberts, ADR Mixer who gave honest and candid opinion on challenges they have faced, including the topic of gender diversity.
The August event welcomed guest speakers: Josh Wilson, Managing Director, Wilson Worldwide Productions; Zeb Achonu, TV & Film Editor; Tania Freimuth, Award winning Cinematographer and Andy Wilson, Principal Media, Dropbox to share their stories and experiences of working in TV & film. The collective shared powerful stories on a range of topics from the struggles of financing, to rebuilding your network and flexible working patterns. However, it was the exchange of opinion around the virtues of mentoring which dominated the conversation and captured the audience’s attention.
The next Soho Media Club event
The next meetup is Wednesday 25th September at 6.30pm
September guest speakers include:
- Tom Griffiths, Director of Technology – Operations & Distribution Platforms, ITV
- Siobhán Daly, Entertainment Producer & Artistic Director
- John Rogerson, Founder & CEO, Halo Post Production
- James RM Hunt, CEO & Founder, Dog & Duck Films Ltd & Archive Producer
Location: Secret Soho venue (registered guests will be sent address info via email) CLICK HERE to book. CLICK HERE to apply to become a member of the Soho Media Club.
The Soho Media Club wants to make a difference!
Co-founder, Jaisica Lapsiwala explains “The ability to be agile and think laterally gives you a massive edge over everyone else… We exist to create diversity of thought, drive that horizontal thinking and encourage people to take a creative approach to tackling problems in our industry.“
To find out more and to join the Club visit: www.sohomediaclub.com Twitter @sohomediaclub1
My Soho Times magazine pilot is OUT NOW! CLICK HERE to view online.
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MY SOHO TIMES 