What To Do This Weekend 21.05.20

EAT WELL: MAC & WILD

London-based, Scotland-focused Mac & Wild is well known for its burger-centred bottomless brunches. Now, its Venimoo Burger Kit gives you everything you need to recreate its most famous double-stacked patty at home. Delivered nationwide, each kit (£28) comes with four brioche buns, beef patties, gherkins and Red Jon sauce, plus four juicy venison burgers. Its online store also sells bottled cocktails.
 
Visit MacAndWild.com
 

WORK UP A SWEAT: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP AT HOME

Barry’s is one of the capital’s favourite workout haunts. To help you hit your fitness goals right now, it’s put together four classes you can join from your living room: bodyweight, bands, weights and treadmill. Once you’ve booked a spot online, the team will email you the workout link 20 minutes before the class starts. Spaces fill up quickly, so you’ll need to move fast.
 
Visit Barrys.com

ENJOY AN ICE-COLD PINT: FOREST ROAD

Missing your usual Friday-night drinks? London’s first pint delivery service has now got you covered. Select a date on the website and the Forest Roast team will deliver a hand-pulled, ice-cold pint to your door for a fiver, between 2pm and 6pm on your chosen day. The van covers east London for now, but plans are afoot to extend its range.
 
Visit ForestRoad.co.uk

HIT UP A FESTIVAL: #IMAGINETHEWORLD

Hay-on-Wye’s famous arts festival has, of course, been cancelled this year. No matter: organisers have put together an alternative #imaginetheworld virtual festival that kicks-off on Friday and runs for a couple of weeks. A stacked programme features anything from Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry reading Wordsworth to Rutger Bregman chatting through his new book (see below) with Lily Cole. All events are free – you just need to register online and save your virtual seat.
 
Visit HayFestival.com

BE INSPIRED: HUMANKIND BY RUTGER BREGMAN

Rutger Bregman is the author of the bestselling Utopia For Realists. He’s all set for another hit with his new tome, Humankind. Here, Bregman paints a positive image of society and our capacity for kindness. Drawing on some head-turning real-life examples, he sets out to show not only that we can be good, but that we are inherently so. A timely, optimistic new read.
 
Visit Waterstones.com

CATCH A VIRTUAL EXHIBITION: MUSHROOMS: THE ART, DESIGN, & FUTURE OF FUNGI

Somerset House’s big summer exhibition has been postponed, but all is not lost. It’s gone virtual. Mushrooms: The Art, Design & Future Of Fungi shows off the work of more than 40 artists, examining fungi’s eclectic heritage and exploring the ways mushrooms can be used as materials for household goods. Quirky and fascinating.
 
Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk

TRY A DIFFERENT STREAMING SITE: MUBI

Mubi is an online streaming service that prides itself on its limited choice. With a focus on arthouse and classic cinema, it has an ever-rotating roster of just 30 films for viewing – the idea being that you will never be overwhelmed by choice. Everything it offers is carefully chosen, either on its own merits or because it forms part of a curated collection. Right now it’s celebrating the centenary of Italian maestro Federico Fellini.
 
Visit Mubi.com

LISTEN TO SOMETHING NEW: I LOVE THE NEW SKY BY TIM BURGESS

Tim Burgess of The Charlatans releases his fifth solo album on Friday. The 12 tracks on I Love The New Sky are soulful and emotive, spanning themes of love, loss and anger. During lockdown, Tim has been hosting ‘Twitter listening parties’ – you all hit play on a classic album at the same time and he chats you through them. Look out for a play-through of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures on Friday night.
 
Visit RoughTrade.com
Visit TimsTwitterListeningParty.com

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL: KEEP PUBS PUMPING

Set up by four Londoners, Keep Pubs Pumping sells a selection of tees and tote bags with cool illustrations. All proceeds from the merch go directly into pub coffers to help them get through a particularly tricky time for the hospitality industry and keep pub culture alive. Totes start at £16 while t-shirts are £24.
 
Visit KeepPubsPumping.co.uk

CHECK OUT AN ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL: DOC'N ROLL TV

Doc'N Roll is the UK film festival to specialise in music documentaries. Usually, it shines a light on independent, under-the-radar films with in-person screenings at cinemas across the country. To fill the gap left by the cancellation of this year’s live event, it’s launched Doc N Roll TV. This 24/7 streaming service is an online showcase for some of the UK’s best underground music documentaries, celebrating an eclectic mix of artists and scenes.
 
Visit DocNRollFestival.com
 

REMEMBER A SPORTING LEGEND: NIKI LAUDA BY MAURICE HAMILTON

Niki Lauda died a year ago this week. In 1976, the Austrian F1 driver was at the height of his powers when he crashed his Ferrari, it caught fire and he was lucky to escape alive. This biography by Maurice Hamilton traces the triple world champion’s recovery all the way up to his sensational comeback. Brimming with interviews from Lauda’s colleagues, family and rivals, Maurice Hamilton’s new book is a fitting tribute to a sportsman of great character and courage.
 
Visit Waterstones.com