WATCHING… Arthur Boyd Atelier Show, Monday 12 June
This week I have been keeping an eye on rising young designer Arthur Boyd’s new collection – Parlour Games – which is being celebrated next week with an accompanying event titled Parlour Talks, an evening which includes a screening of the eponymous film (dir, Johannes Agboifo), and will be followed by a conversation between Boyd, Agboifo and stylist Jessica McFaul, alongside an exhibition of prints and handmade books for purchase, and DJ sets to round out the evening. If you’re looking for an exciting pop-up to visit next week, I would highly recommend coming along to the show, free entry– book HERE.

READING… Just Kids by Patti Smith
Having finally gotten around to reading Just Kids, the enchanting and deeply encapsulating memoir written by Patti Smith, I would highly recommend putting this at the top of your next reading list. A transformative recollection of her early days in 1960s and 70s New York, she documents her early life in the city, living alongside the renowned photographer Robert Mappelthorpe, precursing their rise to fame, documenting the early days of their artistic careers. This book is a testament to their unique artistic journeys and I highly recommend it for anyone who, like me, is an avid fan of autobiographical stories and extraordinary artistic relationships.

COIFFING… Slick Gorrilla
As anyone who’s grappled with coiffing a quiff into place in a hurried morning can attest to – there is little that keeps life moving more than a reliable selection of hair products. A bit dramatic, perhaps, however, considering the lacklustre results many of the high street’s offerings can present, when you find a brand that really has you covered in any scenario, sage advice dictates you must treasure it with your life. And after getting my hands on Slick Gorrilla’s range, comprising a powder, hairspray, salt spray and varying-hold styling clays, the Leeds-hailing brand has become a linchpin of my morning routine.

GOING… to Wide Awake
Shutting up about the ethereal wonder that was Miss Caroline Polachek at her headline gig at London’s Wide Awake Festival on Saturday has been a task and a half for me this week. However, it’s something I no longer intend to fight, and my eagerness to sing from the rooftops about my 90 mins with the queen herself and day at the Brixton alternative music mecca is testament only to the rapture incubated in Brockley Park at this one day extravaganza. With the likes of Shygirl, Jockstrap, Tirzah and Joy Orbison also leading the bill, my playlists were well and truly presented to me incarnate, and workshops and talks on everything from making nightlife more inclusive to tackling the London renting crisis, plus an endless array of food and drink vendors proved once again why it’s a definitive highlight of the UK festival calendar. With tickets now available for next year’s event, nothing or no one can stop me making a B line back in time for 2024.

EATING… DELLI: Claire Ptak x Love Is A Pink Cake
Simple pleasures are what we are prioritising in 2023 and name me a greater one than a slice of cake from London cult bakery supremos (and makers of Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake!), Violet Cakes. To celebrate founder Claire Ptak’s new cookbook, “Love Is A Pink Cake”, Violet have collaborated with flourishing mobile food marketplace from the creator of Depop, DELLI. Thanks to recent drop on the app, users have been able to purchase not only a signed copy of the cookbook, but two slices of both Ptak’s exquisite, pastel-coloured Angel Cake and sun-kissed California Cakes. With UV intensity on the rise and further picnics in the park on the very near horizon, taking another foray onto DELLI would appear to be an essential next move.

WEARING… ’76 Tour of Europe Concert Poster T-Shirt by RS No.9 Carnaby
With summer round the corner, I’d naturally been looking for a snazzy new tee to rock the festival fields with this summer. In step RS No.9 Carnaby. A sleek array of t-shirts that act as a trip down memory lane to some of The Rolling Stones most iconic moments. Choosing just one was a tough decision, but the deep purple and vibrant design of the ’76 Tour of Europe Concert Poster T-Shirt piqued my curiosity and, from that moment onwards, there was no turning back. Well received at xthetracks– job done.

MARVELLING… at The Harry Potter Series
Why does Dumbledore’s personality change so much between The Order Of The Phoenixand The Half Blood Prince? Where is the chemistry between Harry and literally every love interest in the series (expect maybe when he’s dancing to Nick Cave with Hermione – mixed feelings)? Why’s Voldemort so shit? Why do Ron and Hermione suddenly decide they like each other?

So many questions.