By Jack Peat, TLE Editor  A metaphor linking a renowned opera and an outcast grape variety almost undoubtedly falls under the ‘stretched’ bracket, but I won’t shy away from this ambitious literary feat nonetheless. Carmen, an opéra comique based on the life of Don José, tells of a man who abandons his Basque family heritage in pursuit of the independent and rebellious Carmen. Deserting his bourgeois heritage he is forced to make his way as part of the proletariat, doing...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Renowned as one of London’s finest mixologists, Oskar Kinberg opened Dabbous with his friend and former colleague Ollive Dabbous at the start of 2012, in which he oversees the restaurant’s stylish bar area – Oskar’s Bar – which features a cocktail menu with uses all homemade syrups and infusions. On the menu, there’s an innovative selection of drinks, featuring a range of classics and signature creations from the man himself, including the likes of...

If you missed Appropriate Behaviour at the cinema then shame on you, however by the end of this month you'll have a chance to redeem yourself, as the films out on DVD in the U.K. from June 29th. For our full review click here. Exclusive Bad Business Owner clip below, enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hCly_-yb0Y

By Miranda Schiller @mirandadadada Secret Cinema has always been about more than film, with its screenings being immersive events and a different experience for every visitor. This year, they are expanding even further afield, into retail and nightclub territory. You can get into the mood and stock up on costume parts and accessories at the RebelX store in Shoreditch, a pop-up shop just off Brick Lane, and try your costume out at the related nightclub open to all bearers of...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  The final stages of the French Open, the Champions League final, the Canadian Grand Prix and sweltering weather forecast throughout the weekend. Yep, summer is finally here. And as is the custom in Britain, the start of the summer usually involves pulling out the rusted tin can on wheels that is the barbecue. Unused and dishevelled you contemplate whether a disposable BBQ would be less hassle than sprucing up your long-serving garden companion. But to save...

#3 Festival of the Spoken Nerd  Last Sunday, I was down in Brighton with Rob Sedgebeer (All Hail King Rob) to preview our new live video-gaming/comedy game-show “thing”, WiFi Wars. We were the second half of a double bill at The Old Market (brilliant theatre, go there) and the gang that made up the other half were Helen Arney, Steve Mould and Matt Parker – better known as Festival of the Spoken Nerd. They’ve been doing shows together since 2011,...

By Beth Roberts The great British summertime is upon us, which can only mean one thing – notoriously unpredictable weather. That's why more Brits than ever are ditching their wellies in favour of sunnier climes, heading to Europe for some epic music getaways. A staple on the jetsetter's festival calendar, Barcelona’s Primavera drew record crowds last weekend thanks to a combination of cheap flights, sure-fire sunshine and an impressive roster of acts. But if you missed Primavera don’t worry -...

By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Arriving just in time for the summer, Burger Bear founder Tom Reaney is set to take over the central roof of Old Street’s monolithic roundabout, bringing a brand new pop-up venue The Magic Roundabout to the East-End. Opening off the back of a Kickstarter campaign set up last year, which managed to raise a huge £36000, The Magic Roundabout is set to open next weekend and will feature a brand new street food market...

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor When I was at school, competition was king and not just through the enforced participation at a multitude of sporting events. The school held annual speech days for each year group where prizes were awarded for achievement and effort and a specific award in each subject was presented to one pupil who was deemed to have achieved most highly. We also had inter-house sports leagues, talent shows and as well as our exam results, we...