Álvaro Vicente

As soon as June hits, London is packed with parades, parties and protests for Pride Month to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. The London Pride parade is traditionally the focus of festivities, but there are plenty of other LGBTQ+ events taking place both before and after it. Last year's Pride in London parade, which had the theme #AllOurPride, attracted a record 1.5 million people to the streets of London, so this year's event has plenty to live up to. When is London Pride? This year’s London Pride parade will take place on Saturday July 1. It will begin at Hyde Park Corner before wending its way down Piccadilly, then south to Haymarket and Trafalgar Square, before culminating at Whitehall Place. What is London Pride 2023’s theme? At a time when the trans community is coming under attack around the world, this year's Pride is offering a powerful gesture of support with its theme is ‘Never March Alone’.  Pride in London’s CEO Christopher Joell-Deshields said: 'Pride in London is much more than a celebration of our vibrant community; it is a powerful gathering that fosters unity and support. Amidst the ongoing adversity faced by the LGBT+ community worldwide, we want every trans and non-binary person to feel the unwavering solidarity we offer.' How to get tickets for Pride in London 2023 Unlike other big events like Brighton Pride, Pride in London is free and unticketed. Still, it does get pretty hectic, so if you'd like to watch the action with an unimpe

‘Last Man Dancing’, the title of Jake Shears’s sparkling new solo album, isn’t just a snappy slogan for T-shirts at his merch table. It also reflects where the former Scissor Sisters frontman finds himself career-wise – ‘I’m 20 years in, which is crazy,’ he says – and his impressive stamina when he throws a house party at his Hoxton pad. ‘I’m a host. I love showing people a good time,’ he says with a wide smile when we meet at The Glory, a buzzy LGBTQ+ pub and cabaret hub in nearby Haggerston. ‘And when you are hosting and being that party archetype, you’re probably gonna be the last one up!’ ‘Last Man Dancing’ is Shears’s second solo LP since Scissor Sisters announced an indefinite hiatus in October 2012. Fronted by Shears, the New York five-piece injected a welcome dash of gay abandon into the UK charts at a time when fewer LGBTQ+ artists were able to infiltrate the mainstream. Back in 2004, their catchy banger about introducing a parent to queer nightlife, ‘Take Your Mama’, felt stealthily transgressive. ’We’ll get her jacked up on some cheap champagne,’ Shears sang mischievously. Letting the good times roll Shears took a little time to release his first solo effort, 2018’s ‘Jake Shears’, a glossy pop-rock record that he described at the time as ‘fucking expensive’ because it featured so many live musicians. ‘My first album was super fun,’ he says today, a fair assessment of a record that contains songs called ‘Big Bushy Mustache’ and ‘Clothes Off’. ‘But in a certain way,’

London’s LGBTQ+ scene has long been full of vibrant venues offering safe spaces to be yourself. Its heartland is still very much located in its traditional home of Soho, but you’ll find brilliant gay bars and clubs dedicated to serving the community south of the river and in the East End too. There’s plenty of diversity in what they offer, from super cool and edgy club nights to events showcasing the best in the city’s cabaret performers and London’s incredible drag stars too.   Are you more in the market for a drink and a sit down? Check out these LGBTQ+ pubs and bars.

For hundreds of years, Soho has been a haven for gay Londoners, full of packed pubs and late night drinking dens even before the decriminalisation of homosexuality. In these enlightened times, LGBTQ+ city dwellers have got a plethora of options all across the city. But gay old Soho still holds a special place in London's LGBTQ scene and remains most visitors' first port of call, whether for drag nights or mingling. It's centred around Old Compton Street, where you can spend a raucous night at the enduringly popular G-A-Y bar or down unpretentious drinks at pubs like The Admiral Duncan. Here's our pick of the best gay bars and clubs in Soho. RECOMMENDED: Venture further afield with London's best gay bars and gay clubs.

Sink a cocktail in one of London's finest LGBTQ+ bars and pubs and you'll be drinking in more than just some watered down booze: these spots are LGBTQ+ landmarks in their own right, places where you can find community, kinship, and drag-fuelled mayhem. Beats billiards in your local. Once upon a time, having a gay old time in London meant hotfooting it straight to Soho. But now, the city's queer centre of gravity has shifted east, with edgier spots pulling crowds to Dalston when night falls, while some of the city's most storied LGBTQ+ venues have taken up residence in Vauxhall. So whether you're after a drag brunch, a burlesque show or just a quiet pint, here's a comprehensive list of the capital's gay and queer-friendly bars and pubs, from the legendary G-A-Y to lesbian-centric She Soho to sing-yer-heart-out special The Karaoke Hole. RECOMMENDED: Keep the party going at London's best LGBTQ+ clubs

Stuck on ideas for Mother’s Day (Sunday March 19 2023)? We thought you might end up in a sticky situation like this so that why we’ve pulled together a list of some of the best mum-friendly events happening around London. You can thank us later.  You can treat your mum to a delightful Sunday lunch, a wander around some of London’s loveliest shops, a cultural visit to the best current art exhibitions or a thrilling new theatre production. The options are endless so don’t spend too long creating that masterpiece of a throwback social media post, okay? Check out our top picks for the best events to take mother-dearest to this Mother’s Day 2023. RECOMMENDED: the full guide to Mother’s Day in London 

London would not be the city it is without its eclectic collection of bustling markets. From foodie paradises that heave with visitors snaffling up artisan samples to small, local bazaars loaded with gifts and household essentials, locals and visitors flock to the capital’s best stalls and these days there’s a market for almost anything across London. Whether you’re looking for a farmers’ market, a fashion market, or want to eat up street food or search for antique gems, here’s our pick of the best markets worth making a beeline for from foodie Borough Market to flower-filled Columbia Road. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in London.

En Madrid nunca ha existido una escena off al estilo del Off Broadway de Nueva York, no al menos reflejada en las carteleras o en los folletos turísticos. Desde los años setenta, en Madrid hubo teatro independiente y luego salas alternativas, pero no se empezó a hablar de off hasta hace unos años. Hagamos un poco de historia: en 2009, se estrena en el hall del Teatro Lara ‘La función por hacer’, una versión de ‘Seis personajes en busca de autor’ de Luigi Pirandello dirigida por Miguel del Arco (en lo que fue el origen también de la compañía Kamikaze) que sorprendió y conmocionó a propios y a extraños.   Podríamos hablar de un antes y un después de este montaje, porque hasta entonces a nadie se le había ocurrido que un espacio como aquel podía albergar una obra teatral. Fue el comienzo de un boom, de una explosión que multiplicó en poco tiempo los espacios no convencionales dedicados a la actividad escénica. Se abrían salas (como Garaje Lumière, Kubik Fabrik, El sol de York o La Trastienda, ya desaparecidas las cuatro), se revitalizaban otras que habían nacido bien poco antes (como La Usina o Guindalera) y se hacía historia con propuestas originales como Microteatro por dinero o La Casa de la Portera. De pronto, Madrid hervía teatralmente en plena crisis, los creadores hicieron de la necesidad virtud y se empezó a hablar de la extraordinaria vitalidad del off y hasta de una nueva movida madrileña.   El optimismo, la ilusión y la creatividad convivían con la precariedad laboral

Whether you're a keen singer, newly in lurrve or totally heartbroken, there’s nothing like a good love song (though if it’s the latter, our list of the best breakup songs might be a better antidote for your heartache). True love songs are the kinds of bangers that have you belting falsetto in the shower, dancing in the kitchen, and accidentally singing out loud in public. The kind of song that has you missing an ex you don’t even have.  But the love song genre is, as we all know, an incredibly saturated market. People have been writing those things since the Dark Ages, and they’re still releasing them every damn day in 2023. So we thought we’d do you a favour and cut through the noise, and round up the very best love songs of all time, from old school classics to Beyoncé belters. Whatever the occasion, there’s a love song out there for you. Lovers near and far, here is our definitive ranking of the greatest love songs of all time.  Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED:🍆 The sexiest songs of all time💕 The best R&B love songs💔 The best breakup songs🎙 The best soul songs🎺 The best Motown songs😭 The best heartbreak songs

Whether you’re throwing a gargantuan house party for everyone you’ve ever met, or just having a restrained night in with a few friends and family, it’s pretty much a fact that on New Year’s Eve, you will stay up until midnight. What sort of monster doesn’t want to see the New Year in? And if you’re having a late one, you’ll need some music. So, while you’re loading up the confetti crackers and chilling the fizz, outfit the night’s playlist with these hits. You’ll need tunes to cover every atmosphere the night may have: the best drinking songs for the lead-up, party songs for the stroke of midnight, and the best love songs for all the New Year’s kisses to come. Whatever the genre, we have you covered, because spinning the top tracks means your soiree should be one of the best parties yet, right? Let’s ring in 2023 the way we mean to go on with these New Year’s songs. Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED:🎉 The best party songs ever made🎶 The best ’80s songs🎤 The best karaoke songs🕺 The best pop songs of all time🎅 The best Christmas songs

Given its waning cultural profile, all rock’n’roll is rapidly becoming classic – as in, an antique. But for the time being, when we use the phrase ‘classic rock’, it conjures a few distinct images. Hippies in tie-dye. Fender Stratocaster guitars. Bandanas and beards and aviators. It’s the music your parents listened to that you probably spent much of your youth attempting to reject, before giving in and admitting that it’s awesome. Not all classic rock is created equal, though. Just because something’s from the ‘60s or ‘70s and gets played on the radio doesn’t mean it endures as an all-time jam. Here, we’ve separated the biggest gems from the large pile of rock’n’roll antiquities to create a list of the most classic of classic rock tracks – the ones that kids just picking up guitars will forever be trying to learn…as long as guitars still exist.   Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED: 🎶 The best ’80s songs🏋 The best workout songs🎤 The best karaoke songs🚗 The best road trip songs💪 The best motivational songs

You’ve got the drinks. You’ve got the appetizers. You’ve got the lights and decorations. But you don’t have a party until you’ve got the songs. Whether you’re inviting friends over to your apartment or breaking into an abandoned warehouse, the music is the No. 1 most important element of any celebratory gathering, and crafting the perfect playlist is a delicate science. Sure, you might be tempted to show off your broad and obscure tastes. But in most situations, familiarity is what brings the most feet to the dance floor.  In that spirit, when compiling this list of the greatest party songs of all-time, we’ve stuck to the big names with the big tunes just about everyone knows. Within a few notes of any of these tunes popping on the speakers, your living room, wedding reception, backyard barbecue etc is guaranteed to be pulsing with ecstatic energy. And when you’re still hearing about how rad the party was weeks and months afterward…well, you can thank us later.    Listen to these songs on Amazon Music RECOMMENDED:🎤 The best karaoke songs🍻 The best drinking songs🎉 The best birthday songs🎶 The best ’80s songs🕺 The best pop songs

Adaptación de la novela homónima de Cristina Morales, que entró como un ciclón en el panorama literario en 2018 ganando el Premio Herralde de Novela y el Premio Nacional de Narrativa. El actor Alberto San Juan se encarga de la dirección y dramaturgia de una historia que es una bomba diseñada para reventar el concepto de discapacidad y reivindicar el derecho de todo lo vivo a gobernarse por sí mismo.

Un clásico contemporáneo, una auténtica comedia negra en la que Sam Shepard (guionista de 'París, Texas', entre otras pelis, y autor de más de 60 obras teatrales) retrata la naturaleza conflictiva del ser humano a partir de la historia de rivalidad entre dos hermanos. Interpretados por Tristán Ulloa y Pablo Derqui, se han encontrado tras mucho tiempo en la casa familiar para escribir juntos un guión de cine que podría cambiar sus vidas para siempre.

Nuestro bailaor flamenco más vanguardista, Israel Galván, presenta su última pieza, en la que confiesa que ha buscado recuperar la sensación de bailar como un niño, a partir de una experiencia de su propia infancia, de cuando iba a ver a sus compañeros realizar el tradicional baile de los seises en la catedral de Sevilla. Galván hace suya aquella coreografía elegante de hace cinco siglos y la recrea con espontaneidad, técnica y belleza.

Una familia formada por el padre, la madre y cuatro hijos sale de viaje. En un punto del camino, se detienen en una gasolinera. Los padres bajan y quedan los cuatro hijos esperando. Ahí se suspende el tiempo y en ese paréntesis poético es cuando el público entra en la sala y comienza a ver una obra de teatro cuyo principio y cuyo final los marca, precisamente, la llegada del público y su salida. Porque aunque hay un final, porque tiene que haberlo (de lo contrario sí sería revolucionario), ya no es que sea abierto, es que podría ser ese o cualquier otro.  Esa misma sensación recorre toda esta función, que lo que vemos en escena podría no estar, podrían ser episodios sustituidos por otros que partieran de la misma situación y no cambiaría nada. Es demasiado evidente (y no porque yo lo sepa, que lo sabía de antemano) que la obra está construida a base de juegos de improvisación sobre un tema dado (lo de los padres que se van y los hijos que se quedan solos). Todo esto, aunque parezca una queja, no lo es, no resta para nada calidad a la pieza, aunque quizás dependiendo del momento el interés fluctúa. Y que tampoco un montaje se puede sustentar solo en alardes interpretativos, que los hay, porque el cuarteto protagonista es realmente bueno, sobre todo porque pasan por distintos estadios de la niñez con sorprendente soltura.  Gon Ramos ha querido trasladar la naturaleza del proyecto y del proceso creativo al resultado final. Valiente es, siempre lo ha sido el joven director, hay q

Occupying the courtyard of Grade I-listed St James’s Church, one of Christopher Wren’s finest buildings, Piccadilly Market isn’t your average group of stalls. As befits its central location in elegant Piccadilly, close to Mayfair, this market is pretty, well, upmarket. It first became permanent in 1984, but has grown significantly since then, and now opens for trading six days a week. Come for bijou food items on Monday and Tuesday (when it’s open 11am-5pm), and arts and crafts Wednesday through Saturday (when it’s open 10am-6pm). This isn’t the market for bargain-hunters, but if you like picking up unique trinkets and gifts, it’s definitely worth a visit. Nick Levine RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

Located in increasingly lively Bermondsey, Maltby Street Market is a bit like a calmer, more curated version of Borough Market. It’s only been going since 2010, doesn’t open during the week, and the tourists haven’t quite cottoned on yet. So, if you can’t face the masses, this is the place to come when you’re having a Nigella moment and want to stock your kitchen cupboards with high-end condiments and tipples you can’t get at Tesco. Nestled in and around the atmospheric Victorian rail arches of the Ropewalk you’ll find around 30 artisan food and drink traders selling everything from craft beer to Mozambique-style peri-peri meats. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Bad Brownie’s gourmet chocolate brownies are definitely recommended. If you’re on a health kick, grab a green juice from the good folks at Bumpin’ Rinds. If you don’t fancy snacking on the hoof, you can tuck into classy comfort food at St John Maltby, a bright and airy restaurant that gets pretty busy and doesn’t take bookings. And if your stomach’s still not fully satisfied, just saunter half a mile down the road to Spa Terminus, where around 25 food producers sell top-notch cheese, wine, ice cream, honey and coffee – we’re talking Monmouth, obviously. Top tip:  Don’t leave it too late to visit. Maltby Street Market is open 9am-5pm on Saturdays and 11am-5pm on Sundays. Nick Levine RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

Crystal Palace Food Market has impeccable green credentials, championing local and sustainable produce wherever possible. Since launching in 2012, this not-for-profit Saturday market has attracted a loyal band of south Londoners who come weekly for fresh fish from award-winning Veasey & Sons, biodynamic fruit and veg from Brockman’s Farm in Kent, local honey from Croydon and Bromley, and lots, lots more. Open from 10am-3pm, this is a market with a real community feel: the managers support local artists, businesses and buskers and all profits go to Crystal Palace’s Patchwork Farm and other good causes. Once you’ve filled up your tote bags, you can take a breather at the cute on-site café. Nick Levine RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

It may be located in a car park (Lewisham College’s, to be precise), but don't let this put you off. Award-winning Brockley Market is a terrific place to pick up some top-quality groceries. The focus is on locally-sourced seasonal food, whether that’s a joint for your Sunday lunch, fresh fish, your basic supply of fruit and veg, or cakes, artisan breads, cheese and charcuterie for a special occasion. Highlights include free-range poultry from Fosse Meadow, organic veg from Wild Country Organics and excellent Spanish cheeses and chorizo from Flavours of Spain. If all this makes your mouth water, which it probably will, there are loads of street food stalls to sate your hunger. Grab a porridge bowl, sourdough pizza or vegan Crosstown doughnut, and chow down on one of the benches. This is essentially a very good local farmers’ market, so the vibe is lively and friendly. There’s plenty of parking a short walk away, but it's advisable to arrive early. The stalls only open from 10am-2pm and popular items tend to sell out. Oh, and remember to stuff some carrier bags in your pockets for all the goodies you’ll be taking home. Top Tips:  Brockley Market is cash-only, so make sure you swing by an ATM first.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

Confusingly, several distinct markets make up what people call Camden Market. Camden Lock Market is, as its name suggests, the one by the lock on the Regent's Canal. Open every day from 10am, it’s an arts and crafts haven with covered retail units specialising in scarves, shoes, hand-stitched leather goods, custom Converse, Fairtrade jewellery and loads more. If you’re a lover of vintage clothes, you’ll find plenty to drain your bank balance. The market’s outdoor section is dominated by street-food stalls catering to all tastes: try New York-style pizza, vegan curries, coconut pancakes, souvlaki, fish and chips, or even a metre-long sausage. On a fine day, you can grab a seat and munch while watching the barges go by. Bliss. Nick Levine. RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

Camden Market comprises several adjoining markets that colonise a prime chunk of Camden Town. Together, they attract around 250,000 visitors a week, making Camden Market the capital’s fourth most-popular visitor attraction. This means it’s pretty hectic, especially at peak times, so it’s best to plan ahead. one of the constituents is Camden Lock Market which, as its name suggests, is located on the lock next to the Regent’s Canal. It’s an arts and crafts haven packed with covered retail units specialising in scarves, shoes, hand-stitched leather goods, custom Converse, Fairtrade jewellery and loads more. It’s also the place to go when you’re hungry, thanks to street-food stalls selling grub such as souvlaki, vegan curries, New York-style pizza and coconut pancakes. Housed under a huge sign that reads ‘The Camden Market’, Buck Street Market is an indoor space where traders sell T-shirts, jewellery and touristy trinkets. It’s hardly Camden’s classiest corner, but you can pick up the odd vintage gem. Occupying a former horse hospital, Camden Stables Market is a trendier spot where you’ll find quirky furniture, edgy and unusual gifts and a great selection of goth, punk and fetish clothing. As you saunter through the different markets, don’t be surprised to see grungy teenagers and old punks on the street corners. Camden feels more mainstream than it did in the ‘90s, but it’s still one of London’s most rock ‘n’ roll neighbourhoods. Top tip: Did we mention how busy it gets? Visit

Built in 1881 and fully restored to its Victorian glory 110 years later, Leadenhall Market is a beautiful indoor shopping space close to the City of London. Filmmakers adore its ornate roof structure and general sense of grandeur, which is why you might recognise it as Diagon Alley from ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. It also featured in Terry Gilliam’s fantasy flick ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ and Erasure’s ‘Love to Hate You’ music video. Given its location near London’s wealthy commercial centre, you won’t be surprised to learn that there are no cockney fruit-and-veg sellers here. These days, the weekday stallholders offer jewellery, arty gifts and a variety of tasty lunch options to nearby office workers and tourists. Leadenhall also contains characterful retail units occupied by mid-to-upmarket brands like Diptyque,  Barbour and Reiss. If City slickers need to source a last-minute birthday gift, this is their first port of call. When you’ve finished browsing the stalls and shops, head to the historic Lamb Tavern, an ideal spot to soak up Leadenhall Market’s atmosphere. GrabThai, Leon and popular Italian restaurant Osteria Del Mercato are among the food options contained within the market while The Bootlegger is a cool, speakeasy-style cocktail bar a couple of minutes walk away. Top tip: The main market space is open 24/7, so pop in during off-peak hours if you fancy taking photos of the glorious roof. Nick Levine RECOMMENDED: London’s best markets

Broadway Market continues to thrive following its clever makeover nearly 15 years ago. This compact Hackney street, which neatly connects London Fields to the Regent’s Canal, has had a traditional fruit and veg market since the 1890s. But it went into steep decline in the ‘80s, and trade had all but petered out before the community relaunched it in 2004. Now taking place on Saturday from 9am-5pm, Broadway Market is a bustling hub for the Hackney hipsters and East End creatives who have settled down and started families. It now welcomes around 135 stalls selling a fabulous array of fresh produce, vintage clothes, flowers, coffee, books and groceries. There’s also plenty of delectable street food, including Deeney’s toasted sandwiches, Fin and Founder’s crab-cake burgers, Floris Bakery’s chocolate eclairs and the modern cult classic Yorkshire Burrito. Although there are no stalls during the week, Broadway Market is still worth visiting for its cute coffee shops, one-off restaurants and chic boutiques. Gentrification has more than crept in, but it still feels like a local high street complete with a kebab shop, post office, Costcutter, old-school barber shop and excellent hardware store. Even outside market day, you’ll find it buzzing with people pottering about, nattering over coffee and doing their weekly shop. Top Tip: Broadway Market can get very busy, especially when the weather’s good, so it’s best to allow plenty of time to avoid stress when perusing the stalls. Nick Levi

Proyección global. Ahora que Álex de la Iglesia se ha inspirado en El Palentino para su última película, ‘El bar’, el mítico esquinazo de la calle Pez adquiere patente de eternidad definitiva. A sus 75 años, habiendo resistido los embistes de la gentrificación y prohibida la entrada a los muffins, quizás pase a ser un destino de peregrinación masiva con recuadro especial en Lonely Planet Madrid: ya lo estoy viendo ascender como la espuma en las listas de keywords. Pero para espuma, justa y bien puesta, la de las cañas que Casto lleva tirando 60 años. Proyección local. Soy de pueblo. De un pueblo alicantino del que salí en 1994 rumbo a Madrid para hacerme periodista y escritor. Caí en la calle Ballesta, que entonces era un desfile de secundarios de David Lynch. Era el tiempo de las porno codificadas de Canal Plus, pero yo descorría las cortinas del salón y veía gente follando enfrente. Todo muy low cost, avant la lettre. Sin siquiera intuir que un día habría emoticonos, empecé a caminar el barrio desde allí como ese círculo amarillo ojiplático y boquiabierto del whatsapp. Y un día, entré en El Palentino. Me acomodé en la barra, le pedí una caña a ese señor enjuto del pelo blanco y me dejé ir mirando a los parroquianos. Pronto acabé siendo uno de ellos. Proyección nocturna. Cuando venían los colegas del pueblo, les decía: os voy a llevar al bar donde desayunan Calamaro y Sánchez Dragó. ¡Hostia! Fardar de Palentino molaba. Los pepitos de ternera sabían igual que los de mi madre

El Festival de Otoño de la Comunidad de Madrid muestra músculo este año y recupera su esplendor con 31 espectáculos de 18 países, "un crisol de poéticas, lenguas, lenguajes y procedencias que lo hacen único", en palabras de su director Alberto Conejero. Todo vale mucho la pena. La programación completa la encontráis en www.madrid.org/fo y las entradas se ponen a la venta a partir del 15 de septiembre (13.00 horas).  CABEZAS DE CARTEL Abre fuego en Móstoles el canadiense Robert Lepage, un pope del teatro mundial que viene a presentar su monólogo 887. Otro monólogo, Soeurs, esta vez escrito y dirigido por Wajdi Mouawad, también nos dará duro en el corazón, igual que la belleza y poesía escénica de la compañía franco-catalana Baro d’Evel, que presentan Falaise. Ojo también a las dos piezas que trae desde Bélgica otra compañía mítica, tg STAN, una de ellas junto a Jérôme Bel (Dances for an actress). PROPUESTAS RADICALES Marcad en rojo dos propuestas argentinas, bueno tres, porque la bailarina y coreógrafa Marina Otero presenta su díptico Fuck Me y Love Me, y por otro lado la compañía La columna Durruti nos sacude con Nocturno de Ulrike o el sujeto histórico. Y a no perderse a la performer y malabarista francesa Phia Ménard en Vórtex. Y para radical, Fenómeno, de Moon Ribas y Quim Girón, circo y cyborgs sobre hielo. PEQUEÑOS GRANDES FORMATOS Todo mola mucho, pero dos solos de danza, 'Oro negro', de Poliana Lima, y 'Where is Janet?', de Janet Novás, os sorprenderán. Igual que las

What is monkeypox? Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that until recently was very rare in the UK. However, an outbreak is now escalating, with 2,367 cases confirmed across the country, of which 1,699 are in London. Anyone can contract monkeypox, but at present it’s spreading almost exclusively among MSM (men who have sex with men).  ‘The latest data shows that around 98 percent of confirmed monkeypox cases continue to be in gay and bisexual men in big cities and particularly in London,’ says Greg Owen of sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust. ‘That’s why it’s especially important for this group to be aware of the signs and symptoms, and to get tested if they have any concerns by calling ahead to their local sexual health clinic and making arrangements.’ With this in mind, here’s everything you need to know.  What are the symptoms of monkeypox? According to the NHS, if you’re infected with monkeypox, it normally takes between five and 21 days for the symptoms to show. The initial symptoms include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering/chills and exhaustion. Within five days of these initial symptoms, a rash usually appears, often beginning on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. Lesions can appear on the genitals and anus.  The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) updated its list of monkeypox symptoms this week (July 26) to emphasise that this rash may not be extensive, at least to begin with. Dr. Meera Cha

1972: The first Gay Pride Week takes place in London, culminating in a march from Trafalgar Square to Hyde Park on Saturday, July 1. Time Out’s Gay News editor Denis Lemon reports on the week’s events, noting that plain-clothes police officers in Hyde Park ‘totally failed to look part of the happy crowd of gays’. 1976: After just a few years, Gay Pride Week has become an annual fixture. A listing posted by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in Time Out’s AgitProp section reads: ‘We are coming together for a public demonstration, in various ways, that we are glad to be gay, and to demand our rights as citizens.’  1978: Time Out reports that an argument broke out in a Bloomsbury pub during Gay Pride Week after a customer made an anti-gay remark. Two women who reacted to the comments were arrested for allegedly using threatening language and obstructing the police. They plan to plead not guilty, but the Gay Activists Alliance says ‘the gay movement will pay their fines’ if they’re convicted. 1979: Time Out puts a pink triangle on the cover to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (which are generally considered the wellspring of the modern-day LGBTQ+ rights movement). It's a powerful statement reflecting the fact that where once the pink triangle was ‘a mark of oppression’, it’s now been reclaimed as a ‘badge of Pride’. 1987: As London gears up for Gay Pride Week, Time Out staffer John Gill reports on what London can learn from San Francisco's response to the

As we kick off the month of June there's one huge block of days on the immediate horizon all ringed off with regal purple on our calendars – or more likely flagged as ‘OOF’ on our phone alerts. Like some seriously deep work of literature or art they have a level of meanings: that it's the Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 and that it’s a bumper four-day bank holiday weekend  for us Londoners. Whether you’re a flag and bunting kinda monarchist or proud marxist, there’s no getting away from it, from Thursday June 2 to Sunday June 5 we’re getting time off for good behaviour to mark Elizabeth II’s historic 70 years on the throne.  Now, we know that there are still rumbles about a tube strike over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend (plus a possible dampener to our Monday commute), but fear not, not everything is centred around Buckingham Palace or the Queen's Royal residence(s) if you don't live next door (Imagine taking in the parcels). There are plenty of events big and small across the capital to liven up your local ends. You probably won’t get sent to the Tower if you don’t want to take part in the festivities, but if you do, there’s plenty going on that not only celebrates Her Maj's loooong reign, but highlights how gloriously bonkers we are when it comes to National Celebrations, from a  pop-up corgi café to a 1950s-style pub on the London Eye (yes, really). Here are 40 ways to celebrate Lizzie’s longevity, from the super-royal to the, well, really not very royal at all. 1. Get in

After two years of Covid-induced cancellations and live streams, Pride in London is coming back as an epic in-person event this year. And because it’s celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, it’s made the entirely fitting decision to retrace the route of the historic inaugural 1972 Pride march.  Pride in London takes place this year on July 2 and the parade will begin at Hyde Park, where the first post-march picnic took place in 1972. From Hyde Park Corner, it will wend its way down Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus, before turning south onto Haymarket and Trafalgar Square. The 1972 march ended at Trafalgar Square, but this year’s parade will continue just a little further to Whitehall Place. See a handy map of the 2022 route below. Pride in London Pride in London says the 2022 parade will welcome 40,000 marchers and more than 400 community groups. ‘For 50 years, Pride has been a visible cultural protest that brings the LGBT+ community and its allies together in solidarity,’ said Christopher Joell-Deshields, executive director of Pride in London. ‘It is important to recognise the activists who were brave enough to come out in 1972 to march for our liberation and pave the way for the rights we enjoy today. Early organisers took inspiration from the US civil rights group, the Black Panthers, a reminder that despite their differences there was a collective fight for the oppressed.’ ‘As we prepare for one of the most momentous LGBT+ pride events in the UK’s history, we are comm

Hollywood’s biggest night out, the Oscars, takes place on Sunday, bringing awards season to a glitzy climax. The Power of the Dog is the frontrunner with 12 nominations and is also favourite to take home Best Picture, but don’t bet against Coda causing an upset on the night. This touching comedy-drama about a deaf family and their gifted daughter has all the momentum right now. Among the acting nominees are some brilliant Brits – Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Judi Dench and Andrew Garfield – plus the West End’s ‘Cabaret’ darling Jessie Buckley. But whether they win or lose, they won’t be going home empty-handed on the night. For the 20th year, L.A.-based marketing company Distinctive Assets are offering all 25 acting and directing nominees an entirely unofficial goodie bag packed with fancy and frankly quite ridiculous items. According to Forbes, this year’s super-swag-bag is worth an eye-watering $140,000 (£106,000). Here’s just some of what it contains: A plot of land in the Highlands, which entitles each nominee to style themselves Lord or Lady of Glencoe A three-night takeover of an actual castle complete with a bagpiper welcome, a private gin tasting and fully-personalised concierge service A session with New York-based ‘self-love’ coach Nicola Fernandes worth $1,111 (£842) A liposuction treatment worth up to $15,000 from Florida-based Art Lipo A supply of HempHera CBD cosmetics worth more than $1,000 (£758) You can check out a full demo of the gift bag, which

As a season, spring symbolises rebirth, rejuvenation and renewal. It’s when the days really get longer and the London weather becomes a little friendlier – at least in theory. So, this makes it a perfect time to expand your horizons and start saying yes to the things you passed on in January and February. With this in mind, here’s a guide to some unmissable events taking place in London this spring, from cool cultural happenings to tasty food festivals. Watch a huge star on stage or a high-profile revival After weathering another tricky winter, the London theatre scene is absolutely buzzing this spring with a mix of big-name debuts and feverishly anticipated revivals. Mark Rylance reprises his Olivier and Tony-winning turn in ‘Jerusalem’, Jez Butterworth’s wickedly funny modern classic. Jodie Comer makes her West End debut in ‘Prima Facie’, a hard-hitting monologue with music by recent Time Out cover star Self Esteem. Photograph: Jodie Comer in ‘Prima Facie’ by Helen Murray Amy Adams also makes her West End debut, in a revival of Tennessee Williams’ early masterpiece ‘The Glass Menagerie’.‘Six’ director Lucy Moss steers the first major revival of ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’, taking place at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.Dubbed ‘Sexy Oklahoma’, US director Daniel Fish’s radically inclusive take on the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein musical ‘Oklahoma!’ finally hits London. Tempt your tastebuds at a food fest or buzzy bar opening Now that the weather is warming up a bit, it’s

Some exceptionally good news for you this morning; after being thwarted by Covid for the last two years, Notting Hill Carnival is laying the groundwork for its return to the streets this August bank holiday weekend. In an Instagram post shared on Friday, Carnival’s official account announced this year’s lineup of Mas Bands and Dutty Mas Bands, whose colourful costumes and joyful dance routines are an absolutely integral component of the annual parade. It even used the hashtag #NottingHillCarnival2022, which we’ve got to say is a pretty heartening sight. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Notting Hill Carnival (@nhcarnivalldn) Notting Hill Carnival has been celebrating Caribbean culture in the capital since 1966, becoming an iconic tentpole of the London summer calendar. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic, though a series of free live-streamed events took place online, and the 2021 event was retooled into a series of ticketed fundraising events. It’s clearly too soon to know what summer 2022 in London will look like, but the simple fact that Notting Hill Carnival is preparing to return to the streets is definitely something to smile about. Watch this space for further news. Black historical figures are being turned into monuments across London. But there’s a twist The JAGS Foundation is making home-cooked Caribbean meals for deprived households

Having a night out at G-A-Y is a rite of passage for any Londoner, and even though she lives in LA now, Adele is clearly no exception. Last Thursday, after taping her appearance on ‘The Graham Norton Show’, the pop superstar paid a visit to G-A-Y at Heaven nightclub under Charing Cross station. Because it was a Thursday night, the club was hosting its weekly ‘Porn Idol’ contest, where brave punters can strip down and show off their dance moves for a chance at winning a cash prize. Now, if we know anything about Adele – other than the fact she drinks wine – it’s that she’s game for a laugh. So perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised that she ended up on stage showing off some pole-dancing moves of her own in front of the event’s host, Cheryl Hole of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ fame.  As footage shared on social media shows, fellow punters at G-A-Y went every bit as wild as you’d expect. Seriously, was anyone expecting this from February 2022? Now what is Adele doing pole dancing in my favourite gay club? pic.twitter.com/pJXJzA7bJE — Karolis 🍄 (@Karolis_G) February 11, 2022 During her big G-A-Y night out, Adele also posed for photos with fellow diva Cheryl Hole, who earlier in the week had been eliminated from ‘RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World’. To be fair, getting to party with actual Adele is quite the consolation prize. Confirmed: @Adele was devastated I was eliminated on Drag Race too. Love you divalina 💖 pic.twitter.com/GyY8U5sqtQ — Cheryl Hole (@CherylHo

Royal Mail has launched an investigation after video footage emerged purporting to show Clapham postal workers stoned on the job. The footage was first shared on someone’s Instagram Story, but inevitably made its way on to Twitter due to its high – pun definitely intended – comedy value. According to the original Instagram captions, several posties unwittingly tucked into a box of hash brownies when they first arrived at work. ‘We had a delivery of them with no return address and the house was empty and they were in our office for a month so we opened them and they got given out,’ the caption alleges. Seemingly, what they thought was a humble sweet treat turned out to have an unexpected extra ingredient: cannabis. The subsequent footage shows the Clapham posties carrying out their round very, very slowly. ‘One guy said he was walking to a door and thought he was walking forever,’ a caption says. There’s also a shot of an apparently spaced-out postie saying he had ‘no idea’ what he had eaten. 😂😂😂 Postman Pat was high as a kite pic.twitter.com/P7NqHAXhwa — Marc Smith (@Marc_Smi7h) February 2, 2022 Understandably, Royal Mail has found the footage rather less amusing than banter merchants on Twitter. ‘We have commenced an investigation, which will determine whether any further action, including disciplinary action, might be taken,’ a spokesperson told the BBC. ‘We are also reminding all staff at the delivery office of the correct procedures for dealing with item

Temple tube station’s grey concrete roof terrace has been given a kaleidoscopic makeover by London-based artist Lakwena Maciver. Titled ‘Back in the Air: A Meditation on Higher Ground,’ Maciver’s rooftop art installation features a series of interlocking geometric patterns inspired by her Ugandan heritage. One block of brilliant colour contains the unifying message: ‘Nothing can separate us’. As well as following the multicoloured lines of Maciver’s artwork, visitors can check out a brightly painted replica one of London’s famous cabmen shelters situated on the roof. The overall effect, as you can see below, is kind of mesmerising. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 180 The Strand (@180.studios) ‘They say that the Garden of Eden was the first temple — the story goes that we were cast out of the Garden, and ever since then we have been longing to find our way back,’ said Maciver. ‘This idea of a subconscious yearning for paradise sits in stark contrast to the highly colonised, concrete environment that now surrounds Temple Station. Yet it is this which has become the impetus for this public intervention.’ ‘Back in the Air’ is the first installation at The Artist’s Garden – a partnership with Westminster City Council and part of its Inside Out festival and WestminsterReveals campaign – and will be on show until April 30, 2022. It is co-commissioned with 180 Studios and supported by Vigo Gallery, WSP, Northbank BID and Transport for Lo