So we rock up at the secret located in Shoreditch and someone whispers from outside one of the flat windows that they're not yet ready so my partner-in-pop-up-crime and I gate crash an exhibition at a nearby art gallery and speak to the randoms who look like they're also only in the area because they're waiting to go to a surrealist dinner.
Now, this was one of my very first pop-up experiences so you must excuse the lack of pictures (plus I wouldn't want to spoil it for those who like a surprise). I also didn't want t be so snap-happy that the hosts would think I'm trying to copy their ideas.
Upon entering the secret location, we were met by a man and woman, who were dressed up in what looked like quirky cooks attire. There were about 3 tables in a small studio apartment (total covers: about 12) and some of the tables were things like, er, ironing boards. Needless to say, the space was intimate, especially with it being in someone's bedroom/living area.
The dinner, at £35, was a sit down fixed (three-course I think) menu with two complimentary drinks. Further drinks were available but you had to sell "artwork" in order to obtain them. This involved drawing wax crayon pictures of each other and using these as currency to "buy" wine. I assume this was to get around licensing issues (as well as being pretty amusing).
We were assured before we arrived that the food would not be played with too much to make it look odd but there would be some fun with it so when we were told we were going to have the courses in any order and we received frog spawn on lily pads with toy frogs, we weren't alarmed but our taste buds were scared.
We were also told pre-event that if any guest wished to contribute something in terms of a performance - ala make do caberet, they could submit a proposal. I really hoped someone would make a tit out of themselves.
Now, this was one of my very first pop-up experiences so you must excuse the lack of pictures (plus I wouldn't want to spoil it for those who like a surprise). I also didn't want t be so snap-happy that the hosts would think I'm trying to copy their ideas.
Upon entering the secret location, we were met by a man and woman, who were dressed up in what looked like quirky cooks attire. There were about 3 tables in a small studio apartment (total covers: about 12) and some of the tables were things like, er, ironing boards. Needless to say, the space was intimate, especially with it being in someone's bedroom/living area.
The dinner, at £35, was a sit down fixed (three-course I think) menu with two complimentary drinks. Further drinks were available but you had to sell "artwork" in order to obtain them. This involved drawing wax crayon pictures of each other and using these as currency to "buy" wine. I assume this was to get around licensing issues (as well as being pretty amusing).
We were assured before we arrived that the food would not be played with too much to make it look odd but there would be some fun with it so when we were told we were going to have the courses in any order and we received frog spawn on lily pads with toy frogs, we weren't alarmed but our taste buds were scared.
We were also told pre-event that if any guest wished to contribute something in terms of a performance - ala make do caberet, they could submit a proposal. I really hoped someone would make a tit out of themselves.
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| Frog spawn (tapioca) |
After dinner and chatting with the strangers, we played a party game which involved group story-telling with helium balloons. Hilarious! There was no burlesque performance as rumoured, which I was glad of as that would have been pretty unimaginative.
Overall, food was good, company was cool (probably a bit hit and miss though) but the main thing is the experience - I loved seeing how creative people could be and in a world where I am surrounded by "The City", it's so refreshing to live in somebody else's world, however surreal, if only for a night.
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