Showing 1 - 10 of 212
Gate Crasher
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 15/03/2013
» Welcome to Guru 's Gate Crasher, your ultimate guide to finding something fresh to do in this big city.
Gate crasher
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 31/10/2014
» Welcome to Guru’s Gate Crasher, your ultimate guide to finding something fresh to do in this big city.
Small talk
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 31/10/2014
» While the little venue has been gaining a reputation for being a nifty neighbourhood bar, we think its kitchen is worthy of some attention too. It’s the latest chapter of regional proprietor stalwart David Jacobson, who first came to the region in the early 90s to open the pioneering Q Bar in Saigon. The New Yorker is a gracious host, often on hand to decipher the nuances of his cocktail list and jazz collection, with plenty of juicy anecdotes in between for good measure. This latest local pad, Smalls, is just that, quietly occupying a corner on the leafy Suan Phlu (where Chez Pepin formerly stood). It’s three levels of kooky stylings, with DJs and live acts downstairs in the ornate parlour room, a kitchen and balcony on the middle floor and a rooftop upstairs for open-air action amid upholstered chairs and cosy tables. All corners of the adult cubbyhouse have something to offer, in a feast of textures (brick, recycled timber, corrugated iron, padded stairwell) and details (Jim Thompson photo outside, a caged Barbie, ceiling mirrors). The crowd ranges through the week (and night), attracting everyone from locals having knock-off drinks to dining daters to a dedicated bar crowd into the smaller hours.
Peppy Peppina
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 07/11/2014
» These days in Bangkok, it's not just about choosing simply "pizza" for dinner, but what style of pizza you'd prefer. It's a good problem, after all, but we'll have to get used to such discernment. In the latest contender in the pizza race, the team behind Appia has delivered Peppina, a bustling mid-Sukhumvit spread that has somehow become everything from a Sunday evening pizzeria to a Friday night hot spot. It has only been open a few months and it's already full, all the time, so book in advance — something else that will need getting used to in this city. The kitchen dominates the warehouse-style room to good effect, involving you right in the action among the countless food and floor staff buzzing about the place. It's great for big groups (definitely book), and during our early sitting we were flanked by two tables of at least 10, who were easily accommodated. Nooks in the back section (under the stylish wall tiles that spell "Peppina") offer more intimacy for smaller groups. Overall, there's room for 80 or so.
Art opening
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 21/11/2014
» The first creative offering of the week comes tonight (Nov 21) in the form of an exhibition launch for My Name Is... A Communal Art Experience by Chun Kawara. It’s over in Chinatown at new space Cho Why (Soi Nana 17, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, fb.com/chowhybkk) — could this part of the city be becoming the next Ekamai? The show is a pictorial representation of Chun’s work based on the idea of adults transposing their childhood as a way to build connections. After all, we were all kiddies once. It’s on from 6pm, with free entry. Should be worth braving the traffic for.
Film screening
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 28/11/2014
» Rock ‘n’ rolling cinephiles can enjoy a special sneak screening over the weekend of We Shot the Rock and Lived by the Roll. The new documentary film by director Nick Jerrard is a fresh insight into the excesses of the rock ‘n’ roll world through the guys that were there to shoot it, in a period when photographers had unprecedented access.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 05/12/2014
» At this time of year, you can be guaranteed plenty of outdoor antics on offer, but this season's spoils seem particularly appealing. Even though today (Dec 5) is dry in honour of Thai Father's Day, the rest of the weekend has plenty on offer, event-wise.
EP RELEASE
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 24/10/2014
» Welcome to Guru's Gate Crasher, your ultimate guide to finding something fresh to do in this big city.
Sets to impress
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 26/09/2014
» And Bo.lan has a new home. The dynamic culinary duo behind the original incarnation over on Sukhumvit Soi 26, Duangporn "Bo" Songvisava and Dylan Jones, have transplanted themselves to Soi 53 and spread out into a more spacious (and stylish) premises not far from the Thong Lor BTS. While they had plenty of renovations to do, Dylan assures us, it seems the place has been there for decades with an already settled feel. Again, it's a house set among a well-kept garden — this time with a pool — that colour the main view and light source of the moodily-lit house. It seems they are enjoying the bigger space, particularly in the kitchen apparently, again creating a transporting effect through the portal driveway entrance to the secluded surrounds. There's enough room for 60 diners (80 at a push), with two private rooms available. They are pushing the environmental aspects of the place, (which is still largely overlooked in this city of appearances), reducing waste, installing LED lights and recycling organic matter and grey water. They are also moving towards being carbon-zero and hope to achieve this by 2018, which by then the city should have a better handle on such issues (and the real definition of words such as "farmer's" and "organic"). During our mid-week afternoon sitting, many local Thong Lor ladies were lunching with their well-dressed mums, but things get decidedly more moody in the evenings with all the mood lighting and timber, and the crowd morphs accordingly. Tunes sound like reminiscent of a molam Paradise Bangkok party, right in line with the other sensory stimulus.
Electro fest
Guru, Richard Mcleish, Published on 03/10/2014
» Plenty of live music again this week in more good signs for the city. Tonight (Oct 3) sees the hosting of the 1st International Live Looping Festival, presented by The Wet Carpet-Studio (fb.com/thewetcarpet). It will go on for both nights of the weekend and involve a showcase of music geeks from around the region who will loop their sounds live. Entry is an easy B100. Venue is Zoo (goo.gl/47zGcD). Open your ears and your minds.