Open House - British Summer Time

In a city like London, one can get lost in the endless options of things to do. It’s almost unavoidable to become overwhelmed when deciding on plans. So, The Amazing Blog is here to help and put your mind at ease. Join us at the OPEN HOUSE in Hyde Park from Monday 9 July until Thursday 12 July. This four-day event is free to enter, and includes a free outdoor cinema, live music and activities!

With a wide variety of food, OPEN HOUSE’s street food market will satisfy all of your cravings, and importantly, will keep your spirits high with pop up bars, serving from 12 pm onwards. Each day, attendees can to partake in Birra Moretti’s “taste tour of Italy.” Additionally, Upswing, the aerial circus company, will have performances and workshops from 4pm-9pm. Every night has a themed movie with showings at 5:30 and 8:30 pm. You can expect free Wimbledon Championship screenings, from 12 pm onwards, without the hassle of a crowded bar. On Tuesday through Thursday, stop by the Royal Parks Showcase and hear daily talks, go to the plant sale or ask for advice.

Here’s a breakdown of each day.

Monday:

Starting on Monday, the event will kick off with family favourites: The Lego Movie (U) playing at 5:30 pm and Matilda (PG) at 8:30 pm. Live music will include Mister Kanish and Daytoner. Mister Kanish, a new artist on Open House’s line-up, began in 2008 and has since been mixing 90s style hip-hop, with folk and rock riffage. Afterwards, Daytoner will perform. Enjoy the sounds of baritone, sax, flute, keys, bass, drums and DJ.

Tuesday:

There is no reason that you cannot enjoy everything that OPEN HOUSE has to offer over the course of the four days. On Tuesday, welcome Freddie & the Freeloaders and London Gay Big Band. Freddie & the Freeloaders received national recognition for the live shows and inspired interpretations of golden era Soul and Motown. London Gay Big Band is a jazz orchestra of predominately LGBT musicians and vocalists. Chickenshed’s Tales is collaborating with Brit School’s Community Arts Practice and will have performances at 10:30 am, 11:45 pm and 12:45 pm. All shows last about an hour. At night, watch our personal favourites – Grease (PG) at 5:30 pm and The Greatest Showman (PG) at 8:30 pm.

Wednesday:

Can’t make it to Chickenshed’s performance on Tuesday? That’s OK! There will be three more performances at 10:30 am, 11:45 pm and 12:45 pm. Wednesday’s musical line-up invites back The London Gay Men’s Chorus, for the fourth year, and a new band to British Summer Time Hyde Park, Temple Funk Collective. Evening movie showings are Lion (PG) at 5:30 pm and The Grand Budapest Hotel (15) at 8:30 pm.

Thursday:

To wrap up the event, OPEN HOUSE is bringing back the 80s. If you’re a fan of classics, then Thursday night’s outdoor cinema is for you. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (PG) will show at 5:30 pm and Flash Gordon (PG) at 8:30. Dance the night away with House Gospel Choir and Old Dirty Brasstards.

We hope to see you there! Comment below what part of the event you’re looking forward to most.  

An Inmate Themed Night Out:

If like us at The Amazing Blog you're always looking for a unique way to spend a night out on the town with friends or a loved one. Well, look no further than Alcotraz - London’s own prison-themed cocktail bar. Alcotraz provides guests with an adventurous twist on an average night out in London.

Alcotraz is definitely not your typical bar experience. When you arrive at Alcotraz you
become an inmate. Inmates change into orange jumpsuits and pose for their mugshots, just like actual prisoners. Individuals must find a way to smuggle their liquor of choice past the
intimidating warden and into the prison. Inside the prison, there are actors stationed as guards, who can assist you in sneaking your alcohol past the warden.

If you successfully make it past the warden with your alcohol, you will arrive at the
prison’s secret bar where other inmates can serve you drinks. To make the prison scene more
realistic, there is no set drink menu at the bar. Rather, guests have to customize their own drinks and work with the ingredients provided at the bar. With prison cells as the perfect backdrop,Alcotraz is sure to be a memorable night out for all guests in attendance.

Alcotraz is open on Wednesday nights from 6:15pm - 10:15pm. On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights Alcotraz is open from 5:00pm - 11:15pm. A limited amount of tickets are
available here for £33.99. With the purchase of a ticket to Alcotraz guests are given an hour
and 45 minutes inside the prison and four drinks. We would suggest booking in advance because tickets are selling out fast!

The Tropical Gelish Gala

After a long week, we can’t wait to put our feet up, relax, and indulge in good food, drinks and even better company. At this time of year we all day-dream of our next holiday – will it be a weekend getaway in the country or a beachside cabana?  Nail Harmony UK is hosting their very special Tropical Gelish Gala evening on 22nd June. Plus, also offering a great opportunity to win a luxury all-inclusive holiday to Mexico!  So let’s talk about the Tropical Gelish Gala first. This glamorous affair has something for everyone: Food, music, dancing and entertainment. During the evening, you’ll be able to enjoy a live performance by an X Factor contestant, table magic, fire dancers and so much more …… please keep reading on!

Don’t be shy, whether you’re a nail newbie, experienced pro or friend of the industry, this fantastic evening is open to everyone!  “This not-to-be missed party is open to all and has a tropical theme is to encourage some summer sun,” comments Georgie Smedley, director, Nail Harmony UK. “ Complimentary Cocktails and Mocktails will be available all night long, as well as great food to keep energy levels high and some exciting announcements will also be revealed…”

As mentioned earlier, if you’re looking for your next holiday, Nail Harmony UK is offering an all-inclusive trip for two to Mexico, for one lucky winner! The entry guidelines are simple:  Book a ticket, take a photo of a Gelish bottle in a creative, unique or exotic location – we say think beyond the bounds of convention here. Then, upload to social media with the hashtag #CherishGelish and, you’re done.

It’s guaranteed to be a fun-filled night. Put on your party shoes and come and join us on Friday 22nd June.  Tickets are going fast, so don’t miss out and book here. 

All tickets are £45 per person, the evening will be at The Princes Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, from 6.30pm ‘til late! We at The Amazing Blog can’t wait to meet you all – please do come and find us to say hello :)  

Trapped in a Prison Van

If like us at The Amazing Blog you prefer your challenges to be slightly more hardcore and with a greater sense of jeopardy, then Trapped in a Prison Van could be just the ticket for you … You must be a group of at least 4 (maximum 8), and your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to escape from the prison van which is taking you for sentencing (likelihood of life imprisonment) and head for freedom somewhere warm and away from all those pesky law abiders who would do you down!

This is the latest offering from Trapped - the team who have brought various immersive escape adventure games, from fleeing the clutches of a zombie, to the potential horrors of a 90s club, but each with the authenticity of staging and props to give each player a true sense of the drama. The premise we have here is that you and your gang have been found guilty and are en route to your final moments of freedom before being 'sent down' … for good. Can you work together and escape, or do you prepare for handing everything over for a less than flattering outfit, gruel for nosh and a mattress of straw?

You can book tickets from £30 here but it is worth keeping an eye open on the website for possible discounts on offer and the relevant codes. Timings run from Monday through Saturday. It’s also worth checking on the terms and conditions, as they do offer the option of joining a larger group if you are a total of 4 - perhaps an interesting way of making new friends or indeed cellmates, should you fail in the whole point of the mission!

Butterflies in the Glasshouse

Say goodbye to grey skies and step into a world full of colour— or more than 50 species of free-flying butterflies. Spring is just around the corner, but if you’re anything like us here at The Amazing Blog, you’re always keeping an eye out for anything that makes you feel like you’re on holiday right now, preferably somewhere tropical. Butterflies in the Glasshouse is the perfect place to find refuge from the cold. They’re open from the 13th of January until the 4th of March in Wisley, so you can head on down to get an early taste of spring.

Fun fact: some butterfly species have adult lifespans that are as short as one week, while others, like the Monarch, live an average of nine months. We like this event because it is both family-friendly and educational. But, the beauty of the butterflies and cathedral-like glasshouse are sure to amaze people of all ages, while also providing the perfect photo-op. The Education Zone will turn you into a butterfly expert, as you learn about their lifecycles and even use a microscope to take a closer look at the intricate colour of their wings. Did you know that butterflies have taste receptors on their feet? Once you’ve finished admiring the real butterflies, you can pick up a delicious treat from the Taste of Wisley outlets and take a walk down to the lovely garden of butterfly sculptures.

Entry prices are £15.95 for adults and £8 for children 5-16 years, but if you buy online here you can get 10% off and you can also book a time slot to skip the queues here.