The Primer
‘The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for’
– Ernest Hemingway
A Note from the Editor
It was in Glen Adamson’s Fewer, Better Things, where I first came across the idea of ‘material intelligence’ and its relevance to the current debates around sustainability. Material intelligence refers to an all-but-lost link to the craft that lies behind the creation of an object. Regaining a sense of material intelligence boils down to an appreciation of garments – and indeed objects in general – in terms of the time, effort and skill that went into creating them. In today’s all-consuming, fast fashion climate, I think it’s more important than ever to slow down and think about how a particular object came to be and, of course, how long it will continue to be. Things stick around, after all. They remain and amass. Sustainability is a question of being alert to that very fact, and acting accordingly. It is also the theme of this month’s issue. Enjoy!
Will HALBERT
Editor
Where We’ve Been Eating
Hoi Polloi, London
This month, we headed down to London to sample the delights of Hoi Polloi. Situated in the creative neighbourhood of Shoreditch and accessed through the door to a florist, this stylish brasserie offers up a carefully curated culinary experience. Its edgy, Art Deco-inspired interiors make it a venue just waiting to be instagrammed, and with its resident string quartet performing pop-songs while you unwind, they’ve got the soundtrack to your breakfast covered. With a modern menu serving the likes of Moroccan eggs with labneh and French toast with elderflower mascarpone, plus juices provided by the East London Juice Co, Hoi Polloi is a prime destination for the seasoned foodie.
Where We’ve Been Visiting
Flight Club, Manchester
The newest addition to Manchester’s iconic King Street and the third site to open in the UK, Flight Club is revolutionising the classic boozer sport: darts. With five different multiplayer games to choose from, dart-tracking technology and instant scoring, Flight Club have dubbed their game Social Darts, a simple, user-friendly iteration ideal for beginners and pros alike, built around socialising and connecting. With weekly tournaments and brunch socials, as well as packages available for corporate events and celebrations, Flight Club is an experience-led event you won’t want to miss out on. Combine all the darts fun imaginable with killer cocktails and sharing boards, and you’ve got yourself a darn good evening planned out.
What We’ve Been Watching
Midsommar
Trippy at the expense of any real tension, Midsommar is essentially a break-up film with a pagan edge. While, on the whole, Ari Aster’s follow-up to 2018’s Hereditary is a sunnier, slower-burning, style-over-substance indulgence, it’s not without a certain meandering, after-the-fact charm. Indeed, there are scenes that will no doubt come back to haunt viewers after the initial runtime (which, at a pretty glacial 140 minutes, represents another of the film’s many self-indulgences). For all of its (admittedly superb) cinematography, perhaps Midsommar’s most impressive trick is to mask its own superficiality by being so opaque that any interpretation – spoken with enough conviction or pretension – will cut muster. In short? We liked it.
What We’re Drinking
Frapin 1993, 22 Year Old Cognac
This month’s tipple of choice comes in the form of a Whisky Exchange Exclusive. Frapin’s 1993 single-vintage, single-cask bottling (both rarities in their own right) is a rich but delicately- rounded Cognac from the prestigious region of Grand Champagne. Over two decades of aging have gifted this French fancy some seriously seductive notes of dark fruit and a soft, cinnamon-esque spice that will go toe-to-toe with the best of the whisky world. This is a finely-tuned and wholly approachable Cognac, no doubt, one that’s perfect for newcomers and aficionados. Not to be missed.
