Daisy Hoppen: The Best Things to Do in July

See: Les Rencontres d’Arles, until 22 September 2019 

For a number of years I have made a pilgrimage to the hot and dusty town of Arles in southern France (often accompanied by my father who has been visiting the fair for decades and is the best photography tour guide) to see the Les Rencontres d’Arles festival. The town hosts an annual photography festival throughout the summer, with exhibitions popping up in churches, old Roman buildings, and people’s living rooms. In recent years the town has also seen incredible regeneration with old tram sheds becoming spectacular exhibition halls, a Frank Gehry tower and a new Van Gogh Museum which holds impressive shows alongside their own Van Gogh collection.

This year highlights for the festival are set to include:

• Restless Bodies: East German Photography 1980-1989 at Les Forges
• Helen Levitt: Observing New York’s Streets at Espace Van Gogh
• Tom Wood: Mothers, Daughters, Sisters at Salle Henri-Comte
• Robby Müller: Like Sunlight Coming Through the Clouds with Polaroid at Place de la République 12
• The Anonymous Project: The House at Maison de Peintres
• Eve Arnold, Abigail Heyman & Susan Meiselas: Unretouched Women at Espace Van Gogh
• Finally, the book fair – where you can browse through hundreds of new and soon to be published photography books. 

With the weather always incredibly hot be sure to pack the following:

• A hand fan – indispensable in the heat, there are few places with air conditioning in the town.
• Flat sandals – perusing the many aisles of photo books you will regret wearing anything else.
• Aesop’s Protective Facial and Body Lotions – the only sun cream you will ever want to wear again.
• A hat – ideally from the local Arles Sunday market.
• A Souleiado shirt or scarf  – also worn by the local cowboys.

See: Gary Card’s Hysterical at Phillips London, 18 July–21 August 2019

I have always admired Gary Card for his bold and brilliant sculptures and art pieces, and have been lucky enough to see a number installed at Dover Street Market over the years, including his bizarre but beautiful chandelier at the recently opened Los Angeles store. This new show, titled Hysterical, sees Card transform Phillips London’s Berkeley Square gallery into an immersive landscape. The exhibition will showcase the artist’s creative wonderland and provide a backdrop for works by other artists for sale including Erik Parker, Cindy Sherman, Kenny Scharf and Paul McCarthy among others.

See: Ernest C. Withers at Michael Hoppen Gallery, 26 June–30 August 2019 

Throughout the 1950s Withers was, in his own words, “a news photographer”, “recording events that were taking place”. Momentous changes were occurring, and he recorded them for African-American newspapers across the country, creating over over five million images in the process. Those images captured the dramatic stories of a seminal era: Dr Martin Luther King riding the first desegregated bus in Montgomery, murders of Civil Rights workers, voter registration drives, and the powerful Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike. An important show to see this summer, Withers’ work remains pertinent today.

Drink: Lant Street, 59–61 Lant Street, London, SE1 

Coco Bayley is one of my go-to in-the-know foodie friends – this month, design dealer Jermaine Oscar Gallacher launches a new space titled Lant Street in collaboration with her, along with Lant Street wine merchant Ben Wilcock. Primarily open on Friday nights, the bar will serve only wine (red, white, pink and champagne) and crisps – what more do you need? – alongside specially curated interiors, showcasing ever-changing furniture (all for sale). As Coco says: “Lant Street isn’t a ‘wine bar’. Lant Street will, simply, be a place you can enjoy a glass of wine among beautiful things, after work, before dinner… or all night.”

Eat: Arcade Food Theatre, Centre Point, London, WC2

For anyone who works in central London the question is always where to go for dinner that you can book or not queue for three hours in a tiny street in Soho. New to the scene and hopefully helping with this question is the Arcade Food Theatre, opening on the ground floor of London’s iconic Centre Point Building, featuring multiple open-plan restaurants, a coffee and bakery counter, an outdoor terrace and a loft.

 Just some of those joining for the opening of this new market-style space include:

• Pophams – a local institution born in the heart of Islington, Pophams is simple coffee shop with beautifully made baked goods.
• TŌU by TĀ TĀ Eatery – from the same formidable duo behind cult pop-up TĀ TĀ Eatery comes TŌU, a katsu-sando- and Japanese rice bowl-driven concept resturant.
• Pastorcito – visit for authentic Mexican dishes inspired by the founder’s time living and eating in Mexico City. 
• Oklava – culturally grounded cooking inspired by Chef Selin’s culinary Turkish heritage.
• Flat Iron Workshop – this restaurant is all about steak!
• Casita do Frango – a new project from the team behind Casa do Frango. Casita do Frango will focus on wood-charcoal grilled piri piri chicken, accompanied by other Portuguese favourites.
• Chotto by Chotto Matte – evolution of Japanese-Peruvian fare. Each dish plays on a multitude of colours and flavours that merge into truly intriguing gastronomy.

Watch: Present Laughter at The Old Vic, until 10 August 2019

I have been obsessing over Andrew Scott since his turn as handsome priest in season two of Fleabag. Now, he stars in Present Laughter, the classic comedy by Noel Coward at The Old Vic. A story of an actor embarking on a tour amid the chaos of his day-to-day life, it explores love, sex, panic, anxiety and identity crisis, and has got rave reviews. A must-see.  

Watch: In Fabric, out now

The Red Shoes is one of my favourite movies, telling the story an enchanted pair of ballet shoes which lead their wearer into tragedy. So when I heard about In Fabric – a haunting story of a dress that torments the lives of its several wearers – it reminded me of the same idea of ‘cursed’ fashion, a surreal but often present idea in my life and job! Set against the backdrop of a busy winter sales period in a department store, the dress devastates the lives of its owners over the course of the film and is perhaps most safely watched with a strong drink in hand…

Read: Pleasure Garden

I have recently discovered Pleasure Garden magazine, a title devoted to flora and fauna but exquisitely and uniquely shot. Ideal for reading while lying in the park, it gives me aspirations to care more for my rather sad and small concrete terrace at home where most plants come to die.

Shop: Dover Street Market

Twice a year Dover Street Market closes for a few days to then re-open for their seasonal ‘New Beginnings’. This July, look out for a much-anticipated new Bottega Veneta space and an exclusive Gucci collection for DSM. As always, there will also be a carefully curated selection of new brands joining the store – I have my eye on pieces from Hiraeth (a vegan brand co-created by actress Rooney Mara and friends), Kidill, Rokh, Supriya Lele, and jeweller Nataf.

Stay: FarmShare Retreat East, Suffolk

New to the world of luxury Airbnb and Mr & Mrs Smith is FarmShare, set in over 35 acres of organic meadowland in Suffolk, which acts as a country members club-cum-second home without the ‘hassle’. Prepare to arrive to your ‘weekend home’ with organic milk waiting for you in the fridge, homemade bread in the kitchen and fresh linen on the beds. You can opt to have picnics prepared for you and dinner served in your private barn – or cook yourself. Adding to the already ideal countryside scenario is a spa which features a sauna, hot tub, massages and facials using amenities by local Suffolk artisan scent-maker Pauline Bickerton. You can even bring your dog for pampering – they have a ‘Four Paw Spa’ on site.

Listen: Van Morrison

Van the Man, as he is affectionately known, played London’s Roundhouse earlier this month. I grew up listening to his music on cassette players in cars on school runs, plus every New Year which was spent in Ireland with family and friends. Astral Weeks has been on repeat for over 30 years of my life! For those who missed out, he returns to Northern Ireland at the beginning of August, and will play various other nights in the UK later this year. 

Daisy Hoppen is the founder of DH-PR, a London-based communications agency. She also works in house with a small number of brands, companies and personalities across fashion, art and culture.