Friday Favourites - Vegtoberfest

We notice at The Amazing Blog that the best thing about being a vegan in 2019 is not having to give up any of your old favourite foods. Almost every comfort food has a vegan counterpart and you don’t have to feel left behind while eating plant-based. Vegtoberfest, the UK’s first vegan Oktoberfest celebration proves that you don’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle choices to have a good time.

Started in 2018, Vegtoberfest aims to bring the Oktoberfest celebration (with all the beer and bratwursts as you can imagine) to the vegan market. Picture the classic Oktoberfest celebrations but with a modern, vegan twist! Oktoberfest is a celebration of beer – first and foremost, and Vegtoberfest did not forget that. With vegan-friendly Bavarian beers and local craft ales, the choices are endless. There will also be a selection of wines, cocktails and vegan Bailey’s for those non-beer drinkers in the bunch.

Now, we know you’re wondering “What kind of food will Vegtoberfest have?” Good question. It wouldn’t be an Oktoberfest celebration without Bratwurst. Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Dinner, Camden’s leading vegan street food specialist, will be serving Bratwursts with all the trimmings, German Potato Pancakes and their famous Dirty Burgers. Also served at Vegtoberfest will be pizzas, pretzels, loaded fries and ice cream. Did someone say yum?

There will also be live music and entertainment both weekends. With performances from the Old Dirty Brasstards, Brasstermind and many other live acoustic acts, we’re sure you’ll be entertained the whole time! Dee Riley, London’s leading cabaret stage magician will be hosting the entertainment both weekends.

Vegtoberfest will take place two weekends in a row – on October 12th and 19th at Fest Camden. The main room will be transformed into a festival themed beer hall. We definitely wouldn’t blame you if you wore your Dirndl dresses. Early Bird tickets are on sale now for £13.50 (including taxes and service charges) and you can buy them here. Once Early Bird sells out the tickets will be £16.50, so buy your tickets as soon as possible!

Flux ‘n’ Flame Jewellery Course

With summer in full force now, we’ve been looking for new ways to relax and rewind for our weekends at The Amazing Blog, which had us stumbling upon the Flux ‘n’ Flame Jewellery School. While we love our makeup, skincare, and wellness products; but we also like sourcing and designing gorgeous jewellery. So, we were excited to learn about the many jewellery-making classes that this school offers. Located in Dorset, just 20 miles off the coast, Flux ‘n’ Flame provides the ideal countryside escape for the weekend or a day to relax, put aside your phone, and bring home a piece of one-of-a-kind jewellery at the end.

Since its founding in 2003, Flux ‘n’ Flame has grown to become one of the top independent jewellery schools in the UK. Jesa and Al Dickson joined their combined 45 years of experience as professional jewellery designers and makers to create an experience like no other. Classes are kept at a maximum of eight people to ensure an intimate, friendly, and comfortable atmosphere in Flux ‘n’ Flame’s professional and fully equipped workshop.

In the class, you learn the many practical skills of jewellery making such as soldering, sawing, and filing. You also learn different techniques from the best while being given the freedom to work on your own project at your own pace. No matter your skill level, a complete beginner like us or an expert, the teacher provides support and guidance during throughout the process. For more advanced jewellery makers, you can perfect your existing skills and learn new ones. Endless tea, coffee, and biscuits are also provided to stimulate the creative process. Let’s not forget at the end of the course you get to take home a piece of jewellery (necklace, rings, bracelets, and more) that you’ve worked hard to make and will have your friends asking where you bought it.

Whether you want to do anything to escape our bustling city, learn a new skill, or build up an existing talent, Flux ‘n’ Flame offers the perfect class for you. Each class is seven hours long and prices vary depending on how many days of classes you would like. A one-day course is £115 per person, a two-day course is £225 per person, and a three-day course is £315 per person. You can find the class calendar here and book a class here.  We can’t wait to book in and show off our new designs!

Mon Dessert - Macaron Masterclass

Regular readers will know that at The Amazing Blog we love trying new foods from superfoods to protein-filled snacks. But what we especially love are desserts because life is about balance, right? Since it’s a Friday, we decided to treat ourselves to the highly anticipated Mon Dessert Macaron Masterclass. Being surrounded by the aroma of dessert and freshly made macarons is honestly the ideal way to spend two hours of a Friday night in the heart of London’s food network: Borough Market.

During the Masterclass, which has a different seasonal theme each month, you learn how to make macarons from scratch following a recipe straight out of Paris. You also gain first-hand knowledge of tips and tricks that you can bring to your own kitchen if you’re brave enough to try making them on your own. The class has a wide variety of flavours and colours for you to create a box of personalized macarons that will impress your family and friends when you leave. Overall and most importantly, the class has a fun, light, and uplifting atmosphere that radiates from the delicious desserts to everyone baking in the kitchen.

Mon Dessert is a luxury at-home dessert company that holds classes like the Macaron Masterclass and sells kits to make your own desserts at home. Macarons kits allow you to take your skills from the class into your own flat and provides the necessary ingredients, recipe, equipment, and fashionable storage tin for you to be successful every time. The company also offers a delicious-looking speciality dessert kits, which help you make a professional-looking and tasting éclair, cannoli, and crème brûlée with ease. Vegan-friendly recipes, kitchen appliances, and many flavours from caramel to rose are available.

If you’re an avid foodie or someone who doesn’t shy away from desserts, the Macaron Masterclass is a must for you. It runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Le Pain Quotidien every second Friday of the month and is £50 per person. You can sign up for a spot in the class here.

Handmade Oxford- The International Contemporary Arts Festival

With summer in full bloom, we think it’s the perfect time of the year to be outside basking in the sun.  At The Amazing Blog we try to enjoy any good weather and get out of London. So when we heard about Handmade Oxford- The International Contemporary Arts Festival we knew this was a perfect event to join our love for art and the sun for a weekend.

Also the Bison - Leopard face & tail prints on velvet slinky cat cushions

For over 40 years, Waterperry Gardens was the proud host of the renowned Art in Action event and has now continued to build on that legacy with a new four-day event. From Thursday 27th June to Sunday 30 June, the Ashmolean Museum alongside Waterperry Gardens will host the Handmade Oxford- International Contemporary Arts Festival to celebrate all things art, design, slow living and artisanal food.

Morag Macpherson Silk Kimono Trio

In addition to 250 exhibitors demonstrating their artisan work, the weekend will include a variety of workshops, demonstrations and talks from invited speakers. Attendees will be able to meet and shop while roaming around the gardens beautiful greenery and flora. To join us that weekend with other fellow art connoisseurs you can purchase an adult Single Day (£18.70), an adult Two-Day (£28.60) or a Full Festival (£38.50) entry ticket for the festival here.

Dabbers Social Bingo

With the warm weather and excitement of summer fast approaching, we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for new activities and we have found the perfect hangout spot: Dabbers Social Bingo. Gone are the days of tea, corny hosts, and boring prizes. Dabbers Social Bingo has reinvigorated the classic British game and is open every day of the week in East London (18-22 Houndsditch).

As the UK’s first contemporary bingo hall, Dabbers Social Bingo combines elements of the beloved game with a modern twist. The bingo hall has pyrotechnics, bright lights, and a high-quality sound system to create an atmosphere that makes you feel energetic and ready to play for prizes, one of which includes an exclusive weekend getaway. Founder and entrepreneur Ed Wethered — in partnership with the creators of Musical Bingo, Gospeloke, and Comedy House Party — opened the hall in December 2018 to celebrate the classic game with friends or new acquaintances.

Guests are greeted at the bar with delicious cocktails, craft beers, and select wine as well as a diverse food menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options. The bar also features live DJ sets to add to the Dabbers Social Bingo experience and entertainment. The hall offers three unique bingo options during your visit: social bingo tables, intimate banquette tables, or exclusive Baller Booths. Regardless of your bingo style, the interactive game show elements and one-of-a-kind light and sound production produce an electric ambiance that you should not miss. Dabbers Social Bingo offers the perfect summer escape to have fun, reminisce with the lobby memorabilia, and compete against old and new friends.

The hall is open seven days a week with a different theme every night from Disco Bingo on Saturdays to Dabbers Social Bingo Club on Mondays. Tickets are available here from £12 and be quick as they are  often a sell-out.