Freshly Social

Whether you’re an aspiring architect, a seasoned professional or simply a fan of architectural design, you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice with the diverse selection of architecture exhibitions taking place in and around London this festive season.

Here’s a look at three architecture exhibitions currently running in London, organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects. If you’re looking to restore or revamp a luxury property for rent in London, you’re sure to find no end of inspiration at these architectural exhibitions:

Emerging Architecture
Visit this popular architecture exhibition and you’ll get the chance to explore the work at the cutting edge of the architectural world. The London exhibition features the work of young architects (below the age of 45) submitted to the annual ar+d Awards for Emerging Architecture. At this exciting exhibition, visitors will find a rich variety of projects from up-and-coming architects, from buildings and interiors to product design and landscape architecture.

For anyone who doesn’t know what Snowbombing is, here’s a little help. It’s a festival designed around winter sports such as snowboarding and skiing, music performances by world-renowned DJ’s combined with themed parties in unusual locations the likes of farmsteads, igloo villages, street-parties and slope parties. Clearly the snowbombing festival is ‘da bomb.’

Before anyone runs off to buy snowbombing tickets, it’s best to educate yourself on the safety aspect of snowboarding and skiing. As much fun as these sports can be there is a dangerous side that definitely cannot be overlooked. The clothing and gear you hire, or own, needs to be in top shape. Footwear is a particularly important addition when being on a snow-covered mountain. Scruffs footwear, or alike, is excellent for these kinds of expeditions. Secondly, if you’re planning on taking part in the sport part of snowbombing, it’s best to know snow safety and what the signs are for unstable snow, avalanche terrain and snowpack layering. Contact your nearest mountain guide for information on how to go about your snow education.

It’s that time of year again. Christmas time! The time of cheer and good will and the city of London is one of the most incredible places to be during this time. Oxford Street is said to be London’s busiest street with over 200 million visitors per year and apart from Oxford being an extravagant shopping destination which sees shopping statistics soar in December, there are the world renowned Oxford Christmas lights that attract Londoners and tourists alike.

As one of the central hubs of the world, London is sure not to disappoint when it comes to New Years Eve festivities. However, with so many options available for the big countdown, deciding on what London New Years Eve party to go to can become quite a task. Below is a short list of New Years Eve ideas in London that appeal to different party flavours, from an extravagant themed party to a party boat charter.

Medieval banquet party at St Katherine’s Dock, Tower of London

If you feel the need for a dress up party this New Years, coupled with a New Years Eve dinner in London, then the Medieval Banquet should be on your short list. Hosted by King Henry the VIII and his court, this London New Years Eve Ball includes stunning entertainment by knights, jugglers, magicians and minstrels. A five course meal is provided that is accompanied by unlimited red wine and ale and champagne will be served at midnight to all the guests. Just ensure you dress up in medieval attire for this dinner theatre experience.

It’s just over a month until Christmas and if you don’t have all the details of your Christmas office party planned yet, it’s best you get on this one quickly. There are a few simple rules and tips that you can follow to ensure that your Christmas office party is a success, to guarantee everyone’s arrival and to make sure that everyone has a great and safe time.

The venue is one of the most important aspects of the office Christmas party and can either induce anticipation and excitement or notes of boredom. First of all, never hold the office Christmas party at the boss’s house. It will only serve to remind everyone how much larger his or her salary is compared to theirs. Furthermore, it’s likely that not everyone will be able to relax and enjoy themselves, and not worry about spilling chips and dips on the sofa. Office party venues set the tone for the entire the evening. If you want an active office party with a team building aspect to it, bowling or disc golf are activities that usually go down well, but make sure it’s something that everyone can do. Cruising on Thames river boats is always a fun idea for an office party in London, and really gets people in the celebratory mood.

Christmas may be a time of fashion disasters, complete with musical Santa hats and ugly jumpers, but London’s Vintage Fashion Fair will prove a welcome retreat for all those looking to escape the “silly season” of fashion. The Primrose Hill Vintage Fashion Fair is a treasure trove of classic glamour, with a rich variety of vintage pieces that would look right at home on the belt hangers and boot clips of any fashionista’s wardrobe. The fair features vintage clothing, accessories and jewellery from the 1800’s and 1900’s, making it a favourite shopping spot for anybody with a love of vintage fashion.

Cyber Security has been of grave concern for businesses for the last decade as the focus of data storage and company operations shifts to a heavier and heavier reliance on IT systems. With high profile cyber security cases occurring at large companies like Apple and Sony, it is obvious that many companies are under threat from imminent attacks and need to know what can be done to protect their company IT infrastructure. Issues such as protection, strategy and management of IT services against Cyber threats will be addressed at the 2012 IQPC Business Cyber Security Summit in London. Issues such as managing your online server security as well as protecting your business ip pbx communications channels from attack and data capture by criminals will be discussed by 5 C-Level executives and a host of IT professionals in the IT security industry.

Christmas lights are being put up, red is becoming the new fashionable color, the smell of tinsel fills the air and ‘ho ho ho’ can be heard in popular shopping malls. Yes, it’s that time of year again; its Christmas time and the taste of Christmas time too.   What a lovely time of year, well I love it at least and what is more wonderful than the Christmas spirit, spending time with family, holidays and gift wrapping is the delectable food that comes with it. The quintessential Christmas lunch is something I yearn for all year long. Plum turkeys and gammon perched up on our lunch table and pulling the colorful crackers waking up granny is what it’s all about. This year, The Taste of Christmas is sure to exude all of the good and yummy things Christmas has to offer.

The Maltese are known for their appreciation of traditional so why not celebrate Christmas the Maltese way? Considered Christmas gifts are the completely unexpected ones so give yourself, a family member, or a friend the gift of flying to a beautiful island to celebrate Christmas.

Malta is a beautiful island that revels in tourism, and tradition. The Maltese have great respect for traditional holidays and with Christmas being an extra special holiday, it’s given extra-special treatment. Malta flights are very reasonable which means you’re holiday starts before you even take-off. After landing take a load off and go discover the rich cultural heritage of this amazing island. The best Christmas gifts would be to treat someone special to the rustic streets, which are decorated with beautiful lights, while Christmas carols are sung throughout the season and can be heard throughout the islands.

The Forbes dynasty, of the informative Forbes Magazine fame, has decided to put much of their exquisite art collection and antique furniture from their Old Battersea House, on auction. The auction, taking place in Edinburgh on 01 November 2011, features an art collection from various period artists such as: Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846) who painted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; Walter Grieves (1846-1930); and Ramsay Richard Reinagle (1775-1862), amongst many others famously talented artisans.

The Old Battersea House built in 1699 has seen many owners and tenants, but none as famous as the art collecting Forbes family. The property for rent in Battersea was taken on a 99-year lease by Malcolm Forbes who saw the potential in the rundown home and its prime location along the riverside. The house, littered with the Forbes private art collection, also features furniture dating back to the early 1700’s such as a pair of George II Irish Mahogany side chairs, and art pieces such as an early 18^th century style cream-painted and parcel-gilt pier table, amongst much other traditionally antique furniture.