New In - Sept_Oct 24
Our penultimate round-up of recommendations for 2024 is as varied as ever. This September and October, we’ve had four seasons' worth of couples’ therapy on our own, fawning over an award-winning kitchen utensil and treating you to a New Journo secret.
Our latest TV obsession is Couples Therapy on Paramount+ with Showtime. However, our viewing platform is the BBC. It follows clinical psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik and her practice in New York, supporting four couples per season – the extended Season 3 saw eight in total – in the form of a docuseries offering an intimate look at real-life therapy sessions. The show dissects the complexities of modern relationships as partners navigate emotional conflicts, communication challenges, and personal growth, with plenty of breakthroughs and breakdowns. Orna’s office, an interior designer's dream, softens the intensity. Season 4 launched this year.
Kiln, nestled in Ouseburn, Newcastle, is a rare combination of a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant with a pottery studio under one roof. Dine while watching ceramicists at work, or participate in a complimentary workshop, and with the support of Head Potter Jun Rhee, walk away with your own vase. You can also shop their handmade ceramics online. If you visit, be sure to try their taleggio, pecorino, and cheddar toastie – chef’s kiss.
Crafted by Scottish designer Kathleen Reilly, Oku is an innovative knife made with artisans from Tsubame-Sanjo, Japan – a region celebrated for its 400-year metalworking heritage. In 2022, it won Dezeen’s Homeware Design of the Year due to its distinctive folded handle and its reimagining of traditional tableware aesthetics inspired by Japanese place settings. The edge of the cutlery perfectly slots into a wooden block by Karimoku Furniture, catering to cleanliness and functionality. We discovered Oku at this year’s London Design Festival when we attended a talk by Kathleen at Japan House and a subsequent exhibition at Galleria Objets. We’re so happy we did.
Returning to his roots, Leon Bridges' fourth album, Leon, released in early Oct, is a soulful journey back to his childhood and upbringing in Texas, merging soul, blues and folk influences. The album is a personal reflection, his most intimate record yet, and feels like a modernisation of his debut album, Coming Home, which we still listen to almost ten years on. In September, we attended An Intimate Performance with Leon Bridges at EartH, where we had first dibs on his latest tracks, Laredo, and Panther City, along with all the good classics. It’s the Leon we’re all nostalgic about but with a new sound.
Nettle Foods has created a dreamy, dairy-free alternative to cheese in their Haverstock White jarred plant-based, fermented cashew and macadamia nut soft mix, which closely resembles feta. Marinated in garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh thyme, and black peppercorns, it can be found on their website, Planet Organic, and other stockists. We have ours in creamy pasta dishes, toasties, and, in fact, sprinkled on anything savoury. It's a must-try, especially for those with strict dietary requirements.
Another club you need to pounce for tickets – Buffy’s. Founded by avid reader Lizzy Hadfield, the book club, named after her favourite TV character, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hosts monthly reading events alternating between London and New York in some of the city's most exquisitely decorated pubs, bars and restaurants; Chiave, Morchella, and The Hero, to name a few. They sell out fast, given their intimate nature, so be on your marks. In addition, we love a deep dive into the club’s Substack, which divulges fellow readers’ coveted reading spots across the globe and prompts discussions around a different novel per month.
Ever find yourself scrolling the internet to find out the latest exhibits? We, too, previously. Letting you into a little secret, we often get asked how we know which shows to see. New Exhibitions is our answer – a comprehensive online platform showcasing the most recent art exhibitions across the UK. It connects art enthusiasts with galleries and events, offering details on shows, talks, and auctions across regions, genres, periods and the artists’ medium. Perfect for discovering emerging talent, too, it’s an essential resource.
The Vintage Black Toothbrush by Acca Kappa has become a staple in our travel bag. Made in Italy, it features nylon bristles for gentle, effective cleaning, has a sleek handle inspired by classic design, and elevates the rituals of mundane tasks, adding style to your daily routine. Oral care doesn’t need to be boring, and Acca Kappa is renowned for producing high-quality grooming and personal care products steeped in craftsmanship and heritage, dating back to 1869. The brand ticks all our boxes.
Hosted by photographer Lou Mensah, Shade is an incredible, award-winning podcast exploring the intersections of race, culture, and identity with insightful conversations between Black artists, critics, educators and writers. Launched in 2019, Lou wanted to create a safe space for practitioners of colour to talk about their work and convey their true narrative, taking ownership of the body of work they’ve spent years developing. It’s a dialogue celebrating diversity, and her roster of interviewees, from Sir John Akomfrah to Ekow Eshun, is impressive. Available on all good podcasting platforms.
We didn’t think we were documentary fiends, but it turns out we’re churning a new series out almost every New In. This one is a match made in heaven for us, as it incorporates travel and food. Omnivore – devised and narrated by chef René Redzepi, co-owner of Copenhagen's Noma, delves into the world’s key ingredients, one episode at a time; rice, corn, salt and coffee all take centre stage. It’s a poetic form of storytelling, the way he talks about food, honouring the production, its societal origins and cultural traditions. You’ll binge the eight-part series and have a deeper appreciation for the culinary world. Apple TV is the place to go.
Credit: Edgeline Films (Couples Therapy)