Sugar Cane is an unexpected dose of the South Pacific situated just 5 minutes from one of Europe’s busiest train stations, Clapham Junction. Walk up Sugar Canes steps surrounded by bamboo and once inside you'll feel like you’ve entered the tropics regardless of what the weather’s like outside. The atmosphere is warm, laid back and friendly.

The night Bedroom Genius visited the vibe was up-beat with people making the most of the great variety of cocktails on offer. Our pick is Kalima, do not leave Sugar Cane without trying it, as promised on the menu, it left us licking our lips!

Bedroom Genius spoke to the Sugar Cane’s, Ardian:

The interior here is based on Tiki design, what inspired you to create Sugar Cane?

The polynesian themed restaurant Trader Vic’s in Park Lane was an inspiration. It’s a restaurant that’s been around for 30 years and they don’t do membership. I went 3 years ago and the atmosphere amazed me, the exclusive Tahitian design inspired me to create Sugar Cane. The feedback from our clients is that they appreciate the fact we’ve created a fantasy world.

How would you describe the Sugar Cane experience for someone coming in for the first time?

Come here and you’ll feel you’ve been taken somewhere else and could be on holiday. The tropical setting takes you to a far away destination. We have a lot of repeat clientele and are absolutely heaving on Friday and Saturday nights.

For someone new to Sugar Cane, what drinks would you recommend from the menu?

Try Pele’s (the Tahitian Goddess of fire), Island Princess, Pacific Island Iced Tea, Grass Skirt and the Mai-tai. But if you like something a bit different try the boat drinks like Big Bamboo, Tropical Sunset and Wasa Atua (The Ruler of the Waves) they’re designed for sharing , served in a boat and decorated with fruit and flames.

What’s the best bar lounge restaurant that you have been to?

Trader Vic’s of course but locally it has to be ‘The Loft’ in Clapham Common and in the West-End (Central London) it would be Mahiki. I would say I’ve have found worldwide London to have the best bars and restaurants.

What’s Sugar Cane’s music style?

It’s a mixture. We play Dub music, groove music and laid back lounge music. Our musical taste ranges from Fat Freddy’s Drop to The Black Seeds to Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are more chilled with Friday and Saturday focussed on Top 40 chart hits and 80’s anthems. In the summer we change the style of music and food.

What food would you recommend and why?

The sharing platter, Malayan prawn skewers, Islanders sea food platter and the mussels and homemade burgers are worth a try too.

What are your guilty pleasures? How do you escape from the business of running a busy bar?

I enjoy travelling around to new bars, meeting new people and seeing how they run their business. Escaping would be spending time with my baby daughter plus going out more than I should to bars and places I shouldn’t.

What are the things you’d save from a fire?

My family. My books, I’m passionate about history especially the Roman Empire and its Emperors like Caesar.

What would you say is the main difference between a night out at Sugar Cane and other bars?

I would say it’s the atmosphere – we attract a really nice crowd and good calibre of people. Usually young professionals who are well-mannered, they’re the best people to have. They know how to have fun but also behave themselves and are a pleasure to have a conversation with.

What is the ‘Big Kahuna’ rum night every Wednesday?

It’s based around the big chief (Kahuna) throwing a big party. We only serve polynesian rum cocktails at a good discount price £4 all night. During the summer it’s very popular.

www.thesugarcane.co.uk

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The Bedroom Genius Events Team

All photos taken by Mr Man

Just a minute’s walk from Covent Garden, the rich tapestries, wall lights, jingling coin scarves and waft of incense that greet you as you enter Souk Medina are just the beginning of your transportation to another place.

The friendly staff usher you to the cavernous low cushioned seating areas. As you enjoy the authentic experience of North African cuisine you are treated to the delights of a belly-dancer who insists you join her for a shimmy or two. All in all, a great experience - the lamb with prunes and almonds is to die for. Go for the set menu £19.95 per head, you won’t forget it!

Bedroom Genius spoke to the Souk Medina's, Samir Mahdi:

What inspired you to create Souk Medina?

Souk Medina was inspired by my first restaurant, Souk Bazaar, just across from here. It was hugely popular; I had to open a bigger restaurant.

I guess the question is then, what inspired you to create Souk Bazaar?

We opened in 1998, I come from Algeria and I couldn’t eat nice cous cous anywhere in the West End. There was a lack of good North African food at the time. My inspiration was the food. Marrakech inspired the design of the restaurant, not Morocco, but Marrakech specifically. I met with designers and took inspiration from the old riads there.

How would you describe the Souk Medina experience to a customer?

Simple, we’ll take you to Marrakech; you’ll have a Moroccan experience with food, drink and a belly dancer for just £30.00. You can come here and forget the cold weather of London!

For someone new to North African cuisine, what are the top 3 dishes you would recommend?

I’d recommend our set menu. The Moroccan lamb with prunes and roasted almonds, the Tunisian cous cous with Merguez (lamb sausage) and the Algerian chicken with olives and pickled lemons. For vegetarians, the tagine with chick peas and harissa sauce.

What’s your life philosophy?

Being hard-working with a passion for what you do. I came to this country with only £50.00 in my pocket.

What’s the best meal you’ve had in London?

Nice grill and fantastic pizzas at Cafe Mode, I go there three times a week. I like the fresh food and ambience and it’s somewhere I feel comfortable, can let my hair down and the staff look after me. For the best exclusive place, I would say Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants - Claridges. Nobu is good too but these are places I don’t go too often.

What are your guilty pleasures?

Playing with my iPhone at 4am in the morning. It’s the only time when I am not busy – it’s very addictive, you can access the whole world.

What are the 3 things you would save from a fire?

Obviously my family, wedding pictures and my USB key because it holds my life.

What are the main differences between North African and English cuisine?

Spice, flavours and the way we eat, we share everything. We don’t have individual dishes, everyone has different dishes and shares, and we are among friends. A dinner party in North Africa has much more importance than here, food and dinner parties are a luxury... there are usually 10-12 dishes (with cakes) and dining is taken seriously with much pride in the cooking. We take time, quality time with friends and family.

What do you do to ‘escape’?

Football. I have also written a book. It is a love story but also a story about life’s journey, the ups and downs but with an underlying message about how the times when you have the most money or success aren’t necessarily those that make you happiest.

Your alternative career would be?

An architect. Dubai has fantastic architecture, people go there for the shopping but what’s most important is the architecture. The top three cities for architecture, in my opinion, are Paris (No.1), Dubai and Damascus. I haven’t yet been to Damascus but there are beautiful churches and mosques and they’re the reason I would go there.

www.soukrestaurant.net

To see video footage from 'A Night at Souk Medina' Click here

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The Bedroom Genius Events Team

All photos taken by Mr Man

Nicely nestled between Clapham Junction and Clapham Common, Ink Rooms is a bar offering a quality range in both drinks and music that’ll keep you coming back. The mood is ‘red-light elegance’ in keeping with the 50’s retro-chic theme, providing a classy but cosy place from which to enjoy the 60+ beers, fine wines and hand-crafted cocktails on offer.

The music also features heavily with 80’s/90’s rock, indie and pop being played out and clearly enjoyed by the 30-something crowd who’ve come out to play the night Bedroom Genius visited. This place is definitely a must-visit.

Bedroom Genius speaks to the Ink Rooms' Manager, Matt Wale:

The Ink Rooms was inspired by American 50’s retro chic, what inspired you to re-create that in London?
We wanted to bring something new to Clapham, a good times, neighbourhood bar. It was quite samey with boozers or club scenes but nothing in between. Everything is crafted in here, the wallpaper, the beers and we have unique handcrafted cocktails.

How would you describe the Ink Rooms experience for someone coming down for the first time?

A place to relax and have fun where there’s an eclectic crowd. It’s something new and different where you can enjoy good music and table service. We don’t have a door policy but attract refined people from the 25-40 age group. We’ve only been open 8 months and find most of our clientele are coming from Brixton, Clapham South and even Shoreditch looking for a good underground music scene.

The bar has a selection of 60+ domestic and imported beers; what is the ethos behind this ?

It’s all about craft beers. We don’t have ‘Fosters on tap’, we’re about providing decent micro-brewed beers including the Goose Island range, beers from across Europe (including Germany), Australia, New Zealand, America.

What’s your life philosophy?

Just enjoy every day. I started as a pot washer at 13 years, worked in my first bar at 17 years and now I’m 28 with my own bar. I went to Bournemouth University, trained as a chef and before this ran a restaurant on the beach in Devon.

What’s the best bar you have been in, in London/Worldwide?

I like ‘dirty old man’ pubs, it depends on the music. Lost Society on Wandsworth Rd is a brilliant craze with cocktails as good as you can get.

What are your guilty pleasures?

I like a bit of rock music, especially AC/DC.

What are the 3 things you would save from fire?

I’d save my iPod, it’s got everything on it. I’d also save my film collection that’s on VHS & DVD and includes 80’s classics... and my snowboard.

What would you say is the main difference between the Ink Rooms and other bars?

I’d say it’s the style of the bar, there’s not anywhere like it. The atmosphere is sociable

(there are 5 groups in here saying they’ve had a brilliant time).

People dance on the chairs and the music varies so caters for everyone, and it’s so chilled. We’re not a ‘stop-off’ but a destination bar, people come here and stay for a long time.

Do you do food?

No but ‘Hell’ pizza, opposite (on Lavender Hill) do, they’re a New Zealand company and our clients can order a £10 pizza and beer deal with free delivery.

www.inkrooms.com

Showcase Your Genius

The Bedroom Genius Events team

All photos taken by Mr Man

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Nina Simone — Feeling Good

It’s that time of year again, the end of the year. It seems ages ago when I wrote last years end of year The End is Nigh!.

So, as the days get shorter and the nights longer this is a good time for contemplating the year ahead and the one that has just passed.

This year, 2009, the last in this present decade known as the Noughties has been for me and the bedroom genius team a year of progressive success. Looking back on the year we put on our annual photography exhibition ‘Don’t Shoot the Photographer!’.The weather over that weekend was the very best of the summer.

The auditions for actors for what will be our biggest event to date, a romantic comedy with red carpet premiere, went well. The auditions were hard work but very rewarding. I strongly believe that every generation of artists must produce its own Woodstock and stop looking solely for 'The Industry' to discover them. So, I'm looking forward to seeing the great work of all the artists who will be participating in the film.

So, as we approach the new year this is a good time to sit down, recharge your batteries and enjoy life a lot more. As with last year for this blog we went about London taking great photos of the city at this time of year. I hope you enjoy the photos below.

In ending, on behalf of all the Bedroom Genius team we’d like to send festive greetings to all of our members and wish you and yours health, wealth and a creatively prosperous 2010.

Showcase your Genius!

Bedroom Genius

All photos taken by Mr Man

PS: This is my last blog. If you’re interested in posting a blog? Please Click this Link!

I was prompted recently by my creative team to define in words, what I knew intuitively in unspoken terms to be, the BedroomGenius.com Manifesto. Enjoy:

About Us:

BedroomGenius.com is a diverse artist boutique network site with an art events calendar designed to showcase and promote our members’ talents.

In purposely choosing to be a boutique network site with a smaller highly talented community we have created a more intimate uncongested space for our members to network. We strongly believe that this will help all the artists create work of a surprisingly high standard.

Our Aims:

To take the starving artist martyr phase out of being an artist, by concentrating on helping our members’ master their craft, achieve recognition and get paid for their work.

We source, nurture and promote new emerging artists with potential and talent and collaborate with established artists through our events to sell and promote their work as well as connect them with people who can really help take their work further.

The single most important aim of BedroomGenius.com is to launch artists from our ranks to go on to become household well-known names and ultimately stars.

Why We do Events:

There’s an old adage that says, 'A ship is at its safest in port, but in port isn’t where a ship is supposed to be'. Likewise, the same is true for artists.

The work of a photographer and artist is supposed to be in a gallery being discussed, on people’s home walls and in books inspiring the next generation. Actors, performance artists and musicians and singers are supposed to be onstage performing to an audience unplugged and live. Models, Fashion Designers and Make-Up Artists are supposed to see their work going down the catwalk, photos of their work being eagerly read in magazines and ultimately people wearing their creations down the street. And so on.

The acid test for an artist’s work is in an event where the oxygen of the real world meets our creative bubble. Simply put, events help artists, grow, progress and become better artists.

Behind the Scenes:

50% of the BedroomGenius.com community isn’t on the site. Our offline community includes artists, art buyers, gallery owners, fashion designers and the like. This is the invisible community that attends our events and participates in our continued success.

Also in between an event we are planning our next Bedroom Genius.com event. As well as paying full attention to the BedroomGenius.com online community.

What We Ask of You:

Simply, creating an empty profile or adding no gallery to your profile isn’t networking. Also, adding a link to your profile on another website without creating a profile on BedroomGenius.com is lazy networking. We’re not into fast-food networking here we’re more like home food.

Like anything that’s worth doing we believe in doing it well.

All we ask is that members' create a full profile and participate in the Bedroom Genius community. Be it by networking with their fellow members, attending events and responding to casting calls or by participating in the dialogue of how to make BedromGenius.com better serve the needs of all the artists'.

In a nutshell there you have it. This is The Bedroom Genius Manifesto.

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Bedroom Genius

“I’d like to thank God. The Academy. My mum and dad. Brothers and sisters. My lovely wife. Our kids. The cast and crew. My friends that kept the faith. As tonight I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. I thank you all.”
Award acceptance speech – Bedroom Genius October 09

If you were to give an award acceptance speech who would you thank and why? Think about your answer for a minute. Please, do not rush this bit so you can quickly read on as this is a participatory blog between you, the reader, and me, the writer. Everything I write from this point on will only make perfect sense once you’ve done this.

Okay, let’s begin.

I used to wonder when I was a kid why at award ceremonies when a nominee's name was announced to receive the award full-grown adults would begin crying, proper slobbering bawling too and then they'd begin to thank nearly every person that they've met in their life. Sometimes the ceremony orchestra has to strike up to drown them out just to get them off the stage.

Why does this happen?

At the end of most films the credits will roll. If you’ve been in the cinema when this happens most people get up, put on their coats and proceed to block up the aisles as we all try to leave the cinema at the same time. I’m guilty of this too but if you sit down and read the credits of a film, the program of a play or a CD album’s Shout Outs page you’ll educate yourself to all the different talents it took to create that single success. The award recipient if they’re conscientious will repay with recognition all the people who were crucial to that success but are invisible in that moment. So, the secret to great success is, and has always been, collaboration.

Here's the Rub.

Unfortunately, a lot of artists do not wholly believe this or don’t know how to network and collaborate well. I say this as I’ve witnessed many artists struggle alone for years while creating great work. I understand their reasons why too. Be it, bad past collaboration experiences, being short-changed by flaky glory-hunters who don’t deliver their end of the collaboration and also there's the fear of having their work ripped off, stolen or even worse still their recognition going to someone else. The other extreme is also wanting to collaborate with too many people thinking that it'll increase the chances of success when in actual fact consistency in a very good collaboration, like any relationship, is what yields the greatest results. It's basic economics, an object that is sought after that is scarce increases in value. So, less is more.

The Key.

It's now at this point if you've followed through on the first part of this blog think of the names of the people you chose to thank in your acceptance speech. What are the desirable character traits they have in common and how do these traits benefit your relationship with them? Those very traits are what you must also find in the people you wish to collaborate with too. See, there is an art to great collaborations. Below I’ve compiled a short list of what works for me:

Gut Instinct:

If for whatever reason you feel something is not quite right, WALK AWAY!

Respect:

Only collaborate with people if they have the same mutual respect for what you do as you have for what they do.

Communicate:

Agree very early on what you mutually want from the collaboration and install checks and balances to make sure each side delivers. If they don’t, WALK!

Honesty:

Do not ask of others that what you are not willing to also give. Be honest with yourself in any collaboration.

Loyalty:

If they are overly collaborating with everybody and anybody at the same time as you they do not have your best interests at heart. It devalues your collaboration. Again WALK!

Word-of-Mouth References:

Ask who they have collaborated with and speak to that person/s for a reference.

In the absence of you receiving an award when, and not if, you have the time, thank the people who have helped you achieve successes as an artist and generally in your life.

Finally, to everyone who has taken the time out to network on the site, attend and participate in any of the Bedroom Genius events so far and to all those who will be participating in the Bedroom Genius film I’d like to thank you all.

The End. Finé.

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Bedroom Genius

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be,” Lao Tzu

Sometimes I feel like I want to hibernate for months on end, be an anti-social recluse like Salinger and selfishly create art,

But you’ve got to pay the bills, make the rent, go to work and maintain real-life relationships,

Sometimes I used to wish I was never ever a creative person at all,

I’d think maybe I should’ve studied Medicine or Law; I would have made a lot more money,

But sometimes you just got to go and do other things, get on a plane and travel, meet new people; have fun and gain new experiences,

Sometimes people close to you cannot see what it is you do, as an artist, and what it’ll amount to, sometimes I used to think maybe they have a point,

But as I sat in a coffee shop a few summers ago mad-relaxed looking out of a floor-to-ceiling window at the busy 9-to-5 rush hour traffic I said to myself, “Pah! What do they know.”

Sometimes it’s easy to take your passion for granted; your egg-shell fragile ego and confidence can be shattered,

Then you’ll see a great film or play; go to a brilliant exhibition, or hear some band with a raw new sound on the radio and you’ll remember why you first became an artist,

Sometimes when I look back at the times when I could’ve quit I’m glad I kept going,

As it is from all of those sometime moments that I created the art that is my most authentic and rewarding.

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Bedroom Genius

"The world has lost one of its greats". Madonna

I was sat at my PC when I heard my phone ring and then the news was passed on to me that the legendary pop star and greatest entertainer in popular music history Michael Jackson had died. I immediately checked online for news and saw that the net was buzzing with unconfirmed reports that he indeed had suffered a fatal heart attack at his Los Angeles home.

The way the news broke reminded me very much of the reporting of the death of Princess Diana. It took me a minute to take this in. It was one of those moments where people remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news.

I’m a music lover and in music terms he was a genius and a very, very big deal. He was very much in a class of one and his untimely passing can be likened to that of fellow music giants such as Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.

Michael Jackson was one of only a few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once with The Jackson 5 and also as a solo artist. Other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time", 13 Grammy Awards and the sales of over 750 million albums worldwide.

His 1982 album Thriller sold 51 million albums alone, going Platinum 21 times over, making it the biggest studio album of all-time. The album had 7 no.1 singles which is unheard of now in record recording. The video for the single Thriller also revolutionized music videos.

He was reportedly planning a comeback and was living in L.A while rehearsing for a series of 50 sold-out shows in London's O2 arena starting on July 13. The 50 concerts sold out in a matter of hours when the 750,000 tickets were released in March making it the fastest selling tour of all-time.

Whatever his shortcomings as a man were or were alleged to have been in the media, as a recording artist he was an icon and absolute music phenomenon.

R.I.P: Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

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Bedroom Genius

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu