We hosted a London Bloggers Networking event and our first #MashMeet at the National Portrait Gallery last Thursday.
It was a delicious evening of wine and culture in the company of some fabulous bloggers: Ali of Kids Chaos, Maggie of Red Ted Art, Rachelle of Love Learn Cook, Jane of Not a Notting Hill Mum, Tinuke of Circus Mums, Jenny of The Gingerbread House, Emma of Babies Who Lunch London, Amanda of the Ana Mum Diary, Nomita of Ebabee Likes, Mirka of All Baby Advice and me, Uju of Babes about Town.
Outside the temperature was climbing to 30 degrees C, so the cool and air-conditioned halls of the Late Shift Bar provided the perfect environment to escape the heat.
Late Shift
National Portrait Gallery is open until 9pm for their Late Shift every Thursday and Friday with a licensed bar and a DJ playing a mix of soulful, jazzy, pop and retro tunes.
It’s a buzzy and social atmosphere where, unlike some daytime gallery visits, you don’t feel hushed by people’s eyes as you chat and giggle with your mates.
Two lovely NPG staff members, Claire (pictured below left) and Rose welcomed us with information packs and tickets to the Virginia Woolf Exhibition (ongoing until October).
We learned more about the NPG’s fantastic programme of family friendly learning activities and Rachelle (who came with little ones in tow) took her kids on a family trail.
BP Portrait Award 2014
It was also an opportunity to wander through the BP Portrait Award exhibition featuring a stunning variety of paintings by up and coming artists, as well as well-known names like David Hockney.
We were taken aback by a somewhat unflattering portrait of Kate Middleton (but hey, she’s a mum now and we definitely recognise those dark shadows!). And we were simply blown away by some portraits that were so lifelike you had to go right up close to believe they weren’t photographs.
I was particularly struck by artist David Jon Kassan’s portrait of his mother and the accompanying text that reads:
Dear Mom,/This painting is my way to spend more time with you./My way to meditate on our life together./And all of the earliest memories I have/All of my earliest memories from you’.
Here’s to the memories.
Visit National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery is at St Martin’s Place, off Trafalgar Square, WC2H 0NE (Charing Cross tube)
BP Portrait Award runs until September 21, 2014, admission FREE
Virginia Woolf exhibition runs until October 24, 2014
Late Shift events run every Thursday and Friday until 9pm
#MashMeet
We will be hosting more #MaShMeet events at the National Portrait Gallery and other venues around town. If you would like to stay informed, simply subscribe to our mailing list below!
KensingtonMums says
Looks like a lot of fun, shame I missed it! xx
Uju says
It was so much fun Dina, don’t worry we will see you at the next event I’m sure 🙂 x