Valentine's Day - Sorted.

Like it or lump it, the most loved up, couple canoodling, vomit-inducing holiday is upon us.  Whether you’re smuggly smitten or sick of the schmaltz, here are some things to get everyone through the big V-day.

 
For the lovebirds among us, The FlowerAppreciation society has all our last minute floral fiascos sorted with their pop-up shop at Boxpark selling exotic bouquets.  For the evening, the BFI is hosting a selection of romantic film screenings including A Place in the Sun, perfect for pashing in the back row.  For the more adventurous lovers, Corset & Diamonds’ Memoirs of a GAYsha, is a bizarre night of old and new Japan; expect Harajuku dancing with a burlesque twist along with peep shows, Japanese bondage and ‘love games’, washed down with Sake-it-to-me cocktails and sushi.

For singles in the mood for lovin’, check out some of London's matchmaking events.  Slagbox is a single’s night with a twist; bring a friend of the opposite sex, take a number and the let the magic happen, while For The Love of Mic, gives you the chance to fall crazy in love with your very own Jay-Z or Beyonce.  For something different, check out the launch of the Anonymous Sex Journal, a collection of sex tales spanning from the touching to the utterly awkward, or to see if there really is a point in looking for love, head to The School of Life’s ‘How Necessary is a Relationship’ class.

For a Valentine’s Day where anything goes, head to a pie shop in Shoreditch and indulge in Fat Cheek Love Bites’ 4 course ‘of the sea’ supper club on 15th February.  Alternatively, don your glad rags and head to the Museum of London’s Valentine’s Day Late or the Vintage Dance Club Tea Dance at Canary Wharf for a night of 1920s charm, full of music, dancing and downright debauchery.  If that doesn’t do it for you, why not recreate a bona fide romantic American experience at The Book Club’s Teen Dreams Prom, where British revellers will pay homage to the great American romantic clichés before ripping them apart with icebreakers such as ‘this one time at band camp’.

And last but not least, for those of us who simply refuse to recognise, celebrate or acknowledge the Cupid's arrows adorning every window, there’s always a take away and a bottle of vodka.

Happy 150th Birthday to the Underground!

It's not often that a National Treasure reaches its 150th birthday.  With bleary eyed morning rush hours, sweaty armpits and downright grumpy commuters, it is easy to forget how much we actually love the tube.

It may have been called every name under the sun by irate travellers but this wondrous network of underground warrens, not only survived World War II itself, but also helped hoards of Londoners escape from danger too.  Through bombings both past and recent, the tube has connected the districts of London in a way that no other city has properly achieved.  We may curse, we may seeth, we may even think that sometimes we hate it, but without the tube we'd be screwed.

In celebration of our wonderful city and underground, I thought I would share an amazing food tube map of London created by Cheese and Biscuits (an extremely handy restaurant reviews blog.)  Simply use it like a normal tube map and hunt down your next grub.

How have I managed to get from the tube to food...

Hark! The Herald

I've eaten my body weight in mince pies, drunk enough mulled wine to flood Cornwall and have battled my way through the Christmas shopping hoards.  But something is still missing...my vocal chords have been given a work-out while I warble away to 'Last Christmas' and 'Baby it's cold outside' but there has been a distinct lack of caroling to my Christmas build up this year.

Luckily, St. Paul's is here to answer my festive prayers and is hosting a free carol service with unticketed entry on Sunday 23rd December from 4pm.  Expect all the golden oldies, 'Once in Royal', 'It Came Upon a Midnight Clear' and, my personal fave, 'Hark! the Herald'.  Get there early and come ready to belt those beauties!

Festive Ice Skating!

Christmas, a time for growing bellies and shrinking budgets, has just got better.  Kill two birds with one stone at Hoxton Square's ice rink - don those skates, bust those moves and burn those calories - and the best bit?  It's all for FREE!

As part of Destination Hackney's Christmas project to 'make Hackney sparkle', visitors can enjoy a light display and take to the ice without paying a penny.  It's only on until Saturday 22nd December, so make the most of it while it lasts! If, like me, you’ve been given the label of ‘Bambi on Ice’ a few too many times for it to be funny and the thought of donning skates has you running for the hills, don't worry. Half the fun is laughing at yourself (and other people). Grab some friends, drink a mulled wine or five (probably best to do this after) and ‘chill out’! 

Cinema in the Snow!

At last! Christmas is here and what better way to celebrate than with a glass of mulled wine, a cheeky mincey P and a Narnia-esque journey through a magical wardrobe into a snow-filled cinematic festive extravaganza? 

Following the rip-roaring success of their summer programme, Pop-Up Screens is bringing Christmas to Brick Lane by hosting a series of festive films including my personal faves: Home Alone, Elf, Edward Scissorhands and the Nightmare before Christmas to name a few. With three screenings a day from 18th December until 23rd December, tipples including mulled wine and regular (or ‘pimped’) hot chocolate and festive decorations adorning every inch of The Dray Walk Gallery, The Cinema in the Snow is sure to get every child (both inner and outer) in the mood for festive cheer.

Tickets are available here, and although they're a bit steep at £14, it's only Christmas once a year!

Happy Advent!

Dominoes Everywhere for the holidays from Jared Lyon on Vimeo.

UK Chilli Stand Off!

Don’t let the name alarm you.  Instead of a horrendous ‘who can eat the hottest chilli’ contest, which would have a Nando’s ‘plain for kidz’ girl like me running for the hills, the UK Chilli Stand Off refers to a sort of X-Factor type contest…except instead of talentless singers, we have eight talented chefs…and instead of singing, we have steaming pots of chilli con carne.   With a 12pm and a 4pm sitting on 17th November, ‘cooking doesn’t get tougher than this’ with eight chefs battling it out to win the title.  And the best bit? We get to play the role of a chilli guzzling Gregg Wallace, as we critique the chef’s efforts alongside guest judge, John Torode.   

Competitors include Dishoom, our national street food treasure, The Ribman and Tim Anderson (the 2011 Japan fanatic Masterchef winner) to name a few.  Wash it all down with 2 Texan beers and a tequila cocktail (included in the £40 ticket) while enjoying live music.  Who said the proof is in the pudding?