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Weekend Guide

In the weekend that sees Regent's Park overcome with all things gastrofestive, we thought it best to offer some alternatives to help shake of the gained pounds this weekend. So whether you opt for a spot of nooky, some non-stop dancing or merely shifting all that excess fashion you've acquired, we're quite sure the appetite will be worth it.

This week's guide is brought to you in association with Tiffany & Co. Bedazzling, elegant, whose little blue boxes are nigh on legendary, the jewellery house will always be, in the words of Holly Golightly, "the best place in the world, where nothing bad can take place."

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FRI KILLING KITTENS SAT NEON NEON SUN VISA SWAP

FRIDAY

otherCity of London Festival
This giant playground we call the City deserves an occasional show of love, wouldn't you say? And with global-local lit, film, music and exhibitions galore, now you can celebrate our cosmopolitan big-smoke by joining the Bombay Baja Brass Band and circus for a prom; or better still, book now for a bevy of orchestral talent at St. Paul's. London, don't ya just love it?

Time:
8am-late
Place:
Various Venues
Cost:
Free, unless otherwise stated
Info:
colf.org

nightlifeKilling Kittens
An elitist, masked, erotic party in a secret, swanky hotel somewhere in London? All sounds rather Eyes Wide Shut if you ask me. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing. And since the attendees are discriminated, sorry 'filtered' by aesthetics, interests and general attractiveness, and with a distinct ban on single men, expect this to be a night, if nothing else, to remember.

Time:
See website
Place:
Secret Location
Cost:
£60-120
Info:
killing-kittens.co.uk

djMinimal Carnival
When put together, the words 'minimal' and 'carnival' sound a tad oxymoronic to me, but Berlin DJ Mutlu of Sender Records and resident Louis Guilhem are guaranteed, as ever, to flesh it out with the weight of techno. Featuring Mikko and Beckenbauer from 'Made In', you'll be silently humming the chorus 'lets get mini-mal, mini-mal' before you know it. Or maybe not.

Time:
10pm-6am
Place:
Gramaphone, 60-62 Commercial St, E1 6LT
Cost:
£7
Info:
myspace.com/ minimalcarnival
SHOP
Whether you like your music old or new school, there's a fair chance it's coming out of an ipod. If you're tired of plastic white speakers, here are a couple of alternatives; for the modernists, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin, and for the traditionalists, the Spirit of St Louis Ipod boombox, designed to look like an old battlefield radio.
Contact:
Spirit of St Louis Boombox £299.99, B&W Zeppelin £399.95
Shop
SATURDAY

artThe House of Viktor & Rolf
Suspending women on wires, covering them in brass bells, and creating a human Russian Doll - well, they do say fashion is a circus. Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf's surreal and often theatrical collections from the past 15 years are showcased in their first UK exhibition, alongside their upside down Milanese boutique and H&M collaboration - surely the greatest circus of all.

Time:
11am-8pm
Place:
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Cost:
£8
Info:
barbican.org.uk

musicExhibition Road Music Day
I've always had a perverse talent for aural versatility. Really. I can listen to at least seven different sources of music simultaneously without going insane. Which will prove quite handy today, when everyone from MIA to Amadou and Mariam plays down on Exhibition Road, via some Cuban guitar, Chinese folk, blues, electronica, throat singing, indie… Feeling insane yet?

Time:
10am-12am
Place:
Exhibition Rd SW7
Cost:
Free
Info:
exhibitionroadmusicday.org

djNeon Noise Project
Here's a question: What do you get if you mix a dollop each of neon, sound, and colour in a scrubbed-up Victorian factory, and throw in a hot dash of DJs, from Australia's electro chart-topping Bang-Gang, Bumblebeez of Modular and Boombox's Jerry Bouthier, to a good measure of filthy beats from Trailer Trash? Answer: A night so messy, that you might need a bib.

Time:
10pm-7am
Place:
Unit 7, 566 Cable St, E1W 3HB
Cost:
£8-£10
Info:
neonnoiseproject.com
COMPETITION
Oakley JK15 Competition
To celebrate the launch of their limited edition JK15 sunglasses, Oakley are offering you the chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to see Jamiroquai in concert at the Rock in Rio music festival in Madrid on 4th July. The prize includes flights, accommodation in a 5 star hotel, and a pair of Split Thump sunglasses with integrated MP3 player.
Contact:
Click here to enter.
Tonight
SUNDAY

MusicThe Pilgrim's Progress
I often think I could use Three Shining Ones to relieve me of my burdens. Lord Lechery and Madam Wonton on the other hand, can stay well clear - I've had enough bad dates of late. And don't get me started on Delectable Mountains - the last man that called them that got a smack. Who knew Vaughn became such an old perv? An opera full of witty twists and ultimately, moral turns? Ah. No Celestial City for me then.

Time:
4pm
Place:
Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, EC1R 4TN
Cost:
£10 - £50
Info:
sadlerswells.com

musicThe Lovebox Boat Party
Aaron Spelling had it right with The Love Boat: passenger scandals, crew flings, and high jinx on the high seas - the hallmarks of a perfect '80s sitcom. While we can't promise the canned laughter to accompany your quips, we still suggest getting on board the Dixie Queen with Groove Armada and Severino of Horse Meat Disco fame for some soap opera worthy action of your own.

Time:
4:15pm - 11pm
Place:
The Dixie Queen, Tower Millennium Pier, by Tower of London, EC3N DT
Cost:
£25
Info:
lovebox.net

shopVisa Swap Drop Off
There's a Balenciaga cardigan festering in my closet at home, bought on a whim (ok, because the saleswoman told me it was fabulous, and I, by association, was fabulous too) and never worn. However, to sell it on eBay I'd be losing my fabulousness and be left with cold cash, so instead, I plan on swapping it for something equally fabulous, donated by someone, well fabulous. Fabulous. Drop off starts today to collect your points of fabulousness.

Time:
12pm - 6pm
Place:
The Flower Cellars, 49 Wellington St, WC2E 7BN
Cost:
Free
Info:
visaswap.com
SEE
Mona Hatoum: Present Tense
Born in Beirut, but now living in London and Berlin, international woman of artistic mastery, Mona Hatoum, strips grand themes of displacement and uncertainty down to their hard, plastic, confectionary-coloured core. Playing with crystal shapes that resemble hand grenades, light-bulb fringed carpet, and a map made from soap and glass, it's indulgent eye-candy with brains.
Info:
Click here
Competition
EAT

Couleur Cafe
Don't you just hate the French? They dress well, have good hair, cute kids and can even make the phrase 'I'm just popping out to get some bin-bags' sound sexy.

A perfect example of their annoyingly natural sense of style is 'mamans delicieux' Celia and Christine's newly opened Couleur Cafe just off the Northcote Road.

With its bare brickwork and Provencale touches it's the perfect backdrop for the croissants, eclairs and quiches that are sold - as well as proper cafe au lait, the colour of tanned Parisian pins rather than Starbucks greige - and they've also imported all sorts of other French goodies, from homewares to jams and dinky little jars of aioli. There are even French gossip mags next to the House & Gardens to flick through as you nibble your pain au chocolate.

Beware the school run when the place is teaming with les enfants precociously demanding chocolat chaud but at any other time, for now, its a secret oasis of euro-chic calm.

Hours:
Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm / Sat 9am-4.30pm
Place:
37 Webbs Road, SW11 6SF
Cost:
£15
Book:
020 7924 3030

The Lawn
On-fire Oliver Peyton has just opened this, his second new restaurant in the last month, and it promises to be one of the most sophisticated al fresco hot spots of the summer.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Lawn is nestled within the leafy grandeur of the Fulham Palace estate so whether you choose to eat in the elegant former bishop's drawing room or in the green and pleasant gardens outside is up to you.

Either way there are English delights like boiled egg and soldiers, salad of fresh peas, pea shoots and ham hock or garlic and thyme marinated spatchcock spring chicken with watercress and Jersey Royals to be had. There is also an elaborate state-of-the-art barbecue and ice cream bar due to be installed once the summer really begins to kick off - we can only hope.

Until then, make the most of every random ray, don a boater, take Pimms on the, er, lawn and wait for Mr Peyton to open his next premises.


Hours:
Mon-Sun 9am-11pm
Place:
Fulham Palace, Bishops Avenue, SW6 6EA
Cost:
£30
Web:
thelawnrestaurant.co.uk
Book:
020 7610 7160
Weekend guide by AC, MaM, SH & YM, Food reviews by SL
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