Excusing the odd governmental hiccup (because, frankly, after last night's US election brouhaha, I'm utterly spent - politically speaking), Mother Russia has given the modern world some incredible treasures. Artists like Chagall and Kandinsky. Writers like Bulgakov and Nabakov. The film-makers Eisenstein and Tarkovsky. The dancers Baryshnikov and Nureyev. Political icons like Molotov and, erm, Milla Jovovich, and, ah, Tatu?

But more important than all of the above (yes, even than those pop-tastic occasional lesbians) is the infamous Russian Bar on Kingsland Road in Hackney. After an aptly sneaky closure, the late night catch-all, den of a thousand iniquities, and source of more hangovers than I care to (or probably can) recall, is back.

Management has changed, rumour has it there's some painting going on, but judging from the launch night line-up for tomorrow (Niyi, Scottee, Warboy, et al), it's going to be as kidney-pulverising as ever.

TODAY'S EVENT PICKS

Headphones off for the stupendously talented alt-folk ensemble Fireworks
Night's EP launch. 8pm, Catch, 22 Kingsland Road, E2, £4.

Explore the hallucinogenic properties of magic mushrooms via conceptual art.
11am - 6pm, Rochelle School, Arnold Circus, E2, Free.

Catch one of London's biggest fireworks displays & celebrate/ commiserate the new president with a bang. 7:30pm, Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, SW4. Free.

Comedians including Mark Cornell and Dan Adams gather at dusk for What! Who? compered by Dan Thompson. 8pm, Dusk, 339 Battersea Park Rd, SW11. Free.