Urban Junkies London | Weekend Guide February 6-8

You have to feel a sense of pride when your city gets flagged up on foreign news channels for completely failing to deal with a little flurry of snow. Oh how the Germans laughed at us hapless, snow-ploughless, broken-ankled Brits. Thank you Boris and God bless TFL. But it's time to get defrosted now kids. We may not know what to do with snow, but damn if we don't know what to do with our weekends. Who's laughing now?


FRI TOUR DE BORD EXPERIMENT • SAT BLITZ PARTY • SUN QUENTIN BLAKE

FRIDAY

Smoke
Enough with the snow already: smoke is where it's at. The folk at Pump House Gallery have hooked up with pioneers of meandering thought, Implicasphere, to bring you their unique billowing cloud of live bands, DJs, films and smoked treats. Prepare yourself for dazzling visuals amongst smoke machines from 10-piece death glam disco Chrome Hoof, psychedelic sounds by Guapo, and smoke-tinged records courtesy of DJ and producer Andrew Weatheral. So hot, it's smokin'.

Time:		7:30pm
Place:		ICA, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH
Cost:		£10
Info:		urbanjunkies.com/agenda

The Tour de Bord Experiment
Thanks to Shunt, this experimental programmed experience is carved out of live art, interactive and visual installations, participatory workshops (make a sky lantern for the end of the evening), soundscapes, live music from Mighty Jungulator and Kammer Klang, and enough cheap wine to make it all a mass of fun. Just be sure to keep an ear out for the recorded telephone message that reveals the top-secret East-End location. Email cakeordeath@cultura3.net for tickets and a heads up.

Time:		7:30pm-12:30am
Place:		Shh! It's a secret
Cost:		Various
Info:		urbanjunkies.com/agenda

SHOP

Matches
If you're feeling the Valentine panic setting in, don't worry. Fashionista favourite, Matches, have set up a jewellery master-class with vintage charm maestro Annina Vogel, at a special Love pop up shop this Saturday. Make an appointment and get some help creating a special one off piece for your loved one.

For appointments call: 0207 487 5400, 1-5pm.

Info:

Matches, 87 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QU

SATURDAY

Duckie Club Night
Billing itself as Performance + Pop + Poofters, there's a down-with-Boris theme for this crazy cabaret evening, hosted by the delightful Ame Lamé. Boogaloo Stu and guests will entertain on stage, DJs Readers Wives will be on the decks, and The Very Reverend Ivor Merkin will be giving some undoubtedly enlightening sermons. Why they'd want to get rid of the man who gave us a snow day the likes of which we haven't seen since our sproghood, we'll never know.

Time:		9pm-2am
Place:		Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY
Cost:		£5
Info:		duckie.co.uk

This week's ORIGINAL pick: Blitz
In times of crisis, it's best to band together. So if you feel in need of some community spirit, or just want to remind yourself that things don't suck as much as they could, get down to this wartime themed party complete with sandbags, searchlights, blackout curtains, and ration books. Watch 1940s inspired acts, listen to big band tunes, and come dressed in home-front utility clothing, drawn on stockings, and allied uniforms. Allied. Don't do a Harry.

Time:		7pm-late
Place:		Arches 481 & 482, Reliance Square, New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EY
Cost:		£15
Info:		theblitzparty.com

TONIGHT

Kyoku for Men
Boys, this one's for you. We go on enough about women's pampering needs, but what about your lovely man faces? Lucky for you, Kyoku has arrived in the UK with their luxury product range, including energising cleansers, volcanic ash scrubs, and bamboo rich moisturizers. We have 10 sets, worth £164 each to give away. Just tell us something about volcanoes. And if you're not lucky enough to win, book a complimentary Volcanic Minerals Facial at the Kyoku boutique pop-up salon between 10th and 13th February.

Info:

Tell us something about volcanoes

SUNDAY

Tate Triennial
Here's the premise: a new modernity is emerging. One in which increased communication, travel and migration are making our lives a chaotic journey in a teeming universe where artists are responding to globalisation via translations, dubbing, and the bonds between time and space. So, if your head hasn't exploded already, why not go and explore this new altermodernity through art, film, and discussion. Or just hide in your room and wait for your ears to stop bleeding.

Time:		10am-5:50pm
Place:		Tate Britain, Millbank. SW1P 4RG
Cost:		£7.80
Info:		tate.org.uk

Quentin Blake in conversation with Avi Shmueli
There has been much chat about psychoanalysis in the UJ office of late (yes, you probably should be worried), so it's a small comfort that lovely kiddie illustrators are also hopping onto the couch. Get lost in Blake's magical landscapes, as the author and artist discusses his body of work, the emotional power of images, and his quest to invent new worlds. Feel better?

Time:		6:30pm-8pm
Place:		The Anna Freud Centre, 21 Maresfield Gardens, NW3 5SD
Cost:		£15
Info:		urbanjunkies.com/agenda

INTERNATIONAL

Maya London
If you're still in a position to a) spend at Maya, and b) fly off to Switzerland for some après-ski fun at a moment's notice, then we hate you. So as punishment, we're suggesting a little sojourn at the first stop on Maya's '09 World Tour, at the Coco Club in Verbier. From 8pm on Saturday until 4am, take advantage of the exclusive alpine concierge service, sip on cocktails served by Coco Snow Birds, and think of us as you sit in the Alps' most luxurious VIP members club. We've never been very good at reprimanding our readers.

Info:

02072879608, reservations@mayalondon.com

EAT & DRINK

Tortilla
When we ran a feature on gourmet sarnies recently we received more than a few emails asking why we'd missed out burritos. It seems there are a growing number of fans of these tasty Tex-Mex wraps, although so far there are only two contenders to the crown in London. We say let the battle of the burritos commence!

For some time now Chilango in Fleet Street has been doling out steaming, freshly-made, burritos and tacos like there's no tomorrow, but coming up the rear is Tortilla which has just opened a second branch, conveniently next to the Tate Modern.

Both restaurants were co-started by Americans with a passion for the authentic taquerias of Mexico and California and a belief in good quality ingredients - it's not rocket science after all to wrap some slow braised pork, grilled chicken or steak with a few other zingy ingredients in flatbread but you can't cut corners either.

So perhaps this weekend is the time to start the sampling and it's at the original Islington outpost of Tortilla where you can get your burritos Friday through to Sunday.

Finally, a restaurant crawl we can all afford.



Hours:		Mon-Weds 12-10pm
Place:		13 Islington High Street, N1 9LQ
Cost:		From £4.50
Web:		tortilla.co.uk
Book:		020 7833 3103

Weekend guide by AC & MaM, food review by SL

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