TODAY
LAB

This cool little Pop Up gallery launched last weekend in creatively up-and-coming King’s Cross (where we recently viewed, and loved, the new Central Saint Martins space) featuring original artwork and prints by the likes of Danny Sangra, Stuart Semple, Mo Coppoletta, Pure Evil, Inkfetish and Henry Reeve. Come along tonight and check out a new print private view from a Mystery Guest with tunes, drinks and giveaways.

RSVP: Morgam@littleartbook.com for the guestlist. 7pm-10pm, 24 Chalton Street, NW1 1JH. Shop open daily 12pm-7pm.  

TONIGHT
Maison du Chien

Following a successful first run, the attic at Notting Hill’s Bumpkin is opening its doors once again to the eclectic charms of Maison du Chien, a night of weird performances from magicians to ballerinas, British tapas dishes, doggy-style drinking and for tonight’s launch event, Dan Lywood on the decks. Numbers are restricted to 30 per evening, Wednesdays to Fridays. Start by becoming a member at www.mediumrare.tv and call 0207 243 9818 to make your reservation. Never has being in the dog house been so chic.

The Attic at Bumpkin, 209 Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EA. From 7pm.

PLAY
The Blind Monkey

There’s still time to join in Monkey Shoulder’s ‘Blind Monkey’ interactive adventure. Put your knowledge of the gangster underworld to the test as you pledge allegiance and bring your skill sets to one of three ‘Families’. The treasure hunt is already underway with competing online gangs staking claim to their neighbourhoods, posing in front of their ‘front’ businesses, and solving puzzles in a bid to secure an invite to the Mobster Ball with the chance to win a top-secret Golden Treasure. This week's challenge is to devise a new betting racket - the  chimp with the best idea will be held in the highest esteem by Boss Monkey and  gets a guaranteed Ticket. Think you have what it takes?

Begin your adventure at www.blindmonkey.co.uk

ART PICK
Ai Weiwei

As the art world’s calendar gets full to bursting, we’re recommending you take a few minutes out of your busy schedules to go and check out legendary Chinese artist, and social commentator, Ai Weiwei’s Unilever Series installation at the Tate Modern. Made up of millions of tiny sunflower seeds scattered across the floor, the husks are actually each individually made out of porcelain in small Chinese workshops. Crunch across the ground, rifle your fingers through and, if you’re feeling inspired, head over to Dover Street Market where the artist (and prolific twitterer) has taken over the store windows with several hundreds of t-shirts hanging on 36 washing lines. They’ll even throw in a free pamphlet featuring his most profound tweets.

Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG. Free Entry.
DSM, 17-18 Dover Street, W1S 4LT. T-shirts £15.

SHOP
Couture in the 21st Century

If you thought couture died out with the loss of the corset, think again. This beautiful new tome, a Harrods Publishing collaboration with Rankin, contains portraits of some of the modern fashion world’s most accomplished craftsmen from Oscar de la Renta and Paul Smith to Erdem and Hannah Marshall. Encompassing the whole experience from showroom fittings to fashion shows, the images are accompanied by illustrations and interviews for a totally inspiring look at style today.

Available from today at Harrods, £40.

RESERVED
This week’s hottest foodie destination

The Draft House
Latest in a nice line of pub-diners comes to SE1

206-208 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP - 020 7378 9995
www.drafthouse.co.uk

Location
Perhaps not the glossiest of spots but this understated newcomer is neatly positioned between bustling London Bridge and more residential Bermondsey. With a nice view of the bridge if you stick your head outside.

Vibe
The third in a small chain of award-winning pub cum diners owned by Charlie McVeigh, like the others this one specialises in great beers and good, simple food served in groovy surroundings. So far not so different from the rest but these ones have a certain something that sets them apart.

Flavours
As I tend to limit my consumption of cold brews to the odd Guinness I’m probably not the best person to go into great detail about the extensive drafts and bottles on offer, but I will say that Rick Stein’s Chalky’s Bark went exceedingly well with my home-cured salmon with potato cakes and steak tartare with a tangle of perfect, handcut fries. There are also fine burgers, potted things and other modish takes on comforting classics from head chef Blair Mcann.

Décor
Tower Bridge has the same scrubbed wood and slightly retro, laidback vibe as the other Draft Houses but feels lighter and more spacious, with acid green banquettes adding a distinctive touch. Charlie has keen eye for graphics so the vintage posters on the walls are carefully chosen, and he’s half American so he’s good at the diner thing.

Upshot
Creating proper locals serving more than just ‘okay’ food amidst a sea of characterless gastropubs is no mean feat, but McVeigh and his team have managed, so far, to pull it off with great aplomb. And the Tasting Rooms, opening soon downstairs at SE1, should prove a great success with more qualified beer-drinkers.