TODAY
Covent Garden Real Food Market

Whilst we wouldn’t advise planning any kind of picnic this weekend for fear of being overrun by Easter egg-hunting underlings (we already suffered an influx of bunting and yes – a trestle table – in Battersea Park last Sunday), we WOULD say grab your hamper essentials for next weekend’s big screen festivities of the Royal wedding. Covent Garden’s Real Food Market is back in its fifth year, and with former Borough manager Chris Denning in charge, you can expect the likes of pies and puddings, sausages and sauces, cheeses and charcuterie, artisanal breads and anti-pasti with all of the trimmings. Note to self: hurling tomatoes, organic or not, at the happy couple is not ok.

Every Thursday 11am-7pm.

TONIGHT
Lazy Oaf Launch

Time to set aside the Winter blues; and by that we mean the drab and dreary clothing choices. It’s time to embrace colour, print, and a little irreverent fun for your wardrobe. Soho-ites will have noticed the influx of independent graphic t-shirt brands popping up on Foubert’s Place, from Ifuku (not as rude as it sounds) and faux-bakery Johnny Cupcakes (check it out for the concept alone), to Lazy Oaf. To celebrate the launch of their Spring/Summer 2011 collection, the latter is throwing a shindig tonight with cake, cider, and free nail art from WAH Nails. The first 20 purchases will also get a little goodie bag to sweeten the deal.

19 Foubert’s Place, W1F 7PZ. Free.

EASTER EAT
Cox Cookies & Cake

There’s a big part of us that wants to shun cupcakes and herald in the age of the macaroon, cake pop or whatever PR-friendly treat is next. But then faced with the prospect of Easter eggs, from gourmet 120% cocoa snootiness and ‘designer’ shells (hello Zandra Rhodes for Fortnum & Mason, really?) to Cadbury candy offshoots, these rather nifty alternates from Cox Cookies & Cake are doing it for us. Bypass the still-hideous boobie bakes and head for the bunny ears poking out of a bright green lawn or Gaga-esque gold crucifix – Judas?

£4 each. 13 Brewer Street, W1F 0RH.

HEAD’S UP
Festival of Britain 60th Anniversary

Look, if there was ever a time to back Britain, this is it. Like it or not, the Royal wedding will be taking over next weekend, you get a free day off, and the weather’s set to be blazing. So what better opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain than with a series of events at the Southbank Centre including 14 artist-designed beach huts set up on Queen’s Walk, the return of UJ’s Summer 2010 favourite Jeppe Hein’s ‘Appearing Rooms’ (fountains that randomly shoot gusts of water; perfect for a run-through chill down), Tracy Emin in the Hayward Gallery, Udderbelly comedy and the ‘National Treasures’ and ‘Great Thinkers’ series of talks and events with big British names (including Herr Blumenthal) at your disposal. It all kicks off this Friday and runs until September: plenty of time to decide whether you want to apply for a nationality change at the end of it – after all – what other country dumps a giant purple upside down cow in its backyard and calls it patriotic?

22nd April – 4th September, WC2E 8HH.

OUT OF TOWN
Siamo

If you reckon the safest place to be over the next couple of weekends is far away from the capital, we say save the cash you’d spend on plane fares and hoof it to York instead. Yes, it’s still a UK postcode but it’s also now home to exciting new concept store Siamo. With ex-Henri Bendel’s (NY’s answer to Harvey Nics) buyer Sally Heale behind the clever merchandising, you can expect to get hold of Preen, Vince, DVF, DKNY, Rupert Sanderson shoes, Pistol Panties (purveyors of some of the cutest swimwear we’ve seen this summer) and Comfort Station jewellery – a total UJ fave for its quirky protestations of love.

10 Clifford Street, York, YO1 9RD.

TRENDCASTING: UJ & SONY’S VAIO VISIONARY
Freemarket

Now that you’ve all enjoyed our new Trendcaster’s first piece, ‘The Young Ones’, dig into something for the weekend with ‘Freemarket’. Bored of London’s established market stalls and reckon you know your way around the rails blindfolded? Then how about a new night market launching this weekend to spice up your life Bangkok style (oye, no ping pongs), or a refined walk down a rediscovered Bermondsey haunt – click through to find out more.

INTERNATIONAL
Aura Ibiza Opens

UJ is going to Ibiza (not in a Vengabus, come on now), and for any other early birds doing a little recce over the Easter holidays, make sure to stop by Aura which opens for the season this Friday. With no door charges and a much more intimate space than other venues, it’s a great option for a relaxed dinner in the magical garden before moving onto the canopied indoor day beds where DJs play late into the night. The new menu for 2011 includes Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Moroccan options prepared by Aura’s El Bulli trained Chef; perfect with something from the cocktail terrace surrounded by hanging bougainvillea and jasmine.

COMPETITION
Enter the Paul Smith & UJ Swim Guide Competition

If you haven’t had a chance to take a peek at our fantastic Swim Guide in collaboration with Paul Smith, what are you waiting for? And now that you’re feeling inspired by the amazing global swim spots we’ve picked out, be a part of the project by sending in your best holiday snaps for a chance to win goodie bags worth £500, an invite to a special exhibition to celebrate the guide, and you’ll even get your photograph signed by Paul himself. Want to jump in? Here’s how..

WILLIAM & CAKE

Whilst we’re not massively bothered about getting a slice of the parade-to-the-chapel action, we do at least want a piece of cake. So, rather than torturing ourselves with an exhibition of bakery-gone-by we’re heading to this one-day only pop-up royal wedding cake shop. Miss Cakehead will be filling Maiden in Shoreditch with cakes featuring ‘phototoppers’ of the happy couple, Molly Bakes’ cake pops, union jack cupcakes, McVities biscuit cakes and a cake ‘set’ of all the major players appearing on the balcony. Proof that when it comes to the Royal Wedding you can have your cake and eat it too.

28th April, opening time 11am.
188 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6HU.

ROYAL WEDDING
ALL-NIGHTER

If this whole weekend feels like one big nightmare, fear not: tonight, stay up past your bedtime and enjoy back-to-back golden oldie science fiction and horror film flicks with a suitably gruesome marital theme. Featuring ‘Bride of the Gorilla’,‘I Married a Monster from Out of Space’ and the Boris Karloff classic ‘Bride of Frankenstein’, come morning you’ll be in the sort of wide-eyed, bushy-tailed, cynical mood best befitting a Royal Wedding. And you’ll have the whole day free to join all the other numpties lining the streets to Westminster Abbey. Bonus.

28th April, 11pm-7am. £35. Apollo Piccadilly Cinema, 19 Regent Street, SW1Y 4LR.

BOMPAS & PARR JELLY MOULDS

We know, we know – you had to be super quick off the mark to get hold of tickets to this delicious duo’s Chocolate Waterfall at Whiteley’s (we’re really quite jealous not to be diving under a torrent of liquid cocoa, umbrella in tow, this weekend). But you can ensure you and yours have a bit of fun on the Royal wedding weekend by snapping up some of the pair’s signature jelly moulds including Buckingham Palace, Brighton Pavilion and some traditional party shapes, all of which come with a recipe for inspiration. Look out for the accompanying in-store installation – you might need a spoon. .

In Selfridges from 26th April. £12.95 each.

EASTER AT FIKA

For sheer brazen, heathenous nonsense we have to give a shout out to Swedish joint Fika, who have taken their national tradition of dressing as witches and leaving eggs for their neighbours to a whole new, non time-sensitive level. Yes, Easter may have been last weekend but if you got left in the cold by the bunny, here’s a hunt for those hungry for more than foil-covered chocolate. The restaurant (also purveyors of the rather fine Rekorderlig cider) will be hiding eggs around Hoxton Square which contain prizes like a Swedish massage, bottles of champagne and 3-course meals. Nicest black magic we’ve ever seen anyway.

30th April 12pm-4pm, Free.

LEONARD ST ROYAL WEDDING STREET PARTY

Despite all of the b*tching and moaning we do about it, when all’s said and done: what’s a party without bunting, really? If you hate your neighbours and have no intention of sharing a paper napkin with the buggers, why not head to this pre-prepared street party where all you need to bring is yourself. Toast the happy couple with punch, party games and the opportunity to seriously ham it up, expect everything from flag waving and cocktails to a barbeque and victory roll hair-do thanks to coiffeurs, High Roller. Or just settle down to watch the wedding live on a big screen. And whilst Kate and Wills head off to enjoy their honeymoon night (what a party...), you can pile into The Book Club for ‘A Right Royal Knees Up’. Entry is free but you need to pick up a wristband beforehand from The Book Club.

10:30am-5pm. Free. A Right Royal Knee’s Up: 6pm-2am £5 after 8pm.

LAND OF KINGS

With all of the Royal Wedding hoo-hah, you’d be forgiven for forgetting your terribly cool East end roots; so for those looking for their lost edge, this Dalston-based mini-festival is a great little alternative to all the Rule Britannia craziness happening around town.  From basement parties to rooftop all-day events, film showings to secret banquets, cabaret, video installations and pop-up cafes they’ll be loads on at venues like The Arcola Theatre, Dalston Roof Park and the Nest. The mere mention of DJ sets by 2many DJs and Romy from the XX has already got us planning to spend our Bank holiday weekend along the Kingsland Road. What, it’s got ‘King’ in it right... so technically we’re doing it for the country. Thank you.

28th-29th April, 6pm-late. £10-£30.

RESERVED
This week’s hottest foodie destination

Byron Burger
Rule Britannia with the juiciest burger on the touristy block.

11 Haymarket, SW1Y 4BP.
020 7925 0276

www.byronhamburgers.com

Location
Oh Lordy, yes you WILL have to traverse Piccadilly’s crazy tourist crossroads to make your way down Haymarket, so expect to see plenty of visitors clutching Lillywhites bags. However, once you’ve made the turn, it’s quite a gentile street with Byron taking a corner spot in an impressive building further down the road away from the hoi-polloi.

Vibe
This new flagship is a curious mixture of American diner meets Rule Britannia. The slightly rockabilly edge from the round racks of condiments and giant airstream-esque open kitchen is balanced by the very obvious ‘Hello this is London’ location with enough irreverent touches to raise a smile (playing card business cards and semaphore flag feedback forms). The staff are friendly and relaxed, plus we reckon this branch is far enough off the main strip to get enough of a buzz without coach loads of camera-wielders ruining the vibe. The back room is better for a darker, more intimate experience.

Flavours
The burgers here are super juicy and succulent (the Scottish meat is minced fresh on site daily with leftovers given to charity) , and with only three varieties all served ‘pink’, it’s fuss-free eating at its best. Top your choice off with the likes of sliced avocado, Portobello mushroom or red peppers, and get stuck into the sides from courgette fries (oh so good) and skin-on chips to a great mac & cheese. If that all feels too yellow, the house salad is a breath of vitamin-infused air. And leave room for dessert, we heard an American couple next to us discussing the Cheesecake Factory and describing Byron’s version as ‘unusually good’ how’s that for an endorsement. The chocolate brownie isn’t bad either. If you’re feeling festive this weekend get the Royale with Cheese and call it Pulp Fiction if you can’t bear any more Wills and Kate wordplay.

Décor
It’s an alternate riff on being British from the old to the new, where the front room is decked out with reclaimed furniture right out of a railway station and the back is a modern interpretation of TFL. But before you start having closure nightmares and backing away, stop – we really liked the massive station clock, fun landmark wallpaper (hunt for the taxi driver taking on a cyclist) and big metal lamps in the front (though the salvaged striped tube seating may be a bit much), and the huge neon reconstruction of the tube map hanging from the ceiling and map of London made entirely out of street names round the back. Look – if you’re going to be in that area of town, you might as well as play with it.

Upshot
Don’t diss the mini-chain people – Russell Norman’s a fan of Byron’s burgers and he’s well on the way to creating his own little empire. What you’ll get here is a non identikit interior with the same awesome burger every time. And we really do have to give props to the service. .