TONIGHT
Sanderson Predicts: Yasmin

Thursday nights. What to do? We don’t know about you, but we’d rather be listening to live music in the Sanderson’s sexy courtyard than getting crushed at a sweaty pub – and when Yasmin’s playing, so much the better. The young, super-glam DJ and singer will be jetting over from Glasto to play an intimate London set for the Sanderson Predicts series, and – having already toured with N*E*R*D and Eve – she’s definitely one to watch.

7pm-12am, Sanderson Hotel, 50 Berners Street,
W1T 3NG. 020 7300 1444, RSVP : sandersonpredicts@morganshotelgroup.com

COOL TREATS
Take One – Dri Dri

St Martin’s Lane sleepover with gelato for breakfast: Dri Dri We fell in love with this Portobello gelateria a while back, so it’s good to see it popping up near Trafalgar Square for the whole summer. Try the Salted Caramel and Himalayan Pink Salt flavours, or the lighter Comice pear sorbet. It’s all served up from a traditional counter from a room that’s been set up to look like a beach with sand, pebbles, beach cabins and deck chairs. Perfect for a mid-shopping pick-me-up.

St. Martins Lane Hotel,
45 St. Martins Lane, WC2N 4HX.

COOL TREATS
Take two – Galupo

We can’t think of a boozy summer treat more perfect than the cocktail granitas being served up on the Fifth Floor of Harvey Nicks, where the Soho gelateria Gelupo is hosting a pop-up until Sunday. Our favourite is the ‘English Summer’: make your own with a splash of Hendricks gin, a scoop each of cucumber and rose granita, and a little French vermouth.

Taste Lab, Fifth Floor, Harvey Nichols food market, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ. till Sun.

SHOP
Agnés B. x Rough Trade Mariniére

Why bother with cheap knock-offs of this Mediterranean summer icon when you have can have the real thing delivered directly to your door? An exclusive pair-up between easy-chic Agnés B. and vinyl junkies, Rough Trade, we’re all over this limited edition Mariniére. Crafted from thick cotton, it’s sure to look absolutely killer on any boat or beach – whether that’s an authentic Southern French yacht, South American beach hut or semi-ironic East London pop-up.

COMPETITION
Napoletango

Napoletango is this summer’s hot new tango show by Giancarlo Sepe with an original theme by Luis Bacalov. Fusing infectious Italian culture with traditional tango rhythms, Napoletango captures the sensual and playful spirit of the infamous dance in this UK debut as it follows the Incoronato family, a raucous travelling circus troupe of 20 entertainers. We have three pairs of tickets to give away to UJ subscribers. To be in with a chance of winning, simply email your details over to us at competition@urbanjunkies.com.
Competition closes Wednesday July 6.

Latin-Neapolitan Musical
4-6 August, 7:30pm
(with matinée Aug 6, 2:30pm)

London Coliseum, WC2N 4ES.

PODCAST OF THE WEEK
Hot UJ Summer Mix!

Ease yourself into a carefree summer mindset with this mix of tropical beats, laid-back electro and remixed pop. There are hot up-and-comers – electro dude Drums of Death, Bristolian trip-hopper Phaeleh, DC technoheads Nordstrom – and new versions of Eighties tracks by Stevie Wonder and Grace Jones. Makes us want to take a dip...

Click Here to listen..

COMPETITION
Nomad Screening: Memento

You wake up in a small motel. There’s a blank spot in your memory: What happened last night? Where am I? In fact, now that I think about it, who am I? Ah, well at least you’re covered in tattoos that explain what’s going on. The kind folk at Nomad Cinema have given us 10 pairs of tickets to give away for next Friday’s screening of Chris Nolan’s excellent sophomore brain-twister. To be in with a chance of winning a pair, simply email us your details before Wed July 6.

Memento, July 8, 9:15pm. 2 Cutty Sark Gardens, SE10 9LW.

INTERNATIONAL
Four Seasons Marrakech

Marrakesh is a nice place to do in style: after rummaging through crowded souks and gorging on street food from the squares, it’s good to have somewhere like the new Four Seasons hotel (with adults-only pool, spa treatments and 40 acres of Moorish gardens) for some R&R. And as it’s still in opening mode, there are special offers running to sweeten the deal, including free spa credits, extended check-out times and buffet breakfasts thrown in. See you down there!

Open now, 1 Boulevard de la Menara, Morrocco.

GET OUT!
Garden Party

The West End on a Saturday can be a frenzied, smoggy affair… which is why this free garden party in the middle of Covent Garden caught our attention. Acoustic sets from popstrel Sunday Girl, Pimm’s, bunting, strawberries and cream: it’s everything you need to refresh yourself before hitting the shops or the bars later in the day. Definitely worth dropping by – sort of like a semi-rural escape, right in the heart of town.

Sat 12-5pm, St Martin’s Courtyard,
25 Slingsby Place, WC2E 9AB.

RESERVED
This week’s hottest foodie destination

Massimo’s Restaurant
& Oyster Bar
Luxe seafood brasserie that’s high on style

Corinthia Hotel, Northumberland Avenue, SW1A 2BD.
020 7998 0555

www.massimo-restaurant.co.uk

Location
The Corinthia hotel in Whitehall has already caused quite a stir, a possible connection with Gaddafi being the most headline-grabbing rumour. But then, what glam business development getting cash poured into it doesn’t involve dodgy dealing somewhere down the line?

Vibe
The hotel itself has the most rooms (294, plus 94 suites) and is certainly one of the swankiest in London. So it figures that they would fly in Rome’s foremost fishy chef, Massimo Riccioli, to open the star restaurant (the other is the perfectly acceptable Northall). The grand brasserie style room has instant wow factor, complete with modelly looking front-of-house staff and amazing lighting in the evening – always a plus.

Flavours
Simpler than I expected, the food at Massimo’s all sounds mouthwatering, and so it should be at the price. I’m a traditionalist when it comes to oysters and don’t eat them when there isn’t an ’r’ in the month so went, instead, for grilled octopus with avocado and aioli and turbot with cherry tomatoes, potatoes, lemons and clams. Both were good but not breathtaking. The Capriccio di ciocolatto was the best bit and I’m normally a sucker for savoury.

Décor
As schmoozy and renowned as Massimo is, for me the design is the thing here and good old David Collins Studio has done a stirling job from the jazz-age gem of a bar, Bassoon (that’s well worth popping into for a pre-dinner cocktail), through to the elegant luxe of Massimo’s.

Upshot
At £18 for a starter and into the twenties and beyond for mains it’s not somewhere you’d pop into on a regular basis. Go instead for the set menu (£23 for a two-course lunch or pre-theatre supper) or a bowl of pasta at the bar, but maybe wait until the four-floor spa has opened – and there’s an ’r’ in the month.