We’ve hit the bleakest part of the bleakest month: mid February. So, to cheer you up, we’ve got quirky cocktails, an Aussie brunch, an up-tempo gig and a bottomless brunch. Plus we have a feel-good soundtrack, courtesy of Shotgun. Or, just want to skip town altogether? We’ve rounded up our top 5 destinations. Enjoy! This Weekend’s Picks • FRI Vico • SAT Jungle • SUN Vogue 100: A Century of Style DriveNow Sponsored Listing Forget traditional car rentals. DriveNow is the new drive and drop service with allows you to rent the latest BMW or Mini, wherever you are. Locate your nearest car via your smartphone, then get in, drive and drop off – from 32p per minute. No fuel costs, insurance, parking fees or congestion charge. UJ loves the drive and fly option: pick up, drive to the airport and fly. Simples! Registration is £29 but DriveNow is offering UJ readers an exclusive sign up fee of £4.99, plus 30 minutes of free driving. Sign up here and use promo code UJ2016 DriveNow allows you to drop your car in any residents or pay and display space in Hackney, Islington, Waltham Forest or Haringey Top 5 Travel Destinations 1. The dip in the Canadian dollar means a no-holds-barred ski trip to Whistler is on the cards 2. Or follow the surf to Sayulita 3. For a three day weekend, we have the inside scoop to Reykjavik 4. Prefer to do a wine tour? Follow Tom Harrow’s wine route through France 5. Keep Sydney Open, if you’re there – march to protest the curfew laws. If not – plan a visit only once they sort it out. Friday EAT: DRINK: Vico Cocktail Trading Co. Vico, which opened last year by the guys behind Bocca di Lupo to less than impressive reviews, have commendably taken it on the chin. No longer serving food by weight at the counter, the restaurant now has table service, waiters and a new focus on south-central Italy. We haven’t tried it yet, but last time we walked by, it was packed. Listen and learn! Cocktail Trading Company have spread their wings to Brick Lane. Here it’s all about the quirky cocktails when a glass of wine just won’t do: think pisco, cardamom-pear infusions served in a water glass holding Nan’s teeth; rum and chinotto wine concoctions served as a giant sweet, and sauv-blanc cardamom vanilla infusions in a snow globe. 12pm-12am Prices vary 1 Cambridge Circus, WC2H 8PA 4.30pm-11.30pm Prices vary 68 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GQ RESTAURANT DISCO Shotgun Good food + good tunes = good vibes. So, we’ve started a series presenting the restaurants that nail it — by sharing their playlists. It started last week with The Richmond and their slow jams playlist and we’re continuing this week with Shotgun. Think Southern dishes by the Mississippi-born chef Brad McDonald (such as porcini rubbed ox-cheeks, baby back ribs and brisket) coupled with a cocktail list by Matt Whiley and a bang up hip hop soundtrack. Have a listen to it here. Shotgun, 26 Kingly Street, W1B 5QD Saturday EAT: PARTY: Dickie Fitz Jungle The rise of Antipodean cuisine continues with Dickie Fitz and its Australian inspired weekend brunch. Dine on steamed barramundi, oysters Kilpatrick, chicken schnitzel sandwiches – and, of course, lamingtons in the light and bright dining space: large windows, high ceilings and canary yellow seats – nab a spot by the window for a hit of Vitamin D. Tickets are still available for feel good funk collective Jungle. Having played the festival circuits and sell-out shows in London and New York, you can expect this warehouse gig to sell out – tickets are already on third release. For a taster of things to come, click here and blast it. 10am-12am 50% off during soft opening (18-24 Feb) reservations@dickiefitz.co.uk 48 Newman Street, W1T 1QQ 10am-2am £17.50 5 Ashley Road, N17 9LJ FUN! FUN! FUN! Essentials So this week we just wanted you to smile. I mean, who doesn’t need a cat sushi wallet? Candle, pencil pot, wallet, sharpener Sunday SEE: EAT: Vogue 100: A Century of Style L’Escargot Celebrating British Vogue’s centenary this year, London’s National Portrait Gallery is showcasing over 280 prints from Condé Nast’s extensive archive, featuring fashion, beauty and portrait photography from the last 100 years. The result of five years of research, the exhibition spans the entire ground floor with a roll-call of greats throughout the years: Irving Penn, Cecil Beaton, Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier … we could go on. Nurse your Sunday blues with repeat serves of French pastries, fresh crepes (savoury and sweet), eggs any way and full English breakfasts at L’Escargot’s bottomless brunch. For £25, it’s all you can eat, so we say, make a day of it by arriving early (11am) and settling in – which shouldn’t be hard, thanks to the Bellini bar. 10pm-6pm From £17.50 St. Martin’s Place, WC2H 0HE 11am-4pm £25 (not including alcohol) 48 Greek Street, W1D 4EF Book Now Drive In Film Club Book your tickets ASAP for next month’s Drive In Film Club. Taking place at Alexandra Palace, films range from classics to new releases complete with stateside snacks served by roller skating staff. This is pure Americana. Oh, and tickets are just £22 per car – bargain! Drive in Film Club, March 7- March 31, Alexandra Palace, Pavilion Car Park, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY. £22 per car. WEEKEND GUIDE BY CS LIKE SHARE FORWARD PREVIOUS EDITION (c) 2016 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved. Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free weekly mailer. 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