Something For The Weekend

In the buff...

We live in liberated times – all over the country women are breastfeeding on public transport and thong-bikini clad housemates are broadcast unabashed on national TV. So when our summer shorts have mysteriously shrunk over the winter, and the crammed tube journey is causing a little under-arm humidity, it’s no wonder that the temptation to go starkers becomes too great for some of the capital’s good citizens. And it’s not just our capital either - this Saturday, in cities all over the world, hundreds of plucky cyclists will be stripping off, painting themselves up and parading around the streets. Not, as you might imagine, for titillation and spectacle but in the name of political protest.

The World Naked Bike Ride is a protest against oil dependency and the environmental damage caused by cars. It’s also meant to be a stark symbol of cyclists’ vulnerability on the roads. You don’t have to be naked to join the ride but nudity and creative body-painting are absolutely encouraged. There are body painters on hand before the ride starts to make the most of your wobbly bits, but before you find yourself requesting a “tiger please, miss” as a knee-jerk homage to your childhood days, remember that horizontal stripes are terribly unflattering.

Get your bod and your bike to Wellington Arch in Hyde Park Corner for 3pm.

scariest sleepover EVER...

It might be for charity but it would take balls of steel as well as a heart of gold to get most people into the London Dungeons after dark.

The BT Giant Sleepover is a nationwide charity event, with all proceeds going to Childline.  All across the country, over 32,000 kids will be sleeping over in various places in an attempt to raise money and to break the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous sleepover ever.  And yep, you’ve guessed it, on June 17th here in London, the dungeons are just one of the venues tempting fearless kids to zip up their sleeping bags for the night.

Once they’ve battled through the mirror maze, walked the Labyrinth of the Lost and munched through a midnight feast, those who are still awake will have the chance to learn the terrifying history of London and perhaps encounter some ghosts and ghouls who haven’t quite managed to rest in peace, or pieces just yet.

The Giant Sleepover is open to children aged 7 – 13 in organised groups and costs £20 for each registration. Registering doesn’t guarantee your sleepover will be hosted in the Dungeon, but if you’re one of the lucky groups you’ll be warned in advance.  And remember kids, those bodies might be made of wax but they’re still watching you.

The BT Giant Sleepover takes place from Saturday 17th – Sunday 18th June. For further information and to register a group call 0870 240 1640

BOOK THE LONDON DUNGEON TICKETS HERE

you know you live in London when...

I just pillaged this list off www.itchylondon.co.uk - another wicked site listing the coolest London happenings. Some it rings eerily true. In fact, most of it does...

1 . You say "the City" and expect everyone to know which one.

2. You have never been to The Tower of London or Madame Tussauds but love Brighton

3. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Shepherds Bush to Elephant & Castle at 3:30 on the Friday before a long weekend, but can't find Dorset on a map.

4. Hookers and the homeless are invisible.

5. You step over people who collapse on the Tube.

6. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multilingual.

7. You've considered stabbing someone.

8. Your door has more than three locks.

9. You consider eye contact an act of overt aggression.

10. You call an 8' x 10' plot of patchy grass a garden.

11. You consider Essex the "countryside".

12. You think Hyde Park is "nature".

13. You're paying £1,200 a month for a studio the size of a walk-in wardrobe and you think it's a "bargain".

14. Shopping in suburban supermarkets and shopping malls gives you a severe attack of agoraphobia.

15. You pay more each month to park your car than most people in the UK pay in rent.

16. You pay £3 without blinking for a beer that cost the bar 28p.

17. You actually take fashion seriously.

18. You have 27 different take-away menus next to your telephone.

19. The UK west of Heathrow is still theoretical to you.

20. You're suspicious of strangers who are actually nice to you.

21. Your idea of personal space is no one actually physically standing on you.

22. £50 worth of groceries fit in one plastic bag.

23. You have a minimum of five "worst cab ride ever" stories.

24. You don't hear sirens anymore.

25. You've mentally blocked out all thoughts of the city's air/water quality and what it's doing to your insides.

26. You live in a building with a larger population than most towns.

27. Your cleaner is Portuguese, your grocer is Somali, your butcher is Halal, your deli man is Israeli, your landlord is Italian, your laundry guy is Philippino, your bartender is Australian, your favourite diner owner is Greek, the watch seller on your corner is Senegalese, your last cabbie was African, your newsagent is Indian and your local English chippie owner is Turkish.

28. You wouldn't want to live anywhere else until you get married.

29. You roll your eyes and say 'tsk' at the news that someone has thrown themselves under a tube train.

30. Your day is ruined if you don't get a copy of Metro on the way to work.

KATIE ON: Open air theatre

Don't you just LOVE this time of year?  The sun actually looks like it's going to make a warmth worthy appearance and a tan is on the distant but visible horizon. Summer lovers unite, shake out their picnic rugs and prepare to spend your evenings outside.

One of my favourite memories from back home in Autralia (sun central) was an evening spent at the open air theatre in the Adelaide Botanical Gardens.  With friends, wine in plastic cups, a warm evening and Shrek for company, we were in heaven.  I never dreamed I'd be able to brave the elements in London.  I was wrong.

Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout June free cult movies will be screened at The Scoop.  It may not be the leafy green surroundings of a botanical garden but there's a certain charm about an informal open-air ampitheatre on the south bank of the Thames. The London Bridge and Tower Bridge are a backdrop to remember. And did I mention... it's FREE?!

The movies are classics.  Think Brief Encounter, Chinatown, Moulin Rouge, Some Like it Hot, The Wicker Man, Cabaret, Dr StrangeLove and Alien. Shrek baby - eat your heart out. You don't need to book but be there by 9.15pm for a 9.30pm start.

Yep, outdoors is the place to be this month. Unless of course you're one of the snufflers on the tube suffering from hayfever...

For full listings and directions, head to the official website.

news from Boogaloo...

Boogaloo are delighted to announce that they will be showing all the England World Cup games.They will be doing a special table service and reservations for these fixtures. They are also doing a special offer on Pitchers of beer!

The first match is this coming Saturday at 3pm, Doors open at 12pm.

All other games, times and dates are listed on their website.

To reserve a table please email [email protected]

Please remember this is a first come /first served basis, there are limited spaces to provide comfort while watching the games.Book early to avoid dissappointment.

THE BOOGALOO - 312 Archway Road, Highgate, 020 8340 2928

The sun has found a hat he likes and he's planning on wearing it Saturday

Ok, the weather forecast for Saturday looks a little like this:

 

…which after this grizzly week is going to be an absolute dream. This got me thinking about what to do with such a glorious day in the offing.

Plan A
Trick “only-London-based-friend-with-garden” into having a BBQ. I’ve set this evil plan into motion already by cunningly asking some mutual friends what time his BBQ is starting. They’ve expressed surprise saying they had no knowledge of said BBQ and will ask “only-London-based-friend-with-garden”  if they can come too. GENIUS. Hopefully when everyone starts asking him what time to turn up he’ll simply go with the flow.

Plan B
Assuming that “only-London-based-friend-with-garden” actually has a mind of his own, (evidence of which I have often seen unfortunately) I may need another plan. So here are some ideas about gorgeous Saturday:

Bonkers-fest: hitting normality where it hurts
At first I thought the rather Timmy Mallet-esque title smacked a little of desperation, then I read the hype and my fears weren’t entirely put to rest – one can definitely try too hard to be crazy and out-there. HOWEVER, it does feature both Mass Drumming by the London School of Samba (sounds quite exciting) and also Mexican Burritos… yum! If you’re nearby (it's being held on Camberwell Green) drop in at 2pm for the drumming.

Rhythms of the World Cup
This is basically a free world music event, riverside by the Royal Festival Hall. The idea is that all the nations of the World Cup are represented here. Think sunny day, sitting with a beer on the South Bank, listening to lots of different bands… bound to be a good giggle. Moreover, I’ve found that concrete reflects the sun quite well for that much sought after under-chin tan.

Birds Eye View Film Festival
Lots of cool/interesting/funny short films on show – oh and they’re all made by “birds” (or “hoes” to be more horticulturally correct).

So even if my evilly connived BBQ doesn't come to fruition there'll be something to keep my idle hands from the devil's work.