London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Each year, rather than adding yet another toy to the house, I take my daughter to see a musical. Girly time and fabulous memories. The Cirque Invisible, the Lion King, the Wizard of Oz. This year,  Wicked put a spell on us. The theatre in itself is already magical, a different universe. Do take the binoculars (£1, one between each seat) to better see the details of the decors and costumes. The story? A different version of Oz, each role being reversed, sprinkled with formidable humour. Quick, go and see it!

Christmas is coming to town:
* Go gift hunting on that adorable Finnish market.
* Plenty of ideas at the Chelsea Physic Garden fair too.
* On the craft side, you will find real wonders at the Merry Magpie pop-up.

That’s art, baby!
* Nothing better than 4D projection to bring life back into a building.
* Is art really rubbish?

Yummy time:
* Burger revolution.
* It is winter time and Dickens then rhymes with punch and Courvoisier.
* Still on the Dickens’ theme -  opt for the pub crawl!
* Food allergies? Go and enjoy this free from festival.

Shopaholics, beware:
* Remember Upper Street? Great news -  they are having a sample sale of unique models this Saturday, up to 50% off the original price. Just go to Upper Street Studios, 1A Clarendon Buildings, 11 Ronalds rd, London, N5 1XJ. From 10.00 to 16.00, payment by card only.

Take the little ones along:
* Especially for adventurers-to-be: a tour of the HMS Belfast with a hot chocolate.
* This adorable kids festival in South Kensington should make the whole family happy.

Out of the ordinary:
* Le Cool and Fiji Water have thought of a wonderful winter stroll along a forgotten river -  click here to see the app / map, it’s all free!
* Underground tales, this way.
* Discover London… aboard a kayak.
* Manga fans, rejoyce: this one takes place at the British Museum.
* One of the mysteries of London…

My mind is elsewhere this week. Partly in endless Xmas shopping lists, partly in the mountains of leaves in the garden that I keep jumping in with my daughter and partly in packing a suitcase. I will be enjoying the sun of New Delhi next week. A few days with spices and exotic colours…

We wish you a merry Xmas (no, it’s never too early)
* Bond street lights will be switched on on the 17th – the shop windows always are worth making a special detour…
* Also on the 17th – 20% reduction in Carnaby street!

That’s art, baby:
* Tip your hat to Terence Conran‘s genius at the Design Museum.
* With birds… or without?
* Art vs postcard. Love at first sight, buy one and learn at the very end who did it. You may well have a Tracey Emin or an Anish Kapoor!

Yummy time:
* Say no to food waste. On Trafalgar Square Friday evening, learn to cook a better way and nibble delicious treats.
* Indulge in delicious breakfasts.
* Coffee or tea?

Out of the ordinary:
* You knew speed-dating. The new trend is speed listening – ipod music sharing with a cocktail.
* Try a less known park.
* Sleep in an Ikea.
* Give aquatic siatshu a try – you can’t get bored in this town!

Well if it is going to get all chilly and wet, I might as well go winter cocktails hunting. You’ll find a few celebration ideas here. Mulled ciders, toddies, buttered rums, here I come!

That’s art, baby:
* Go and see Leo. Not the one from Titanic, the other one.
* Hogarth’s house (the famous painter) is opening again to the public. Even better, entrance is free.
* Discover little secrets of your daily household objects…
* You will be in awe of this photo exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall.
* Do you have a lucky charm? There is a whole collection here.

The music touch:
* Dance, sing, play along the Thames with the Merger festival.
* Jazz it up!

A little fresh air:
* Street lights are pretty much the same from one year to another these days. Yet Carnaby street‘s always are particularly colourful. They’re switched on Nov 10. Oh, and Covent Garden has digitalised the Nativity scene. Not to be missed!
* Keep fighting and garden.

Kids-friendly:
* See (real) reindeers at Covent Garden.

Yummy time:
* Falling for cupcakes? Meet Lola’s founders Thursday at Selfridge’s.
* The Make Lounge offers lovely workshops – this week-end it is all about chutneys and jams.
* To decorate your cakes as if they were works of art, have a look here.
* Oh, a new supperclub, Spanish style…

Out of the ordinary:
* Fancy being  foxy? I mean, really?
* Express yourself and get a free haircut.
* Less known but still worth a detour: the mayor’s parade.

Psst, try your luck, we have two competitions on the blog at the moment:
*5 Time Out Eating and drinking guides for foodies.
* You live in the UK? Great – you might win £400 worth of flights to Europe.

This week-end brings a luxuty escape. On a train. On a luxury train. I will admire the vibrant British countryside from the cocoon of the British Pullman. Breakfast on board, a stroll in the Cotswold villages, champagne and dinner on the way back, watchinh the lights switching on softly…

What about you?

* Indulge in a gourmet pub crawl. The menu is mouthwatering and we guarantee you will fall in love with the Renaissance Pubs…

* Art switches to 3D

* The famous champagne bar Kettner’s will be offering with Jameson a different party each evening between October 12 and 27. Hoorray!

* Celebrate Diwali.

* There is some dancing at the Scoop.

* Nothing more autumn like than a market dedicate to wine and cheese.

* Discover the latest artitic installation in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall – movies are a piece of art too.

* Aromatherapy and macaron: isn’t it me time yet?

* Well, this week is chocolate week. You can go round the best chocolatiers in town who will be proposing a variety of events or… spend an afternoon at Chocolate Unwrapped where they will be presenting their best treats.

* Why not sip a free one with a cute paper umbrella at Hendrick’s?

* Take your coffee with style.

* Hop, second dose of Tracey Emin this year.

* Big Ben leans. Yes, you read that right.

* Indoor bike training, graffiti and trendy music included, is the new winter sport.

* Love the Royal Family? Well, the Diamond Jubilee china is now on sale.

* Are you all ready for Movember? You might be missing a crucial accessory.

Lazarides had last year transformed the Old Vic Tunnels in a Lovecraftian world between art and Dante’s hell. Visitors would go from one arched room to another, taken aback by the atmosphere.

And so they decided to try it again, changing the theme to The Minotaur. Sadly, this proved slightly disappointing for second-time visitors. No surprise about the place, you know your way through it. A room is a VIP special, a boutique awaits you near the bar, another at the exit, another side is booked for the gourmet pop-up. Too commercial, too predictable somehow.

I will however clap aloud for Doug Foster. Already part of the first adventure, he presented one of his sublime projections. Imagine a galaxy of a thousand minute stars, an incense cloud that would create shapes both reassuring and threatening, demons and deities, reflecting on water, invading the space, imposing themselves to you. Grandiose illusion.

Lazarides -  The Minotaur
£5 -  until October 25, 2011
Old Vic Tunnels
Station approach road
London SE1 7NN

I feel like colouring the sky with the highlighters I keep at work, don’t you? Meanwhile, we can always paint the town red…

* Every Thursday in October, taste beer in a micro-brewery.

* (Re)discover Brixton village, who has its own currency.

* There will be dancing on the squares.

* Art shine in neon colours.

* Get your bike out -  there is a cake tour on!

* Step into a magical world.

* Learn a little something about a legend of Brick Lane.

* Get a slice of Boris.

* Harrods adds a Swedish touch to Xmas treats.

* Even if you are not planning to marry, go and admire those sublime vintage dresses.

* Calling all the honeys…

* You can love knitting AND be a bit of a rebel.

* Oh, that should really get you dancing  if you are a Tina Turner fan.

Pssst: Lazarides is lauching their second artistic edition in the Old Vic Tunnels. The theme will be the Minotaur and this should also be quite a gastonomic experience too. Have you got your ticket yet?

Part of the London Design Festival, the installation by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec at the V&A really is worth stopping by – this is the ideal way to see a museum a different way. Or angle. The room is sumptuous architecture wise -  very church like, long with high ceilings – yet the two Bretons brother succeeded to give it a touch of tenderness. On the ground is a matress like carpet, very comfy, elevated on the left and right, offering a palette of blues like pixelised sky. It looks incredibly inviting and visitors waste no time, quickly take their shoes on, first sit, then lay down whithin a couple of minutes. Kids happily race each other, roll around, jump, try all kind of pirouettes. A great way to absorb everything the room has to offer, noting details while dreaming away.

Well done to the creators -who have worked with Issey Miyake, Ligne Roset, Alessiand so many more. By making this space less sacred (the shhh, don’t make a sound instinct) they reminded us there are a thousand way to learn and they need not be boring.

Textile Field
V&A
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Until Sept 25 2011, free

Every year, the London Design Festival proves fascinating with creativity. Go and see the greenhouse made entirely of Lego in Covent Garden, the timber wave at the V&A, see this museum under a different angle, wonder whether Alice would have loved this impressive dress, and wow at some Svarowski in St paul.

Hibernate? You don’t have the time, there are so many things to seee:

* This week-end also is the Open House one. For some places, tickets needed to be booked well in advance but many other addresses will be accessible easily. Like this one.The whole program is this way.

* Indulge in a Russian brunch.

* Go to Burlington Arcade to see how smart a tux can be.

* See a film on a rooftop with a view on the Thames. You might want to grab a blanket but it is always a nice experience.

* Honey, I have shrunk the art.

* Rediscover Annie Lennox  through her costumes, souvenirs, political campaigns.

* Follow the tube.

* Learn to sew in a fab café.

* Be charmed.

* Dance on African music.

* Fan of William Curley, the best british chocolatier? Pre-order his new book on his website and you will receive it signed with a dedicated message.

* Get fruit foraging in London.

This sublime Georgian house hides rich staircases and painted ceilings that would make any noble Parisian pale with envy. Although this is now a private members’ club, it does open its doors to private events. if you ever get an invite don’t miss the opportunity to come and admire it!

Home House
20 Portman Square
London W1H 6LW

We fell in love with Kate Jenkins – this genius artist crochetted with infinite patience supermarket classics with a fun twist. Rush to see this and take the kids along!

Kate’s crochet market
Rebecca Hossack Gallery
28 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia,
London W1T 2NA
Free, until Sept. 24 2011