London: Tea Time in Wonderland

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.

I love this confused season -  Halloween mixed with Christmas. I can almost imagine Santa trying trick or treating to fight the recession and get a few more gifts for his stock. I saw today that Oxford Street will be switching its lights on soon, November the first, one party down, time for the next. Sounds like we should all have a few more chocolates to find the energy!

* Hop, pop-corn and movie on Trafalgar. Do bring a blanket.

* American Apparel is sure to make you sprint towards your new wardrobe with prices starting from £1…

* Go an extraordinary banquet.

* American football fan? Stop at Trafalgar Square and cheer.

* Look out for pub cats.

* Try this photo challenge alonge the Thames.

* Marvel at the multitude of artistic travels and installation that make the Bloomsbury festival.

* Celebrate Diwali -  particularly at Dishoom with their family activities on Saturday!

* See London unroll in front of you in digital.

* Add a spoonful of sweetness to your life with this London honey made on Bermondsey street. Chérie City had a chance to taste it.

* One apple a day… Oh well, make it plenty of apples in one day at the Borough Market.

* Pop-ups are not dead. They just turned into vampires…

* A cash machine speaking cockney? Yes! On Roman Road. Brilliant.

* The National Portrait Gallery plays the sexy card.

* Prepare your anecdotes for Halloween.

* Gold stars to be awarded for those preferring walking to public transports?

* Looking for a cute present? One can never tire of the Biscuiteers seasonal shortbreads – have a look!

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Diwali, also called  festival of lights,  is the most important celebration of the year in India. The date varies slightly from year to year as it depends on the October-November new moon. Behind it is the fight of gods – a symbol of the victory of good on evil, of light on darkness and hance involves the lightling of  small clay lamps filled with oil. This year, Diwali is on Wednesday October 26 and the best place to be that day will be in Southall, known as London’s Little India.

There will also be plenty of events and activities in the coming month , have a look!

- On October 15, creative kids can make their own lantern at the Horniman Museum.

- On October 16, Trafalgar Square will turn very Indian with songs, dances, colourful food stalls. An enchanting atmosphere which I strongly recommend.

- From October 18-30, Dishoom will propose two special finger-licking good menus. The £22.50 includes Phadalri Kofta Ruby (a dish of dumplings stuffed with vegetables, paneer and pomegranate), Biryani, slow cooked and layered with winter vegetabless and aromatic rice encades in a dough purdah. If you upgrade to the £27.50 option there will be grilled lobstair tail cooked with chilli, lime and coriander followed by the Chicken Berry Byriani . Both feast start with either a passionfruit lassi or bellini served with a Dahi Puri (a mini puffed bread shell filled with chickpeas, yogurt, raita and tamarind), a choice of freshly baked breads, their very famous black daal, a Gola or Kulfi ice cream (try the pomegranate and chilli flavour, my favourite) and a house chai. You will also get a complimentary munthai, the traditional cake gift for Diwali. Now that is a splendid feast!

- On October 18, put on your dancing shoes at Cinnamon Kitchen. After a gorgeous cocktail and delicious canapés, you can enjoy fascinating Bollywood dances by Honey Kalaria’s Dance Academy. The magician Bjarat Patel is sure to fascinate you too. The evening costs £35 and profits go to a charity supporting those in poverty in rural india. Cinnamon Kitchen also proposes a special £45 Diwali menu from October 17-22 and this will make your mouth water: delicate tandoori king prwans, grilled partridge, roasted rack of lamb, Bombay spices vef=getables and a creamy malai hawa dessert…

- On October 20,  Divertimenti will be teaching a cooking workshop to familiarise yourself with the – mostly vegetarian – Indian cuisine. 7 dishes to discover, including biryani, spinach bread, and a special carrot cake with cardamom and pistachios.

- On October 22nd, take the kids to the Greenwich Heritage Center. They propose activities every Saturday from 10.30-noon. That day will be dedicated to Diwali collages and bunting. Alternatively, let them make a puppet show on that them at the Museum of London.

- Still on October 22nd but in the evening, dance till the end of the night at Anise, Cinnamon Kitchen’s ever so trendy lounge. Quite a party with henna tattooists and palm readers! Entrance is £10 or free if you have been dining in the restaurant before hand.

- On October 23, have fun at Dishoom‘s family day. The restaurant has asked Vayu Naidu, an internationally reknown storyteller, to explain the legend of god Rama and his wife Sita. There will be face painting too if your little ones fancy being one of the characters of that story. Everyone can also join artist Damon Priestley to create a beautiful pavement work of art called rangoli with coloured chalk. At 18.30 (yes, there is more!), don’t miss the projection of  Sita sings the blues, a brilliant cartoon on Diwali.

- On November 12, the National Maritime Museum will be joining in with a procession of lanterns through the park followed by live music.

- On November 13,Watford theatre  will conclude on a final festive note with even more Diwali music and colours.

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?

I had grown tired of cinemas -  they had lost their charm. The Nomad Cinema, this year, suceeded to bring back a wonderful atmosphere I was longing for. Have you tried it? They choose amazing places. With changing weather -  beautiful now, what will it be by the end of the day? Here you never know – indoors probably is safest: why not try this one, in a pub or this more elegant one with a glass of champagne?

If you do not have any plans for the week-end, you can find inspiration below:

* Friday is tango time at the V&A.

* Be a mad (but fun) scientist this way.

* Try a gourmet safari on Regent Street.

* Have an afternoon tea at Café Luc. Or breakfast. Or lunch. Or dinner.Their steak tartare are the most tender is the whole of London.

* Climb up the Monument in the most musical way.

* See the foundry which made Big Ben.

* Rediscover Spitafields. And do go and see this amazing synagogue, built by Huguenots and just reopened. Gorgeous.

* Gordon Ramsay goes the extra size.

* Sing along at the pub.

* Get your shoes tattooed.

Lego had the fun idea, for the London Design Festival, to build this greenhouse entirely with their transparent bricks… Even the ground is covered with some of the brand’s little cubes to create this illusion of earth. Only the plants are “real”.

It will still be in Covent Garden till tomorrow evening – this should give quite a few ideas to your little ones!

Lego Greenhouse
Covent Garden
Until Sept 25 2011, free

Well, that’s it. I have taken my woolen scarf out. I’m chilled to the bones. And I had so much hope for a lovely Indian summer. Wave if you know a pub that would already have lighted its chimney and would serve grogs.

Don’t forget…

* Friday evening, celebrate Malaysia on Trafalgar.

* Come and listen to the waves crash on Euston Rd pavement.

* Look out for Ludo.

* Cheers, my friends!

* Beware -  gorillas around!

* Greenwich market plays the green card.

* Admire Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels.

* Hello Kitty plays hide and seek in Liberty’s delicate fabric.

* Try Oh La La Bakery‘s strawberry tarlets with a little lemon zest. They are just divine.

* Amazing opportunity – the Royal Opera House will be selling some of their costumes at affordable prizes…

* Yummy German treats this way – forget the diet.

* Celebrate Eid, the end of ramadan, with a twirl of festivities on Trafalgar Square.

* Festive apple day this way.

* Tea, vintage cups and cute cakes, right here, on your doorstep.

* A dose of whisky, another of music, mix, enjoy.

* Open day for the whole family at the famous Wiltons Music Hall.

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

Malarky paints the town, well, not red but in a firework of creativity. The guy clearly dreams in technicolour. For those, look around Boundary St.

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.