London seems to have a thing for it too. London-on-sea. Southbank has a mini-kids-beach for the summer. The Red Market, who is finally opening in Shoreditch this week-end after many delays, is proposing an urban version. Palmtrees, pétanque, deckchairs and cocktails. Even pop-ups go sea-food style!

Are you next holidays way too far? Look for a few London ideas here insteas:

* Come and join hundreds of musicians on Southbank this Friday.

* Peyrton & Byrnes are opening a pop-up within Kew Gardens. Dinner will be enhanced with herbs and eatble flowers foraged in the park and served with a little jazz.

* Pretend you are Sherlock Holmes at the Natural History Museum.

* Sleep at the Barbican. No kidding: cushions, duvet and breakfast included!

* Didn’t get your tickets for Wimbledon? Opt for plan B: a 360 degree-view platform at Selfridges.

* Rush to Greenwich for their extraodinary summer festival.

* Be a yogabunny in Hyde Park.

* Food party in Soho.

* Learn to be a barista.

* Did you there now is a farmers’ market every week-end at Portobello?

* Manucure and champagne? Luxury down to your fingertips.

* Discover a roof garden in Southwark -  only open to the public this Sunday. Have a look at the artist’s (Mathew Bell) other creations in London.

* Look up and hunt for hints of the Old London.

* Next stop: Murakami!

Pssst: Are you one of the bloggers chosen by #Regenttweet to tweet the fashion news this Saturday? Leave us a comment and see you on Saturday at Swarowsky’s! Don’t forget your shopping bag…

Make the most of this lovely spring atmosphere and escape to Notting Hill. Join the tourists on Portobello Market, get yourself a royal mug, count the multi-coloured doors, sit down for a Black bottom cupcake at the Hummingbird Bakery, have a fish lunch at Pesceria Mattiuci or a romantic dinner at Dragoncello, sit down comfortably in the leather armchairs of the Electric Cinema, discover a mini tea-ceremony at Teanamu (more about this later this week)…

…and have a look at the Corroded Surfaces show: street art uses metallic recycled basis, shutters, sculpted steel, old boxes, discarded planks, fridge doors…

Our friend Psychonautes’ stencils are there too – palette of luminnous blue, tribal tattoo inspired… look out for those on the streets too, even on Leake St!

Coroded surfaces until March 20, 2011 included – free
Graffik London
284 Portobello Road
London W10 5TE

- First, get yourself  a free bacon roll today to get in the mood…

- Stop @ Soho square -  Buxton has a pop up there and gives away bottles and water. You can even sit in a deckchair and relax…

- Don’t forget to do your food shopping @ the Real Food Market on Southbank…

- Looking for the perfect shoe? Have a look at Vivienne Westwood’s creations @ Selfridge’s…

- A new conception of theatre with Theatre Souk…

- Morris dancers invade London this week-end -  head for Southbank for an amazing free gig!

- Fight death penalty @ St Martin-in-the-field…

- For a lighter note, cross the street and enjoy the Liberty festival on Trafalgar: music, workshops for kids and a circus show!

- You will feel like writing on the walls with the Nothing is forever exhibition…

- Follow the art trail!

- Forget Portobello market -  there’s a whole film festival going on there with a pop up cinema until September 19th: classic movies and even premieres! Even better it is all free…

- Get your bike out of the garage -  Sunday, the city’s heart is yours with the Skyride! The map’s right here.

- Rediscover Little Venice…

- Look up and gaze at the stars @ Greenwich…

- The Globe has designed a Thames inspired menu…

You will find me in Jermyn street, turned into a garden party on Saturday… and at the Royal opera House, turning into a forest this week-end and there will be free muscical events (get your free ticket from the website!). What is your tip for the week-end?

- Waterloo is offering a food festival -  have a look this way for the program….

- Is the sea too far for you? Well, you can always pretend with Sergent’s gorgeous paintings…

- Do your gourmet shopping in Soho with this brand new Saturday market!

- Stroll through Portobello and try this new ice-cream parlour. Liquorice ice-cream? Ice-cream served on an espresso? Mmmmmh….

- See London differently. Why not with a canoe?

- Be French! Go and play petanque and grab a glass of Ricard…

- Grab friends, a picnic, a nice bottle of wine: it’s the season for open air cinemas!

- Are you a MRavel/Twilight/Star Wars fan? Rush to this festival!

- Dance, play, sing in Shoreditch! The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will play on Friday evening and there will be fireworks. The rest of the week-end will be more family-oriented.

- Oh, and the newest pop-ups… Cheers to Courvoisier (cocktails, massages, martial art)… With Campari, you’ll have cocktails with a view… Play ping-pong for free with Puma (100 tables will be dispatched around London until mid-August)

- Have you heard of  Short and Sweet? this cafe proposes an evening of short films every Monday. Entry is free.

You’ll find me… looking at elephants – yep, those you’ve seen around London, only half size. They’re being sold in a 5* hotel on Friday evening (all the info is on their facebook page)
After that, I need to try and exhaust my daughter @ Legoland. what are your plans?

Here’s to put you in the mood:

- The Portobello Winter festival starts this wednesdau and will have thematic nights every Wednesday till Xmas

- Don’t forget to get prepared for those Xmas parties and meals: celebrate Thanksgiving!

Feeling better? Here’s for the week-end:

- Head for the new pop-ups before they blow away with the fashion wind… Nes-cafe @ Liberty and the famous Parisian Colette on Brick Lane

- Need your weekly dose of street art? Hoorray! Mutate opens its doors again @ Portobello.

- Even Damien Hirst is back @ the White Cube Gallery. It’s still time to see his No love lost @ the Wallace collection

- Spendid news pictures @ The Royal Festival Hall…

- Alternatively hum Only you @ Proud Chelsea… Great pics of a young Elvis.

- Kids will find happiness in Covent Garden – there will be a real reindeer to pat Saturday afternoon. Parents will probably prefer the amazing jewel exhibition that flashes magic lights under UVs…

You’ll find me @ the Secret Cinema… and having an underground afternoon tea. What’s YOUR program?

Tourists and locals rush there for the atmosphere, joining the week-end crowd, looking here and there. One is always amazed at the huge stock of silbver teaports, the toy double decker buses or lead toy soldiers, the real and false antiques… (Have a look at Alice, you’ll be amazed!). Or even just have a stroll through the nearby streets, so much quieter, glossy doors, looking the same and different at the same time, draped with ivy sometimes…

If you love British icons, you’ll be delighted. Why not have a cup of tea with the Royal family? Having foreign friends coming for a visit? So chic to serve your Earl Grey in a jubilee cup…

Of, course, you’ll find plenty fo books and videos too… (Try the Oxfam book shop – nice collection there)

…but also stamps…

…and even thimbles…

Would would have thought Portobello was fir for a king/queen?

Portobello Market

Tube: Notting Hill

Alice’s merite bien son nom et alterne entre un monde merveilleux, un melange d’epoques et la caverne d’Ali Baba. Vous y trouverez du vintage, du So British, du kitsch.

Les prix sont un peu eleves a mon gout mais… quel regal pour les yeux!

86 Portobello Road
Notting Hill
London
W11 2QD
Pas de photos dans le magasin ! No pictures inside!

Going to Portobello Market? Don’t miss this address in the antiques part.

Alice’s certainly deserves its name. Expect a nix between wonderland and Aladdin’s, alternayting periods, soooo British touches, vintage and kitsch. You won’t believe your eyes.

Prices are a bit high for my taste but what a feast for the eyes!