London: Tea Time in Wonderland

I love, in the British language, the expression Paint the town red. Fits London so well. This colours is already pretty iconic but oh, my, in this pre-Valentine-day period, it seems it is the only one around…

That’s art, baby:
* Rediscover the Sunday times mythical pictures at the Saatchi.
* Get your own pop-up London. To get it from Amazon, click here.
* London artist add a touch of blues to the capital.

Yummy time ahead:
* Pssst -  get your coffee at Salt and get a breakfast treat free this week, from Thursday to Sunday.
* Taste the Chelsea Physics Garden’s honey.
* Liquorice and sweets fans, rejoyce.
* It’s the last straw (almost) in Soho.
* The new fun way to eat cake is here.
* Gospel, brunch and a view.

Take the little ones along:
* Sing along the Gruffalo.
* At the Somerset House, the kids craft workshops will be about mirrors and marble effects.
* Kids have their own festival on Southbank.

Love, love, love:
* You probably do not know her yet. Lili Bé is one of the most talented froggies I know and she illustrates London and life with a smile. In French, but still, take a look at those limited edition posters and tell me you do not fall for it. I would love to have this a a bag too. Don’t you?

Out of the ordinary:
* The end of the world is getting nearer.
* Let your heart beat for flamenco.
* Find love heart sweets irresistible? Well, at the Jewellery school on Sunday, you can make you own charm one.

I’m French. That alone defines my love for good food, my curiousity to try new tastes, to discuss a wine for hours.
The Real Food Festival opens its doors this week-end so you can imagine how impatient I am. 400 deli stalls and so many treats to discover! I’m licking my lips in anticipation.
My friends from Café On and their macarons, The Sweet Tooth Factory and their rainbow of cheesecakes,  Supercherry and their Italian sweet wines (more about this next week!) will be there too.

What about you? Gourmet or adventurous week-end?

* How gothic – there will be a projection of Frankenstein in the Anatomy Museum on Thursday.

* Your credit card will be smoking – 20% off evening at Seven Dials.

* Tune to another kind of music and listen to a ukuleles concert.

* It’s drive-ins season again, my friend!

* What? you haven’t invaded rooftops yet?

* A chewing gum exhibition? Yes, daaarling, that’s art.

* Tea or coffee, that is the question at this festival on Southbank. The Sweet Tooth Factory will be there too with a whole range of spongecakes, including a rooibos and a chocolate-rose one.

* A new craft café is opening up -  you can learn to sew or embroider before enjoying a piece of homemade cake.

* Love that theme? Go and see the craft event at the Saatchi Gallery.

* Visit artist studios.

* Happy birthday to Coca-Cola – get a free drink at Selfridges on Sunday.

* Enjoy a view on the canal in Hackney.

* Brixton’s windmill reopens - lovely outing.

* Be on your way to Brick Lane’s festival. Spices all around! We particularly love Sheba there.

What an amazing art installation in the Saatchi basement.

I had read the presentation, knew what to expect -  but still your mind tricks you. You step closer and you brain is so confused for a second. How to limit the ceiling, ground, walls? How deep is the place? You’ll find yourself trying to analyse sunshine rays…

Only in a second time will you get back to reality -  a smell tickling your nose.

Yep, this room is filled with a sump oil sea. Not a line on the surface, not a movement – you even have a crazy thought that it looks like one could walk on it. The camera will be the best traitor here.

It will keep you mesmerized for a good ten minutes. Another kind of art sulpture!

Richard Wilson 20:50 installation
Saatchi Gallery
Chelsea
London, SW3 4SQ
Metro: Sloane square

Free! Until May 07, 2010