London: Tea Time in Wonderland

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.

Holywell Lane car park, Shoreditch, London

This week, London’s universe was turned upside down. There were flames and rioters. There also were strong communities and amazingly brave people. You may not have been there -  you may have been far away watching the news on a TV screen, or following the events on Twitter but your heart was with the city. Whole neighbourhoods will carry the scars of a few nights of madness. Still, walk in the centre and it is difficult to believe that anything happened at all, nothing has changed there. Surreal but this is London too -  her many lives, her many ways, her absorbing trends and events alike, just getting stronger from it all. So make the streets your own again. Go for a stroll, support the victims, join a riot cleanup, admire King’s Cross new station, adopt a Make tea not war slogan. Just… Keep calm and carry on loving London.

* Yes, you can be a fashionista and have a sweet tooth: cake pops are even cuter at Topshop.

* Comedy, yummy food, fashion and live music this week-end at Cystal Palace – quite a feast!

* Street art creations spread like mushrooms.

* Discover one of Trafalgar Square’s little secrets.

* Read aboard this floating library.

* Cheer the participants of this swimming marathon in Hyde Park’s lake.

* Urban gardens are always so charming.

* Imagine for a few seconds that you are in Morocco.

* Fancy a surreal evening? Try this pizzeria.

* Until now, stars have been launcing their perfume. Justin Bieber went a step further and has his own ice cream at Harrods. I heard a teenager comment that was pretty cool -  no pun was intended.

At least on Floral Street. The artist Tim Fishlock had this strange idea a few years ago. You will need sharp eyes for this one as it is pretty discreet – look close to the Ted Baker shop.

Pssst: Cherchez également dans Soho, les murs y ont des nez. Look out for another eccentricity in Soho: noses.

Honey, I have shrunk the street art! After Slinkachu and Isaac Cordal, Pablo Delgado takes a turn at making the world fit in our pocket. Look out for this one on Hanbury Street.

This week-end will be a nice party with a long-time-no-see-but-never-forgot-you friend.
And so, there will be a shower of anecdotes from the good old times, a flow of pints in atmospheric pubs, walks till the end of the night. With or without umbrella, take your bets.
In a nutshell: make new memories.

For inspiration, we’ll choose a few of those:

* On Thursday, take your little artists to Covent Garden – they will have the opportunity to build an art structure with Louis Vuitton.

* Burlesque class anyone? I have always wanted to try…

* A gourmet pop-up on Southbank will serve very poetic food – rush there.

* Or would you rather go for a barbecue van?

* Dancing time at the Tate Modern.

* How about a free jazz concert in the V&A garden to start the week-end?

* Beware, naked cyclists on the go on Saturday. Litterally.

* Keep your eyes open -  yarnbombing is on the programme!

* Dare. Try this fish-therapy, you have been dying to.

* Discover London secret gardens and squares -  a beautiful opportunity to push usually closed gates.

* Brunch time! Our favourite is Dishoom, for its exotic touch.

* Street art tour? Yes, but on a bike.

* Londonus Dinosaurus.

* Circus and Cabaret united? Click this way to know more about this festival.

* Red, white or rosé? Fill your own bottle!

I had heard of the 7 noses of Soho. Richard Buckley, an artist, is said to have decorated the limits of that neighbourhood with 7 casts of his nose.
After a whole year of hunting them down, looking up, around till my neck hurt, I had put it down to urban legend.

An suddenly, my flair paid off! They DO exist -  or at least one has survived. Just head for Meard Street and be nosey…

You’ll also find one around Trafalgar Square.
In floral street, it is another story, Tim Fishlock is said to have added an ear. Stay tuned!

The gallery is presenting his latest work – seeing those shy and soft faces feels a little like meeting old friends again.

Stik was there too and we exchanged a few words. Like his now famous caracters, he touches you to the heart. He marvels still at how much the public loves him. Behind those sunglasses, is the softest gaze you could imagine.

Do go and see this very tiny exhibition, right in the heart of Carnaby Street. It just puts a smile on your face.

Stik at the LAVA Gallery
1st floor Kingly Court
Carnaby Street
London W1B 5PW
Free – Until June 04, 2011
See him in September at the Graffik Gallery too

Bingo! This week-end is forcasted sunny AND will last an extra day. Around me, there are constant talks of Pimm’s jugs.hammocks, barbecue-parties, of the pleasure of walking barefoot in the grass…

* Is there a spirit in the Old Operating Theatre?

* Couldn’t get a ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show? Cheat, enjoy it differently with dedicated cocktails and afternoon teas.

* Put on your dancing shoes at Spitafields. You can even learn to tango there.

* The V&A late opening is dedicated to Yoji Yamamoto. Fashionistas should rush there.

* Always wanted to own a real theatre costume? Now is your chance: this pop-up sells them at affordable prices.

* Stik is back!

* Or would you prefer miniature street art?

* Foodies, the party’s in Hampton Court this week-end.

* Fancy a picnic but don’t want to prepare anything? Try this. enter the code MAY15 for an extra 15% off the price.

* Come and admire the fab sport cars at Covent Garden before they race away to the Gumball 3000 rally. Gentlemen, we promise this is not a ruse to let the girls fo even more shopping…

* Take some height at the Sky Bar.

* To keep those little pirates busy, click this way.

* Yummy! There is a new Hummingbird Bakery branch in Spitafields. Street art & cupcakes, now thta’s good news. Follow the crumbs and you’ll find me.

* Top Shop hides a pop-up with limited edition clothes. It is hiding behing the florist shop…

* Discover London the yummy way with Tastour. I have just registered for their famous Indian food walk in September.

* Visit a Huguenot House.

* Sip a bubble tea.

* Pssst! Next Wednesday, go and see some opera on Trafalgar Square.