London: Tea Time in Wonderland

This Sunday, the place to be will be Chinatown. The crowd will rush to get a glimpse of the colourful parade, the hundreds red lantern flying in the breeze, the dragons visit each restaurant and shop to bring luck. Kids will throw firecrackers on the floor, make paper dragon dance around… A good reason to feel cheerful! Don’t want to join the crowd on trafalgar Square? A few different ideas this way.

That’s art, baby!
* An exquisite dress made of spider silk? At the V&A, of course!

Out of the ordinary:
* On Thursday, let’s talk spooky London. Or raise your glass to Australia.
* Friday, rush to the V&A for a dose of samba, Brazil & table football.
* Strictly come dancing? This way!
* Selfridges? Words, words, words. But do stop to listen to stories there this week-end.
* A narrowboat getting a second life as a bookshop, what a lovely idea!
* Or how a few minutes of music can change a life.

Take the little ones along:
* On Sunday, this extraordinary puppet show will put a tiger on stage (even better, it’s free).
* Follow the steps of the 101 Damatians.
* 50 London ideas with kids.

Resistance is useless. It may only be early November but Christmas is everywhere – you can’t escape. The street lights have been switched on, with parties to celebrate the event. Shops have all switched the windows decoration to this w-ho-ho-ho-le new theme. Harrods is having their famous parade this Saturday. You can even find mince pie popcorn! Very commercial, of course but then again with the night now falling arounf 16.30, we all need a little mulled wine and fake snow to cheer us up. Merry London, everyone!

* Meet the macarons magician Pierre Hermé who will be signing his new book.

* Mrs Marmitelover’s underground market is the place to go this week-end. Just reading the description, you will be drroling.

* On Saturday, 300 hundred vintage cars will invade Regent street. Quite a view!

* Street art fan? You cannot miss Sick Boy’s latest show.

* Carnivorous friends will go hunting for this new pop-up.

* Poppies bloom on Boris’ bikes.

* Selfridge’s plans a white Xmas.

* The day of the dead, Mexican style, should spice up your Saturday at the Wellcome Collection.

* A free, artistic, relaxed and musical evening to forget the annoying sound of firecrackers.

* Make your own gin.

* Stop at the Soane Museum to marvel at Liliane Lijn’s utopian and light inspired work.

* See amazing pictures of the Rainforest lost paradise at the Somerset House.

* Fascinating objects of the past, this way.

* A brunch at the Savoy with jazz, now that is real class.

* End the week with real fireworks.

Pssst:

* The Secret Cinema is finally back -  get tickets, quick!
* Stephen Fry on stage? You cannot miss that.

I’m escaping to France for a week-end of laughs and folklore dances (not quite sure how I’ll fare on those). London is all yours – if you find fab addresses or shows worth the detour, don’t hesitate to share with us!

A few ideas collected here and there:

- Melt for this foodie’s blog – mouthwatering! Follow on advice and have dim-sums for dinner!

- The Baby Bathtub opens in Hackney on Friday – deco between Victorian and gothic, DJ in a birdcage and cocktail aplenty…

- Street art fan? Go and see Stik’s characters out of Shoreditch…

- Dream of elegance at the Yoji Yamamoto retrospective at the V&A….

- Don’t laugh and head for your favourite pub -  it’s National pie week…

- We’ve seen pop-ups and secret restaurants. This one is a secret pop up artistic restaurant. (If you’d rather try a secret pop-up cabaret restaurant, try the Pale Blue Door)

- Fancy catching a movie? This hotel hides a cinema club… or watch a silent movie at the BFI….

- Hunt for gems in this vintage fair…

- Have a look at this peak-high expensive Picasso…

- See green and join St Patrick’s parade…

- Throw some bets -  how much will Kate Middleton’s dress go for?

- Well of course, royalty can be fun!

- Love quizz? Try this film pub quizz walk for extra difficulty!

Pssst: On march 16th, play musical chairs with the Londonist…