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7th September 2010
A free weekly ezine featuring the best events in London

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Illustration by Julie Khan

Treat Yours-Elf

Christmas – they say it's all about the giving. Which is true to an extent. But perhaps the best part of Christmas (apart from gorging yourself on turkey and Grand Cru burgundy and falling asleep in front of The Great Escape) is the excuse to spend a month shopping for presents. Because while shopping for presents you can always buy a whole load of cool stuff for yourself: no one’s more appreciative of your generosity than you are.

To this end, we’ve compiled a splendid Christmas gift guide, with beautiful bits and bobs ranging from under a tenner to over five grand. We’ve also made a nice little piece about Christmas markets to help you get away from the unbearable hustle and bustle of Oxford Street department stores. Gosh, aren’t we just so darned helpful?

And finally: may we recommend you buy a copy of the Observer this Sunday. There's a nice wee feature about Alex and Henry, Spoonfed's marvellous co-founders.

Upcoming

Stewart Francis

21st January 2010
More info >>

Van Gogh

23rd January 2010
More info >>

Private Lives

24th February 2010
More info >>

Mumford & Sons

13th March 2010
More info >>

Friday 4th

Pretty Baa-Lambs

Well, it's an exhibition with a funny title, on Vyner Street, but irony looks to play only a very small role in Pretty Baa-Lambs at contemporary art gallery Madder139. Which is rather refreshing. Four artists present works that display a rare reverence and respect for the traditions of landscape paintings. We particularly like the look of Sam read on

where:
Madder 139
1 Vyner Street
E2 9DG
who:
Sam Douglas, Peter Jones
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Painting
cost:
Free
 

Aladdin

By far the best feature of this classic Christmas panto - and this is possibly a panto first - will be the four mystery guest stars set to play the Genie of the Lamp in this year's Aladdin. Pamela Anderson has signed up for two weeks of granting wishes and the much loved Paul O'Grady will also be making an appearance during the show's run read on

where:
New Wimbledon Theatre
The Broadway
SW19 1QG

when:
Times vary
what:
Pantomime
cost:
From £15 to £27
 

Club Bollocks to Poverty

A party which is all about raving and waving goodbye to poverty. They want your spirit so get up, freak out, have a dance and shout bollocks to poverty! 

Assisting you on this voyage is the excellent Rogue Element, Magistrates, The Ruskins live and plenty more upfront acts designed to make you wiggle. read on

where:
333
333 Old Street
EC1V 9LE

who:
The Thirst, Rogue Element
+ more
when:
8pm - 3am
what:
Indie, Breaks, Electro
cost:
£6

Saturday 5th

Shoot Dating

Brilliant! The ever-innovative souls at Shoot Experience have made a move into dating. These guys specialise in challenging interactive games where you have to go round London taking snaps. It's always fun and they've decided that the format is suited to meeting new people. Yes. Shoot Dating costs £20 but represents great value. For that read on

where:
The Bathhouse
8 Bishopsgate
EC2M 3TJ
when:
2.30pm - 7pm
what:
Dating
cost:
£20
 

Legally Blonde The Musical

A stellar cast led by Sheridan Smith (The Royle Family, Little Shop of Horrors) and Duncan James (er, he was in boyband Blue) bring this Broadway sensation to the West End. Based on the winning Hollywood comedy with a fresh book by Heather Hach and some $13million expended on costumes, set changes and pop tunes, the show was a critical flop in read on

where:
Savoy Theatre
Savoy Court Strand
WC2R 0ET

when:
Times vary
what:
Musicals, Comedy
cost:
From £20 to £65
 

Z Shed vs Coin Operated Warehouse Spesh

Something wicked this way comes... Z Shed vs Coin Operated in an East End warehouse. Get ready for some filthy business. Kanji Kinetic in the house. Serious. This guy wields his bass like a weapon. The Squire Of Gothos - two badbwoy producers from Sheffield who make ultra massive rave noise, plus Mustard Gunn, Pirate Soundsystem, Absnif and more read on

where:
Secret Location


who:
Kanji Kinetic, Squire of Gothos
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Dubstep, Electro, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£7
 

Simmer 1st Birthday

Bespoke party-starters Simmer celebrate a year of throwing delicious parties in unexpected venues and giving audio pleasure to the ravers of London. They showcase homegrown and international talent at their events; always upfront with a superb, intimate vibe. Tonight they touch down at the resplendent three-storey Brick Lane venue The Brickhouse.
read on

where:
The Brickhouse
152c Brick Lane
E1 6RU

who:
Shonky, Richard Adam
+ more
when:
10.30pm
what:
House, Electronica, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£10

Sunday 6th

The Snowman

"We're walking in the air, we're walking in the aaaiiiir, oh yeah. We went to Toys R Us, or something something something." Who can forget the original cartoon (based on a comic) of The Snowman, with its beautiful Raymond Briggs drawings and Aled Jones warbling on the soundtrack? This stage musical version of the classic Christmas crowd read on

where:
The Peacock Theatre
Potugal Street
WC2A 2HT
when:
Times vary
what:
Musicals, Family
cost:
From £12 to £30
 

The Revenge

Playing alongside the fresh and funky resident duo of Neil Thornton and Dave Rose at the Horse & Groom tonight is some DJ royalty. Disco maestro Graeme Clark aka The Revenge has had a massive year playing from Athens to Zurich and everywhere in between including a rather special set at Fabric for their 10th birthday celebrations. Such read on

where:
Horse & Groom
26 Curtain Road
EC2A 3NZ

who:
The Revenge
+ more
when:
4pm - 2am
what:
Disco, House, Funk/Soul
cost:
Free

Monday 7th

Little Dragon

The sublime Swedish foursome Little Dragon return to London following a sell-out Jazz Cafe show. Their beautiful new album 'Machine Dreams' straddles many genres: dance music yet not so, electro-pop with the depth of soul and a foot firmly in the roots and techno camps. This time it's The Rhythm Factory who are graced with their presence. New f... read on

where:
Rhythm Factory
16-18 Whitechapel Road
E1 1EW
who:
Little Dragon, Kotchy
+ more
when:
7pm
what:
Soul, Dance, Electronica
cost:
£14
 

Pajama Men

Combining sketches, character comedy, stand-up, improv and physical theatre, the Pajama Men are a mind-boggling spectacle that has to be seen. Hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez have had tremendous success with their act (part clowning around and part actioned-packed story), which saw them nominated for a Perrier ... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE

who:
Pajama Men
when:
9.30pm
what:
Improv
cost:
£10

Tuesday 8th

The Rum and Chocolate Experience

Well this sounds pretty cool. Authentic Caribbean Rum have teamed up with the fantastic London-based Rococo Chocolates to present a one-off evening of boozy fun-times at Vinopolis this December. Hosted by UK rum ambassador (what a job!) Ian Burrell, and Chantal Coady from Rococo, the evening features rum chocolate cocktails, blind tastings (of... read on

where:
Vinopolis
1 Bank End
SE1 9BU
when:
7.30pm
what:
Tasting
cost:
£40
 

Comedy Bar Islington Christmas Special

Located on Penton Street, the breeding ground of good comedy nights, this club is held in the Chapel Bar, so called because of the pulpit on the right hand side of the stage. Tonight's gig is a ho ho ho Christmas special with the UK's premier comic magician Pete Firman, up-and-coming young stand-up Tom Deacon, former prison guard Ava Vidal and a s... read on

where:
The Chapel Bar
29a Penton Street
N1 9PX

who:
Pete Firman, Trevor Lock
+ more
when:
8.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£8

Wednesday 9th

Golden Oldies

Following the near-destruction of the City during the Second World War, the Golden Lane Estate was constructed as a way for London (and indeed the country) to move forward, away from the bloodied past and towards a future of optimism and hope. The bold architectural design of the estate is not to everyone's taste, but in the eyes of many it is a ... read on

where:
Exhibit
20 Goswell Road
EC1M 7AA
who:
Patricia Niven
when:
11am - 6pm
what:
Photography
cost:
Free
 

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks

Taking time out from preparations for the return of his seminal indie-rockers Pavement, Portland's Stephen Malkmus convenes in London with his other band, the Jicks, to play a warm-up gig at the Electric Ballroom ahead of their participation in the ATP festival. Anyone familiar with Pavement should be well at home, with Malkmus and the Jicks prov... read on

where:
Electric Ballroom
184 Camden High Street
NW1 8QP

who:
Stephen Malkmus
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Indie
cost:
£20

Thursday 10th

Alternative Risk Transfer

Oh this sounds totally briiliant. In a slightly baffling sort of way of course, but then it is organised by artists, so hey, what did you expect? Basically, as far as we can gather, Alternative Risk Transfer is a four day poker game in which artists compete against collectors, curators, critics and each other in order to win works of art that th... read on

where:
The Rag Factory
16-18 Heneage Street
E1 5LJ
who:
Mark McGowan, Simon Foxall
+ more
when:
12pm - 6pm
what:
Performance Art
cost:
Free
 

Alessi's Christmas Cracker

2009 has seen the resurgence of folk and at the crest of that wave has been Ms. Alessi Laurent-Marke, along with her ark of carefully crafted mellow tunes. Tonight, she curates a night featuring a few of her favourite bands as well as performing live under her nom de plume, Alessi's Ark.
read on

where:
The Luminaire
311 Kilburn High Road
NW6 7JR

who:
Alessi's Ark
+ more
when:
7.30pm
what:
Folk
cost:
£8

Friday 11th

51 Gifts for the Person Who Lost Eveything

You wouldn't expect just the normal kind of Christmas events at maverick booksellers (yes, it is kind of an oxymoron) Amuti 23 now would you? Good. Because this isn't the usual Christmas show. The clue comes in the full title - 51 Gifts of Meaning and Value for a Post-Crisis Culture to Welcome in an Era of Neo-Decadent Revolt. Bizarre huh? But sou... read on

where:
Amuti 23
23 Cecil Court
WC2N 4EZ
when:
10am - 9pm
what:
Shopping
cost:
Free
 

Treasure Island

A spectacular production of the piratical panto, which has been a family favourite for centuries, in an acclaimed new adaptation by Karen Louise Hebden. This Christmas, the entire Rose Theatre will be transformed into a piratical wonderland, with a ship, an island and all manner of hidden treasures. The show is a boisterous, sing-along adventure... read on

where:
Rose Theatre
24-26 Kingston High Street
KT1 1HL

when:
Times vary
what:
Family, Pantomime
cost:
From £7 to £30
 

Phil Kay

Multi-award winning Scotsman Phil Kay brings his special brand of no hands, no stabilisers comedy to the Soho Theatre. You never know what you're going to get with a Kay set due to his incredible improvisation skills and boundless energy. It might be a song about someone's salmon pink jumper or he might read you something funny from the Metro that... read on

where:
Soho Theatre
21 Dean Street
W1D 3NE

who:
Phil Kay
when:
9.45pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
£12

Saturday 12th

The Forest

Fevered Sleep, the acclaimed production company specialising in dance pieces for younger audiences, bring a touch of festive magic to the Young Vic with a blend of storytelling, adventure and dance for kids aged 5 to 7. The show is a promenade performance that invites children and their families to actually enter the enchanted forest. These ki... read on

where:
Young Vic
66 The Cut
SE1 8LZ
when:
Times vary
what:
Family, Dance
cost:
£8
 

Secret Garden Party Winter Voyage

'Best medium sized festival' of 2008, The Secret Garden Party cordially demands your presence aboard the wildest ocean liner ever to set sail. The HMS Ulysses (aka The Troxy) will tonight play host to a wild party with a nautical twist. Crewed by your indomitable Head Gardeners, first class passengers will be collected from an impromptu port a... read on

where:
Troxy
490 Commercial Road
E1 0HX

who:
Your Niece, Head of State
+ more
when:
8pm - 4am
what:
Funk/Soul, Jazz
cost:
 

Swap-A-Rama Christmas Special

Swap-a-Rama is a genius idea. Come wearing the most bizarre clothes you can find, go home wearing a mix of the wardrobes of the random strangers you met, got pissed with and stripped in front of. The rules are simple. Whenever the klaxon sounds, you must swap clothes with the person next to you. Spend your evening cross-dressing, skirt-slinging, getti... read on

where:
The Book Club
100-106 Leonard Street
EC2A 4RH

when:
8pm - 3am
what:
Disco, Funk/Soul
cost:
£7
 

Halo

Halo are back! They've been scouring the city for the perfect place and they think they may have found it in the dazzling Vauxhall club Lightbox. The have a killer line up headed up by sleazy disco house outfit Crazy P. They are playing live as well as hitting the decks. They're joined by Scottish tech house impresarios Sandeman and Mr Dickie... read on

where:
Lightbox
6a South Lambeth Place
SW8 1SP

who:
Crazy P, Olli Collins
+ more
when:
10pm - 6am
what:
Electro, House, Techno/Minimal
cost:
£15

Sunday 13th

Stewart Lee

It feels like ages since we last saw Stewart Lee. Which is a good thing because it was getting unhealthy and we felt a bit like stalkers. Recently, he's been touring the country with his new show If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One and he's finishing up with a lengthy London run at the Leicester Square Theatre. Phew! Just as we were star... read on

where:
Leicester Square Theatre
Leicester Square
WC2H 7BP
who:
Stewart Lee
when:
4.30pm
what:
Stand Up
cost:
From £15 to £20
 

Hawkwind

You'd probably have to be older than 20 to remember this, but way back when the ZX Spectrum was the only computer you could buy, there was this game called Barbarian. Boiled down to its consituent parts, this game basically involved a muscled warrior wearing nothing but a pair of fur pants and chopping people's heads off with a massive sword. I... read on

where:
Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherds Bush Green
W12 8TT

who:
Hawkwind
when:
7pm
what:
Rock
cost:
£20
 

Christmas Stories in Hyde Park

Spoken Ink bring you another festive feast of atmospheric twenty-first century story-telling - all occurring in a yurt in Hyde Park. It's Lewis Carrol Christmas this time, with mulled wine, mince pies, sheepskin rugs and stories to delight and inspire. Expect a massive Medieval harp, a giant beaver, and an angry bellman on a desperate hunt for a snar... read on

where:
Hyde Park
W2 2UK

when:
3pm - 8pm
what:
Poetry
cost:
£10
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