The Crackberry Times

The Public House

If you’re bored of all the bars in Islington and fancy heading slightly further a field, then veer towards Highbury where you’ll stumble upon this delightful boutique pub. With its horticultural, well groomed exterior and potted plants and flowers in abundance, the bright lights and action of Upper Street will soon become a distant memory…Step inside and you’re further embedded in country-style decadence with low amber lighting and mis-matched furniture scattered effortlessly around the room granting it a veritable vintage vibe. With rich rugs shielding the dark polished wooden floors, mahogany sideboards cluttered with crockery and armchairs inviting you to be seated, the place oozes charm and character but in a refreshingly innate fashion-to describe it as a glamorously converted barnyard would barely capture its stylish informality. The stools that line the bar are a genuine godsend for those after-work rants, when proximity to the bar is a necessity, and as the drinks repeatedly slide across towards you, you’ll see how quickly that February recession depression dissipates…

52 Islington Park Street, N1 1PX. Tel: 020 7359 6070. Web:

www.boutiquepubs.com

Gallipoli Cafe

If you love the madness of the markets in Marrakech and the taste of tagines in Turkey, head to Gallipoli on Upper Street, where the mingled magic of Turkey and Morroco infuses this bazaar inspired restaurant. With dark tented walls, brass topped tables punctuated with candles and richly coloured Moroccan lamps dangling from the ceiling there’s a definite mélange of exoticism and familiarity. Loud and vibrant Turkish tunes resonate through the restaurant whilst charming belly dancers enrobed and bejeweled in bright coloured outfits, perform their hypnotic hip dances before your eyes, and will often invite you to join them on the tables…Tempting as this may be (particularly as they are scantily clad), don’t let it distract you from the authentic Turkish food-it’s bursting with flavour and worth savouring every morsel. Fun, flirtatious and perfect for breaking down the barriers during a first date, Gallipoli provides the night out to remember… Price £15ph. 107 Upper Street, N1 1QN. Tel: 020 7226 5333. Web:

www.cafegallipoli.com/galipoli/bazaar/indexbazaar.html

Tower Bride-Valentines Day

If the thought of cuddling up to your loved one in a restaurant on Valentine’s Day surrounded by several other nauseatingly loved-up couples is your idea of hell, then how about strolling along Tower Bridge this year on Valentines Day. Already a dreamy and impressive landmark with stunning views across London, Tower Bridge will transform itself further into a romantic haven with subtly seductive lit-up walkways festooned with flowers and decorations. Sip champagne on the bridge as you become mesmerized by the panoramic views and enchanted by the jazz tunes from the live band playing in the distance. If the sight of the floodlit Tower Bridge ordinarily makes your heart flutter, the Valentine’s view from inside is enough to throw you off course and instigate all kinds of rash gestures in even the most level headed amongst us…Try something different this year- it may still be contrived but at least its original… Price £30 per couple including a glass of champagne per person, 14th February- 6.30/7.30/8.30/9.30. Web:

www.towerbridge.co.uk/TowerBridge/English/SpecialEvents/

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And finally…

… many have tried to recreate the panache of ninja cat. Few have

succeeded: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sNewX_Al4U

No 5 Cavendish Square

If you fancy feeling like royalty for an evening, head to No 5 Cavendish Square where the rich red carpet, dark wooden interior and Louis XIV chairs combine to grant this place a decidedly regal feel… An aura of opulence permeates this Georgian townhouse, and portraits of sovereigns underscore the fact that intimate surroundings do not equate to common ones. The red carpet seems to extend to the walls, surrounding you in a scarlet haven, with heavy gold mirrors adorning the walls and an old classic fireplace in the centre magnifying the majestic mood. It’s an oasis of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of Soho, where the discrete service, spaciousness and soothing piano tunes offer a welcome respite. For velveteen barefaced luxury without the hubbub of a posh restaurant, look no further than No 5.

Price: £30ph. No5 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PG. Tel: 0207 079 5000. Web: www.no5ltd.com

Bar Chocolate

If New Year’s blues have kicked in and only lashings of chocolate will save you, this eponymous bar is a great sanctuary.  Whilst there are plenty of cocoa free beverages, this is an ideal place to sate a craving of the brown stuff - their hot chocolate is divine and the themed cocktails are similarly Moorish. An open-plan, relaxed rendezvous, this bar has no room for pretentious types - here it is all about the casual continental café culture - media sorts engaging in intellectual discussions, and old friends catching up after extended separations.  The décor is simple, but warm and homely, perfect for a quiet coffee or a late night tipple. For comfort drinking - chocolate or otherwise - this is the place…

26-27 D’Arblay Street, W1F 8EP. Tel: 0207 287 2823.

London Through A Lens Exhibition

For those of you who can think of nothing worse than being dragged around the shops at the Westfield Centre, stop by at the Village (the more high-brow end of the Centre), where the ‘London Through A Lens’ exhibition is being held. Immerse yourself indefinitely in the spirit of London past and present, as the iconic images capture the cultural, social and political history of the capital. In a kaleidoscope of images, from the flooding of the Thames to the seething throng of 50’s New Years Eve revellers, you’ll see how the highly acclaimed Getty Images celebrates contemporary London’s dynamic diversity in such a way that you’ll be proud to be a Londoner. For arty types searching their souls through photography or for anyone looking to while away the hours on a lazy Sunday afternoon, this is the perfect way to rekindle the flame of British patriotism.

Getty Images Gallery, The Village, Westfield Centre. Until 31st Jan 12pm-7pm. Admission: Free. Web: www.gettyimagesgallery.com/exhibitions/default.aspx

And finally…

… musical talent the like of which you’ve never seen before: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-WzJ6z9liRE

Quaglinos

If ‘society restaurants’ are your thing, then check out Quaglinos: deceptively understated in its outward appearance, the inside is a feast of old-style English glamour. Within moments of entering, a doorman appears from nowhere to take your coat and you’re swept off your feet by barmen offering cosmopolitan cocktails to sip at the stylish bar before descending the ornate staircase to the dining floor. The conservatory style ceiling and twinkling skylights combine to create a starry night sky, and the tables are far enough apart so you don’t end up engrossed in the juicy gossip of the couple next to you whilst your date harps on about the recession… yawn.

With the sniff of New York style decadence and a whiff of Paris style nonchalance this place has it all. For a hot date where first impressions are crucial, this restaurant will certainly fit the bill…

Price: £20ph. 16 Bury Street, SW1Y 6AJ. Tel: 0207 930 6767. Web: www.quaglinos.co.uk

Walkers of St James

Situated on the prestigious Duke Street, a stones throw from the infamous Fortnum and Mason, this ‘pub’ is all about keeping up appearances. Its name conjures up images of an ostentatious West End bar but country cottage is actually more the ticket with paintings of rural England adorning the walls, a low rise wooden beamed ceiling and crimson walls barely illuminated by candles. It’s the kind of place you could head to for a few drinks after work and never want to leave again thanks to the comfortable and cosy atmosphere and TV screens projecting images of roaring fires. Towards the end of the night when the effects of the real ale start to kick in, the big leather armchairs look more and more appealing and you might find yourself believing you’re already back at home… In essence it’s a pub trading on a posh name, but in times of the credit crunch it’s all about embellishment.

32A Duke Street, SW1Y 6DF. Tel: 0207 930 0620. Web: www.walkersofstjames.co.uk

La Clique

Ever been somewhere where words won’t suffice to describe your experience? Welcome to La Clique - it’s like no other show you’ve ever been to before but in a refreshingly and dare I say it raunchy way… If you’re bored of all the usual musicals and the thought of sitting still through three hours of men dancing in tights and leotards at the Ballet fills you with horror, then book a ticket to La Clique where the acts become more wacky and wicked as the show progresses (or maybe it’s the fusion of burlesque and cabaret plus copious amounts of alcohol that gradually blur the line between reality and imagination). But then why else would we head to the Circus other than to escape into a dangerous and seductive red velveteen fantasy land where nudity, hula hooping and sword swallowing is commonplace (not the kind you’d see in Covent Garden, more the girl-in-red-latex variety). Not one to take the grandparents to, but round up your mates and let your wild side come out to play…

Price: £10 to £55. The Hippodrome, 10-14 Cranbourne Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH. Tel: 0207 437 4311. Web: www.lacliquelondon.com

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 Top prize, top kudos: Samantha Pisano (Warfield Road)

Fiercesome competition: Andrea Vail (Farringdon Lane)

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And finally…

… Rapping to be proud of (slightly NSFW): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6I5XXFqOUyA&feature=related

Bombay Brasserie

Fancy a curry but looking for somewhere slightly more up-market for a hot date? Look no further than the Bombay Brasserie: with tropical plants, old style black and white pictures of the Raj and wicker furniture, you could almost be dining on a colonial officer’s veranda. The relaxed ambiance is compounded by the pianist playing passionately in the corner and the windowed ceiling punctuated by lush hanging baskets and peculiar plants. The clientele is naturally more well-to-do than your local curry house - it’s certainly not the kind of place you’d stumble into after a drunken night out once you’ve succumbed to your craving of a lamb boona, but the food is equally as gratifying. What’s more, it is due to open its doors again to the public in the next week or so and promises that its new menu, spanning north and south Indian food, will leave you salivating. With celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Marlin Brando frequenting this joint it’s the perfect chance to hobnob with Hollywood…

The Bombay Brasserie, Courtfield Road, London, SW7 4QH. Tel: 0207 370 4040 Web: www.bombaybrasserie.co.uk

Ghost Inc

Not just another posh and pompous South Ken bar, Ghost does chic with an edge. Hidden away under the guise of the Gainsborough Hotel, it houses itself in the secluded basement, where the graffiti ridden walls and uber trendy vibe make you question whether you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere in the hotel and ended up in Shoreditch. With a black glitter ceiling, white chandeliers and pink fluorescent tubing on the walls, this place is a glamorous dungeon of sorts. A myriad of contrasts - leather benches with stones instead of buttons alongside cute miniature red damask chairs, a motorbike set against a pink skull background, animal horns clinging to the candle lit walls, this place is disarmingly indescribable. East London meets West London and the result is a rocking eclectic bar, with daring décor and dangerous cocktails galore… definitely one to check out if you’re looking for somewhere hip and happening without having to trek too far East.

Ghost Inc, The basement, 7-11 Queensbury Palace, London SW7 2DL. Tel: 0207 589 8979. Web: www.ghostbar.co.uk/v2.0

Everyman Cinema

It’s Sunday night and you fancy an evening of chill out time with your loved one right? A comfy sofa, a gripping film, a bottle of wine and someone waiting on you hand and foot… head to the Everyman Cinema Club situated in various locations around London, where you can have all of this and revel in the satisfaction of actually leaving the house on a Sunday night. The familiar sights of popcorn littered across the floors, chewing gum stuck to the seats and juvenile kids throwing sweets at each other and disrupting your viewing pleasure are nowhere to be seen at this smart, sophisticated and highly salubrious outfit where young professionals chasing the luxury ‘theatre’ experience dominate the scene. For a mere £12, you will see before your eyes how screens become screening lounges, kiosk attendants become butlers and Pepsi and popcorn become wine and wasabi peas - the Everyman does cinema for grown ups and boy does it do it well. So well in fact that you might just find yourself too comfortable on those velvet sofas and drift into a deep slumber… PS: No snoring allowed.

Everyman Cinemas-Hampstead/Islington/Baker Street/Belsize Park. Tel: 0870 066 4777 Web: www.everymancinema.com

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And Finally…

… Dogs. They may be man’s best friend, but that doesn’t make them smart:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6zJv0gssH2s

Oxo Tower

Imagine dining al fresco on the eighth floor of one of London’s most iconic buildings, with the river flowing beneath you and the skyline dazzling ahead of you…this is not just any restaurant this is the Oxo Tower Restaurant.

Be credit crunch savvy and opt for the brasserie arm where you’re still privy to the breathtaking backdrop and amorous ambiance, but avoid the sky high prices… With an open kitchen and space age metallic tables, there’s a slight school canteen edge to the place but this is offset by the indulgent wine list and discrete dexterity of the waiters in keeping your wine glass permanently topped up. Finish off the night with a cocktail under the stars on the New York style rooftop terrace (they even provide blankets so your girlfriend won’t whinge about the cold) and let the jumpin’ jazz music strike all the right chords…

Price: c£30pp (Lunch- 2 courses for £21.50) Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH. Tel: 020 7803 3888

The Archduke

Ever wished you could drink to the sound of trains racing along the tracks above you? No me neither, but if you’re looking for somewhere quintessentially quirky then head to The Archduke, as this bar houses itself beneath converted railway arches. Truth be told, the train noise is

negligible: the vibrant vocals from the live band and cacophony of late night chatter permeates to the extent that you could almost confuse the railway rumbles with your stomach churning. With its colonial style wicker furniture, rich foliage, and ornate ceiling fans, there’s an Italian Trattoria feel about the place, but head to the bomb-shelter esque ‘reserved area’ and the curved brick walled ceilings cave in and transport you to wartime London. Perfect for drinks with friends, even better for a clandestine rendez-vous (no one would ever find you in between all the greenery), this place takes train spotting to a new level. Concert Hall Approach, South Bank, SE1 8XU Tel: 020 7928 9370

O2 Ski Slopes

The O2 Centre brings you the cheaper alternative to skiing in Chamonix this December. Whether you’re an avid skier and yearning for some white powder to show off your moves, or an amateur trying to decide what all the fuss is about, this snow ridden assault course is the place to be seen, sporting 45 metre long twin slopes (yes, that’s double the pleasure). Tone up those thighs, practice those parallels and prepare to wow your mates as you manoeuvre the moguls with ease next ski season. If all the exercise gets a bit much, plunk yourself on a giant inflatable ring, soar down a snow hill (snow tubing for those in the know) and de-stress your mind (the only recession you’ll be worrying about is your own) For a limited period, recreate ski holiday antics right on your doorstep and what better excuse to treat yourself to a new ski jacket?

Price: £8 - £15 pp, O2 Centre, Greenwich SE10 0DX Event runs from 22nd Nov

2008- 11th Jan 2009

And finally…

… Who said bankers didn’t get any sympathy? Wall St pedestrians tell it as it is: http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/jumpyoufuckers.jpg

Hi folks, we’re delighted to announce the resumption of service here at Crackberry Times following a slightly protracted summer break. Before we dive into the content as usual we would like to congratulate two lucky readers for winning our champers competition: Katrina Kutchinsky and Ian Newman. Please contact us at info@crackberrytimes.com and we’ll work out how to get you your bubbly.

The Blue Elephant

 Escape the dull dreariness of London and step into a tropical Thai paradise-the Blue Elephant is a haven away from it all. Here you will be seated in lush surroundings, dine with the sound of water trickling down the stream in the background and occasionally be granted the pleasure of Thai dancers performing at your request… tantalizing and mesmerizing with every swing of their hips, you could almost be in Bangkok, almost. With tea lights in abundance, authentic Thai food and cocktails to suit every taste, this is one place not to miss: romantic by night, bustling by day it can’t fail to impress.

Price: c.£20pp (lunch 2 courses for £12, 3 for £15). 3-6 Fulham Broadway SW6 1AA.  Tel: 020 7385 6595. Web: www.blueelephant.com/london

The Valmont Club

Valmont Club is the kind of place you wished you’d known about earlier… Tucked away in a basement on the vibrant Fulham Road, it’s deceptively large and unpretentious (although annoyingly a guest list still applies) with three rooms to suit all moods. Start with the cream leather room when you’re still sober and sociable and as the night progresses you’ll find yourself veering towards the more forgiving dark room with its gothic tones of maroon, gold and black and before long, the twinkling neon lights pulsating through the walls in time with the music will force you to retreat into a private booth for some shady shenanigans behind the velvet drapes and beaded curtains… Put on your glad rags, order cocktails by the bottle (yes that’s right - this is no place for amateurs), and party with royalty as this is a hot spot for Prince William.

266-266a Fulham Road, SW10 9EL. Tel: 020 7352 6200. Web: www.thevalmontclub.com

Somerset House Ice Rink

Step into Winter Wonderland this weekend as Somerset House opens its doors to the aspiring Torvill and Deans amongst us and transforms its courtyard into a magical ice rink.  What better way to end the evening than to sashay across the ice beneath the Tiffany Christmas tree, listen to music and let the festive spirit infuse… Whether it’s a romantic date for two as you and your partner try to recreate ‘Dancing on Ice’ or an evening of family fun, this is one of the coolest places to visit this season. The combination of breathtaking surroundings, childish excitement and smell of rich hot chocolate wafting across from the heated drinks tent will remind you why you still love London, even in the bleak midwinter, so grab your hats and gloves and get ready to glide…

Price: £10.50. Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA. Tel:  0844 1520 1520. Web: www.somersethouse.org.uk/ice_rink/501.asp

And finally…

… you thought shower curtains were scary: Hitchcock ninja cat: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NbwpgyRUv5g

Bam Bou

Dominating the south end of Charlotte Street this Georgian House reeks of old London but step inside and you are transported to French Indochina. Caprice Holdings know what they are doing and Bam Bou is no exception. With a touch of mahogany and the whiff of colonialism in the air Bam Bou has a dark corner for every occasion. The tastes are upmarket South-East Asian and despite the preponderance of similar cuisine up and down Charlotte Street, this is top drawer. And from top drawer to top floor, the Red Bar is a great place to round off an evening or to kick off a first date if you can manage all those stairs.
Price: £40pp. 1 Percy St, W1T 1DB. Tel: 020 7323 9130. Web: www.bam-bou.co.uk

Bourne & Hollingsworth

Too cool for a proper website, too small for proper cat-swinging; what does B&H have going for it other than sharing initials with Oasis’ favourite cigarette brand (Noel’s cats were named ‘Benson’ and ‘Hedges’ incidentally)? Achingly chic with a floral backdrop and more than a nod towards subterranean prohibition bars, B&H, though small, is perfectly formed. Drinks are reasonably priced in the £5-7 bracket and on a Tuesday night they even manage to shoehorn in some decent bands for a bit of a spontaneous boogie. If all of that fails to convince you that B&H is worth your patronage remember that anywhere that serves cocktails in porcelain teacups deserves a visit.
28 Rathbone Place, W1T 1JF. Tel: 020 7636 8228. Web: www.bourneandhollingsworth.com

Ben and Jerry’s Sundae Festival

Okay… so here is the creative brief: it’s Summer. You are a warm and cuddly consumer brand. You need a way to bring your own brand of quirky fun to the masses. So what do you do? You arrange a Flugta… no… that will never work. You have a Village Fet… no that won’t work either. How else can Ben and Jerry’s spread the love? Of course! We will have our very own off-the-wall, crazy, kooky rock picnic! We will invite the Charlatans and the Guillemots to perform on the Saturday (the Sundae (geddit!) has already sold out) and provide fairground rides and lashings and lashings of free ice cream. C’mon fatty, do the truffle-shuffle and get yourself down there.
Price: £8.50. 26th/27th July. Clapham Common. Web: www.benjerry.co.uk/sundae

And finally…
… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aus7I7MhaOM

END

 Volt

Alright, this isn’t strictly Oval, but it’s about as close as we could find an interesting restaurant. And interesting really is the right word here. Volt has taken some bold risks and somehow come out trumps. It might be dressed up with neon lights and red velvet fittings, but it doesn’t feel like you’re eating in an expensive strip club. It does serve Italian food in mezze portions (though not exclusively), but you don’t have a subconscious urge to glass the chef for being a pretentious git. Somehow, against all the odds, Volt holds it all together, like a punk rocker miraculously performing a flawless set on the back of a three day bender. Yes, it might be an odd fish, but it’s a very tasty fish none the less.
17 Hobart Place, Victoria, SW1W 0HH. Tel: 020 7235 9696 Web: www.voltlounge.com

South Pacific

South Pacific is Mahiki in best south of the river style. Take away the royals, cocktails in pineapples and respectable DJs and the result is a club that really does feel like you could be in a trashy part of Cancun. This is actually very good fun, regardless of whether or not it’s spring break. The trick is attracting people who need no excuse to party, then providing cheap cocktails and fake palm trees as an excuse anyway. The result is a whole lot of Londoners in fake tans and grass skirts forgetting that they are not nineteen and on their gap years forever. Crazy fun, in that if you want to stand out you’ll need to not only reach, but surpass, the full-animal-costume bar.
340 Kennington Rd, SE11 4LD. Tel: 020 7820 9189

Firmdale Film Clubs

If you like the Electric Cinema then check out the Firmdale’s Film Clubs as they take the classy cinematic experience to a whole new level. Three of their top London hotels: The Charlotte St Hotel, Soho Hotel and Covent Garden Hotel host weekend food and film combos where for a fixed price you get a slap up three course meal and then an intimate viewing of a recent good film in their private screening rooms. Really this is all very civilised and, unless you love the incessant crunch of popcorn and musty tang at your local multiplex, the way forward for film viewing.
Price: £35. Web: www.firmdale.com

And finally…
… We always knew the Germans were a little bit odd www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIY24BErBE

La Poule au Pot

La Poule au Pot is a saucy little number where you might entertain your secretary in the hope that she became your mistress. The darkness of the rustic interior is barely punctuated by candles, leaving plenty of scope for under-table naughtiness, whilst staff all have pleasingly authentic French accents. The food is similarly blue bloodedly Gallic - think unctuous onion soup, hearty bourguignon and crème caramel to die for. Forget you’re in deepest darkest London and whisk your amour to this top romantic interlude.
Price: £40-50pp. 231 Ebury St, SW1W 8UT. Tel: 020 7730 7763

Macdonald Bar

The Scottish rarely do posh (frying confectionary is not a mark of haute cuisine), but despite that, it’s actually an area where they have considerable strength. Testament to this is the Macdonald bar: haunt of the brash Scottish Lairds, perfect to retire to after a hard day shooting haggis out on the moors, or so they’d have you believe. It’s a rich tartan affair where single malt whiskeys take pride of place, complemented by phenomenal range of cigars. Live jazz adds a novel twist to the gentleman’s club feel, as does the classic cocktail selection, though the rich red décor and animal heads stop the theme from straying too far. So it might be a bit pricey, but this is Belgravia laddy, what were you ecshpecting?
15 Eccleston st, SW1W 9LX. Tel: 020 7730 6922. Web: www.boisdale.co.uk

Taste London

Effectively, this is the mother of all picnics. More than 40 of the capital’s top restaurants come along to Regent’s Park and serve up signature dishes in sample sizes. It’s a fantastic opportunity to try out many of the top restaurants that you probably won’t get to go to unless they come up in the roulette of corporate dining out, as well as eat through half a Zagat guide without spoiling your summer beach body. Needless to say, there’s also a range of other features, such as the “Taste Kitchen” and “Taste Theatre” (the mind boggles) spattered with enough celebrity appearances to appease even the most avid Hello reader.
From £21. 19th – 22nd June. Regent’s Park. Web: www.channel4.com/life/microsites/T/taste2008

And finally…
… a goldie oldie inspired by the utter Frenchness of this week’s restaurant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V7zbWNznbs

Ottolenghi

But for its near flawless execution, Ottolenghi might be a mediocre medley of modern restauranteering. It has a minimalist white interior. It has a contemporary Euro-Med menu. It even has an innovative hybrid retail format… but the proof is in the pudding, and Ottolenghi has what is quite frankly an indecent selection of cakes and pastries at its bakery counter. If plain white is a touch arrogant, it’s all the more so when the staff are decked out in black for the full monochrome experience. You need to be pretty confident in your kitchen to decide you don’t need décor to generate some atmosphere, but Ottolenghi is justifiably white, serving superb food in abundance. The genre might not be new and clever, but the use of unusual flavour and texture combinations along with top ingredients make for food with a refined, expert feel that certainly is.
Price: £40pp. 287 Upper St, N1 2TZ. Tel: 020 7288 1454. Web: www.ottolenghi.co.uk

Anam

This is a recommendation for an Irish cocktail bar: it is much, much better than it sounds. For starters there aren’t the plastic leprechauns that the description might suggest. In fact it’s bordering on classy, with the cocktail menu neatly divided into Heaven and Hell (no one wants a purgatory-colada, even if they’re Catholic). The inside may be small, but there’s just enough room for a bit of a boogie when the very respectable DJ talent gets involved. All this packaged up with comfy sofas and a welcoming crimson interior that swallows you up from the street outside. All in all a great, friendly alternative to the bars of Upper Street and a great place for a night out with mates.
3 Chapel Market, N1 9EZ. Tel: 020 7278 1001. Web: www.anambar.com

Open Air Films at The Scoop

Some bright spark at City Hall has had the grand idea of letting us all enjoy films outside. Now given how short the typical British summer is, and how much we all like films (was there ever a safer topic for dates?), this is a scheme of Blackadder-like genius. Not only that, but the films that they are putting on are an ambitious spread of genres that span eight decades of cinematography: everything from The Usual Suspects to silent Buster Keaton flicks, Withnail & I to The Sound of Music. It’s also all free. What better way to feel good about being outside whilst actually vegging out? (The telectroscope might be right next door, but trying to convince Americans to do the funky chicken only using sign language is surprisingly active).
Price: Free. 9:15pm Weds/Thurs/Fri throughout June. Next to City Hall, London Bridge, SE1 2AA. Tel: 020 7416 5439. Web: www.morelondon.com/events_details.asp?ID=28

And finally…
… Other great films out this summer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBNVJG15tGs