London agenda for Monday 20 February
1. Watch a free session of Ladyhawk at Rough Trade East [Le Cool]
2. Talk about Bob Dylan at Poet in the City [Flavorpill]
3. Ask director Simon Bright and producer Michael Auret, Robert Mugabe…What Happened? [Don’t Panic]
4. Go to the best named event of the day: The Bats of Epping Forest [Ian Visits]
5. Play crazy golf at Northwick Park [Tired of London]
20 Feb 2012
What the world really needs - more McDonald's and more nuclear weapons
Tensions in the Falklands, tensions in Iran. Why can’t everyone just order a McFlurry, stockpile some warheads and relax, asks Mike Bonnet.
20 Feb 2012
PET - Wear Black
Some creepy Scottish goodness for you here from unsigned Scottish band PET, reminiscent perhaps of Delicatessen‘s dark magic…
18 Feb 2012
City Skills: The best places in London to drink alone
Monet obviously took his hipflask with him. This is just how it looks after a couple of swigs
Drinking alone is not for everyone. Those of a depressive or addictive personality might want to give it a miss. Those who secretly enjoy being maudlin for romantic effect however…well, you know who you are. Just don’t make a habit of it unless you’re an artistic genius. In which case do whatever the fuck you want.
The Sun, Drury Lane (recommended drink: pint of IPA)
This pub has three regulars who are great friends to the solitary drinker: decent ale, a big mirror, and live cricket on TV. The first and last of these are commonplace, their appeal self-explanatory. The mirror’s the real hook. For what is drinking alone but an opportunity for self-reflection? Sitting before the glass you watch your pint diminish in your hand, draining slowly and inevitably away like all your youthful hopes and dreams. You see yourself as you really are: an ape who’s evolved just far enough to recognise yourself drinking a pint in a pub on your own. That’s all there is. That’s all you are. What you do with this knowledge is up to you. I recommend you watch the cricket.
Fitzroy Tavern, Charlotte St (pint of sovereign)
You’re exactly like Dylan Thomas.
Hoxton Square (can of Red Stripe)
Watch the pretty young people form their reciprocal social bonds. Mock them for their interdependence. Envy them their swagger. It could be both better and worse – you could be one of them.
A boat, the Serpentine (white wine)
Who says drinking alone has to be depressing?! Sometimes you’ve done a job and done it well. Sometimes you did it all yourself. You need a moment to celebrate with all the people who made it possible: You. Relax, feel the breeze in your hair, the water on your finger tips. You did it. You’re the king of the world!
Charing Cross/Hungerford/Golden Jubilee Footbridge (hipflask – contents of your choice)
Halfway across Hungerford footbridge is located the precise centre of London. Not the geographical centre, or the administrative centre, the entertainment centre or the transportation centre. The real centre. Suspended above the Thames, with St Paul’s to the East, Westminster to the West, the arts to the South and the pubs to the North, here is where the essence of the city resides. Toast it. Toast the city from its own heart. Listen to the waves rise and fall, like cities do.
See also:
Five best places in London to break up with someone
Five useful phrases that mean you’ll never lose an argument again
Five charlatans, eccentrics or otherwise notable personages buried at Kensal Green
Picture – Charing Cross Bridge by Claude Monet from Wikimedia Commons
Follow Mike
Twitter: @MikPollitt
Email: michael.pollitt@snipelondon.com
17 Feb 2012
Ex-NOTW reporter Neville Thurlbeck reinvents as Kingston theatre critic
Ex-NOTW reporter Neville Thurlbeck reinvents as Kingston theatre critic
His first assignment – Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea.
[Via Holdthefrontpage]
17 Feb 2012
London agenda for Friday 17 February 2012
1. Go retro-glam and fanciful in one’s finest vintage rags at It’s a Wonderful Vintage Love Boat Ball [Le Cool]
2. Chat with ‘one of fashion’s most stylish women’, Anna dello Russo [Run Riot]
3. Finally get back to Corisca Studios for the shock to the nervous system of Fruit Palace [Don’t Panic]
4. Watch Lawrence of Arabia at the British Museum [Ian Visits]
5. Gaze across Crystal Palace lake [Tired of London]
17 Feb 2012
Imperial's student newspaper admits rape is not funny, struggles to work out what is
The editor of Felix, Matthew Colvin, writes a contrite and impressive apology for publishing a piece which suggested a recipe for making rohypnol. The offensive piece (and it is offensive – this isn’t one of those faux-offensive offences), can be read here.
The apology begins:
In last week’s Felix, an article was published in the Hangman section which many readers felt incited sexual violence, trivialised rape and generally contributed to the idea of a rape culture. I would like to take the opportunity to assure readers that this was in no way our intention, and we all agree that a piece of content which does this is wholly unacceptable.
It goes on:
We are now taking the time to carefully consider how any section designed with the sole intention of being humourous can feature and simultaneously exist to the same standard as the rest of this publication.
The question now facing Imperial students is this: is it possible to (try to) be funny without also inciting rape? Time will tell.
Felix – A note on last week’s hangman
Rochefoucauld tumblr – Reprint of original article
17 Feb 2012
Day by Day By by Mike Doughty
The release date of Doughty’s fourth solo album, Yes and Also Yes, has been put back to coincide with the publication of his autobiographical novel The Book of Drugs, the contents of which should be self-explanatory.
The former Soul Coughing frontman favours that curious blues/rap hybrid that only Americans seem able to pull off. Thankfully, he’s more Beck than Kid Rock. Both novel and album are out now, the latter on Hornblower Recordings/Snackshare.
16 Feb 2012
London's most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants
London’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants.
[Via Londonlovesbusiness]
16 Feb 2012
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
- An interview with Desiree Akhavan
- 9 poems about London: one for each of your moods
- The five best places in London to have an epiphany
- Summer Camp: Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days
- Margaret Thatcher statue rejected by public
- London has chosen its mayor, but why can’t it choose its own media?
- Diary of the shy Londoner
- Number of people using Thames cable car plunges
- The five spookiest abandoned London hospitals
- Could red kites be London's next big nature success story?
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