EV

I *think* this is the super cool place I peer down at from the train between Waterloo East and London Bridge. It's full of fairy lights AND it's under some railway arches. If I'm right (my, this is all rather speculative) it's part of the Tas chain. Time to get down there. Isabella Street, 020 7620 6191.

The Wallace

The Wallace on Manchester Square is London's nearest equivalent to the Frick, which makes it a brilliant place in my books. It's open every day 10-5pm. Haven't yet managed to go to the new Peyton restaurant there, although it sounds great. They also do afternoon teas (a date option, perhaps?) and brunches. Shuts at 4pm on Sundays but otherwise last booking is at 9.30pm each night.

Camino

I am beginning to assemble enough things to do in King's Cross to head there on a night out soon... so this new Spanish tapas place in Varnishers Yard (Regent Quarter) has got me excited. A distinct improvement on Pico's take on both 'tapas' and 'tasteful decor'. Sounds like it has a lovely courtyard for boozing too.

Great Queen Street

The latest venture by the guys behind Anchor and Hope. Also currently one of the most-searched for restaurants on the Time Out site so maybe best leave it till things have calmed down a bit... though you can book tables there - 020 7242 0622. You would never guess it, but it's on Great Queen Street.

Kew Gardens

How have I never been here? Something to rectify asap I think.

Ciao Bella

I adore this restaurant - impossibly loud, impossibly busy, but I've never failed to have a good evening there. There's a big white piano in the corner, which is played by a guy whose repertoire seems to be wide-ranging, albeit within the constraints of 'easy listening'. Great breadsticks. And there's one really fabulous waiter who I always get to flirt with. The place is getting so popular that booking is becoming compulsory - 020 7242 4119 - unless of course the plan was always to get utterly smashed at The Lamb whilst awaiting a table...

Ballet Boyz

Blink and you'll miss this one as it's only on for 2 nights (14th and 15th July). And seeing as I have a date on the 14th, that leaves one night. But it could be a brilliant way of spending Sunday evening - the Ballet Boyz rip through 20thC dance, mixed in with film and music. On at the newly renovated RFH, book tickets here.

Betrayal at the Donmar

I love the Donmar, I really do. In fact, I must remember to get membership there as it's so goddamn hard to get tickets for any of their productions these days. Anyway, Betrayal looks excellent - lots of notquitethirty themes i.e. love, infidelity, commitment and the rest. Oh yes and apparently some bloke called Harold Pinter wrote it. On till July 21st. 0870 060 6624.

Regina Spektor

One for me and LGG? She's playing at RFH on 7th September...

Kings Cross music festival in August

So I've failed to make Glastonbury but this Kings Cross based festival on 25th/26th August looks pretty cool.* There appears to be some confusion about the dates but it looks like it's happening around the bank holiday weekend...



* my proxy: metronomy are playing. nuff said.

Jarvis Cocker at Meltdown

In case I get stood up on the 23rd, which at this stage is looking quite possible... Jarvis' curating of Meltdown looks ace this year, I'm sorry that I've missed it all, but at least here I might get to hear the great man himself. Been really digging his Pulp stuff again recently, so could almost live with being stood up for him.

Oh my! Dragonette are playing again

This time, supporting a band who I *think* are called Chromeo, but to be honest their graphic design is so awful that I can't even read it. Anyway, Dragonette as support stood out. They're playing at the super cool Rivoli-esque looking London Bush Hall on 27th June, which clashes horribly with a work dinner, but hey, maybe I can get out of it.

Joan as a Policewoman

One for me and C? On 11th July at Shepherd's Bush... credit cards 0870 400 0688 or online at www.livenation.co.uk

Panic Attack at the Barbican

On till Sept 9th, finally the punk show is on the road. Sounds like a pretty cool exhibition, taking in lots of the punk stuff in relation to gay liberation and feminism as well as music and the rest.

Hmm. Well I had high hopes for this one but went to see it today with Ix and we agreed that were we writing the reviews, it would be: 'ok but not great' for the Times and 'a lot of cocks but not enough tits' for NOTW. I was really excited about an exhibition that included the political dimension of punk - but annoyingly this show does that to the massive exclusion of music, visceral anger and safety pins. It felt a bit wrong walking around the gallery in hushed tones, everyone refusing to laugh at the video of the man beating himself up before smearing his arse with tomato ketchup. Hmm. Anyway we had a fun day and I do love the Barbican. every time I go there I have a little fantasy of my life as a mildly eccentric writer living on the top floor of one of the tower blocks. one day, one day...

Paul Chan at the Serpentine

Potentially a little pretentious, but in a way that I suspect I might rather enjoy. This exhibition is on at the Serpentine till 1st July. Lots of video projections, colour, symbolism. Time Out claims the theme across all of them is the fall of man and the return of religion and irrationality. We'll see. If I make it.

John Soane museum

T has been going on at me about visiting here for years now. In fact, when we finally made it there a month or so ago we wondered if it would mean that we could no longer be friends - what else would we talk about now we didn't have the prop of planning a visit to this ace museum? Well - it seems to have worked out ok, and we had a really excellent time at John's house. He was quite a dude, this guy: an artist, architect, thinker, collector, general polymath. Things I was stunned by: the passion of the museum caretakers; the queues outside (the place is only open in the evenings once a month, on the first tuesday, and clearly time out readers have decided it's cool); and the sheer quantity of crazy stuff on show there. Great. Go when it gets dark in the evenings so that they light the candles. But be prepared to be patient to get in.

STOP PRESS 19 Princelet St open for one week only

OK, so the Museum of Immigration and Diversity really isn't open that often. So June 17th-24th is a special time when the effort really must be made to go there. The building has been a mosque, synagogue and church in its time. It struggles to keep going but by all accounts is a bit of a magical Tardis-like building. And I love that they market themselves as London's 'museum of conscience'. I'm there.

Don't panic

Cool-sounding exhibition from The Architecture Foundation, including stuff from JG Ballard (whose book High Rise was the main reason my parents decided to sell up their beautiful riverside flat), plus other films and installations exploring themes around fear and fragility - and The Future Of London. Serious stuff. On until July 13th at the AF's Yard Gallery, 49 Old Street (same tube) Tue-Fri 10-6, Sat 12-6.

Rye

Queen's best 1970s song was about this place, loads of inter-war arty lesbians lived here, so it's clearly a place I'm going to like. A total pig to get to, but once there it's kind of fun. Very near Camber Sands, which has a cool hotel and fantastically sandy beaches with excellent dunes which you can hide and snog in.

Box Hill

Well if it was good enough for Jane Austen's characters, it's good enough for me. Great views, and less than an hour from Victoria.

Groombridge Place

Although I got rave reviews from M about this place (he went to a wedding there) I won't hold that against it, as it does sound cool. It's near Tunbridge Wells in Kent (another strike against it, but again... let it go...), and is the most fantastic stately home with the usual amazing manicured gardens. And an enchanted forest, says the website. According to my friend T, it was bought by a wealthy American, which is what saved it from going to ruin, and for some reason that's been lost in the mists of time, it is a detour for the people who participate in the vintage car rally that happens every year...

Postman's Park

This is a place that has been on my to-do list for a very, very long time. It's great: a small, little known park within the square mile. To get there you need to follow Little Britain towards St Paul's cathedral - not that easy to find but so worth it as it really is magical. Very Demos too - with a wall of plaques commemorating 'everyday heroes'. I like. Note: turns out (as i discovered) it risks being quite romantic. Careful who you go with...

Horniman Museum and park

I love this place. The views really are quite breathtaking and remind you what a green city London is. Also, the newly-revamped museum is absolutely wicked. There's a giant walrus and everything. I once ate a really nice omlette at the cafe too. What more could a girl want?

Meraz cafe

Bangladeshi restaurant on Hanbury Street, just off Brick Lane. It's been around since 1974 so it must be alright...

Cymbeline

This looks like an incredible production of a difficult play, from Cheek by Jowl, on at the Barbican until June 23rd.

Lunacy

Czech film which sounds a bit like The Science of Sleep in terms of its blend of animation, imagination and real life. Involving the Marquis de Sade, the 18th century, madness, and on top of all this it is a political commentary on the relative strengths of chaos and dictatorship. Great review from Time Out.

Not here to be loved

A French film about an average guy and his average inner life - which, apparently quite focused around sex. Who knew? Sounds like there are some fantastic women characters - from the 30 something school councillor to the lead guy's assistant (whose inner life is also suitably racy) - and to top it all off, it's not too long. Hurrah! Also I like the title.

California Dreamin'

Another day, another Romanian film. This one won't be around until later in 2007, but arrived in Cannes with great reviews. It's about a train load of Americans who get stopped in a small town in Romania - and the consequences of them exploring the town, its women... sounds excellent... directed by Cristian Nemescu, who was just 26 when he died in a car crash last year.

Crop

Struggling to work out what exactly this show is, but it looks good. Lots of photos of everyday life, on the walworth road. right up my street. On at Central St Martins (Southampton Row) 12-6pm Sat 16th, and 12-8pm Mon 18th-Thurs 21st... must try to go must try to go must try to go

The Narrow

Gordon Ramsay's gastropub in Limehouse. My, I want to go - I love that bit of town and this review from Time Out sounds good (although they can't spell his name right): "The first of Gordon Ramsey’s gastropub outposts is proving a roaring success with critics and punters alike. Housed in a Grade II listed building, it features a ground floor bar with outside tables for drinkers and picturesque river views. You might have to wait weeks and weeks for a table in the dining room but there’s a tasty selection of bar snacks for the impatient among us. Feast on a half-pint of Atlantic prawns, potted Cromer crab with granary toast, traditional Ploughman's lunch or cheese on toast (a snip at just £2.50), then wash it all down with their great selection of bottled beers or a glass from the sophisticated wine list. Sheer summer bliss."
44 Narrow St, E14 8DQ (020 7265 8931) Limehouse DLR.

Sun and Doves

The only reason in the whole world to seek out Loughborough Road. But a really good reason. Mark Dodds who owns this place is absolutely great. I think I used to fancy him actually. Whatever, he's got a cool pub and the story behind it is one of him beating the system of evil money-grabbing breweries, so worth supporting for that too. Has a quiz every weds, as well as loads of live music and art exhbitions.

The Lighthouse

Nice bar in Battersea. I went there a few times with John when it was Dovedale House - good garden, chilled atmosphere and nice for when I can't be bothered to go into town...

Nordic Bakery

Everyone's raving about this new bakery which can be found at no 14 Golden Square. Loads of good Scandy stuff and strong coffee. www.nordicbakery.com open till 8pm during the week, and 7pm on Saturday.

What women want

On at the Women's Library until Aug 24th - return of the exhibition from last year recounting the journey of women as citizens over the years.

How we are: photographing Britain

On at Tate Britain till 2nd September. From their site: The first major exhibition of photography at Tate Britain takes a unique look at the journey of British photography, from the pioneers of the early medium to today.

Lotte Berk method

Let's face it, I've never been a fan of my bum. Lotte Berk sounds ace - based on ballet, you choose whether to do 100% classes or work out to a video and supplement this every now and then. DVD is called The Lotte Berk Method: high round assets. her classes are in fulham and happen at these times - don't forget to book!

The Zetter

A converted Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch that has recently turned into a boutique hotel. All very eco too. Hot water bottles, music library, movies, restaurant and nice bar too. Plus wicked beds. Doubles from £150. which isn't bad for london. 020 7324 4444.