Little Miss Random Recommends - Week ending 01/04/12

First of all, thanks so much for the positive response to the debut of Little Miss Random Recommends. It meant quite a lot to me, so… *brushes tear from eye* As I mentioned last week, this is pretty much going to be a work in progress and I’m trying to think up a good name for this series rather than just “Little Miss Random Recommends”. Any ideas?

Back to business. For this week, this is what I’d do assuming I had sufficient cash and time. I don’t necessarily go to all the events I recommend as it’d require someone with far more funds and uninjured knees, but, let me assure you that if it’s here and all the conditions were right, I’d be there in a flash. The number of events will vary from week to week, depending on what I find interesting.

School nights

1. Return to the 80's with Nintendisco, the UK’s number 1 retro gaming night. Enjoy DJ sets, games and booze at Vibe Bar. If you don’t enjoy yourself, the organisers will refund the entry fee.  March 28th, 7 pm, free
2. Alternatively, explore what the future holds with Science Museum Lates. Talks, tours, punk science, speed-dating and silent disco. What more could you possibly want? March 28th, 6.45 pm to 10 pm
3. Attend Courtauld Gallery Lates as the museum recreates the '30s, the decade in which Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholson created some of their finest masterpieces. There will be live jazz, talks on how the eye sees colour and the relationship of colour in art, workshops and games. Visitors can also enjoy the brilliant Mondrian || Nicholson: In Parallel exhibition. March 29th, 6 pm, £6 / £4.50 (concs) / free if in '30s dress
4. Check out street artist Insa’s latest installation Self Reflection is Greater Than Self Projection at the LONDONEWCASTLE Project Space on Redchurch St in Shoreditch. Open to the public for one night only. March 29th, 7 pm to 10 pm, RSVP to insa.rsvp@gmail.com for entry

Weekend

1. Sneak off and enjoy a lunchtime performance at the Royal Albert Hall’s Cafe Consort, courtesy of the Hot Potato Syncopators. The comedy swing whoopee band features ukeleles, a musical saw, tea-chest bass and three Englishmen with bags of energy. March 30th, 12 pm to 1.30 pm, free
2. The Bum Bum Crew and House of Hot Breath combine forces for Games Night at the Bethnal Green Working Mens Club, otherwise known as the gang's "stupid take on pub games" featuring Early Bird Bingo, karaoke and the Tape Measure game, among others. March 30th, 9 pm. Free before 10 pm / £5 after
3. Spend the following morning recovering at Spitalfields Life Coffee Morning at Rough Trade East, featuring local celebrities from the acclaimed blog (and now book). Artist Lucinda Rogers will be on-site doing a live drawing. There will also be an opportunity to get a copy of the book inscribed by the gentle author him/herself. March 31st, 10 am to 12 noon, free
4. The Note Well presents Mardi Gras Party Gras at The George Tavern in East London. Among other things, there will be note-o-ake, birthday celebrations, cake, clothes swapping, dancing and glitter. Tacky, trendy, shiny, and, most of all, swappable dress encouraged. March 31st, 8 pm, £2 (adv)/£3 (door)
5. Bliss out to Chris Geddes of Belle & Sebastian DJing at Rough Trade East for the launch of Belle & Sebastian’s Late Night Tales. April 1st, 12 noon to 2 pm, free
6. Watch a film while you dine at the Roxy Bar & Screen. On Sunday, the restaurant will be screening Las Acacias, a story about a lonely truck driver who has arranged to drive a mother and baby from Paraguay to Buenos Aires. The film won the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 and is part of the ‘slow cinema’ movement from South America, whereby the director focuses more on characters and the relationship between them as opposed to narrative or plot twists. April 1st, screening begins at 8 pm, £3 / free for members