Little Miss Random Recommends – Week Ending 10/06/2012

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Diamond Jubilee weekend despite the weather. If you’ve had to head back to work today, I feel your pain. It’s something I’ll have to get used to very shortly, although it’s a pain I’ll gladly bear.

In case you missed that, it’s basically a round-a-bout way of saying I got a job. It’s a contract role, but fingers crossed that it’ll work out. So while I’m feeling incredibly nervous about starting work again after being off for so long, at the same time, I’m really chuffed because it’s so difficult to land a job in this economic climate so please allow me a gentle pat on my back.

So how will I be choosing to enjoy my last few days of absolute freedom as it were? Read on for my picks of events this week.

School Nights

1. Skive off work early and catch an outdoor screening Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Bring blankets/warm clothing/umbrellas in case the weather turns. In addition to this film, Rich Mix will be showing 101 Dalmatians, The Italian Job and Nanny McPhee as part of the Best of British film festival over the next two days. Fancy dress in the vein of the movie to be shown is encouraged. Jun 6th, Broadgate Circus, 5.45 pm, free
2. Get in touch with your senses at Salon’s Essensuals featuring Elaine Sciolino speaking on the art of seduction, Claudia Hammond on our perceptions of time, and Odette Toilette who will be presenting one of their legendary Scratch and Sniff workshops. Word of advice: Eat before you get there as the salon’s three hours long. Jun 6th, University Women’s Club, 7.30 pm (doors), £12
3. The Ministry of Freedom’s Freedom and the Law series of seminars begins this week with “An Introduction to Law in the UK.” which looks at the historical development of law in the UK in order to give an idea of the multitude, range and depth of remedies available. Seminars run every Thursday for 12 weeks from June 7th to August 23rd. Jun 7th, Passing Clouds, 7.00 pm, £3 / £5 / free on special request
4. If you like classic swing and big band music, then don’t miss Ray Gelato & The Giants performing this week. Considered to be one of the last in a long, fabulous line of entertainers including Louis Prima and Cab Calloway, they just don’t make music like this anymore. I remember when he used to perform at The 100 Club way back when I just started swing dancing. Good times. Jun 7th to 9th, Ronnie Scott’s, 6.00 pm (doors), £25 / £42.50
5. Theatre Local, an effort by the Royal Court Theatre and Bloomberg to bring theatre to alternative spaces across London, brings Bola Agbaje’s Belong to Peckham, where the playwright formerly resided. The play’s about a fallen British Nigerian politician who flees to Nigeria to escape his failure only to discover that, quite possibly, he’s not as Nigerian as he thought he was. Runs until Jun 23rd, Bussey Building, 3.30 pm (Wednesday and Saturday matinees) / 7.45 pm, £10 (adv) / Pay What You Like (at the door)
6. Take in Hitch/Crunch, a double-bill of two of Glasgow’s most exciting young artists. Hitch by Kieran Hurley is about the playwright’s solo journey to earthquake-hit L’Aquila, Italy in 2009, as he hitchhiked his way from Glasgow in order to be there for the G8 meeting on July 8th. In Crunch, theatre-maker Gary McNair promises a “five-step programme” to release us from the tyrannies of the financial system. Jun 7th to 9th, Battersea Arts Company, 7.30 pm, £10
7. The Postcards Festival returns to Jacksons Lane in Archway this week, with just one of the many highlights being Floors, a production by Boom! Circus Theatre, a Bristol-based collective of four performers who incorporate theatrical circus with live music. If you need further convincing, perhaps the fact that Boom! were the winners of the Deutsche Bank Award in 2011 might help. Jun 7th to 8th, Jackson Lane Theatre, 8.00 pm, £10

Weekend

1. For an intellectual start to your weekend, try My Night With Philosophers. Organised by the Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, London’s first ever event of this kind features an entire night filled with philosophy, cinema, music and art, with events starting at 7 pm and finishing at 7 am. The Bistrot will be open throughout to provide food and drinks, Saint-Emilion wine (one of my favourites) and, most importantly, free coffee. Jun 8th, Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, 7.00 pm, free
2. Ransom Note partners with Dalston Superstore for the Lovebox Sunday Warm-up with Andrew Weatherall. Support provided by Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco head honcho), Jim Stanton (Dalston Superstore) and many more. Jun 8th, Dalston Superstore, 9.00 pm (doors), £5 / free before 11 pm
3. If you still haven’t had your fill of street parties, cross your fingers that this weekend will bring us far better and drier weather so that you can make it down to Krankbrother’s Shoreditch Street Party and enjoy an afternoon of electronic music, featuring top acts from the label including Wolf + Lamb and Guti. Head indoors for the afterparty once the sun sets, where Simon Baker will be headlining. Jun 9th, Clifton Street, 1.00 pm to 10.00 pm (street party), £27.50 (street party only) / £33 (street party + after party) / £11 (after party only)
4. Take in the Open Garden Squares Weekend where around 200 communal gardens, not normally open to the public, open their doors to the public. Participating gardens include The Royal College of Physicians’ medicinal garden and the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden which has been specially designed for the Diamond Jubilee. At a loss as to what to see? Use the website’s handy garden selector to enable you to choose the garden that’s just right for you. Jun 9th to 10th, all over London, £9
5. Andy Parsons makes a rare live appearance at The King’s Head, “London’s famous and friendliest comedy club.” Other acts include Gordon Southern, Ola and Jason Patterson with Dominic Frisby compering. Book and arrive early in order to get seats. Jun 9th, The King’s Head, 8.00 pm (doors) / 8.30 pm (show), £10
6. Travel back in time and indulge yourself at The Candlelight Club, a clandestine pop-up cocktail bar in a secret venue. Expect 1920s speakeasy flavour, dancing to live 1920s jazz bands and vintage DJing. Oh, and it’s all lit by candles. Jun 9th, secret London location, 7.30 pm (doors), £15.75
7. Clubbing institution We Love returns to the Ministry of Sound before launching off in Ibiza, bringing with it a stellar line-up of James Zabiela, Stacey Pullen and Catz ‘n’ Dogz in the main room. Do not miss. Jun 9th, Ministry of Sound, 11.00 pm (doors), £19.92
8. Relax on Sunday as Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay and friends DJ to launch Tom’s new album, Late Night Tales: Music for Pleasure, featuring music from the ‘70s. Tom will be performing at nearby Rough Trade East beforehand from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Jun 10th, Big Chill Bar, 2.00 pm to 12 mn, free