Little Miss Random Recommends – Week Ending 05/08/2012

Hello, good people? How have you been? I'll just cut the small talk (for now) and show you the good stuff.

Enjoy!


School Nights

1. The Exhibition Road Show, possibly the most sophisticated street party that will be thrown in London this year, continues. Enjoy street performances, talks at the Science Museum, vintage board games and live folk and swing music. Till Aug 5th, Exhibition Road, open from 6.00 pm on weekdays and 10.30 am on weekends, free entry
2. The Olympics will be broadcast on giant screens at Hyde Park and Victoria Park, courtesy of BT London Live. There will be live music, movie screenings and club nights (at least at Victoria Park) and a 'have-a-go' sports zone. Entry is free and you can reserve tickets on the website. Till Aug 12th, Hyde Park / Victoria Park, 11.00 am (doors), free entry
3. Check out Watch This Space, the National Theatre’s free outdoor summer festival. Participate in The Recycled Games (till Aug 3rd, 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm), where Guixot de 8 have transformed scrap metal into wonderfully inventive and interactive games. Alternatively, join in on the Campaign for Pie-Throwing, organised by the Bureau of Silly Ideas (August 1st, 3.00 pm and 6.30 pm). Jul 31st onwards, Theatre Square, South Bank, check website for times, free
4. Science London hosts Origami Dinos: Take Two where not only Prof. John Hutchison from the Royal Veterinary College will teach you all about dinosaurs, you’ll also get the chance to make your very own origami dinosaur. No craft skills required! If that's not quite your bag, you can head to the basement for Early Doors Disco with the Secret Garden Party's DJ Head Gardener! Aug 1st, Drink Shop & Do, 7.00 pm, free
5. Visit the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, Britain's oldest manufacturing company. The Foundry has produced some of the most famous bells in history, including the original Liberty Bell, and, of course, Big Ben. During the Olympic fortnight only, the Foundry will offer tours while work is undergoing. Standard tours usually take place when no work is being done, so this is a unique opportunity to see many of the Foundry's highly specialised craft skills in operation. Till Aug 12th, Whitechapel Bell Foundry, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (last admission 4.30 pm), £10
6. Graffik Gallery and Upper Playground London will be showcasing some of the biggest names and up and coming artists in The Urban Art Show, featuring names like Mode 2, Adam Neate, Banksy and Paul Insect, you know this will be a show not to be missed. Aum Brand’s very own Amar Stewart will also be exhibiting a new body of work at the show as well as giving away signed prints to the first 20 guests. Aug 2nd (private view, e-mail for guestlist) / Aug 3rd (open to public), Graffik Gallery, 6.30 pm (Aug 2nd) / 10.00 am (Aug 3rd)

Weekend

1. Dine on deliciously diverse tastes, smells, sights and sounds as Feast, London’s most exciting and daring food experience, sets up in London Bridge. Where else will you be able to find culinary luminaries such as Anchor and Hope, Jose Pizarro, St. John Bread and Wine, The Wright Brothers, Tonkotsu, Hawksmoor and more all in the same place? Aug 3rd to 5th, The Quad, Guy’s Hospital, 6.00 pm (Fri) / 12 noon (Sat & Sun), £6 
2. Drop The Lime hits London for a special four hour set, taking us through a wild musical journey inspired by Blues and Rockabilly, Dark 90s House, Kraut, Punk and, of course, Bass. I’ve only seen DTL once before, when he was supporting Diplo, and he was, as the kids say, DOPE. Aug 3rd, Birthdays, 11.00 pm, £5
3. Chillax at Camden Beach. As they put it, "can't escape the city to the seaside? Worry not as the Roundhouse is bringing the beach to you. Maybe we're crazy but we believe in the Great British Summer, so come along and sit at the tiki bar, lounge in a deckchair, join in a game of ping pong or whatever you like." I couldn't have said it better myself. Throughout Aug, the Roundhouse, 11.00 am to 11.00 pm, free entry
4. I wrote about resilience as an essential quality when it comes to coping with unemployment and all the other hard stuff life throws at you. Learn how to enhance your resilience at Inner Space’s Bounce Back workshop. It’s free. What more incentive do you need? Aug 5th, The Pirate Castle, 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm, free (registration required)