Great Spitalfields Pancake Race

Mmmm pancakes.  Stuffing your face with them doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with exercise – but the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race is all in the name of fun.

And charity.

It might seem a while away – Pancake Day is on March 8 this year – but  if you’re up for it, you and 3 team-mates can race up and down Dray Walk to raise money for the London Air Ambulance.  Email or call 020 7375 0441 to enter or for more information.

That’s about a month to get in training!

After you’ve worked up an appetite after all that running, you can always reward yourself and eat the pancake – providing you didn’t drop it along the way….

Aside from pride and glory, the winners receive an engraved frying pan for their efforts.

The race goes from the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, starting at 12:30pm.

Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street

 

East End shadows & Soho Star-Spotting

Mike Bradley http://www.brilliamstv.com

A popular perception of what Jack The Ripper might have looked like

The Jack the Ripper tour is a great atmospheric way to walk the murky footsteps of the Ripper who completed five murders in a short space of time in London’s East End. The murders were committed mainly over the summer months, so film-fans, I’m afraid to say a great deal of poetic and historic licence has been taken in the many Ripper gore-fest films as there would have been no fog or mist shrouding that suspicious figure lurking in the shadows. Further information reveals any well dressed psychopath would definitely not have worn a cloak or tall hat at that time as neither were in fashion.

Our guide on the night revealed many of the stop-off points on the walk were still used as filming venues and she had glimpsed Gywneth Paltrow in costume not far from Brick Lane. Priced at only £7 per person, our walk was booked through Jack The Ripper Walk and represented excellent value for money.

Having completed the walk, we checked into the Dean Street Townhouse, high in glamour and low in price providing you’re lucky enough to book one of the ‘Tiny’ rooms at £95 per night. We were lucky, very lucky, to secure such a deal and have as yet been unable to repeat the feat.

The room was extremely cosy with what felt like fine Egyptian cotton sheets along with a wide array of snacks and peanuts in the mini bar. Warning: please don’t repeat our mistake and scoff the nuts thinking they’re free. They’re not, and £17 is a lot to spend on munchies. On the plus side the bathroom is full of fragrant Cowshed products which are free to use in the room – but come with a hefty price tag should you attempt to stuff them into your toiletry bag.

Popular with celebs, Quentin Tarantino had been spotted in the restaurant but he was nowhere to be seen during our stay. On the plus side we did manage to rub shoulders with Tracy Emin’s pencil drawing as we tucked into a full English Breakfast at £11 per head. Coffee and water were complimentary as was the loud business meeting at the next table we were forced to endure for the duration of our breakfast.

Soho Celeb-Spotting

Dean Street Townhouse is perfectly placed if you’re a celebrity spotter and Soho has always reaped great rewards for the ardent star stalker. I’ve seen Ricky Gervais twice, Jarvis Cocker, I’ve sat behind Ricky Hatton at Patisserie Valerie (just round the corner on Old Compton Street) whilst Bill Nighy and Michelle Dewsberry walked by, not together I hasten to add.

I’ve sat inside Patisserie Valerie and watched David Bailey and wife Catherine stroll in, Howard Jacobson brushed past me too and last time I was there former Heartbeat actor Jason Durr was talking loudly in a mid Atlantic drawl to his equally loud American friend. And that was weird, the real life Mike Bradley sat behind an actor who made a name for himself playing a character called…Mike Bradley.

Soho is home to numerous post-production houses where everyone does their voice-overs or catches up with their agents. I’ve seen Mike Leigh and Lenny Henry there too. You can observe the comings and goings at the Groucho Club on Dean Street or The Ivy on West Street and my tip would be to keep your eyes peeled at all times.

Scott’s Restaurant, Mount Street, Mayfair is where Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi are often papped. It’s a posh fish restaurant. We lunched there but were disappointed to only rub shoulders with the many businessmen tucking into their fish and chips. Nigella was nowhere to be seen but photographer Terry O’Neill did pop in so all was not lost.

Frank Finlay hopping on the tube, Josie Lawrence hurrying down Oxford Street, I tell you, the stars are everywhere!

 

Driven Creativity

The weather outside is frightful…so why not do something indoors yet cultural this weekend?

The Brick Lane Gallery is hosting Driven Creativity – an exhibition showing off shortlisted and winning entries from the G-Technology Driven Creativity competition

You’ll be able to see photography, film and music – and the best bit is, it’s all free!

The exhibition is running until Monday, November 22 and is open 1-6pm every day.

Nearest Tube: Liverpool St/Aldgate

 

Free Coral Gig

The Coral are playing a free gig tomorrow night (Tuesday, July 6) at Rough Trade East.

To get a wristband to the gig, head to the Rough Trade store and buy their new album ‘1000 years’ .  Any remaining wristbands will be given out on a first come, first served basis one hour before the show.

Rough Trade is in the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane (entrance on Dray Walk).  The show starts at 6:30pm.

Nearest Tubes: Aldgate East or Liverpool Street

Free Mystery Jets Gig

Mystery Jets are playing a free instore gig tonight at Rough Trade East.

To get your wristband, head to the Rough Trade store and pick up their new album ‘seratonin’ – any left over wristbands will be given out on a first come first served basis one hour before the show.

Rough Trade East can be found in the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane (entrance is on Dray Walk).  The gig kicks off at 7pm.

Nearest Tube: Aldgate East or Liverpool Street

Bank Holiday Fun

It’s the second Bank Holiday of the month – what’s not to like about that?!

Here are a few ideas for the next couple of days to keep you occupied….

Spitalfields City Farm Fayre

Check out sheep shearing demonstrations and try your hand at knitting and weaving, amongst other things.  There’ll also be live music and theatre, and you can see some rare breeds of sheep too!

The farm’s located on Weaver Street (off Brick Lane) and is open until 5pm today.

Free entry.

Nearest Tube: Aldgate East/Liverpool Street

Friendly Footy

Our very own world cup is taking place in Charlton Park with the finals taking place this afternoon.  The players are ex-pats and second generation competitors taking part in the Inner City World Cup.

The competition includes youth and women’s teams, and there’s music and food from the various countries.

Free entry.  The event finishes at 6pm, with the final being played at 4pm.

Nearest Train: Charlton Rail Station

Rock ‘N’ Roll Circus

We all know I love The Blues Kitchen – I’ve mentioned it numerous times on the radio show and on the site.  So imagine my delight when I found out they were putting on a themed night tonight.

Rock ‘n’ roll bands bands will take to the stage whilst other entertainment comes in the form of a razor-blade eating magician and a fire eater, as well as a contortionist and the world’s strongest man.

The Blues Kitchen is on Camden High Street, and the event kicks off at 5pm tonight.  No cover charge.

Nearest Tube: Camden Town

It’s Hot Hot Hot!

Bank Holiday Monday sees the culmination of Brick Lane Curry Festival, which has been running for the last couple of weeks.

Head to Vibe Bar and you can try out the 5 best curries, and vote for your favourite, whilst watching Bollywood dancing and live music.

Vibe Bar is located on Brick Lane, and the event is running from 12pm-11:30pm.  The curry tasting will take place between 1pm-3pm.

Nearest Tube: Aldgate East

Ally Pally Picnic Fun

If the weather’s nice, why not head to Alexandra Palace on Monday, to take part in their Bumper Picnic.  The event’s being run in conjunction with National Family Week, and there’ll be face-painting, a funfair and live music – as well as a BBQ.

The event’s happening from 11am-5pm. Entry is free.

Nearest Tube: Wood Green (then take the W3 bus to the Palace)

Pop-up Rockabilly

It’s the launch weekend for this pop-up club which is only here for 6 months before moving on to a new venue.

The Silver Bullet is playing host to rock ‘n’ roll and rock-a-billy bands, as well as having DJs and a jukebox.

Entry is free at the club, which is at Station Place in North London.  Doors open at 6pm.

Nearest Tube: Finsbury Park