Attend the Buttoned Down Disco Boat Party

Back when your author first came to London, he searched in vain for decent clubnights, and one which he particularly enjoyed was Buttoned Down Disco, who cleverly pioneered use of social media and the internet to promote their nights, with monthly invites arriving by email, and details of the 'secret venues' often not revealed until the night.


Over a few years they have risen from small venues such as Purple Turtle in Camden via Bloomsbury, King's Cross, and Shoreditch to large venues like Koko, on the other side of the road in Camden, where they now hold their regular nights, only occasionally still branching out, such as in the case of tonight they're special End of the Summer Boat Party in Battersea.

For more, and to download their excellent mixes see http://www.buttoneddowndisco.com/

_{^Picture © Dani P.L. used under a Creative Commons license^}

See some Museums at Night

We're already onto day two of the annual Museums at Night weekend, but there are still some fantastic events taking place this evening, and even a few tomorrow.


Tonight sees a late opening at the Royal Observatory's Astronomy Centre in Greenwich, late talks at Apsley House, art by candlelight at the London Canal Museum and late steam engines at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, amongst others.

For more, see http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night

_{^Picture © Will668 used under a Creative Commons license^}

Eat at Dahlak Eritrean Restaurant

You could easily miss a place like Dahlak Eritrean Restaurant, at 256-258 Brixton Rd, and pass on by, and your author would have done exactly that if it hadn't been for a friend's birthday a few weeks ago.


A favourite amongst the London's Eritrean community, the restaurant is also a bar and music club, and even on a Saturday night it was fairly quiet until around 10pm, when diners still awaited their Eritrean coffee ceremony and popcorn. By the time this had finished, the bar and live music were busy inside but shutters outside were firmly pulled down so only the bouncers were visible.

The food was excellent, and your author enjoyed that spongey bread and whilst he was chastised by friends when he compared it to Ethiopian food, Time Out tells us there isn't too much of a rivalry between the two countries at Dahlak.

For more information, see http://www.timeout.com/london/features/1804/London_Lives-The_Eritean_cab_driver.html

Explore the Sir John Soane Museum by candlelight

When the clocks go back, the dark nights can be depressing, but they are also a positive thing. For tonight is the first time in months you have been able to fully enjoy the special candlelit openings at the Sir John Soane Museum in proper darkness.


As any London geek will know, from the proceeds of his work as a celebrated architect, Soane bought 12 Lincoln's Inn Fields, and the neighbouring house, and used them to amass his interesting collection of possessions. He did so well that by his death in 1837 he was able to arrange for an act of Parliament to leave his collection to the nation

The openings take place on the first Tuesday evening of each month, from 6pm until 9pm, and are free, but you have to get there in plenty of time in order to get in, as the queues sometimes snake down the street.

The museum is perfect to be enjoyed by candlelight, however, with the flames flickering over the nooks and crannies and collections. For full details, see http://www.soane.org/

_{^Picture reproduced under Wikimedia Commons^}

Watch Jazz Live in The Crypt at St Giles

The jazz club in the Crypt of St Giles Church, on Camberwell Church Street, has been running since 1995 and has raised over £180,000 for church restoration as well as giving thousands of Londoners the pleasure of listening to good music at a reasonable cost.


The intimate Crypt has a capacity of 150, and is fully licensed with a great value bar (glass of wine £2, organic ale £3.30). Gigs take place every Friday and occasional Saturdays and tonight's, featuring the musical talents of Ruth Scott, Will Roberts, Aga Serugolugo, Jo Williams, Ashley Valentine and Jon Hargreaves, promises to be a real treat. It starts about 9pm.

For more on tonight's event, see here or for more on Jazz Live see http://www.jazzlive.co.uk/

_{^Picture by Stephen Richards^}

Drink at Pepito, London's only specialist Sherry Bar

Your author was invited to the opening of Bar Pepito, London’s only dedicated sherry bar, last week, and it was jolly pleasant. The tiny bar bills itself as 'a must visit for any sherry lover' and stocks plenty of different types of sherry.


The focus of the bar is, we are told, on bringing an authentic spirit of Jerez to Kings Cross, and it is nice enough. Calling it a bar in its own right is a bit of spin as the space, sat in shiny Varnishers Yard, is technically an offshoot of Spanish restaurant Camino. However, it just about holds its own (even if you do have to pop over to the restaurant to use the toilets), serving sherry and tapas from a menu designed by Camino head chef Nacho del Campo.

Your author must admit he was basically a sherry novice on arrival but the experience was rather pleasant even if he couldn't hack the sweet sherries for long. In order to help you to experience all the different types of sherries, they've even installed one of those new Enomatic machines (like at the Sampler and Bottle Apostle). It's an open stainless-steel chiller cabinet holding eight bottles of sherry, allowing you to try a tasting amount of several different types, without having to take on a full glass.

In the press release, Camino owner, Richard Bigg optimistically bleats that "Sherry is cool again". Your author will need a little more convincing, but Bar Pepito will certainly help it along. The bar is open Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm - midnight. For more see http://www.camino.uk.com/pepito

Eat at the Princess Victoria, W12

The Victoria, on Uxbridge Road in Shepherds Bush, is a former Victorian Gin Palace, Princess Victoria, restored by Matt Wilkin and James McLean and named ‘Timeout Best New Gastro Pub 2008’.


Considering the location, its a surprise that only on half of the duo is from the Southern Hemisphere and it is Matt, originally from Adelaide, and previously Executive Sommelier at the 2 Michelin starred Capital Restaurant, Matt has won awards including UK Sommelier Of The Year 2005. Head Chef, James, meanwhile won ‘Young Chef Of The Year 1997’, formerly worked at of The Greenhouse and The Goose in Oxfordshire, and is now focussing on good British food.

Having said all this, your author has only actually ever been in for a pint but it was a very pleasant spot and considering the above, it could be worth investigating the menu next time, and as if that weren't already enough, we are also told there is a courtyard herb garden, a wine & cigar shop and a weekly artisan market. Let's just hope they're not over-stretching themselves.

The Princess Victoria is at 217 Uxbridge Road, London W12. For more information, see http://www.princessvictoria.co.uk/, or for perspective, see fancyapint.

Learn about the War on Photography, with David Hoffman

Your author is often behind the curve, so after missing recommending last week's mass gathering in Trafalgar Square, he might suggest you can still find out about the "I’m a Photographer, not a Terrorist" movement tonight at the Frontline Club with co-founder and veteran filmmaker, David Hoffman.


Hoffman has been a key campaigner against legislation and police restrictions on photography, and is speaking at the Frontline Club, London's club to promote independent current affairs and journalism, to talk about the campaign in more depth, and reflect on the challenges facing the photography profession, particularly the ready availability of free substitutes for photojournalists’ work .

The event costs £12.50 and is followed by a question and answer session moderated by photographer Chris Steele-Perkins. For more information, see http://frontlineclub.com/events/2010/02/in-the-picture-with-david-hoffman-war-on-photography.html

_{^Picture by Dr John2005 under Creative Commons licence^}

Celebrate Burns Night with Talisker Whisky

Your author loves a freebie, and when he was treated to a very pleasant pre-Burns-night celebration by Talisker Whisky, one of Diageo's many brands, last Wednesday he very much enjoyed it. It was a great evening with whisky, haggis and a lot of Scottishness.


Burns night itself is tomorrow, and Talisker are attempting to ensure their market share on the most Scottish of occasions by hosting burns nights around the country and giving away free 'rocking glasses'.

Your author isn't too sure about the glasses - having dropped a full one over himself last Wednesday - but it's the perfect excuse for a celebration, and for Scots, January 25th is a bit special the world over.

So, in the words of the promotional material, 'it’s the night we get together and raise our glasses to the much-loved Scottish poet and songwriter, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns'

Talisker are holding their burns nights in West Hampstead, Hammersmith, Twickenham and Kingston. To find your nearest, click here, or for more click here.

_{^Picture very generously provided by Tiki Chris^}

Drink ales at The Bree Louise

Your author has been featuring a lot of pubs recently, but there's always time for stand-out establishments, and the Bree Louise, a short distance from Euston Station, falls into that category.


Brim full of ales and nice people, the Bree Louise is run by Craig and Karen, who have extensive experience dating back to the 80's and a great passion for pubs. Their experience really shows here, with excellent food on offer and a great range of ales, which surpases the selection in your local and gives it the feel of a perpetual beer festival.

It's a perfect pub and there is even often discount for CAMRA and NUS members. Not only that, but there is a good food menu and a "pie of the day" with mash and veg for as little as £5.

For more information, visit http://www.thebreelouise.com/

_{^Picture by AndyRob}

Listen to a lecture at the Royal Society

Many of London's seemingly impenetrable institutions are actually more than happy to welcome you along if you scratch beneath the surface, usually for free. That's very much the case with the Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, better known as the Royal Society, in Carlton House Terrace, just off Pall Mall. It is the oldest scientific society in existence, and is the Academy of Sciences of the United Kingdom.


The Society was founded in the 1660s, and has moved a number of times in its long history. In 1710 it moved to Crane Court in the Strand, by the 1780s it was at Somerset House, and in 1857 it moved to Burlington House in Piccadilly. In fact, it wasn't until 1967 that it moved to its current location.

They run a series of free events and lectures, which are open to the public and cover a range of topics related to science, scientific history, technology, engineering, medicine, mathematics. For details, visit http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/events-diary/

_{^Picture courtesy of Matt From London^}

Drink at the Speaker

Westminster suffers from a dearth of truly lovely pubs, but the Speaker bucks that trend with style, tucked away as it is on Great Peter Street not far from Parliament and Westminster Abbey, in the heart of civil-servant-land.


Named after that small chap who sits at the front of the MPs and says "Order, Order", the Speaker is a good ales pub, with friendly staff and a good atmosphere. This is a traditional place, with no music, big screen sports or shouty lager kids. It's also, like so much of the area, only open weekdays, from noon until closing, with very rare weekend openings for special events and festivals.

All said, it's a pleasant spot if you're looking for a drink in the area. They also have a very limited sandwich menu at lunchtimes. For more information, click here.

_{^Picture by Kevin Gordon^}

Go Bowling in Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes bills itself as 'totally unique for London or indeed anywhere!'. Your author thinks that is stretching it a bit but he is prepared to admit that the bowling lanes, in the basement of the Tavistock Hotel, are fun.


Alongside some good honest (rather expensive) bowling lanes there is a well stocked bar, a DJ booth, some Karaoke booths, table football and even an odd cinema thing in the entrance area.

It has many competitors nowadays in American-1950s-style-twee-bowling-lanes, but your author has had some good times here so he's sticking with it. The starting price for booking a single lane is £36/hr, but rates vary and it can be cheaper. For more information, and to book a lane, visit http://www.bloomsburybowling.com.

_{^Bowling shoes from Flickr courtesy of b+c+c+f^}

Drink coffee in the Scooterworks Cafe

The Scootercaffe, which everyone knows as Scooterworks, on Lower Marsh in Waterloo, is an accidental cafe with a considerable amount of charm.


The cafe is owned by Craig O'Dwyer, a New Zealand Scooter specialist and coffee machine collector, who began Scooterworks Ltd after arriving from New Zealand 16 years ago as a scooter and parts shop. When staff began serving occasional cups of coffee to customers from an Italian 1957 Faema espresso machine, the coffee was so good that soon people were coming from miles around.

Nowadays, the actual Scooterworks workshop itself has moved to Bermondsey, leaving a lovely little bar and cafe with a mixed clientelle, and a very pleasant atmosphere you rarely find in somewhere so central. It even has a nice little yard at the back for sunny days, and a basement bar with live music every Tuesday and Wednesday night. Whilst they don't serve food, customers are welcome to bring their own food and have a picnic, as long as they take their rubbish with them.

Scooterworks is open Monday to Thursday 8:30-11pm, Friday 8:30am-midnight, and Saturday 10:00am-midnight. It's closed on Sundays.

Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar

Your author is a fan of pop up bars, even if they are covered in branding. So when he was invited along for an evening of learning about gin at the Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar last week he was more than happy to oblige.


The bar sits on the terrace at Somerset House, and all the features are designed by celebrated industrial designer, Tom Dixon. The drinks are firmly gin-based, with a cocktail menu developed in association with some of London's top bartenders, and a new one every 3 weeks.

It's very pleasant, especially at dusk, though your author must warn that he was entertained courtesy of the kind people at the aforementioned gin company, so he can never remain truly objective. However, if all this sounds like your sort of thing, be sure to pop along soon, as the bar is only open until 18th October.

For more information, visit http://www.bombaysapphiredusk.com.

See what's going on at Cecil Sharp House

Cecil Sharp House, just North of Regents Park, is the home of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The Society formed in 1932 when the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dance Society merged.


Today, the society holds regular dances, concerts and other events at the House, and there are also regular music, song and dancing classes.

These include Celidhs, barn dances and folk clubs, many suitable for all abilities from absolute beginners to the advanced, and all for a reasonable fee.

And if you don't want to dance but still fancy seeing the building it's even open today for Open House.

For more information, visit http://www.efdss.org/.

_{^Picture of the mural at Cecil Sharp House by <<graham>>^}

Drink at the Dove

A frequent criticism by your author's peers is that he is too East London centric, but he likes to think he does a good job of covering much of the city, and there is always room for them to start their own blogs. So, today's idea is a drink at the Dove in Broadway Market.


It's a very pleasant little pub, specialising in belgian beers, but with ales and other drinks on offer, and also serves Thai and English foods. As with anywhere in the general area (which some Urban75 contributors refer to as w*nk city central) it has to be approached in the knowledge it will be full of East London posers, who are generally more worried about their hair than a good pub and a chat, but nevertheless it is still a good place to while away an evening.

For more on The Dove, visit the website at http://dovepubs.com/

_{^Picture by Ewan Munro^}

Eat at the Passage Cafe

Your author doesn't pretend to be a 'foodie', so if you're fussy you may disagree, but he loved The Passage Cafe, on Jerusalem Passage in Clerkenwell. It is a lovely little French bistro run by Katarina and Pascal Brunet.


Reasonably priced and small enough to warrant a clichéd term like 'intimate' the cafe overflows onto the street and the waitress, who your author can only assume is Katrina, rushes around in an attempt to make everyone feel like they are very important, and achieves her aim very well indeed.

Mains are all about a tenner, and are very tasty, and it has a nicely French atmosphere, with the walls sporting a good mix of Toulouse Lautrec prints, vintage Ricard ads and various impressionist prints.

All in all, it's lovely, and the people who are supposed to know about these things tend to agree. The cafe is at 12 Jerusalem Passage EC1V 4JP, and can be called on 0203 217 0090. It is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 11 pm to Saturday 5 pm to 11 pm. For more, visit http://www.thepassagecafe.com/

_{^Picture by Katarina and Pascal Brunet^}

Drink on the roof of a Peckham car park

It was only a matter of time before some trendy art school skanks decided that South London car parks were 'cool' and Franks is a prime example of where that concept inevitably leads: a tent and some portaloos on the roof of a multi-storey in Peckham Rye selling campari and lemonade and bottles of beer out of a dustbin.


Nevertheless, it's actually fairly pleasant. Not often in London do you get a bar which is almost entirely in the open air and has such fantastic views back towards the City, Docklands and the West End. The food isn't too bad either.

Time Out tells us that Frank's will be there until 30th September, so you have a while yet to visit, but pick your night well. There isn't much cover.

To access Frank's, take the Heaven and Hell lifts to the right of the Peckham Multiplex to the top floor and keep going up through the car park until you reach the top. There is also 'art' of questionable quality. For a menu, visit http://www.frankscafe.org.uk/.

_{^Picture of the view from Franks on a good night by the author^}

Eat in absolute darkness

Your author was convinced he had written about this before, but clearly not. Appropriately so, perhaps, as last night he visited the Dans Le Noir restaurant in Clerkenwell for the first time.


The concept is simple. It's a restaurant where you dine in absolute darkness. Your author visited with some friends from the School of Life Play Course, which he took earlier in the year, and rumours were rife amongst the group about the poor quality of the food on offer. It possibly wasn't quite worth the price tag on its own (the £7 glass of wine certainly wasn't), but, there was no denying that the experience was unique, and the sensory deprivation was rather challenging.

At the restaurant, staffed by blind French waiters who lead diners to their table by touch, no light of any kind is allowed in the dining room and you have to leave all possessions, including telephones and cameras, in a locker before entering.

It's a concept which originated in Paris, and has spread to restaurants in a few places around the world. Last night it was a very interesting and pleasant experience, especially when you have tired eyes like your author did. For more information, visit http://www.danslenoir.com/london/