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We?re sticking to our laurels ? we just don?t care about London Fashion Week. But we do care about Prince, our Purple Hero of Pop. Thus, this morning, we cast our eye for a protracted second on a more enjoyable fashionista blurb ? ?Prince wows London fashion elite.? Turns out the artist formally known as Prince not only joined Matthew Williamson?s show, but stole it, leaping onto the stage to cajole all with his 1987 single ?U Got the Look.?
What followed then can best be diagnosed as fashion frenzy ? camera phones went snapping and some members of the audience reportedly did the tres uncool act of, oh dear, standing up.
The lucky crowd then got a second injection of Prince at the show?s close, when he sung his signature ?Kiss".
This certainly ranks as one of the most interesting forms of warm-ups (yes, still a few more shows to go for our singer) and Williamson ? the man who can do no wrong ? should give himself a big pat on his smug back.
By Jemimah Steinfeld
Image from mprigg?s Flickrstream.
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Londonist has a case of the spookies ? deathly headstones in deathly places. More specifically, Sutton Cemetery.
According to This is Local London, bereaved relatives frequenting their loved one's resting place have been confronted by not-so-subtle wooden support stakes and yellow post-its informing them of the instability of the headstones, which must then either be shored up or replaced. A spokesman from Sutton council explains these actions are a response to the rising number of accidents, including deaths, which have recently resulted from these falling felons. In fact, the issue is so paramount the national Health and Safety Executive has urged all local councils to carry out similar surveys.
Such action has provoked the wrath of relatives though, who contend that nothing is wrong with the headstones. To add further insult to, ahem, injury, those without the correct insurance policy must foot the bill. Unhappy times.
By Jemimah Steinfeld
Image courtesy of justanuptowngirl via the Londonist flickr group. 
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Dance can often seem an intimidating or impenetrable art form for the non-pointy toed punter so here are our top 4 recommendations for shows to see in the rest of 2007. All will blow your mind in different ways. Go pop your dance cherry on the coolest shows around.
Zero Degrees 16-20 October, Sadlers Wells
Another chance to catch this unique artistic collaboration between dancers and choreographers Akram Khan and Sidi Labi Cherkaoui, composer and musician Nitin Sawhney and artist Antony Gormley, whose life sized casts of the dancers wouldn't look out of place on the roof of the Hayward Gallery right now. This is a chance to see two very different performers working together and, trust us, they are amazing. We cannot recommend this strange, beautiful, amusing and excellent arts fusion highly enough. Buy the best seats you can.
The Stravinsky Project, Michael Clark Company 31 October - 10 November, Barbican Centre
Striking, shocking, thrilling, gorgeous and sometimes just nuts, Michael Clark is the punk end of contemporary dance yet creates very beautiful things. This performance marks the culmination of a 3 year project, re-visioning Stravinsky's ballet scores for the postmodern era. Tickets are selling fast - visit Barbican's website right now to bag yours.
Probe Erm...
Scheduled to premiere soon, Probe's next production as yet has no published dates or venues but whatever and wherever they are, go and see them. Toni and Theo rock. They're so cool, we don't care about the details. More information will follow when we have it.
Nutcracker! 13 December - 20 January, Sadlers Wells
Funny, sexy, silly, sugary, spectacular for Chrimble from crowd pleasing Matthew Bourne who's made himself a household name by reinventing classics for today's audiences with delicious humour and an eye for contemporary issues. The Company are fabulous character actors as well as dancers as the opening scene with all the "children" will illustrate. Book now - this is an overwhelmingly popular show which also means, unfortunately, that the good tickets aren't cheap. Go for front of the second circle as a compromise and make sure you have a glass of bubbly beforehand.
Zero Degrees image by Tristram Kenton courtesy of Sadlers Wells. 
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One Night Only are a new band who are causing rather a lot of fuss on the radio with Zane Lowe declaring them one of the hottest new bands out there.
Despite starting out as a teenage Beatles Cover Act and growing up in the middle of nowhere, One Night Only signed with Vertigo Records earlier this year and are now getting ready to release their first single "You And Me"
They're playing what is sure to be a rammed gig at the Barfly on 25th September and we've managed to snaffle 5 pairs of tickets to give away. Wanna go, let us know! We'll be in touch on 23rd if you're randomly selected.
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Since we announced to the world that all round top London icon and friendly bear, Paddington, is headed for Hollywood, there's been a resurgence of interest in our marmalade munching mate. What with all those late night botox parties, coke fuelled awards scraps and high class hookers just around the corner you'd have thought that what old Paddington slaps between two pieces of bread would be the least of anyone's worries.
But now revered author Michael Bond has come to the defence of our portly ursine snacker after his appearance in a Marmite commercial raised some controversy: I have to report that although Paddington found the sandwiches interesting, bears are creatures of habit... It would require a good deal more than the combined current withdrawals from Northern Rock to wean him off marmalade, if then. The managing director of Paddington and Co who sold the rights to Marmite makers Unilever, Bond's daughter Karen Jankel, also defended the move saying that: The point of the advert is that Paddington always has marmalade in his sandwiches. He simply tries Marmite.
This is of course, all slightly ridiculous, but sacred cows, or bears, are what they are. So perhaps now we've cleared this up all those misguided corporate marketing muppets can stop fucking around with our childhood memories before we start looking for the torches and pitchforks once again. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for Marmite's 'do you spit or do you swallow' campaign with Jenna Jameson.
Image taken from bluebluewater's flickr photostream 
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Michael Murphy is an American architect and illustrator living in London. Growing up in San Francisco and attending university in the desert states of Arizona and New Mexico before working in Dublin and London, Michael has a singular vision that?s uniquely his own. With the recent release of his London series of Giclee prints, we thought now would be a great time to have a chat with Michael about his art.
Rather than Londonist ascribing our own interpretation of your art, would you please describe your style to our readers who haven't had the pleasure of viewing your work?
The style is my interpretation of traditional architectural illustration with a great attempt to present the potential drama within all good design. The viewpoints are meant to be as cinematic as possible yet as an architect I still have the urge to retain some semblance of reality in terms of perspective and structure. Just can help it, but I think that small dose of reality actually helps the images of the buildings in that it helps the imagination of the views to actually see themselves within the scenes. The actual pieces are high quality giclee prints on watercolour paper. They look absolutely beautiful and I credit the great printers that I use.
Would you consider yourself more of an architect or an illustrator? What's the connection between the two disciplines and how do they influence the other with respect to your work?
Always an architect. It's like joining the priesthood. What the illustrations allow however is to design a structure without the usual constraints of budget, location, and clients. Fantasy architectural illustration has always played a valuable part of the architectural discourse throughout history as it is the one place where ideas can be completely free and the influences can be wholly from one's own creative spirit. Eric Mendelsohn used to sketch in the trenches during World War One and went on to produce some of the finest architecture of the 20th Century.
You've recently released a "London" series of Giclee prints. The images suggest a future as it might have been envisioned about half a century ago, which give the series a nostalgic quality. Care to elaborate on the inspirations behind the series?
The goal of the London series, as well as all of the other images, is not merely to try to recreate the ephemera of any particular era but rather to introduce my personal architectural tastes within a slightly out of sync context. What I attempted to do with the London series was to insert an idea that I had for a building within the milieu of what I regard as an exciting aspect of British culture ie Bond's ?Thunderball? mini-sub, psychedelia, Vespa scooters, etc. It's all meant to go back and forth in cultural history simultaneously, and certainly favours mid-century design details, which I love.
One of your London prints, entitled "Cocktail before Target Practice", features the silhouette of a helicopter atop a building with the BT Tower in the background and an intense yellow sky. Who's having a cocktail with whom and where?
I really like that one - it's actually probably the darkest one of the entire set. The "sub-reading" behind that was that a military man or MI5 agent was on an assassination assignment (hence the rooftop) and decided to drop in and have a martini before getting on with his wet work. The term "target practice" was used to further enhance the bleakness of it all.
Got a favourite building or architectural feature in London?
The long gone Mondial Building was one of my favourites. Golden Lane high rise next to the Barbican. Lancaster Hotel. Everything by Zaha. I love the 101 too. What's going on here in the commercial sector is some of the best in the world - very brave and confident uses of colour I think.
Any future plans or projects?
I finally decided to put brush and pencil to board and am now working on a series of paintings. Having to relearn long lost architectural presentation techniques is great fun and very rewarding. I'll keep you posted.
View more of Michael?s work at www.supersonic.designinblue.com.
?Cocktail before Target Practice? image appears courtesy of Michael Murphy. 
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If you've been wanting to join the cycle revolution but are put off by all that aggressive, unpredictable and dirty traffic out there then maybe this weekend's Hovis London Freewheel, which will trundle through nine miles of traffic-free town on Sunday, will help you get on your bike. The number of cyclists on London's streets has apparently increased a stunningly impressive 83% in the last 12 months.
Unfortunately, it's too late to register to take part as approximately 38,000 people have already done that and TFL really can't cope with any more cyclists but it's your chance to enjoy Central London and its main tourist attractions without the noise and distraction of motor vehicles.
St James Park will play host to the Freewheel Festival where participants and spectators can gather after the big bike ride to enjoy free entertainment and swap bike tips with other bikeophiles and other, perfectly normal people who find cycling the healthiest, easiest and most cost effective way to get around town. There will be bike maintenance on offer and even sports massages for those aching thighs.
This is all part of TFL's efforts to promote cycling, something our Ken is right behind too. Let's hope that the success of this event can help hasten the advent of a pay as you go bike scheme, a la Velib.
If you needed any more reasons to go, there are rumours of free sandwiches.
Hovis London Freewheel takes place on Sunday 23 September. The Freewheel Festival will be going on in St James Park between 11am and 4pm where you'll find a cycling circus, acrobatics, jugglers, mime artists, face painters etc.
For those of you trying to get about by road on Sunday there will be road closures and diversions so check your route before you leave.
Image courtesy of Vitorio Benedetti's Flickrstream. 
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Arrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggh....
Yes. We still be talkin' like pirates. (We've tried but it's hard to stop.) So we reckon we aught to get back out onto the high seas. Or, at least the Thames. So it be a good job the Bring Stuff Pirate Party is on Saturday. It's on a real boat and everythin'.
This means we can drink rum all night, say 'Ooo-arrrrgh' at everyone and talk to parrots. Because you have to bring a parrot. What type of pirate doesn't have a parrot? A rubbish one. Even the rubbish ones have a canary. Bring Stuff have told us there are prizes to be had for the best costumes so we think you should take an avery. The party is at the Tattershall Castle on Embankment and everyone will be in full piraty get-up. It won't cost you a single gold coin either. Them gold coins be for rum spendin'. But if you want to spend your gold coins dancin', you can on the top deck for five dubloons til three in the morning.
All of this pirate fun led us onto another thought. If last Wednesday was 'Talk like a pirate' day, we hereby name Saturday 'Flirt like a pirate day'. That's gotta make flirtin' more fun than asking 'do you come here often?' so here be Londonist's best piraty chat up lines for you to use on Saturday night:
Would you like a jolly rodger?
Could you help me hoist my main sail?
Could you varnish my wooden leg for me?
We didn't say they were classy. There were more. But in the name of decency we'll leave them to your imagination. Or, you can print them in the comments below. The best thing about this, is any of the above will usually get you a slap (we dare you to try it tonight first to see what happens). But on Saturday, you can blame your shamless innuendo and awful pick-up lines on Bring Stuff and their Pirates theme. They have lots of different themes at each party so we'll update you of new chat up lines accordingly. In the mean time, go be pirates who win prizes for looking fab, make sure you talk like a Pirate on the Northern Line too because that's always fun, and let us know if our chat-up lines work.
Bring stuff is full of millions of fancy dress ideas and cheap nights out to boot. Check out their stuff here and dress up and be merry. Even if it's just to go and get a pint of milk. The Tattershall Castle is nearest to Embankment station and they promise not to make you walk the plank. Unless you get too pissed. Don't try the chat up lines of the scary bouncers. We are not responsible for their effects. Unless you get lucky.
Flickr image from cadmanof50s' photostream. 
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Almost time for the London Film Festival again!
This year the event is opened by David Cronenberg's London-set Eastern Promises - Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen following up A History of Violence with this violent tale of Russian organised crime, penned by Steve Dirty Pretty Things Knight. One to watch for sure. Closing the festival is the new Wes Anderson movie, The Darjeeling Limited.
In between there are some 180+ feature films and 133 shorts, free screenings in Trafalgar Square (including Capital Tales which features London on film over the last 100 years!) and the continuing outreach of Film in the City that take prints to every corner of the capital.
And of course there's the usual mix of actors, actresses and directors on tap plus a host of interesting live events (here's one standout and weird event that caught our eye).
Every year though there's a certain amount of grumbling about how fast some of this stuff sells out. It's no real wonder when a lot of these movies will never grace a London cinema screen again, but combine that with the fact that it's still cheaper to see a movie in the festival than it is to see the dross that normally plays in Leicester Square. And remember that anyone can attend the red carpet stuff and premieres. People book early for the chance to share popcorn with Tom Cruise.
This is the largest public film event in the UK so our advice is to try and get your tickets as early as possible. The Times BFI 51st London Film Festival runs from October 17th until November 1st. Tickets can be booked online here or by telephone on: 020 7928 3232 from Saturday 29th of September. TIP: BFI members booking opens on Wednesday 26th of September.
Have fun! 
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It may not be the strangest sight that Nelson has descried from his perch this year, but the Lomography London Lomowall in Trafalgar Square would no doubt raise an inquisitive eyebrow from the good Admiral.
Part of this year's London Design Festival, the Lomowall consists of hundreds of thousands of photos, taken with the cult Lomo camera, stuck onto plasterboard and arranged in a 350 metre long maze across the Square. The snaps have been submitted by local Lomographers as well as people from across the globe, and are arranged by colour and aesthetic appeal rather than subject. Wandering around the maze is like living inside a Viewmaster of random strangers' holiday pics. Weather permitting, it's a perfect spot for a surreal game of hide-and-seek.
For those not yet bitten by the cult of Lomography: the craze started in the mid-Nineties, when the Lomo, a long-forgotten Soviet-era 35mm compact with a pin-sharp lens, found a renaissance amongst a group of hipster art students in Vienna. Fast forward ten years, and the low-key, grainy and often unpredictable results the Lomo produces have found a clever niche amidst the seemingly unstoppable digital camera revolution.
The Lomowall is up until Sunday, and the Lomographic Society are holding a number of events over the weekend, including the Final Presentation of the wall and a Big Party on Saturday evening to round things off. If you go, Londonist recommends you take a camera ? because there's nowt so postmodern as folk taking pictures of pictures.
Lomography London Lomowall is at Trafalgar Square until Sunday 23rd September. For a programme of events, visit the Lomography World Congress website.
By Dean Nicholas
Image courtsey of Gafferbee's Flickrstream. 
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