Photography courtesy of See Wah via the Londonist pool on Flickr.
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Londonist was at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday for the formal launch of Ken Livingstone?s mayoral election campaign. Setting aside the usual cynicism about politicians and the worrying stuff in those Evening Standard exposes, it was a stirring occasion.

Doreen Lawrence introduced the mayor, paying tribute to his achievements including his contribution to putting the capital at ease with its own cosmopolitanism. He thanked her for her role in improving the attitude of the Met before going on to express pride in his achievements going way back to the GLC days and emphasising his desire to see London keep moving forward.

Like Ken or loathe him you feel he?s plumbed into this city in a way Boris Johnson will never be. His problem, though, may be that some Londoners fear he?s wandered too close to the sewers or simply that he?s looking a bit rusty. There?s also the sense that he?s won so many arguments over the years ? over lesbians and gays, over racism, over the Freedom Pass, the congestion charge and so on ? that he can?t define himself as sharply against his opponents as he once could.

On the face of it, he and The Blond are chalk and cheese. But when you look at their declared policies it seems that the fundamentals of Livingstone?s legacy would remain if the Tory triumphed on 1st May. Sure, there are differences but they?re not vast as they would once have been. Looking a safe alternative is all part of Johnson?s ? and David Cameron?s - strategy.

So now we?re into the heart of the race and if an opinion poll published on Monday is any guide, Johnson has taken the lead. Can he stay there or will he unravel under closer scrutiny? Is Livingstone?s dip in that poll a mere blip, or are we seeing the beginning of the end for one of the most innovative politicians the Left has ever produced? And what of Lib Dem Brian Paddick, for whom there may be a great deal of potential sympathy if only he can persuade the electorate that voting for him won?t be a waste? Who really knows? Londonist is still hedging its bets.

By Dave Hill
Read more from Dave over at the Guardian, and on his mayoral blog.

Photography courtesy of ~Misty~ via the Londonist pool on Flickr
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Specially resurrected for the day in the form of aptly named impersonator Sylvia Strange (the most famous of the Queen?s impersonators, mind you), Queen Victoria was on hand yesterday to unveil the revamped Blackburn Pavilion, a ?jungle paradise in the centre of London?. The 1883 structure, following a £2.5 million renovation that restores many of its original Victorian features, will now be home to more than fifty different species of birds, among them the hummingbird, the toucan, the scarlet ibis, the bleeding heart dove (we sympathize), and the Victoria crowned pigeon, a relative of the dodo and named for the monarch.

There?s plenty to keep you entertained over at the ZSL website if you want to learn more about the exhibit: preview the stunning species on display, add a few tropical bird facts to your repertoire of eclectic trivia, take a virtual tour, learn about the pavilion?s restoration, and read the results of the Get London Humming survey (and pity the partner of the respondent who likes to hum in flagrante). Before you know it, you?ll have whiled away the last moments of the day and the bank holiday will be upon you.

The Blackburn Pavilion officially opens to the public tomorrow, 21 March. Whilst it offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to commune with exotic bird life, it might also give them the chance to commune with exotic bird shit. Mind your head.

Image of the colourful toucan, just one of the many lovely birds on display at the Blackburn Pavilion, courtesy of Chris_J?s flickrstream

John McCain, the GOP nominee and oven chip czar, winged into town today on the latest stop of a world tour that aims to establish his credentials as a global player. The former Hanoi Hilton resident turned fan of waterboarding will not be discussing with Gordon the difficult topic of CIA rendition flights landing in Britain, but the pair will have a natter about "Iraq, the world economy and climate change". McCain is also set to meet with David Cameron, a wise move on the putative president's part if those opinion polls are anything to go by.

Brown also declared yesterday his intention to meet with the Dalai Lama when the exiled Tibetan leader visits Britain in May. We'd like to highlight this as an example of the Prime Minister refusing to kowtow to Chinese concerns; unfortunately, Brown's equivocations on the matter were thrown into stark relief by noted dissident Prince Charles, who announced his intention to meet His Holiness, a decision that the PM was essentially guilted into emulating.

Finally, in an effort to neutralise the simmering resentment between Moscow and London, Gordon will meet new Russian president Vladimir Puti... er, Dmitry Medvedev later this year. Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Brown will aim to have a face-to-face chat during the Group Of Eight summit in July. Off-menu topics will probably include Alexander Litvinenko and accusations of spying, but we're sure the two can find common ground on the subject of being given their respective jobs by controversial predecessors via democratically dubious means.

Image courtesy of Orin Optiglot's Flickrstream

The streets of London are evolving. Once upon a time, they were paved with gold. Then came the more practical tarmac. Recently, dog turds, phlegm and spent gum have layered our thoroughfares. Now, The Great Cake Escape are on a mission to line our streets with...cake.

We caught up with the duo who, by an incredible coincidence of nominative determinism, go by the names Cherry Bakewell and Fondant Fancy.

So, fill us in with a little background. What's the basic idea?
Cherry: We make and decorate cup cakes and leave them dotted around the streets with little messaged flags. We hope discovering our cakes makes people smile and stimulates curiosity.

Fondant: We simply want to add dash of vibrancy to this urban utopia of ours. We like creating scenes of contrast -- so we adorn everyday locations, such as derelict buildings, pavements and weather beaten window ledges, with a vivid splash of sugar.

And where did the idea for The Great Cake Escape come from?
Cherry: It all started as a little project to celebrate my birthday last November and has developed since then. I?d carried out a guerrilla art project for Valentine?s Day last year, launching messaged balloons and leaving hundreds of homemade valentine?s cards dotted around the streets for people to find. I really enjoyed the process of leaving messaged items for people to discover and wanted to do something similar to commemorate my 25th birthday.

Fondant: At the time I?d just organised a decadent tea party for a friend?s hen weekend and was still drifting into pastel coloured daydreams of luscious cakes! We toyed around with all sorts of ideas until we decided upon Alice in Wonderland inspired cupcakes and our individual take on the ?eat me? labels.

Where can we expect to see cakes liberated to next?
Cherry: We want to take The Great Cake Escape all around the city so that our cakes become a familiar sight on London?s streets. Wherever we visit from now on we shall be leaving a trail of cakes behind us.

Fondant: The north has yet to be christened with cascades of cupcakes but I?m heading back to Leeds in a few weeks so I?ll be liberating a kitchen-full of sugary treats there. Cherry?s also going to be adorning the streets of Sheffield with cakes very soon.

Cherry: Brighton and Bristol are also on our list of targets. It keeps us out of trouble and has led us to some interesting people and opportunities so far.

When you leave a cake somewhere, do you hover around nearby to see if anyone takes it?
Cherry: Yeah, that?s half the fun. When we do ?cake drops? it?s fun to be able to place them surreptitiously and then hide around a corner, looking back to see if they?ve been taken or noticed. It?s fun to secretly observe people?s different reactions.

Fondant: We do indeed. It?s such fun to watch how people interact with their environment--do they stop and read the flag or follow the message and take the cake? We?ve developed some rather nifty stealth tactics! On busier cake drops, like Valentine?s weekend in Camden, we?d leave cakes next to people posing for photos then scurry away to watch them wonder where they appeared from.

I remember hovering on Brick Lane one Sunday. I?d unsuspectingly left a cake in front of a photographer, who was checking her images, in the hope of creating a little intrigue. Instead, the cake attracted a bigger, curious crowd so I took the opportunity to get up close and snap the scene myself. One guy even took a shot of me taking a shot of the cake. And the photographer? she was oblivious the entire time.

Click through to read about their secret sweetmeat secretions, their policy on biscuits and the final word on Battenberg.

Is it just little cup cakes, or do you ever liberate other cakes? Or perhaps even biscuits? Biscuits are more hardy and would stand up to a short spell of rain. We think you should try biscuits.
Cherry: Biscuits, eh? I?ve never heard such heresy!

Fondant: Well, it?s just little cupcakes at the moment but we?ve been nattering about using biscuits when we do festivals this summer.

Cherry: ?Take the Biscuit? could perhaps be our brother project? So if there are any tasty gingerbread men out there who fancy taking up the challenge, they?re more than welcome! We?re about little cakes for now--they?re so handy for transporting and dropping.

Fondant: I don?t think the biscuits would last very long in my kitchen--I?d have devoured them before we?ve got around to any icing. Although, imagine the fun you could have with party rings!

Have you ever been challenged by someone who sees you leave a cake somewhere?
Fondant: We were quizzed by a group of kids in Camden who thought we might have laced the cakes with drugs. I think they were just hoping! When it comes to dodging our nemeses, the over-zealous street cleaners, we?re pretty swift on our heels and vanish into the crowds. We?re rather elusive little ladies!

Cherry: Not challenged as such, a few people who?ve caught us in the act have been curious and asked us why we?re doing it. Generally people have a really positive response.

Where's the most bonkers place you've ever left a cake?
Fondant: Ooh, we?ve placed cakes in so many unexpected and intriguing locations as we want people to unexpectedly stumble upon our little delights. If you have a look at our MySpace page you?ll see many of the unusual places to which our dainty cakes have escaped!

Cherry: We?ve started to take our cakes on nights out too, having been invited to distribute them at club nights and events, so that presents some interesting potential locations. We?re making lots of cakes for the next London Rollergirls bout which will be a fun adventure for our cakes--it?ll be ?The Skate Cake Escape?!

Cherry: Well our cakes are perfectly edible and safe to eat fresh but I?m always surprised to hear from people who have eaten our cakes after finding them on the streets! I mean, who knows how long it was sat there or what happened to it in the mean time? It?s stretching the ?five second rule? a little too far, if you ask me!

Settle an old argument. Battenberg cake: evil, or a pink and yellow dream?
Cherry: Marzipan, neon e-number rich sponge, geometry?what?s not to love? My grandma always treated me to a nice slice or two when I went round for tea so it?s got sentimental value (along with that other controversial foodstuff, Spam).

Fondant: Battenberg is a slice of saccharine sunshine. As is the more demure, but equally enchanting, angel cake.

We know it's mad, but some people still insist on buying cake from cafes, rather than seeking out your street-cakes. Do you have any cake shops or cafes in London you'd like to recommend?
Cherry: Cake indoors? Controversial indeed! I?ve yet to treat myself and go along but I really like the idea of Afternoon Tease at Volupte. Cakes, cream tea and burlesque--that?s the perfect indulgent Saturday afternoon in my book!

Fondant: Some people, eh? When I?m bopping around the vintage shops I?m partial to the chocolate and walnut brownies from Spitalfields Market as they are divine. I?m an overly regular indulger of those, I must admit.

What do you think of Adam Neate -- who does a similar thing with art?
Cherry: It?s a fantastic concept. I?ve long been a fan of street art, found art, guerrilla art--whatever you choose to call it! We?ve been really inspired in what we do by artists like Adam Neate, Miranda July, graffiti artists, guerrilla knitters and guerrilla gardeners. With a background in socially engaged and community art, I?m passionate about increasing participation and access to the arts and culture. The streets are the most public, shared of spaces and so where better to create and express your ideas? There?s so much corporate advertising and uninspiring official public art on the streets that needs to be combated with more original and creative interventions. I like the ephemeral nature of found art and street art, the sense of satisfaction that it brings when you come across it down a back alley or side street. That element of discovery and surprise is really important.

Fondant: I?m a bit of a graffiti geek so I?m always exploring the streets for new art but I?ve yet to spot any of Adam Neate?s pieces patiently waiting to be taken home and treasured. I do love the thrill of discovering new, imaginative street art and there are some images and messages you just can?t ignore- they can hit you at a personal level or pose questions. We?re surrounded by galleries and street art but may not take advantage of these creative displays. So to remove the commercial element from his work and offer individual pieces of art to the public is inspiring and a wonderful gift.

(Obvious question) Do you have a favourite type of cake?
Fondant: (Obvious answer) I swoon at a hint of cocoa, so for me it?s layers of smooth chocolate cake, dripping with lucious chocolate fondant or fudge. Scoop me up? I?m melting at the thought!

Cherry: I can?t pick just one! As long as it?s homemade and served with a cup of tea, it?s all good in my book.

Are there any cake-based policies you'd like the new Mayor of London to introduce?
Cherry: Obligatory free cake on public transport. A giant statue of me and Fondant sculpted from icing on Trafalgar Square?s Fourth Plinth. The Thames to flow with melted chocolate like in Willy Wonka?ooo, I like this game! All cars to be replaced by ones made of yummy good things like in that ace Skoda advert. That?d reduce traffic pollution, eh?

Fondant: I?d be more practical (and perhaps gluttonous) in my policies. On purchasing a cake or other suitably sweet dessert, you?re required by law to offer a mouthful to anyone sharing your company. You are also obliged to finish your entire serving--I?ve seen people leave crumbs, even mouthfuls!

Find out more about the Great Cake Escape on MySpace, or contact them at takethecake - at - hotmail.co.uk

Combining hearty singalong lyrics ("With the power of ale we could not fail") with driving rhythms the young (21-ish) lads from Perth really got the audience going in Camden's Electric Ballroom. Their set was quite short but very energetic, perfect for a support band, especially of the gimmicky variety. Sometimes it's good to let your hair down and admit that cheap and cheerful can be just as good as more highbrow offerings.

Turisas, on the other hand, tore the place up. After Norther's slight lull, the crowd was whipped back up into a frenzy of camaraderie and beer-drinking - with a subtext of cheerful violence - by the evening's headliners, sporting furs, armour and red and black war paint. The pit, which had become a slightly more civilised place during Norther's set, once more opened up into a jigging mass of large men wearing chainmail.

The set was dominated by material from the band's second release, The Varangian Way, which is our favourite ever Vikings-journeying-to-Constantinople concept album. The crowd merrily bellowed out the choruses, as the band played their brand of relentlessly upbeat, infectiously hummable and breakneck-fast folk metal. This is not a band to muse on the unending grimness of Viking life, its brutality, deprivations and filth; Turisas prefer to conjure up, musically and lyrically, magical vistas of fabled lands and heroic quests. Which is by no means a criticism.

Those two standards delivered with gusto, the band departed the stage and the happy, sweaty fans with streaky faces spilled out onto London's rainy streets clutching their limp plastic axes, dreaming of adventure.

By Kai, Fred and Jo

Alestorm and Norther photos courtesy of cgo2

Pity Deptford's Maxine Killingback, then, who was distracted from the job in hand by the frantic scufflings and splashings of an unfortunate rat in her toilet bowl. Ms Killingback has rheumatism in her legs and back and couldn't move quickly enough to prevent the misadventurous rodent biting her as she struggled from the seat.

Despite Ms Killingback's disability and unfortunate surname she manfully struggled to repel the critter, forcing it down the u-bend with a plunger and a bottle of bleach, until it was a drowned rat.

A panicked phonecall to Greenwich Council revealed that they did not class a toilet-based incidence of rat invasion as an emergency so the bitten and distressed rodent murderer barricaded up her lav with packets of washing powder and escaped to the safety of her partner's house in Woolwich.

For more discussion on practical ways to deal with rats in toilet bowls join the discussion here. Alternatively, those who are now freaked out about visiting the smallest room solo, might wish to invest in this reassuring new invention - the TwoDaLoo. After all, there's safety in numbers.

Image courtesy of Big Fat Rat's Flickrstream. And UB40 RIP.