In the world of designer bags, discerning shoppers are willing to put down thousands of pounds for the perfect Louis, Fendi or Birkin. They?ll even wait for years on waiting lists. Now, some may not be getting their beloved arm accessory status symbols due to a rash of bag burglaries.
A crash-helmet-wearing moped gang has targeted high-end retail shops and smashed windows to get to their goods. They?re responsible for thefts over the past two years at Mulberry Design Company in New Bond Street and the Louis Vuitton store near the Bank of England, which was hit twice.
However, these heinous crimes against handbaggery are finally coming to justice. One of the gang?s bag nabbers, Matthew Pitt from Islington, has been sentenced to 26 months in the clink after pleading guilty to the two City snatchings where he and his pals took £24,500 worth of posh purses.
Unfortunately, just last night thieves broke into Anya Hindmarch?s new Bond Street store, and £30,000 worth of spring and summer satchels were stolen. No word on whether the same gang is responsible.
Transport for London has sucked up yet another aspect of our city's diverse public transport system today, offering a cool £98 million to acquire Tramlink the company that currently runs South London's trams.
The trams will be run by TfL's London Rail Directorate and as with the reclamation of the 'loony line' by London Overground, once the deal has gone through, initial efforts will be focused on sprucing up the network (LO stations are now attractively orange edged) and there's a pledge to increase the frequency of service to meet growing passenger demand (last year Tramlink carried 25 million passengers) - vitally, without increasing fares.
As an aside, "grumpy of North London" tells us that we'd quite like more frequency during rush hour for London Overground please - ever tried getting on a Westbound train at Canonbury between 8-9am, Eh? Kuh.
Anyway, this brings TfL one step closer to being in a position to more effectively control and plan for an integrated and efficient public transport system serving all 33 boroughs of our city especially with Tramlink extensions in the ether all over the shop.
But, finally, to address the most important issue for Londoners, will the Tramlink remain a bumpy green extension to the District Line on the tube map, now it's being fully welcomed into the TfL fold?
Random events with no purpose make us giggle - so we're very happy to report that the glory of Leicester Square will be invaded by a bunch of people designed to scare and amuse the tourists this weekend. Yes, those funny folk at Mobile Clubbing are back with... PILLOW FIGHTCLUB!
Your mission this Saturday (22 March) is to show up in Leicester Square with a pillow hidden in a plastic bag. At exactly 15.03, pull the pillow from the bag and fight anyone else with a pillow.
We love it! Even better, it's part of Pillow Fight Day meaning pillow fights are going on all around the world and we hope our fellow -ist'ers all get involved. We'll see you there, feathers in hand and hopefully bring you pictorial evidence of this spectacular Saturday afternoon as soon as we can.
We first heard of 22 year old Jack Savoretti when he appeared on Shelly Poole's wistful solo album back in 2005.
Three years later he's back releasing new single 'One Man Band' on March 31st and looking a bit like a young Neil Diamond in the London centric video for the song (above).
If you like the sound of him then we've got three pairs of tickets for you to win for his secret gig on April 1. We don't know where it is other than somewhere in South London, but if you're a winner that secret will be revealed! Huzzah.
Seems that a fastidious south London council took last week's severe weather warnings just a little bit too seriously. Lollipop men and ladies in Merton were ordered to stay away from their regular crossings as the storms hit on Monday, lest they found themselves in a spot of bother.
Council officials hauled the team of 'school crossing patrollers' (as they're drably known) off the streets following concerns that, as high winds whipped around the capital, they could lose control of their ubiquitous 'Stop' signs and injure themselves or other pedestrians. Those who wanted to work were forbidden from doing so, and with no real plan in place to advise parents, the borough's schoolchildren were left to negotiate the roads on their own.
Merton's negligence when it comes to kids and road safety is hardly new. It came top of a nationwide survey in 2005 that ranked unmanned school crossings, with 57% of crossings in the borough left unprotected against a national average of 17%.
It's difficult to imagine a more patronising way of treating lollipop people, hardy souls who are often taken for granted or even beat up for doing their job. The blame here is directed squarely at the scrimping Gradgrinds of Merton Council: many of the lollipop men and ladies were apparently willing to work sans the 'Stop' sign of potential mass destruction, yet the offer was refused. Would Britain have built an empire if we'd been reluctant to go outside in a stiff breeze?
For those of you in London this Easter weekend, there's a treat for you. Oh yes.
Good Friday will indeed by very good because that's the evening of the Hendrick's Spring Masked Ball, a most glorious night of gin-flavoured hedonism, elaborate costume and fantastic facewear. Organised by the decadent chaps of The Last Tuesday Society, we know from their reputation at previous balls that this is going to be rather fabulous and as well as an intriguing musical line up of DJs and the frankly disturbing Punch & Judy show, there will also be the chance to...
"...Gorge Yourselves at Suzette Field's Famous Cheeseboard, Viktor Wynd's Midnight Feast of Yesterdays Cakes & The Fruits of Ridley Road & Their Chocolate Fountain
Detox Whilst You Tox as Martin Ahearne Brings The Little Organic Juicebar from Upper Street and helps you juice the surrounding fruit and vegetables and mix them with Mother's Ruin
Amuse Yourselves With the Broken Toys of Dalston Oxfam Shop & Their Preplayed Games"
So leave that full face zip-up gimp mask at home and wear something with room to sip a gin cocktail and nibble one of yesterday's cakes. It never suited you anyway. Apart from obligatory masks, the dress code is opulence, ball gowns and 'fancy' and prizes will be given out for the best dressed people, the most virginal smile and the greatest mask. Rah. See you there?
Hendrick's Masked Spring Ball, Arts Theatre (Covent Garden), Friday 21 March. Tickets are £12 in advance or £15 on the door, £50 for a family ticket for 5 in advance only. For more information and to book, go here.
As far as fare cards go, the tap-in-tap-out system of Oyster is pretty simple and, barring someone nicking it on its way back to your pocket, pretty secure. But that latter thought might be disproven as a pair of German researchers are now claiming they've hacked the Oyster system. Karsten Nohl and Heinryk Platz say they sorted out how to clone the Dutch manufactured chips used in Oyster and similar cards internationally in December. According to the academic paper the duo published, all one needs is a home computer and a card reader.
Meanwhile, if they cracked the system in December and have only just released this information now, what have they been doing with this knowledge for the last three months? Long, meandering rides atop double deckers? Journeys to the mysterious ends of lines? The pair say they aren't trying to help hackers so much as point out flaws in the system. TfL has said that Oyster is plenty protected with additional security measures.
Londonist, of course, does not condone fare evasion, but you have to admit that hacking Oyster cards is a bit more creative than the standard method seen on bendy buses.
A couple of London ladies are embarking on an incredible adventure, mounting trusty steeds this summer to trek all the way to Turkey to raise money for the charity SOS Children.
Zena Fish, a South London teacher, had never got on a horse until recently but will be straddling one for a very long time indeed come August. The route to Turkey should take about a year. Zena reckons the worst bit will be getting out of London and they've yet to hit upon the best route. Surely they should start in Green Lanes?
Astonishingly, her friend Becky Sampson - horse mad adventurer - is going on to continue the trek right through to Tokyo with Zena back home, managing the epic journey from London. Expedition Equus is not only a fundraiser for orphans but a vehicle for highlighting eco-tourism and the International League for the Protection of Horses. They will also be offering their qualified teacher status to kids in SOS Children's villages along the way and following in the footsteps of traders along the historic Silk Road. That'll be 4 years in the saddle. Cripes.
Serious business, rather than a jolly hack across 3 continents. Indeed, they will be the first women to complete this journey on horseback. With the blessing of Sir Ranulph of Fiennes and with Mooncups packed, we wish them fair weather and no saddle-soreness.
You can support Expedition Equus at their Justgiving page and find out more about the grand scheme at their website.
Image of Banjo the Horse courtesy of Expedition Equus.
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