Hello all, it’s “picks of the week” time and as one month ends and a new one begins, March finishes and April is about to kick off with a bang.

It is mother’s day this Sunday and if you’re looking for somewhere to take your mum why don’t you treat her to some fine dining and look no further than the Chop House. Situated at Butlers wharf and with a great view of Tower Bridge the Chop House is the ideal place to spoil your Mother this Sunday. Serving the best in British cuisine, the Chop House are offering 3 courses for only £27 which includes Chop House fishcake, Maldon smoked salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef, Traditional fish & chips and a range of steaks from their charcoal grill. An extra incentive that the Chop House is offering is a complimentary glass on champagne on arrival.

The Chop House is open from 12pm on Sundays and booking in advance is highly recommended.

Really want to do something different from the norm this week?  Then why don’t you check out The Science Museum Lates, adult only opportunity to explore the wonderful world of the Science Museum.

My pick of the week

TURN OFF THE RADIO, Friday 1^st April 2011, The Victoria E3 5TH.
Shamelessly plugging my own event, TOTR is a refreshing, alternative to London’s stale and horribly repetitive live music scene. Turn Off The Radio always the first for tomorrow’s stars has a great line up in store, doubled with great company and great vibes. So don’t miss out! If you missed our last event, check out what you missed:

Hello all has it been a week since my last picks of the week? My how times flies. There is so much to do again this week and do not forget it is also St Patrick’s day so get your Guinness on.

The best place to get your Guinness on this week is the Marksman pub on Hackney Rd. A minute’s walk from Columbia rd and a stones throw from Shoreditch the marksman is in a prime location. With a homely, welcoming atmosphere the marksman is a great place to unwind after a hard day at work. They also serve a variety of foods and their bread and butter pudding is to die for. The Marksman is open 11am-12am Mon-Sat and 11am – 11pm on Sundays.

Are you a tea drinker? Partial, to a fairy cake or three? Or just like to dress up? Then why don’t you head over to the Alice in Wonderland inspired “Mad Hatters tea party”. Hosted by the Beas of Bloomsbury located on Theobalds Rd WC1. You can go dressed as your favourite character and take advantage of the all you can eat/drink trifles, fruit jellies, cupcakes, marshmallows, mini meringues, tea and champagne. Taking place on Friday 18^th March, booking is advised to book yourself a place contact: contact@beasofbloomsbury.com.

My pick of the week

Bestival comes to Koko, one of the “best festivals” around pardon the pun comes to a venue near you. As festival season is nearly upon us Bestival brings its wacky shenanigans to Camden. Featuring an array of talent this is a event not to miss. Taking place on Saturday 19^th March, tickets can be purchased here.

Hello you lovely people, it’s time for my picks of the week again. It has been quite cold of late but do not let that deter you from enjoying your week as there’s an awful lot that you can be doing.

First of all get yourself down to the Alexia Goethe gallery where there is a very interesting exhibition on at the moment by Jacques Villeglé, showing his décollages’. Villeglé is French artist, born in Brittany in 1926. He’s best known for what he calls ‘décollages’, unlike a paper collage he un-sticks layers of fly posters and tears them before mounting them and framing them.  He has been making décollages’ for over 50 years.

The Alexia Goethe gallery is exhibiting his larger scale works drawn from the past decade or so. The posters mostly relate to musical events like album releases and concerts. Be sure to check it out. The exhibition runs until the 25^th March the gallery is open weekdays 10am-6pm and weekends 11am-4pm.

Meeting friends for lunch this week? Why don’t you meet them at Goodman’s steak restaurant situated on Maddox Street W1. The food is to die for and they have an amazing set lunch menu where you can get 3 courses for only £19. Goodman’s is open from 12-10.30pm Mon-Sat, closed on Sunday’s and booking is advisable.

My pick of the week:

The Streets at Brixton Academy, Saturday 5^th March 2011.

Mike Skinner returns to play his first gig in London since last years tour. Mike Skinner recently announced his retirement from his alias the Streets so could this be his last ever gig in London but who knows?

What a week! How has everyone been? I hope you have all been enjoying my picks of the week so far.

The Tate Modern currently has a great exhibition by Gabriel Orozco on at the moment. It started January 19th and will continue until April 25th so there will be plenty of time to go and see it.

“Creative, playful and inventive, Gabriel Orozco creates art in the streets, his apartment or wherever he is inspired. Born in Mexico but working across the globe, Orozco is renowned for his endless experimentation with found objects, which he subtly alters.”

If you are a member of the Tate then the exhibition will be free but if not do not fret as admission is only £10, concessions are £8.50.  The Tate Modern is open from 10am-6pm on weekdays and 10am-10pm at weekends.

More of a fine food person than a fine art person? Why don’t you treat yourself to a Byron burger, a “proper hamburger”. With restaurants located all over London, Byron are easily accessible and are fairly priced you will not be disappointed.

Byron, who pride themselves on their simple but delicious burgers source their beef from Scotland, mince it fresh everyday, cook it medium so it’s pink, juicy and succulent and place it in a soft, squishy bun (no sesame seed business) with minimum fuss and fanfare.

I highly recommend a Byron burger, with side fries and a root beer.  Delicious!

My Pick of the week

TURN OFF THE RADIO, Friday 11^th Feb, 2011 8pm-1am

Performing on the night is a flurry of UK talent that includes: Random Impulse, Mikill Pane, Fuzzy Logic, Mike Hough and Nathan Blueberry. Plus DJ sets from pop duo Chasing Pluto and soulful threesome Marcus & The Garvey’s.

A night not to be missed!

To get your self on the £3 guest list email names to info@turnofftheradio.co.uk

Allo, allo it’s me again with my picks of the week and despite the cold weather I hope you all had a fun packed week last week. I know I did. For those who were at Mindie on Sunday what a cracking night that was too.

Are you a beer lover? Fancy drooling over an impressive selection of craft beers? Then get yourself over to Mayson & Taylor (above). Recently opened and at a fine location in-between the bottom of Redchurch St and the top of Brick Lane, Mayson & Taylor is a great addition to the already buzzing East-End social scene.

Brought to you by the same people who run the Duke of Wellington in Dalston, all the beers are independently brewed and direct from their country of origin. Mayson & Taylor also offer food during the day, with a roast on Sundays and they also have a late license.

Not into beer or have given up alcohol like me as a new years resolution? Then get yourself over to the National Portrait Gallery. There are a couple of weeks remaining to see the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.

“The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2010 presents the very best in contemporary portrait photography, showcasing the work of talented young photographers and gifted amateurs alongside that of established professionals and photography students.”

The Taylor Wessing Prize started on the 11^th November 2010 and will be ending on the 20^th February 2011. So, get yourself over there pretty soon.

Saturday sees the LRR intra league Grand Finale: Lust For Blood. For those who are unfamiliar as to what this is, this is the Roller Derby final between The Voodoo Skulls Krushers and Goldie Lookin’ Chain Gang.

The venue will be York Hall, 5 Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green. Doors open at 4pm with the battle commencing 5pm sharp. There will also be half-time entertainment.

My pick of the week

J Dilla Changed My Life, Sun 6^th Feb, The Scala CLICK

How’d folks, I hope you had a great week last week and went and sampled some of my picks of the week. I plan to offer you some great finds on a weekly basis and hope you guys use them as an alternative to your usual.

Fancy a bit of culture in your life this week? Then get yourself down to the White Cube at Masons Yard SW1. Gilbert and George currently have an ongoing exhibition there, The Urethra Postcard Art of Gilbert & George.

“In 2009, nearly four decades after their first exhibition of POSTCARD ART, and twenty years since their last group of pictures to be made in the medium of postcards, Gilbert & George returned to the form to make the epic and dazzling group of 564 new pieces that comprise THE URETHRA POSTCARD PICTURES.”

The exhibition runs until the 19^th February at The White Cube (mason yards) and is open from Tues-Sat 10am – 6pm.

Not really into Art and want to get your grub on, then visit one of my favourite restaurants in London ‘Cubana’. Situated just of Waterloo road this restaurant serves up the best in South American cuisine. Their cocktails are mighty good too and cheap as well starting at just £3.95, I highly recommend Cubana Passion.

Cubana is open Mon-sat (times vary) I recommend hitting this joint at the weekend when you can experience live salsa and Latin music, although the weekdays are just as lively.

If you’re a fan of  “old’ skool” gaming then get yourself down to Nintendisco this Thursday at 93 Feet East from 7pm. Expect Mario Kart, Classic Street fighter plus more…you won’t be disappointed.

MY PICK OF THE WEEK:

MINDIE at The Old Blue Last, Sunday 30^th Jan from 7pm onwards.

Mindie is one of London’s dopest live music nights, fresh from its beauty sleep and after a brief appearance last year it’s back and here to stay. Performing on the night: Mikill Pane, Kay Young, The Kemsitry, and Abiade. Plus DJ’s OrdioKid, Bare beats and Jarvsky. Oh, and it’s free entry. See you there. CLICK

Are you out and about in London this week? Fancy doing something a little different?  See below for Darren Richards’, the man behind Turn Off The Radio, picks of the week.

Are you a lover of the classic movie then get yourself down to the BFI on the Southbank. For the next two months the BFI are celebrating the works of one of Hollywood’s most respected directors Howard Hawks. The Howard Hawks season gives movie buffs the chance to see some of the filmmaker’s earliest work, as well as his most highly regarded. Throughout this week there are a number of his movies on show but my pick this week is ‘The Big Sleep’.

‘The Big Sleep‘ stars Humphrey Bogart is in his element as a private eye hired by a general to sort out the mess of his daughter’s life. This film will be shown on Wednesday 19^th at 6.10pm and tickets for this showing can be booked here.

Don’t fancy Humphrey Bogart then how about drugs? ‘What is a drug?‘, this Thursday 20th January 7-8.30pm at The Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road. Over the last century, the West has medicalised or banned many plant drugs that still occupy traditional roles in other societies. How did the contemporary category of ‘drug’ come into being, and how do attitudes differ across other times and places? Well, panelists discuss the shifting definitions of drugs in culture and history.

Want to attend? Well it’s free but booking is recommended, book here now to receive E-ticket.

Not interested in any of this? Food more your thing? Then get yourself over to Franco Manca in Brixton for some quality pizzas. Made from slow-rising sour dough and baked in a wood-burning oven Franco Manca brings the taste of Italy to Brixton.

‘Franco Manca’ is situated in Brixton, Unit 4, Market row SW9.

My pick of the week

Giles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards 2011-01:

Giles Peterson and his label Brownswood hold their annual extravaganza with a diverse line up and the man himself hitting the 1’s and 2’s.

Venue: Koko £15 on door!

Words by Darren Richards

Ali Shaheed Muhammad of the mighty Tribe Called Quest will be dropping an exclusive DJ set of guaranteed pure heat at Plan B on 21st January. It doesn’t stop there, making sure the temperature doesn’t drop will be Homeboy Sandman and then you have the sterling DJ line-up:  Spin Doctor, DJ 279, DJ Rags, Chris P Cuts, DJ Lok & more. Not one to miss, even if it means having to travel to South London and in my case getting a nose bleed.

Click here for more info ->FACEBOOK EVENT

One for all the music tech heads and producers this Saturday! Come down to the Redbull HQ in London from 2-6pm for On The Buttons, a new project from Goldielocks and myself, where you can have a play on all the equipment, share ideas with other producers, see Mz Bratt perform and take part in a Q&A with producer Swindle.

It’s free entry and free drink!

For more information CLICK