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.

Welcome to our brand spanking new feature: ‘Dear Doctor’ where the man that is Spin Doctor offers help and advice to those in need. If you have a problem and you can’t solve it, you know what to do!

Dear Spin Doctor,

I find myself in something of a pickle and hope that the advise of another medical professional will help.

Tour de Force Jamal Edwards, the man behind online phenomenon SBTV, sits down with the Street Talk TV family for a lil chat about the inspiration behind it and what keeps this amazing, young entrepreneur hungry to succeed.

Spaceship, the latest offering from UK artist Rewd Adams (previously known as Skandal) . His new LP ‘Rewd Awakening’ drops 05/02/11 so watch this space. 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

The mighty Talib Kweli talks career and his forthcoming album Gutter Rainbows (drops 25th January 2011) which I cannot wait to get my ears round.  Enough said, I’ll leave it to the wordsmith to break it down for you

Salt N Pepper shot by Mark Seliger

Nas shot by Christian Witkin

Lil Kim shot by David LaChapelle

Mobb Deep shot by Mark Mann

I went to the Hip Hop Immortals exhibition years ago when it was on at the old Proud Gallery and I vividly remember wanting to buy the book at the time but not having the dollar. Out of the blue I was given it for Christmas by someone who too had gone to the exhibition, bought 2 copies and waited all this time to give it to someone who’d appreciate it. I am that lucky lady.

I have been a massive fan of The Foreign Exchange (Nicolay on production and Phonte of Little Brother fame on vocals) since they dropped the ‘Connected’ album in 2004. An aptly named first project as the two ‘met’ via the OkayPlayer online community and, amazingly, created the project  from different sides of the world, Phonte was stateside and Nicolay in Holland, still having never met but by using the powers of MSN Messenger. They’ve recently dropped their third album ‘Authenticity’ and will, finally, be playing a UK date at Cargo in London next week 12th January. I highly recommend getting yourself a ticket. I interviewed them last week for Bonafide magazine so keep your peepers peeled for that dropping soon!

Click here for Tickets

‘Dead Wrong’ by Hanni El Khatib out on Stones Throw. I just did a lil piece on him for Shook Mag will let you know when it’s out.

Current reading material. The man, nay the legend, Keith Richards has finally told his story in his ‘own’ words (editing etc courtesy of former Sunday Times Journalist and author James Fox). I’ve only got as far as his early years, but his honesty has defied my cynical expectations and is proving to be pleasingly different to what I, wrongly or rightly, expected.  It’s incredibly touching, intelligent and witty, not sure that’s what you want from a warts ‘n’ all autobiography of a Rock & Roll legend but that’s what you get.  I was expecting, having lived the life he has, the man may have some difficulty recalling timelines, events, names etc let alone delving into the most intricate details as he does. Highly recommended read.

The Rolling Stones – Wild Horses