Lost Weekend: 1 – 4 December

Way Back Here 1st Birthday with Braiden & Juk Juk
Celebrating their first birthday this Saturday in true hipster style is the Questionmark bar in Dalston. Set to be an exclusive kick-start to the party season, the bar has brought in Rinse FM’s Braiden and Four Tet’s latest progeny, Juk Juk. One of the most respected DJs on the scene, Braiden cannot fall into any one genre and is most known for his Rinse show every other Tuesday. Not content with one great act, Questionmark have acquired the much anticipated and fresh Caleb Waterman or Juk Juk as he is better known, who you can listen to on the music blog Daily Street via Soundcloud. The night is to be sponsored by Barcardi so expect amazing drink offers and cheap rum.

£3 Concessions/£4 OTD

129 Stoke Newington High Street
N16 OPH

9pm – 4am

Saturday 3 December

http://soundcloud.com/thedailystreet/018-juk-juk

Cuff Group Mix Alice Menter

Alice Menter ‘Popping Up’ in Kingly Court
Opening on Saturday, is Alice Menter’s pop-up shop as part of a great new concept store. The week-long event in Kingly Court is a fantastic chance to pick up some fabulous one-off Christmas presents.  The young jewellery designer has flourished in the last year and her line of beautiful bling has become a big hit with everyone. Mentor’s unique style incorporates industrial pieces of metal, including nuts and washers and transforms them into beautifully extravagant pieces of jewellery. Taking place at one of London’s top shopping destinations with more than 30 different stores and some of the best restaurants in the city, her shop will have an exclusive 20 to 30 per cent discount as well as key pieces from her collection, including the new art deco inspired ‘Stones’.

FREE

Kingly Court
Carnaby Street
W1R 5LE

Saturday 3 – 11 December

Seven Dials

Seven Dials and St Martin's Courtyard 20 per cent off Christmas Shopping Evening
Fancy an early treat this Christmas? Tonight Seven Dials and nearby St Martin’s Courtyard will be offering 20 per cent off retail as part of their annual festive shopping event, which is in association with the London Evening Standard. From 5pm till 9pm, you will have the chance to get great discount prices at more than 120 shops and venues, which includes independent boutiques, heritage brands and vintage stores. To make it even more of a must, there will also be in store activities, complimentary drinks, makeovers, live music and free goody bags. We at London Confidential are very excited about this event and is just what we needed to get into the Christmas spirit. 

FREE

Seven Dials
Covent Garden

5pm – 9pm

Thursday 1 December

The Great Christmas Pudding Race
One of the stranger events of the weekend and possibly one of the funniest is the Great Christmas Pudding Race in Covent Garden on Saturday. Involving teams of six running around a course full of obstacles, it’s a bit like It’s a Knockout, except with contestants carrying a Christmas pud ‘egg and spoon’ whilst being squirted with foam. This year sees the 31^st birthday of the hilarious event and the teams costumes are even better than ever, with fancy dress reindeers, fairies, mad professors and, of course, Christmas puddings. The event, organised by CRAC, is in aid of Cancer Research UK and supported by Matthew Walker and Covent Garden. Great fun for a great cause and there will be a Zumba warm up for all competitors and prizes for the race will include the coveted Christmas pudding trophy plus awards for the best fancy dress costumes. 

Covent Garden
WC2E 8RF

Starts at 11.15am

Thursday 3 December

 East London Design Show 2011
The annual ELDS event is back again, and as usual, it brings the best of the UK’s independent designers together in Shoreditch. Dubbed as ‘the event to discover tomorrow’s talent today’, the show we have designers from many different genres including, product, interior and jewellery. The will be a large collection of new designers joining the show this year, creating around 38 exciting product launches side by side with already established designers in glass, ceramics, jewellery, fashion and accessories, as well as furniture and homeware. Take advantage of the show offers and indulge in some beautiful design this Christmas. There will also be an inclusive VIP reception and Design Awards, hosted by Chew on Thursday.

£5/Concession £3/Accompanied Children under 15 Free

Shoreditch Town Hall
380 Old Street
EC1V 9LT

Thurs: 6pm – 9pm (with late shopping, bar and café open), Fri: 12pm – 9pm Sat: 10am – 6pm, Sun: 10am – 6pm

1 – 4 December

Jean-Christophe Novelli At Taste Of Christmas 2010

Taste of Christmas 2011
Returning for another year is ExCel London’s Taste of Christmas, bringing the public festive food tasting, fantastic treats and many famous foodies. Certain to feed your senses with the festive fragrances of mince pies and mulled wine, the fabulous event is a great way of finding inspiration for that boring repetitiveness that is the Christmas roast. We so many things to do and take part in, including cookery demonstrations, classes and the chance to try and taste dishes from top London restaurants. Celebrity Chef Guests include Jamie Oliver, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Michel Roux Jr, Atul Kochhar, Simon Rogan, Antony Worrall Thompson and Theo Randall.

£17.50 – £75 per ticket

ExCeL London

One Western Gateway
Royal Victoria Dock
E16 1XL

2 – 4 December

Transformers: Dark of the Moon joins forces with the Science Museum for Robotville EU Festival
Here’s a cute event for the Transformer generation – whether you’re actually five or just five at heart, this is an event for you. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are making their mechanical way down to the Science museum for the Robotville EU Festival. Transformers: Dark of the Moon is joining forces with the museum to celebrate cutting edge robotics and the innovation and significance of robots in the future. With more than twenty unique robots being displayed this weekend for the public to admire and engage with. The festival will have many fantastic opportunities including watching behind the scenes footage of the film as well as getting very close to Optimus Prime and listen to the experts in demonstrations. An exciting first for Britain.

FREE

Exhibition Road
South Kensington
SW7 2DD 

10am – 6pm

1 – 4 December