I was having a conversation the other day about the best cinemas in London. This all started after me going to the not so new now, Vue cinema at Westfield London and being hugely disappointed.

I know they’ve held film premieres there and it’s supposed to be the cinema of the future. But I always knew it would be rubbish which is why I hadn’t been.

In fact the only reason I went was because Chris told me and his email subscribers about the very good offer they had. See what you’re missing out on if you haven’t joined his list yet.

But back to the best cinemas.

One of the things that surprised me was how few of my friends ever went to the BFI at the Southbank.

The BFI is a great place to go to see some absolutely classic films that you’ll never have seen on the big screen.

Most months there’s something good on and you should definitely subscribe to their email list. This month however there’re so many great films, you just have to get down there.

The David Lynch season is the highlight which is what most people will be there for. But any guys still reading this and who didn’t read my London date article.

The BFI have helped you out big time for Valentines. They’ve got Casablanca showing on various days with some good seats still available on the 14^th.

Plus and this is what will make you stand head and shoulders above all the other guys. They’ve got To Have and Have Not, Bogart and Bacall’s first film together which is brilliant.

I’m telling you now if you want to get into her good books and show you’re different, book your seats now. And don’t forget to invite me to the wedding.

Click here for the BFI February Film Guide to see all that’s on and here’s the link to the BFI site.

Thanks for your time

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Oh dear Oh My

This is an exhibition that could make you cry

On a dark and gloomy London day

This wasn’t the best exhibition to see

Did it lift up my spirits, I think not

Some of the images were quite a shock

If a picture can say a thousand words

Then there’s a library here of untold woes

Our riots here were a tea party

Compared to the Libyan, Syrian and Egyptian anarchy

So what will you see

A little hope and a lot of despair

Toooo many bodies everywhere

A religious code gone horribly wrong

You’ll see humanities swansong

So why am I saying you should go and see that

Because I think it makes you appreciate what you’ve got

It makes you want to try a little harder

And give a bit more

After all we don’t have to worry about the sniper

The soldier

Or the knock at the front door.

–

The exhibition I’m talking about is called Frontline: A year of journalism & conflict and is on at Somerset House until 4 February. The exhibition is free and on all days but there’s no evening opening as last entry is 5.30 and the exhibition closes at 6pm.

Wow! Too lighten the mood a little why not read one of my more cheery moments – Dreams can come true in Canary Wharf.

Also if you were thinking of buying a Ford Focus ST click Ford Focus ST and if you want to see FREE concerts & films, Click here.

One of the things I noticed last year was that some of the best photography exhibitions in London were in small galleries you never hear about.

I know we missed a ton of them because they often don’t have the budgets to advertise and with so many things to do in London it’s easy to miss things.

Two of the best galleries that are consistently good are the Getty Images Gallery and The Little Black Gallery. Click the above links to see past exhibitions.

So if you get nothing else out of this blog post, do this one thing. Bookmark the websites of these two galleries and I guarantee they’ll have exhibitions on this year you’ll love.

Right now the Getty is closed as they get ready for their next exhibition. However the Little Black Gallery has a superb exhibition by the late actor Yul Brynner.

Now unless you’re a certain age or a real old movie fan that name won’t mean a thing. But take my word for it, because of who he was and the access he had. He was able to capture some amazing photographs of some of the biggest Hollywood actors.

And here’s the thing, these are photographs from his private collection. That means you won’t have seen them before, like Frank Sinatra getting out of his private helicopter with his cocktail in hand.

This exhibition is a must see event and even though the gallery is a bit of a pain to get to, it’s definitely worth it and it’s free.

The Yul Brynner exhibition at the Little Black Gallery is on until 11 February. The gallery is open Mon – Fri 11am – 6pm and Saturday 11am – 4pm. For more details click Little Black Gallery.

Thanks for your time.

Also if you were thinking of buying a Ford Focus ST click Ford Focus ST and if you want to see FREE concerts & films, Click here.

As much as I love London the one thing I don’t like at this time of the year is the increase in prices at events.

This is why you have to take your hats off to the guys at the Magic Circle. Remember when I told you about booking for their magic show early because it would sell out.

Well it did.

Thankfully however they’ve decided to put on another close-up magic show. This is one of their intimate magic nights, where you’re right there up close and personal with the magicians.

Now having sold out their previous shows, they could easily have put their prices up. But like I said in the headline, they know how to look after Londoners.

Tickets are still only £15 and for that you’ll see four of the best magicians. And I do mean four of the best.

There’s Michael Vincent, Fay Presto, Chris Wood and James Fortune, now I know you haven’t heard of them, but these guys have played at various VIP and celebrity events.

In my last article I mentioned how good Michael and Chris are and if you look at the websites of Fay Presto and James Fortune you’ll see they are equally as good.

This is going to be a fantastic night, but hurry because I know the tickets will be gone soon.

The Close-up magic night is on Thursday 22^nd December and starts at 7.30pm. Click Magic Circle to book tickets.

Thanks for your time.

Also find out how to avoid rip-off garages for car repairs and if you want to see FREE concerts & films, Click here.

Londoners are really being spoilt this weekend with the pop-up Christmas market and ice rink at the Scoop and with the fabulous events going on during the traffic free weekend along Oxford Street and Regent Street, the only problem could be the weather which isn’t looking great, so fingers crossed on that.

Out of the two I think the stuff going on at the Scoop is the better option partly because it’s never been done there before and also because they’re really getting into the spirit of Christmas by making the ice skating free with skates that you can borrow and giving out free mince pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate from Tesco.

Also it’s not just the ice rink they’ve got, they’ve also got a Christmas market with specially selected traders and live string and brass quartets playing music to keep the festive mood going, I think it all sounds fantastic and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.

Now if the Scoop event wasn’t on I would definitely be saying to you to head to Oxford Street and Regent Street because the traffic free days are always nice and many of the stores put on various events, for instance John Lewis have the Jersey Boys back again performing, Twiggy’s at Marks & Spencer doing a book signing and Jaeger have the West End Gospel Choir and free refreshments.

Ever how you look at it there’s plenty on for everyone, the Scoop events start tomorrow and go on until Sunday starting at 10 – 6 and the traffic free is on Saturday and Sunday click Scoop and West End Traffic Free for full details.

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We’re all different in what we see

Some turn away in horror

I saw a grown man cry

A young child pointed and laughed

The mother arrived and disappeared fast

–

What do you see?

–

A planet changing before our eyes

A testimony of our waste while hunger still survives

The cutest animals sometimes seem out of context

Next to a generation wondering what next

Next to eyes holding secrets that you don’t want to guess

–

What do you see?

–

Economic turmoil everywhere

City bankers don’t care

Politicians re-enacting their teenage debates

Country’s in trouble but still they procrastinate

Few thinking of the sacrifices our soldiers make

–

What do you see?

–

I see dignity in a moment where there should be none

Staring back at you the way strong women can

I see people helping others get through their troubles

I see hope triumphing now that dictators are finally tumbling

What do you see?

I thought the World Press Photo exhibition 2010 was good but the new one on at the Southbank Centre is the must see event of the month. It’s on from tomorrow until 29 November Click Here for details and it’s free

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Boy didn’t Norm find some pretty good things to do this month. When I saw the picture he used, which was from the Getty Images exhibition, I knew I had to go.

If the picture didn’t have the same effect on you that it had on me, here’re another couple of reasons to go.

For starters because not a lot of people know about the gallery it never seems to get busy. I’ve lost count how many exhibitions I’ve seen there and it’s often just me and maybe a couple of other people there.

Also I’ve never seen a bad exhibition there. Whoever decides what to show always picks interesting, thought provoking pictures.

If you’ve never been that alone would be good enough reason to go. But let’s look at what they’re showing this time.

From their site the exhibition looks like it’s a collection of some of their best photographs. They’re calling it, ‘It Takes More’, and shows photographs taken in some incredible places.

What I also like is that the photographs will have the stories behind the shot which is something I wished more exhibitions did.

I gave the gallery a call and they said there’re around 50 photographs in the exhibition. I’m definitely going next week; I hope you get the chance too.

The ‘It Takes More’ exhibition is at the Getty Images Gallery from the 4^th November – 19^th November and is free. The gallery is open 10am – 5.30pm weekdays and 12 – 5.30pm Saturday.

Thanks for your time

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