London Events
Things to do in London - Events for February 2012
For the romantics February brings the ultimate lover's delight. Watch the last-minute red-faced rush to the mall for fluffy toys and gold-plated goods. Walk past windows full of diners with nothing to say to each other or join the rebellious singletons at your local to sneer about the sheer capitalism of it all. Once that's over, how about running all over town with a frying pan filled with eggy delight, or joining the Russians as they say goodbye to the chills of winter? This is February in London!
Story Highlights
- Valentine's Night Safari at The Natural History Museum
- Maslenitsa, the Russian Sun Festival
- David Shrigley's Brain Activity
- Pancake Day
- Little Dragon
Valentines Night Safari at The Natural History Museum - February 14, 2012
Of course the proper thing to do for Valentine's Day would be something unique - thought up by you alone, perfectly executed and gratefully received, but here's an idea if you haven't got one. Head to the museum after dark for the Turn Me On or Turn Me Off tour, examining love in the natural world. Find out which species mate for life, why chocolate is ideal for lovers and what the best ingredients for a love potion are. Or learn about the pain of love and species poking each other with barbed appendages. Afterwards recover in the bar for a chat and a beverage with the museum scientists.
Maslenitsa, the Russian Sun Festival - February 26, 2012
This is a celebration to mark the end of the winter chills and the start of spring - of warmth, of hope, of growth! Tell winter where to get off and say Zdravstvui Maslenitsa to Spring as only the Russians can. This festival also marks the last feast before Lent in the Russian Orthodox calendar - making it Russian Pancake Day! So grab a vodka, some borscht and a blini, and have a knees-up in Trafalgar Square with choirs, Folk music, and dancing. At this event you also get to party with real-life Russians in Red Square, via a live satellite link-up. Za zdarov'ye!
David Shrigley, Brain Activity - until May 13, 2012
David Shrigley is perhaps best known for his ironic, cartoonish illustrations for papers such as The Guardian. Each one is a simple, quirky, ironic and warming reminder that the human condition is a contradictory phenomenon, warranting laughter. His mixture of mediums include sculpture, animation and video, all serving to inspire, provoke, and amuse. Just check out his animation for Damon Albarn on Good Song. My only reservation is that Mr Shrigley's now cultish fame could have weakened his work, as is oft the case, but if the past is anything to go by this will be a sensory treat not to miss.
Pancake Day - February 21, 2012
This tongue-tingling occasion marks the last blowout feast before Lent, when all of the fat in the house should be used up to make way for the sacrificial fasting ahead. Growing up, it was all about sitting round the family table stuffing myself silly, but London has expanded this pancake horizon. The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race in Brick Lane serves up teams dressed up in costumes, flipping their yellow wares through the streets. At Parliament pancakes take precedence as Lords, MPs and the Press race side-by-side - the rules stating: "Frying pans must not be used as weapons, whatever the depth of provocation." Sounds like fun!
Little Dragon - February 24, 2012
This is another reason to love the new wave of Swedish music rushing through the scene. Yukimi Nagano leads this slipperishly stylish and eclectic Swedish electro-pop outfit, but don't let the word Pop put you off. Hailed as a fusion of Motown, Dance and chill out music, Little Dragon's soaring vocals will leave you in a blissful state. Yukimi won my heart when she featured on the Gorillaz' Plastic Beach album. Also having teamed up with Outkast's Big Boi, this band is going places and fast. Check them out.
- Zowee Smith
