March 2010

Spring officially arrives in March and the Ideal Home Show is just what you need if you want to give your home a thorough spring clean. The Victoria & Albert Museum has designs for the home too, see their Quilts exhibition for a new insight into this age-old craft.

London Assurance

National Theatre: Olivier Theatre, London, SE1 8XZ
2nd - 22nd March 2010

Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw appear as Lord Harcourt and Lady Spanker, in Nicholas Hytner's production of Dion Boucicault's Victorian comedy, London Assurance. Written in 30 days flat, and staged at Covent Garden in 1841 when the author was only twenty-one, London Assurance is a "sparkling comedy about fops and spankers" as Baz Bamigboye writing in the Daily Mail says. It takes Sir Harcourt on a jolly jaunt from fashionable London to a sojourn with the lovely foxhunting filly in Gloucestershire. This new production by Nicholas Hytner is performed on the biggest of the National Theatre stages, at the Olivier Theatre, for a short run in March 2010.

More info: London Assurance Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Lily Allen & Dizzee Rascal

The O2 Arena, London, SE10 0BB
7th March 2010

Two of the UK's most feted young performers come together for a mouth-watering night of entertainment at The O2 Arena this March. In the red corner, we have grime hip hop rapping heavyweight Dizzee Rascal, the bad boy from Bow who's just Bonkers; and showing The Fear in the blue corner is Lily Allen, the featherweight singer who's still alright even if she claims the problem is you, not her. It will be interesting to see just how much cross over there is between the two singers in this concert - having both heavy hitters in the ring at the same time will surely provide admirable scope for a great duet or two. And if Allen is to be believed, she may give up all this singing malarkey in a while - so this could be one of your last chances to see the mini diva in action.

More info: Lily Allen & Dizzee Rascal Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Affordable Art Fair

The Marquee at Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ
11th - 14th March 2010

The Affordable Art Fair is a well-loved institution in The Marquee at Battersea Park, an event that strips away the pretension of the art world and gives buyers a chance to pick up some really great art at fair prices, ranging from £50 to £3000. Previous years have seen some works sold for hundreds of pounds by artists who nowadays would not get out of bed for that kind of change. It's a fun, family event which is accessible to connoisseurs and the merely curious. There's a free creche, printmaking workshops and a dedicated section of art by recent graduates, so that you can have fun trying to identify the next Damien Hirst or Paula Rego - and maybe even buy some of their work.

More info: The Affordable Art Fair Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

St Patrick's Day Parade & Festival

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS
14th March 2010

London's Irish community have always celebrated St Patrick's Day in the traditional manner, with church services, music, dancing and plenty of Guinness and whisky. In recent years, the capital has also hosted a major weekend celebration - the UK equivalent of parades in New York and Chicago. London's parade has floats from every Irish county, with street theatre along the route - from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall via Trafalgar Square. There's also a stage in Trafalgar Square with live performances, and a big ceilidh in Leicester Square where everyone can join in with the arms-by-the-sides dancing. Of course, the best places to celebrate are the pubs and Catholic churches throughout London, with their mix of religion, music and good cheer. Keep an eye on where the real London Irish go after the parade and you could be in for a memorable evening.

More info: St Patrick's Day Parade & Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Jewish Museum Reopening

Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, London, NW1 7NB
17th March 2010

The Jewish Museum in Camden reopens on Wednesday 17th March following a £10 million transformation which brings the collections of the Jewish Museum and the former London Museum of Jewish Life under one roof for the first time. Through important historical artefacts visitors can start to understand what it means to be Jewish in modern, multicultural Britain. Four permanent galleries display the huge variety of objects relating to British Jewish life while new facilities include a gallery for changing exhibitions, a 100-seat auditorium, an education space and a cafe and shop on the ground floor. Highlights from the four permanent galleries include a recreation of an East End street and tailor's workshop, a map showing where Jews have come from around the world, ceremonial objects including the oldest English silver Hanukah lamp and a Yiddish theatre karaoke presented by comedian David Schneider. A medieval mikveh (ritual bath) from the 13th century, one of the most important archaeological finds relating to Anglo-Jewry, goes on display for the first time since its discovery in 2001 in Milk Street in the City of London. The lobby and stairwells feature more key objects from the collections, including a painted banner from the London Jewish Bakers' Union. The museum also offers excellent audio-visual programmes, interactive displays, changing exhibitions and cultural events.

Current events at Jewish Museum

Objects Of Love And Desire: Exploring The Things We Carry: Talk event Thursday 16th February
TIMES Thursday 16th February 2012 - 7pm PRICING £10
A talk about how objects are used to tell stories.... More about this event

All events at Jewish Museum

Ideal Home Show 2010

Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, SW5 9TA
20th March - 5th April 2010

The Ideal Home Show is the place to find the latest in home furnishings as this famous show fills up the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre with everything you need to feather your nest - and a whole lot more besides. Celebrating its 102nd year, the Ideal Home Show is the world's largest event of its kind and never fails to surprise and inspire with home decorating ideas and the latest gagets for the kitchen. With over 800 exhibitors there are ideas galore and products to suit all styles and tastes. There are whole sections dedicated to kitchens and gardens, and even a gadget zone filled with those clever labour saving devices you never knew you needed. March is traditionally the time for a spring clean - so why not spruce up your home while you're at it? Visit the show after 5pm on Thursday and tickets (available on the door only) are just £5.

Current events at Jewish Museum

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Quilts 1700-2010

Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, London, SW7 2RL
20th March - 4th July 2010

The V & A has pieced together Quilts 1700-2010, an exhibition which elevates this traditionally homemade craftwork to art work. Exploring both the development of quilting methods and regional variations from around the world since 1700, Quilts gives visitors an opportunity to see items from the museum's substantial collection of patchwork pieces. One of the star exhibits, on public display for the first time, is the George III Coverlet, representing the king reviewing his troops on his birthday in 1799. The maker is an unknown woman who has stitched herself into one of the 41 scenes, literally sewing herself into history. The craft once dismissed as "a pastime for bored women in ringlets" (The Times) is now elevated to art form with its own museum exhibition. Quilts throughout the ages are on display in five sections, right up to modern day pieces including Tracey Emin's confessional work, To Meet My Past (2002), and Grayson Perry's work, a comment on the abortion debate. Also among the 65 works are a number of commissions by contemporary artists including Sue Stockwell and Caren Garfen. A fascinating exhibition that is sure to see a revival in the penchant for patchwork.

Current events at Jewish Museum

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Head of the River Race

Chiswick Bridge, London, W4 2SH
27th March 2010

The Head of the River Race is one of the classic races on the rowing calendar, a warm up for the Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Race that follows the exact same course backwards, from Mortlake to Putney along the Thames. There are 420 crews in all, rowing down the 4.25 mile course, testing their willpower and teamwork in this uniquely macho sport. It is also a particularly nice stretch of the river, so even if you are not that excited by rowing, this is a really nice spot to enjoy a walk or a pint, and watch the boats glide past - tides have dictated that this year's race is well timed to go with an early pub lunch, but you'll have to book early if you want a seat that faces the river.

Current events at Jewish Museum

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The Cranberries

Royal Albert Hall, London, SW7 2AP
31st March 2010

Getting back together is all the rave nowadays so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that Irish soft rockers The Cranberries are jumping on the bandwagon. Indeed, they'll probably fall back to the title of their breakthrough 1993 album and claim that "everybody else is doing it, so why can't we?" After a South and North American tour, this spring time gig at the Royal Albert Hall kicks off their UK reunion trail and will be the first time the four-piece have performed together on these shores for nearly seven years. With four top 20 albums and eight top 20 singles to their name, Dolores O'Riordan's group won't struggle to churn out the hits. While cynics may suggest the group's reunion might have something to do with the failure of the band mates' individual solo projects since calling it a day in 2003, that won't stop fans flocking from far and wide for the chance of hearing the beautiful Celtic-tinged melodies of Linger, Zombie, Ode to my Family et al.

Current events at Jewish Museum

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Urban Africa

Design Museum, London, SE1 2YD
31st March - 5th September 2010

Architect David Adjaye presents his pictures documenting key cities in Africa in Urban Africa, a temporary exhihition at the Design Museum which shows his personal journey to discover more about urban development on the continent. The architect famous for buildings like the Idea Store Whitechapel, which earned him a Sterling Prize nomination, has recently been commissioned to design the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Born in Dar-Es-Salam, Tanzania, David Adjaye has a personal interest in the project and his large-scale images reveal not only something about the cities themselves but also touch on themes that he is developing in his architecture.

Current events at Jewish Museum