London: Mayor & More

Joan Rivers

Gorgeous and great at the Leicester Square theatre says Paul.

Suits You, Sir

Gracechurch Street, EC3, yesterday. The price of those ties! No wonder they're reduced.

Blogging On Shopping

Ah-ha, shopping blog guide to London shopping. Dead useful.

Arts On The Cheap

The Guardian's Stephen Moss:

"I am attracted by the experimental jazz group Fuck Off Batman."

He's spent a week consuming London's arts scene on a budget of fifty quid. Now read on.

Banglatown Station, Shoreditch? Discuss

In case you didn't know....

"A campaign of lobbying supported by London labour councillor Abdal Ullah has begun, in a bid to rename Shoreditch High Street over-ground station to Banglatown. The aim of this absurd renaming is to supposedly help celebrate the cultural diversity and rich history of immigration, particularly from Bangladesh, in the Brick Lane area."

Vigorous debate has ensued at Pickled Politics.

Fourth Plinth: Culture Conservatives Not Amused

Following this...this.

Sir Keith Park

From the Standard's Chief Arts Correspondent:

"Boris Johnson has made a U-turn over his support for a statue to military hero Sir Keith Park on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth. Despite backing the campaign to honour the Second World War hero during his election campaign, the new mayor has now said he has to withdraw his support for the scheme."

Read on to discover that "complex planning issues" and "outstanding commitments" to the Fourth Plinth are the reasons given, and that Johnson would like to find a different location for a statue of Sir Keith. In this, he now echoes Ken Livingstone's policy on the issue. And in a leader - which I can't find online - the Standard yesterday applauded Johnson's volte face. What a difference a change of mayor can make to the principles of a "quality" newspaper.

Londonist Recommends...

...a long, cheap week.

Buskers By The Thames

On Bankside enjoyed earlier today during a family visit to Tate Modern. Pop history note: the drummer is wearing a T-Rex "Slider" T-shirt.