So the sun is out and thoughts at Spoonfed Towers are already turning to the summer ahead. Summer, for us, means many things – it means scotch eggs and gingham, sandwiches in the sun (crusts cut off, natch), lunchtime cricket (which Tom always wins) and ice cream making the occasional appearance at the weekly ritual that is Cake Thursday. But summer also means another important thing: namely, booze.

Now, we know what you’re thinking – every season is booze season, right? Well, right. But in order to fully appreciate the delights of summer, one really ought to plan one’s boozing with care. A Red Stripe in some field just won’t cut it this year. Which is why we were delighted to hear about three rather snazzy new summer-time cocktails from the folks at Southern Comfort. So delighted in fact, that we’ve decided to share them with you:

Louisiana Jam

With fruit juice and apricot jam to complement the Southern Comfort, this is a splendidly thirst-quenching little drink, perfect for pre, post, or mid-cricket refreshment. Plus, it’s served in a jam jar!

Mississippi Mule

Lime + Ginger Beer + Angostura Bitters + Southern Comfort = Zing-time! Plus it’s so simple, even us idiots can make it.

Bayou Fruit Cup

Featuring whatever summer berries you fancy and a splash of Martini Rosso (mmmm) this is the Hyacinth Bouquet of Southern Comfort cocktails. Ideal for all those garden parties we’re planning to wear our new cream linen suits to…

Hailing from Belfast, Not Squares have perfected that type of ESG meeting Q and Not U indie dance that you used to go nuts to back in your third year of uni.  Marrying out-there yelps, bizarre lyrics, berserk drums, liquid bass lines and brightly coloured t-shirts to a sense of pop timing reminiscent of XTC, if you don’t at least nod your head to the jerky grooves these guys pump out, then you’re officially dead.

Oh yeah, check out the dancing in this video – that was pretty much what our office Christmas party looked like.

http://www.myspace.com/notsquares

With our daily lives so full of computers, TVs, mobile phones and iPods it’s hard to imagine a time when the most popular leisure activity was sitting down with a good book and a cup of tea. Trying to ignite the nation’s passion for the written word is World Book Day, which takes place this year on Thursday March 4th.

So, in our bid to honour the great wordsmiths of days gone by, we’ve collected together a few quotes about our favourite city in the world.

The best quotes about London

1) “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
Samuel Johnson

2) “I don’t know what London’s coming to – the higher the buildings the lower the morals”
Noel Coward

3) “I’m leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it’s not raining.”
Groucho Marx

4) “Nothing is certain in London but expense.”
William Shenstone

5) It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from Sherlock Holmes in The Copper Beeches

6) “London is the epitome of our times, and the Rome of to-day.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

7) “I do not think there is anything deserving the name of society to be found out of London.”
William Hazlitt

8 ) “Flowers are as common in the country as people are in London.”
Oscar Wilde

9) “In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals”
Virgil Thomson

10) “Hell is a city much like London – A populous and a smoky city.”
Percy Bysshe Shelley

If you want to take part in World Book Day why not check out our favourite literary events in London!

Selfridges is a magical place, a place where you are surrounded by beautiful objects that set your imagination running wild, and unleashes your devious side making you scheme and plot to find a way to afford it all (that’s everyone right, not just me?). The new Alice in Wonderland concession in Selfridges aptly named Wonder Room fits comfortably in its surroundings, and transports you into a world of fairy tale bliss.

There are props from the new Disney film; fascinating hats that could only come out of a Tim Burton film and a miniature set which I’m guessing is used for green screen effect. Whatever it is, the big ‘do not touch’ sign makes it seem like an important piece.

What is truly amazing is the impact a fairy tale has had on the fashion world. On display is jewellery designed by Stella Mc Cartney, Tom Binns and a necklace dripping with itty bitty cups and saucers by Disney Couture. This is all just a way for adults still to wear Disney stuff right? Whatever it is, it works.

If you care about fashion like you care about wasps, then the concession also includes a collection of Alice in Wonderland books by the original author Lewis Carroll some current but mostly delicate old pieces that could fit well in the British Library. There are also some rather quirky glass cake covers with piggy ears and turkey legs too.

The window displays alone are enough to entice you into this luxurious world (check out the face in the flower!). If the movie is only a slice of this creativity and enthusiasm, for such a classic and loved novel, then get ready Depp here I come.

Have you ever been to The Garage? It’s a brilliant venue nestled in leafy Highbury. From the early Britpop sounds of Oasis to new Millennium indie darlings Arctic Monkeys, The Garage has hosted all the greats. After a £1 million refurbishment in 2006, The Garage has come back bigger and even better! Since October 09 one of London’s finest promotion teams Bangers & Mash have held a weekly night there which takes advantage of the space and improved sound system.

Not content with dishing up the best Indie, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Electronica, Hiphop, Funk, Ska and Motown beats from world class DJs – there’s plenty of extra curricular fun too. We’re talking free props, live caricature, face painting, games, giveaways & even a photo booth!

If Highbury is a bit out of your neck of the woods, then Bangers & Mash also do a cracking night every other week at Brick Lane staple 93 Feet East. So, what’s not to love? You’ll see the Spoonfed team (and anyone else with a decent pair of dancing shoes) at a Bangers & Mash night very soon.

Have a look at more Things to do in Islington!

With the announcement last week that corporate owned Ben & Jerrys plan to use 100% Fairtrade products in their ice cream by the end of 2011, all eyes will be on Fairtrade Fortnight for signs of further public support. For this year’s event, Fairtrade Fortnight are asking us to join in with The Big Swap and all you have to do is spend two weeks swapping your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. You could swap anything from coffee, tea and chocolate to jewellery and underwear!

The Big Swap is happening all over London and we’ve picked just a few of our favourite Fairtrade events happening around the city over the next two weeks. For a full list of what’s happening this Fairtrade Fortnight check out http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap or follow @FairtradeLondon on Twitter!

Fairtrade Tea Bag Giveaway @ Lewisham Library
22nd February

All libraries in the London Borough of Lewisham will be giving away a Fairtrade teabag to anyone borrowing books, CDs or DVDs during Fairtrade Fortnight while stocks last.

Lancaster London Fairtrade Liqueur Coffee Menu @ Lancaster Hotel
22nd February

To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, from 22 February until 7 March 2010, the Lancaster London hotel is introducing a luxurious Fairtrade liqueur coffee menu. Each coffee will be served with a complimentary single estate Fairtrade chocolate.

Hackney Fairtrade Fortnight Launch @ Hackney Central Library
22nd February

Fairtrade Fortnight launch event  including a producer visit and speeches from the Speaker and the Mayor.

Invasion of the Tea Ladies @ Parliament Square
25th February

Join us for the Invasion of the Tea Ladies. We will all dress up as tea ladies and pose for a photo in Parliament Square before heading off to Trafalgar Square for a good ol’ fashioned tea dance. Bring your favourite mug.

Free Brownie Day!
26th February

Starbucks are celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight by offering a free Fairtrade chocolate brownie when you make the swap and get your daily coffee from Starbucks on Friday 26th February 2010 – remember to ask for the Fairtrade beans though!

Strictly Fairtrade Tea Dance @ Crispin Place in Spitalfields
February 27th

Dance demonstrations – samba, salsa, swig, Bollywood and more – and a chance for you to try too. Market stalls from a host of companies selling Fairtrade products. All hosted by Hollyoaks and Casualty star, James Redmond!

Burlesque Pantease @ The Pigalle Club
February 27th

Join Pants to Poverty for an afternoon of cheeky fun and our fairshare of scrumptious Tea and Pie! Celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight and the launch of a new collection, they are raising money to free children working in cotton seed production.

Fairtrade Film Show @ Riverside Studios
February 27th

Film Show for church youth groups at Riverside Studios Hammersmith, London W6, Showing The Great African Scandal, and Blood Sweat and Tshirts. Q and A with producer Robert Beckford.

Popcorn? Check. Comfy Chair? Check. Bottle of wine? Check. Inappropriate older man crush on presenter Jonathan Ross? Don’t be ridiculous.

Tonight the stars will descend, umbrella in hand, on London’s Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for the 63rd British Academy Film Awards.

We’ve rounded up a list of our favourite Brits that are poised to snag one of the coveted statuettes at this years ceremony and are keeping our fingers crossed for a few embarrassing and weepy acceptance speeches too!

Colin Firth – Best Actor for A Single Man

Andy Serkis – Best Actor for Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Carey Mulligan – Best Actress for An Education

Anne-Marie Duff – Best Supporting Actress for Nowhere Boy

Kristin Scott Thomas – Best Supporting Actress for Nowhere Boy

Nick Hornby – Best Adapted Screenplay for An Education

Simon Blackwell , Jesse Armstrong , Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche – Best Adapted Screenplay for In the Loop

Us Brits are a funny old lot sometimes aren’t we? We’re looked on  as pancake racing, cheese rolling, log throwing, morris dancing buffoons most of the time, but  a less well known tradition came to our attention this morning called Kissing Friday.

Apparently until the 1940s, every Friday after Ash Wednesday was known as Kissing Friday. This was a day when school boys were allowed to kiss any girl they liked without worrying about the repercussions, and if the girl refused, they pinched her bum. Very odd.

It just so happens that kissing has been a hot topic in the office this week, French Kissing to be precise. French Kissing are an excellent new East London band, whose garage-surf tracks are destined to be the sound of the summer. [ The band also features our lovely music editor Dom on drums and vocals - a very underrated combination not seen in mainstream music since Sum 41] Their debut single Oh Suzanne came out this week and can be bought from Rough Trade online or in store.

If you like their stuff then we highly recommend you pop down to Corsica Studios on March 4th for a free gig with none other than Django Django.

Get down to Leicester Square tomorrow from 10.30am to sample some free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and even get the chance to meet the dairy giants themselves!

To raise awareness for Fairtrade Fortnight, which kicks off Monday 22nd February, Ben & Jerry co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield will be handing out free samples of their eponymous ice cream. They’ll also be some live music and comedy to keep the hungry hoards entertained!

The free ice cream will be available from the Ben and Jerry’s Scoop Shop inside the Empire Cinema on Leicester Square. See you there!

Pancake Day (traditionally called Shrove Tuesday and celebrated as Mardi Gras in the US) is historically the last day in the Christian calender before Lent. A day when we fatten up with all those rich foods before beginning the 40 day fast. If you’re not of the religious bent, then Shrove Tuesday is usually the day when you simply eat a lot of pancakes and perhaps take part in some batter based shenanigans!

Pancake Day 2010 in London

Kindness Offensive’s Free Pancake Day

Head down to Ed’s Diner today until noon and let England Rugby player Paul Sackey cook you up some pancakes, completely free of charge! This brilliant event full of magicians, balloons and bubbleologists also coincides with an awareness campaign for the NSPCC ChildLine/Premier Rugby anti bullying programme. So, as our friends at Leap Anywhere put it, you get to have fun and do good at the same time! Bonus.

http://thekindnessoffensive.com/

The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race

If you’re around East London at lunchtime today you won’t want to miss out on the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race! Assemble your team of four outside the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane and compete in a relay to win yourself  a beautifully engraved frying pan. OOOOO!

http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/events

Britain’s Biggest Pankcake Tosser

If you want to compete against others from the comfort of your own home then get your best apron on and upload a video of yourself or a friend tossing a pancake to be in with a chance of winning a brand spanking new SANYO Xacti full HD Dual Camera!  All you have to do is upload your video to YouTube and tag it with #SANYOPancakeToss. Simple.

http://www.pancaketoss.com/

London Pancakealympics

The competition heats up over at the London Farmer’s Market for the London Pancakealympics. Regional heats took place in Islington and Blackheath on Sunday but it’s still going to be quite a sight to see and you’ll help raise some money for charity too! Let’s hope this awful rain stops by this afternoon.

http://www.pancakeday.lfm.org.uk/

Not found anything you like? Head over to Spoonfed to see what’s going on in London today.