London Art Fair
Scarcely have we gotten used to writing "2008" for the date, and already the art fairs are upon us. God help us all. That said, as the largest contemporary British art showcase, which is now an impressive twenty years old, it's probably a good thing that the LAF catches us earlier in the year, before the artistic hordes set upon us. Plus, with their impressive list of galleries involved, there's the opportunity for all walks (and wallets) of life to peruse and purchase from a pretty immense range of work before one's annual art budget is significantly dented.

Afrika! Afrika!
We are all familiar with Cirque de Soleil's brand of airbrushed perfection; where the various feats, marvellous as they are, come bound up in an otherworldliness that often negates all pathos, leaving a sense of pure wonder in its audience that is empty of attachment. Afrika! Afrika!, by contrast, is a non-stop rush of energy and excitement that pushes the boundaries of circus performance, not through technological inventiveness or performative complexity, but sheer exuberance, that couple their captivating acts with good ol' fashioned wondrous joy.