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Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series
Bombay Sapphire and Book Slam Co-curate

Like what you heard about the Bombay Sapphire curated Book Slam event? Then here’s a little bit more: on the eve of August 4, we’ll be harking back to the days when Gin Palaces used to house poets and other literary types, conversing over a tipple or two. Harnessing the spirit of not only contemporary hipster book clubs, but also nightclubs, the classic gin palace and the creative minds who frequented them; Bombay Sapphire and Book Slam have come together to co-curate an event which will bring poetry, music and literature together in an intimate, eclectic and unforgettable night of performances. It’s going to be a cracking night – to be in with a chance of being one of the 25 pairs that will join us simply email your details. Winners will be notified by Tuesday, August 2.

7pm, 4th August, Village Underground,
54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ.
www.facebook.com/bombaysapphire

Tomorrow
V&A Late - Sponsored Listing

Summer Camp Friday Lates are all about design. And tomorrow night’s event will focus on inspirational designers taking you through their own design process - right from initial doodles through to the final product. It’s not all scholastic though: the Bombay Sapphire Imagination Bar will be serving up a range of Imagination cocktails to spark the festivities, including Blue Sky Thinking (Bombay Sapphire, blueberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar syrup and myrtle) and Punch Illusion (Bombay Sapphire, Martini Rosso, Chambord, topped off with lemonade and garnished with lemon and orange slices, raspberries and a mint sprig), as well as two classic Bombay Sapphire cocktails.

6.30 - 21.50pm, Free,
Victoria and Albert Museum,
Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL. www.vam.ac.uk

Café

Lowry & Baker
Try Lowry & Baker at the top end of Portobello Road. Somewhat secluded from the madding crowd, this is the best place for excellent coffee and food in the neighbourhood - plus it’s yet to be discovered by those tourist teens with incipient facial hair and sour expressions.

339 Portobello Road, W10 5SA. www.lowryandbaker.com

Escape

Kew Gardens
London? There is no escape. But, when I can, I go to Kew Gardens, round the corner from where my grandparents lived. My dad erected a bench in their memory. It’s got the best plaque; something like ‘In memory of Fiona Neate, who loved these gardens, and Francis Neate who didn’t.’ I go and sit on it.

Royal Botanical Gardens,
Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB.
www.kew.org

Imagination

The Africa Centre
I used to go here loads when I was a kid: Soul II Soul and then, later, Funkin’ Pussy, and you could hang out in the bar and smell revolution (at least I think it was revolution…). Now the powers that be are trying to sell the building - it shouldn’t be allowed. So show some support.

38 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8IT.

Book Ahead

‘Dong’
You love hip-hop? You love comedy? So, what’s not to love about a brand new hip-hop comedy night from the guys behind the brilliant Knock2Bag and hosted by legendary DJ and presenter Big Ted. There’s even hip-hop karaoke - at which I will be performing the Young MC’s ‘Knowhow’ with no irony whatsoever.

Sat, July 30, £10 advance.
The Rich Mix, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road,
E1 6LA. www.richmix.org.uk

Patrick’s Podcast
Patrick Neate’s Playlist

I’ve currently only got 11 albums on my iPhone because the thing won’t sync with my old steam-driven Macbook. Then again, such restriction forces selectivity, which is arguably to be encouraged. Play my Urban Junkies podcast, below, to hear what I am listening to.

Listen to Patick's Podcast…

Competition
Free tickets to the National’s A Woman Killed With Kindness - Sponsored Listing

This updating of a 17th-century drama about a spurned wife is just as intense as we’ve come to expect from Katie Mitchell: we loved her Iphigenia at Aulis years back. It’s been called “absorbing and affecting” (The Times), “striking… provocative” (Independent) and “unforgettable” (Metro). There are thousands of £12 Travelex tickets up for grabs (no booking fee either) but we’ve also got three pairs of tickets to give away - just email us if you’d like to be in with a chance of winning.

020 7452 3000, nationaltheatre.org.uk

T&C: Winners’ tickets are valid for Monday - Thursday performances 8-31 August 2011. Subject to availability. Winners will be notified by Tuesday, August 2. Promoter reserves the right to substitute prize for that of an equal or greater value if necessary.

Recipe
Book Slam’s inspired
Bombay Sapphire Twisted Gin & Juice

The Twisted Gin and Juice is a new take on Gin and Juice for a new generation. We’ve moved on from Snoop and his iconic beverage back in the ‘90s, but still love the concept today! A delightful summery tipple designed to refresh and revive the soul.

Ingredients:
50ml Bombay Sapphire
10ml elderflower cordial (Belvoir)
5-6 fresh mint leaves
90ml cloudy apple juice
Crushed Ice

Method: Slap the mint leaves in the palm of your hand to release their flavour. Rip them in half, rub the leaves on the rim of your Bombay Sapphire tall glass and then place in the bottom. Add the elderflower cordial and then the Bombay Sapphire. Add plenty of crushed ice and give the ingredients a really good stir. Top up with the cloudy apple juice and churn in an upward lifting motion for a final time. Add a clear straw and a large sprig of mint garnish next to the straw.

About Patrick
Book Slam

I am currently finishing a novel, writing a screenplay for the BBC and organising all sorts of Book Slam stuff, as well as publishing our first collection of original writing in November (William Boyd, Irvine Welsh and many more). Look out for the joint book launch of Hari Kunzru’s extraordinary new novel ‘Gods Without Men’, and ‘Wild Abandon’ by Joe Dunthorne (of ‘Submarine’ fame). It’s August 16th at the amazing Supper Club under the Westway. I’m slightly biased, of course, since we’re organising it - but it’ll be a riot.

Joint Book Launch, 16 August,
Supper Club, 12 Acklam Road, W10 5QZ. www.supperclub.com