London Eyed: February 2014

We have reluctantly come to associate the month of February with arctic temperatures, guaranteed snowfall and the absence of bank holidays until Easter. However, the shortest month in the year is also the month where activity in London begins to pick up again as people start putting their hands in their pockets after a thifty and dry January. 

So, emerge out of that snowy white cocoon you call a duvet, spike that hot chocolate with a dash of bourbon, put on those dancing shoes and see what's heating up February right now. 

THEATRE With the success stories of Chimerica, American Psycho and Ghosts firmly under its belt, the Almeida Theatre in Islington is rapidly building a name for itself as the theatre to spot London's hottest and sell out productions year upon year. With that in mind, its newest offering is an adaptation of George Orwell's 1984.   First release tickets sold out faster than you could read the first page of the thought provoking classic, so act quickly to book your place for the second release. Book here. 

FILM Reel Islington a community film organisation dedicated to bringing local people together through a shared love of film launches a very special film festival on Friday 28 February - Saturday 2 March 2014 at the Resources for London building on Holloway Road. The program includes Bill Forsyth's 1987 dark film, Housekeeping amongst other talented screenings. Don't forget to also catch their First Friday Film Club. 

ART You have one month left to catch Issac Julien: Playtime at the Victoria Miro Wharf Road gallery. A satirical film installation displaying the greed, opulence and power associated with global capitalism. A shocking, dreamy but powerful piece. 

MUSIC British trip-hop band London Grammar have stormed onto the London music scene and their melodious and almost otherworldly sounds confirm that they are here to stay. You be missing a serious trick if you don't see them alive either this month either down the road in Brighton or at the beginning of March at Troxy, London. I can guarantee that their next trek around the country won't be so easy on the money. 

FOOD Nottinghill, place of vintage markets, bewildered tourists and now home to the hearty British cuisine of The Shed. With the menu changing daily and the ingredients sourced from the owners' Suffolk based farm, this restaurant is a welcoming refuge from the hustle and bustle of West London. 

FASHION With London Fashion Week almost upon us, London's finest fashionistas are polishing their Manolas and pruning their wardrobes in anticipation of the 2014 spectacle. For us mere mortals however, the closest we'll get to the likes of Erdem or Marc Jacobs is a fortnightly sharing of the same polluted London air. Alternatively drown your sorrows in the warm arms of Net a Porter, source of the UK launch of Peter Pilotto for Target. Fancy something a little more unique? Check out the LFW Vintage Collection at The Old Finsbury Town Hall in Clerkenwell. 

BAKE Guilt free treats are all the range these days. The browniest of points go to the dairy free, fat free, sugar free (and frequently taste free) recipes. One not so secret ingredient has recently emerged onto the scene. Although a firm favourite of the vegan world for decades, the avocado is the dairy substitute that the rest of the population have all been waiting for. For a cake that will leave your guests salivating in their seats (scout's honour) try Joy the Baker's Vegan Avocado cake or for a mousse with a conscience, try Deliciously Ella's avocado, cacao and dates concoction.