It could have been yesterday’s gloomy, drizzly weather or maybe just the cold feet that accompanies the thought of bopping about the City of London in your underwear. Whatever the case, those that donned less than usual for the Pants Amnesty at the Royal Exchange numbered in the dozens and not the thousands. Still, what they may have lacked in numbers they more than made up for in sheer enthusiasm. Their commitment to the anti-Endosulfan cause (which according to a comment left on our preview post is misguided) is impressive. Pants off to you!

The first Ashes test begins today, but what with television rights to the series now gobbled up entirely by Sky, those without a subscription to Murdoch's empire are sh*t out of luck when it comes to watching at home. Fortunately, this being a summer event and all, there are screens around the city where you can catch all the action.

Remember the story about the fire attack on publishers Gibson Square (confusingly based in Lonsdale Square)? The company were due to publish the novel Jewel of Medina, which concerns a wife of the Prophet Muhammad, when a trio of Muslims took umbrage and decided to pour diesel through the letterbox of the publisher's home and office.

Let's hope he's proud at being a champagne socialist: former Mayor Ken Livingstone's expenses for his second term at City Hall reveal that he claimed for more than £16,000 in dining bills.

• City types are more optimistic than they were.
• Usain Bolt is heading to Crystal Palace.
• Carikey! Caracas is now more expensive than London.

Maybe if you cross your fingers, touch wood and scrunch your face up like you really really really want summer to return, it will. And when it does, a nice way to cool off would be to try some of Yu-foria’s frozen yoghurt. The shop’s just opened recently at Covent Garden (downstairs near the pesky opera singing buskers). Last week, Londonist swung by; had a chat with Yu-foria’s young and enterprising owner Leo Bedford; and sampled some of the goods. It’s a pleasant little place, not only white and plastic-y as one might expect but cozy and hip with exposed brick, hanging basket chairs and oak seating making for an organic feel. Leo’s pretty hip too: he’s a likeable chap in his mid-twenties keen to make a real go at this new venture. And the yoghurt? Yum! We tried a cup of the 100% fat free plain flavour with some pistachios sprinkled on top (Yu-foria has all sorts of toppings). It was delish and, considering we tried it on one of those hot days last week, very refreshing. We also sampled a couple of spoonfuls of the blueberry yoghurt and were impressed with its natural (not super puckery or too sweet) flavour.

TfL has announced that they are offering refunds to anybody affected in last month's 48-hour tube strike, reversing their earlier decision to point the finger at the RMT.

Celebrating 'normal' people in art is this summer's big thing: we've got the plinth and now flowerbeds in the five Olympics-hosting boroughs for artist Joshua Sofaer's Rooted in the Earth. There's been much amusement and curiosity about who has been paid tribute in floral form; all of the names were nominated for their generosity, spirit and inspiration along with lack of recognition, and were part of Sofaer's exploration of the notion of reward.