Crossrail as a concept seems to have been around for yonks yet this week, stuff actually starts happening around the crucial and much needed redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road station with bus diversions kicking in on Friday to make way for works to begin. A free exhibition at New London Architecture brings the ambitious plans to life with a computer generated 'fly through' of the transformed station, incorporating not only essential expansion of capacity......

Crossrail was a major project for the previous administration, so while Boris is a keen supporter (he reckons it is a "cracking deal for the capital"), we are keeping a keener eye on whether he pursues this quite as zealously as Ken. This is because the costs are huge, and so the need to keep up pressure for central government investment is vital to whether (and how) it's built. The strength of Boris's support......

The Boys (of the International Olympic Committee) are back in town . And everything’s looking peachy. Boris may be a bit short of funds for Crossrail. Pete Doherty seems to be able to play football. Is there no end to his talents? Walthamstow Race Track is going to the dogs. Well, actually, and very sadly we might add, it’s been sold to developers The mystery dude who spent sixty million on paintings last week......

Some stories are true slow burners. We've been pondering the fate of one of London's grubbiest, tattiest yet best loved live music and club night venues since mid 2006. However, the Astoria has soldiered on, pepped up by 35,000 supporters signing a "Save the Astoria" petition. Whilst its time on death row has been lengthy, the execution will be going ahead. Not even Ken Livingstone, friend of live music venues, can stay it. It's......

Big belchers should stay at home as Ken’s low emission zone comes into force. Wonder what the road tax on camels is… Big spenders are on their way to London, with imminent and potentially record breaking art sales at Christies and Sothebys. Big boost for Waltham Forest residents following the relocation of their library - the launch of, er, a new supportive blogsite. Big deal - £5 for pre-war IRA bomb hero. Great stuff,......

There is the usual hoo-ha over crime figures. We all know that they’re up really, so who’re they trying to kid? First she was deformed, and then maimed. Leslie Ash gets rather a tidy sum by way of compensation. Axe wielding motorist gets his sentence quashed. Well, he was only swinging it at clampers, so hey-ho. The Cardinal of Westminster Cathedral is praying for divine financial intervention. Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup has joined......