Aware as ever of the world's trouble spots, Madonna recently showed solidarity with the blighted residents of Georgia by describing herself as "living in a siege situation". Is her home being bombarded with military ordnance as the Russian army advances? No, things are much worse. The fifty-year old singer has been forced to abandon her gym due to the ruckus brought by nearby workmen. The former Georgian house in Mayfair, which Madge converted into......

Girl material: Her Madgeness to make like Minogue and display her garms in an exhibition The driver's last lie: Salman Rushdie's former protector apologises over moronic verses. Being a copper for the Met isn't the safest occupation London Assembly canvassing for opinion on teen boozing Beijing 2008 coin minted - one to collect along with those special edition stamps. Ben Kinsella's mum take the knife fight to the US (not literally) - she's in......

Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie’s local, The Punchbowl in Mayfair, is to be investigated following allegations of price hiking for tourists. The showbiz pair famously liked the gaff so much they bought (into) it. Now ripping off tourists is clearly wrong: bad for the pub and bad for London. The price of a pint is so high now that inflating it further is only adding insult to injury. But the naughty, nasty mini-us inside Londonist is......

Difficult to avoid the Bat-hype machine this week, as the release of The Dark Knight has prompted calls for a posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger. Luckily, as always, London provides for those who don't necessarily want the latest marketing churn poured down their throat. For your consideration this week: Thursday: Wong Kar Wai's In The Mood For Love is the next film at Rivington Place, in conjunction with their Oscar Munoz retrospective. After his......

Operation: Rebrand Britney is gathering pace. Days after her celebrated cameo in US sitcom How I Met Your Mother - where the former teen icon excelled as a ditzy, obsessive receptionist - Britney has reportedly been offered a meatier role to chew over: she has been tapped up to play Blanche Dubois in a West End production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. It's not rare for the enervating effects of the London......

Nobody likes traffic, do they? Especially not Madonna, who is apparently taking as a personal affront to musicians trying to make their gigs in the congestion zone. In an interview with Q magazine, the Britified American said, "I would make it so that young musicians, aspiring musicians wouldn't have to pay the congestion charge or pay taxes." What a dream... no C-charge for carrying a guitar. And no taxes, too? Sign us up for piano......

There's something of a Valentine's theme to the Arts of choice taking place in the capital this week. But Londonist knows for every young Juliet embracing the idea of timeless romantic love, there's a Bridget hugging her near-empty vodka bottle, crooning to Chaka Khan. So, in the name of balance, here's a varied, half 'rom', half 'com' round-up for you all. Shows for Swingin' Lovers: Photographer Gregg Stone, has been taking snaps of kissing......

A couple of years ago Chris Roberts - who will be leading our 4th Londonist Walk on Friday evening - (and who is no relation to the Grantham Roberts clan) co-wrote True Blue: A musical about Margaret Thatcher in a bid to come to terms with his own, and his nation’s, past and more importantly setting Geoffrey Howe and others to music. Who better then, to send along as guest reviewer to a spanking......

When it comes to major American pop stars fetching up in our lovely city, Londonist sometimes thinks that the Eighties never ended. Following Madonna's permanent move here, and Prince's celebrated 21 shows last year, the third in the triumvirate of pop megastars from the Decade That Style Forgot is to join them - Michael Jackson is reportedly coming to town, and he'll be on a nice little earner if he does. Like Prince, Jackson......

Thanks to a new grant, previously unseen areas of St Paul’s may be opened to the public. The £250,000 pot from the World Monument’s Fund, could see a new ‘exploration centre’ in the crypt, and access to the Trophy Room, containing Wren’s original model. But what else might we find when they open up more of St Paul’s? 1. God. 2. Thousands of tourists 3. A couple of Londoners 4. Lara Croft’s entombed remains......

What a start to the week! After such miserable weather this weekend DeVotchKa have arrived to add some flavour to our weeks at the very purple 93 Feet East in the heart of Brick Lane. The venue was packed out early on and we even spotted Justin Hawkins hiding amongst the crowd with long haired friends. Opening for DeVotchKa was an unusual surprise for the crowd, not the cabaret or burlesque that we're used......

Banner week for SFist as the site's new editor introduced himself -- hooray for Brock! While the NY Times weighed in on SF's mayoral race, only SFist had the (insert tongue firmly into cheek) hard-hitting latest on candidate/activist Josh Wolf. Coverage of a protest vs. gentrification spawned a fantastic debate amongst SFist's readers. Finally, from the sublime to the ridiculous: video of a man that confused a Board of Supes meeting with "open mic......

Eastenders are rubbish at recycling (except when it comes to plot lines). Police raid sparked by tomato plants? Madonna's agents go all Gestapo for Live Earth: "Eye contact must be maintained at all times. Never look down to check notes — all questions must be memorized or the interview will be terminated." Spry granny attacks burglars. Over 1000 child prostitutes in London. Image by M@......

There are a million things to do in London this week, but if you fancy a night in, here are a few things to keep you occupied. On TV, Londonist likes: Monday, 2 July - Friday, 6 July Wimbledon Today (BBC2, 20:00-21:00) Chances are, your workplace won’t let you watch Wimbledon during the day, so here’s your chance to catch up all week. Watch and see how many ways they can come up with......

Typically 80s nights can be either a bit naff or full of students singing along to songs they're not old enough to know, but we're happy to come across one that sounds like actual, amazing fun. Prom Night is in town at the Buffalo Bar this Saturday, and as it's the last one in a while, we thought it only fitting to catch up with the boys and girls for their last dance. When......

Europe's biggest gay and lesbian festival, Pride London, is back this Saturday. Expect a hefty downpour, if the current forecast is accurate. There's heaps on this year, though, if you make it out to support your brothers and sisters. It all kicks off when the ever-eclectic Parade heads through the centre of town from 1pm, along a route taking in the West End's Oxford and Regent Streets before heading over to Tafalgar Square and......

Hooha over very expensive council corporate suite at the O2. But Bon Jovi christens it with "hair rock". Motorist hides gun between buttocks in Tooting. But local newspaper fails to spot 'Shooting craps' pun potential. At Wimbledon, if the rain doesn't get you, the snipers will. Madonna adds a sixth London home to her collection. Image courtesy of Chutney Bannister via the Londonist flickr group.......

Kylie is set to make her television comeback in Doctor Who: Kylie Minogue is reportedly set to return to the small screen as a cyberwoman out to snare Dr Who on the British television show's Christmas special. The News of the World said filming would start in July on the Dr Who special which could revive the Australian pop singer's TV career. An easily recognisable theme tune, dodgy sets, dodgier acting and scripts written......

Eurovision 2007 is on. Here's the first of Londonist's previews of this year's entries, and there's already some amazing songs. Bulgaria send an ethnic rave song with vocals that are mere sound effects built into the heavily drummed mix. It's quite amazing.Israel's controversial entry sounds like 5 songs in one. Sounding like a bargain bin Gogol Bordello, Push The Button by Teapacks mixes rap, rock, drum and bass, jaunty pop, klezmer with social messages......

If you are after a new spring wardrobe and have a bit of cash to spend on some new outfits now the season is about to change, you've got today to bid for your favourite velvet cape and long stripy woollen scarf combination at Bonhams auction house in Knightsbridge. Bonhams is the oldest and largest auctioneer of fine art and antiques in Britain - terribly highbrow but for today, one of their salerooms will......

Happy Holidays! Chances are, you're reading this the day after Christmas, back at your day job after all-too-short a holiday, and the last thing you want from us is stuff about the holidays. But that's just too bad. Because, see, here in the Ist-A-Verse, we do things ahead of time. It might be December 26 for you, but that's what you get for not checking your Favorite Local Blog on Christmas Eve. Austinist is......

Geraldine McCaughrean's sequel to Peter Pan looks set to hit the big screen. Has anyone managed to pull off a decent Peter Pan on film yet? Not to worry - sequels never ever suck. With that in mind here are five pitches that we'd like to see thrown about in the new year: The Railway Children II: Privatisation: After their father is accused of spiking sushi with polonium-210, three children find amusement in watching......

More thrilling info on the silliest assassination in post-Cold War history: Apparently the very difficult-to-acquire (unless you're an evil research scientist, like in the movies), and very easy-to-trace (why not drown the fellow in Smart Water™?) Polonium 210, used to kill ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, is also extremely expensive. The Times declares the value of the Polonium used to poison Litvinenko at around $10 million. Why The Times does not give the value in......

Every day this month the Londonist team will be pointing you in the direction of a Christmas present that (with a bit of luck) you won't already have on your list. Climb up onto our collective lap and we'll see what we can move from our sack to your stockings... Until we saw the price tag on Madonna's coat of many souls we thought that fifty quid for a coat hanger was a little......

The holy trinity of Madge/Esther/Madonna was back in the papers today after she wandered out of a Mayfair restaurant covered in little dead animals: Madonna has outraged animal rights groups by wearing a fur coat made from the skins of 40 chinchillas... since she became a full-time resident in Britain, Madonna has taken shooting lessons at her country estate, and her husband is a keen follower of blood sports. £35,000 for a coat seems......

If you've seen the cute and colourful video to Annie Mac favourite and Crazy Itch Radio highlight Take Me Back To Your House, then not only will you be rejoicing at the first Basement Jaxx video in a while to not include eye-avertingly massive breasts, but you'll have unbeknown to yourself, been introduced to the wonderful world of Dragonette. Dragonette sees said vocalist, Martina Sorbera, joined by three Canadian musicians to create sparkly, glamorous,......

This week - Bond is back (Casino Royale) and two magicians go head to head in Edwardian London, (The Prestige). Bond is here! Well... on he will be on Thursday. We watched the last Bond installment last night on ITV2. We had forgotten how gash it was. We'd forgotten about the scene with Madonna in it. It's best to forget. But it looks as if there is a hope.... Bradshaw gives Casino Royale 4/5!......

Child Catcher Madonna has graduated through all the levels of super-celebrity status that seems necessary to become a global brand: - advocated an obsure religion to all aspiring international super-celebrities - provided well-documented slavish progress through some sort of extreme sport that normal people can only fantasise about achieving - has acquired a picturesque and charming brown baby from an impoverished developing country She now also has the ultimate marker of an international, emotionally......

Two arrests have been made following the Elephant & Castle shooting we told you about yesterday. The Olympics will 'eliminate child povery' according to Gordon Brown and Ken Livingstone. Thames Water has been sold for £8bn to Australian banking group Macquarie. Let's hope they can make some quick improvements. In case you hadn't noticed Madonna's new son has arrived in London. Looks like Will Young will be taking the part of Fiyero in the......

The man who cut his wrists in Malcolm Rifkind's Chelsea office before trying to daub slogans on the walls with his own blood, has been found guilty of criminal damage. For the two or three people who haven't heard this incredibly bit of important news yet: Lindsay Lohan had her handbag half inched at Heathrow airport. It contained a ton of diamonds and some asthma medication. Pete Doherty has put in a request to......