London (un)covered – The Insider Jan 31 – Feb 6

The Insider will be watching the kick off of the Six Nations Rugby tournament. Photo: Chris P Jobling/Flickr

The Insider is The First Pint’s expert on all things cool and London. Picking out the best of the week’s events and activities; one-off or regular, unique or mainstream. So we have a day-by-day selection of the best events to keep you occupied all week long. Enjoy.

Monday 31

Awarding winning Turkish documentary come drama Men on the Bridge has a short run at the BFI this week, but tonight is the only screening in one of the main cinemas (9.10pm, NFT3) escaping the potential for noise from the bar that surrounds the Studio which is home to the rest of the run.

Tuesday 1

Taking advantage of a day off to avoid weekend gallery crowds and see the Modern British Sculpture exhibition at the Royal Academy. Tickets are £12-4 depending on your concessionary status, and the show runs until April.

Wednesday 2

Monthly screenings from the Iranian Studies Department at SOAS kick off this year with Crimson Gold, ostensibly a film about a pizza delivery man who attempts a jewellery robbery but there is much more going on and there is certainly an intention to comment on the state of Iranian society. Notably, and this may be a reason behind choosing to screen the film now, the director Jafar Panahi is currently serving a six year prison sentence in Iran for “assembly and colluding with the intention to commit crimes against the country’s national security and propaganda against the Islamic Republic”. (7pm, Russell Square: College Buildings, Room G3, suggested donation of £2)

Thursday 3

Not sure what provoked me to shell out £14 to see Asian Dub Foundation at ULU tonight, a good excuse to dig out those old albums and not been to a show at ULU for ages. Nostalgia, that may well be the motivation.

Friday 4

Had a great time at the The Victoria in Dalston last week, another pub back room music venue to add to my mental music map of London, going back tonight to see Trogons and Cold in Berlin. Can’t find any pricing information, so maybe it is free but if not I’m sure the entry fee won’t break the bank.

Saturday 5

The big game of the first Six Nations weekend may well be England and Wales on Friday night, but the tournament still feels like it belongs to the traditional Saturday afternoon. Heading in to town to find a suitable pub to settle in for a few pints while watching Italy and Ireland at 2pm, followed by France and Scotland.

Sunday 6

Recently started a course in the history of architecture, which is the perfect educational excuse to pay for an afternoon screening at the ICA of How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr Foster? Then off to stock up on junk food and beer in preparation for the Superbowl tonight.