The Diary: Jose Maria Cano's townhouse dinner; The Big Chill; looted treasure; The Lost Girls; Glastonbury
Fish supper fails to feed the multitude
Jose Maria Cano, the one-time band member of 1980s pop combo, Mecano, and latter-day visual artist, invited 40 people round to his townhouse in Campden Hill Square (in one of the most exclusive enclaves of west London, and where the walls are lined with paintings by Basquiat and Schnabel) for dinner this week, after the private view of his latest show, La Tauromaquia, at Riflemaker Gallery, which was visited by such friends as the actor Joseph Fiennes and the architect David Chipperfield. Such a hot ticket it was, when a buffet dinner of salmon steaks, salad and pesto pasta arrived on the dinner table, some of the hungry guests were left holding empty plates. By 11pm, as some were still waiting to eat, one of the kitchen helpers was seen rushing up the staircase with a shopping bag. Another helper explained the problem to the guests: "We were told to cook for 40 but there are many more here...!" Thank heavens for the 24-hour Tesco at Holland Park.
Dead can dance
Revellers at that mega-music-festival, The Big Chill, could star in a zombie movie in a record-breaking attempt at audience participation. Thousands will get the chance to have a zombie makeover for a shoot of the Film4 and Warp Films mockumentary, "I Spit On Your Rave", set nine years in the future when mankind is extinct after a virus is released at the 2012 Olympics. Zombies have taken over the world but they are still partial to a summer festival. Film-makers hope to enter the Guinness World Records.
Brit backs
It has been quite a week for Brits returning looted treasure. First, police gave back to the Iranian government hundreds of tiles, which had been removed from the ancient tomb of of Sultan Shihab al-Din Sultan Ahmad in Northern Iran, and had appeared at Bonham's auction house in London. Auctioneers had become suspicious of their provenance and handed them back. Also, Eton College has returned 450 antiquities to Egypt after an Egyptologist's family donated them in 2006, without export permission.
Graphic detail in case of 'The Lost Girls'
Two months ago, I ordered a graphic novel, 'The Lost Girls' by Alan Moore, on the Amazon website, after reading that a coalition of artists and MPs were worried the government plans to introduce laws which could ban these works. 'The Lost Girls' – an erotic story in which Alice (Wonderland) and Dorothy (from Oz) discuss their sexual awakenings with Wendy (Peter Pan) – was in the firing line. Amazon delayed my order and then the website said the book had been "discontinued". A spokesman said that wasn't the case. But the order was still unavailable. So it's crystal clear, then. They're selling it but they're not.
Music, beer and maths
This year, the Glastonbury Festival is rolling out a literary tent in the hope that festival-goers may want to sit down and listen to a lecture on the science of fire (by the novelist, Gavin Pretor-Pinney) or mull over the peculiarities of the mathematical movement, 'Dozenalism' in a talk delivered by journalist Alex Bellos, or perhaps listen to Tom Hodgkinson (from 'The Idler' magazine) speak on anarchy in the middle ages. Festival founder, Michael Eavis, will open the 'Free University of Glastonbury', which will hold nine events through the weekend. I wonder just how populated this 'university' will be...
Arts & Ents blogs
Children’s Books: Recommended read – ‘A Monster Calls’ by Patrick Ness
Thirteen-year-old Conor awakes in bed one night to discover that the yew tree outside his house has ...
Made in Chelsea – Series 5, Episode 11: Louise plays and wins at Spencer’s game
It’s hard not to feel sorry for doe-eyed Andy. He spends months pining after Louise, has huge nostr...
The Returned: ‘Simon’ – Series 1, episode 2
Fragility of life looms large over an episode that closes with the scarring on Julie's stomach. Whil...
Travel Shop
-
‘Hello, NME? I’d like to complain about your Tom Odell review. Why? I’m his dad’
-
Kan you believe it? Kim Kardashian and Kanye West reportedly name baby daughter 'Kaidance Donda'
-
American studio claims it designed London 2012's Olympic cauldron
-
Film review: World War Z - Brad Pitt's zombie action flick is surprisingly infectious
-
Anger Management? Charlie Sheen fires Selma Blair as his onscreen therapist with expletive-filled text
- 1 Bankers could face jail after report urges the Government to introduce new criminal offence for reckless management
- 2 Breaking the Silence: In the reality of occupation, there are no Palestinian civilians – only potential terrorists
- 3 Richard Nieuwenhuizen death: Six teenagers and 50-year-old father convicted of manslaughter in shocking case of referee killed over a game of football
- 4 Exclusive: Newcastle's star talent-spotter on brink as Joe Kinnear sparks walkout
- 5 Vast methane 'plumes' seen in Arctic ocean as sea ice retreats
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Win a Nook® Simple Touch eReader
Find out how Nook® is supporting the Evening Standard's Get Reading campaign - and your chance to win one.
Free reading festival for families
Follow The Standard's campaign to get London's children reading - and experience this unique event at Trafalgar Square on 13 July.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Babies behind bars
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm
The art of living in small spaces
'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'
Can technology lure us back to the high street?





Comments