The Big Smoke

In previous years, the London Film Festival has resolutely failed to engage with the city in which it takes place. Indeed, it might us well have been held in Venice or Berlin for all the relevance it had to the average Londoner. Many felt the same way. In a passionate piece last month, Greg of the London Says blog argued that 'the London Film Festival still smacks of exclusivity to the vast masses' and should 'embrace the idea of communal cinema'. And so it has come to pass.

On October 23 and 24, Trafalgar Square will host free screenings of classic London films from the archive. On the 23rd, it will be rarely seen 1929 sci-fi classic 'High Treason', described as London's 'Metropolis', with a musical accompaniment by Neil Brand, and on the 24th, a series of short films on a London theme including a 1924 piece about the driver of the city's last horse-drawn bus and 1950s footage featuring competitive bun-eating. The sort of thing, then, that we try to find for you ever Friday in our weekly London Through A Moving Lens feature.

Screenings start at 6.30pm and are free. See you there.

Like all Londoners, I have an ambiguous relationship with the Tube. I’m grateful it exists, but sometimes wish it worked a little better.

But did you know there’s a way to square the circle?

Every time your journey is delayed by more than 15 minutes, you should grab one of TfL’s Customer Charter forms either from the ticket office or online.

This allows you to claim back the cost of a journey – and at £4 for a single that’s no longer something to be sniffed at – and also implicitly register your dissatisfaction at the Tube’s performance. I recently did just that after a particularly terrible trip to Southfields. It took five minutes and paid for my lunch.

Tough love people, it’s the only way they’ll learn.

PS: Annie Mole feels the same way.

More street art madness. And this time it’s not Banksy, but his cohort D*Face who’s been busy planting five giant spray can sculptures at key locations around London. The giant aerosols can be spotted in Covent Garden Market, Trafalgar Square, outside the Victoria & Albert Museum, in Hyde Park and near the Serpentine Gallery. The artist, famed for his iconic counter culture references, is highlighting the increasing repression of street art and the difficulties he and his buddies face in finding places to practice. Times are tough, apparently, even with the increasing recognition of graffiti by the art establishment and the patronage of posh Mayfair galleries. Whatever the message, it’s a great example of guerilla art.You can check out more of D*Face’s work at his forthcoming show ‘aPOPcalypse Now’ at Black Rat Press,October 3 to November 2.

Find out more about D*Face and London's other top street artists