april picks.

don't be fooled by april's rainy rep. there's plenty of hot happenings to keep the dreary showers at bay. a hip 'ditch bar, a cool urban architect and luella's do-good new T's make the hit list with this month's picks:

palm springs.
curious when your true love will arrive? wondering if you're destined to win the lotto? forget the tea leaves and tarot cards. chic covent garden resto moti mahal has brought in a tradish indian palm reader to serve up a side of future fortunes with their mod eastern dishes this month. it's hands down a good time. available tuesday evenings, 7 to 10pm. 45 great queen street, WC2B 5AA. 020.7240.9329. covent garden tube. www.motimahal-uk.com


the pony express.
get on your high horse and kick it with a few good mixologists at the soon-to-launch stoned pony bar and restaurant in shoreditch. this sleek new joint features a contemporary interior with one or two unusual twists: smoked mirrors and lacquer surfaces meet giant photography light-boxes and an 18th century-style diorama. 104-108 curtain road, EC2A 3AH. old street tube. www.thestonedpony.com


the build king.
love a beautiful building? then head to the design museum as brit architect richard rogers gets the spotlight with an exhibition of his many international works. have a gander at the pompidou centre sketches. consider the ins and outs of designing the millennium dome. and see what fab projects are in store for the future. opens 24 april. design museum. shad thames, SE1 2YD. 087.0909.9009. london bridge tube. www.designmuseum.org


project T.
everyone loves a good tee. not a cuppa, but the luella tee shirt (£23) the designer has designed four exclusive tops for tonic's online shop. and it's all for a good cause. our fave: a white and silver school tee that funds an education for three african students. it's a top after our own heart. available at www.tonicgen.com and www.luella.com


rising stars.
every oscar-winning designer had to start somewhere. the best of the best young designers from circus, theatre, carnival and club will show their labels at the alternative fashion week. they're fresh now, but there could be a must-have among them soon enough. 21-25 april. spitalfields traders market, crispin place. brushfield street, E1. 020.7375.0441. liverpool street tube. www.alternativearts.co.uk


my generation.
for it or against it, there's no denying the war is on. head to shoreditch this month to check out the amazing images of iraq at the new idea generation london gallery. the opening show is "bearing witness," an amazing display of reuters images out of the war zone. an eye opener not to be missed. opens 9 april. 11 chance street, E1. liverpool street tube. iraq.reuters.com