It hasn’t been happy times in the City. Credit crunch, recession, stagflation, Lehman going under -- every day seems to open a new gate to financial hell. So it’s no wonder that real estate is so readily available in the Square Mile. There is now 7.8 million square feet of office space left unused in the City at the moment. That’s up 50% from 5.4m sq ft last year. And office space is down......

Yesterday the Church condemned them. Today the Teacher Training and Development Agency are preying on them in their weakened, godforsaken state, trying to lure city workers to the education sector with the promise of a safe employment haven after their traumatic experiences losing hugely well paid, glamorous jobs in finance. The TDA have surmised that a marked increase in hits on their recruitment website equals panicked traders plumping for major career change, mistakenly thinking......

As if our hard working, Square Mile and Docklands' financial sector workers didn't have it tough enough right now, it seems they've provoked the wrath of god with their wicked debt trading. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have seized plum media opportunities to comment on something only marginally related to their sphere of expertise. Just because that Jesus bloke allegedly went into the temple and "overthrew the tables of the moneychangers" it doesn't......

For a minute there it appeared we were on the brink of apocalypse. Then it seemed OK. Then we were back to searching for clean underwear. And repeat. It's been a busy few days for London's financial markets, and it might not be over yet. It seemed in August that the worst of the credit crunch was behind us and the problems ahead were more straightforward issues of the business cycle and housing market.......

If yesterday was a Terrible Tuesday in Canada Square, then today the Lord of music has tried to make it all better. In a completely bizarre turn of events, Andrew Lloyd Webber has pledged a pair of free tickets to see The Sound of Music or Joseph in the West End to any banker made redundant. If you've got a P45 issued after 1 September you can show up at the box office of......

Last night found Londonist sampling canapés and cocktails at an outdoor medieval setting deep in the City of London. Hosted by the makers of Tanqueray gin and toptable.co.uk,” the first of two Tanqueray Tables events in London (there was an initial Tanqueray Tables night in Edinburgh last week) offered an excellent opportunity to check out the historic Merchant Taylors’ Hall. Dating from the 14th century, the hall is one of the Twelve Great City......

Anyone who has wandered through the City at the weekend can tell you that the Square Mile takes on the atmosphere of a ghost town outside of trading hours. Today, however, plans are being revealed to restore Cheapside to its former glory and allow it to take pride in its title of London's first high street. The question is how much it will look like every other London high street upon completion. A £4......

We can't really feign any surprise to learn that London's parking is the world's priciest. While we generally favour ambulation via foot, bicycle or (occasionally) Hoverboard, our car-bound chums are forced to hand over £586 a month to park their motor in the City, while the West End isn't much cheaper at £568. Just need to park it for a day? That'll be £34, guv (unless you get in early). Puts idle kvetching about public......

Londonist asks that most pressing of daily concerns: where to go on your lunch break. Tiffinbites 23 Russia Row (off Gresham Street) EC2V 7PG 020 7600 4899 11.30am-10pm (Monday-Friday) Expect to Pay: around £8 for mains, maybe £10-12 if you want a starter and/or a drink With all those workers filing in and all that money flying around, you’d think the City of London would teem with halfway decent lunchtime options. Alas, really good......

When it comes to cons, John Wilmot, a City barrister, didn't just go big, he went jumbo. He attempted to get £17.5 million in VAT repayments by claiming he bought and sold four Boeing 747 engines for £100 million. What a barrister would be doing with a set of jumbo jet engines, we're not sure. If the story sounded suspicious enough already, it gets weirder. Wilmot apparently drew up some fake documents about a "business......

The looming financial crisis and gradual decline in demand for city property may have claimed a victim: the controversial Walkie Talkie tower on Fenchurch street could be delayed until the commercial property market slump has passed. While demolition of the existing 1960s block is due to be completed early next year, the developer, Land Securities, has stated that they will wait to secure a tenant before construction begins on what is arguably the least......

After the (non-)scandal of (un-)banned Tube posters, the works of Lucas Cranach the Elder are now well and truly on show at the Royal Academy. Painter, print-maker, illustrator, businessman, propagandist, and huge fan of the female nude, this is Cranach's first major exhibition in Britain. And while you're gazing at all the nakedness, remember; this was a mate of Martin Luther, and those erotic female nudes are all about Protestant devotion. Honest. Openings Ahoy!......

Photograph of investigation at Times Square recruiting center by kerfuffle & zeitgeist on Flickr Gothamist found that an explosive set off outside the Times Square army recruiting center may be similar to five past bombings in New York City.Seattlest worried when severed right feet and bottles of rat poison started washing up on local beaches.Shanghaiist was surprised by Bjork's rooting for Tibetan independence at her concert (see video), and the political fallout has only......

We've all done it. Sat in the pub, arguing about the merits of the mayoral candidates and perhaps, journos aside, thought, "if only they were all a bit more down-to-earth, a bit more normal, more like you and me..." Well, here's a solution. www.londonelectsYOU.co.uk gives everyone the chance to put themselves forward as an independent candidate. Yes, even you.* Or that ambitious, politically savvy mate of yours who you think would actually do a......

As we mentioned briefly before, Thursday brings the East 2008 Festival. For six days, a cornucopia of performances, exhibitions, workshops, food and other events ensures entertainment with emphasis on promotion of the best of East London. Here’s our pick of the mix: 6th March: F-EAST - artists Wiebke and Nicholas Morgan cook a meal from 12 recipes from a Nigel Slater cookbook, and serve it for visitors as an exploration into ownership and the......

There's masses going on for us culture vultures to choose from this week. First Thursdays As it's the start of March, it's First Thursdays this week. More than 80 galleries and museums will be open til 9pm across East London. We recommend John Squire's (yes, him from the Stone Roses) Re-engineered Garments; alternatively, pretend you're an alien at the Barbican. The Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art opens this Thursday. East is East East London's......

Londonist brings it on home… NAME: IRAN e MA STREET POSTCODE: SE1 0AJ Delivery Area: Southwark + the City (3 mile radius) PHONE NUMBER: 020 7620 0100 HOURS: 7 DAYS a WEEK, Mon-Fri 5-11pm, Sat-Sun 12 noon – 11pm Expect to Pay: £6-£8 a head for a huge main course; £8 minimum delivery charge Rating: 8 out of 10 Although Londonist isn’t particularly carnivorous, we recognise the fact that there are times when only......

When you're picking up your freesheet on the way home tonight don't just leave it on the train for some other, poor, reading material starved sucker. Turn it into public art! No, we don't mean have an art attack on the platform and start making saucy hats or paper planes (although both are better uses for these "newspapers" than reading them). We mean, go to Gillett Square in Dalston and help build the Newspaper......

As winter's days grow increasingly numbered, it's the time of year when our thoughts must turn toward formulating a survival plan for the most gig-loaded two days we know: the Camden Crawl. Back for its 7th year from 18 - 19 April, Camden Crawl 2008 will see 130 artists playing across the festival's 25 venues along with, for the first time, the addition of an outdoor stage. A variety of daytime activities are planned......

This Week In London’s History Monday – 25th February 1900: The first tube station to be known as ‘Bank’ is opened, effectively replacing the old ‘City’ station and providing a link between the Waterloo & City Railway and the newly extended City & South London Railway (now part of the Northern Line). At the same time, nearby King William Street station is closed. Tuesday – 26th February 1797: The Bank of England issues its......

It's a lovely Saturday afternoon, but if you're sitting in front of your computer, wondering what to do with your day, never fear! Londonist is here, and we've found a most entertaining online game for you. Channel 4 has created Bow Street Runner, a game to accompany the City of Vice series, and it's almost as fun as the programme. As with any online game, your experience is going to be limited by the......

And if you’re unemployed, you’d best turn all the lights and hide (embarrassingly Londonist has actually done this, but usually only after we’ve been watching horror films home alone)(or because we don’t trust ourselves to be polite). The good burghers (actually project workers) of the City of London Corporation have decreed that the jobless shall be found gainful employment. And they’re coming to get you. Actually, behind this rather scary prospect lies a seriously......

Time Out gave us a plug yesterday, so it's only fair we return the favour (cos they're, like, a tiny, struggling outfit who need a bit of profile raising). Editor-at-Large Michael Hodges is standing for Mayor. Hate him or loathe him, the bespectacled columnist certainly lives London in a way the other candidates do not. His weekly adventures take him to every corner of town, where he orders a drink, dispenses an insult and......

Swanning About Not one, but two Swan Lakes swim into town this week. Take your pick from The Russian State Ballet of Siberia's version at the New Wimbledon Theatre, or the Moscow City Ballet at The Hackney Empire. Expect world-class dance interpretations this classic love story to Tchaikovsky's sublime score at both. Topsy-turvy Theatreland Liverpool comes to Hampstead (in 3 Sisters on Hope Street), Hollywood hits Stratford (Marylin and Ella), and an Asian Tempest......

As the repercussions continue around the Premiership's shock announcement that it was going to take its brand of football around the world in a weekend, its chief executive Richard Scudamore is determined that the plan should survive in some way, shape or form. As we mentioned last week, FIFA's regional associations and its president Sepp Blatter himself have come out in opposition to the idea of our league matches encroaching on their territories at......

Join Londonist on the hunt for some of this town's most photogenic meals. There are but a few months left before the beloved, run-down shopping centre that is Oriental City will shut its doors for the last time. While there are some who only frequent the few Chinese restaurants within, Londonist would like to pimp the stalls in the food court on the ground floor. Try the roti canai (fluffy Indian bread from Malaysia)......

It’s a beautiful sunny February, and we’re back after a brief hiatus. The American writer’s strike has just been resolved, which means our American favourites will be back on our screens before too long, but until then here are a few things you may want to take a peek at. On TV, Londonist likes: Monday, 11 February City of Vice (Channel 4, 21:00-22:00) The series looking at the creation of the modern police force......

This Week In London’s History Monday – 11th February 1826: The University of London is founded. It would later be known as University College London (or UCL). Tuesday – 12th February 1554: Lady Jane Grey and her husband Lord Guildford Dudley are executed at the Tower of London. Wednesday – 13th February 1247: A major earthquake causes considerable damage to London. Curiously, it is reported that the quake was preceded for three months by......

Congratulations – you can read! (Presumably. Unless you just look at Londonist for the pictures.) Literacy is sexy. Hyper-literacy, even sexier. Or so we at Londonist tell ourselves as we don our Coke-bottle glasses and curl up each night with a bottle of wine and a dictionary. But enough about our steamy Valentine’s Day plans. What have you got planned? Now, you may have inferred that we’re a jaded lot over here at Londonist.......

On the day the Premiership announces plans for its clubs to play matches in far flung destinations Ruislip Manor FC would settle for seeing out this season on their own patch. The club, who play in the Molten Footballs Spartan South Midlands Premier Division, effectively eight levels below the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, have spent the last few weeks staring extinction in the face, culminating in a dramatic fight for life last Wednesday......