Starting off with cocktails and canapés in Mayfair and ending with … um … cocktails and canapés near Covent Garden (with a little bit of beer and re-appropriated graffiti viewing in Soho along the way), last night was one of those nights when during a brief pause I took a step outside myself to pat myself on the back for settling down in such a dynamic city.

Yes, the evening deliciously commenced over Cognac cocktails and canapés at the Connaught Hotel’s Coburg Bar. The more time I spend in hoity toity hotel bars, the more I love ‘em. And the elegant Coburg – with its fireplace, wood panelling and stellar bar staff – is certainly no exception. What made it an especially pleasant visit was chatting with the host of the occasion, Bernard Hine of Hine Cognac. In town for a few days and happy to share anecdotes about carrying on his family’s traditions for a sixth generation, he was keen to inform that Cognac (or at least young Cognac) is brilliant for cocktails. Want to know a winner of a refreshing mix? Next time ya hanker for a mojito, substitute Cognac for rum.

After that? To Soho where the Great Frog, usually a jewellery shop for “rockers, bikers and those on the edge of the mainstream” converted to a one night only gallery for viewing a work by Banksy. The piece, remains of the controversial artist’s Have-A-Nice-Day faced riot police, is a rare one. Whereas most of Bansky’s stencils are sprayed directly to walls, this one was first applied to posters before being placed upon the Shoreditch Railway Bridge. With the bridge due to be refurbed in ‘05 for the new East London Line, a few intrepid art fans decided to take matters into their own hands and salvage the piece for posterity. Now coated in Glycerin to preserve what’s left, this unauthenticated yet nevertheless very Banksy work is a stunner. Interested in viewing (or even purchasing) it? Check out this event listing on Qype for more details and contact info.

But (as much as I might try) this man cannot live on booze and art alone. So, it was “back to the club” for a peek at Peugeot’s BB1 zero emissions prototype car at the Hospital Club. Zero emissions maybe, but with lots of nice features. This chunky cutie of a car can go 0-19mph in 2.8 seconds for a range of 75 miles and plugs into a common household electrical outlet. More about the BB1 concept car at www.bb1-peugeot.com.

Yep, London’s got it goin’ on. And if you can tap into it, do it! From world class bars to world class art and with opportunities to check out the latest in cutting edge technology, I never cease being amazing by this city and all it has to offer.