Unmissable events: March

Finally we're heading into spring! The days are becoming longer, the weather warmer, and the excuses for Champagne and chocolates are still in abundance...

For me, the new month is starting with the end of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum on Sunday 3 March – and a trip up the Circle and District line to New Street Grill to take advantage of its Champagne Sunday lunch offer.

I’m in Liverpool Street again on Monday 4 March for a cocktail masterclass at Old Bengal Bar with Kamm & Sons, which produces amazing ginseng spirits. And it’s time for the annual Affordable Art Fair already, so I’ll be found perusing in Battersea on Thursday 7 March.

Of course, it’s then Mother’s Day weekend (you didn’t forget did you?). I’m treating my wonderful mum (I hope she’s reading this) to flower arranging with the renowned McQueens florist and lunch at Blueprint Café on Saturday 9 March. This ensures she’s free for whatever treats my siblings have in store for her on Sunday (I hope they’re reading this, too).

I’m booked in for the Armagnac masterclass at New Street Wine Shop on Tuesday 12 March. Then on Wednesday 13 March I’m being a fabulous friend and attending the wedding showcase at Bluebird Chelsea. If said friend turns in to Bridezilla (she has the tendencies) I’ll be hiding out with rock oysters, Champagne and the cooler-than-cool Andy at his fabulous Crustacean bar.

I’m helping to celebrate the award-winning Rococo Chocolates's 30th anniversary with an evening of chocolate and wine tasting at Orrery on Thursday 14 March. And on Tuesday 19 March I’m ready to unlearn everything I think I know about sauvignon blanc with Kensington Place’s Sancerre and terroir tasting.

I whizz up to Leeds on Thursday 21 March in time for the opening of the new Trinity Leeds centre, and the launch of two new D&D restaurants, Angelica and Crafthouse. I’ve already given their cocktails my seal of approval (if you only have one, make it the Wasabi. Oh, and the Black Forest gateau – sublime!). After hearing so much about the dishes I can’t wait to sample these, too.

The David Bowie Exhibition launches on the Saturday 23 March at the V&A – the first international retrospective of his extraordinary career – so I’m heading here for the launch. Then I get into the spirit of Easter with sweet wine tasting with the lovely Morgan VanderKamer at Butlers Wharf Chop House on Monday 25 March.

On Wednesday 27 March I'm attending the private view of Paul Lemmon’s art exhibition at Avenue. Winner of National Open Art Competition's RK Harrison prize, Lemmon's seductive, cinematic paintings will be on display at the St James restaurant until mid-May.

I’m learning how to temper chocolate (I probably should know this already) and make rum chocolate truffles at Le Pont de la Tour’s Easter chocolate master class on Saturday 30 March. My friend is joining me while her young children decorate bunny biscuits with their dad along the Thames at Blueprint Café.

And, finally, it’s the infamous Boat Race on Sunday 31 March so I have booked my friends and I into Bluebird for a Matt Robinson special. If it’s a nice day we will head to Bishops Park to catch the start the start of the race. If it’s not, Bluebird does a great afternoon tea, too…

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Picture courtesy of: Lear and Barraband Branch, Archival Giclee Print, 84x59cm
By Kristjana S Williams, Edition of 145, £215 at Outline Editions