On the agenda: The Slice at London's Architectural Association; New Look's Idol menswear; Swallows and Amazons; Ms Marmite Lover's Christmas market; The Adventures of Simon Pegg
Getting inside Ai Weiwei's head and getting aboard a dinghy with Arthur Ransome
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If you're one of those who have recently visited Tate Modern and wondered what sort of mind was behind the millions of porcelain sunflower seeds covering its Turbine Hall, now's your chance to find out. Among the curios at the exhibition The Slice at London's Architectural Association is a CT scan of the artist Ai Weiwei's head, which maps the Chinese dissident's brain haemmorhage. Other exhibits at the event, which offers a peek into the world of innards, include a photographic cross-section of a building and a 19th-century wax head. To 15 December, aaschool.ac.uk
Adam Jacques
Books
If you buy only one book tomorrow, Manic Monday (the day of the year when internet shopping apparently peaks), make it this year's most charming stocking filler, Sorry, I'm British!, by Ben Crystal and Adam Ross (Oneworld, £9.99). This is one of those "what it means to be British" books without the anger or patronising tone. It also tells you why it's illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament. Or eat a mince pie on Christmas Day. One of which could be handier to know than the other.
Katy Guest
Fashion
The Christmas party season seems as good a time as any to let your hair down and unleash your inner rock god – which is no doubt why New Look has just launched its Idol menswear collection, inspired by modern music heroes such as the Libertines and DJ Kris Di Angelis, who stars in the campaign. "Death by Stereo" and "Too Fast to Love" blare distressed, deep V-neck T-shirts, while tight-fit polo shirts come with wired collars that can be bent and styled to survive the riskiest stage-dive. newlook.com
Harriet Walker
Theatre
Today's social-network generation of children may feel they are light years from the tally-ho adventures of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons books, but if anything is going to rouse that spirit of 1930s derring-do, it'll be a new musical adaptation at Bristol's Old Vic. Created by Neil (Divine Comedy) Hannon, playwright Helen Edmundson and director Tom (War Horse) Morris, it promises deadly savages, dastardly pirates and dinghies. What larks! From Wednesday to 15 January, bristololdvic.org.uk
AJ
Food
To avoid the high-street carnage, you could try doing some guerrilla-style Christmas shopping at the north London home of renowned underground restaurateur Ms Marmite Lover next Sunday. At her German-style Christmas market, you can get your hands on gifts from hand-made make-up to vintage crockery, stock up on gastronomic treats, or simply enjoy a mulled wine or 10 while watching live cooking demonstrations. For more information: marmitelover. blogspot.com
Hugh Montgomery
Technology
Well, it was bound to happen, really. After interspersing his autobiography Nerd Do Well with tales of his crime-busting alter ego, also conveniently called Simon Pegg, the actor has turned his imaginary exploits into a graphic-novel app, The Adventures of Simon Pegg, for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Expect a bonkers superhero caper with an absurd plot filled with funny one-liners, the dastardly evil Lord Black and a faithful robotic manservant called Canterbury. £1.79, peggapp.com
AJ
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