Highlights of the weekend include Ai Weiwei in Taipei, a food fest in Sydney and design fair in Tokyo.

1 MUSIC: GLOBAL —The Vinyl Factory

London’s The Vinyl Factory is teaming up with Chanel supremo Karl Lagerfeld to issue a limited edition version of Florence and the Machine’s new single “Shake It Out”. The first of a series from Florence, each edition is screen-printed, numbered and features a 180gm white vinyl in a silver foil bag, making them collectors items for fashionistas and record nerds alike.

‘Shake It Out’ is now available to buy from The Vinyl Factory.
thevinylfactory.com

2 DESIGN: TOKYO

—Design Tide

The Japanese capital continues to get back on its feet with venues such as this design event, which reaches the seventh edition in 2011. A place to touch and experiment with design, but also to analyse it through a series of talks with topics that range from “Why is design school in Switzerland fun?” to “Design and craft, projects linking societies”. There is also the exhibition of the works of 32 designers and, of course, a buying space.

9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Until 3 November.
designtide.jp

3 FILM: USA

—The Rum Diary

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s 1959’s novel, The Rum Diary follows the exploits of gonzo journalist Paul Kemp, who moves to Puerto Rico to write for a local newspaper. Definitely not a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but Depp still delivers a jolly engaging performance and Aaron Eckhart and Giovanni Ribisi make the pic an entertaining boozing adventure.

The Rum Diary is now out in the US.

4 FOOD: SYDNEY

—Crave Sydney International Food Festival

This weekend sees the last events of Crave Sydney International Food Festival take place, with a foraging hunt with naturalist Diego Bonetto, a guide to Lebanese food in the Granville suburb, and a chance to enjoy a two-course ‘Wine Flight’ among the panoramic views of the 360 Bar and Dining venue on top of Sydney Tower.

Taking place at multiple venues and restaurants in Sydney until 31 October, see website for full schedule.
cravesydney.com

5 EXHIBITION: TAIPEI

—Ai Weiwei absent

The versatile artist and political activist has his first solo-exhibition in a Mandarin-speaking area. Not being welcome in Beijing, where the Chinese government arrested him for three months earlier this year, it will be Taipei’s Fine Arts Museum that holds this honour. Ai’s pictures, ceramics and video installations are among the 21 sets of work shown, a compilation of different periods of one of the most influential figures in the global arts world.

Taipei Fine Arts Museum. 181 Zhongshan North Road, Section 3. Until 29 January 2012.
tfam.museum