Tea Time in Wonderland

Archive for the ‘L'art est dans la rue / That's street art, baby!’ Category

Ah, Jermyn Street, just behind Fortnum and Mason. I often take visiting friends there – it seems to belong to another time with old stules window shops, wooden counters… This is where gentlemen came to buy their shirts or have their suits made, choose a cane, shoes, perfume, shirt collar stiffeners, any accessory. I remain fascinated by the shelves covered with shaving brushes…

Had you ever notices this statue? Meet George Bryan Brummel, renamed Beau Brummel. Initiator of dandyism under the Regency. At  16, he inherits a fortune from his father, he completes his studies at our famous Eton… with the Prince of Wales, with whom he becomes friend.

At the time, male fashion is… very bright, heavily loaded with lace, accessories. Until now, France had led the dance for clothes, style, even fabric. Since the French Revolution than Napoleonic wars, it would be badly judged to support a country that jests with their leaders…

Enters Beau. He first decides to give up the wig and the excess of powder. In high circles, he is quickly noticed for his wit… and his extreme elegance. Each detail has been though of, calculated. He claims to need 5 hours to get dressed, advices champagne to polish boots… He will completely modify the British fashion: giving up knee breeches for pantaloons, using a jacket with no waist line, bringing attention to neckwear, and shows affection for dark colours… The first step to our modern suit!

His style is a sober yet elaborate and minutely prepared. He always is perfectly shaved, perfumed, his linen freshly starched… The very first dandy…

Sadly, his game debts increase teribly and he will need to exile to France to escape prison. He sure should have negotiated dividends from Jermyn Street taylors which he elped making a fortune!

Jermyn Street
London SW1Y

As a child, you got hooked on sherlock Holmes stories.

What was your magic potion? The books? The TV series, the movies? Mine was a manga on which worked the famour Miyazaki – every character was a dog. There was supense, emotions, laughs. I even recently bought the whole box of DVDs and even years after, it still hasn’t lost its charm and power.

The latest American blockbuster with Robert Downey Jr  and Jude Law as a team is sure to put Baker St back on track. No fan will come to London without stopping at the famous Sherlock Holmes museum, or resist putting on the famous hat and investigate the souvenir shop…

But don’t forget to search the Baker Street station too -  Holmes might have left you a few clues…

Who knows? You might even meet his statue on your way out…

Or if you’re more of a 70ies nostalgic, head for the Beatles shop nearby!

My friend Celine mentioned it on her blog -  have you seen the London ice polar bear on Trafalgar square?

Interesting ides of the WWF to symbolise the melting ice and the ecologicale consequences on the animals. We went there together, loved the poetic side of it but wondered, looking at it melting by the minute: what impact will it have when only the paws would be left?

But the artist had been clever, constructing it around the animal skeletton, appearing as the ice disappears. Last week, passers-by marvelled, carressed it, vaguely listened to explanations, took a picture and left smiling. Now it hits them. They gasp, are shocked and troubled by it, they stop in their tracks and ask.

A successful little project who has melted many a heart this week. Take the kids there, the bear will be there until December 21.

Fed up with Xmas shopping? A few ideas to forget all about it…

- Well first, you need energy. Carluccio’s has a special -10% on their deli this Thursday. Best of all, you’re welcomed with mulled wine and canapes…

- T’is the season to be eating finger-licking good treats! Head for the chocolate festival on Southbank.

- Don’t forget the new exhibitions: question your identity @ the Wellcome Collection or test artistic technology @ the V&A.

- More of the street art fan? Head for the Flying Eyeball.

- of course there is the pop-up of the week-end: Elton John’s clothes and stage outfits on sale, profits going to his AIDS foundation. Not whithin your budget? Try Barnardo’s vintage shop on Carnaby street to pack a bargain!

- Rediscover England with fascinating landscape pictures @ the National Theatre…

- Take the kids to a panto: there will be a toy Aladdin one @ Covent Garden on Sunday…

-… or pet an ice polar bear on Trafalgar Square….

- … or your toddlers to a Baby disco party on Saturday! Shake it, baby!

- Why not an interactive Treasur Hunt?

- a last festive note: the Tate Britain is setting up its artistic Xmas tree this Friday.

Did I forget anything? Leave me a note!

You’ll find me @ the Earth exhibition (then trying to choose from one of the gorgeous cakes at the Sketch Pop Up) and at the strange and amazing House of fairy tales

Feeling like a little luxury in your life? Step in New Bond St, ideal after visiting Fortnum & Mason and Burlington Arcade.

If you only stop at one window, let it be Tiffany’s.

Not so much for its twinkling garlands…

…than for its exquisite paper lace scenes, elegant, refined, white turning into magical blues…

Pause for Cartier too…

Admire the competition of the garlands around the various shop windows…

Gaze in amazement at Asprey’s Xmas tree…

…and flower shops have a very British sense of humour!

And of course…

Another rainy week-end ahead… Smile! Just take your umbrella on an adventure…

Here’s to put you in the mood:

- The Portobello Winter festival starts this wednesdau and will have thematic nights every Wednesday till Xmas

- Don’t forget to get prepared for those Xmas parties and meals: celebrate Thanksgiving!

Feeling better? Here’s for the week-end:

- Head for the new pop-ups before they blow away with the fashion wind… Nes-cafe @ Liberty and the famous Parisian Colette on Brick Lane

- Need your weekly dose of street art? Hoorray! Mutate opens its doors again @ Portobello.

- Even Damien Hirst is back @ the White Cube Gallery. It’s still time to see his No love lost @ the Wallace collection

- Spendid news pictures @ The Royal Festival Hall…

- Alternatively hum Only you @ Proud Chelsea… Great pics of a young Elvis.

- Kids will find happiness in Covent Garden – there will be a real reindeer to pat Saturday afternoon. Parents will probably prefer the amazing jewel exhibition that flashes magic lights under UVs…

You’ll find me @ the Secret Cinema… and having an underground afternoon tea. What’s YOUR program?

The idea was so good.  Ten tree stumps, taken from rainforests, their tortured roots screaming silently towards a threatening sky, creepy shadows all around you, the ghost of a disappearing forest, far away but one day, close to you, this small of wet earth, a red, bleeding earth. the atmosphere should move you, make you shiver, shake you, upset you, make you shout no to deforestation.

I just couldn’t project myself. Too much of a daily dose of ecology? Too much a gap with the place? Too flashy the lights? Too purple the fountains around, clasing with the sadness it should have involved? Who knows. Don’t get me wrong – such projects are to be encouraged. Bring it closer to the people, make them see, reinforce the subject. it just didn’t do anything for me.

Different, educative, yes, of course. I had never imagined those trees grew higher that Nelson’s column. Makes you appreciate better the impact of any of those disappearing. Kids remain impressed by the width of the trunks.

To be seen if you’re around trafalgar square, for your green side of you, for the event, for the change of scene. maybe not worth crossing the toen, just for this. No worry, you can follow everything on the webcam.

Want to know more? Click here for the artist’s interview and there for her project…

Ghost Forest
Trafalgar square
London

Until November 22, 2009

Street art fan? Oh, you’ve been waiting for this since this summer.

You were following RJ’s blog from the start. savouring each treasure the team found.

The Thousands was launched yesterday evening – applause goes to RJ: varied, amazing, private collections, some new pieces. You can see the effots it meant tp pull such a show together and the location – deep Shoreditch, brick building – is juste perfect, just the right feeling to it, lots of space to let each work breathe and not stuff it close as in a gallery which would have killed them.

Just to wet your appetite – you just have to rush there. And since pics are worth a thousand words…

Oh, and another piece of my favourite artist, Know Hope:

Well, what else can you do but go street art hunting in the surrounding, now?

The Thousands
Village Underground
54 Holywell lane
London EC2A

Until Nov 22, 2009

A hot chocolate, a new scarf and gloves, and here you go. Plenty to see this week-end to get into the Xmas spirit. Not that you can really escape it!

- Start on Southbank – either with the Slowfood market (jazz themed this time) or the Cologne Xmas market…

- Oxford street launches its market this week as well…

- Want more? Head to Hyde Park for a walk and a big wheel ride with the Winterwonderland…

- Stop @ Covent Garden for the Lacoste experience or simply for the kids to enjoy candlelit stories…

- Head to Victoria station or Westfield to see the Cirque du soleil (and hopefully win free tickets!)…

- See another dimension in Trafalgar square with the ghost forest…

- Take the kids to the London children film festival…

- Want to make them gasp in wonder? Have a walk with them in the Enchanted forest @ Syon Park. Thousands of lights in the trees. £5 per adult, £2 per kids – quite cheap for the thrill…

- Skate at the Somerset House. Have alook at the program: Breakfast @ tiffany’s matinees and DJ evenings!

It all started last week.

London is switching her Xmas lights on,  little by little, each  one turning into a mini-party (as much for the celebration as to boost sales in the shops)…

Covent Garden chose recoving chandeliers, hypnotising…

While outside plays with blue…

Rudolph even makes an appearance…

A detour for my friend Lupin who, like me, never resists Fortnum and Masons’ displays.

A very original and elegant theme this year, the Swan’s lake…

The royal birds even remplace Santa for carrying gifts…

Very soft deco with white feathers everywhere…

Stop nearby -  the Prince’s arcade has a Victorian Xmas feeling to it…

What? You haven’t started on this shopping list yet?