London: Tea Time in Wonderland

I keep looking at my Filofax -  September? Summer has gone so fast.  Only one solution can balance this: shop. New work clothes, bags, accessorie, killer shoes. Autumn leaves will not slow me down. Alernatively, try those ideas to keep a sparkling mood!

* Make yourself all beautiful at this gorgeous vintage evening.

* Enjoy a crafty night market.

* Meat balls are the new trend and frankly, our mouth waters at the thought of those.

* Our youth video games music will be played by a classical orchestra on Southbank -  a great way to rediscover them.

* Start knitting and be part of a work of art at the Tate.

* Discover the smallest cathedral in London.

* Try those miniature games on Southbank for the biggest fun.

* Marvel at these childhood inspired posters at the London Transport Museum.

* Have mojitos and pizza aboard a double decker.

* Try urban gardening.

* Those nails of your could be masterpieces, you know.

* See London from above. Through fab drawing here. While sipping a cocktail here.

* We all have stoped at cafés just to use their free wifi. Well. now, we can go for a pint too.

* Mary Poppins might have been right about a spoonful of sugar but these days it is all about a spoonful of London honey…

Pssst:
* Be on the lookout -  Terry Pratchett will stop in London to talk about his new book in October. Tickets will be on sale soon.

* Harry Potter fans will want to book those tours organised by Warner too -  you will get closer to the sets.

* Is you company installing of those free hives? let us know! We’d love to write about it.

* Already dreaming of your next holidays? Have a look at www.AFerry.co.uk. This website is a fab way of finding the best ferry prices to France, Ireland and even Holland. Have a look here for ferries to France, my home country.

Well, this week-end, I will be sitting on a beach in the South of France with a glass of Sauternes in my hand. Heaven. If you are staying in London, here are a few ideas to make life sweeter, to tip your hat off, to travel in time… and many more!

* Dance in a very French atmosphere at the V&A.

* Have a look at a real space capsule.

* Try hoola-hooping again.

* Indulge in a Tolkien night.

* Rediscover the treasures of St Paul.

* Chiswick park turns symphonic.

* The best response to riots? A lot of love and a little art.

* London really is the home to strange but fun museums.

* Discover a secret garden in Spitafields.

* Beach souvenirs from London-on-sea.

* How would you recycle routemasters?

* Cycle through the city.

* Ping-pong and cocktails. Or vice-versa.

Psst: from August 24 to the 26th, Soho Square will be deliciously Swedish. Come and discover the sweetest pop-up, enjoy a cup of real coffee with one of the amazing traditional treats!

Instinctively, I always enter the Victoria & Albert through the front door.
On the Exhibition Road side, though, the facade is gorgeous too and even proposes a few sculpted benches.
The walls still show scars from the Blitz -  part of the history the museum has prefered to retain as such.

V&A
Exhibition Road
London SW7

When I’m tired, I snack. And I feel pretty tired at the moment. And so I have become addicted to pop-corn. I can’t escape it, it is everywhere!

At work, I fall for Tyrrell‘s crunchy treats (yes, yes do more than just crisps).

Before heading to a long meeting, I find energy in Meltcafe‘s wasabi ones. I hope it makes me look fiercer too.

My best reward would be Joe & Seph’s gourmet versions. My favoutite remains the caramel, macchiato and whisky.

There’s also one to put in your handbag: Wild Trail does bar ones, with pieces of apples, apricot…

Next on my list is this Shoreditch cinema‘s interesting jazz corn.

Any advice? Let me know! Meanwhile…

* A new way to recycle: fridges put together as a cinema screen.

* Celebrate Friday with a free music concert at the Scoop.

* Take a beer masterclass.

* Anish Kapoor reflects the City.

* Go and see the Spitafields Market new sculptures.

* Spring clean and declutter those shelves.

* Did you know it is mango season? Here is where to find the best ones.

* Pretend you are Mozart. Yes, in the street.

* Southbank will celebrate too, it is a whole party next week at Borough Market.

* Baranis will be joining too. There will be petanque, delicious treats and a themed cocktail.

* Maille is opening a pop-up in Spitafields. Boutique by day and underground restaurant at night. Made even bubblier by the excellent Mrs Marmite Lover.

To celebrate the unification of Italy – 150 years – Peroni had a wonderful idea with the Somerset House: put forward the spirit of Italian fashion throught the work of 6 legendary names. Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Missoni, Prada -  a beautiful way to redicover the evolution of their image through time, the style of their campaigns, the trends that influenced us but also their association with the greatest photographers.

Each world has been thought as a cocoon of transparent fabric under the elegant arches. Inviting light versus a dimmed, honey atmosphere. Walls play on transparence, unhencing the silent ballet of visitors. The inside path is angular, reminding the maze of the Italian streets, alowing you to spy on the next cubicle.

We admired with a hinch of nostalgia key dresses and shapes and skillful models such as Isabella Rosselini, Madonna, Kate Moss who reflected perfectly the Italian way. A gaze, a movement, a pose. Even in their most traditional roles, Italian women show a clear, frank, decided attitude. Such character! I remain fascinated by the light and lines of each picture. Let alone the sculptural look of some dresses.

Salvator Ferragamo opted for accessories instead – art works, realy. Look at that gloss, the fluidity of the folds:

Before entering each universe is a written note by each designer, bringing a personal touch and bouncing back on their inspiration or childhood influences, the adventure of a campaign. A rare insight into their world. The excellent curator Andy McDowell, who had lived many years in Italy, added his interpretation under each piture too. Have a look at the projected catwalks too to compare the past and present of each brand. A beautiful exhibiton for fashionistas, photography fans or lovers of all beautiful things…

Somerset House
Masters of  Style
Strand
London WC2R 1LA
Until August 14, 2011 -  £6

Thought and developped by Arts & Business and Walpole, the Crafted programme puts forward up to 12 formidably skilled crafters a year.

Extraordinary discoveries. Delicate, refined, imaginative works by weavers, silversmiths, jewellers…

Rauni Higson‘s work particularly caught my eye. Nature’s imprefect symmetry is her primary source of inspiration: delicate shell spiral, geometry in stones, undulated shapes of funghi or seeweed. Each hammer hit evoques the shape of a cell. Under her fingers, silver fluidifies, becomes poetry, blooms in delicate metallic flowers. Curves and angles catch a hundred different lights, illuminating. From mere objets, they seem to open up to a life of their own:

Rauni Higson’s website
Go and see her work at Decorex in Chelsea, 25-28 Sept. 2011

Are you a big screen fan? Rejoyce. This summer, cinemas are taking the scene over. You’ll find them on the roofs (Queen of Hoxton), parks (Nomad Cinema) and… canals with the Floating Cinema. With or without an umbrella, London’s outdoors are to be enjoyed by all means.

A few more ideas for the week-end:

* Knit your way round the tube. Grannies rock!

* Wow, Waterloo really is turning foodie these days.

* The new Serpentine pavillion opens this Friday -  it is all about emotions, a travel and a secret garden.

* The favourite trend for the summer? The beach.  Even The Goring Hotel has adopted the concept.

* Join The Big Feastival for 3 days of music and gourmet dishes. All profits will support Jamie Olivers and Prince Charles’ charities. Top cooks and restaurant pop-ups are on the program – think Taste of London with a fun twist. Even better – kids under 12 go free.

* Free cakes at St Martins Courtyard Summer Fête.

* Pac-Man your way through the tube…

* Enjoy a guided tour in one of London’s most beautiful Victorian cemetaries, Kensal Green.

* An Arab festival is to enchant London throughout July.

* Look up! Billboards turn artistic.

* See London in black and white.

* Have you seen Nemo?

* Always trying for a balanced diet? Well, Purl has just added a salad bar to their famous cocktails.

* An elegant airy architecture is building up at the Barbican Curve.

* Fly away.

Pssst: Love urban games? Quick, register for the Search Party, it’s free!

Those two designers, who have seduced the likes of Apple, Adobe, Alexander Mc Queen, are particularly skilled at hypnotising their public.
You first look from a distance. Curiousity makes you take a step further – that’s it: you are now lost in the contemplation of the minute geometrical work. the angles, the static movement.
Sadly it proves impossible to show in the pics the glittering fibers, adding a little dew on the blooms.
A myriad of thin lines weave these dynamic creations -so much movement they look like they are coming closer to you. Just fascinating.

The show finishes on Sunday -  make a quick detour to Brick Lane to discover it!

Stolenspace Gallery
The Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane
London EC1 6QL
Until June 26, 2011 – free

Fabulous initiative of the National Gallery and GE to have recreated one of Van Gogh’s painting as a vegetal wall -  the palette counts 8000 plants of 25 varieties.
Passers by stoop, carress the leaves, check day after day whether blooms have apppeared.
An idea we hope will be reproduced each summer…

Trafalgar Square
London
Until end of October 2011 – free

Go and see the original painting at the National Gallery, room 45

This week-end will be a nice party with a long-time-no-see-but-never-forgot-you friend.
And so, there will be a shower of anecdotes from the good old times, a flow of pints in atmospheric pubs, walks till the end of the night. With or without umbrella, take your bets.
In a nutshell: make new memories.

For inspiration, we’ll choose a few of those:

* On Thursday, take your little artists to Covent Garden – they will have the opportunity to build an art structure with Louis Vuitton.

* Burlesque class anyone? I have always wanted to try…

* A gourmet pop-up on Southbank will serve very poetic food – rush there.

* Or would you rather go for a barbecue van?

* Dancing time at the Tate Modern.

* How about a free jazz concert in the V&A garden to start the week-end?

* Beware, naked cyclists on the go on Saturday. Litterally.

* Keep your eyes open -  yarnbombing is on the programme!

* Dare. Try this fish-therapy, you have been dying to.

* Discover London secret gardens and squares -  a beautiful opportunity to push usually closed gates.

* Brunch time! Our favourite is Dishoom, for its exotic touch.

* Street art tour? Yes, but on a bike.

* Londonus Dinosaurus.

* Circus and Cabaret united? Click this way to know more about this festival.

* Red, white or rosé? Fill your own bottle!