London: Tea Time in Wonderland

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!

London is fascinated by empty, wasted spaces. Rooftops welcome cinemas, parkings become gardens or art spaces, deserted buildings wake up for a few days or weeks through a pop-up shop or restaurant…

A different kind of recycling, when you think of it. Crazy little ideas that bring an old room alive again.

The latest in town is an urban garden, inspired by medicinal plants. A really passionate team decided to create a bubble of quietness in the city. Don’t wait too long -  this is only for the summer!

Each part of the garden is themed by hopital ward and present herbs and flowers that can be used in treatments. If your phone can read QRs, just scan the codes to know more about them.

We loved the recycling ideas and twists on daily objects like saucepans for flower pots or turning a skip into a ping-pong table.

Always in the therapy-theme, pour the seeds of your choice in a transparent pill-capsule and plant it once home – the kids love it.

Feeling hungry? Stop at the mini-café, called Rambulance. You can even brunch there at the week-end. Long sharing table, free wifi. On chilly day, a camp fire is lit. Bring your marshamallows… The atmosphere is ever so friendly here and you will end up talking to strangers about gardening, homeopathy, organic products, cooking with herbs… Have a look on their program to know more about workshops.

Urban Physics Garden
100 Union Street
London
SE1 0NL
Until August 15, 2011 – Free
Come on the very last day to adopt the garden plants.

Streets around Spitafields prove fascinating. Adorable brick houses. Glossy doors and window panes. Homes sweet homes.
We know the neighbourhood rich historically. In its own way. Waves of immigrants, each culture adding its print. We know little else, really. Tourist come for Brick Lane, for the buzz.
19 Princelet Street litterally is a museum of life.
Not one of those grandiose historical houses. This one hasn’t been renovated. It is much better this way.

You will learn how the past created the present. How this part of London always was an extraordinary melting pot. It all started with a hospital for travelers, surrounded by fields. Spita - fields.
Evidemment. Later Huguenots left France to escape pesecution of their faith. 50 000 will take refuge in London, bringing little but their skills. Many are silk weavers and develop that trade, proving very successful. They compensate poverty with the cutest houses, colours, flowers. This market doesn’t last, sadly.

Then is the terrible potato famine. Irish men leave their country to get work elsewhere and send the money home. As all minorities, they are accused of stealing the locals’ job. they do however dynamise England’s economy, work hard long hours.
Come the Jews, their wonderful skill with textiles. Everywhere can be heard the rattle of sewing machines. Hard work, suffocating heat, sweat shops.

More people followed. Fascinating to discover them.

And this house – pictures are not allowed, you will have to imagine it – shows bothe the fragility and strength of those communities. The confusion, the mix of languages, rejection, the impression of never being at home. But also the richness of being together, no matter what, never break no matter how tired and demotivated, the support, the memories. If you forget where you come from, someone will help you remember. Daily strength. keeps you going.

The walls have lived and seen so much. The stairs are erroded by millions of steps taken. The glass roof colours are disappearing in places. But it’s the most vibrant place. The volunteers all fell in love with it and it is easy to see why. It was, a time, a synaguoge too. Look up – you’ll see the names, written in hebrew in golden letters. Each detail just touches you to the heart. Here and there, drawers, suitcases you can open, evoking in simple words fear and hope. Music too that makes a tiny room come alive.

19 Princelet Street only opens a handful of days a year because of limited funds – this week-end included. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity. Entry is free but donation is welcome. Leave a few coins, buy a postcard. Weve your story with this house’s.

19 Princelet Street
19 Princelet t
Shoreditch
London E1 6QH

Want to know more about the Spitafield area? Read this amazing blog. It is the first thing I do every morning.

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

You will need, for this one, to step aside from the heart of London.
There is nothing around but cute Victorian Houses. No trendy shop, no touristic attraction.

It is nice, sometimes, to just wander to an unknown part of the city, not knowing what to expect, a twilight zone not covered by glossy books.
Maybe because you opened you guide at random. Maybe because you know someone around and you arrived too early, wanted to kill the time.

I may talk about trendy places a lot but those green asylums I cherish as well. This one is getting a bit wild, vegetation is taking over a little but it has charm. At the week-end, you’ll probably meet of of the passionate volunteers working discreetly. Or a friendly robin. Who knows.

Empty your mind, bring a book, take of the many narrow paths around, breathe, escape.

Harleyford Community Garden
Harleyford Rd/Bonnington square
Lambeth
London SW8 1TF

Do you Giraffe? A verb rather than a noun. Is there better proof of how successful this colourful chain of restaurants has become?

The public just loves the relaxed atmosphere, the wide range of the menu, the holiday-like atmosphere.
Fans have their habits – their favourite time of the day, their preferred dish. I mostly go there for breafast. My order never varies: Huevos Rancheros, banana and blueberry pancakes, Mango Mama smoothie (mango, strawberry, orange, apple juice). My daughter immediately steals the stirrer from me -  a giant-necked giraffe.

The Southbank location is incredibly busy and although quite a few other addresses exist in the capital, one was definitely missing close to Regent  and Oxford St. Rejoyce, the Soho address has just opened in this never static neighbourhood. The idea? Make it the ideal meeting place after work or a shopping session.

The menu offers a collection of sharing options -  so much more pleasant with friends than a formal dinner. The opening, earlier this week, was a great occasion to review what is on offer. Follow me but beware, you’ll be rushing to your fridge in a few minutes…

Where to start? With the dips (Amazing grace, £5.95). A classic, maybe, but it does keep you from drooling on the table when choosing your meal-feast. Hummus, a very fragrant salsa with vine tomoatoes and lemon and quite a nice twist edemame-spinach. Great alternative to guacamole! This is served with a selection of breads- some warm, some crispy. The one with grilled seeds is a little gem and I would love to see it separately on the list. So much better than any crips/dorritos + guilt free.

Phase 2: rehydratation. No molecular mixology or strange mixes here but comfortable and revigorating classics. Those we keep forget for the love of “something original and trendy”. Getting back to them is like meeting an old friend. You can leave all your worries behind. Try the  Bramble (Bombay gin, lemon juice, crème de cassis – £5.95) or the Mango & Lime Daquiri (fresh mango, lime, bacardi and mango liquor – £ 6.50). Oh, and indulge yourself. It is so very rare these days to see a glass lined with sugar, don’t resist: lick it…

I pretty much fell for the skewers. Penang beef, tekila and lime chicken, prawns with lemon and coriander, grilled halloumi… The plates emptied in no time. Ask for a selection of sauces and experiment – there will be  mmmh, mmmhs involved to indicate which one is your favourite. Bonus points for the satay-mint and the roasted pumpkin seed-chilli. Hopefully, Giraffe will consider having a little deli side in the future and sell those.
Why not add a few sides? Sweet potato fries, coleslaw with red pepper and popyy seeds, mac cheese with pimento…

Another interesting option, flatbreads as pizza. Extra thin and crunchy base, very aromatic tomoto sauce, enhanced with oregon, basil, garlic and mozzarella for the Margherita twist (£5.50). Meat eaters will probably prefer the Wiseguy (£6.50) with its bites of chicken in barbecue sauce and caramelised onions…

A tester absolument! You will, I promise, also fall in love with the veggie burger (Sweet Potato Falafel (£6.95, but below as a slider). Gorgeous mix of hummus, beetroots, hallumi, harissa, red pepper. Moist, slightly spicey, to die for.  No meat? Who cares?

A sweet touch to finish -  brownies. They may not be as gourmet as Paul A Young‘s , they won’t last long on the table. Just imagine them with more chocolate sauce and a little vanilla ice-cream.

Verdict: Text all your friends to meet you there. Cheerful atmosphere guaranteed, filling portions without breaking the bank, central location. Just a little warning: they will be stealing from your plate but well, you will retaliate anyway.

Giraffe Soho
11 Frith Street
London
W1D 4RB

Know what I like best in London? The cheerful touch of crazyness, the freedom to be creative, different.
Example -  this guy who decided one day to commute by canoe-kayak. Fabulous. I have been searching for an equivalent since (as there is no canal on my way to the office).
Meanwhile, here is a cocktail of plans to enjoy the so British city this week-end:

* David Lynch fan? Twin Peaks is back, just for one night this Thursday.

* Free ice-cream at Dri Dri on Friday. Come on, you can’t say no to this.

* Stop at the Scoop – free theatre on Friday and this week-end.

* Calling all chocaholics – check out those yummy walks!

* Wake up the sumo in you -  it is all for a good cause.

* Get your ticket for Taste of London – quite expensive but you will not be able to resist the menus for long.

* Pretend you’re in Tokyo and have a karaoke party. This hotel dedicates rooms with cocktails and outfits.

* Musicals take over Trafalgar.

* Black Peper? Lavander? Marmite? Paul A Young just opened his new Soho shop.

* Smile with this dog show. Lookalike competition: which 4-pawed-cutie will look the closest to Queen Victorias’ dog? Which other will be the best Victorian fashioned?

* Find happiness (and/or a good bargain) at Wimbledon’s car boot sale, the best around according to Time Out.

* Tea in a park? Yes, call it med-tea-tation.

* 10 ideas for Southbank.

* Party time on Marylebone: farmers’ market, foodie stalls, animations, salsa, concerts… Café Luc will be there too, serving mussels in a saffron sauce. Oh, and their fab cocktails too, of course.

* Ignore cinema chains. Independant ones have so much more charm.

* What if it rains? Have a virtual walk.

Pssst:
* On June 20th, sing a little opera.
* On June 21, meet Tracey Emin at Selfridges: she will be opening a pop-up concept store there.

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!

I had heard of the 7 noses of Soho. Richard Buckley, an artist, is said to have decorated the limits of that neighbourhood with 7 casts of his nose.
After a whole year of hunting them down, looking up, around till my neck hurt, I had put it down to urban legend.

An suddenly, my flair paid off! They DO exist -  or at least one has survived. Just head for Meard Street and be nosey…

You’ll also find one around Trafalgar Square.
In floral street, it is another story, Tim Fishlock is said to have added an ear. Stay tuned!

Keggie Carew imagined and created those poetic bubbles, suspended moments of happiness, pieces of freedom to take away and stare at for hours.
Wouldn’t it be comforting to get Alice’s drink me bottle, decrease in size and find shelter in one for those for a while?

Pop-up shop the world the way i want it
73 Redchurch Street
London E2 7DJ