Posts Tagged ‘Trafalgar’
Post-it for the week-end: Jan 07-09, 2011
Whistles and colourful confettis have been wiped away, glittery dresses brought to the drycleaner. Oh, only for a little while: in 2011, life is going to be beautiful!
- Well, let’s start with the Dulwich Gallery’s birthday party: music, yummy food, falcons, fireworks! Don’t miss their formidable Norman Rockwell’s retrospective, fynny and yet, touching.
- Quite a birthday celebration @ this Lido too…
- Talking of falcons, have you seen any on Trafalgar Square?
- Go on a treasure hunt…
- Be romantic @ Selfridge’s…
- Ready, steady… cook! (Jane, I don’t think they have Thermomixes… Something has to be done!)
- …or very extravagant with this Tube flashmob!
- A pinch of surrealism…
- Oh, forget those resolutions. Head for chocolate…
- See London from the other side…
- Hop, a detox cocktail to cheer everything up!
- Don’t stop till you get enough @ the Tate late evening…
Nelson’s little secret
What can Nelson be surveying from his column? Buckingham?
No, simply… the lamposts on The Mall: each of them is topped with a replica of the ships of his HMS Victory fleet for the battle of Trafalgar…
Trafalgar > The Mall
London
Be nosey around Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square, way too touristic? Look closely - it still hides a few secrets, even for locals. Like this police station, the smallest in Britain, this sculpted jungle, modern stone masks, amazing mosaics…
Next time, walk through the Admiralty Arch, leading to The Mall, a big avenue towards Buckingham Palace. Look up, and you might find… this pink marble nose:
No one knows (nose?) why it is here nor since when. Rumours can only make you smile: it is said to be a spare for Nelson’s statue… or a copy of Napoleon’s… Or a tribute to the duke of Wellington’s… At only a few meters off the ground, it is ideally situated for horseguards who sometimes caress it.
It obviously had been added to the wall, probably a s a joke. Did you know that the sculptor Rick Buckley added 7 casts of his own nose to the streets of Soho? They are still around, it just takes a little flair to find them!
Admiralty arch
Trafalgar Square
London
Poppy fields in London
The fashion, at this time of the year, does not dictates so much a winter coat then the famous poppy in its buttonhole. A detail that intrigues many a tourist since children, mums, fashionistas, builders, City power-suits seem to wear it without distinction. You can even see a giant plastic version at the front of some cabs…
Have you ever wondered where it comes from? Picture the end of the WWI. The Flanders battlesfields are now covered up, grass is growing. One morning, they are entirely red with poppies. A poetic, symbolic and yet extremely sad note.
Each year, paper versions are sold to the profit of The Royal British Legion. They in turn support British veterans – no matter which war they fought – and their families.
The town, meanwhile, is painted red with those flowers…
Here, @ Trafalgar Square, along the fountains:
In front of war memorials:
The most moving touch probably is in front of Westminster Abbey, where the grass is tinted red with them. Each part represents a regiment, each cross a relative, friend, colleague…
Wondering where to get one? You will come accross volunteers in the streets exchangin them for a coin or two - the sum is left to your discretion. Alternatively, most shops or receptions will have a box on the side of the counter. You can also find a wide range of poppy themed objects on this website – it’s all for a good cause…
Pssst: Women and animals also have their own memorial in London…
Have a toast @ the Savoy
Autumn is far from being my favourite time of the year. Icy rain, less and less light, coats/scarves/gloves are out, I learn never to stray far from a radiator.
Well, if we are to stay indoors, we might as well do it in style, don’t you think?
The iconic London palace, The Savoy, has just reopened after 3 years of renovations (more on the subject this way). The utmost luxury. Every single detail shines diamond style – even the chandeliers reflect in the polished marbled floors…
To celebrate the event, a second bar, the Beaufort, sets to amaze the guests. Replacing the cabaret room, the counter actually is on what used to be the stage. Decoration infinitely Art Deco, Onyx black and gold (£40,000 worth of gold leaves have been applied).
The menu presents rare and vintage champagnes (just close your eyes on the price before ordering). You can also settle for their gorgeous signature cocktails…
After manhy hesitations, Patience will finally win my heart: Hendrick’s gin, lime marmelade, Chartreuse, green tea abd cucumber syrup, served martini style. Refreshing, surprising, comforting… Rain outside? Pfff, bring it on!
Bonus: forget olives and peanuts. You will also be served some delicate treats… Here, crostinis of seared salmon, figs and parmesan crips. Almost jewels!
Do not hesitate to come alone. The ballet of guests and waiters in evening wear is just hypnotising. You will leave filled with sunshine…
The Savoy Hotel
Strand
London WC2R 0EU
Count £14 for a cocktail. No reservations but do come early!
Love the smartness of champagne? Try Vertigo 42, champagne with a view!
Post-it for the week-end Oct 08-10, 2010
It’s fall-time, days are getting shorter, still the week-end is near ! Here are a few ideas:
- Love movies? Try this little known museum… Or come and say hi to Alien!
- Ecclectic collection of art and sculpture garden @ the Royal Chelsea Hospital
- British glamour? This way to the Somerset House…
- Doesn’t this shop makes you feel like a kid again? How long has it been since you played with conkers?
- A touch of Africa on Trafalgar Square…
Pssssst, for next week:
Monday starts… the chocolate week and the cocktail week! To be enjoyed seperately or mixed…
- Oct 11-16, the Artisan du Chocolat proposes chocolate cocktails for £4.50 - hoorray, I say!
- Rococo is organising tasting experiences for a very reasonable price. Such as cheese and chocolate (mais oui!) for £5. Yummy!
- Oh, and do come and sing Grease on Tuesday!
Post-it for the week-end: Sept 24-26, 2010
Clear your agenda, my friends, there is so much on this week-end I hardly know where to start!
- Have a Malaysian dinner on Trafalgar Square, transformed for a night… On Sunday, change of theme, come and celebrate Eid there…
- Rush to the V&A late opening. This time, two’s a pair and games are on! Oh, and don’t miss this lovely poetic piece…
- Get ready for 2012 - do your shopping here!
- Say hi to Andy Warhol and friends…
- Get a glimpse of the Lion King’s backstage…
- Eat British! 2 weeks of celebration. And if you do have a garden, why not bring some of your harvest to St Paul in exchange for a free lunch?
- Forget what your parents said - it is fun to play with food!
- Track the street artist Roa in Shoreditch…
- Add a touch of design in your shopping…
- Applaude the gorillas running this marathon!
- Sunday is party time on Regent Street, all on foot!
- Love adventire? Do you dream of kayaking along the Thames or doing some mountain bike in the cobbled streets? The rat race is for you.
Join me… @ a lingerie party… trying a tweet-up for the first time… and at Windsor castle. Where will you be?
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Outrace: sci-fi @ Trafalgar Square
With the London Design Festival, you’ll stumble accross design experiments or shows all accross the City. It’s a fab week. Trafalgar Square does jump in too and turns to sci-fi this year.
8 giant robotic arms are set in the middle - those come from an Audi production line - and unfold into a strange ballet. For a second, you cannot help but think of Terminator or Matrix. At the end of each arm, a bright ray of light suddenly appears and gives it a feeling of, er, coming alive and understanding.
Of course, this is just a program. Just connect to the Outrace website and register a message. if it is selected, the machines will trace it in the air, in letters of light. Inconvenient? You cannot see it and this is not so impressing by day, even if the sentence will appear on the screen underneath. However, do check the videos, fabulous! The chosen ones will get a copy by email.
Won’t have the time to go and see this for yourself? No worry - there’s a webcam!
It is at night though that this beast really shows off. Just set your camera on manual and the exposition time on long/bulb to capture the graphism… Hypnotising!
OUTRACE
Trafalgar square
London WC2N 4JJ
Until September 23, 2010
Free
Cheers to Sherlock Holmes
Did you know there is a pub dedicated to Sherlock Homes, a few steps away from Trafalgar Square?
In 1951 was held the Festival of Britain presented a whole part on Sherlock Holmes. Once finished, what to do with this collection? Fortunately, the brewery Whitbread & co (which still exists and owns brands such as Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Costa Coffee) proves more than happy to buy it.
In 1957, they transform this building, a hotel back then, into a late Victorian pub. Sir Conan Doyle’s family helps to recreate the books atmosphere. Walls are covred in various artefacts, letters, cartoons, replicas… The first floor welcomes a restaurant and shows Holmes’ and Watson’s study - still an attraction for real fans.
The decoration has now aged but still – it is worth stopping by and having a quick look… Sadly, the critics on the web underline a poor service and quality of food, so it will need to be a symbolic visit.
I love walking by on a Friday evening - customers overspill on the small square just in front and tend to use the letterbox as an iconic coaster!
Sherlock Holmes pub
10 Northumberland Street
London WC2N 5DB
Are you a true Sherlock Holmes fan? Don’t forget:
- The museum on Baker Street
- The tube station
Post-it note for the week-end September 03-05, 2010
Is September making you feel blue? Well, fight it, plan a heavy week-end out and pretend the holidays are still on!
- First, get yourself a free bacon roll today to get in the mood…
- Stop @ Soho square - Buxton has a pop up there and gives away bottles and water. You can even sit in a deckchair and relax…
- Don’t forget to do your food shopping @ the Real Food Market on Southbank…
- Looking for the perfect shoe? Have a look at Vivienne Westwood’s creations @ Selfridge’s…
- A new conception of theatre with Theatre Souk…
- Morris dancers invade London this week-end - head for Southbank for an amazing free gig!
- Fight death penalty @ St Martin-in-the-field…
- For a lighter note, cross the street and enjoy the Liberty festival on Trafalgar: music, workshops for kids and a circus show!
- You will feel like writing on the walls with the Nothing is forever exhibition…
- Forget Portobello market - there’s a whole film festival going on there with a pop up cinema until September 19th: classic movies and even premieres! Even better it is all free…
- Get your bike out of the garage - Sunday, the city’s heart is yours with the Skyride! The map’s right here.
- Look up and gaze at the stars @ Greenwich…
- The Globe has designed a Thames inspired menu…
You will find me in Jermyn street, turned into a garden party on Saturday… and at the Royal opera House, turning into a forest this week-end and there will be free muscical events (get your free ticket from the website!). What is your tip for the week-end?
