Tea Time in Wonderland

Posts Tagged ‘free’

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…

- Follow the art trail!

- 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.

- Rediscover Little Venice…

- 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?

Fancy a sweet day? The Future Gallery and the Tate and Lyle present this week-end a full-calory exhibition (how ironic -  the brand having announced recently they were selling their sugar department to a US firm!)

Artists and bakers have teamed up to presend these amazing creations. Sugar sculotures that look like elegant china, reindeer in sugar and marzipan… All are edible and it is almost a torture not to be allowed to bite in… But maybe you will be lucky as when we stopped by, visitors were offered letter shaped biscuits!

Last day is tomorrow, Sunday, hurry! It will be open from 10.00 to 18.00.

The Future Gallery
Mad Artists’ Tea Party /  Cake Britain
5 Great Newport St London, WC2H 7HY
Until August 29 2010

Starving? Go and have a cupcake at Ella’s @ Covent Garden nearby!

Trafalgar Square is noticeable from quite a distance. Just find Nelson (usually topped by a few pigeons) and on’t lose sight of the hat. The square is marqued in each corner by 4 columns,  of which are dedicated to military statues. The last one originally remained empty, by lack of funds.

But London explodes with creativity and could not let this opportunity pass – something had to be done, and why not alternate works of art? Last summer, the British could register to spend a whole hour on top. We had the chance to admire, ignore, applaude or hate artists, manifestants, even naked people…

Since then, a boat in a bottle has settled there. Urban life is busy-busy and you have to always keep on the move, my friend. One just cannot stop there and although it has only been a few month, well, it’s time to think of a replacement. sign of the times.

Army style? This one fits quite well with the theme of the square – medals and all.

Greedy? Yes, this is a giant Battenberg. Given that the cake was created for Queen Victoria’s wedding, this represents a crumbling past… but also the tough foundation of our modern civilisation. Tough choice!

Feeling blue? Head for this one. hard to guess this outlines… a male dominated civilisation! Do read the comments on the website – no way some will have a French symbol there!

Ironic? A new style of hero on a horse…

Adventurer? This one’s called It’s never too late and you can’t go back and is meant to evoque glory, conquest and the fragility of the human life…

Musical? Magritte style, I have to warn you: ceci n’est pas un orgue. No, this is an ATM linked to an organ, which will play a variety of notes each time someone takes cash out or checks his account. Yes, you have read correctly and no, I have not been drinking.

So what will it be? I do bet on the elegant horse. What’s yyour favourite?

St Martin-in-the-Fields
Fourth Plinth Project
Trafalgar Square
London WC2N 4JJ
Until october 31, 2010
Free

Haunch of Venison is one of this weird and wonderful galleries who favour fantasy. Their shows always promise a travel through a new dimension, usually fun and colourful.

And this is so true right now. Have a look at this Portuguese artist’s work, Jana Vasconcelos. Inspired by Gloria Gaynor’s great hit I will survive, she present creatiosn that will really make you smile, like this chain of braids to guide the queues! Each sculpture alternates in identity, rainbow monsters with the softness of knitting and patchwork- kids will love those. But also object covered in laced crochet, you will find an elegant piano and an amazing bee along the way. My favourite remains this entirely dark room with a maze mad of fiberoptic flowers… As they are knee high, you feel as if you are being absorbed by the floor. Mesmerizing.

In paralel, do not miss Polly Morgan’s creations. I have been admiring her for years. This very skilled taxidermist knows how to erase the morbid side to create an almost Tim Burtonesque reality.

Haunch of venison
I will survive – Psychopomps
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET
Until September 25, 2010
Free

Will the sun be back this week-end? Are you staying in London or flying to more exotic landscapes?

- Take the kids to a musical -  they get in free!

- Or bring them to Covent Garden: plenty of workshop and activities for the coming two weeks, giant sandpit, face pianitng, juggling…

- The Imperial War Museum welcomes a farm for the week-end…

- Fancy going to a drive-in?

- Or a vampire picnic?

- Treat yourself to a fab breakfast -  my favourite is the Modern Pantry’s…

- get yourself some very iconic stamps…

- Are you a Bruce Springsteen fan? This exhibition is for you.

- Jazz your week-end up! (and it’s free, even better)

- Remember Charing Cross’ story? The monument is now fully renovated…

- Ooooh, a brand new sushi place, very design… Looks gorgeous!

- Or this way for jerk chicken and salsa demos!

- If you fancy a roof terrace and haven’t tried the Vista @ Trafalgar yet -  the entry is free on Sundays and Mondays (usually is a fiver but is said to be soooo worth it)

Pssst, heads up!
- Take the kids to the Lego challenge on August 17-18…
- The Savoy will reopen in October and is open for reservations -  could you resist a dinner or afternoon tea there?

South Kensington is where we usually start all our London adventures. Simply because we can park for free on Saturday afternoons and Sundays (so precious!).  We also love the nighbourhood for all its treats: velvet cupcakes @ Hummingbird’s bakery… Ben’s cookies for its biscuits with half melted chips… cheese @ the Cave a fromage… sandwich on real French bread @ Paul’s… Frozen yogurts @ Snog… Is it surprising the first thing we do is improvise a picnic?

And we know just the place for it in the summer, a little patch of countryside. Just there, close to the dinosaur’s house, as my daughter calls it. Freedom on the eft side of the Natural History Museum, my friends!

The tourists and family focus on the museum only and not that many people seem to know this sweet wildlife garden. You will often find you’re the only ones there… A nice place to escape the London urban jungle and for a few minutes you can pretent to be on holiday, far away. The kids will chase buterflies and damselflies… Bees are dancing from one flower to another. Look out for a squirrel or a water hen between the lilies and irises…

At the end of the summer, two sheeps even join the party. For the kid’s happiness? Not only: those are the perfect organic lawnmowers… Add to that they will trample dead leaves into the ground and accelerate the compost process.

Recently, a fox family even settled there. Very little chance for you to see them – as for the bats, they mainly come out at night. But knowing this adds to the charm of the garden…

Don’t miss the surprising mystery statue just at the entrance!

Wildlife Garden
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road,
London SW7 5DB

The garden is open from April 01st to october the 01st, 10.00-17.00. Free.

Eeny meeny miny mo…

- Have a cocktail @ the London zoo! The occasion to try a silent disco too…

- Grab a Boris’ bike and join the London mass cycle ride!

- Too hot? Stop for a pint @ the Beer festival!

- Remember being a teenager? Why not check out this retro games arcade @ Leicester Square for a trip in the past?

- Come and have an afternoon tea at the lovely Phoenix garden!

- Plan a posh picnic (so trendy this year! Even Carluccio’s does propose a picnic set) @ the National Theater for one of their outside representations…

- Love frozen yogurt? Yu-foria proposes two limited editions this week: mango/passionfruit @ their Soho shop anf pistachio @ the Covent Garden one. Mmmmmmh!

- even more outdoor cinema, @ Islington this time: a classic movie and a cocktail pleeeeeaaaase!

- We all know the tube can be sooooo boring. Click here to see where you could find fun art posters to make your trip a bit better!

- This way for pics of the Doors!

- DJ and free concerts @ the Little London Field festival…

- Fancy catching a movie? Time Out has listed the best snacks to go with your movie…

- Buckingham Palace is open to the public for the summer with a pics exhibition of the Queen’s past year…

- Design deckchairs are back in the royal parks, horray!

- How fab, free shows for kids!

- Don’t forget rto check out the Scoop! Free theater on Thursdays to Sundays…

- Celebrate Asian culture with the London Mela: food court, fusion music and bollywood moves!

Pssst, plan ahead! Get up early on the 10th and 11th to win some free theater tickets… Join the freeze flash mob @ Big Ben next Wednesday…

Come and join me… @ the Trafalgar maze on Friday -  60ies themed! And @ the Thames underwater Victorian fair on Saturday…

Oh well, I have tried and tried but my thoughts keeps strolling from my work files but they do keep straying towards the week-end…

- Fancy a free haircut on Friday? Check this way…

- The Natural History Museum will stay open late. Jazz? Glass of wine on the Darwin center terrasse? Night walk in the wildlife garden?

- Party @ the V&A Summer Camp. Bombay Sapphire will have a design cardboard bar with stylised cardboard glasses (but real cocktails). A great way to enjoy their late evening.

- You can even go on to the Serpentine pavillion and sleepover… Midnight feast, films and even breakfast in the morning…

- I really must try to find a free Saturday morning and do this guided tour of the Somerset House!

- The extraordinary Chilly Gonzales will be @ the field day on Saturday…

- Latin fever @ the Carnaval del pueblo!

- Even more music with the Croydon festival…

- A classic, but have you done it yet? Buckingham Palace is open for the summer….

- Have a spooky evening…

- Saturday, head for Brick Lane: free cocktails, demo of Urban Art and even a tattoo session! You might also decide to stay around and go bowling in this fab diner… Perfect for Sunday’s festival: bowling but British, music and dancing!

- It’s open air cinema season! A whole programme @ the Somerset House… Act crazy for Mamma Mia and choose funky colours… The Wapping Project proposes a barbecue with your movie…

- You already knew routemasters could ne recycled as veggie restaurants (the root-master is my favourite). Well, one of those goes around, proposing German food!

- Oooooh, as soon as I’m on holiday, I am going to book myself one of those fab afternoon teas… Now, chocolate or pink? (vegan and gluten free versions are proposed)

-What about the kids? Little ones will love the teddies picnic @ Covent Garden on Saturday… Teenagers will much prefer to go to the underage festival!

- Give! Exchange!

Pssst, heads up for next week! There will be a maze @ Trafalgar (with dragons and Chinese cooking on Tuesday). And Selfridge’s is to open their Xmas shop too…

Hey, anyone has a great address for a roof terrasse for cocktails?

Sci-fi addict? This is so for you: Bock’s surreal bugs.

Or are those aliens? Giant spiders escaped from Matrix? Eccentric parasites from Moebius? Nomad shops from the 5th Element?

Each pod shelters an ecclectic universes of its own. Here an Asian bazaar, lanterns, chopsticks, Chinese noodles. There, the back room of a charity shop, each scale offering a shirt. Over there, a giant version of 4 fixed on a black cab chassis… Everything is mixed: a collection of clocks, kitchen tools, CDs, kitsch glasses…

Entry is free, and the atmosphere joyful. The only risk is to have your kids compare their chaotic bedroom to a work of art!

Barbican
The Curve
Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS

Until Sept 12, 2010 – free

This is a real summer. I am amazed every single day by the lovely temperatures. Makes me feel like dancing and jumping around! Unfortunately,  when you are 3 weeks from giving birth, you look more like a whale, the elegance is gone. Soon snails will overcome me on the pavement. I’m counting on you to tell me about London gems!

- The free ping-pong tables project finally is launched tomorrow. Rush to St Pancras!

- You have until Friday to enjoy the food festival @ the Old Spitalfields market – cooking demonstration and free tasting, yummmy!

- On Friday, the Design Museum goes mad for recycling and green art. You can even try electric bikes. All this listening to a fab percussionist!

- Visit the parliament!

- Why not celebrate the 60ies @ Carnaby Street?

- Time to revise your Picasso knowledge…

- London parks are getting festive too!

- Add a pinch of poetry… and learn about Keats’ life right in the house and gardens where he used to live…

- Summer school holidays are on! Struggling to come up with ideas to keep the kids busy? You’re gonna love O2: mini golf, water games, trampolines…

- Or initiate them to opera with this version of Mr Fox -  only a few pounds.

- Did you know a few falcons actually nest on the Modern’s Tate chimney? Here is a chance to learn more!

- Sushi AND fusion food? Count me in!

- oh, and I’ll have cherry granita for desert…

- Speaking of ice-cream, Ben and Jerry’s launch their music and sweet treats festival this week-end @ Clapham…

- How could you resist a designers’ market?

- Follow Time Out to discover the oldest parts of London…

- Opera, art, walks, a pinch of madness with the in-transit festival….

- Too hot? I know what you need: a water tournament!

You’ll find me having a mocktail with friends @ Vista, a bar on a roof with a view on Trafalgar Square… I’ll also be following my friend Celine, a street-art specialist, to discover some more in London!