Posts Tagged ‘park’
Pelicans at St James Park
St James Park. Its gorgeous view on both Buckingham and the London Eye from the Blue Bridge. Its cute cottage leading to Ducks island. Its deckchairs. Its… pelicans.
The park shelters 5 of those. Originally an extraordinary gift from the Russian Ambassador to Charles II, the tradition was kept to this day.
You’ll meet there around the lake, very much at ease amongst tourists, perched on a bench or on their favourite rocks where they are fed every day between 14.30 and 15.00
Fish lovers, they sometimes happen to feed on… passing pigeons!
St James Park
Horse Guards road
London SW1A 2BJ
Free
Commuting? Try those short stories taking place in the royal parks.
Post-it for the week-end Nov 19-21, 2010
With Xmas lights being switched on one by one, the festive mood is back in my heart as well. I am looking forward to go present-hunting, or gift-wrapping, or card-writing. So, my friends, there is no time to lose, off we go!
- A Swiss chalet in London? Mais oui! With cheese fondue on the menu, of course…
- On Thursday, head for Bond st to party: Xmas lights of course, ainmations, carols, real reindeers and… snow!
- Don’t stop there, continue your evening on Carnaby st: 20% off your shopping and even a free glass of perry @ the pop-up bar.
- Thursday definitely is a fab day: Tatty Devine’s Covent Garden shop turns one. Free drinks, fun in store and 15% off the collection…
- Sweet nostalgia with those vintage pics of 1950ies-1970ies…
- Winter Wonderland’s back! (A few pics from last year)
- Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot fans, rejoyce: the BFI has organised an Agatha Christie week-end. You can even step into an Orient-Express wagon to discover the 1920 setting…
- Skate with a view close to the London Eye…
-Fancy an Indian breakfast?
-Where will the Secret Cinema be this time?
-Even forests are enchanted at this time of the year…
- Fed up with the usual Xmas markets, all the same? Try this one - a Finland special!
- Come and listen to Jude Law and Quentin Blake - yes, for real!
- Have a cool time with Haagen dazs’ winter menu…
- Are you brave? I mean real brave? The try this scorpion and tarentula cocktail…
- Or settle for a very atmospheric American bar…
- So chic! Hermes pops up in Shoreditch…
- See a movie in high style - on the roofs with homemade hot chocolate, mince pies and access to the heated pool…
How will you celebrate the week-end?
The elephant march
Bordeaux had seen a panda invasion. Bath had a pig one (including a flying pig). Londons had seen herds of cows and kangaroos. But what would an urban jungle be without 250 extra elephants?
Usual story - the sculptures were decorated by artists, designers, celebrities… In the lot: John Rocha, Lulu Guinness, Sir Terence Conran, Sir Paul Smith, le Prince et la Princesse de Kent, Cartier, Tommy Hilfilger. An inspired artist even used Swarovsky elements on his. They will be auctionned in July to support Elephant Family, an association protecting Asian elephants.
Up to you to fight your way through the London streets and catch them all. Some are really easy to spot, others blend in and can be passed without noticing.
The official map is here. The best place to start (especially if you’re taking the kids on an adventure) probably is the Scoop - 15 there. Or take them on a picnic safari @ Green Park and find the 25 hiding there!
If you do not have the time to play elephant bingo, you’ll find the herd @ the Royal Chelsea Hospital between June 23 and July 02.
The Elephant Parade
Through the whole of London, until June 22, 2010
@ the Royal Chelsea Hospital , from June 23 to july 02, 2010
Carters Steam Fair @ Battersea Park
We all have fond memories of childhood funfairs. The mix of colours, the flashing lights, the musics changing every couple of steps, the laughs all around, the bumping cars… Tastebuds were also treated with candyfloss and sweets. In my region, you could choose from a huge selection of nougats…
I’m less tempted to go these days – am I too much of a grown-up? The colours are much flashier, sometimes agressive, the decorations sprayed on and less refined. However I never resist a more traditional type of ride – such as wooden horses galloping forever, or those chairs that fly away in an elegant circle… My 5-year old daughter is much better public than I am and will go for anything at all!
Feeling nostalgic too? Then head to the Carters Steam Fair settled @ Battersea Park for a while.
Carter was passionate for those machines and arcade games and collected them, taking pride in renovating them: improve an engine, change a part, repainting them in accordance with the original motifs and colours, adding a little gold leaf… 7 months per year, he would open them to the public, or rent them for private events, even for film sets. Make them alive again.
He died in 2000 but his team is keeping the tradition.
You’ll find a lovely selection of those rides @ Battersea – the grandfather of turning cups, a Noa arch with Art Deco notes turning @ high speed with music of its era, cute wooden racing cars… The kids can’t even decide where to start, parents never hesitate to join them, dads seem fascinated by the old types of engines you sometimes get a glimpse of, you can hear cameras clicking away…
Wonderful to even just look, although you will not resist caressing the wood…
Older kids will prefer the arcade – all kinds of flippers there, even horse races where each player has to turn a wheel as quick as possible, horoscope readings… The designs are fab. Granparents look at them in amazements, recognising models...
My favourite certainly is the gallopers – splendid colourful wooden horses, paintings of the British monarchs above them, even a barrel organ. But take a few steps away from it. Although you do not notice any of those rides work on steam engines, this one does play on it – a lovely cloud of fog when it starts dancing around and even a chimney!
A great time for the whole family. Rides are only £1/kid, very reasonable. Such a pity, though, that there is no toffee apple, candy floss, waffles in sight… not even a coffee!
Battersea Park until March 28, 2010Battersea,
London,
SW11 4NJ
Ravenscourt Park, April 10-18, 2010
Paddenswick Road,
London,
W6 0UB
Find peace in the Kyoto Garden
I stumbled upon this Japanese garden in Holland Park. It just invites you to sit and forget about your day…
This originally was a gift from the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce for the Japanese festival in 1991. Very traditional. Trees are cut respecting the natural shape of the branches. The cascade is in 3 steps and represent miniature mountains and gorges while the pond symbolises the quietness of the ocean.
It’s easy to be hypnotised byt the clouds refecting in the water – soothing. Only the koi, the Japenese carps will wake you up with a splash of colour…
