Tea Time in Wonderland

Posts Tagged ‘Picadilly’

In parallel to the Earth exhibition, and just a few steps from it, Stuart Haygarth brings a new light on daily objects.

Not those collectables or cute ones you put on your shelves. The broken ones which you brush quicly to the nearest bin.

Recycling, and using an objets for anohter use – we all know that. But here, it is turned into an art, transformed into better objects than they ever were. You have no idea what gorgeous chandelier those spectacles glasses could become…

…or their branches! Actually, you have never considered glasses at all before. Their shape, any details suddenly becomes extraodinary.

Same goes for car viewing mirrros -  shattered, they suddenly star in a room. Spendid work on lighting.

By the way, I’m sure you’ll find a new interest in your grandma’s collections, the ones you previously labelled as absurd!

A small show, but so worth the stop. And free as well!

Found
Haunch of Venison
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET

Free
Until January 30, 2010

Why not discuss it with friends over a scrumptious cake of the Sketch pop-up?

Fancy popping up @ the Sketch anytime but hate ever having to wait?

Try their new pop-up room in parallel of Earth, the new show of the Royal Academy of Art. Cute little boutique, elegant as the parlor is, aceent put on recycling, sustainable products, do and mend, turning unused objects into art, and the little crazyness touch we love so much in them. Of course your favourite treats will be there. You can even enjoy breakfast, lunch and tea-time.

A pity though – there is a canteen side to it: plastic cutlery, cardboard plate, not even a glass with your fruitjuice. Recyclable, for sure, nice touch but you lose the golden side of the place in a few steps. Same enthusiasm as ever looking at the jewel-cakes… but somehow they’re a little less savoury once you step away from the sparkly counter.

However, if you have a sweet tooth, this won’t stop you. What wouldn’t one do out of curiousity for a brioche-camenbert-green apple jelly? Or a pear tarlets with fruit infused in a cucurma syrup?

A little smarter, you can also choose to enjoy oysters on the external terrasse. Hot water bottle are on the side!

Pop-up Sketch cafe

In the building hosting Haunch of Venison, at the back of the main entrance for the Royal Academy of Art
6 Burlington Gardens
Royal Academy of Arts
London W1S 3ET
Until Jan 03, 2010

Si Burlington Arcade ne semble pas, au premier coup d’oeil, etre passee a l’heure de Noel, c’est qu’il faut considerer la gallerie dans ses details…
If Burlington Arcade may not seem festive at first sight, check again, it is all into small details…

A moins que vous ne preferiez les trucs en plume?
Unless you prefer a gift hunting approach?

Chez Ted Baker, les festivites s’annoncent cocasses…
Ted Baker much prefers a humorous xmas…

Les petits et grands enfants prefereront Winter Wonderland dans Hyde Park. De jour, simple fete foraine, un peu factice, mais ideale pour les petits. De nuit, la magie surgit, elle brille de mille feux…
There’s something for everyone, though @ Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  By day, it does look a bit tacky, a giant fairground, ideal when you have kids. But by night, oh, how magical!

Inutile de resister, la grande roue vous tend les bras… Vous apercevrez l’autre roue de Londres, the Big Eye et Westminster. £7.45 la place, mais largement le temps de remplir vos yeux d’etoiles…
Don’t even think of resisting, how could you not go on the big wheel? You’ll even see the London Eye and Westminster from up there. Not cheap @ £7.45/person, but well enough time to fill your eyes or camera with pretty lights…

Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park
London

Jusqu’au 03 janvier 2010
Until january 03. 2010

It all started last week.

London is switching her Xmas lights on,  little by little, each  one turning into a mini-party (as much for the celebration as to boost sales in the shops)…

Covent Garden chose recoving chandeliers, hypnotising…

While outside plays with blue…

Rudolph even makes an appearance…

A detour for my friend Lupin who, like me, never resists Fortnum and Masons’ displays.

A very original and elegant theme this year, the Swan’s lake…

The royal birds even remplace Santa for carrying gifts…

Very soft deco with white feathers everywhere…

Stop nearby -  the Prince’s arcade has a Victorian Xmas feeling to it…

What? You haven’t started on this shopping list yet?

Hibernate under a cosy duvet? Or fight the weather?

If you belong to the brave category:

- Not to be missed: the Lord’s Mayor show on Saturday. Not Boris, the other one, managing the City. 800 years of tradition! There will be a procession from the City to Westminster (where the Mayor will pledge allegiance to the crown): 6000 people, 202 horses, 24 marching bands… The RAF will fly past, visits will be offered through the capital and the day will finish with fireworks over the Thames at 17.00… For the occasion, shops @ Gabriel’s wharf are offering a few discounts.

- Sunday, Selfridge’s will be playing the Jumble Garage sale card, a giant one, profits going to a charity. Come and find a bargain! Entry is at £5, freee for under 12s. Cash only at the stalls.

- Marmite – Love it ? Hate it? In any case, have a look @ their pop-up shop near Piccadilly. You can even have a crumpet there. I stopped by earlier today, most of their online shop and a few limited edition. Hate the stuff but hell, love the design!

- You’ll find happiness at the Country Living Xmas show – so many stalls with original and unique ideas. I go almost every year and have never tired of it.

- Fancy an afternoon tea? Want it very British but also fashionable? Try the Howard’s – elegance, of course, but how to resist the shortbreads shaped and decorates as the milestones of London? Have a look at the pics!

Sunday, for once, I will not be rushing around the town. I prefer a quiet family afternoon, on the Puppet Barge, to enjoy a festive puppet show in Little Venice…

Now, what about you?

I have just been to this show. I feel extatic, transcended, I danse on the tip of my toes with happiness. I have spent time in a land of giants, in the Kapoor 5th dimension. Remember this amazing sculpture?

I get the museum book out of my bag. I have been looking forward to this. The pictures are ever so splendid. But the text, gosh! ever so boring! Every single millimeter has to be understood. A grain of dust would have to eb analysed.  Ethnography, authenticity, connections, metonimy, onthology, internationalism, pointillisme… See what I mean?

As for Pop Life, I feel a whole side of it is completely forgotten. Or ignored. The impact on the public. Oh the authors do mention, as if surprised, how normal people always clap aloud to Anish Kapoor’s exhibitions.

So I will not discuss the artist’s work on the object limits, how these materialise in the room or sometimes dematerialise, playing with invisibility and transparence.  Neither will I tell you in length of his use of  monochromy, of pigment sculpting, of his twisting of angles, his theme of instability of the physical world.

I can only encourage to take your kids there. These wax sculptures, that remind me of a glossy play-do, that you are just dying to touch, pulverised with a cannon through doors and taking their shape at the same time… Well, Roger Rabbit would never have dreamt of a better framing! Looks right out a Warner cartoon. These improbable shapes out of pigments seem to balance out of thin air and it’s difficult not to blow on them (you’ll be told off) to see if they just fly apart in a firework of pop colours.  They’re like sophisticated sand castles. Shapes take posession of walls, rounding them or swallowing them, as if you were in a sci-fi adventure. Oh, and this huge syphon, rust coloured? You almost expect it to be a secret spaceship.

The funniest place? The mirror room -  no adult is more than 5-year-old. They dance, jump, slide aside and back, run to their friends “Come and see this!”. One can slim, enlarge, reverse, loose, recreate onself to infinity.

Any work of art, all in all, is part of the artist and part of the public projection of themselves…

Anish Kapoor
Royal Academy of Art
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BD
£12

Nothing seduces me more than a clash, a romance, a twist between classic and modern. See Koon’s and Veilhan’s recent success in Versailles.

If, like me, you’re waiting for the crowds to be less imposing to enjoy Anish Kapoor’s exhibition, do give it a try and head for the Royal Academy of Art all the same. As soon as you step in the yard, this imposing steel sculpture towers you – 15 meters high! Inspired by the german poet Maria Rilke, Kappor created Tall tree and the eye, a complex building of 76 spheres, each reflecting the noble building and tourists to infinity… Hynotising!

If you like shiny surprises, you’ve got till Sunday to see a giant silver inflatable rabbit in Covent Garden!

Anish Kapoor
Royal Academy of Art
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BD
Exhibition £12 but no worry, you can access this yard and the sculpture for free!

This year, the tube bloomed with posters reminding that 65,000 were reposessed each year, that life could be a house of cards. With the economical crisis on everyone’s mind, most people were moved by Shelter’s campaign. The association try to help as much as they can with legal councils and finding a new place for the unlucky ones.

You’ll find…

… Nick Cage…

… Damien Hirst…

…D Face…

… Vivienne Westwood…

… Polly Morgan…

… Alexander Mc Queen…

… amongst some other very talented and inspired artists… Rush there to know more about them!

House of cards
6 Burlington Gardens
London W1S 3ET

Jusqu’au 28 septembre 2009
Metro: Piccadilly

Until Sep 28, 2009
Tube: Picadilly

F&M is the most wonderful British address. So very traditional and yet fabulously different.  Wooden sculpted entrances yet a water green colour all over the place. Window shops always use classical products but present in an Alice in Wonderland way.

You’ll always find me there around Xmas, adding a luxuty touch to my hampers. I also come here for ginger infusions, jasmine pearls, their wonderful sweets selection, their chutneys… I rarely need to go further than the ground floor!

I recently got mesmerized by the marmelade section – here are a few. Paddington would go mad with excitement!

Psssst: F&M has recently put hives on their roof , the honey being for sale in the shop. Two webcams also have been set to check on the bees! #2 is my favourites as you see them coming back in. What a buzz!

Psssst (2): When leaving the shop, cross the street and have a look at the clock. When the hour rings, Mr Mason steps out to bow at Mr Fortnum… The bell is from the same factory as Big Ben.

Fortnum & Mason
181 Piccadilly
London W1A 1ER
Metro / tube:  Picadilly circus

21 sorts of marmelade, from £3.50 to £6.75

On Time Out’s good advice, I rush to Freggo, one of the most famous Argentinian ice creamchains (but if you ever visit the country, do get tips from Elisa!)

Have they chosen the street on purpose: Swallow street?

Such a tiny parloir, a few stools, and hadful of tables outside. Purple deco – very Thierry Mugler. You feel more in a VIP club or in a glamour boudoir than in an ice-scream place. Definitely great with girlfriends!

I really wanted to try the dulce – a friend had strongly recommended the one with chocolate chips. Too bad, there’s none left. I am told this happens often, it’s a favourite. Why not get more stock then? Ah, but the desert is not made here. It is imported all the way from Argentina… I guess that does explain the price: £3.95 for two scoop. Maybe they should rename the street Hard to swallow!

Feeling adventurous, I’ll try the malbec and berries (Malbec is an Argentinian wine) with a portion of passionfruit.
A little sugary but so tastier than a sorbet, very refreshing. The cooked wine flavour is pretty surprising too. Tastebuds go mad at first not really understanding then explode with joy. I am even more amazed at how well it goes with the tangy passionfruit. I find here a real childhood memory – exactely the same taste, pips included as biting into the fruit…

Verdict: damn expensive but delicious. I do have to come back for the dulce as well as their milkshakes.  I will keep it for small celebrations though or even to surprise friends.

Note aux parents: given the price… not the best ice-cream for kids! But if you don’t mind paying: my 3 year old daughter cleverly stole half of my Malbec and cream portion. The waitress was ever so kind and gave her a free sample too. The street is a pedestrian one so sit outside and let the kids play safely.

Freggo
27-29 Swallow Street
London W1B 4QR
Tube: Piccadilly Circus

£3.95 for two scoops

Open till 02.00 Fridays and Saturdays