London: Tea Time in Wonderland

A fantastic tweet-up. Chats bout cameras, pictures, recipes, food, travels. A historical walk along the Thames, a journey through time thanks to Context London who told us fascinating stories and many smiles. We dreamt of the frost fair, which took place on a completely frozen river. We listened, delighted, to passages of classics who brought a brand new vision on familiar buildings. Their range also includes suprising thems such as this one for runners. Or that one on fashion from Tudor splendot to Vivienne Westwood punk approach. If you are a foodie, you are sure to go for the gastronomical one (unless you’d like to throw a little art in it too).

Then, cheeks all pinked up, we spent the rest of the afternoon at the Quarter Bar, nestled in the London bridge Hotel – ideally situated between the Shard and the Borough Market. A beautiful contemporary space, wide palette of colours, warm and welcoming, design touches such as those fabulous decanter lamps by Lee Broom (In love with them? They will be on sale on Dalani on Feb 06!). We sipped on a delicious martini made with organice apple juice (so healthy, right?) and realised winter felt suddenly very far away. The Quarter Bar was extremely generous and had prepares mini versions of some of their dishes: melt-in-the mouth dim-sums, sliders with juicy meat and onion marmelade, tender keftas fragrant with herbs, parmesan tiles shaped as cups holding a salad, addictive fish croquettes, sweet treats that would make a French pâtisserie proud (including perfect tartelettes and exquisite raspberry-pistachio cubes)… A very precious address after a long walk, the perfect place to stop for a bite, share a drink, catch up, wait for the rain to stop especialy as it is away from all the way-too-touristic places along the Thames. Or why not come for an afternoon tea? They serve it with one of my favourite tea brands, Tea Forte always decorated with a leaf…

Huge thanks to Magellan PR, Context London and London Bridge Hotel for organising everything and spoiling us!

London Bridge Hotel and Quarter Bar
8-18 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9SG UK

Ah, how lovely to walk through Shoreditch again, such a familiar neighbourhood but with the constant surprise of street art. Keep your eyes open (and down) – there are still some of Pablo Delgado’s miniature works around… What are your plans for the week-end? None yet? Then scroll down…

That’s art, baby:
* Pretend you are Mime Marceau.
* This ice-sculpting festival should be pretty cool.
* Let’s be serious – Sky News and the Somerset House have put together an impressive collection of pictures.
* A colorful and fun exhibition that should delight curious minds -  at the London Transport Museum.
* find your luck at the Wellcome Collection.
* Love the glass sculpture at the entrance of the V&A? Why not go and see what else the artist can do?
* And from the first floor of your double decker…

So British:
* Warm up in front of a lovely chimney fire in a pub.
* Or listen to classic albums there.
* Or enjoy a traditional treat.
* Get to know everything about gin with this craze walk.

Take the little ones along:
* And rediscover Quentin Blake.

Yummy time ahead:
* Cheers to you!
* Dine in a cinema.
* Fancy a squirrel pie?

Out of the ordinary:
* Take those ice-skating shoes and dance.
* White your thank you cards at Tatty devine.
* Lord of the rings will take you through the night.
* Sing a cappella.
* Sip a drink in a tipi on a London roof. You read that right.
* Try this Pay what you want guided walk.
* And now, you can even personnalise your soup tin.

Another page turned. Good resolutions taken in the warm cocoon of the festivities. Good resolutions shaken hard by the first day back to work, sometimes even lost on the way there, we’ll pick them up again on the way back home. Sigh, cross out 2011 and write carefully, 2012 each time we write a new date. Such a feeling that everything would be brand new and be slightly surprised that nothing has changed, still lost in the magic of December.

Well, sometimes, the best resolution is to get lots of sparkles of your own, those that will make your eyes and your nails glitter, hypnotise the gaze. What a better way to shine through the day, even when wind and rain threaten to take your umbrella away?

Cheers!
* Drink to the spirit of our beloved Dickens.

Smile:
* Nothing stops a taxi driver. Not even the cold.
* Do you quidditch?
* Art beats the winter blues in the Tube.
* Chips with that?

Yummy time ahead:
* Hélène Darroze will be offering her delicious Galette des Rois, the traditional French cake eaten to celebrate Epiphany, as part of the Connaught‘s afternoon tea. It will also be for sale at the hotel for people to take back home. Give them a call!
* Have a bite at the it/eat address of the moment, the Delaunay.
* Deal. Remember The Rosendale and The Avalon -  delicious (and kids-friendly) gastropubs. You can eat there for half the usual price till the end of the month!

Out of the ordinary:
* Have a closer look at the Olympic Games area.
* Fall in love with short films.
* Disco, karaoke, bowling and garden gnomes. We’re not joking.
* Dream in a London garden.

Each year, rather than adding yet another toy to the house, I take my daughter to see a musical. Girly time and fabulous memories. The Cirque Invisible, the Lion King, the Wizard of Oz. This year,  Wicked put a spell on us. The theatre in itself is already magical, a different universe. Do take the binoculars (£1, one between each seat) to better see the details of the decors and costumes. The story? A different version of Oz, each role being reversed, sprinkled with formidable humour. Quick, go and see it!

Christmas is coming to town:
* Go gift hunting on that adorable Finnish market.
* Plenty of ideas at the Chelsea Physic Garden fair too.
* On the craft side, you will find real wonders at the Merry Magpie pop-up.

That’s art, baby!
* Nothing better than 4D projection to bring life back into a building.
* Is art really rubbish?

Yummy time:
* Burger revolution.
* It is winter time and Dickens then rhymes with punch and Courvoisier.
* Still on the Dickens’ theme -  opt for the pub crawl!
* Food allergies? Go and enjoy this free from festival.

Shopaholics, beware:
* Remember Upper Street? Great news -  they are having a sample sale of unique models this Saturday, up to 50% off the original price. Just go to Upper Street Studios, 1A Clarendon Buildings, 11 Ronalds rd, London, N5 1XJ. From 10.00 to 16.00, payment by card only.

Take the little ones along:
* Especially for adventurers-to-be: a tour of the HMS Belfast with a hot chocolate.
* This adorable kids festival in South Kensington should make the whole family happy.

Out of the ordinary:
* Le Cool and Fiji Water have thought of a wonderful winter stroll along a forgotten river -  click here to see the app / map, it’s all free!
* Underground tales, this way.
* Discover London… aboard a kayak.
* Manga fans, rejoyce: this one takes place at the British Museum.
* One of the mysteries of London…

Just a two hours drive south of London are the most magnificent forests you can imagine. Hundred of kilometers of possible walks. The magic usually starts as soon as you leave the motorway -  I met straight away with one of the many free horses around.

As for the woods, ah, those are the ones that inspired legends and stories. The green is ever so vibrant, almost an emerald colour. The light can be golden, honeyish, softly powdery depending on the time of the day. You will stop a hundred, a thousand times to look at a ray of sunshine or a drop of dew on a fern…

Tonight, I am planning a romantic picnic: the Nomad Cinema will be setting up its screen in a royal park of Richmond. Watching a Miyazaki under a starlit sky while drinking some champagne really has some charm. Wave if you are going too!

* Love Japanese animation movies? This thursday, Summer Wars will be projected for free on Canada Square.

* Still on Thursday night (Thursday really is the new Friday you now), go to Southbank and try a few urban games.

* Get that keyboard ready: Café Luc’s £1 sale is near. Friday August 05 at 13.30 to be precise. You will have yo be quick! We have tried them in the past: so much fun and laughs and it is free.

* Selfridges wants to make you see la vie en rose. Well, possibly drink it too.

* Friday, go and see a rhino race. It seems they are getting ready for the Olympics.

* Summer holidays have well started and you are now short of ideas to keep the kids occupied? Try Lollibop, a festival dedicated to children in Regent’s Park. Once the entry paid, all the activities are free.

* Discover Pure Evil’s Warhol side.

* Conquer Windsor Castle’s famous tower – quite a view.

* Stroll along the Thames but on the Hammersmith side. Oh and stop at our favourite pub there, with a beautiful take on the river.

* Rewrite Dickens.

* Nothing like a pint in this weather – so try the very best ones at this beer festival.

* A department store dedicated to vintage has just opened – what a choice! For a more personal atmosphere, try Peekaboo Vintage (sumptuous dresses). Or just enjoy this vintage tea party!

* Remember House of Hackney baroque fabrics? They have created the sweetest gin den with Bombay Sapphire.

* Cider and magic? Yes, this way.

Pssst:

* Impress your guests and fool your kids. On August the 27th, The Culinary Academy proposes a fascinating course with the co-founder of Petit Pois -you know, the vegetable based cupcakes at Selfridges? You will learn how to cook a banana and sticky toffee cake, a chocolate cake with aubergines and courgette scones. Sounds very different? Yeah, and delicious too.

* On September 03 and 04, a secret location along the Thames will suddnly become very Californian for a Top Gun projection. Get those tickets now!

Hampstead may be part of London but life here is different, soothing, sweeter. It forces you to slow down. Just a couple minutes away from the high street are the most adorable houses and tiny gardens. Somes are tidy, almost combed, other offer this crafted wilderness  so caracterictic of British gardens. Breathe -  can you smell the lavender, the jasmines, the peppery rosses, the rosemary? Have you seen the figs and apples? From one door to another opens a brand new universe…

I am counting the days to the holidays. You know, prisonner like, crossing them out. I know they are not so far away but looking at the piles of files on my desk, it looks like the wall of China is between me and them. And so I look at London who also derives towards dreamy places. Here a hotel becomes a narrowboat (or vice-versa), close to a floating restaurant. A parking is sublimed by a classical music concert. Camping becomes urban and with a view. Even spas head toward the garden.

Are you trying to escape too? Well, I can help you make it to the week-end at least. Print this page. Thanks to Thrillist, you can have a free cocktails, a French twist the Pimm’s. Instead of the classic British aperitif, this one is made with my favourite Bordeaux alcohol, Lillet. A delight.

All re-energised to go and enjoy London!

* Learn to dance tango in Spitafields. It’s free. And romantic. And sexy.

* Movie fan? Take place on the Dalston roofs.

* Have tea in a historical house with Bea’s of Bloomsbury. We love her cupcakes.

* Just a year left before the Olympic games and London is celebrating with 1000 events.

* Discover the Brixton murals.

* There is quite a party on Whitecross street and street art will be involved too.

* Do you like Chinese shadows?

* Discover British wines at the Borough Market.

* Nike proposes free sport sessions in London parks.

* Art will make you smile on the Central Line.

* Soho celebrates short-movies until July 29. go and see them at the Curzon, the Apple Store, the Hospital Club…

* Do you have a bike? A few cafés for you this way.

* We love these new themed tours of London: fashion, foodie, art on Bond Street…

* Missing the royal wedding atmosphere? Have another dose!

Pssst: Always wanted to discover the view from the BT tower? Book here.

Wander on Malborough road, walk to the very end, just after Clarence House and you will find quiet narrower streets such as Cleveland Rows. The house there have full view on Green Park, amazing door knob and who knows, you might even find a Rolls parked in the street… A very pleasant walk.