Category: London

Categories
Journalism London Travel

No Man is an Island

I’ll really have to start making an effort if I want to be Lonley.  This is the city to pass through.  Yesterday I met up with Chris Courtney and his wife Karen (Chicago RedEye design kinds).  We had a great dinner at The Troubadour restaurant.  I really enjoy taking people there because it’s a nice way to see my neighborhood, do something ‘novelty’ like, and break away from the tourism insanity that London sometimes brings. I hope they enjoy London, it was nice to meet up for what turned out to be a 4 hour dinner!
The reason the Troubador is a novelty, besides the delicious food and cool atmosphere is all the big names who have played on their stage. Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to name a few.

This was the beginning of my constant flow of visitors.  I’m prepping for Peter this weekend, a fancy design-types dinner next Monday, and next weekend Annamarie and Alec (who’s been backpacking since Berlin).  Anyway today, Alec departed for Dublin, but neither of us knew he had a stop over in London.

Till this morning, when I receive a wall posting that says, “hey you, im in london” and simply just that. WHAT?
We got in communication eventually and he made it over to my office.  We shared a cute lunch at the new veggie cafe across the street inside the Church/Garden Museum.  Alec sported his new hot orange Birkenstocks and me in my 15 denier tights that keep ripping!

Anyway, the tales of familiar faces will only continue! It really brightened my day.

Still homeless for this summer, anyone know a vacant apartment in Indy? please.  Or a cheap way to get out of writing papers. I’ll take either.

Categories
London Music Travel

Air @ the Forum, 17 March 2007

“Oh, didn’t Air do that one song in the 90s?… Sexy Boy “

Yes. Any many-a-other song since. I saw Air last night in Kentish Town. Besides the obvious that they were excellent I’ll tell you more. I had no idea what they would be like live. Especially considering their special guest opener put encouraged everyone to talk or sleep after about 2 songs. Point being, the possibility of an Air-like soothing lovely but quiet show became a real possibility.

Good light technicians

Silly me, Air was not a 20quid naptime. Of course they played songs from Pocket Symphony but it’s always nice to hear the classics. Nicolas Godin has a really cute French sense of humor. Before Kelly Watch the Stars, he got distracted by the voice distorter and saying little nerdy things instead. And his broken English reminded us, “I like when you shout!”

Some of the songs, but not all by any means were instrumental. And don’t you worry, their encore ended with Sexy Boy.

Even though I went by myself, I made friends with two girls here from Australia. They live about 2 hr from where Rossy is studying! When I told them the tale of how I ended up there solo, they said to me, “It’s like going to the movies alone!” That’s a little joke for you if you read my blog. They’ve been going to so many shows, I’m a little bits jealous. But we both realised and agreed… London is weirdly behind on the music scene.

Categories
Journalism London

Swanky

This week I’ve been working more with epolitix.com. They had a climate change symposium and invited me along to watch the debate and questioning. I left with one of the people in the office but got caught in massive traffic. Protesters were voicing themselves in Parliament square about the nuclear trident agreement. Greenpeace also hung a banner that read Tony <3 WMD. There were some protesters who were laying on the street with their arms cemented in barrels.

Anyway, this made us terribly late, but we arrived just in time for the discussion, but missed the amazing food. It was really interesting, and particularly good because it was in the genuine interest of people in the audience. I later learned it cost a hefty pound to attend this event.

When the symposium ended, my coworker and I found out that they saved all the lunch food warm for us. We feasted and she mentioned to me that we were inside The Commonwealth Club. Apparently it’s a member’s club that costs 2000 pounds a year to be a member. Wowzer. Anyaway, we split a cab back and I ended up getting out of work early. Sweet.

Categories
London

fabulous is as fabulous does

Before I got here, I felt pretty star struck. I wondered where I would fit into this ‘capital of the world’ global centre. For me, it was the place where everything happens. It has all the good concerts, bands, free art museums, exciting politics, glorious public transport, pretty newspapers, and more bars (pubs, cafes, lounges, discos) than I could ever count. I suppose I was waiting to find out how the people would be, and where I would fit in. I did not think I would be ‘fabulous’ enough. What a joke, this city is not fabulous in that glittery way, it’s so much better than that cheap garbage.

I think I feel so comfortable here because I am in the political/working district with a purpose. I too am wearing heels, and need to be arrive on time.  And at 6:00, walking back to my flat, like all the other residents of the area: I just want to get home, put my feet up, watch the Simpson’s and eat some expensive Ramen (ok, maybe not that last one). There area I live in is pretty residential, it’s a good example of what it would be like to live here. When I am taking the tube to class, I occasionally crack open my book to cram.  I work, I study, I cook, I travel,  and live here.

I was talking with my roomie last night, and well, I think we fit in quite well. It’s amazing how quickly it can feel like home. How easily it is to get around. And while sometimes everything can feel foreign, like when I have to figure out how to get somewhere new, it’s strangely comforting. It’s such a massive city that drawing a map of where my destination is, or figuring out a new tube route is the norm.

I really do feel like a Londoner in some ways. And yes, I’ve only been here two months, and this is not in efforts to be like one of those students who goes to a country almost half a year and says their life forever changed. Why? Because I think, in some ways everything you do changes your life. From travelling across the world to forgetting to brush your teeth, it all is significant.

Annamarie, Peter, and Alec are coming to visit. I was feeling very sad that when they come, they also have to leave. I guess that means, so do I. Can I stay here, just a little longer?

46 days left. Scary as hell.

Categories
Journalism London Travel

Week Wrap

Last weekend Ashley and her roomie came to visit. They spent the week in Paris and this weekend they were with their other friend. I was so happy to be their Ambassador to such a fabulous city. The first night we went to the Tower of London at night, it was so beautiful. Believe it or not I haven’t been there. Our evening finished off in the Liverpool area meeting up with Mad’s friend Nick. Oh, and huge cheap English portions will lead to what we call PH…the Potato haze.

They were pretty pooped from their flight so we spent the night quietly. The next day we woke up cozily late and planned to hit a lot of sights. We started at the crowded touristy Portabello Market. It was cute but I just couldn’t wait to get them to Camden Town. Of course, got sucked in for the rest of the evening. We all had very successful shopping and eating adventures, and I might have gotten talked into buying the cutest skirt possible. VERY London. I think this was very much our scene, and Ashley even got the Motorhead tshirt she promised Ted! I feel as though I should mention, Madeline spent the weekend teaching Ashley Jibberish!Ashley took about a million model shots of Mad at Portabello. She lets her.

In the evening we met up with her friend George and tried to celebrate Nick’s birthday. The night ended better with a trip to O’Neils. We split from George and beat the rain. Perfection.

The next morning we pretty much woke up late and had a delicious brunch at The Troubador. Also, imi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon all played there in 60s. Did I mention it’s about 2 blocks away from my flat? Yeah.  We then went to Harrod’s.  They were able to get nice gifts for their family and we checked out the fantastic Guitar exhibition.  There were lots of famous electric guitars and it featured the first electric guitar ever.  They departed for Paris the next day and things got hectic this weekend and we didn’t get to meet up.  But it was so much fun having them here!!  Glad you came :)
Today I went to see some family.  All of us had a pretty exhausting weekend and were kind of zombie like, but it was still really nice to go.  It was good to see them, it’s been a long time and just being in a home was very cozy.  I love their kiddies too, so cute.  My one neice who’s 6 showed me how she plays the piano and her cool sticker collection.  Oh, I just love it.

I hit up the British Library for about an hour.  I spent most of the time in this number 1 charts exhibition.  You could listen to any song from any album that hit #1 in the charts between the present and 1960something.  I just sat and listened to lots of music.  It was so cleansing.  I loved it.

Categories
Design Journalism London Travel

The Guardian!

“You sort of got to go whole heartedly. If you go half, there’s no real change.”

I am thankful again to be in London. Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure to have lunch with Mark Leeds at The Guardian. Across the street from the newsroom, over lunch we talked about the changing role newspaper design has. As the special projects director, I’m sure he’s quite busy, but he seemed happy to help me with my research assignment.

We had met at SND Orlando in the elevator on the way to the Banquet. After Florida, we corresponded a few times, and well, here I am! It was very interesting to learn what the philosophies are behind such a massive and reader-considerate publication are. And of course, though it goes without saying, just Brilliant. I’ll save you the gush and share some photos:

The Guardian How do you percieve

I found this down the street.  The essentials:
The basic necessities

Categories
London Travel

The Hello-graph

Celebrities (my nerdy kind) are everywhere!

I was walking back from Parliament with one of the political correspondents for my internships website, epolitix.com. We had just met with the Defence Committee’s chairman, James Arbuthnot for a podcasting.

On our walk back, George Jones, political editor of The Telegraph flew around the corner on his bicycle! Too bad I couldn’t grab my CV fast enough to shove into his pocket.

Oh, what a city. Don’t worry Jami, the Hugh Grant radar is always on.

Categories
London Travel

The Real World: Stonehenge

I’m a bit overdue on this update. But I think if we’re going to be a reality-tv obsessed culture (well, most of the West at least), I want to see something compelling. I propose Survivor meets The Real World, or something.

Seven people picked to build a henge, and have their lives caught on tape. Can you just imagine the massive strength and intelligence the henge-makers had? Could present day humans recreate such an architecture? Say our cast has equal number of builders, of equal strength and we give them the same resources/technology and span of time that the henge-makers had. Or you make two teams, have them compete.

I don’t know if present day humanoids could do it. The next season could be Real World: Giza. Hey it’s a thought, but we might have to run it on the Discovery channel.

If you squint, you can see the Druid Ghosts

Categories
London Travel

I ought to go on more dates in London

5:20pm, the clock in the right hand corner of my screen is not budging. I joined the parade of women who head to the bathroom to waste the remaining minutes on the clock at work. They reapply lipstick or straighten their panty hos, or wash their hands for a solid 3 minutes.

I ran my fingers through my hair and wiped the smudges from my eyeshadow and prepped myself for a night out. Roomie is in Bath for the weekend with the girls and everyone else is headed to Amsterdam. That meant, for me this Thursday was date night!

The Leicester Square tour began at The Photographer’s Gallery. Only the bottom floor was open, but still some very interesting (and political) works. Then, just next door was the Arts Theater which was not performing Pluck, as I thought. An acclaimed violin, cello, string comedy. But the lady at the box office said the show for that night, Proof, had a real classy student discount. I’ve never heard of it before, but I keep being told it’s pretty famous. And apparently Gwynth Paltrow starred in the movie rendition.

Inbetween gallery and show time, eating was a must. And now, not to say I’m a cheap date, but I’ve been wanting to go to McDonald’s. I haven’t eaten any American fast food yet, on purpose. I wanted to eat it, just once, at a proper time. That being, not when it’s simply the cheapest, most convenient, or fastest home sickness fix. I had even mapped where the Mc’Ds was, no excuses. Classic burger, fries, and a coke filled me up. I could barely finish it. My body protested, it’s been too long.

Carried onto the show which was wonderful. A really strong plot and the acting was great. The funny part, it’s based in Chicago. I was completely unprepared for American accents, references to the Lake, the cubs losing, driving up to the North side and that magical time in September when it’s refreshingly crisp. Funny how things like that worked out.

It’s not that I didn’t have a good date, but by the end of the show I was ready to go home. After the slow conversation during intermission, I knew that after curtain call I’d be booking it to the Tube station.

No feelings were hurt, because I was my date tonight. I took myself out, and had a glorious evening. Part of it was because my ultimate goal was to see a classical performance and the other part was to not sit at home and mope because everyone has plans tonight. I didn’t go to Bath because Ashley is arriving early tomorrow morning.

I wanted too affirm myself that I’m comfortable on my own. While, it would have been nice to have someone poke fun at the couple next to me who brought their own banana chips, or maybe share a drink after the show, it is doable. At first, I couldn’t even get myself to walk into the theater. Everyone seemed to be with someone in there. Why? because they were. However, after being drunk of McDonald’s grease, I took the evening by reins. I brought myself out and I was going to have a good night, and it was.

I think I’m going to miss me when I get back to IU.

Categories
London Travel

Quite a sunny Ash Wednesday

Had I celebrated Fat Tuesday I may consider giving something up for lent.I did not wear beads, did not enjoy student night at Zoobar, couldn’t find a fabulous gay parade, and…kept my shirt on.

So, I will not be giving up the free hot chocolate in my office.