And the Royal Ascot Gold Cup goes to …
Congrats to Queen Elizabeth’s horse Estimate, who won the Gold Cup at Ascot today. I particularly enjoyed Buzzfeed’s blow-by-blow photo stream of the Royal Family watching the race.
It’s the first time in the race’s 207-year history that a monarch’s horse has won!
Thou art a mad double villain
I’m really digging Shakespeare’s Insult Generator.
Try it out and tell me what you get. Let there be an insult!
(I’m sure that Will Shakespeare is rolling in his grave right about now).
A day in London
I’m sharing some photos I took on our trip to the U.K. this spring. We spent the last three days of our trip in London.
On our first day, we started at Lamb’s Conduit Street in Bloomsbury and got breakfast (a flat white and croissant) at Tutti’s.
Lamb’s Conduit Street is a sweet little pedestrianized street with plenty of independent shops like Persephone Books, a publishing house which focuses on neglected mid-20th Century women writers.
BBC Radio Four in four minutes
For anyone who’s ever listened to BBC Radio Four, check out Jake Yapp’s parody of Radio Four’s programming in four minutes flat!
Espresso heaven
Ever since we got back from the U.K. this spring, I’ve been hankering for a good cappuccino, a flat white, an espresso. The kinds of coffee that was so plentiful and rich and wonderful over there.
I finally decided a new coffee maker was in the cards and after much research, I bought a Nespresso Citiz with Aeroccino Frother this week ($299, Crate and Barrel). The machine arrived yesterday and like a kid on Christmas morning, I woke up this morning and made a cappuccino! And wow! Best cup of coffee – dare I say – uh, ever?!
The espresso (I used Arpeggio) came out so beautifully I could’ve cried. The milk frother made perfect steamed milk with froth. There was zero clean up. Nespresso heaven!
London Style Guide
On a trip to Anthropologie last weekend, I spotted this London Style Guide by Saska Graville and had to check it out.
I realize that it’s one of those books that are almost instantly out of date from the moment they are published (better as a blog, perhaps), but in this case, it makes for a nice coffee book for $24.95. Great photos and good recommendations of places to eat, sleep and shop, broken down by neighborhood.
We also got The Stylist’s Guide to NYC by Sibella Court. I love the book selection at Anthropologie.
BTW, did you know that Anthropologie has a shop in London on Regent Street? We walked by it on our trip to London a couple of months ago (mental note: must post London photos from our trip next week!)
2 British films to watch for
I love a good movie trailer, but I have to say that I’m growing irritated by the extended time that commercials and trailers are taking up these days. Twenty minutes? Seriously? Are you with me?
But sometimes, it is great to spot something you’d actually like to see!
Last weekend, we went to the movies and saw “Frances Ha.” along with a couple of British films that I would love to see …
First up, “About Time” written by Richard Curtis of “Love Actually” and “Notting Hill” fame. It’s due out Nov. 8 in the U.S.
Secondly, Simon Pegg stars in “The World’s End,” which looks as good as “Shawn of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” It’s due out Aug. 23 in the U.S.
British teeth, pt. 2 (Electric boogaloo)
Speaking of teeth, I have to share this little clip from “The Graham Norton Show.” He interviews Olivia Colman, who was in “The Iron Lady,” and yes, the topic of “funny English teeth” does come up.
Thanks, Lillie, for sending this!
British teeth
At the risk of alienating half of my readers (note: I am convinced that discussing British teeth is #18 on the list of ways to annoy the British), I feel obliged to share the latest news item.
According to a survey by the British Dental Health Foundation …
* Seven million Britons do not clean their teeth regularly
* One in seven admitted to leaving it two whole days before they picked up a toothbrush
* 21 per cent also said they forget to floss
Sacre bleu, right? But the study continues and expands into the general realm of common decency and hygiene:
* 25% forget to cover their mouth when coughing and fail to wash their hands after going to the toilet
* 7.5 million Britons also forget to shower daily
*Sighing and shaking my head* (and recognizing that a survey stateside would likely provide similar results)… What do you make of all of this?
12 places you’d never believe were in the U.K.
Check out Buzzfeed’s collection of top 12 places you’d never know we’re in the U.K. (including spots that are dead ringers for Italy, Greece, India and New Zealand.)
BRITRISH.COM 