Blog Archives
Best gin joints in London
Time Out London has rounded up the best bars for gin in the capital.
I’ll admit that when I used to live in London, gin wasn’t the thing. It was … well, at least to my twenty something mind … more of a vodka cranberry or cosmopolitan/mojito/caipirinha sort of place. Whatever others were drinking in NYC was infinitely cooler than a native gin and tonic.
But my oh my, in the past few years, London has been stepping up its gin game, with more gin distilleries starting up and some cool bars, dedicated to the G&T. My tastes have similarly changed – I have more of an appetite for gin than I ever have before. Time Out London has compiled its best picks for a gin here. Disclaimer: I haven’t tried any of these spots but they sound divine. *Sigh*
Secret Cinema’s tribute to Robin Williams
I’m still heartbroken about Robin Williams’ death. I still can’t believe that we’ve lost such a rare comic talent and, by all accounts, such a wonderful human being, to boot.
I feel like his movies and TV have defined so many stages of my life – “Mork and Mindy” as a child, “Dead Poets Society,” “Awakenings,” “The Fisher King” and “Aladdin” in high school, “Good Will Hunting” in grad school when I was also living in Boston, “Happy Feet” now with my own kids.
And we still have more to go. Our family still hasn’t seen any of the “Night at the Museum” films, “Jumanji” or “Popeye.” His passing has also served as a reminder to me of his really wonderful body of work that he has left behind and that we need to seize the day.
On that note, Secret Cinema (see my previous blog post about Secret Cinema) in London is hosting a film screening in tribute to Robin Williams this Friday at the Troxy in East London. They will be showing “Dead Poets Society,” which will raise money for the mental health charity Mind. The evening will feature live music, food, poetry and other performances, in addition to the film.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit robinwilliams.secretcinema.org.
A London sign
Looking for a way to add a little London to your home? Check out Pottery Barn’s London sign, now on sale for $509. It’s a framed giclée print that can be special ordered.
101 things to do in London – how many have you done?
I always wanted to visit the Waterlily House in Kew Gardens but still haven’t been.
I liked Time Out London’s collection of 101 things to do in London – and the quiz that accompanied it, based on a list of destinations under Museums, Galleries, Parks, Shopping, etc.
But sadly, I only scored 29. 29?! Yep. It seems that when we lived there, we never did go to the Globe or the Royal Opera House, the London Zoo or the Science Museum. We did hit most of the parks, but were pretty light on the eating and drinking spots that they listed (to be fair, many of these didn’t exist back when we were living in London). And so it goes …
Take the quiz and see how you do!
Land of Nod goes British
I’m always on the hunt for sweet and inexpensive wall art for my kids’ rooms and stumbled upon Land of Nod, which currently has some great decor with some British flavor (and also a great blog for inspiration, Honest to Nod).
Check out their personalized wall art ($129), featuring Big Ben and double decker buses, which can be personalized with your child’s name.
I also loved their Lately Lily London quilt ($189), with an appliquéd and embroidered London scene, which would work perfectly with … their Lately Lily London bedding set!
Bees at Top Shop
This is the craziest story I’ve read in awhile. Crazier than this.
A swarm of 5,000 bees hit London’s Top Shop on Victoria Street this week.
5,000 bees? Were they shopping for a cocktail dress or just hoping to score a deal on a new handbag?
No confirmation on what has drawn the swarm to this particular location, but it appears the seasonal sale had something to do with it.
Cherry blossom in St. James’s Park
We spent last weekend visiting Washington, D.C. and was just in time to see all of the beautiful cherry blossom in bloom.
But … nothing was quite as stunning as this image shot by photographer Patrizia Ilaria Sechi in London’s St. James’s Park. Positively gobsmacking!
The cronut spawns in London
The new trend for cross-breeding pastries has reached London. From the Townie (a brownie-slash-tart) to the Dosant (half doughnut, half croissant) and the Duffin (a doughnut/muffin fusion), these hybrid sweets are going down a treat.
And so begins this utterly delightful and mouthwatering read on BBC.co.uk. Have you tried any of these? They’ve arrived in the U.K. and sound amazing (I do have a sweet tooth!)
International Pillow Fight Day
Oh, London! I love you for your utter whimsy! Check out the celebration that took place this weekend in Trafalgar Square to mark International Pillow Fight Day. Organised by Urban Playground Movement, the fight rules were simple: don’t hit anyone with a camera and don’t hit anyone without a pillow.
Do you know how to take the Underground like a Londoner?
Well, first of all, apologies for the radio silence! I have been super busy at work and juggling the being a present parent thing and trying to keep the laundry done and the dishes washed and so on and so on, all while keeping up with watching the latest episode of “Girls.” It’s a struggle, let me tell you!
Anyway, I’m back on board and wanted to share this Buzzfeed quiz, assessing one’s ability to take the Underground like a Londoner. Go on and take it and let me know how you do!
I was very proud to have achieved “Tube Pro” status. “You’re either a Londoner, or just a great human being. You have a healthy regard for personal space, but also the patience that comes with travelling long distances underground. Well done you.” *sigh*
I’ll tell you once a London Undergrounder, always a London Undergrounder! It’s still in my blood so many years later! (But thankfully my nose is clear and not packed with black soot like it used to be from my daily commute!)
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