London Daily Photo: Hoxton
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, hackney, hoxton, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, neon, Photography, photography blog, signage, street photography, striptease, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Edfringe by @KemeyLafond
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- Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013
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- Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013
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- Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013
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- Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013
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- Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013
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- Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013
Here’s a participant’s perspective – with photos! – of this year’s Fringe from designer (and tikchris contributor) Kemey Lafond who shares insight from her first time working at Edinburgh’s world famous performing arts festival.
I had the opportunity to go twice to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. As production designer of a new musical touring in the UK, I was present for the “get in” at the Pleasance Queen Dome at the beginning of August. Our slot for the technical rehearsal was from 11.30 in the evening to 1.30 in the morning. Unusual time to work? Well not really. The festival is a 24/7 operation during which time hundreds of companies showcase their work to the industry. Consequently, marketing is exceptionally overwhelming: the streets of the capital are wallpapered with posters advertising performances of various quality and price, actors leaflet everyday along the Royal Mile before show time, sometimes offering a glimpse of their art with a song or stand-up routine.
Competition is strong yet surprisingly friendly: everyone seems to know one another somehow. It is likely to bump into former drama school students or ex colleagues; all catching up on new trends and “must see” productions of the festival, but also vigorously networking as this will determine the workload for the next twelve months.
Coming back the second time around feels no different. The end of the festival is known for Fringe Awards nominations, so one must have the ability to work under pressure and not get flustered. Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a cutting edge environment for live entertainment but is also a firmly established business.
Kemey Lafond is a set and costume designer based in London.
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Posted in Scotland, Theatre, Travel
Tagged edfringe, edinburgh, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, fringe festival, kemey lafond, live performance, scotland, theatre
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Going for Asian in Paris (OneTravel)
… it should not be overlooked that Paris is an exceptionally cosmopolitan place. Not only the capital of a prominent Western European nation, Paris is very much the center of the entire French speaking world. With such a distinction comes a lot of yummy treats from all corners of the planet. Not the least of which are the East Asian contributions to the Parisian dining scene.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Food, France, OneTravel, Paris, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged asian restaurants, asian restaurants in paris, charonne, Food, france, Hanoi Paris, Little Hanoi, OneTravel, paris, Patisserie de Saison, Porte d'Ivry, quartier Chinois, restaurants, thai cuisine, thai food, thai restaurant, Thai Spices, Travel, vietnamese cuisine, vietnamese food, vietnamese restaurant
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A Midsummer’s Night Dream with David Walliams and Sheridan Smith
Video sponsored by Spreaditfast.com
Check out this fun trailer for an upcoming run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Noel Coward Theatre. The production is presented by Michael Grandage Company with a cast which includes David Walliams (who plays Bottom) and Sheridan Smith (as Titania) and is set to run from early September to mid November.
Magic, intrigue and an exceptionally twisty plot are the hallmarks of this romantic comedy that’s as relevant and timely today as when it was first performed during the Elizabethan era. As the Bard writes, “the course of true love never did run smooth.” Of course, that’s what makes the subject such a compelling theme for theatre.
This new production brings to the West End stage an excellent opportunity catch one of Shakespeare’s most accessible and funniest plays. I’ve actually seen Midsummer a few times and even a mediocre performance can yield plenty of LOL moments. With a comedic genius and household name like Walliams among the cast, I’m sure the Grandage offering will supply its audience with lots of laughs.
“Lord, what fools these mortals be!” Indeed.
The Michael Grandage Company’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs from 7 September to 16 November 2013 at the Noel Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AU. Find out more and book tickets at amidsummernightsdream.co.uk.
The production is the fourth instalment in Michael Grandage’s season of five productions at the Noel Coward Theatre and is the first of two stagings of Shakespearean work. Coming to the NCT in late November is Henry V starring Jude Law.
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Posted in Celebrities, London, Theatre, Video
Tagged a midsummer night's dream, Celebrities, comedy, david walliams, live performance, London, London blog, michael grandage company, noel coward theatre, preview, shakespeare, sheridan smith, SPONSORED POST, ST MARTIN'S LANE, stage, theatre, theatre preview, theatreland, Video, WC2, WC2N 4AU, west end, william shakespeare, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Kennedy City Bicycles
I dropped by Kennedy City Bicycles’ pop-up shop on Lower Clapton Road yesterday afternoon. The shop will be there until the end of this month. Then, proprietor James will go back to building his street bikes by hand in his workshop round the corner. Find out more: kennedycitybicycles.cc.
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged bicycles, clapton, cycling, east london, hackney, hand built bicycles, kennedy city bicycles, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, LOWER CLAPTON, lower clapton road, Photography, photography blog, street bikes, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Houston’s Museum District (CheapOair)
Photo by Judy Baxter
More than a dozen museums and cultural attractions within a mile and a half radius? Everything truly is bigger in Texas, even the museum districts! The Houston Museum District is home to 19 museums and cultural attractions all located with a mile and a half of the city’s Mecom Fountain. Listed below are all 19 venues with address and website …
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in Art, CheapOair, Travel
Tagged Art, Asia Society Texas Center, Barnett Newman, Broken Obelisk, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, cheapoair, Children's Museum of Houston, contemporary, contemporary art, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Czech Center Museum Houston, Health Museum, Holocaust Museum Houston, houston, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Center for Photography, houston museum district, Houston Museum of African American Culture, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo, John C. Freeman Weather Museum, Jung Center of Houston, Lawndale Art Center, Mark Rothko, Martin Luther King Jr tribute, Menil Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, museums, Rice University, Rice University Art Gallery, rothko, Rothko Chapel, sculpture, texa, Travel, zoo
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Pink Pigeon and Yummy Choo Present Mauritian Style Pop-Up @ Bedford & Strand, Sunday 1 September
UPDATE: This event has been canceled and will be rescheduled.
UPDATE: This event has been canceled and will be rescheduled.
Supper club sensation Yummy Choo alongside Pink Pigeon Rum (both proud Mauritian exports) are teaming up for a one-off event at Bedford & Strand restaurant featuring freshly made Mauritian food, rum tastings and cocktails and live Sega dance performances.
The pop-up is scheduled for the evening of Saturday 1 September, and my impression is that tickets (£37.75 each) are going fast. I’m really looking forward to the experience. Will you be there too?
Bedford & Strand is located at 1A Bedford Street, WC2E 9HH. For details and bookings visit
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged Bedford & Strand, cocktails, dance, dancing, Drink, London, London blog, mauritian, mauritian cuisine, mauritian food, mauritian rum, music, pink pigeon, pink pigeon rum, pop-up, preview, restaurant, rum, sega dance, supper clubs, supperclub, the strand, WC2, WC2E 9HH, yummy choo, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Destination Dining at its Best: Quantus, Devonshire Road, Chiswick
Another great restaurant to add to my list of this year’s best, Quantus offers an exquisite menu of modern European cuisine with a strong Latin influence and a wine list that’s inspired and decidedly Latin tinged as well. Service at this lovely little Chiswick local is formal and prompt yet exceptionally friendly, and the prices are a huge relief.
I’m an East London kinda of guy. Since moving to London in 2001, I’ve been creeping ever eastward in search of the perfect place for the way I want to experience this city. Up-and-coming with a discernibly underdog edge, a multiculti mix of everybody from everywhere and an excellent and still fast improving dining scene: Hackney, for the most part, seems to do it for me.
But then there’s Chiswick. Bucolic family-friendly Chiswick. To write about it is to resist or yield to the temptation to type out “l-e-a-f-y”. Chiswick’s been up-and-staying for ages. There’s no underdog edge to the place, save for constantly enduring everything east constantly stealing the limelight. Of course, if all that hubbub manages to keep the riffraff and hipsters downstream, then perhaps its for the better. Whenever I’m in Chiswick, I see more smiling faces on folks of all sorts out having a good time than I do pretty much anywhere else in town. And, whenever I am in Chiswick it’s to eat.
Chiswick has an amazing cluster of fantastic eateries and is easily one of the tastiest dining destinations in all of London. It’s somewhere I’d happily tramp across town to visit for a destination dine, specifically for another go at Quantus. Just last week, I discovered and fell in love with Quantus and am now craving a repeat. Food, wine, service … every aspect of my dinner impressed and I can’t think of any reason not to recommend this Devonshire Road fine dining restaurant.
The Quantus menu is succinct and nicely priced. Monday to Thursday supper runs two courses priced at £19.50 or three at £23.50. On Friday and Saturday prices are two courses at £23.50 or three at £27.50. Still it’s a toughie from which to choose as everything amounts to a mouthwatering read. I can vouch for the “Phuket inspired” scallops and gambas for your starter while affirming that the veal and prosciutto Milanese with creamy spinach and roquette vinaigrette is as satisfying as it sounds. Allow me also to suggest a wine since I’m on a roll. Tapiz Reserve Chardonnay (Mendoza, 2009) is a vanilla perfumed winner that seems to pair nicely with an infinite variety of dishes. Of course, if you don’t care for my ordering advice, you’ll be in good hands with owners Leo and Enes calling the shots and Argentinean executive chef Juan Zuliani working his magic in the kitchen.
Besides the food, you’ll find service to be top notch and the venue to be an elegant and relaxing setting for celebrating special occasions, enjoying romantic dinners and having an exemplary taste of what makes Chiswick such a delicious destination.
Quantus is located at 38 Devonshire Road, W4 2HD. Find out more at quantus-london.com.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged chardonnay, chiswick, devonshire road, Drink, fine dining, Food, latin food, London, London blog, modern european, new restaurant review, restaurant, restaurant review, review, set menu, Tapiz Reserve, Tapiz Reserve Chardonnay, veal, W4, W4 2HD, wine, wine blog, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Exit 6
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, street photography, WATERLOO, WATERLOO STATION, york road, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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NFL in the UK (CheapOair)
Photo by Roberto Arias
Every year since 2007, a regular season game of good ole NFL American football has been played at Wembley Stadium in London. Plans for the 2013 season keep with this well established trend but actually up the ante with not just one but two NFL International Series games slated to be played at the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium, the world’s largest stadium with all seats under cover.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, London, Sports, Travel
Tagged american football, american football in london, block party, cheapoair, Jacksonville Jaguars, London, London blog, Minnesota Vikings, nfl, NFL block party, NFL in London, NFL International Series, NFLUK, Pittsburgh Steelers, regent street, San Francisco 49ers, soho, sports, Travel, W1, wembley, wembley stadium, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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A Visit to Jude’s Ice Cream Dairy (Great British Chefs)
Yes, there is a Jude (Judith actually) behind the scenes of this Hampshire-based premium ice cream maker. But the story of her eponymous treats is really about her husband, Theo. Finding himself suddenly and unexpectedly on the other side of a career in banking, Theo had time on his hands along with a bit of capital and a garage in which to tinker. He also had the acumen to realise a huge gap in the British ice cream market and the pluck to go about filling it.
Read my complete post at Great British Chefs.
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Posted in England, Food, Great British Chefs, Shopping
Tagged british ice cream, Chow Mezgar, cows, dairy, dessert, england, Food, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, hampshire, Holstein Freisian, ice cream, Jude Mezgar, jude's, jude's ice cream, Judith Mezgar, Matterly Farm, milk, premium ice cream, Shopping, Theo Mezgar
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Brindisa Brings “Green Spain” to Your Door
One of my favourite food shops in London just got yummier with the introduction of a new range of gastronomic goodies from Spain’s verdant north.
So, the last time I wrote about Brindisa, I was noshing on an epic brekkie en Español at Brindisa’s London Bridge/Borough Market tapas bar. This time round, I’m still eating exceptionally well but Brindisa has brought the goods to me with a chance to sample their newly launched Green Spain range of “artisanal gems from the northern regions of Spain that previously only the Spanish have been lucky enough to have in their home kitchens.”
Green Spain items available for online purchase include heather honey (from Cantabria, £9.95/500g); raw milk tetilla (from Galicia, £16.75/850g minimum); smoked anchovy fillets (from the Basque Country, £6.75/100g); salt cod (from the Basque Country, £9.25/300g) and more. I’ve had the delectable pleasure of trying much of the range and can affirm that it’s all good. The anchovy fillets in particular are gorgeous and offer an easy way to add umph to any meal or snack. Fans of smoky flavour should enjoy these fishy treats immensely.
The tetilla is gorgeous as well. I was already a fan of this Galician cheese. In fact, it’s one of my favourites. So I was glad to find out about Brindisa now stocking it. I love the milky taste and the cool buttery texture. It melts nice and smooth and is great on its own, or with a variety of dishes. Tetilla keeps well too, and without being too stingy or holding back I’ve been enjoying the heck out of this “litttle tit” for a couple of weeks.
As much hype as the food from Barcelona and Southern Spain seem to receive here in the UK, it’s worth noting that – at least in my humble opinion – much of the best Spanish cuisine comes from the country’s rainy and rugged north. Brindisa’s Green Spain products showcase the climate, landscape and culture of this region with delectable results.
Find out more at brindisa.com/store/green-spain.
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Posted in Food, London, Shopping
Tagged anchovies, artisanal food, bacalao, basque country, brindisa, cantabria, cheese, Food, galicia, green spain, heather honey, honey, London, London blog, online shopping, product review, raw milk cheese, review, salt cod, Shopping, smoked anchovies, smoked anchovy fillets, spain, spanish, spanish cuisine, spanish food, tapas, tetilla, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Summer Street
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, hackney, ice cream, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, signage, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Clothes Club Fashion Swap @ Dalston Roof Garden, 7 to 11pm, 4 September
Just passing the word along about this special evening of clothes swapping, networking and raising money for social enterprises and the local community in Hackney. I plan to make it there. Hope you can too!
Help raise money for social enterprise and the local community while enjoying a chance to swamp three items of quality clothing that you would be proud to offer someone else for three different items. There’s a raffle too with prizes from Tokyo Bike, Move Your Frame, Deliverance and many more.
Proceeds will go to a project with the Bootstrap Company, aka the home of Dalston Roof Park. Local Muralist, Nazir Tanbouli is working with ten youngsters from Hackney, painting a five-floor high mural on the central staircase of the Bootsrap buillding. Their aim is for the children to feel inspired to take on creative projects of their own, and to teach them to work together as a team.
Dalston Roof Garden is located at 18 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL. Find out more at clothesclubuk.net.
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Posted in Art, Fashion, London, Shopping
Tagged 18 Ashwin Street, bootstrap company, clothes club, clothes swap, dalston, Dalston Roof Garden, deliverance, E8 3DL, east london, fashion, fashion swap, hackney, London, London blog, move your frame, murals, nazir tanbouli, roof garden, Shopping, the clothes club, TOKYO BIKE, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Immersive Theatre Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray at “Dorian Gray’s Townhouse”
The Picture of Dorian Gray Creative Director (Samuel Orange) with Dorian Gray (River Hawkins)
Over the weekend, I caught a press night performance of The Alchemic Order’s production of the Oscar Wilde classic The Picture of Dorian Gray. An immersive piece of theatre set in an actually lived-in Georgian townhouse, the play served as an excellent opportunity to enjoy a piece of great literature brought to life while getting to snoop round a bit in someone else’s home.
Director Samuel Orange (brother of Take That’s Jason Orange, who was in attendance the night I went) presented an intriguing adaptation of Dorian and despite a few foibles and liberties achieved a fantastic rendering by striking the right (and rather eerie) tone expressing deep appreciation for his material.
Acting varied in quality, but Wilde’s language more than carried itself and even a cold reading from people unfamiliar with this modern fable of vanity would have compelled. Set design by architects Feix&Merlin made smart use of interiors and exteriors, even offering a few “ooh ah” moments to the performance and utilising the space in such a way as to effectively transform the house into an integral character.
The Picture of Dorian Gray runs Tuesday to Saturday until the 28 September at an undisclosed location within a few minutes’ walk of Greenwich rail and DLR stations. (exact address revealed upon booking). Tickets are £35 (£25 on Tuesdays) and include wine and nibbles upon reception as well as at intermission and at the end of the play. Find out more and make a booking at thealchemicorder.com.
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Posted in Books, London, Theatre
Tagged books, dorian gray, feix and merlin, feix&merlin, georgian townhouse, greenwich, immersive theatre, immersive theatre review, jason orange, literature, live performance, London, London blog, oscar wilde, play, review, river hawkins, sam orange, samuel orange, south london, take that, the alchemic order, the picture of dorian gray, theatre, theatre review, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Shoreditch High Street
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged E1, east london, hackney, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, shoreditch, shoreditch high street, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a £100 Voucher from Zalando: UK’s Largest Online Wardrobe
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Online fashion shopping with free shipping? That’s the offer from Zalando, the UK’s largest online wardrobe. And guess what? I’ve got a Zalando gift voucher worth £100 to share with one lucky reader.
With autumn fast approaching, having a look at Zalando’s vast selection of outdoor jackets wouldn’t be a bad idea. There are loads of excellent Jack Wolfskin jackets alone in a variety of colours and styles for every budget and need.
Of course, Jack Wolfskin is just one of the many outstanding brands available from Zalando. Adidas, Bench, Ben Sherman, Birkenstock, Camper, Clarks, Converse, Crocs, Desigual, Diesel, French Connection, Guess, Lacoste, Levi’s, Miss Sixty, Nike, The North Face, Oakley, Pretty Ballerinas, Roxy, Sisley, Ted Baker, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans and a whole lot more are all there for you to browse. And shoppig for an outdoor jacket was but one seasonal example of the possible purchases you can make through Zalando. You’ll find shoes, clothing and plenty of accessories for sale along with a Premium shopping option and a well stocked Home section too.
So what do you have to do to win the £100 voucher? Easy peasy. Simply tweet the following:
Good luck and please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 23 August 2013 (noon, British time). The winner will receive a voucher code worth £100 at Zalando.co.uk. Please note, there is a minimum purchase amount which is half of what the voucher code is worth, and the voucher can only be used once as the remaining credit if you don’t spend it all will not be left on your account. The code is good until 31 December 2013.
About Zalando
Clothes, accessories, sports items, beauty products … Zalando offers an extensive product selection, excellent customer service and an easy and secure online shopping experience with free delivery and free returns. When you place an order online at Zalando, you won’t have to pay a penny extra for delivery. It really is completely free, regardless of the total cost of your order. It is also free to send any unwanted purchases back , as long you send the item(s) back to the Zalando warehouse within 30 days of placing your order. No catches. Just free delivery and free returns.
Find out more at zalando.co.uk.
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
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Posted in Competition, Fashion, Freebies, Shopping
Tagged #LargestOnlineWardrobe, £100, adidas, ben sherman, bench, Birkenstock, brands, Camper, Clarks, competition, contest, converse, Crocs, Desigual, Diesel, fashion, free, free shopping, freebies, French Connection, gift voucher, Guess, Jack Wolfskin, Lacoste, Levi's, Miss Sixty, nike, Oakley, Pretty Ballerinas, Roxy, RT to win, shoes, Shopping, Sisley, social media, Ted Baker, The North Face, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, trainers, twitter competition, UK's largest online wardrobe, vans, win a £100 voucher, zalando, zalando gift voucher, zalando.co.uk
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London Daily Photo: Kick
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, hackney, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, shoreditch, shoreditch high street, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London to Host World’s First Contemporary African Art Fair This October (OneTravel)
To be held during Frieze Week, the new fair will build on the growing popularity of contemporary African art and present a rare opportunity to explore the rapidly emerging African art market. From painting and sculpture to photography, 1:54 will present visual African art in its many forms giving collectors, art enthusiasts and the culturally curious a chance to experience and engage with African art in a new context.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Art, London, OneTravel, Travel
Tagged 1:54, 1:54 african art fair, 1:54 art fair, african art, african art fair, african contemporary art, Art, art fair, contemporary art, frieze art fair, Frieze London, Frieze London 2013, London, London blog, OneTravel, somerset house, Travel, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Zoo City
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged cctv, east london, hackney, Hackney Road, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Free Copy of Omar Allibhoy’s New Book: Tapas Revolution
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy‘s Tapas Revolution. It’s a really handy cookbook featuring more than 100 recipes and plenty of tasty full-page photos of gorgeous tapas. Keep reading to find out how you too can get a free copy of this practical and fun-to-read book.
The launch party was held at Omar’s tapas bar at Westfield London (he’s got another outlet at Blue Water in Kent as well) and proved to be a fantastic opportunity for me to sample a delectable range of tapas. Check out all the dishes I got to try during the event:
- Jamon Iberico;
- Salmorejo with bread – chilled tomato dip;
- Boquerones – marinated anchovies;
- Tortilla de Patatas – Spanish omelettes;
- Pimientos de Padron – fried Padron peppers;
- Pulpo a la Gallega – octopus with potatoes and paprika;
- Calamares Fritos – fried squid;
- Pollo en Pepitoria – Moorish chicken;
- Pinchos Morunos con Mojo Picon – Moorish skewers of beef;
- Papas Arrugadas con Mojos – “wrinkled” potatoes with “mojo” sauce;
- Croquetas de Jamon – ham croquettes;
- Crema Catalana – Catalonian custard pots; and last but certainly not least …
- Churros con Chocolate!
In addition to the authentic Spanish cuisine, the bar serves fantastic Spanish libations including some of the best sangria you’re apt to have this side of the Bay of Biscay.
I’m pleased to report that besides being a wiz in the kitchen, Omar is a super friendly and down-to-earth guy with a simple aim: make Spanish cooking more accessible for the people of Britain. With an eatery in the heart of Westfield and the publication of his attractive and practical book featuring 120 classic Spanish recipes, I’d say he’s doing a brilliant job.
I’m also happy to let you know that I’ve got an extra copy of Tapas Revolution to share with one lucky reader.
For a chance to win a free copy of Omar’s new book all you’ve got to do is share your favourite tapas dish with Omar and me. Simply tweet the following:
“ Hola @tapasrevolution y @tikichris! My favourite tapas dish is [NAME OF DISH]. http://bit.ly/15NmymO ”
Best of luck! Please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Sunday the 18th of August at 5pm (British time). The winner will receive one copy of Tapas Revolution by Omar Allibhoy. To be eligible to win, you need to follow both @tikichris and @tapasrevolution on Twitter and have an address in the UK where the book can be posted.
Find out more about Omar Allibhoy at tapasrevolution.com.
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
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Posted in Books, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, London, Recipes, Restaurants, Shopping, Wine
Tagged bar, blue water, book review, books, competition, contest, cookbook, cookbook review, free, freebies, London, London blog, omar allibhoy, recipe book, recipes, shepherd's bush, Shopping, spanish, spanish bar, spanish cookbook, spanish restaurant, tapas, tapas bar, tapas recipes, tapas restaurant, tapas revolution, twitter competition, westfield, westfield london, win a free book, win a free cookbook, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Explore London’s South Bank (CheapOair)
… have a look at all the fun waiting for you on the south side of London’s historic River Thames. Here’s a list of the area’s top attractions. Of course, you’ll find fantastic hotels located amid these great venues. It’s a well connected part of town as well with a handful of Tube stations and rail services – even Thames Clipper river boat services – all just an easy stroll away.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, London, Movies, Travel
Tagged aquarium, BFI IMAX, BFI Southbank, cheapoair, EDF Energy London Eye, ferris wheel, Florence Nightingale Museum, IMAX, Imperial War Museums, IWM London, lambeth, London, London Aquarium, London blog, London Duck Tours, London Dungeon, london eye, river thames, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, south bank, southbank, southwark, thames, The London Dungeon, WATERLOO, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: High Bars and Bold
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged borough, borough market, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, SE1, south london, southwark, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Eating Bugs and Pests at the Rentokil Pestaurant (Great British Chefs)
Everybody seems to be hosting a pop-up restaurant thing these days. Even pest control experts, Rentokil, are in on the act now with a free one-day pop-up featuring a range of creepy crawly dishes.
Read my complete post at Great British Chefs.
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Posted in Food, Great British Chefs, London, Restaurants
Tagged bugs, burger, city of london, crickets, eating bugs, eating insects, extreme food, Food, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, hamburger, insects, London, mealworms, one change place, pestaurant, pests, pigeon burger, pop-up review, popup, rentokil, restaurants, st paul's, stress
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4 Mexico City Blogs en Inglés (CheapOair)
Of course, such a huge metropolis has a lot to offer whatever your reasons for traveling, but finding out about what’s on and worth checking out while visiting “the DF” can be a challenge. Here’s a list of four blogs about Mexico City, written in English and sharing all sorts of tips and insights.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in Blogs, CheapOair, Food, Mexico, Photography, Travel
Tagged Blogs, David Lida, Food, Good Food in Mexico City, mexican blogs, mexico, mexico city, mexico city blogs, Mexico City: An Opinionated Guide, Photography, photography blogs, The Gringo Honeymoon, The Mija Chronicles, Travel
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Sweet Thursday: De Beauvoir Town Pizzeria Pleases Any Day of the Week
Sweet Thursday is a new(ish) pizzeria and wine shop in De Beauvoir Town. The shop’s unusual name pays homage to a novel by John Steinbeck. Look it up. As far as I’m concerned the Sweet Thursday folks could call their friendly establishment Sour Monday, and I’d still rave about it. The pizzas are proper and the atmosphere ideal for a casual meal any day of the week.
I could rave about the fun interior design, the spacious dining area, the smiling staff, the great wine (a bottle of spiced-honey hinted Ego Organic Monastrell 2011 for £23.50 was a treat!) and whole bunch of other highlights from my recent visit, but there’s only one thing I really want to stress the greatness of: the pizza.
Sure, my starter course of nduja doughballs with garlic butter (£3.50) was the epitome of yummy. A side of oven roasted chicory with anchovies (£4.50) was umami-rific too. But it’s the pizza that won my heart. An old fashioned, plain Jane, back-to-basics Margherita (£7.50) did the job as a true Neapolitan style pizza from a wood-fired oven should! Gummy crust with a slightly charred edge, melty soupy centre of mozzarella and tomato sauce convergence … just thinking about that gorgeous pie makes be want to get back to Sweet Thursday soon. Word is they’ve just started doing weekend brunch. Hmmm …
De Beauvoir Town isn’t all that far from where I live and tend often to find myself. Still, whenever there it feels very removed from the rest of London. I visited on a Monday night with Kemey. It was our first “date night” in awhile and Sweet Thursday seemed a suitable setting for a low key catch up. The place was pretty hopping for a Monday night too.
Sweet Thursday is located at 95 Southgate Road, N1 3JS. Find out more at sweetthursday.co.uk.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Shopping
Tagged DE BEAUVOIR TOWN, de beauvoir town pizzeria, east london, Ego Organic Monastrell 2011, hackney, haggerston, islington, italian cuisine, italian food, italian restaurant, London, London blog, N1, N1 3JS, nduja, neapolitan pizza, new restaurant review, pizza, pizza review, pizzeria, pizzeria review, red wine, restaurant, restaurant review, review, SOUTHGATE ROAD, Sweet Thursday, wine, wine shop, wood-fire oven, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Hackney Road
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, hackney, Hackney Road, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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5 Fun Puerto Rico Blogs (OneTravel)
Heading down to Puerto Rico for some Caribbean fun in the sun? Have a look at these five fine Puerto Rican blogs featuring local insight about what makes this friendly island such a great destination.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Blogs, OneTravel, Travel
Tagged Blogs, CARIBBEAN, OneTravel, puerto rico, puerto rico blogs, Travel, travel blogs
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Mariachi Doritos Jukebox @Yahoo! Wireless Festival London
You’ve come across Doritos’ Mariachi ad campaign, right? Hilarious and catchy stuff! It features a traditional Mexican Mariachi band performing classic rock ‘n’ roll and pop hits mostly from the 80s. Apparently the band even hit the stage at the recent Yahoo! Wireless Festival performing as a sort of live jukebox. Check out the above video (sponsored by Spreaditfast) for highlights.
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Posted in Food, London, Music, Shopping, Video
Tagged chips, corn chips, doritos, doritos mariachi ad, Food, i love rock 'n' roll, joan jett, London, mariachi, Mariachi Doritos Jukebox, mexican, mexican music, mexican musis, music, music video, nachos, SPONSORED POST, tortilla chips, Video, wireless festival, yahoo! wireless festival
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London Daily Photo: 100 H 1
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Posted in Graffiti, London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged east london, Graffiti, hackney, HACKNEY WICK, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, Photography, photography blog, signage, street art, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: 27A, Brick Lane
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged beetle, brick lane, convertible, east london, LDP, leopard skin, leopard skin print, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, parking space, Photography, photography blog, street photography, tower hamlets, volkswagen, vw, VW Beetle, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Delicious Takeaway at an Outstanding Price: Bánh Mì Hoi-An, Hackney Central
It’s nice to give someone a fiver for a filling and freshly made lunch and still get some change back. Being served something scrumptious at great value and leaving with the feeling that your patronage was truly appreciated is part and parcel at Bánh Mì Hoi-An, a fantastic Vietnamese sandwich bar round the corner from Hackney Central Overground station.
Judging by how many times I visit Bánh Mì Hoi-An, I reckon the place is my favourite eatery in London. Part of the reason I go so often is proximity to my flat. Honestly though, it’s not that close to where I live, and I pass all sorts of decent lunchtime alternatives along my way. Price has a lot to do with it too. Seriously, a massive sandwich with drink for less than £5? It can be done.
Of course, the fact is I love bánh mì. Plus, these guys do a mean grilled catfish baguette (£4.50), and I absolutely adore catfish. I could rave about the pork belly sandwich as well. It offers a lot of yum for only four quid. The “Cold Play” is tasty too. Loaded with pork belly, pork roll, paté, mayo, soy sauce, pickles and salad – it costs a mere £3.50 and is the only sandwich on the menu prepared and wrapped in advance (so, it’s a smart choice when you’re really in a rush). Bánh Mì Hoi-An serves a variety of salads and summer rolls as well. Word is the place is open in the evenings now and maybe (check first!) on the weekends too.
Bánh Mì Hoi-An is located at 242 Graham Road, E8 1BP. There’s no website that I can find, but the phone number is +44 (0) 7933 271616.
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Posted in Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged baguette, banh mi, Bánh Mì Hoi-An, E8 1BP, east london, Food, Graham Road, hackney, HACKNEY CENTRAL, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, lunch, lunch review, restaurant review, review, sandwich, sandwich review, takeaway, vietnamese, vietnamese baguettes, vietnamese cuisine, vietnamese food, vietnamese restaurant, vietnamese takeaway, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: Aplomb
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged dayglow, E1, east london, hackney, heels, LDP, London, London blog, London Daily Photo, neon, Photography, photography blog, platform shoe, sandal, shoe, shoreditch, shoreditch high street, street photography, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Free Illy IperEspresso Coffee Machine
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Quality Italian espresso at the press of a button in your own home? Oh yeah! I’ve got a nifty IperEspresso Coffee Machine from Illy up for grabs.
I recently spent a morning at London’s University of Coffee with Illy’s Head of Quality, Marco Arrigo. This man knows his coffee, not to mention how to pull a perfect espresso. If you ever get the chance to sit in on a session with Marco, go for it! I learned about what makes a great cup of coffee and why the Illy brand is practically a seal of approval guaranteeing a cuppa joe that’s well above average.
During my caffeinated crash course in all things coffee, Marco introduced me to Illy’s range of IperEspresso coffee capsule machines. He even arranged for one to be delivered to my home. Honestly, I was sceptical. I’ve had disastrous results using these sorts of contraptions in the past. I won’t mention the other brands I tried, but they really put me off the whole capsule coffee concept.
I must admit though, after a week or so with my IperEspresso, I’ve genuinely been impressed with the fine and hassle-free coffee I’ve been making with it. In fact I like the thing so much, I enquired about the opportunity to share one of the machines with my readers. Luckily for you, Marco agreed.
Marco sent me the Y1.1 Touch IperEspresso Machine. It’s a straightforward coffee-only machine. As I don’t take milk (or sugar) with my coffee, it’s ideal for me. However, I’m aware that most folks like milk with their coffee. So for this friendly little giveaway, I’ve got a X7.1 IperEspresso Machine to share. Retailing at just under £200, the X7.1 comes with the capsule coffee element along with its own milk frother. It’s an awesome piece of coffee kit.
In addition to this one freebie machine on offer, there’s a 25% off voucher code for everybody to take advantage of as well. Keep reading for details on how to win the X7.1 and to redeem the voucher code.
To be in with a chance to win the X7.1 IperEspresso Machine from Illy simply tweet the following:
Best of luck! Please take a moment to read the terms and conditions before tweeting!
T&C
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 16 August 2013 at noon (British time). The winner will receive one Francis Francis X7.1 IperEspresso Machine with 14 Illy iIperEspresso coffee capsules. To be eligible to win, you need to have an address in the UK where the machine can be shipped.
25% Off Voucher Code
This competition is only for one person to receive one prize. But check it out! For 25% off a purchase of any Illy machine or products at espressocrazy.com use this voucher code: TIKICHRIS.
About the X7.1 IperEspresso Machine
The X7.1 is the evolution of the original X7 machine: its modern and strong visual design – by architect Luca Trazzi – combines with even more advanced technology to make preparation of espresso and cappuccino easier and faster.
Just insert an iperEspresso capsule. With one touch, the perfect illy espresso brews into the cup without any contact with the machine. One touch brews perfect espresso with consistent quality every time and creamy, thick and velvety frothed milk.
More info about the X7.1 here.
COMPETITION IS NOW OVER AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING TIKICHRIS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR LOTS MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Check out more tikichris competitions.
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Posted in Coffee, Competition, Discounts and Special Offers, Drink, Food, Freebies, Shopping, Social Media
Tagged 25% discount, 25% off, cafe, caffe, cappuccinos, coffee, coffee blog, coffee capsule espresso, coffee capsule machine, coffee capsules, coffee machine, coffee machine review, coffee machine voucher code, coffee maker, competition, contest, discounts, discounts and special offers, Drink, espresso crazy, espresso maker, espressocrazy.com, Food, francis francis, Francis Francis X7.1 IperEspresso Machine, free, free coffee, freebies, head of quality, illy, illy coffee, illy head of quality, illy voucher code, iperespresso, IperEspresso Machine, lattes, marco arrigo, review, special offers, tikichris special, voucher code, WIN, win a free illy espresso maker, X7.1, Y1.1, Y1.1 touch, Y1.1 TOUCH IperEspresso Machine
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5 Hot Miami Blogs (OneTravel)
Whether you heading to Miami for the food, the culture or simply to bask in the sun, this city famously has something for everyone and is an excellent destination no matter what kind of vacation you have in mind. To help you make the most of your sizzling South Florida break, here’s a list of five Miami area blogs that are as fun to read as they are filled with useful tips.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Art, Blogs, Drink, Florida, Food, Music, OneTravel, Travel
Tagged Blogs, Boy Writes Miami, florida, Food for Thought (a Miami Food Blog), MIAMI, miami alive, miami bloggers, miami's best blogs, music, OneTravel, south florida, the chowfather, Travel
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