Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
London Daily Photo: Here We Go
Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, LDP, London, LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, paralympics, Photography, smartphone, street photography, thames
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Warhol/Mauro at Halcyon Gallery, London (CheapOair)
On now at Halcyon Gallery in London is a unique exhibition combining rare and original work by pop art pioneer and icon, Andy Warhol, and Italian contemporary artist, Mauro Perucchetti.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in Art, Celebrities, CheapOair, London, Travel
Tagged ANDY WARHOL, Art, bond street, cheapoair, contemporary art, gallery, HALCYON GALLERY, London, MAURO PERUCCHETTI, mayfair, POP ART, review, W1, WARHOL/MAURO
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William Morris Gallery Reopens in Walthamstow, North London (CheapOair)
Now having been transformed into a new world class destination and “international center of excellence” for the study of all things Morris, the childhood home of this famed polymath’s has reopened to the public as a gallery offering an unprecedented (and free!) opportunity to explore the life and work of one of the most important creative artists and original thinkers of the 19th century.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in Art, CheapOair, Design, London, Travel
Tagged ARTS & CRAFTS, cheapoair, design, gallery, GEORGIAN MANSION, London, VICTORIAN, WALTHAMSTOW, WATERHOUSE, WILLIAM MORRIS, WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
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London Daily Photo: Duke Street Moves
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, duke street, LDP, London, London Daily Photo, marylebone, mobile photography, mural, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, painting, Photography, smartphone, street art, street photography, thames, W1
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Recipe: Pascal Aussignac’s Crushed Potato with Green Olives
Another super easy recipe with just a few basic ingredients a la the Great British Chefs’ collection of vegetarian recipes – this one by Pascal Aussignac.
And therein that simple phrase lies a bunch of brilliant reasons for me to give this recipe a go. One, as said, it’s amazingly easy. Two, it’s cheap. Three, I’ve got a lot of green olives left from the last recipe I blogged about. Four, I’m a huge fan of Aussignac’s kitchen craft; one of my finest dining experiences ever was at his Club Gascon. And last but certainly not least, this dish especially filling and really healthy too. Yeah.
Here’s what you need to make Aussignac’s crushed potato with green olives recipe: King Edward potatoes, butter, green olives, rock salt, black pepper and olive oil. Throw in the time it takes to oven bake the potatoes and voilà! That’s it. The only thing I did that altered from the recipe’s directions was to not peel the potatoes. Just a personal preference. But I love how straight ahead the recipe is and how just a few ordinary green olives can turn something potentially bland into a whole new flavoursome treat.
Obviously, this dish would be awesome served as a side to any number of mains and would be a real improvement (without much effort) on what too many people usually do to potatoes. The recipe calls for far less dairy than most mashed, smashed or other potato recipes too … relying on the green olives to bring out the umph. I can see it going particularly well with a variety of fish dishes. But, I’ve got to say, crushed potatoes with green olives is tasty enough to have on its own with a mere salad.
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Posted in Food, Great British Chefs, London, Recipes, Restaurants
Tagged CRUSHED POTATO WITH GREEN OLIVES, CRUSHED POTATOES, FRENCH COOKING, french cuisine, french restaurants, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, GREEN OLIVES, KING EDWARD POTATOES, London, OLIVES, Pascal Aussignac, POTATO RECIPE, POTATO RECIPES, POTATOES RECIPES, recipe, review, SIDE DISH, vegetarian, VEGETARIAN RECIPE
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This Bright Field (Blue Tomato)
This Bright Field is a welcome addition to the East London dining scene. Sourcing British regional produce to create straightforward and prettily presented seasonal dishes, head chef Matt Casey (formerly of Koffman’s and The Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room) and his crew have positioned themselves well to raise the standards in an already delicious part of town.
Read my complete review at Blue Tomato.
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Posted in Beer, Blue Tomato, Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged bethnal green, BLUE TOMATO, broadway market, cafe, cambridge heath, cambridge heath road, E2, E2 9DA, english food, florist, hackney, London, london fields, new restaurant, pollack, REGENTS CANAL, review, this bright field, vyner street, wine
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London Daily Photo: Enjoy Our Olympic Stadium Canal Terrace View
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, canal, HACKNEY WICK, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC STADIUM, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, OLYMPIC STADIUM, Photography, REGENTS CANAL, smartphone, street photography
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Wine of the Month: Blue Nun Rivaner Riesling
No really. It’s good. A very chilled bottle of this fruity German quencher is as easy on the palate as it is on the wallet.
As an expat American, a sip of this the long established, and once wildly popular, blue bottled German white wine doesn’t taste as naff as it might to a lot of Brits. Sure, I’ve heard the jokes and know the stigma it and German wines have over here; it just doesn’t resonate with me all that strongly. In case you’re as cultural unaware as me, just Google “Blue Nun” to see what I’m gabbing about. Or check out this article from The Guardian which nicely sums up the “curse” of the Blue Nun as it educates readers with a concise history of British perceptions of German wine.
Still, for around a fiver (or less if you know where to shop), this Riesling yields tasty value. When you’re not so much looking to impress and just want something pleasant to drink, it’s worth keeping in mind. Apparently, the folks marketing Blue Nun have gone to great lengths to reposition the brand while the peeps actually making the stuff have aimed for a more balanced, off-dry and floral wine than the sweeter one of yore.
Obviously, Blue Nun’s not gunning to take the place of, say, a Burgundy Grand Cru, nor will it win my heart away from any of my favourite fine wines. But, there are ideal situations for this inexpensive and uncomplicated quaff. Sunny afternoon picnicking in the park? Perfect! Low key evening at home cooking? I must admit, it kept a steady pace with a snazzed up couscous recipe I recently attempted.
Blue Nun Rivaner Riesling along with the rest of the brand’s range are widely available in the UK. A Rivaner Riesling case of six 750ml bottles (2011 vintage) from Tesco costs £29.88.
Please have a look at my past WOTM selections for more recs. Thanks!
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Posted in Drink, Shopping, Wine, Wine of the Month
Tagged BLUE NUN, BLUE NUN RIVANER RIESLING, GERMAN WINE, OFF-DRY, review, RIESLING, RIVANER RIESLING, white wine, wine, Wine of the Month, wotm
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London “Supperheroes” Unite for a Good Cause (OneTravel)
Supper clubs are as trendy and topical as anything in London at the moment, and for the next couple of months, they’re not only a fun way to meet people and have a great meal, but also a great opportunity to help a very worthy cause.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Food, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, London, OneTravel, POP UPS, pop-up, restaurants, supper clubs, SUPPERHEROES, SUPPERHEROES SERIES
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London Daily Photo: Southbank Promenade
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, LDP, LOGO, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, MASCOT, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, river, river thames, smartphone, southbank, street photography, thames
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Win a Free Case of Carling Beer + a Three Foot Limited Edition Graffiti Kings Print
Want a case of beer and a limited edition print made by the Graffiti Kings?
Well, Carling wants to send one of my readers some free beer along with a specially commissioned three foot screen print on high quality canvas.
The print is the result of Carling asking its Facebook fans, “What makes Britain brilliant?” More than 100,000 folks responded. So, Carling decided to do something special with all the answers and commission the world famous Graffiti Kings to create a bespoke work of graffiti art, featuring all the things that Carling’s fans said made Britain great.
Do you want all that beer plus the print sent to you? Leave a comment below saying what you think “makes Britain brilliant.” I’ll pick one winner at random by Thursday evening (30 August 2012).
To enter and be legally eligible to win you need to be 18 years or older and living within the UK.
Good luck!
COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED/CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Original post with comments:
http://tikichris.wordpress.com/2012/08/26/win-a-free-case-of-carling-beer-a-three-foot-limited-edition-graffiti-kings-print/#comment-5073
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Posted in Art, Beer, Competition, Drink, England, Freebies, Graffiti, London, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Tagged bank holiday, beer, carling, competition, free, free beer, freebie, Graffiti, GRAFFITI KINGS, LIMITED EDITION PRINT, London, plunderfunk, prize, street art, WHAT MAKES BRITAIN BRILLIANT?
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Vinnie Nylon: POPTIMISM at High Roller Society
Another great show’s coming to High Roller Society:
Vinnie Nylon: POPTIMISM
High Roller Society
10 Palmers Road, E2 0SY
8 September – 7 October 2012
Vinnie Nylon has been involved in the street art and graffiti movement for over 25 years, producing walls, print, paintings, graphics and billboards for a variety of small and international companies and commissioners. This is his first ever solo show in London and will feature an all new body of work.
More:
highrollersociety.com/exhibitions/vinnie-nylon-poptimism
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Posted in Art, Graffiti, London
Tagged E2, E2 0SY, exhibition, gallery, Graffiti, high roller society, London, POP ART, STICKER ART, street art, VINNIE NYLON
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London Daily Photo: Overlord
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, knightsbridge, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, MANDEVILLE, MASCOT, MASCOTS, mayfair, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, smartphone, SOUVENIR, souvenirs, street photography, tourists, W1, WENLOCK
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GOLA X TADO Exhibition at Boxpark
This looks like fun! Plus, there’ll be music and free drinks during the 6 September launch. The show will run through the month.
GOLA X TADO Exhibition Launch
Boxpark
2-4 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6GY
Thursday 6 September, 6-9pm
Complimentary drinks for Boxpark Loyalty Card holders supplied by Havana Club Rum and Fever Tree
Music by DJ Boogie Blind
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Posted in Art, Design, Drink, London, Shopping
Tagged Art, BOXPARK, BOXPARK SHOREDITCH, container, DJ BOOGIE BLIND, E1, E1 6GY, exhibition, FEVER TREE, free, freebies, GOLA, GOLA X TADO, hackney, HAVANA CLUB RUM, London, pop-up, RETAIL, shipping containers, Shopping, shopping centre, shopping mall, shoreditch, TADO
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Win a Free Pair of Weekend Tickets to The Ledge – Streetwear and Action Sport Trade Show
Sunday 2nd through Tuesday the 4th of September will see action sports and lifestyle trade show, The Ledge, return to Kensington Olympia. Although this will only be the show’s third season, it’s already gained huge interest from folks in the streetwear and action sport industry and will host up to 200 action sports, skate and streetwear brands. The exhibitor list for 2012 is massive and will include Osiris, Element, DC Shoes, Globe, DVS, Lakai, Death Skateboards, Adio, Unabomber, Lord, Fallen, Etnies, Enjoi, Witchcraft, Steak Skateboard, Heathen, Cliche, and many more.
This year, The Ledge promises to be even bigger and better than before with the introduction of a new UK Pro Skate Competition on an Osiris Shoes mini ramp. Bored Skate Shack will be taking over the show’s retail village with bargains to offer one-off discount prices on clothing, decks, wheels, caps, trainers and related items. Plus, the UK’s biggest skateboarding magazine, Sidewalk, will be onsite selling its latest issues and giving away free stickers. There’ll also be food onsite along with a MADD Energy Bar concession.
2012 will be the first year spectators will be allowed to attend The Ledge. But only 650 tix will be available to the public.
Win a Free Pair of Weekend Tickets to The Ledge
Yep, there are scarce few tickets to this killer event. But, guess what, I’ve got a pair of ’em to share with my readers! Interested? All ya gotta do is leave a comment on this blog post answering this question:
What’s your favourite streetwear or action sport brand and why?
I’ll pick one winner at random on Friday 31 August 2012. Good luck!
Book Your Spectator Tickets to The Ledge
Limited tickets are currently available to attend The Ledge mini ramp competition sponsored by Osiris Shoes.
All spectators will receive Goody Bags as long as stocks last, which contains stickers, posters and some surprises. There’s also be food onsite along with a MADD Energy Bar within the spectators area.
Spectator tickets are available now for £16 for all 3 days, £10 for a single day or £40 for a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children). Call 0116 289 8249 to book and receive a 15% discount. Tickets will also be available to purchase on the day for full price.
More info at londonedge.com.
COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED/CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
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Posted in Competition, Freebies, London, Shopping
Tagged ACTION, ADIO, BORED SKATE SHACK, CLICHE, competition, DC SHOES, DEATH SKATEBOARDS, DVS, ELEMENT, ENJOI, ETNIES, EXTREME SPORTS, FALLEN, free, free tickets, freebies, GLOBE, HEATHEN, LAKAI, London, london edge, LONDON LEDGE, LORD, MINI RAMP, mini ramp competition, OSIRIS, OSIRIS SHOES, shoes, SKATEBOARDING, SKATEBOARDING COMPETITION, SKATEBOARDS, SKATERS, sneakers, SPORT, STEAK SKATEBOARD, STREETWEAR, THE LEDGE, THE LONDON EDGE, TRADE SHOW, TRADESHOW, trainers, UK PRO SKATE COMPETITION, UNABOMBER, WITCHCRAFT
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London Daily Photo: Lord’s
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged brompton road, camera phone, flag, knightsbridge, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, LORD'S, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, smartphone, street photography
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Stories Beat Stuff: What Would You Give up for a Free Trip to New Zealand?
Tourism New Zealand is back with its Stories Beat Stuff campaign offering a chance to win two new experiences – Culture Kaboom and City Splendour – worth about $30,000 for you and three of your friends with you! The idea behind Stories Beat Stuff is that you have to “trade to win” the trip. Keep reading for more details and check this video out to get a sense of just how much fun a holiday in New Zealand could be.
The Experiences
City Splendour: Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland. New Zealand’s are the three largest cities. Beautiful in and of themselves, but it’s what you can do in 30 minutes that makes them so unique. Go from a downtown club to whale watching. Eat at the hippest restaurant in town to watching for kiwi birds in the wild. Venture off the beaten track and moments later relax in your boutique hotel. The winner of the City Splendour trip will get VIP access to the best of urban NZ.
Culture Kaboom: New Zealand’s volcanic past has shaped both its infamous landscape and the culture of its people. The Culture Kaboom experience has plenty of both. The lucky duck who wins this experience will see the land come alive with boiling mud pools, steaming geysers and a hot water beach. This fiery landscape is the heartland of Maori culture. Make friends with the locals while digging a hangi, visiting a marae and fishing for your dinner. Thermal wonders, welcoming people, breathtaking landscapes and a whole lot of fun: the main reasons so many have ventured to New Zealand over the years… and excellent reasons for you to enter this competition.
“Okay. So, how do I enter?”
It’s pretty easy really. All you’ve got to do is submit a video or a photo of what you would trade for a trip to New Zealand. Then, pick three folks you’d like to take the trip with you, and share your entry round via Facebook/ Google+/ Twitter to get as many votes as possible. There’s a second prize draw just for voting. Vote for an entry and be in to win flights for two to New Zealand.
Me?
I’ve been to New Zealand. It’s one of the most scenic places on the planet. Te Anau, the Milford Sound, Aoraki (Mount Cook) … I could go on and on about all the beauty spots I got to visit and would love to see again. And then of course there’s the traditional Maori culture, the fantastic wine, great food, amazing museums. I did not get enough! An opportunity to return would be amazing. That City Splendour experience sounds especially appealing. And I love the idea of heading out for a bit of outdoor adventure with the knowledge that some city delights and a comfy hotel await me back in town. But what would I give up for free trip to NZ? How about something I’ve become rather attached to?
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Posted in Competition, Freebies, Travel, Video
Tagged competition, free, freebie, new zealand, nz, rhythm and vines, SPONSORED VIDEO, stories beat stuff, summer rhythm, tourism new zealand, Travel, Video, youtube
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London Daily Photo: Oxford Street
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, flag, john lewis, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, oxford circus, oxford street, Photography, smartphone, street photography, union jack
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Perfect Summer Recipe: Paul Heathcote’s Couscous
Wow. Believe it or not both Kemey and I were free last night. Nowhere to go, nothing to do, no one to catch up with. Boring? Not at all! It was a refreshing break in our otherwise especially hectic (if incredibly fun) summer calendar. We knew we wanted to stay in, relax and have a nice dinner for two to accompany a bottle of chilled white in the fridge but beyond that didn’t have much of an idea what we wanted to eat.
A ha! Hit up Great British Chefs for some last minute inspiration.
K’s vegetarian. So that narrowed things down for us. And GBC’s got a great collection of vegetarian recipes up on its site. Neither of us was really in the mood for preparing something even remotely labour intensive. Cheap was definitely a prerequisite as well. Add to that the need for something summery (as in not too heavy or apt to heat up our tiny top floor flat) and … voilà: Paul Heathcote’s couscous recipe came out the winner.
Following this recipe was an absolute breeze – but just hands-on enough and with the right number of fresh ingredients to give us a feeling like we were actually doing something meaningful with what little effort it took to whip up this delicious dish.
Yeah, it was easy. But not easy in the “duh” variety; it was ingenious in its simplicity (and now I really wanna come up with an opportunity for a scouting expedition to Heathcote’s Ribble Valley restaurant). Broad beans, fresh peas, sweetcorn, whole almonds, raisins, green olives, mint … summer summer summer … aaah. And all stuff available at pretty much any local supermarket.
Paul Heathcote’s couscous is a brilliant dish on its own, would be a welcome addition to any BBQ or picnic and is without doubt one that will be recreated again in my kitchen.
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Posted in England, Food, Great British Chefs, London, Recipes, Restaurants
Tagged COUSCOUS, COUSCOUS RECIPE, GBC, GREAT BRITISH CHEFS, London, Paul Heathcote, recipe, SUMMER RECIPE, vegetarian, VEGETARIAN RECIPE
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London Daily Photo: Recycling
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, games maker, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, smartphone, street photography
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Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida is a Modernized UK/USA Mash-up (CheapOair)
Troilus and Cressida – Shakespeare’s epic wartime tragedy of love and disillusionment – gets a modern makeover in the current joint production of the play by the UK’s well established Royal Shakespeare Company and New York’s gritty and cutting edge, The Wooster Group.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, England, London, Theatre, Travel
Tagged cheapoair, London, play, RIVERSIDE STUDIOS, ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, RSC, shakespeare, SHAKESPEAREAN THEATRE, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, SWAN THEATRE, theatre, TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, WARWICKSHIRE, WOOSTER GROUP, WORLD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2012
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Some of London’s Best Terraced Restaurants and Bars (OneTravel)
There’s still a bit of summer left and when the weather’s nice, dining al fresco or having a drink in the great urban outdoors feels great and offers a delectable opportunity to people watch.
Here’s a list of some of London’s most stylish restaurants and bars with terraced and outside seating …
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, OneTravel, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged BARS, CASSIS, DEAN STREET TOWNSHOUSE, FLORIPA, FORNATA, hotels, London, MOMO, OneTravel, OUTDOOR DINING, pizza east, PIZZA EAST PORTOBELLO, restaurants, sanderson, TERRACED BARS, TERRACED RESTAURANTS
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Getting Ready for the 2012 Paralympics (CheapOair)
… hold on – the fun’s not over yet. Indeed, some say those two weeks of Olympic sports were just a warm up for the real show of sporting achievement and competitiveness: the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, London, London 2012, Travel
Tagged cheapoair, London, london 2012, LONDON 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES, paralympics
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London Daily Photo: Of London
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged bus, camera phone, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, MANDEVILLE, MASCOT, MASCOTS, mayfair, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, POSING, smartphone, street photography, tourists, W1, WENLOCK
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Hayman’s Gin and England’s Longest Serving Gin Distilling Family
Sadly, I had to scoot out on the way too early side of a Hayman’s Gin masterclass with fifth generation distiller, James Hayman, a couple of Fridays ago. Luckily, I was able to stay long enough to learn a bit about the Hayman family and their nearly 150 year old connection to gin and to sip a bit of his family’s fine hooch.
First, the history lesson:
The Hayman family are the longest serving gin distilling family in England. The origin of Hayman Distillers dates back to 1863 when Christopher Hayman’s Great Grandfather, James Burrough, purchased a gin rectifying company in London. Following the sale of the original firm – Beefeater gin – in the late 1980s, the Hayman family retained part of the business. Today the Haymans continue the tradition of distilling and producing fine spirits. With five generations of expertise within Hayman Distillers, this “in house” family knowledge has been applied in developing a range of gins. The family’s gins are made using recipes from the archives and research along with modern methods of production to recreate traditional gin styles.
Now, on to the hooch:
Hayman’s is a good and intriguing range: there’s an 1850 Reserve, a London Dry, a botanically intensive Old Tom, a sloe gin, a Royal Dock (“senior service” navy style), and even a gin liqueur. In particular, the London Dry Gin seems a proper spirit for cocktails. James Hayman would want you to know it’s worth a taste due to its “careful and consistent balance of juniper, coriander, orange and lemon peel which is vital in crafting a classic style” of a London dry gin. I’d go along with that.
The Hayman’s Gin masterclass was held at Reform Social and Grill. Located within the Mandeville Hotel, it’s rolling along with the whole Victorian gin parlour schtick that’s apparently still fashionable. They do it well too, and the bartenders seemed to be a competent sort. Luckily, the space retains some of upscale comfort associated with the Mandeville.
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Free Tea Tastings at the Twinings Tea Shop, Westfield Stratford City
I was recently passing through Westfield Stratford City (something that’s happening a lot these days actually) and noticed the Twinings Tea Shop (lower ground floor near Boots) was offering free tastings as part of this age old English tea company’s year long celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
I reckon the tastings are ongoing and happening not just in Stratford but at the other Twinings locations as well. The tastings are definitely something worth keeping in mind and might be just the thing for picking up some perfect tea gifts.
Sponsored post
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Posted in Drink, England, Freebies, London, Shopping
Tagged afternoon tea, DIAMOND JUBILEE, free, freebies, London, SPONSORED POST, tea, TEA TASTING, TWININGS, TWININGS TEA SHOP, westfield, WESTFIELD STRATFORD CITY
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Damien Hirst at Tate Modern (OneTravel)
Love him or hate him, you’ve got to admit Damien Hirst knows how to raise eyebrows and elicit a strong reaction from his viewers. He also knows how to draw crowds.
Read my complete post at the OneTravel blog.
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Posted in Art, Celebrities, London, OneTravel, Travel
Tagged Art, DAMIEN HIRST, exhibition, London, RETROSPECTIVE, review, TATE, tate modern
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London Daily Photo: Newham 2012
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, NEWHAM, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, smartphone, street photography, VOLUNTEERS
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New Restaurant Review: Tommi’s Burger Joint, Marylebone Lane
Yep, more burgers for London. These latest come compliments of Icelandic entrepreneur Tomas Tómasson, who has launched nearly 20 restaurants and hotels (including the Hard Rock Cafe) back in his native Iceland and reckons now is the time to expand beyond his tiny island’s shores and capitalise on London’s currently “huge appetite” for burgers.
Tomas might well be on to something. He and his crew (I think they’re all Icelandic folk working there at the moment) certainly know how to flip a burger that’s as delicious as any I’ve had in London.
As ironic as visiting a “joint” on upmarket Marylebone Lane may be, it’s nonetheless a worthwhile endeavour. During my lunch there on Saturday afternoon, I was reminded of the sorts of local yocal dives I’d eaten at as a little kid riding around North Georgia with my dad. Seriously. Happy days darting around hilly highways in his truck running errands and pursuing odd jobs – and chowing down on down home chow at little independent eateries in small towns dotted along the countryside. Picnic tables with vinyl tablecloths and all that.
Proust had his madeleines. I’ve got charred medium rare cheeseburgers. And somebody from Iceland brought those memories back to me in a Marylebone restaurant?
Anyway, I digress. Back to Central London reality, the just under a tenner price for Tommi’s cheeseburger, fries and soda “offer of the century” felt a bit more in line with the demands of such a swish street. But you know what, I’d pay it again. It seemed to be yummy value for money and maybe even less expensive than other “best burger in London” options nearby.
Tommi’s Burger is located at 58 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2NX. And I liked just about everything about my meal there. The burgers are awesome. The fries are fine. The attitude is non-existent. Tomas and crew are even serving free coffee to their customers.
Make sure to try the cocktail sauce when you go . Apparently, this is the thing Icelandic expats in London are most excited to be able to eat again.
More info at burgerjoint.co.uk.
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Posted in Food, London, Restaurants
Tagged burgers, cheeseburgers, fast food, hamburgers, ICELANDIC, lunch, marylebone, MARYLEBONE LANE, new restaurant review, restaurants, TOMAS TÓMASSON, TOMMI'S, TOMMI'S BURGER JOINT, W1, W1U 2NX
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Win a Free Samsung Galaxy S3 Limited Edition London 2012 Olympics Flip Cover
Hey folks! Just quick post to let you know I got my hands on a few limited edition London 2012 Olympic Games themed flip covers for the Samsung Galaxy S3. They look pretty spiffy, are very London-y and sporty and retail for around £30.
I don’t even own a Galaxy S3, but would love to. So, I’m keeping one of these babies for myself just in case. But I might as well get rid of the rest of them. Right? So …
To be in with the chance to win one of five limited edition London 2012 Olympic flip covers for the Samsung Galaxy S3 simply leave a comment which includes a link your favourite article, blog post, image, etc from the London Olympics along with a brief description and why you like it so much.
I’ll pick five winners later this week.
Competition ends Friday (24 August 2012). Good luck!
COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED/CONTACTED. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR MORE FUN AND FREEBIES TO COME!
Original post with comments:
http://tikichris.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/win-a-free-samsung-galaxy-s3-limited-edition-london-2012-olympics-flip-cover/
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Posted in Competition, Freebies, London, London 2012
Tagged competition, FLIP CASE, FLIP COVER, free, freebies, GALAXY, GALAXY S3, GALAXY SIII, limited edition, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, mobile phones, S3, SAMSUNG, SAMSUNG GALAXY S3, SIII, smartphone
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London Daily Photo: Hyde Park Gold
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, Hyde Park, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, smartphone, street photography
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Trip to Colombia? Yes Please!
So as fun as a visit to the National Geographic Store in Knightsbridge (across the street from Harrods) might somehow be, I was not prepared for the sort of excitement generated during a recent “VIP cocktail party” celebrating National Geographic’s “Colombia in London” campaign. The event showcased some of Colombia’s most iconic sights and sounds – from traditional music to an authentic Barranquilla’s Carnival performance – along with a generous service of delicious cocktails and fresh juices and a veritable onslaught of irresistible canapés based upon traditional Colombian recipes.
To be fair, the Nat Geo shop is without doubt the sort of place someone like me should keep in mind. And by “like me”, I guess I mean anybody who’s into photography and has done a good bit of travelling but is still keen to keep exploring the world. During the party, I was ogling all sorts of cool stuff (books, travel accessories, clothing) that’d I’d love to own. It’s definitely a place I’ll be sure to visit a little nearer to Christmas and before any big trips. The shop’s cafe has a pleasant enough vibe too and – as at least was the case for this Colombian inspired evening – has the capacity to churn out some especially yummy food and drink.
Still, the vivid exuberance that took over that nice but essentially ordinary retail space absolutely blew me away … and zipped Colombia up from floating around somewhere on my “places to see” list to an absolute number one position with respect to where I really really really truly feel I must go soon. If that Barranquilla performance in a London store on a weekday night got me going, I can only imagine how much of a wow the real deal would be.
Yeah, Colombia’s been on my travel radar for some time. I mean, it’s the most biodiverse country in the world, with 3500 species of butterflies, a “coffee triangle” that’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and a culture that oozes with Latin charm. Plus, they’ve got beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean. The country’s come a long way since the cartel heyday of the 80s and 90s and has done much to shake off a bad reputation and make visitors know they are welcome and will be safe. They also know how to throw one helluva party and infuse wonder into an otherwise everyday setting.
More about Colombia and its “only risk” campaign:
http://www.colombia.travel/en/international-tourist/colombia/tourism-campaign
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La Patagonia: Bife de Lomo Love in Camden
The few months’ old La Patagonia restaurant near Mornington Crescent Station blends a rustic Argentine vibe with the mood of a proper local stand-by.
Just this side of kitsch, the restaurant’s dining space offers an endearing and cosy spot for a solid meal. Bare brick walls; lots of wooden furnishings; spare bold patterns; photos of gauchos doing their thing (along with framed pics of Argentine footballers) and bits of Argentine bric-a-brac set a restrained masculine tone for a just in off the pampas feel.
If you like your steaks bloody and your Malbec bloodier, this is the place for you. Beef is top quality; I loved my mega-chunk o’ bife de lomo (200g of Argentine fillet – £21). And, the handmade chorizos a la pomarola (£4.50) rock. During my visit last week, a glass of the punchy house Malbec (£4.50) – Colonia, Finca la Colonia, Bodegas Norton – seemed to size up both the home made sausages and my fillet perfectly.
As much as an excursion to this Camden eatery could easily be about downing amount massive amounts of grilled meat and little else, vegetarians and pescaterians need not shun La Patagonia. A serving of the Argentine classic Provoletta a la Patagonia (baked Provolone with char grilled red peppers and onions, £5.50) is a delectably stringy delight while grilled or oven baked seasonal veggies are equally pleasing. A massive side of mashed sweet potatoes (£3.50) is especially nice.
Rescoldo de Lubina (seabass cooked with olive oil and garlic and “buried in embers giving it a unique smoky taste” – £13) might not wow as much as some of the meatier options, but it does not underwhelm.
Photo/Kemey Lafond
An amazingly delicious Argentine take on tiramisu (presented in a mason jar, around £5) insists you somehow must save room for dessert.
La Patagonia is located at 31 Camden High Street, NW1 7JE. If its near to you, consider becoming a regular. Otherwise, the place is up there with some of London’s more noted Argentine steakhouses and better than a couple of big names that I can think of. Find out more at lapatagonia.co.uk.
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Posted in Drink, Food, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged ARGENTINE, ARGENTINIAN, BIFE DE LOMO, camden, CAMDEN HIGH STREET, CAMDEN TOWN, LA PATAGONIA, London, MALBEC, MORNINGTON CRESCENT, new restaurant review, NW1, NW1 7JE, restaurants, steak, steakhouse, wine
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London Daily Photo: BEAT
Taken with the Nokia 808 Pureview, the next breakthrough in photography featuring a 41 megapixel sensor camera with Carl Zeiss lens. More specs here.
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Posted in London, London 2012, London 2012 with the Nokia 808 PureView, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged camera phone, HACKNEY WICK, LDP, London, london 2012, london 2012 olympic games, London Daily Photo, mobile photography, nokia, nokia 808 pureview, Photography, smartphone, street photography
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Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway (CheapOair)
The only UNESCO World Heritage site in Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is a massive rock formation made up of tens of thousands of eerily shaped basalt columns jutting dramatically out from the sea.
Read my complete post at the CheapOair blog.
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Posted in CheapOair, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Travel
Tagged BASALT, cheapoair, GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, ireland, northern ireland, unesco world heritage site
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