Ray Lowry @ Idea Generation Gallery (Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art)

Ray Lowry @ Idea Generation Gallery
Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art, July 2010

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The exhibition is one of raw energy and of the legacy of punk rock, remembering not only Lowry and The Clash but a music industry that no longer exists and a rebellious counterculture that’s sadly no longer as prevalent.

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Ray Lowry @ Idea Generation Gallery

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Guru Event: The Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt with ‘my kind of phone’ was a Blast! (Qype does London)

Guru Event: The Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt with ‘my kind of phone’ was a Blast!
Qype does London, July 1st 2010

Team Hawaiian Pizza: Trader Vic's!

From Covent Garden to Mayfair, Qypers scoured, mocked and gawked at some of London’s weirdest food products in last night’s Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt hosted by ‘my kind of phone’, a Windows Phone UK initiative. Check out all the photos here on Flickr … Of course it wasn’t all ickily bizarre inedibles. Along the way there was filling and delicious free pizza offered by Adagio Pizza al Taglio (at their Greek Street and new Wardour Street locations!) with plenty of tasty cocktails and tidbits (ribs!) awaiting us in the Polynesian splendour of Trader Vic’s! Killer prizes a la my kind of phone and lots of laughs as we viewed our mobile shots from the hunt rounded out an excellent evening of extraordinary summer fun.

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Guru Event: The Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt with ‘my kind of phone’ was a Blast!

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London Daily Photo: Patch Eye at the Cake Shop

LDP 2010.07.01 - Patch Eye at the Cake Shop

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Ask a Concierge: Paul Still, Head Concierge at the London Hilton on Park Lane (Londonist)

Ask a Concierge: Paul Still, Head Concierge at the London Hilton on Park Lane
Londonist, June 30, 2010 2:30 PM

Paul Still

Starting out with a presumed temporary gig as a night porter some three decades ago, Paul Still stayed on to work his way up the many flights of Mayfair’s iconic London Hilton on Park Lane to not only become its Head Concierge but also to hold position as current president of the Society of Golden Keys, a professional association of “uniformed concierges serving in hotels of an acceptable standard”. In this, our latest Ask a Concierge interview, Paul shares his experiences catering to the needs of a diverse mix of tourists and business travellers as well as A-list celebrities and world leaders.

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Ask a Concierge: Paul Still, Head Concierge at the London Hilton on Park Lane

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Wine of the Month: 2008 Macon Bussieres, Le Monsard Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon 

Wine of the Month:  2008 Macon Bussieres, Le Monsard Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon

Tough times deserve great wine. Now, by no means am I suggesting anyone try to drink his or her problems away or seek solutions at the bottom of a bottle, but a good glass of wine can go a long way when having a sit down to make some long term life decisions. And on a hot summer’s day of heavy duty decision making, a crisp glass of 2008 Macon Bussieres, Le Monsard Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon should do the trick quite nicely. About half the folks I know (including yours truly) are going through some sort of major change these days. Here’s to us!

At £20.40 per bottle (or £18.35 per unsplit orders of 12), June’s WOTM isn’t as much of a ‘cheap bin’ pick as most of my past selections. Still, this organic and biodynamic Chardonnay is tasty value for money. Dry, light and ready to drink now (but should keep), it’s an ideal match for mid summer contemplations.

Of course, not everybody out there’s down in the dumps. Got a BBQ or celebration lined up? A bottle of chilled 2008 Macon Bussieres, Le Monsard Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon should complement any sunshiny plans you may have. It’s refreshing and one of the best warm weather quaffs I’ve come across in a long while.

Cheers … and cheer up!

For product details and more, visit Berry Bros & Rudd online at www.bbr.com or stop by their shop at 3 St James’s Street, SW1A 1EG.

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London Daily Photo: The Deepest

LDP 2010.06.30 - The Deepest

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London Daily Photo: Man.

LDP 2010.06.29 - Man.

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London Daily Photo: One Great George

LDP 2010.06.28 - One Great George

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London Daily Photo: Sisyphus Below

LDP 2010.06.27 - Sisyphus Below

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Guru Event: Free Screening of Toy Story 3 in 3D (Qype does London)

Guru Event: Free Screening of Toy Story 3 in 3D
Qype does London, June 26th 201

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Fancy a chance to catch up with Woody, Buzz and all their Toy Story pals? There’s a preview of Toy Story 3 in 3D at the Apollo Cinema Regent Street on Thursday the 8th of July with room for a couple of dozen Qypers to crash this free screening of what’s already the #1 movie of the summer in the States. And for the ultimate big screen experience, we’ll be watching this latest Pixar hit in glorious Sony 4K resolution.

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Guru Event: Free Screening of Toy Story 3 in 3D

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Chefspective: Rajesh Parmar, Head Chef at Silk (Londonist)

Chefspective: Rajesh Parmar, Head Chef at Silk
Londonist, June 25, 2010 2:00 PM

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Michelin-recommended restaurant, Silk, is located at the Courthouse Doubletree by Hilton in what was once the Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court, which witnessed the trials of Oscar Wilde, Mick Jagger and John Lennon. Today the stars on trial are Silk’s fusion dishes inspired by the historic Silk Route of Asia. Intrigued by such an exotic cuisine in such an unusual setting, we asked Head Chef Rajesh Parmar to the witness stand for our latest Chefspective interview.

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Chefspective: Rajesh Parmar, Head Chef at Silk

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London Daily Photo: Alessi Man, Mayfair

LDP 2010.06.26 - Alessi Man, Mayfair

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don’t be chicken: try some of london’s best hot wings! (lastminute.com blog)

don’t be chicken: try some of london’s best hot wings!
lastminute.com blog, june 25, 2010 – 1:30 pm

Hot wings! London’s got ‘em. For those keen to send their taste buds on a fanciful flight to a fiery destination, consider gobbling some down at one of my favourite chicken-centric restaurants.

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don’t be chicken: try some of london’s best hot wings!

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shoot nations global youth photography project focuses on city living (lastminute.com blog)

shoot nations global youth photography project focuses on city living
lastminute.com blog, june 25, 2010 – 11:25 am

The Shoot Nations competition runs until Wednesday the 28th of July. The competition’s UK winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to New York to present winning and commended photos to the United Nations on International Youth Day, August 12th. Visit www.shootnations.org for lots of images and more details.

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shoot nations global youth photography project focuses on city living

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London Daily Photo: Descent of Man

LDP 2010.06.25 - Descent of Man

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London Daily Photo: Or Not

LDP 2010.06.24 - ... Or Not

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London Daily Photo: Bound and Bridled

LDP 2010.06.23 - Bound and Bridled

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Guru Event: Green & Black’s Chocolate with Tapped and Packed’s Coffee and Tea (Qype does London)

Guru Event: Green & Black’s Chocolate with Tapped and Packed’s Coffee and Tea
Qype does London, June 22nd 2010

tapped packed

On Thursday the 1st of July from 7.30pm until 9pm at Fitzrovia’s snazzy Tapped and Packed cafe, Green & Black’s will host a chocolate pairing with premium coffees and teas. It’s a no brainer, right?

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Guru Event: Green & Black’s Chocolate with Tapped and Packed’s Coffee and Tea

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London Daily Photo: Pedestrian

LDP 2010.06.22 - Pedestrian

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chinatown’s variety of chinese and asian cuisines (lastminute.com blog)

chinatown’s variety of chinese and asian cuisines
lastminute.com blog, june 21, 2010 – 2:30 pm

Golden Harvest, Chinatown, London

Chinatown: it’s not just about Chinese food. These days, this tiny and teeming neighbourhood in the heart of London is a fantastic foodie destination with its wealth of Asian cuisines. Malaysian, Vietnamese, Japanese and more – the area accommodates virtually every palate and budget.

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chinatown’s variety of chinese and asian cuisines

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London Daily Photo: Please Don’t …

LDP 2010.06.21 - Please Don't ...

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London Daily Photo: Father’s Day

LDP 2010.06.20 - Father's Day

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London Daily Photo: Circle Line Self Portrait

LDP 2010.06.19 - Circle Line Self Portrait

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… or Maybe San Francisco?

Tiki Central Crawl

So yesterday I was musing about a transatlantic jaunt to New York. Yeah, that’d be good. But tonight’s got me pondering whether a trip to San Francisco might be more to my liking.

Unlike New York, I’ve never lived in San Francisco. However, I have been a few times and certainly would be keen to get back there. There’s great art, brilliant food (awesome Mexican and Vietnamese) and – perhaps most near and dear to me – some of the world’s greatest tiki bars! In particular, there’s a relatively new rum bar, Smuggler’s Cove, featuring “traditional drinks of the Caribbean islands, classic libations of Prohibition-era Havana and exotic cocktails from legendary tiki bars” that I’m dying to dive into. I’ve got a couple of old friends in SF and know a good number of folks around there too. People in the Bay Area are some of the warmest I’ve ever come across, and I could use a good dose of Californian friendliness right about now.

So, holidays to San Francisco? Yeah, I’d be up for some of that. It’s been almost three years since I’ve been out that way, and I know I’d have a blast. But, I’m pretty sure I couldn’t get out there this summer (as I was thinking for New York). It’s a bit of a long haul from London and if I were to go I’d want to be able to stay awhile. Hmmm … worth holding off on a trip to the US until the end of the year or maybe one to start 2011?

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Ask a Concierge: Tony Rossi, Concierge from Crowne Plaza London Kensington (Londonist)

Ask a Concierge: Tony Rossi, Concierge from Crowne Plaza London Kensington
Londonist, June 18, 2010 4:10 PM

Tony Rossi

Starting out at the Holiday Inn Kensington which has recently relaunched as the Crowne Plaza London Kensington, Tony Rossi will celebrate next year his 20th anniversary at the same location. In our interview, Tony shares his love of Kensington and explains why he thinks his hotel is tops.

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Ask a Concierge: Tony Rossi, Concierge from Crowne Plaza London Kensington

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Chefspective: Simon Cottard, Executive Chef at Le Café Du Marché (Londonist)

Chefspective: Simon Cottard, Executive Chef at Le Café Du Marché
Londonist, June 18, 2010 2:10 PM

Simon

Executive Chef Simon Cottard has been working at Le Café Du Marché for 20 plus years. With three venues under one roof, his top position keeps him active, which seems to be just the recipe for his success. In our interview, Simon explains the career moves that led to him working at Le Café and how he thrives on the restaurant “buzz”.

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Chefspective: Simon Cottard, Executive Chef at Le Café Du Marché

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shin-kicking fun in the cotswolds (lastminute.com blog)

shin-kicking fun in the cotswolds
lastminute.com blog, june 18, 2010 – 12:02 pm

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Not for the squeamish, shin-kicking is a straightforward affair. Contestants hold each other by the shoulders and try to kick shins and bring opponents to the ground. A stickler, the ancient sort of referee, makes sure shins are hit before a fall counts as a win. Kickers wear the traditional white smocks associated with shepherds and are allowed to stuff their trouser legs with straw.

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shin-kicking fun in the cotswolds

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In Pictures: Giant Birthday Cake and Card at Covent Garden (Londonist)

In Pictures: Giant Birthday Cake and Card at Covent Garden
Londonist, June 18, 2010 1:31 PM

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Giant birthday cake slicing is underway at the Covent Garden Piazza with a friendly all ages crowd queued up and keen to enjoy a free taste of celebratory Victoria sponge.

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In Pictures: Giant Birthday Cake and Card at Covent Garden

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Giant Birthday Cake and Card at Covent Garden This Morning (Londonist)

Giant Birthday Cake and Card at Covent Garden This Morning
Londonist, June 18, 2010 8:00 AM

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How do you follow a birthday celebrated with a giant cupcake? Simple. A giant cake accompanied by a giant birthday card. To celebrate the 180th anniversary of …

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Giant Birthday Cake and Card at Covent Garden This Morning

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London Daily Photo: In the Lift Self Portrait

LDP 2010.06.18 - In the Lift Self Portrait

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New York Break

The High Line

New York City Breaks. I could use one (and if you’re a New Yorker friend of mine reading this, I might be hitting you up for a sofa surf stop soon – so you’ve been warned). I guess I just didn’t get enough of the Big Apple back during my December visit. It was cold as hell then too. And as much as I loved the Christmas-y vibe, I’d rather It’d be great to spend a little more time roaming around with the camera, enjoying some heat (and the AC!) and generally soaking up as much summer in the city atmo as possible.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m still a London lover and, having lived in both cities, I’d have to say London’s definitely my preference. But, if I had to visit only one, I think it’d be NYC. It’s just one of the most dynamic places I’ve ever been. Can’t beat the architectural canyons of glass and steel. Total foodie city too. But I think I’d be keen just to live on pizza for a few days (well maybe a few bagels too).

That’s the New York City part. As for the break, yeah … that’d be swell too. Catching up with folks, people watching, checking out a few new restaurants and bars. Nothing major or too terribly touristy.

Anyway, I’m looking to head back to New York for a bit. Maybe for a week or so in early September, when it’s still summery but past the pavement melting August heat.

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Review: The Newly Refurbished Lonsdale (Londonist)

Review: The Newly Refurbished Lonsdale
Londonist, June 17, 2010 1:16 PM

Regardless of any economic uncertainties, here in London the posh just seem to keep getting posher … and younger too by the looks of the crowd at The Lonsdale‘s refurb launch held last night.

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Review: The Newly Refurbished Lonsdale

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London Daily Photo: At Home

LDP 2010.06.17 - At Home

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London Daily Photo: Dignity Above All

LDP 2010.06.16 - Dignity Above All

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Competition Winners! Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare (Londonist)

Competition Winners! Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare
Londonist, June 15, 2010 9:18 PM

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And the incredibly deserving and rather witty winners are …

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Competition Winners! Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare

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