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

DSC_1391

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

29 of 365

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

GinMare_001

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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Guru Event: Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt with ‘my kind of phone’ (Qype does London)

Guru Event: Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt with ‘my kind of phone’
Qype does London, June 15th 2010

Trader Vic's

Mobile phones offer an excellent means to record and share your adventures while navigating London’s culinary landscape. Here’s a chance to put your phone and your skills to the test with a Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt around London’s West End … The party will ensue at Trader Vic’s (map), where a complimentary cocktail, nibbles and a ten gallon ‘drinking canoe’ filled with rum punch will await us.

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Guru Event: Mobile Photo Foodie Hunt with ‘my kind of phone’

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London Daily Photo: Steam

LDP 2010.06.15 - Steam

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Competition Reminder: Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare (Londonist)

Competition Reminder: Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare
Londonist, June 14, 2010 10:00 AM

GinMare_001

Don’t forget! Gin Mare – a brand new super premium gin distilled with Mediterranean botanicals – is offering one lucky Londonist reader a free pair of tickets to Taste of London as well as a couple of free cocktails …

FIND HOW TO GET YOUR FREE TIX HERE:
Competition Reminder: Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare

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Exhibition Review: Press and Release at High Roller Society (Londonist)

Exhibition Review: Press and Release at High Roller Society
Londonist, June 14, 2010 6:26 AM

Monkey Prints at High Roller Society's Press and Release Private View

With works by more than fifty artists on show, the Press and Release hand made print exhibition at High Roller Society offers a brilliant chance to check out a range of art from an international (though mostly Londoner) mix of artists. The show is also a pretty good op to consider purchasing a piece of eye candy, with prints going for as little as …

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Exhibition Review: Press and Release at High Roller Society

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London Daily Photo: Off

LDP 2010.06.14 - Off

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New Restaurant Review: Banh Mi Bay (Londonist)

New Restaurant Review: Banh Mi Bay
Londonist, June 13, 2010 3:11 PM

Banh Mi Bay

Londonist is just back from having a delicious, filling and inexpensive late lunch (or was that an early dinner) at the newly opened (as in today’s the first day) Banh Mi Bay in Holborn. A total surprise to us (especially considering the recent opening of Cafe VN just down the street!), we were pleased to happen upon this new Vietnamese restaurant/cafe while running Sunday errands.

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New Restaurant Review: Banh Mi Bay

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London Daily Photo: War is Over (If You Want It)

LDP 2010.06.13 - War is Over (If You Want It)

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Nom Nom Nom – Masterchef for Bloggers – Call for Entries (Londonist)

Nom Nom Nom – Masterchef for Bloggers – Call for Entries
Londonist, June 12, 2010 11:45 AM

Now in its third year, Nom Nom Nom is a MasterChef style competition for bloggers. It’s a chance for online writers and photographers to get together, have fun and show what they can do given a professional kitchen. On July 11th, teams of bloggers will congregate at Cookery School near Oxford Circus to spend a day creating a three course menu based around three basic principles: seasonal, simple and sustainable.

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Nom Nom Nom – Masterchef for Bloggers – Call for Entries

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London Daily Photo: Sorcerers of Death’s Construction

LDP 2010.06.12 - Sorcerers of Death's Construction

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Chefspective: Muir Picken, Executive Chef at Belgo (Londonist)

Chefspective: Muir Picken, Executive Chef at Belgo
Londonist, June 11, 2010 11:28 AM

_DSC0013

With five Belgo restaurants to look after here in London, Executive Chef Muir Picken is a busy man, which made us just that much more impressed to find him taking the time to engage with us when we recently sat in on his Lobster masterclass. Continuing with our Chefspective series highlighting London’s chefs, here’s our interview with Muir.

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Chefspective: Muir Picken, Executive Chef at Belgo

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London Daily Photo: Juicer

LDP 2010.06.11 - Juicer

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Londonist Competition: Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare

Competition: Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare
Londonist, June 10, 2010 3:00 PM

GinMare_001

Gin Mare – a brand new super premium gin distilled with Mediterranean botanicals – will soon be available for purchase in the UK. But before the official launch, they will be previewing at this year’s Taste of London … Want to be among the first Londoners to sample this new spirit?

FIND HOW TO GET YOUR FREE TIX HERE:
Competition: Free Taste of London Tickets and Cocktails from Gin Mare

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