Covent Garden May Fayre

From the Punch and Judy site:

The 34th Annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival, to be held in honour of Mr Punch's 347^th birthday, on Sunday 10th May 2009, in St Paul's Church Gardens, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, WC2.

10.30am Assemble for the Grand Procession around the neighbourhood.

11.30am Continuous performances of Punch and Judy and Puppet Shows

to 5.30pm plus workshops, stalls, folk music and dancing.

Morris Men of May

	Westminster Morris Men from Facebook

Date:	Saturday, May 10, 2008
Time:	10:00am - 6:30pm
Location:	In & around the City of Westminster
City/Town:	London, United Kingdom

Description

160 of the country's finest morris men roam the streets and avenues of the City of Westminster, with only one thing on their mind: dancing!

Don't miss the sensational mass dance in Trafalgar Square from 11:15 to 12:30, or for that matter, any of the other dance spots!

The day culminates in a massed show in the piazza of Westminster Cathedral, on Victoria Street, SW1.

Cheap London Eats

Thanks to Chowhound:

Some places/dishes to try from one of the Chowhound London Experts:

Sedap for Penang-style nyonah food
C&R (Chinatown only) for wan tan ho (flat rice noodles with meat/veg/seafood and egg)
Rasa Sayang for Nasi Lemak (good rice, even though the other items don't match up to Sedap)
Malaysian Kopitiam for Hainanese chicken rice
Jerk City for Jamaican patties
Gold Mine for mixed roast meats (char siu/roast duck/roast pork belly) on rice
Maracuja (Brazilian Stall at Brick Lane Up Market) for feijoada
Pork Katsu Curry at Tsuru (lunch only)
Masala dosa at Ragam
Polish food at L'Autre
Lebanese at Alwaha and Ishibilla (a whisker under your budget)
Persian at Mohsen
Tah-dig (not on menu, need to request) at Alounak (Olympia branch)
Shui jiao / NE Chinese style dumplings at Super Star and Royal Palace
Tajine at Original Tagines
Udipi thali at Sagar (Hammersmith branch)
Sadya (essentially a thali) at Sadya
Pasta at 500
Lamb pizza + baklava at Green Valley
Yakitori (esp. shisomaki) at Tosa
Sichuan food at No. 10 Chinese Restaurant

Another place to try: New Tayyabs, 83 Fieldgate Rd, E1 1JU

Cougar Magnet: The Vitality Show

The Vitality Show

Earls Court Exhibition Centre, SW5 9TA

26th March 2009 - 29th March 2009

This year, the Vitality Show moves from Olympia to Earls Court Exhibition Centre, so now you can easily combine the show with a visit to the Ideal Home Show next door. This huge exhibition of health, new age and relaxation products is pitched at anyone who wants to get healthy. Now in its 10th year and with 35,000 visitors in 2008, this is pampering on a grand scale. There are plenty of comfy lounges where you can put your feet up and have a gossip, but there's also a free beauty advice stand, a holistic therapy oasis, organic beauty treatments, yoga classes, foot massages, and lectures on topics from anti-ageing to de-stressing. Best of all, once you've had your insomnia cured, your psychic powers analysed and your life makeover initiated, there's a champagne bar to finish off. A lot of this is free, but for those in need of retail therapy, there are plenty of things to splurge on as well.

Venue: Earls Court Exhibition Centre
Address: Warwick Road, SW5 9TA
Phone: 0844 415 4416
Date: 26th March 2009 - 29th March 2009
Time: Thu 1pm-9pm, Fri to Sun 10am-6pm
Pricing: On the Door - £17.50 (Adults), £8 (Senior/Student), £7 (6-14 Years) | Adv - £14.50 (Adults), £7 (Senior/Student), £6 (6-14 Years) | After 5pm (Thu only) £5
Nearest Station: Earls Court Tube

The Vitality Show - Information

Thames boat races, March 29th

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race 2009

River Thames, W6 9TD



England's most historic universities square off in this rowing race which inaugurates the summer season in London. This is the 155th annual Boat Race and Cambridge currently lead by 79-74 (there was a controversial dead heat in 1877), though Oxford won comfortably in 2008. While the result means little to most Londoners, it's a spectacular display of strength and teamwork, and around a quarter of a million fans line the banks of the river to roar their encouragement. There's a great view - and some great pubs - on the north side of the Thames before Hammersmith Bridge. South Londoners might like to watch from or near Putney Bridge, where the big screen on the opposite bank allows spectators to monitor the race as it heads its way around the bend. Alternatively, head through Bishop's Park and behind the South Stand of Fulham football ground you'll find food stalls, attractions and a 500-capacity beer tent (to be confirmed).

Venue: River Thames
Address: Between Putney and Mortlake Bridges, W6 9TD
Date: 29th March 2009
Time: Race begins at 3.40pm
Pricing: Free
Nearest Station: Putney Bridge Tube/Hammersmith Tube

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race 2009 - Information

Maslenitsa Festival

Thanks to the East London Advertiser, news of a Russian spring festival March 1:

THE Russians are coming! And London Mayor Boris is letting them in. Plans for London’s first Maslenitsa Russian festival have been announced by Boris Johnson today.

The Russians are taking over Pottersfield Park at London Bridge, close to Boris’s ninth floor office at City Hall, for five hours of culture and dance on Sunday week, March 1.

“Russian Londoners are a thriving community,” he said. “They have made a significant contribution to London both economically and culturally.”

Maslenitsa traditionally welcomes the Russian spring and encourages people to feast on ‘blini’ pancakes before Lent.

The free festivities from 1 to 6pm includes folk music, khorovody circle dancing, skomorokhi minstrels, a tug-of-war and performances by the Russian Orthodox Cathedral choir and Russian Orchestra of London.

It is supported by the Mayor’s Office, the Pushkin House London centre for Russian culture, the Russian Embassy, the Moscow City authorities and Russia’s Ministry of Culture.

Potters Field is between London Bridge and Tower Bridge right near City Hall. More details are at the Mayor's website.

Primping in London

I'm having beauty maintenance issues. When you've been worked on exclusively by the same hair stylist, massage therapist, and nail salon personnel for years, having to find a new group who are good without being outrageously expensive is a challenge.

Here's a few things I'm up for trying, though:

London School of Beauty's student salon, London Esthetique, facials, massages, and nails
GROUND FLOOR, 48 MARGARET STREET, LONDON W1W 8SE
020 7580 0355

London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT), facials, massages, and nails
47 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7JP

Direct booking hotline: 020 7208 1302; Email bookings: salon@lcbt.co.uk

Salon operating times: Monday to Friday: 09.00 - 18.00, Saturday: 9.00 - 17.00

Vidal Sassoon Academy, be a hair model for a trainee (free to GBP20, review here)
Appointments are 9.30am and 1.30pm Monday to Friday
56 Davies Mews, London W1Y 1A7,
CLASSIC T: 020 7399 6901
CREATIVE T: 020 7491 0030 (school)
19-20 Grosvenor St, London, W1K 4QH (Advanced Academy)

Steiner Training Academy (parent for Elemsis and other spas including at hotels and on cruises)
193 Wardour Street
London W1F 8ZF
020 7434 4564
There is only one review I can find and few other details unfortunately.



I've noted a "models wanted" sign at the local Aveda salon as well. Hmmmmm.

Farmers Markets

While London has tons and tons of markets, which sell everything from food to antiques to clothes and general bric-a-brac, true farmers markets with locally-grown produce are true gems. The London Farmers' Markets association provides a list of bonafide markets for local food. While other sites may be more packed and more tourist-known, these other sites are worth checking out!

Chinese New Year Weekend

Coming up on the 1st of February is a weekend of performance in celebration of the year of the Ox. and a colorful parade along the Strand, Shaftsbury Avenue and around Trafalgar square. Expect to see catch splendid lion dances and mesmerizing martial arts performances and stalls of food and merchandise to sample and peruse.

Chinatown's official link

Yo Sushi's £½ million Giveaway

Discount vouchers are valid from January 5th through 19th (or until £500 is reached). Enjoy 40% off on a 10-plate meal!

YO! Sushi's ever-popular January Sale is back and we'll be giving away £½ million worth of food until stocks last - our fantastic sale is guaranteed for 14 days!

Dine at UK YO! Sushi's (excludes Westfield White City) from 5th to 19th Jan and enjoy 40% off your food bill (up to 10 plates off the conveyor belt)!

If you're a YO! Love Club member, simply print your email, otherwise click here to download your £½ Million Giveaway web voucher (with full t&'s), follow the instructions completing all details and present it at the end of your meal (one voucher per person and to be retained in-store). Plus, keep your eye on our 'Plate-O-Meter' on our homepage to see how much food has been given away.