Wednesday, September 29, 2010


Tension setting for a diamond

Sunday, May 3, 2009

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 347th 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.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Morris Men of May






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.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

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

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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

Sunday, February 22, 2009

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.