Saturday 24 December 2011

Merry Christmas

found here via

Saturday 17 December 2011

Wrapping it up

We are wrapping it up slowly here in London. Snow has been seen on the outskirts and people are slowly getting into festive spirits. I had a lot of fun with my London blog this first year, saw new things, learned a lot, met new friends and experienced London and more! I very much hope you enjoyed popping by from time to time!
I am now looking foward to an exciting, challenging and happy 2012 and wish you all the same! But before we start a new year, have a very ...


hans chu

See you soon!

Friday 16 December 2011

Visual Note - Christmas Cookies



greyorgreen

Thursday 15 December 2011

London on Christmas Day

What a lovely idea to do on a Christmas morning. One day we will try to do the same! Imagine pictures of London without people. Amazing? Spooky? Romantic?

..., beautiful, christmas lights, ferris wheel, lights, london eye
found here via

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Wilton's Music Hall



Ever been to Wilton's Music Hall? It's the oldest music Hall in the country, a crumbling old building with a very ambitious program. I once went to see an inspired production of Bizet's Carmen with South African township singers. The atmosphere of the building is fantastic. Tomorrow they will host a celebration of W.G. Max Sebald with Ian Bostridge, A.S. Byatt and others. There is a Christmas Magic Show on Thursday and in January the outstanding Kronos Quartett will be on stage (but sadly this event is already sold out).

Monday 12 December 2011

Visual Note - Richmond Park in December

hans chu

Things were no longer sweet

in the cookie jar

324/365, things were no longer sweet in the cookie jar… (by CatMacBride)
by Cat MacBrid 
found here via

Saturday 10 December 2011

Gift Idea

found here

To contemplate on route and destination(s) ...

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Curious?

I only just found out about the Wellcome Collection, a "free destination for the incurable curious". It does sound like a fascinating concept. Based on the collection of Sir Henry Wellcome, whose passion for medicine led him to collect more than a million objects, the aim of the Wellcome collection today is to connect science with art and/or history, explore our relationship with the world of science through exhibitions like 'Sleeping and Dreaming', or 'Life before Death'. This Saturday you can join a Pop-up Anatomy lesson or learn all about a"Charmed Life"!

I for one love these inter-disciplinary approaches.

the line is thin ...
Church of the
Lower Austrian Institution for the Cure and Care of Mental and Nervous Disorder
found here


PS. The museum is on Euston Road, close to the British Library

Monday 5 December 2011

On the Ice

Although we are a family with young children, we already have a few sacred family traditions. One was going to the ice rink at Kew Garden before Christmas. The setting was marvellous, just in front of the Palm House.
Sadly, they stopped it a couple of years ago. There are a few fairly recent new options around town now like the ice rink in front of the National History Museum, at the Winterwonderland in Hyde Park or the one at Somerset House, but we do miss the feeling of open space.
Therefore we might go and try out the ice rink at Hampton Court this weekend! Wish us steady feet!
Ice Skating Girl Dancing in Winter Landscape - Signed Art Print - Wall hanging Home decor in white, blue, green and red colors
by Ane Cathrine Buck 
found here

Thursday 1 December 2011

Some inspiration

for the coming days and weeks

London Weekend destinations

London weekend destinations print
found here

Islington Christmas Extravaganza this coming weekend with reindeer, craft and food market, music and a climbing wall in case you want to get up there and see for yourself

And if you are in the area and need to warm up, try Kipferl, a lovely Viennese coffee house on Camden Passage

or re-create it at home with this tempting looking recipe - Chocolate Cinnamon Teacakes

you will find the receipts here at 'what katie ate'

Go West and enjoy some Christmas revels - 17th century music at Ham House (4.,11.,18.12),

or don't go that far back in time and visit Cadogan Hall on the 13.12 to hear  Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester with some glorious 20's and 30's music and entertainment to get you into the mood.

found here

Wednesday 30 November 2011

December around the corner

and we started decorating the house a bit. We will never achieve anything like this but I do love the concept and ideas behind these photos


found via



Pinned Image
found via

Pinned Image
found via

Saturday 26 November 2011

DIY Weekend

Just in case you are like me and want to hide under the blanket by 5pm because it is just so dark outside - Get inspired by Joel's lovely holiday gift tags and let the kids create their own designs



found here

Friday 25 November 2011

It's Friday

Here are some inspirations for the weekend


After a successful Tweedrun in New York recently, it is London's turn again this Saturday. Raid your Grannie's cupboard if you happen to not be quite on trend yet and on your bike - and the weather should be fine.

Oct 15 2011 - Details coming soon!
found here


Stay within the tweedy theme and visit a lovely little Tea shop in Barnes - the Orange Pekoe, close to the river. Super cosy and very good afternoon tea with scones and cucumber sandwiches. They also do breakfast.

It will get full at weekends, but the friendly staff will try to accommodate. Nice to warm up after a walk along the Thames.

Pinned Image
via

Have a lovely weekend!

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Cookies ...

greyorgreen

Yep, it's time to start baking - a pastime during Advent (or before for those you cannot wait!) in German speaking countries. Families will come back to old favorites and family receipts. We have friends who easily bake around 10 different types and give them away as presents (if the kids don't raid the larder, that is). We started baking last weekend, but then again, pre Christmas activities are in full flow. The first Bazaar took place today, one more to go and then there will be 3 Christmas carol concerts, two nativity plays, , Slava's Snow Show (very poetic, dreamlike and white ) and hopefully some mulled wine.


P.S. Here is the receipt for the above cookies. With the dark and light dough you can invent all sorts of shapes and forms .... great for kids!

Schwarz Weiss Gebaeck

375 g flour
175 g sugar
1 Ts Vanilla essence

250 g butter, soft

knead it all together
divide the dough in two

add 2 Tbls cacao 
2 Tbls sugar 
1 Tsp milk
knead
and put both parts in the fridge for at least 30 min

Then you can roll out the two parts, lay them on top of each other, roll to make a sausage and cut into 5mm thick pieces, or go and be inventive! (a chessboard maybe, for Grandpa?). In the oven at 200C, ca. 8-10 min. Enjoy!

Slava's Snow Show

Monday 21 November 2011

Hail a Cab

Pinned Image
found here
I know, it's New York, but hey, they seem to have similar problems over there

With the party season starting, finding a cab is getting more and more difficult. So I was very happy to stumble upon a new App - Hailo - that seems to work (according to comments) like a dream. Download from I tunes and it calculates your position when you hale a cab, cabbies nearby are alerted and someone will accept and get in touch to let you know when he will arrive. Sounds brilliant! 
Payment is equally simple, either by card or cash, and they will email you a receipt. Whether they will make it south of the river is another question, though. I will give it a go.
(For more London Apps see here)

Friday 18 November 2011

Keeping warm

Cameron and Merkel will meet later today to discuss the Euro crisis. I am sure their motto should be: 

Lets keep warm!

found here


But among all the doom and gloom there is pleasure to be found, and if only in a warm cup of tea or hot cocoa! Have a lovely weekend, it looks like it will be a sunny one!

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Wildlife Photography of the Year

Wildlife Photography at the National History Museum ( till 11 March 2012) - stunning!

And somehow, looking at these pictures, I suddenly remember that the Ice Rink is open outside the museum (till 8th January 2012) ...

Tuesday 15 November 2011

The Knife Maker

Made by Hand / No 2 The Knife Maker from Made by Hand on Vimeo.


Very powerful and inspiring - just the right accompaniment for V&A's exhibition "The Power of Making"
(See here and here, found via SwissMiss)

Monday 14 November 2011

For your diary

I had a snoop around the more off beaten events coming up soon and found some very promising stuff indeed:

Cerberus Theatre present Max Frisch's Count Oederland at the White Bear Theatre in Lambeth. Check out the review here  and hurry, last show is on the 19th November.

See Dance at the Jerwood Space:  Rough Cuts with Darren Ellis on the 2 December.

Or go and check out London's newest Exhibition space: Two Temple Space and its inaugural show about William Morris (till 29th January 2012) I found out about it on Jane's blog. Thanks!

Pinned Image
found here

Visual Note - old and new

greyorgreen
katya chu

Tower und The Shard.

The Shard (of Glass) designed by Renzo Piano, will be, when finished in 2012, the highest skyscraper in the EU with 310 m. Standing on Tower Bridge you get this lovely view of new and old - the Tower of London is nearly 1000 years! 

Friday 11 November 2011

It's Friday

We will be checking out Tom Dixon's shop in Ladbroke Grove this weekend. It's so far away that we will definitely have to stay for lunch, meeting some friends. The shop is all about design and design related art. (Tom Dixon is an industrial designer, who was head of design for Habitat and Artek among others)

gallery
found here

The Dock Kitchen was formerly a pop up restaurant gone permanent.


greyorgreen


The setting looks promising, we will keep you posted.

Have a lovely weekend!

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Visual Note - it's ok

quote: unknown
photo: greyorgreen

So romantic

Echoes of Romanticism featuring the Nash Ensemble
found here

The Nash Ensemble is in residence at the Wigmore Hall with "Echoes of Romanticism", till March '12. The series follows the Romantic spirit from Mozart to Schoenberg and Strauss. 

Apart from their normal evening concerts starting at 7.30 pm they also offer early evening recitals at 6 pm  and coffee concerts in the morning. These programmes are shorter and might be just the right length and early enough to take the kids. We will go to the one that features Clara and Robert Schumann as well as Fanny Mendelssohn. I like that it is not a specific kids programme, but they will have the chance to experience a real concert nevertheless without falling off their chairs and never wanting to come back!

Monday 7 November 2011

After Halloween and Bonfire Night ...

Tight fit: The giant decorations are just one part of a range of festive activities organised in the run-up to Christmas

Festive mood: Visitors will be hard pressed not to get into the Christmas spirit
found here

Christmas decorations go up in Covent Garden, Oxford Street Christmas lights are on already ... and shops have started selling mince pies next to Halloween treats over the last few weeks ... all a bit early for me but I must admit, I am looking forward to this:

Pinned Image
found here via

Friday 4 November 2011

Lush

Stumbled across Lush Design  at tea for joy recently and happy to have found that besides a new shop in Greenwich they also have one online ( since I have sadly to admit I very rarely manage to go that far east). Really love their elegant but dreamy designs on lampshades, cushions, napkins etc..

These cats are just perfect for our daughter's room, and I wouldn't mind some of these on the sofa:





Thursday 3 November 2011

The Kids should see that!

Have you ever watched something amazing on TV or found on the web, like a fantastic explanation to why the clouds are white, or why a violin is made out of wood, or the rediscovery of your  favorite TV show when you were a child or simply a room full of dandelions or how a whale decomposes (trust me, it's amazing) and would love to share with your kids? One mother had the same idea and is collecting all the flabbergasting science, art, technology and other good stuff on her blog. The Mantra being: don't underestimate kids! The kids should see that

artoll12
found here via

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Pub Lunch

found here


We recently went for a lovely autumn walk in Richmond Park and parked at Sheen Gate. Since the above picknick option looks tempting but is obviously hardly feasible in real life, we opted for the next best thing and went to the Victoria pub, which is a 10 min stroll away from the gate through quiet streets, situated in the original part of Sheen (church, school and pub all on one street - as it should be!).

the victoria
found here

The atmosphere is nice and relaxed, the food is good. On weekends you have to book well in advance for lunch and dinner since it seems that most of Sheen can be found there enjoying their roast. It's not cheap, but I think well worth a trip. 

A real bookshop!

Daunt Books Marylebone


Daunt Books - Shop - London
found here


Daunt Books is an Edwardian Bookshop at 83 Marylebone Highstreet with galleries and creaky floors, where you can browse by continent and country. Do not enter if you are short of time like I did the other day. Need to go back soon, and take a day off for that!

Monday 31 October 2011

Happy Halloween

 greyorgreen

Sunday 30 October 2011

V&A - The Power of Making


V&A exhibition about the power of making 
till 2 January 2012

The exhibition is showing works by amateurs and leading makers. Will have to have a look this week and find out about the V&A interpretations.

I find this picture already amazing. Can you spot the alphabet? (you probably have to check out the original website pic). 

Visual Note - London

Pinned Image
found here via

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Half Term

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Have a lovely Half Term!

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Wapping Project

found here

What was once a Hydraulic Power Station is now a gallery, bookshop, event space and restaurant. The building itself is only transformed by light, art and drama "an idea, consistently in transition". Not much has been done to alter this impressive industrial building, you will still find the old machinery, green with age, holding their own in this inspirational environment. It was closed down in 1977 and only re-opened in 2000.
Since moving West I have not been back for years now and it is definitely time to re-visit Wapping Project (situated somewhere between the City and Canary Wharf), its art and its food. They do have a very yummy looking menu, and special offers for table for 9. Check it out here and here

found here

Monday 17 October 2011

Just a Thought

Pinned Image
found here via