October 13, 2008
- Should she stay or should she go? The Scots want Mary back.
- Another council housing scandal: this one in Camden. Meet the 'mother-of-one' living in Grade II listed, £2m temporary accommodation.
- London’s small businesses are putting a brave face on things. Or burying their head in the sand. Not sure which.
- Lady bus travellers in South London beware – there’s a geezer with WHT* out there.
- The Royal College of Art is to get an exciting new wing. In Wandsworth.
*wandering hand trouble, in case you didn't know
Saatchi Gallery from Tanya N’s Londonist flickr stream.
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The latest incumbent, however, is grabbing tabloid headlines with a narky neighbour story which practically has his (third, younger, scandalous) wife stealing another's puss. Ian Lude, Mayor elect, has a weekend home in Bedfordshire, where there's been an ongoing domestic dispute over where Fat Cat; portly, ginger, feline next door, would prefer to live. Mrs Lude (the third) thought Fat Cat was considering a permanent move her way and should be allowed to choose where he lives. Fat Cat's original family thought Mrs Lude was driving Fat Cat to an early grave. Or so the Standard seems to suggest.
Drama indeed and Fat Cat has now passed on. We suspect bad blood lingers on in Beds though. People can be jolly proprietorial about pets. However, perhaps once Mr Luder is officially inducted into his office, him and Lady Mayoress will favour Mansion House over their Bedford retreat, thereby laying the issue and poor kitty, to rest.
Mansion House image courtesy of wallyg via the Londonist Flickrpool
If you're tightening the purse strings at the moment and don't fancy heading to Koko on Thursday to see wonderful indie kooks Of Montreal, you can catch them doing a rare acoustic gig for free at Rough Trade East tonight from 7pm. Reguarly responsible for dragging their jumpy pop through a Beach Boys-hazed experimental mangle, you can expect a more mellow offering from frontman Kevin Barnes and guitarist Brian Poole tonight, playing songs from their forthcoming album ‘Skeletal Lamping'. It's bound to be busy, so get down there as early as you can.
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October 13, 2008
Those of you who are blind to the delights of the modern art world will be relieved to hear that the Tate Modern is thinking of you. Next time you are reluctantly dragged down to a blockbuster exhibition, you can ditch your date and have a kip in one of hundreds of beds set up in the Turbine Hall. Of course, their is more to the bunk beds than simply catering to the art-weary....
Continue Reading "Art Sends Londoners to Sleep"
On Sunday, a sold-out crowd at the O2 saw, for the second year in a row, a stellar example of what makes the NBA such a popular attraction in the States: sheer, unbridled athleticism by players whose every spring seems to inviolate the laws of gravity. This pre-season "exhibition game" - friendly, in other words - pitted the Miami Heat against the New Jersey Nets, with Heat's Dwyane Wade and the Nets' Vince Carter...
Continue Reading "NBA Exhibition Game Enjoyed By O2 Crowd"
Bow: home of the grime star, and self-styled E3 Ninja, Wiley, and not known as the demilitarised zone for nothing, yagetme, um, bruv. The Nunnery had changed dramatically on the outside since last time we'd visited, six or so years ago. There were pretty lights with a hint of the illuminated flourishes of New Spitalfields market. Talking to one of the gallery staff they were surprised that the lights had lasted potential feckless youth...
Continue Reading "Art Review: Between Time And Space @ The Nunnery"
Londonist likes statues. In fact we reckon there should be one on every corner. And so we were pleased as rum punch to note the unveiling of a new one in Stockwell Memorial Gardens last week: Britain’s first ever public statue of a black woman. It is a fluid and joyous piece – a mother swinging her child aloft – and was inspired by a poem written by Cecile Nobrega over 20 years ago. It is designed to celebrate the strength and pride of Caribbean women and their hopes for the future. This being Black History Month, it is also to be used as a symbol to draw attention to Caribbean culture.
In Goldsmiths Row, E2 by Johanna Contribute your photos of words around town to this discussion in the Londonist Flickrpool....
Continue Reading "London's Lexicon #43"
On Sunday, Wood Lane station on the Hammersmith & City line opened. The first station built on an existing section of the Tube for over 70 years, Wood Lane sits between Latimer Road and Shepherd's Bush Market, and lies a Blue Peter badge's throw away from Television Centre. The station is another piece in TfL's plan for ferrying the monied classes to Westfield, joining the all-new Shepherd's Bush Overground station, a refurbished Shepherd's Bush Central...
Continue Reading "Wood Lane Station Opens"
This Week In London’s History Monday – 13th October 1884: At the International Meridian Conference (taking place in Washington, D.C.), Greenwich is established as the location for the 'Prime Meridian' – the starting point for calculating longitude and the world’s time zones. Tuesday – 14th October 1852: King’s Cross Station is opened. Wednesday – 15th October 1881: The Royal Comedy Theatre (now simply known as the Comedy Theatre) opens in the West End. Thursday...
Continue Reading "Monday Miscellanea"A game with a good cause is unfolding over on Moblog. We can't tell you where but we can tell you there will be 43 different things to find, online maps and real life looking about in London. There are many, many questions but the most important one is... "what is the question?" So... what are you waiting for? Get out there and play and let us know how you get on.
October 12, 2008
Photo of an illuminated stairway during Toronto's Nuit Blanche by Electric Feel. Torontoist featured a set of photos of Nuit Blanche, the one night each year when the streets and public and private spaces of Toronto are transformed into one huge contemporary art gallery, Rickrolls, zombies, mascots, unhappy patrons all included.Seattlest spotted man's best friend stumping for Obama, talked to Sarah Vowell about the Puritans next door, and then disappeared under a tidal wave...
Continue Reading "Week Around the Ists"
Here’s what we’ve learned whilst you’ve been out enjoying this glorious sunshine: The Artful Dodger won’t be happy: fare evaders are to be fined a couple of ponies from now on. A rather wonderful playground just for disabled kids has opened in Hillingdon. Frieze in their tracks? A controversial artwork planned for St. Pancras is bound to get travellers talking. Ken backs Boris. Well sort of. Over the Met Commissioner thing. Concert for Jimmy:...
Continue Reading "Weekend Round-Up"
We've been incredibly this week, catching tonnes of live music. On Wednesday we caught CSS and Florence and the Machine at Koko, and Bloc Party on Friday at an exclusive gig at the Apple store. For those in search of more highbrow stuff, we also caught Brodsky Quartet @ Kings Place and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Looking ahead to this week however and Monday night sees Queen and Paul Rodgers...
Continue Reading "Music Choice: Monday 13th - Friday 17th October"
All this week (Chocolate Week!), Artisan du Chocolate (89 Lower Sloane St, SW1W 8DA) will be holding free tutored min-tasting events in shop at 1pm and 6pm. The tasting sessions will offer participants the opportunity to sample Artisan du Chocolat’s new range of bars. Londonist popped round yesterday with a few friends and we were more than pleased with the information and samples provided (we especially liked the green tea and the saffron chocolates). It’s a nice shop with a knowledgeable staff and delicious range of chocolate goodies.
To arrange your free mini-tasting (maximum 10 peeps per group) RSVP at elise@artisanduchocolat.com or call 020 7824 8365.