| November 17th 2009 |
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A load of balls?
The Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, are currently exhibiting work by the sculptor Anish Kapoor, including this spectacular sculpture in the courtyard.
It's a bunch of chrome balls stuck together with "no visible means of support". Actually, they are mirror-polished stainless steel, but look like chrome! It's a lovely thing, and very well made, you can't see the joins or how the balls are held together. According to the RA website, this sculpture "both disorientates and distorts, challenging our traditional notion of form and space". Personally I didn't feel challenged when I viewed it, just thought it was a handsome piece of work! Related Links Royal Academy Posted in categories Events Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=30 |
| November 17th 2009 |
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Festive Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is a posh grub shop that has been on Piccadilly since 1707. They specialise in hampers and have got a good range for Christmas. You can even order them online. Check out their website below.
Passed the shop today and noticed they had their Christmas trees up. Good to see them using traditional Norway Spruce trees. The picture shows the trees above the front door, beneath the famous clock (it chimes and little figures come out). Every time I see the store, I am reminded of the scene in the movie Darling, where Julie Christie (Darling) and her pal go into Fortnum & Mason for a shoplifting spree! Decided against trying that today (honest Guv)! Related Links Fortnum & Mason Posted in categories Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=29 |
| November 1st 2009 |
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Autumn In South Kensington
It's been raining leaves!!Posted in categories Weather Nature Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=28 |
| November 1st 2009 |
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London To Brighton Veteran Car Run
Went along to the start of the London To Brighton Veteran Car Run in Hyde Park. An early start, got up at 6am and was in the park around 7am. Weather was damp and drizzly and the light was poor which meant the pictures I got were crap, not helped by being under trees, so only two pics posted here.
These cars are quite amazing, they are all PRE 1905!!! 100 years old and more!!! I was pleased to see Genevieve, a 1904 Darracq, made famous by the (very good) film of the same name, from 1953. I was disappointed not to get a good picture of her though (not posted here)! A good atmosphere about the place, quite a few posh people around. The guy doing the commentary on the PA, sounded like a Harry Enfield character! The run to Brighton is 60 miles. Great to see these cars getting used (in the rain) and not sitting pampered in a museum all the time. Related Links London To Brighton Veteran Car Run Posted in categories Cars Events Transport Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=27 |
| October 29th 2009 |
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Harrods Christmas Lights
Harrods switched on their Christmas lights today. Dannii Minogue and the Boss, Mr Al Fayed were there for the ceremony. Also joining them was ten year old Dominic, a patient of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Harrods are helping the charity.
There was quite a crowd there. Busier than I thought it would be. The scene in the picture is across the road from the store, from there you can see the whole front of the building lit up. Of course there was the obligatory countdown and applause when they switched them on. Quite good fun actually! Harrods are having a Wizard of Oz theme this Christmas, hence the green lights for the Emerald Palace of Knightsbridge! The lasers on front of the building were amazing! I walked all the way down Brompton Road, past the Victoria and Albert museum, the lasers were still lighting up the sky above! Related Links Harrods Events Posted in categories Events People Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=26 |
| October 24th 2009 |
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Troops Home Demo
Went on the Troops Home demo today. Marched from Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park, to Trafalgar Square. Was good to see Tony Benn and George Galloway at Trafalgar Square. The fair-haired gentleman at the front of the demo, wearing a poppy, was the chap whose son was killed in Iraq and who refused to shake hands with Tony Blair at a ceremony because he had "his son's blood" on them.Posted in categories Politics Events Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=25 |
| October 9th 2009 |
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Stop The War Demonstration
Stop The War are holding their national demonstration on Saturday, October 24th, 12 noon. There will be a march from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square. They will demand the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan. Quite right too. It is an occupation, and we have no right to be there.Related Links Stop The War Posted in categories Events Politics Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=24 |
| September 27th 2009 |
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London For London Charity Event
Got an email from the charity London For London, publicising an event. I will show it in full here:
I am working with a charity London for London, which is a new charity set up by two young Londoners, Ryan Kohn and Laura Fraser, which aims to unite every nightclub, bar and pub on October 3rd so that anyone who goes out that night and walks through their doors are asked to pay a £1 donation to LFL. All the funds raised will be used to support three organisations whose work addresses violence amongst young people (Kids Company, Metropolitan Police Cadets and Capital Radio Help A London Child). They have a huge number of venues supporting the charity and event (ranging from the Nick House venues to venues such as Cargo in Shoreditch, etc, see the website for the full list at www.londonforlondon.com). They also have huge support from personalities such as Prince William, Sienna Miller, Lisa Snowden, Lauren Laverne and Boris Johnson. Leading up to the event they are running workshops and promotional activity to educate individuals further on the problems in the city, ranging from kids workshops, celebrity events and they have teamed up with Not Just A Label (www.notjustalabel.com) who ran a competition for their upcoming London designers to create a fashion T-Shirt for the campaign, the winning design was selected by Lisa Snowden and Lauren Laverne and will be sold leading up to the event and showcase at London Fashion Week (see the design at the NJAL site) Kind Regards Cody Eastmond Related Links http://www.londonforlondon.com http://www.notjustalabel.com Posted in categories Events Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=23 |
| September 8th 2009 |
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New Sculpture in Hyde Park
There's a nice new sculpture in Hyde Park, Isis by Simon Gudgeon. It was unveiled yesterday. It's right by the Serpentine lake, next to the Diana memorial fountain.
It's being used to raise money for charity. You can get your name inscribed on the metal swirls you see at the base, for £1,000. The good cause is the Royal Parks Foundation. The funds are being used for a new children's education centre, The Lookout. It was a glorious sunny day when I viewed it today. 27 degrees. Pretty good for September! The sculpture has been kindly donated to the park by the Halcyon Gallery, Mayfair. Related Links Royal Parks Foundation Halcyon Gallery Posted in categories Weather Places Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=22 |
| September 6th 2009 |
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South Kensington Pedestrianisation
They are doing a lot of work around South Kensington station just now. They are pedestrianising the area from the station up to the museums on Exhibition Road. The idea is to make it more tourist-friendly. It is certainly welcome. The north exit from the station (Thurloe Street) was previously a nightmare, exiting via a bottle-neck right into the bus shelter! That road is now closed, and already it makes such a difference.
The works are scheduled to last for a couple of years. Related Links RBKC Council website Posted in categories Places Transport Post URL http://londontownblog.com/posts.php?post=21 |
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