TFC: London life

two [Fri, 11-Dec]

Lauren, John and I began our day at the Geffrye Museum to learn about the history of the British middle class through their interiors.  It was a very interesting and approachable museum.  Displaying rooms as a guide to presenting lifestyle was a great approach, especially during their “Christmas Past” exhibition where all of the period rooms are decorated with traditional festivity.  Obviously I loved learning about the history of Christmas and its celebration!

From Old Street we headed south across the London Bridge to Southwark for a evening of pub/bar hopping.  We began at The Anchor, a riverside multi-room pub recommended by our teacher Giles.  Lauren and I had our first and last pint of London Gold while John savored a Guinness.  With that coating over our stomachs, we sought dinner and the easiest/quickest solution was Gourmet Burger Kitchen, a chain in London voted as having the best burgers in town.  We walked it off along the Thames Path to Waterloo Bridge and The Riverfront bar/restaurant at the BFI Southbank Centre.  I always love spending time Thames-side and looking out onto a twinkling London was precisely where I wanted to be on my final Friday night.  I’m so glad I got to catch a few final glimpses at the breathtakingly lit Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, etc…

Before catching the Tube at Waterloo, we stopped for a final pint at Hole in the Wall, a pub located next to the station and under a train overpass; the sounds of passing trains could be heard and felt, a very cool feature.  We then embarked on my last late-night, just-before-it-closes Tube ride, and I savored every second of it.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

 

Guy Fawkes Night at Clapham Common

 

London means festive business this week!

Remember, remember the fifth of November,

The gunpowder treason and plot,

I know of no reason

Why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

There are several fireworks displays happening through London from now until the 14 November, but obviously I needed to go to a true Guy Fawkes Night spectacular.  I headed down to Clapham Common along with Mike and his boyfriend Ed, a true Brit who caught us up on the history of the holiday, pointing out that it’s basically a celebration of a horrible thing not happening and sometimes comes under scrutiny as an anti-Catholic celebration (whoops, my bad).  But, at the end of the day, it’s really an excuse for hundreds of people to gather in parks throughout the city and watch pretty fireworks with friends and booze.  Cheers to that!

After the show, we headed up and over to Victoria and dropped into the Duke of York pub for a few pints…gotta keep it authentic, especially on the holidays

Playing in Parliament

Wednesday night took an unexpected turn when our neighbor and Marist guy Eric invited me and some flatmates to go drink at Parliament.  He is interning there as part of his program and can take 6 guests it at any time.  Obviously I pounced on the offer!  There are many bars but we decided on “a nice chill one” according to Eric.  The view was phenomenal.  As I sipped on deliciously subsidized cider I got to look out at a majestically lit Big Ben.  The view inside wasn’t too bad either; I’m a sucker for men in suits.  Besides the boozey belly, I walked away with a cool visitor’s pass as a souvenir!

 

Confession: I love being able to say I drank amongst MPs and government workers at the cool chill bar in Parliament.  Yay for sweet hook ups!

“Merry November!”

So, Tuesday night was basically the culmination of several magical Marie things in London:

1) Disney (if you know me at all you should know why this is number 1)

2) premiere of the new 3-D A Christmas Carol in Leicester Square (thanks to PipeDream Theatre I was in an original musical adaptation of it my senior year of high school and on the original cast recording, 3 Ghosts, in 2007)

3) epic, star-studded Christmas Light Switch On in honor of the premiere, including Colin Firth at the Regent Street stage (obviously where I was…hello Love Actually!), Jim Carrey at Oxford Circus, a ballet at St. Paul’s, and Andrea Boccelli at Leicester Square.

4) attempt and success at breaking the World Record for largest group of carolers singing at one time (don’t think I didn’t belt out every song they played, including my favorite “Silent Night” led by Andrea Boccelli!)

5) Londontown = Christmastown: the lights are on, the stores are decorated, and Starbucks’ red cups can be seen for miles.

I guess when you don’t have the Thanksgiving holiday holding you back, why not go for it?  Just when I thought I couldn’t be more in love with London, it had to go and be the most festive place ever.  I think this is as close as life will come to living in a city run by Disney.  Life even felt like a musical when people were walking down the streets singing along to the Christmas songs being played before and after the event.  Heaven?  Absolutely.

But yes, I do realize it’s only the beginning of November and that over 2 months of Christmas is a bit much…but then again of all people in this world I am the one who cares the least.  Viva la festivity!  As Colin Firth wittily added to the host’s “Merry Christmas!” sign off, “Or Merry November!”

A Christmas Carol

Regent Street

street band

the first tree to see!

Sightseeing Bus = Press Pit

fireworks!

I also took a bunch of videos….coming soon…..(oh the anticipation!)

The Land of Academia

So, I am officially one degree of separation away from Raymond Williams, a major cultural/media theorist.  I went to another BFI Researchers’ Tales lecture tonight featuring Ian Christie and a study he conducted on the cultural impact of UK film from 1946 – 2006.  I loved engaging with what was being covered in his lecture, an account of the thoughts behind decisions made in the process of the study, but the true highlight was getting the chance to chat with Christie over wine & nibbles afterward.  The best part was holding my own in conversation with such an esteemed film academic; he actually found my thoughts on new media valid AND interesting!  Upon mentioning Raymond Williams, Christie slippantly mentioned how he worked with him.  The television/media/cultural studies student in me couldn’t let this slide (especially after studying him this morning in my British Cultural Studies course) — I instantly seized the opportunity to have him elaborate on the man, the methodology, and the experience of collaborating with him.

I knew he was British and based in Europe, like so many of the theorists I study, but little did I know I would get so close to him/them while studying abroad!  Ian Christie was brilliant, and it was truly an honor to meet and chat with him.  Yay academic discussion!  Now there’s a story to take back across the pond….

Buddies with the BFI

Apparently I am a buddy of the British Film Institute now!

After attending a lecture (Black in the British Frame: The Black Experience in British Film and Television by Stephen Bourne) as part of their Researcher’s Tales series on 12-October, I sent a follow-up thank you email to Nina Bishop, the administrator who books attendees and generously allowed me to attend for free since I am an international student, expressing how much I enjoyed the evening and how grateful I was to be able to attend.  Then last week I received an email from one of her colleagues, touched by my genuine interest and enthusiasm , inviting me to attend two more after Nina forwarded my email to him.  Obviously I took them up on the offer and attended Monday’s with speaker Sandra Reid, a programmer for the New Zealand Film Festival.  Like all of the events I’ve been attending in London, the people I meet at them are just as good as the program!  I had the pleasure of talking to an Italian film producer based in Berlin who was attending the London Film Festival and chatting with the BFI staff I have now become so close with (teehee).  It was another great evening…I truly never regret getting out into London and taking advantage of all it has to offer.  Here’s looking forward to the next one: Ian Christie discussing the cultural impact of UK film on Monday, 2 November!

London Moves Me

I spent Thursday evening in Trafalgar Square with The Times BFI 53rd Annual London Film Festival.

I arrived early to make sure I got a great seat and was greeted by a growing crowd and a playlist of songs all mentioning London.  It was a beautiful, mild evening and enjoyable for many other reasons, most notably that is was free and that London Moves Me was being screened – a collection of short films from the BFI, Imperial War Museum, and London Transport Museum archives featuring the many modes of movement in London from the dawn of film until present.  Obviously this connects to my academic areas of interest (urban studies and film), especially for my City as Material research project.

Personally, though, the night was a nice reaffirmation in my relationship with London.  Settling into life here has been great, but at times I find myself feeling guilty about not constantly being out and about, or at least as much as I was 6 weeks ago.  The truth is I really am living here for these few months and I suppose it’s unreasonable to expect that I could find enough [free] things/have enough energy to be going 24/7.  It was great to be out again on a solo date with Londontown, though, and I am definitely still actively falling in love.

First Out Cafe Bar

‘Ello mates!  I write to you from First Out Cafe Bar in Soho.  Avey and I decided to escape the blaring sound of Rock Band and idle flatmates in favor of spending some night time in a neighborhood that isn’t royal.  I hope to get a few posts done, but I’m running low on battery, there are no plugs (then why free wi-fi?!), and it closes at 11pm.  Here’s hoping!  And here are some photos from our journey here in the meantime:

Chinatown

Chinatown

Chinatown

First Out Cafe Bar

Avey!

Thames Festival

The Thames Festival was a great event that I am so grateful to have been in London for.  (It took place on the 12 and 13 of September; please excuse the tardiness in updating!)  I had hoped to attend a bit more of the festivities, but prioritized and made it out to the closing fireworks on Sunday night.  Naturally this was my number one choice since nothing says magic like fireworks, and I was excited to see how the UK gets festive!  Granted it was no Illuminations or Wishes (Walt Disney World), but combined with the London skyline it certainly succeeded in giving me that tingly feeling inside.

I took the following video from the Golden Jubilee Bridge, where Mike and I secured prime viewing real estate.  Please excuse the obnoxious Spaniards to my left, and it will be just as magical with the sound off since there was no musical accompaniment.

Thames Festival Fireworks

Enjoy!

Out & About

Despite the lack of recent posts, I’ve had a very active [social] week!

Monday (14-Spet) was the FIE Welcome Reception held at the International Students House.  Highlights: 2 free drink vouchers and realizing London DJs have very shallow expectations for American colleges students when it comes to music.  Afterward, I headed to the local pub Zetland Arms with the Vassar and Marist flatmates, including some other Marist students that live in Manson Place.  It was great spending time together, and it has been happening a lot more lately — the flat is definitely feeling more like home than living with 12 strangers.

Tuesdays mean free entrance for students at the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly Circus, and I finally decided to join the Marist kids for their weekly voyage there (and managed to convince Mike and Avey to join.  I owed them a night out since I played straight 3rd wheel at a gay club on Saturday night).  It was actually really fun (I definitely scratched my dancing itch), but it was overwhelmingly American; I’m pretty sure everyone there and every song was originally from the U.S., but I’m also pretty sure I didn’t care!

Wednesday was a bit more subdued, and we just hung out in the flat for the evening.

Thursday evening I headed home from a long day of working at a Method event with Solar Associates.  It was great seeing the programme in action and meeting the faces that match the voices I’ve been hearing on podcasts for the past week.  Sure, working 11 hours was tough, but the fact that three of those hours were spent socializing with an intriguing group of artists over wine at the venue followed by a beer at a pub definitely made it palatable   Thankfully, I headed home to a flat full of people indulging in the same…just with plastic cups and drinking games instead of pool.  Oh well, whatever works!

Friday and Saturday was spent hitting the town (and hitting up male bar buying charity) with Sarah and Lauren.  Friday was spent on Brick Lane, a conglomeration of pubs, bars, clubs, and people ready to have a good time.  93 Feet East was what drew us there: a popular bar that doesn’t charge a cover on Fridays and features an outdoor bar and picnic table as well as an indoor dance floor.  Upon the recommendation of some Italians, we ended the night at T-Bar…all I’m going to say is fog machines were involved, and I can officially say I’ve experienced a Euro club.  The night ended with sharing a McDonald’s table with South Africans before heading home on a Night Bus.  We stayed a bit more local on Saturday and threw it back to the prohibition area by getting into a speakeasy in Sloane Square.  Bart’s was everything I hoped a speakeasy would be: festively hidden and secretive, but once you’re in you’re down for a good time…and really good drinks.  Like the Friday before at a South Kensington club Diva Beach (very similar to NYC’s Bed), the bartenders were ready and willing to create the best cocktails I’ve ever tasted; as opposed to NYC, London bars seem to appreciate quality over quantity when serving their patrons.

I spent another Sunday out around town.  My first stop was an exciting one: booking a hotel room for Madre!  She is visiting from 7 – 15 November and will be staying at the London Visitor’s Hotel, about a 20 minute walk from Manson Place and off of Kensington High Street.  The best part: we got a double, so I can sleepover!  I’m really excited to have her here; every adventure I go on I can’t help but think “showing and sharing this will be even better.”

Next, I headed up Kensington High Street to the 11:30am mass at Our Lady of Victories.  It is the parish’s Solemn Mass, featuring a beautiful Latin choir and chanted by the priest.  It was an incredibly meditative experience, intensified by the beautiful gothic features of the church.  It just felt so…original, in the sense that it was like experiencing the same ceremony that was the only ceremony hundreds of years ago.  I loved the experience, and I definitely plan on attending the 11:30am more often  (I like flexing my Latin choral muscles, and luckily could thanks to the pamphlets that were distributed with the sheet music!).

After mass, I met up with Sarah, Avey, and Mike at Sloane Square to attend some more Open Houses: Holy Trinity Church and the department store Peter Jones.  Lauren, John and I attended two on Saturday: The Ismaili Center and  The Octagon.  It was a great program; all of the tours were very insightful and yet another reminder of how architecturally diverse and rich London is.  Here are some photos from Sunday’s tours:

Sloane Square

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church

Peter Jones

Peter Jones

Peter Jones

Holy Trinity Church

The beauty of the Peter Jones merchandise dually inspired and discouraged Sarah, Mike and I, so we embarked on a shopping mission to the cheapest store of all: Primark in Oxford Circus (think of it as Forever 21′s cheaper, chicer, European cousin).  Naturally we needed fuel first, though, so we stopped for some eggs and toast at a cute cafe.  Although deliciously sophisticated, I must admit I’m craving some good old greasy American diner food (and did I mention cheaper?  The plate cost more in pounds without factoring in conversion yet, and although sprinkled with fresh thyme it did not include potatoes or bacon…boo).  Protein power helped Sarah and I plow through the crowds and the mass array of racks and piles of clothing.  I was ready to invest in my London nightlife wardrobe’s future, and thanks to Sarah’s guiding voice and severe price cuts I came out extremely successful.  Everything [I purchased] is cute (it did take some significant fishing through Euro-trash garments), and the majority cost less than brunch.  Now that’s how to shop.