Category: London

Humor, Husband, London

Adventures in Haberdashery

“Style, friend, style!”
– Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

We thought we’d solved the conundrum of the Thanksgiving Christmas Party. Not so! One final hitch of the sartorial variety awaited us.

Monday evening Jeff burst in the door after work and exclaimed, “Get up, get dressed, we have to find a tuxedo!”

To explain, I was dressed to go to the gym, not undressed. I’d also had a very long day with some fun but extremely labor intensive freelance projects that had cropped up at the last minute and had barely just plopped down on the sofa for a rest before tackling the next stage of one of them. But I popped up and threw on some real clothes to dash out the door with him a few minutes later. I’ve mentioned before that odd requests without context are fairly standard operating procedure for us.

It turns out that clarification had been given only that afternoon to the dress code on the invitation for the event. Originally it had been one of those modern, unhelpful directions that don’t actually tell you what you’re supposed to wear. “Dress to impress.” It had been confirmed, at this late stage, that it meant, “Black tie,” and normal suits weren’t going to cut it.

So, off we went to hire a tux, just hoping we got to the only store open past 5pm (almost the whole of London shuts down after typical business hours, something I usually don’t mind at all) while it was still open. The Tube is a time crapshoot. As it turns out we fell in the door mere minutes before the hire department closed for the evening. Me with messy hair and both of us a bit winded. I was sure they would demand why a couple of wheezy plebes like us needed evening clothes but luckily we got the thing ordered just in the nick of time (two customers were turned away after us) and with no questions asked.

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James Bond never dealt with this sort of hurried tux arrangement, I am sure.
Holidays, Humor, London

Well Done, John Lewis

“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”
― Anne Spollen, The Shape of Water

Lavish department store window displays go back for over a century, but in London during the holidays many stores try hard to outdo each other in creative ideas and design. The more out of the box, the better. There are a lot of great displays, I need to do a post dedicated to them collectively, but my favorite this year is undoubtedly the window at John Lewis.

Initially the display looked pretty basic, just woodland animals. But come closer…

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A stag made of vacuum parts!

 

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A bunny of brushes!

 

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A squirrel of cups and cutlery!

 

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A bird of scissors!

 

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Foxes of dusters.

 

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A badger of lighting.

 

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A bear of basketry.

I can’t imagine how labor intensive these must have been. But I think the results are utterly charming!

Humor, Husband, London

My Man Plays the Blues

“You couldn’t not like someone who liked the guitar.”
― Stephen King, The Stand

We spend a lot of time in the West End, it’s where some of our favorite restaurants are, obviously the theatre district, and frankly it’s just a great place to wander. One of Jeff’s favorite areas to meander therein is Soho. Once it had a nicely sizzling reputation as a sex industry district and the site determined as the source of the outbreak of cholera that helped form the science of epidemiology. More recently it’s reputation is as one of the real music centers of the city.

Denmark Street is particularly famous for its shops selling musical instruments and sheet music. At one point several major artists lived, worked, or recorded music there – we’re talking Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie… It’s basically Jeff’s nirvana (who, incidentally as far as I know, did not record there). Many an evening after he’s indulged me in some window shopping, I head into Soho to return the favor.

Because if Jeff ever makes his fortune, I know exactly what he would collect. Guitars. He’s played ever since he was a kid and even inherited a bass and a custom built electronic guitar (shared with a brother) from a great uncle.

I never went in for the sensitive troubadour types (of which our university had hordes), and Jeff didn’t win me with his musical talents. But I’ve got admit, the dark and deep blues and jazz tunes didn’t at all hurt. I might do for indie and some blues but for Rock in our house, Jeff’s your man.

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You can’t see it here, but there is some serious musical lust on his face.

Like all true admirers, he’s found his favorite local shop: Macaris, with locations on both Charing Cross Road and Denmark Street. And its goods are pretty impressive. They are the only authorised Gibson guitar dealer in the near area, a fact they are pretty proud of, and they sell everything from simple starter guitars for kids and soulful university students right up to the 80’s-est of 80’s rock n’roll royalty gear. Even I, who know nothing about guitars but for what I’ve learned from the devotee I’m married to, was knocked back to see some of their treasured stock – NOT for sale.

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Oh. Just guitars signed by John Lennon, Oasis, and other major British rockers. Nothing much to look at. (*clutches self a bit to see them just hanging there!).

They sell other instruments as well, but I think it’s pretty clear their heart lies with the thrumming and plucking sort. But it’s not just guitar lovers we’re talking here!

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Fun family fact – among my exceptionally nifty mother’s talents (Classical Greek and Latin included) lies the banjo! She decided she wanted to learn as a girl and worked out the scheme for an instrument and lessons herself. She’s plucky like that. Interesting enough, a sibling followed a bit in her footsteps…

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Brig’s teenage wooing and general cavorting choice: the ukelele! Ignore my thumb at the bottom, if you please. But for Jeff, there’s only room in his heart for the one true stringed instrument.

Jinstore

Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links
“I do like escapism. I like going to the movies on a Friday night and seeing something fun.”
– Charlie Kaufman

Yesterday was Jeff’s birthday, he’s solidly late 20s now! Yesterday we did dinner at Scoff and Banter to celebrate, tomorrow we’re going to see this to continue celebrating, which we’ve been looking forward to for month (and had to book months in advance to avoid paying a kidney each). We tend to stretch birthdays out a bit, sans shame. That’s our weekend, what are yours looking like, ducklings? Here are your links!

I have, as you know a deep and abiding interest in all things cheese related.

The Lady sums it up. Lady Edith, who, by the way American minions who have not already pirated it, is killing it on the style front this series in Downtown Abbey would approve. More I cannot on the DA front, but that I have opinions on this season.

Book teas!

This book sounds fascinating, I’m adding it to the To Read list at once!

Ralph Lauren has released images for the Winter 2014 Olympic uniforms. I’m not loving the trousers but I think the coats are great.

Modern dandy portraits. Very nice indeed.

A couple of week ago, Mozart. This week, Beethoven.

This photo is making the social media rounds and I thought it worth sharing again. Caption: “A little break from our crying child. Once I took this picture I teared up with the realization of what my wife was going through.

Someday it will swallow the solar system and engulf it in blazing fury…but until then it is stunning, isn’t it?

This group concept (though sounding, as one commenter rather hilariously put it, a bit like The Hunger Games), actually makes a lot of sense to me. As an American citizen who grew up both internationally and all over the country, I’ve often found the best way to explain the US to some outsiders is to portray the states and the broader areas they are grouped in as something like different countries. Complete with dialects, cultural priorities, and in some places racial and ethnic majorities and minorities. Apart from anything else, it’s a good way to explain why our government is as dysfunctional as it can be. When you stop thinking of the US as one country but several trying (or sometimes refusing) to work together, a lot of things about it make more sense.

These photos – I want to go to there!

Humor, London

In Character

“I’m cool dad, that’s my thang. I’m hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL: laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face.”
– Phil Dunphy, Modern Family

The US has Black Friday, that day of dubious renown, to kick off the Christmas season. Here in London, we have the lighting of the annual displays on Regent Street. Every year thousands crowd to watch the lights turn on. Usually there is some kind of sponsor (this year a film) and plenty of performers. Goodness knows I didn’t see much besides the spines of other people – drat my height! – but we got to listen to Leona Lewis and Passenger before several guests of honor took their places to throw the switch, including actor Ty Burrell.

…and nothing happened.

They had to try three times, the last after a bit of an awkward delay when they turned off all the large screens and shuffled around the stage a bit awkwardly. That part I did get to see, since I found a handy curb.

Luckily they did get it all to work eventually, but I rather like the idea of Phil Dunphy doing something to make the lighting a bit more difficult.

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Humor, London

The Moderate British Bake Off

“Empty?! You took all the cookies!”
“They were crying to get out of the jar… Cookies get claustrophobia too, you know!”
― Charles M. Schulz

Britain, I’m devoted to you, but the size of your packages of baking chocolate chunks leaves something to be desired.

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You. Vanilla extract with actual vanilla seeds. You can stay.

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Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links (A Blustery Day Edition)

“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.”
― Roger Miller

Just a few this week because it’s a very blustery and rainy day and I’m behind on projects that must get done before the weekend. Jeff and I will take but a quick evening break tonight to wander down Regent Street, now positively awash in yuletide goodness. Since we’re past bonfire night and Thanksgiving is rather up in the air, it’s seasonally appropriate. Next up, Christmas carols! …Also, I should probably get shopping…

A while back we brought you Star Wars as done by Shakespeare, I’ll now just leave this right there.

Columns – written and otherwise.

Thoughts on writing and rewriting from The Lady. Helpful in trying to produce a first draft.

Twitter feed find, if the Tudors tweeted. (Woof, say that five times fast.)

This headline. Guys, this headline! (#AndMyAxe)

To say that words fail me would be inadequate. On the other hand, a guy from the state I just moved is achieving a degree of internet notoriety for offering $5,000 to anyone who introduces him to the woman he eventually marries. Love is not dead!

Far overdue, but good!

My retail temptation store has followed me across the Atlantic. Is nowhere safe?!

Holidays, Humor, London

A Holiday Issue Arises – Advise!

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes.”
― Erma Bombeck

An admittedly American conundrum. (Among many, apparently.)

Jeff’s work Christmas party is scheduled for Thanksgiving evening and everyone is “highly encouraged” to attend. Spouses aren’t invited. I have thoughts on this, both as to the scheduling (Christmas parties in November violate my sense of order) and the no partners policy.*

I also have a reservation for dinner at The Mayflower – because that was the most on-the-nose Thanksgiving I could possibly have come up with and I thought it would be fun to eat in a pub that commemorates the group that kicked off the holiday to begin with. Very apropos, if not slightly meta.

So. Who can I befriend in less than a month that will go to a major holiday dinner with me and not find it weird? Or do I just ditch the reservation and spend take myself out to a fab day and night on the town and go utterly native by forgoing the only real American holiday? Which I’m not opposed to, but if left to my own devices I feel I should at least do something interesting, but what? Advise me, minions!

*Half of me understands the financial desire to keep numbers down, the other half of me gives this policy serious side eye.

Humor, London

Loyalty Rewarded

“What a fuss people make about fidelity!” exclaimed Lord Henry.
― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

It was the weekend, we were placing our regular curry delivery order (like a good pair of Londoners) when we were faced with a conundrum. A new curry place had announced its opening via flier earlier in the week and we debated whether trying it out might be a good idea or not. The prices were comparable, as was the distance, the menu was largely the same, etc. Decisions decisions. In the end we decided to stick with the tried and true, if for no other reason than they have our number on file and don’t even have to ask for our address anymore.

This was tucked into the unassuming brown paper bag that showed up.

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I WILL NEVER FALTER AGAIN.

Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links (This Girl is On Fi-hyah, Edition)
“Nobody gets a nervous breakdown or a heart attack from selling kerosene to gentle country folk from the back of a tanker in Somerset.”
– Roald Dahl
Covent Garden has had its Christmas decor up for a bit, but in view of the fact that there is no Thanksgiving here, I'll allow it in November
Covent Garden has had its Christmas decor up for a bit, but in view of the fact that there is no Thanksgiving here, I’ll allow it in November

I was in a bit of a funk this week, ducklings. So I gave myself leave to (temporarily) neglect you while I found some equilibrium. It was also the week of Jeff’s first three certifying exams (he passed with flying colors) so things were understandably a bit tense so we preferred to hang out in Covent Garden with each other of an evening than anything else. But a good dose of perspective from a friend has quite busted me out of my three day break.

So far today I’ve done laundry, worked out, sent out a small but decent batch of cold emails for editorial work, put in some work on a novel (yeah, I’m one of those. Blame buddy and future YA bestselling author Caitlin Jacobs), did some freelance work, submitted a couple invoices, and did a load of washing up. I’m feeling downright energetic! This evening I plan on dragging Jeff to the British Museum to check out their Beyond El Dorado exhibit, and then possibly wander a bit in Westminster to take in some November. Here are your links, tell me what you’re up to this weekend!

I confess I might have squeed a little…but these are awfully cute creations.

Wow…heartbreaking and beautiful (h/t Caitlin Kelly)

These shoes are all kinds of great.

The kingdom was briefly in peril it seems, but crisis has been averted.

You must admit, his outlook is very soothing. Also, Jeff thinks he’s the greatest painter that ever graced the earth. In his words, “He paints with a freaking knife!”

Halloween is but one day behind us. Here’s something historical and grisly for you.

Gardening for the win! (h/t Kerry)

It might be All Saints Day, but Kate Beaton’s holiday quizzes always require sharing.

Guard your gardens!

Leaving aside that CNN’s headlines are looking more and more like Buzzfeed, this gallery pleases me. I wonder what the leg wraps are meant to achieve.