07/30/12 - 0 Comments
This Week: Things To Do
With the Olympics in town for the next few weeks, London is, perhaps, the most happening of cities. And, while there are plenty of sports-related activities to keep you occupied, every now and then a girl needs a thoroughly un-athletic break. So, to temper the adrenaline of last week’s Things To Do—London 2012 Olympics Edition, we thought we’d share this list of books, hotels and events that will keep you busy without breaking a sweat.
What to Read: Miss Fuller by April Bernard
Margaret Fuller, one of the most renowned feminists, journalists and speakers of the late 19th century, is one of our favorite and yet woefully forgotten ladies. Naturally, we’re incredibly excited that April Bernard (another amazing and award-winning lady) has pulled her character from obscurity in her latest historical novel, Miss Fuller. The story is about a woman who changed the world by not being afraid to play with the big boys of the Transcendentalist movement. And any woman who can go toe-to-toe with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau is definitely a woman we want to read about.
Where to Eat: Flat Iron Pop-Up Restaurant
Food, like fashion, goes through phases. And this week steak is in, but only for a limited time, at Flat Iron. A pop-up restaurant above The Owl & Pussycat—a foodie haunt that we all already know to be one of the trendiest places to eat—Flat Iron has made dining out simple. For the next couple of months, Flat Iron will be taking over the Owl & Pussycat kitchen to serve only two things: flat iron steak (the shoulder cut) and salad. But don’t let the limited menu selection deter you—what the Flat Iron team cooks, they cook well. Only, if you want a taste, you’ll have to hurry, since Flat Iron is only open for a few months. We definitely suggest calling now to secure a spot.
Where to Stay: Belgraves
Despite its New York connections, Belgraves is trying hard to become the trendiest of British hotels by forging a “new Britannia” through art, decor and all-round world class luxury service, according to their website. In The Guardian’s opinion, Belgraves “seems to be striving to be more British than the British.” While that might sound like a tall order (really, we New Yorkers like our coffee too much to outdo British Britishness), whatever they’re doing seems to work since, before its opening, Belgraves pulled together some of the best minds of the hotel scene to create a stunning space to spend the night. With interior design by Tara Bernerd and an architectural team from EPR Architects, the 85-room hotel really went for the best of the best, and they found it.
Fabulous Festivals: Spitalfields International Food Festival
If you’re not from London town, you probably would have never guessed that the neighborhood of Spitalfields is actually known for having some of the best cooking in the city. Believe it or not, this reputation has been rightfully earned, and this month Spitalfields is celebrating its culinary achievements with the Spitalfields International Food Festival. This is no rinky-dink showing, either—over 180 pubs, bars, coffee shops and restaurants are participating, offering deals in conjunction with the festival all the way until September 9. From Fire and Stone, one of Spitalfields’ most renowned pizzerias, to Costa Coffee, gourmet venues to food cart snacks, the Spitalfields International Food Festival has something to cater to everyone’s taste (yep, that includes Starbucks!).
A Bit of Music: Meltdown Festival
Have plans this weekend? If not, great. If so, cancel them, because the annual Meltdown music festival is in town from August 1 to August 12, and this is an event you’re not going to want to miss. Held at the Southbank Centre, the Meltdown has been the hottest event on the London Music scene since 1993, featuring performances by John Peel, David Bowie, Patti Smith and Morrissey. One year, Grace Jones, Pete Doherty and Jarvis Cocker even sang Disney songs. This year’s lineup is just as impressive, with Planningtorock and Light Asylum opening the show on August 1 and William Basinski: The Disintegration Loops plus London Contemporary Orchestra closing on August 12. Other performances to look out for are Diamanda Galás’ talk on the film Schrei 27 (August 3), NYC’s CocoRosie (August 4) and the Buffy Sainte-Marie concert (August 7)
Where to Shop: Pitfield London
Usually, we like to reserve this section for the latest and trendiest place to spruce up your wardrobe. But, this week, we thought we’d do something a little bit different and let you in on the little secret that is Pitfield London, the hottest home store in town. Redecorating this summer? Pitfield London has a really great selection of vintage goodies, reworked furniture and designer wallpapers that will be sure to make even the tiniest apartments oh-so-chic. Even if you’re not making time to revamp your living quarters, stopping by Pitfield is still a good idea since they’ve got a great collection of fashionably unusual gifts. The shop is, according to the website “a fantastical world where everything is retro and riveting, dramatic and daring.” Well that definitely sounds like how we like to decorate!
Photo credit: Barnes and Noble, Flat Iron Facebook, Belgraves, My Mzone, Meltdown, Pitfield London, London Bridged
