London Luau 007

London Luau 007
by Chris Osburn
Londonist
June 11, 2007

The main event of the weekend was an actual Hawaiian-style luau on Saturday night at Trader Vic’s, replete three bands, two DJs, one suckling pig per table and plenty of gleeful imbibers clad in loud floral-print aloha wear.

Click here for complete review.

Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" West Cornwall Pasty Co

What's for Lunch? West Cornwall Pasty Co
by Chris Osburn
Londonist
June 5, 2007










Other pasty pushers may be found at Liverpool Street Station and all over London, but WCP has that added draw of featuring a gnarly, bearded, patch-eyed pirate in its logo.

Click here for the complete review.

Londonist asks "What's for Lunch?" Santoré

What's for Lunch? Santoré
by Chris Osburn
Photography by Emiana © 2007
Londonist
June 5, 2007













The word 'Santoré' is Italian for Holy King - a well suited title, as lunching on a margherita from here is a near religious experience. Washing said margherita down with a crisp Peroni is truly divine. Similarly, sharing a pizza al metro with friends is a wonderful sort of communion.

Click here for complete post.

Amwell Veterinary Practice

Just a quick word of thanks to the folks at Amwell Veterinary Practice. Their sympathy and professionalism are commendable and much appreciated.

How was the Gilbert & George: Major Exhibition?

Shame on me. I poo-pooed this exhibition and wrote it off. I even visited the Tate Modern a few times since the exhibition started without so much as considering popping my head in to take a look at Gilbert & George: Major Exhibition. Luckily, Emiana knocked some sense into me, and we checked it out this afternoon. The show features one of the most consistent, engaging and provocative bodies of work I've come across. I was particularly impressed by the consistency of the work, considering that G&G have been at it since the late 60s. They have - without flinching - examined and exhibited their lives as art(ists) in full view of the world.

Wanna see how London, contemporary art, and social norms have evolved over the past 40 years? Gilbert & George: Major Exhibition runs until May 7, 2007.

Denying the Nineties with Fascination

Thanks to the recommendation of a close friend (you know who you are), I found myself this past Thursday at the Betsey Trotwood listening to a band's debut performance. The show was about an hour. Every song delivery solid. The audience of mostly mid-thirties Londoners bopped about with glee, with everybody appearing to be really glad to relive some very fun memories.

Free one inch badges were on hand too.

The band, called Fascination, is a two-piece: a vocalist and a chap behind a synth with a laptop. The sound? Pure Eighties (on their MySpace profile, they list "The B-52's, Madonna, Blondie, Tom Tom Club, Duran Duran, and Roxy Music" among their influences). The influence of Duran Duran and Roxy Music was especially evident to my ears. However, Fascination has a much heavier synth/electro-pop sound (Human League and Missing Persons come to mind). Lyrics are refreshingly vapid and fun. For example, according to the song Topshop Radio, here is Fascination's take on success:

I'd never dream that we made it until some teenage girl is trying on clothes to our sound ... taking off clothes to our sound.

Click here to visit Fascination's MySpace profile, where future gig dates will be listed and four songs are available for your listening pleasure.

Latest ish of NUDE Magazine

NUDE Magazine is a pretty good read. I'm especially enjoying the just released Spring 2007 Issue 10 for two reasons: it features a cover article with photos of Space Invader as well as a great, in depth interview with London-based illustrator/architect Michael Murphy of DESIGNinBLUE.

Back to the Future
by Ryan Crabbe
NUDE Magazine, Issue 10
Spring 2007

I still believe that great architecture has the ability to feed people's senses in a very positive way, and by saying 'great' I don't necessarily mean big. Great architecture to me is thoughtful and intriguing and has an effect on the subconscious through its regulation and manipulation of spaces.











Space Invader: all out art attack
by Anne Bowles
NUDE Magazine, Issue 10
Spring 2007

Forget bird flu: there's another much more benign virus being spread through the streets of the world's major cities, by a Parisian street artist who goes by the name of Space Invader.













Click here to purchase the latest copy of NUDE Magazine.

Brunch at Bank Aldwych

Recently, I enjoyed a nice leisurely Sunday brunch at Bank Aldwych and would recommend a visit to anyone looking for a quality spot for some stylish slumming. The service was topnotch. My côte de bœuf with béarnaise sauce and frites was delish. And, the pitcher of Buck's Fizz (that's a Mimosa to all you non-Brits) was a much appreciated indulgence for my table of three. A well-rounded wine list and yummy desserts were noteworthy as well. I hope to go back to sample some cocktails from its bar, where according to the restaurant's website, "100 cocktails on offer to try is always on hand."

Making advance reservations is a good idea at this conveniently situated urban brasserie nestled between the City and the West End.

Bank Aldwych
1 Kingsway
London WC2B 6XF
Tel: 0845 658 7878
E: aldres@bankrestaurants.com

Click here to visit Bank Aldwych (and its sister restaurants in Westminster and Birmingham) online.

Cheers!

Rude Boy - The Clash

Rude Boy is not a great film. However, it does have some brilliant footage of several live performances by The Clash. According to IMDB ...

Rude Boy is a semi-documentary, part character study, part 'rockumentary', featuring a British punk band, The Clash. The script includes the story of a fictional fan juxtposed with actual public events of the day, including political demonstrations and Clash concerts. Filmed over a period of years, the written dialog takes on the appearance of improvisation.

The other brilliant aspect of this film is its footage of late 1970s London (as bleak as it seems to have been). I found this DVD is good to have playing while doing other things around my flat, stopping when a particular scene catches my attention or when the band comes back on to play.

The holy king of London pizza delivers!!!

Early last month, I wrote a review about one of my fave London restaurants, Santoré (click here for that post). Well, just recently Santoré started delivering. This, my dear friends, is fantastic news. In addition to some of the best pizza I've had outside Napoli, they deliver a good assortment of pasta dishes etc ... as well as beer, wine and cigarettes. I love it.

Photography by Emiana © 2006

I'm not sure if you're able to order from the restaurant's website, but here it is.

How was the Harry Pye exhbition?

I had an opportunity to swing over to Sartorial Contemporary Art in Notting Hill last week to check out the Harry Pye: Me, Me, Me show, and I'm glad I did. Colourful and sardonic, Me, Me, Me consists of ten new paintings, an autobiography and one hour of television. According to Harry, "I have suffered for my art and now it is your turn." The show ends soon (9 March). Sartorial Contemporary Art is open Monday to Saturday 1:30 to 6:30pm.
















Images from left to right: The harder they come, Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, You're the reason my life is a mess, and Lonesome feeling.
Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007

Click here for more details.

How was the Hoo Wot opening?

Hoo Wot - the owl art show - opened last night at the Dragon Bar on Leonard Street.














Free drinks, great art, a live owl, and tons of people ... and all for a good cause! Sounds like a party.















Exhibiting artists include:
Paul Insect, Kid Acne, Dscreet, Cept, Josie Willey, Renee So, Marcus Oakley, Matt Sewell, Cat Johnston, EMA, Mine Clothing, Neurotica, Owl Movement, Cable Street, Eco, Dabs, Joseph Allen, Dcide, Dvate, Chum 101, Chimp, Pinky, Mia, Claire Baker, Dylan Martorell, Tenko, Showchicken, PMH, Willow Berzin, Jennifer Lewin and more!

Photography by Tiki Chris © 2007

The show runs for another two weeks and is definitely worth a look-see.
Click here for details.

Santoré for proper pizza

I recently got a gig writing for the entertainment section of Crumbs for Men, a new monthy online magazine. Here's a link to a review I wrote for them.

Santoré
by Chris Osburn
Crumbs for Men
February 2007

There have been plenty of honourable mentions along the way, but it was when I took a chance on a margherita at Santoré in Clerkenwell that I felt my desire to find a superb pizza in London had been satisfied.












Visit the Entertainment section of Crumbs for Men for complete review.

Heroic animals and Moore at the Imperial War Museum

Two great exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum - The Animals' War and Henry Moore: War and Utility - make for a thoughtful day out.

The Animals' War, which runs until 22 April 2007, makes clear the folly and frailty of humans as well as the seemingly innate nobility of animals.

If you've ever even contemplated having a pet, this exhibition may have a profound effect on you ... leaving you with a sense of wonder at how animals how enhanced our lives and of disgust for humans, with our disposition for war. Click here for more information from the IWM's website.

A remedy for this disgust is to cross over immediately to the Henry Moore: War and Utility exhibition, which runs until 25 February 2007.

This exhibition explores how Moore was influenced by the human responses to conflict, revealing how the Spanish Civil War, the Second World War and the austere post-war decade informed his practice. It is at once serene and inspirational. Click here for more information from the IWM's website.

How was the Hockney exhibition?

Didn't get to catch the Hockney exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery? You missed a very good show.

David Hockney Portraits, the most comprehensive survey of Hockney's portraits to date, opened October 12 at the National Portrait Gallery to the delight of thousands. From his earliest self portraits as a teenager to his Cubist-influenced photographic collages of the 1980s and his recent camera lucida drawings, Portraits offered a fascinating visual diary of the personal life of one of Britain's most admired and innovative contemporary artists. This exhibition also provided a unique window to the late twentieth century worlds of art and celebrity, with portraits of leading cultural figures, such as Andy Warhol, Man Ray and W H Auden.

The definitive exhibition catalogue, fully illustrated with over 300 illustrations, by curators Sarah Howgate and Barbara Stern Shapiro, with essays by Mark Glazebrook, Marco Livingstone and Edmund White is published by the National Portrait Gallery in hardback.

Up close and personal with the Face of Spain (book about Velázquez)

Didn't get to catch the National Gallery's Velázquez exhibition or couldn't linger over the paintings because of the gobs of people? A great book with lots of images is Norbert Wolf's Diego Velázquez: 1599-1660, The Face of Spain, published by Taschen. Enjoy.

How was the Pogues concert?

Last night's Pogues concert - the first of three nights at London's Brixton Academy - was good fun. The band was tight and at ease. The audience, a jolly lot of drunks. Shane MacGowan, toddling and mumbling between songs, delivered as heartfelt and gritty a performance as only he could.

Honestly, the sound was terrible. But, no one seemed to mind as virtually everyone in the sold-out venue knew all the lyrics. Of goosebumpy noteworthiness was the crowd's sing-along drowning out the band during "Dirty Old Town," a song which (along with "Fairytale of New York") I have been whistling and humming all groggy morning.

Click here for information about Brixton Academy and the Pogues tour.

Viet Hoa: authentic Vietnamese food in Hoxton

I recently had dinner at one of my all-time London faves - Viet Hoa on Kingsland Road in Hoxton.

When I lived in London from 2001-2003, I visited Viet Hoa quite often, even though I lived on the other side of this sprawling town. Now, that I live a short bus ride away, it's taken me half a year to get back. Much of the reason it's taken so long is that there's a perfectly adequate Vietnamese place near my flat (I'll save it for another review).

Despite having a great local, I'm nevertheless shocked it took me so long to make my way back. Viet Hoa is an exceptional restaurant and well worth a trip of nearly any length. Of particular note are their yummy spring rolls. Generally, I'm not a big fan of springrolls, but these deep-fried morsels really hit the spot with Viet Hoa's distinct and subtle mix of flavours. Their sizzling pork dish is a winner too!

Viet Hoa is a huge but very humble restaurant. Service is adequate but nothing special. It should also be noted that Viet Hoa gets packed to the rafters practically every night - rather amazing considering the abundance of Vietnamese restaurants within earshot on Kingsland Road. Still, I must recommend Viet Hoa even if there's a wait involved; some time back in '02 or '03, I tried one of the nearby competitors, an act which left me feeling like a traitor and regretting that I had eaten a sub-excellent meal when I was so close to phenomenal Viet Hoa. Also, many of the regulars are night prowling Hoxton hipsters. So if you go on the early side of the evening (note: they close after lunch and open again around 5:30pm), you might have the place to yourself.

Old Street is the nearest tube stop, but it's still a hike. However, there's a bus stop right outside Viet Hoa, providing quick and easy access from Old Street and Liverpool Street stations.












Viet Hoa
74 Kingsland Road
E2 8DP
Phone: 020 7729 8293
Fax: 020 7729 8293

How was the Frost Fair?

Emiana and I took a stroll through the Frost Fair last night, had mulled wine, heard some nice tunes. Nothing extraordinary but with all the fairy lights and festive atmosphere it was kind of nice.

Here are some pics:














Photography by Emiana © 2006

Mandatory reading for London's expat community!

Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour by Kate Fox is mandatory reading for any non-English residents of England - or anyone who plans to be here for an extended stay. I wish I'd read this years ago!



Really I don't see why anthropologists feel they have to travel to remote corners of the world and get dysentery and malaria in order to study strange tribal cultures with bizarre beliefs and mysterious customs, when the weirdest, most puzzling tribe of all is right here on our doorstep.
- Kate Fox