Boom box, disco, rock your socks off, indie-dance party, beat boxing, breakdancing, hand jiving, moon walking, crooners, Hip Hoppers, beat making jams. Old or new, what's catching my fancy this week? Music, food and culture.
The Library is an amazing place. I picked up a card to my local branch and was amazed at their CD selection. For a pound I took out Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bookends' (sometimes you need a little hippie dippie in your life), Tubeway Army's 'Replicas' (an amazing album!!!!!) and Empire of the Sun's debut album 'Walking on a Dream.' Not to mention for a pound I can also rent any Dr Who which caused a Dr Who marathon in our flat.
I don't know what to say about Gary Numan. This is a classic album that was the predecessor to much electro/disco/new wave that fallowed in the early 80's. "Are Friends' Electric' (just covered by the Dead Weather) is the know one here, but the whole album is a dream. Just check this out this 1981 performance in London if your not knowing:
Because I haven't listened to it in its entirety I am super excited about the Empire of the Sun album. When I first came across them about a year ago it was the album cover that caught my attention first. It looks like a movie poster. The other day my mates and I analyzed the cover and came up with what the movie would be about. I am excited to see them perform at love box in two weeks. Hope it's not disappointing!
I guess their movie would look something like this http://www.youtube.com/user/EmpireOfTheSunSound
Food: Roasting tips:
Before cooking, season well and use a knife to make pockets in the meat for garlic halfs. Quickly sear the out side of your meat at a high temperature and then cook it at low temperature in the oven. Long and slow. Let it stand for 10 minutes before carving. Thank you Mr. Sinclair for that one (PS. find a butcher near you that sells non industrial raised meat. you don't want slave meat.)
A picture in the foot tunnel that goes under the Thames river to a quaint cafe that serves Jerk chicken and a good cuppacino.
Culture: In this little pocket of London there is a market that is known for it's antiques, vintage, trinkets, collectables, new fashion trends and old prints. If you go there on a Friday when all the stalls are open it is a wonder of things old and new. I once bought an antique wooden wall phone that still worked.
Food: The food stalls here are a treat. With authentic cuisine from all over the world competing for your money, most of the stalls serve fresh, home cooked fair. I went for the Japanese home made noodles. The noodles and broth are made fresh to order and dumplings are delectable as well. Fun to watch and good to eat. Too bad this place was closed. Peeked in the window and saw vintage clothing to die for. Must go back
Trivia: Did you know that time starts in Greenwich? This is because the universal meridian line runs through this village. That makes this the first shop in the world.
Music: This song is so Prince.
Mr. Lidell is playing this weekend in Hyde Park. Yummy.
Glastonbury! One of the biggest music events of Brittan's festival season. Sorry to say I didn't attend. Instead I made my own festival while camping in the New Forest. Just a tent, gourmet food, and Lords of the Underground.
Food: Local cheeses with locally brewed beer.
Music: Aaaa, yes. Nothing like sitting in a the English country side and bumping some early 90's hip hop. Chef RocKa, Love Me or Leave Me Alone, Headbanger, Fake'n The Funk and Straighten it Out just to name a few:
Food: The Harrods food court is amazing. If you can stumoch their outragus prices it's ther prefect place to indulge your tastse buds. Either champagnie and oysters, or the guy that sings Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" while making your pizza, or the oversized ice cream sundays. Yum!
It's my second day in London and I can't help but notice that most women are waring black leggings and most men are sporting a man purse. Here are my theories on this fashion Phnom. London is a city were once your out your out for the day. I guess most women ware leggings because the weather can change from warm to cold quickly and if one is sporting some short little number you have to be prepared. Black leggings are safe and go with most everything, but what I realized (when there are so many walking around me) is that there is a range of black. From texture to fabric to thickness to lace, there is actually a way to personalize the common black leg. They don't have to simply be the slightly shiny kind that when stretched over your ass you can see you panties. you know the ones that I'm talking about. The man purse in this city is another issue. Back home in LA I do not see the man purse, but here it is every where. Once again, once our out for the day your out. Therefore I understand that men need to cary with them their various necessities that will take them from day to night. But lets face it, I am in Europe the home of the metro sexual man.