Finally some live music

So, last night I finally went to see what London has to offer for live music. I started small, not going for the big guns. I went to 12 Bar Club which was advertised as being a singer/songwriter type of place. This place would have fit in perfectly in Austin, dirty and gringy with singer/songwriters playing.


The opening act Timothy Parkes had a nice pretty sound, sort of what you would expect from a singer/songwriter, but I wasn't blow away. The headliner was Gary Lucas. I get the impression I should know who this guy is, but I don't. He was awesome at the guitar, but when he tried to throw in lyrics, it just didn't work for me. He played 2 very interesting guitars.

The first one was a new one made of recycled material like yogurt cartons by a friend/acquaintance.

The 2nd one was a metal acoustic guitar that sounded like a mix between a banjo and the sound of old school blues guitars of Robert Johnson. It was interesting to listen to it. I think maybe the uniqueness of this sound is not captured in recordings, but I could be wrong. You can tell by the wear and tear on the guitar that it is his regular.

Oh, I finally had my first Newcastle beer at 12 Bar Club...

This girl at the bar started talking to me and we ended up going to this other club named St Moritz Club where a fun ska band called Gaz's Rockin' Blues was playing. I danced more than I have danced in ages!!! It was fun! She has an interesting story and as she was not feeling the music, she simply sat and drank while I danced. I think she may have been following some ex of hers that was at the first place who was also at this place. St Moritz's was in the basement so had that rather "undergound" feel about it..sort of like being in a grotto. I think I'll try it again to see if the atmosphere is the same with a different band.

Curzon Cinema - Soho

This theatre has 2 screens with Dolby sound (or was it THX) so you won't be giving up sound quality for the films here (not that loud blockbusters would show here). It appears to play a variety of cult classics, independent, and foreign flicks. The ground floor has the ticket office and a coffee/pastry shop where non-movie-going patrons can sit and chill. The 1st lower floor has a bar (not smokey :) ) and couches and tables for lounging...again non-movie-going patrons are welcome. They have a wall of dvds which I have assumed you can buy but did not verify. The floor below this has the 2 theatres and a typical American movie concession (albeit small). It should be noted that only items purchased from here can be brought into the theatres (so finish your beer from the bar before your movie starts). The theatres are small and intimate, but you don't feel cramped and the screen sized didn't bother me enough to even notice. If you take the time to enjoy the various levels, it's a fun movie experience. The coffee shop and bar patrons seem to be what you would expect for the type of movies that are shown here.

http://www.curzoncinemas.com/

Arthouse/Independent/Foreign Film Cinemas

Here is the list of "alternative" cinemas I've found in London and plan to try. I'll update this as I find more. I will create individual postings of my experience at them.

http://www.phoenixcinema.co.uk/
http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.electriccinema.co.uk/
http://www.princecharlescinema.com/
http://www.curzoncinemas.com/

Photography equipment store

So I've found a store that sells all that a photographer needs, even darkroom equipment. Since it required a bit of searching on my part, I thought I'd share it in case anyone else is out there looking. The name is Kingsley Photographic and it's address is 93 Tottenham Court Road, just north of the Dodge Street tube stop. http://www.kingsleyphoto.co.uk/

So, I've found more and decide to update this posting. I want to keep all the information in one spot. Here are links to other stores I've found.

http://www.kingsleyphoto.co.uk/
http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/
http://www.calumetphoto.com/

No Smoking

One of the best features of America is how it takes away the right of its citizens to smoke in public establishments (say like restaurants). You forget how you take it for granted that you can go out for a nice bite to eat and not come home smelling like smoke. It makes me wonder why people would spoil their eating experience with the smell and take of smoke. Everynight I come home, my clothes inevitably smell like smoke. So America, keep up the good work of limiting the rights of your citizens!

My first London snow!

Children plastered themselves to the windows. Parents force their kids to stand in the cold while they snapped a picture. No, it's not the Queen or the latest pop star...it's SNOW!!! I was preparing a cup of tea and leisurely getting ready this morning when it started to snow. It eventually started to really come down, though only lasted about 15 minutes...just enough time for me to throw some clothes on and run outside to snap a shot. There went my leisurely morning. All the snow was melted just as quickly as it fell. But it was fun while it lasted.


Also, I had one of the best cups of espresso since Italy!!


To end this....I miss all you guys!

Wild goose chase

So, one would think there would be tons of proper photography shops in such a large city, but one would be mistaken. I have gone all over this town trying to find a camera shop that would sell real camera straps...but they are either not to be found or closed for the day!! I swear if I don't find an open one tomorrow I will scream! In my search, I stumbled across the store pictured and had a good laugh. No, it's not what it sounds like. It's a furniture store, but you sure would think they could find a better name!! On a side note, I'm trying not to get sick so I didn't get to venture to the Progreso coffee shop.

Getting to know the hotel staff

I met a sous chef at the hotel 2 nights ago and he invited me to a dinner he was doing for some of his chef friends in the hotel. He's the one at the head of the table (I know it's a horrible picture, but it was the best I could get). It was such an international mix...Brazilians, Spanish, Dutch, Australians, Germans, British, Italians and American (me). It was a lovely dinner and fun crowd. Fortunately, they didn't talk shop too much. I got to hear some hotel gossip and learn a bit more the inner workings of a hotel.

Fair-trade coffee shop

In my search for non-profit, human aid, human rights groups with offices here in London, I discovered a group Oxfam that is starting to open coffee shops named Progreso that serve only fairtrade coffee. As it's Christmas day and closed, I can't go today but I will hit them up tomorrow. Oxfam main focus isn't these shops, just one project they've started doing. I just thought it was an interesting as they not only serve the coffee, but they also get involved with the coffee growers. Maybe there is someone out there interested in helping to open one.

Stereotypes

I met an Irishman at a pub last night. Very quickly he started to rub me the wrong way. He started out being nice and fun, but then it turned weird. He made 2 comments that I think led us down that path. 1) He said he would probably talk in generalities and stereotypes 2) American women are more suspicious than other women. I myself don't mind talking in generalities but what he helped me to realized is that I firmly believe while it's ok to speak in generalities, you can't treat people in generalities. You must always give people a chance to show who they are and they will demonstrate whether they fit the generality, but you can't immediately treat people as they do. This guy hasn't quite figured that out and quite frequently made comments that were mocking and demeaning to me as I am an American (Texan at that). As for the suspicious nature of American women, I think this stems from how he treats them...with little respect and too much expectation. He almost demands that you trust him...makes one think "Thou doest protest to much." I've never had a conversation with someone like I had with him, and it was quite an annoying conversation. One of those that lingers in a bad way, sort of kills a good mood.

The true start to my restuarant exploration

Though obviously I've been eating here, it's been at random, convenient restaurants. Thursday marked my actual start of search for good restaurants...restaurants that could be my everyday eating (cuz we all know I don't cook!!!)...aka healthy and reasonably priced, not just special occassion eating. So I tried a Japanese place called Abeno that serves a style of food called Okonomiyaki. I never had this style of food before. It was interesting, though might be a bit heavy for me to eat it too regularly. The website I found this place on said that this was the only place in London that served this style of food. I asked the waiter about this and he said they have 2 locations but that also he understands that this is the only place in the whole of Europe! It's a small shop with only about 6 or 7 table. They cook it there at your table. I forgot to take a picture of the dish, but maybe next time.

My quest for Tam's substitute

The Austin crew will know that my favorite Vietnamese place in Austin is Tam's and my love for soft spring rolls. It turns out, it is quite hard to find those here and there aren't many Vietnamese restaurants in central London. So I searched the web for a good, authentic Vietnamese place and Thanh Binh seemed to be the place. The first night I tried to venture to it, I went the wrong direction out the tube stop, but eventually found another Vietnamese. It wasn't the mom and pop place like I was looking for. So last night I ventured out again to find it and this time go the right way :). I found it and my it was lovely! Not only was it a mom-and-pop place, but the mom and pop were in a good-hearted argument the whole time...what entertainment!! The food was unique and not like any other Vietnamese I've had. The spring rolls were a little different as well and served with fish sauce (not peanut sauce). The main dish I thought from it's description might be like the shrimp yam cakes at Tam's, but alas, it was not, but quite interesting. It definitely is a place I will try more to explore the menu.

Not my green thumb

I've been going to this tube stop since I've been here and only yesterday noticed this garden. How can I not get a plant to grow on my sunny back deck in Texas and these guys manage to grow a whole garden in an outdoor (though not largely exposed) tube stop in dreary London?! It's a nice touch to what is normally a dirty, gringy location.

What is it about me??

Here is the 2nd person that I've had an extended conversation with since I've been here. It was my first Satuday here and was the first evening I didn't have to take care of anything so I planned to chill in my hotel room and actually get to bed before 1am. I thought I'd sip on a beer in the hotel bar while I read my book. Within 5 minute of sitting down, I'm approached by Luis (who by the way was extremely drunk), entriqued by my reading a book in bar. By the end of the night, I've stayed longer than one beer, he is crying and expressing sentiments of our being in a relationship!! Oh, did I mention he is a 50 year old Texican?!!!!!!!!! Jesus, leave it to me to meet a Texican in London and have him fall for me! I should say he is a really good-hearted guy. He returned to Texas yesterday and I can try to break my knack for finding the Mexicans.

Not wasting any time...at first

Here is Debbie's friend Jennifer that moved to London from New York just about 2 months ago. Debbie had put us in touch and we made plans to meet up my first night in London. We ate dinner and had a couple of beers at a pub in her neighborhood so my first London meal was pub food (though I did order pasta...does that still count?). She's real nice and we had a lovely chat. Later in the week, I went with Jennifer to her collegue's party. It was a nice mix of British and Americans. The first flat I was looking at would have been in that general area...it's a fun neighborhood.

The ups and downs

Man my past few days have been a rollercoaster. First I found a flat and was in the process of getting the lease approved and money transfered, but due to shadiness of the flat owner we had to back out of it. I am now going for my 2nd option which unfortunately is at my max price so not so much money to play with. So knowing I have a flat again made me feel better. Now my ipod has crashed and I fear having to loose all my music!!!!! I'm going to bed to avoid thinking about it. Sorry for such a downer post, but that is my mood now.

A Late Start

So, I've been running ragged trying to take care of moving business since I've arrived that I haven't really had a chance to talk with people and so no one really knows what and how things have been going. I've decided that instead of doing the mass emails, I'd move up in the technology world and start a blog. I'll try my best to be regular at postings here. I'll do a bit of catching up in my next post. I just wanted to say welcome with this posting. So, welcome and I hope you enjoy!