Hermès Leather Forever, Royal Academy Of Arts, Until 27th May 2012

When you hear the name Hermès you immediately think about the Birkin, the Kelly and maybe even one day the Beckham (we’ll Victoria does own a hell of a lot!). The Eponymous label is celebrating its 175th year with a major new exhibition in the galleries at 6 Burlington Gardens. ‘Hermès Leather Forever’ celebrates Hermès’ relationship with leather, the first material tamed by Hermès.

The exhibition will take visitors on a  journey exploring Hermès’ love of leather and there will be an opportunity to view some of the items from the Hermès’ back catalogue, such as those commissioned by the Duke of Windsor for his Duchess as well as some of its latest creations.

Craftspeople from the Hermès workshops in Paris will be present at the exhibition demonstrating the art of leather working by creating some of its iconic works in situ.

To celebrate this exhibition, Hermès has created four one-of-a-kind versions of its Passe-Guide handbag as a tribute to the United Kingdom and Ireland which will be on display at the exhibition. Christie’s will conduct an online auction of the handbags with all proceeds being donated to the Royal Academy of Arts.

For more information please visit http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/6-burlington-gardens/

Tags: designer bags, fashion, Hermes, London, Piccadilly Circus, Royal academy of arts, The Birkin

My Daily Distraction – Framed Wall Art, I Love London Print

I have recently decided to start remodeling my room, and it’s been really fun picking out great little accessories.
Okay, so everyone who reads this blog knows that Lanky girl is obsessed with London! So imagine my delight when I
discovered that dotcomgiftshop has a whole collection of gifts for the home dedicated to my favourite topic…London. I found this perfect picture to go on my wall… and yes the 29 bus does to Trafalgar square it arrived promptly last week and so far I’ve had many compliments from friends. Now, all I need is to find a London inspired bed spread to go with it.

Tags: art, dotcomgiftshop, london buses, london inspired gifts

5 Cheap Evenings Out in London

A guest post By Christina Appleworth

It’s hard to get away from the fact that London is an expensive city. A night out in the West End can set you back a considerable sum of money, while transport and eating out is similarly expensive. However, London does have multiple options for cheaper nights out. The city’s size means that it can be great for finding bargains and discounted tickets on popular attraction. By knowing where to look, and by being prepared to be a bit creative on a night out, it is possible to enjoy the city without breaking the bank. Some ideas for a cheap evening out in London consequently include:

1 – Attending a Free Talk

If going out for drinks and something to eat, it is possible to take in a free talk or lecture in one of the city’s many universities and museums. Particularly recommended is the London School of Economics’ regular series of lectures. It is recommended to book in advance though, as tickets can go quickly. The Royal Society also put on regular lectures, while smaller centers like Gresham College offer talks. Recommended for an early evening outing.

2 – Going to a Free Museum

It is also worth considering a night out at one of London’s free museums, with most offering late night openings. These include the Hunterian and the John Soane’s museums in Holborn, as well as the Victoria and Albert Museum’s regular series of events in South Kensington, and the smaller Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Many larger arts centres also offer free performances, and include nights at the Barbican Centre and the Royal Festival Hall.

3 – Cycle Paths and Walking

As the weather gets warmer, the prospect of cycling and walking London’s many parks and canals has become increasingly attractive. Kew Gardens and Richmond are highly recommended, as is a stroll around Regents Park and Hyde Park, both of which feature regular open air performances. Moreover, a walk around Hampstead Heath is an ideal way to get away from things for a few hours.

4 – Budget Restaurants and Drink

Although most places in London remain expensive if you want to eat and drink on a night out, there are some cheaper options. In terms of the West End, Gaby’s Deli in Charing Cross Road has become an institution for those seeking out cheaper and tasty food. The same mix of economy and taste can also be found at Mooli’s in Soho. Those on a night out should also think about visiting London’s many cheap, but excellent chains, which include Wagamama’s and Pizza Express. For drinking, the All Bar One chain in the West End, the cocktail bar Cubana in Waterloo, and the Red Lion in Hoxton are particularly recommended.

5 – Last Minute Tickets

With a bit of planning, it is possible to get discounted seats at theatres in the West End, as well as many of London’s galleries, cinemas, and music venues. Most websites will offer last minute deals and discounted packages, while other companies will provide mailing lists that circulate late tickets for shows.

Win a Thomas Cook Olympic Games Break For London 2012

THE WINNER IS JANE DOUGAN! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

The excitement is starting to build up as we slowly count down the days until London 2012 the Olympic Games. Its going to be an exciting time with so many events happening around the city. It is a time for us to be proud of the city that we live in and show people visiting why London is one of the greatest cities in the world. Ok, I know what some of you are thinking, tube chaos and lots of crowds… and a ticketing system that left half of us with tickets. Well never fear because did you know you still have the chance to go if you buy a Thomas Cook Games Break? This will give you guaranteed Olympic tickets or Paralympic tickets with accommodation in and around London. Lanky Girl was recently invited by Thomas Cook to the Aquatic Centre at the Olympic Park to one of the test events, the FINA World Diving championships. Designed by Zaha Hadid, the aquatic centre was nothing short of stunning and the diving event really got me excited! I was also asked to make a short film with Thomas Cook with 7 other London bloggers about where I would recommend people should visit when coming to London for the Olympics. You can watch the video above.

Now, Competition time! Lanky Girl has been given one Thomas Cook Games break to giveaway!

This will include:

 1 night hotel stay at Ibis Heathrow in London for two people sharing a Double Standard room including breakfast. With Check in on 3 August 2012 and check out on 4 August 2012.

 The prize also includes 2 Olympic Volleyball, Women’s Preliminaries tickets at Earls Court London, for 3 August 2012 at 8.00pm

To win: all you have to do is Like The London Perspective Facebook Page and Complete this sentence with a place that you recommend people should visit.

If you are coming to London for the Olympics you need to visit …….

Answers can be left by leaving a comment on this blog or by tweeting @arigato23 and include the hashtag #tcookcomp

The competition will end midnight 15th of May, 2012 and the winner will be picked at random and will be notified be notified by email.

This competition is open to UK readers only.

Good luck everyone!

Competition Terms and Conditions

1) a) The prize is a 1 night hotel stay at Ibis Heathrow in London for two people sharing a Double Standard room including breakfast. With Check in on 3 August 2012 and check out on 4 August 2012.

b)  The prize also includes 2 Olympic Volleyball, Women’s Preliminaries tickets at Earls Court London, for 3 August 2012 at 20.00pm.

c) The competition prize includes a Transport for London Games Travelcard valid for travel to and from Olympic events stated within the competition prize. Please see more details here http://www.london2012.com/visiting/getting-to-the-games/plan-your-travel/travel-tickets.php

2) Prize does not include transport to/from London. The Prize-winner and companion will be responsible for all costs of transportation and all expenses other than those specifically stated above as being included in the prize.

3) The prize must be taken as offered it is non transferable or refundable.

4) There is no cash or other alternative products or services available from Thomas Cook as an exchange.

5) This competition prize is subject to Thomas Cook London 2012 terms and conditions and legal notices, stated on the Thomas Cook London 2012 website.

6) These conditions of use and entry are subject to the London 2012 ticketing terms and conditions set out in the following link http://www.tickets.london2012.com/purchaseterms.html

7) The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) offer no guarantee in relation to the London 2012 ticket prize, and cannot be held liable for any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from a winner’s and guest’s use of the London 2012 ticket prize.

8) The prize on offer can not be re-sold

9) Thomas Cook will not accept any responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged prizes after these have been delivered to the competition winner.

10) The competition is not open to employees or agencies of Thomas Cook Group, their group companies or family members or anyone else connected to the competition.

Entry implies acceptance of these rules.

Promoter: Thomas Cook London 2012 Partnership, Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, 2nd Floor Sterling House,

6-10 Georges Road, Wimbledon SW19 4DP.

Tags: Competition, London 2012, The aquatic centre, the olympics 2012, thomas cook games break, Volleyball, you might need to know this, Zaha hadid

Upcoming Event – Cityzenkane Exhibition, Rich Mix 3rd – 15th May 2012

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pgasston/5037475200/in/photosof-cityzenkane888/

If you’ve ever been down Brick Lane you may have noticed interesting alien like sculptures spinkled around on the walls. These creatures are the work of street artist  Cityzenkane. Lanky Girl was recently lucky enough to get an exclusive invite to his studio in East london and interview him about his work. Keep your eyes peeled for the video interview that I will be posting on the blog in coming week. Meet the man behind the mask….

He is also hosting his first public show of his work at Rich Mix from 3-15th  May 2012. See details of his exhibit here: http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/cityzenkane-exhibition/

Tags: art, Art opening, Bethnal green, brick lane, cityzenkane, event, London, Lord Ju, Rich mix, street artist

A Review of Hello Fresh

Apologies for the lack of posts recently.. I’ve been suffering with a bout of tonsilitis which has left me slightly lethargic. Anyway enough of feeling sorry for myself. I recently had the opportunity to try a lovely new bespoke addition to the London food scene called Hello Fresh. Hello Fresh is a service for time-sensitive Londoners and those of us who would rather avoid the thought of going to the supermarket after a long hard days work. Each week you can choose to be sent a box which will contain all the ingredients and instructions to make 3 or 5 healthy recipes selected by the Hello Fresh team. Now, I have to admit I was a little worried at first because most of the things I cook I’ve learnt from watching my mother or friends and I am usually rubbish at following recipes. However, as you will see most of the recipes are fool-proof and didn’t take much cooking ability to rustle up something tasty.

So on a Tuesday evening at around 8pm I sprinted excitedly to the door to receive my package from Hello Fresh.

My hello Fresh Parcel full of goodies

Inside the box was 3 recipe cards, fresh meat, vegetables, herbs, all individually packaged and ready to cook. Also a lovely little after dinner treat some chocolates from Hotel Chocolat yum yum!

Ready and waiting to cook were 3 recipes: Warm Sweet Potato Salad and Pan fried Tilapia, Chicken fajitas and homemade guacamole and baby asparagus salad with chicken, pea shoots and smoked paprika.

Day 1 - Warm Sweet Potato Salad and Pan fried Tilapia

Being of African descent I ate a lot of tilapia cooked by my mum growing up but this was the first time I had eaten it in a salad so i thought this was an interesting combination to start with.

On the back of each of the cards was a step by step guide to preparing the dish (with pictures) and an ingredients list which only involved reaching into the box to achieve. Easy peasy!

Step 1 – My ingredients: 2 sweet potatoes, Tilapia fillets, lambs lettuce, soft cheese, sunflower seeds and 1 Lemon.

Then I cut, and steamed my sweet potato in a colander over a pan of water until they were soft enough to eat.

After this to make the dressing I segmented a lemon to get the juice, took two teaspoons of the juice  and then mixed it with 50g of the philadelphia , two teaspoons of olive oil and pinch of salt and pepper mixed it all together until it was smooth. I then mixed it gently with the sweet potatoes.

Step 2 – the fish

pan fried Tilapia

To cook the fish I seasoned it with salt and pepper and added it to the to the pan skin down for 3 mins. (Note to self invest in some decent non stick pans). Then I transferred it from stove to the grill on the top shelf and let it cook for another 3 mins.

Then I transferred it back to the stove added a teaspoon of butter to the dish and drizzled lemon juice over it to serve.

To serve I mixed the salad leaves with sweet potato, topped it with the fish and sprinkle over some sunflower leaves.

Warm Sweet Potato Salad and Pan fried Tilapia

The whole dish was really quick and simple to prepare. It also tasted delicious!  I am definitely going to make this dish again in the future.

Day 2 – Chicken Fajitas and Homemade Guacamole

My ingredients ready to cook.

Here I've added chicken, and onion, red peppers, spices a bit of chili.

A delicious and healthy fajita with homemade guacamole.

I’ve made fajitas before using the Ol del Paso ready pack, so I was surprised to see how quick and easy it was to prepare from scratch. Not being a fan of avocado I only ate one with guacamole in it, but it works perfectly without it.

Day 3 –  Baby asparagus Salad with chicken, pea shoots and smoked paprika.

I left this recipe till last as I had tried cooking asparagus before and it hadn’t come out too well. Now I know why asparagus should be steamed not boiled! The chicken salad for me was the easiest out of all the recipes, tasted delicious and it took less than 30 mins to whip up, perfect for when your feeling tired after a long day at work. Since my sister has an allergy to cheese I made her an alternative without it which I think tasted just as nice.

To conclude I really enjoyed the Hello Fresh experience. The meals were easy to make and I liked the idea of pushing myself to make something new, and I now have three recipes that I will definitely try in the future. I think this will end up becoming a popular service for shop shy Londoner’s.

If you would like to find out more information about Hello Fresh please visit http://www.hellofresh.co.uk/

Tags: cooking, food, hello fresh, London, recipes

Mastercard Priceless Night – Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton at the V&A

http://media.vam.ac.uk/media/website/versions/uploads/exhibition_images/Queen_Elizabeth_II_-_Cecil_Beaton/2006AL1129_qeii_cbeaton_290x290.jpg

I’ve have always been a fan of Cecil Beaton’s work after finding out he designed some of the gowns from my favourite films Gigi and My Fair Lady. However I was quite interested to learn that Cecil Beaton was equally as famous as a photographer. Last Thursday I was lucky enough to have been able to get tickets to Mastercard’s Priceless London Night at the V&A focusing on the Cecil Beaton’s photographs of  Queen Elizabeth II and The Royal Family.

If you haven’t been to a Mastercard Priceless London event then you should you check it out, they are free and offer little tasters of unique and exclusive things to do in London.

We started off the event with a lovely champagne reception which was held in the great lobby of the V&A I must say that it was very beautiful indeed! We then were introduced to the exhibition by the curator Susanna Brown who proceeded to welcome us to take a look. The exhibition itself was quite small and made up around 100 photographs. It was interesting to see pictures of the Queen and her sister Margaret from when she was young teenager right up until she was married and when she gave birth to each of her for children. The intimate nature of the photographs made it seem like you were looking at an old family album. It was also interesting to learn how Cecil Beaton’s style changed over the years and how he became the Queen’s  favorite photographer.  

After looking around the exhibition we were served small bowls of the loveliest food. We gorged on bowls of sausage and mash, root vegetables and fish and chips. A nice touch was the chance to have fun dressing up in vintage clothes and have to our photos taken. Ever the peacock I couldn’t resist and the results are on the left.

Lanky Girl would definitely recommend you go and visit the exhibition if you get the chance.

Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration will be running until to 22 April at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

For more information please visit http://www.vam.ac.uk/

Tags: Cecil Beaton, events, London, Mastercard Priceless london, Photography, Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal family, V&A, vintage

Welcome to the Candyshop! Après Lounge and Cocktail Bar launches Five Spring Candy Cocktails

Apres Lounge and Cocktail Bar

“I’ll take you to the candy shop, Let the drink hit the spot…Woah!” Not quite 50 cent but you get my drift. Last week Lanky girl and Co found themselves in a cute little bar and lounge called Après which is situated around the back of Oxford Street. With the arrival of spring fast approaching, the mixologists at Après Lounge and Cocktail Bar have decided there’s no better way to welcome in such a refreshing time of year, than with a taste bud makeover.  Stirring things up they have branded the month of March ‘CandyShop’ and created Five Spring Candy Cocktails to celebrate.

On show were a ununsual mix of cocktails: Pear Drop, Parma Violet, Rum & Raisin, Rhubarb & Custard and Lemon & Liquorice.

On the night we got to taste the Parma Violet and Rhubarb and Custard Cocktails. I have to say that I wasn’t sure I would like any of it but the Rhubarb & Custard tasted delish! I wasn’t brave enough to try the Lemon and liquorice. I would go easy if you’re a bit of a lightweight as these cocktails are strong! Each cocktail was served with an array of sweets perfect for those of us who have a sweet tooth. The bar itself is intimate and cozy a perfect place to take a date or to go for a catch up with friends. I think I will be going back!

The CandyShop at Après Lounge and Cocktail Bar runs from 6^th March – 31^st March 2012

 Après Lounge and Cocktail Bar is open Monday – Saturday from 5.30pm –Late, Daily.

 Après Lounge and Cocktail Bar is located at 31 Duke street, London W1U 1LG.

 

Tags: Apres lounge and bar, Bars, Cocktails, London, Oxford circus, review

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt 2012 in London

London has gone eggs crazy! These beautiful creations have been popping up all over London as part The Fabergé Big Egg hunt this Easter. So what is all about? well The Big Egg Hunt was a plan hatched by Elephant Family and Action for Children for a record-breaking egg hunt across Central London to raise money.

Over 200 uniquely crafted eggs, created by leading artists, designers, architects and jewellers, are hidden around the city. Each egg has a keyword on it and If you text this to 8001 you are entered into a prize draw to win the grand prize the Jubilee egg. All eggs are being auctioned off with money going to the charities involved (so everyone has a chance to own one). Egg hunting can be fun and a great past time to keep the kids busy. I have found 12 so far in places you would least expect!

For more information and to join in visit  http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk

Anima Mundi egg by Jill Berelowitz

Metropolis Egg by Rob & Nick Carter

The Embryo of Human Greed By Wooden Horse

Egg Cup By Studio Weave

Phoenix Egg by Johnny Rocket & Sunny Warrington

Rara Avis Egg By Rachel Freire with ECCO Leather

Sao Paulo Skyline Egg By MUMO for Wolf & Badger

L'ŒUF egg by Pochoir

Union Jack Egg By Mark Shand

Our Team Egg by Charlies Cartoons

Blooming Azure Egg By Blandine Martin

From little acorns, mighty oaks do grow Egg By Loz Atkinson

The grand prize is to own the Jubilee Egg which is apparently worth over 100,000 pounds!

The Jubilee Egg

Tags: art, Easter Eggs, Fabergé, London, Sculpture, The big egg hunt, things to do in london

Bistro Du Vin Clerkenwell and Soho – Review

http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/system/images/144164/default/Bistro.jpg

Firstly I have to as this post is slightly overdue. Bistro du vin or should I say Bistro “divine”  are two standalone restaurants that are part of the Hotel du Vin chain. Lanky Girl and Co were lucky enough to be invited to try both resaurants just before Christmas. Watch the video below to see what I got up to.

Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell

Situated very close to Smithfield market is Bistro du vin Clerkenwell. Each of the Bistros has a theme, and this one they place an emphasis on good old fashion meat, le francais style.
A unique selling point of the Bistro is its open kitchen. Here you can sit around watching the chefs prepare the dishes before you eat them. Its also a great chance for diners to interact with chefs and share tips. Business types  or private diners can choose to use the Whisky Snuggle meeting room,  a windowed wall of marbled slabs where they host whisky tastings or choose the meat cellar another private dinning room that seats up to 12 people. Here you can watch the meat being aged (for a minimum of 28 days). Also Bistro du Vin have “Meat to butcher” events where diners can watch the meat being cut and receive a bit of a background on where the different cuts of meat come from, before watching it being cooked in the open kitchen.

The atmosphere when we entered Bistro du Vin warm and intimate. Staff were very accommodating, quick to attend to us and we had a fantastic sommelier who was very good at recommending wines to suit each of our courses. I was lucky enough to get a seat right overlooking the kitchen and I had a nice discussion with the head chef. It was interesting to find out that their beef comes from Cumbria and the economics of buying produce locally.

Now for my verdict on the food. To start I had the twice baked Crottin de Chavignol cheese soufflé and my dining partner the Selsey crab with toasted sourdough. The cheese souffle melted like butter in my mouth and the flavour was intense and my friend said the crab was light in consistency and very tasty.

For mains we had Chateaubriand to share [Donald Russell] served with pommes frites, & green salad. Now, I have to admit that I’m one of these annoying people who usually insists that her meat is “well-done” however I’ve realised the errors of my ways. We had the beef medium and it tasted amazing, such flavour and the meat was succulent. Definitely comparable to the offerings of my other favourite steakhouse Hawksmoor.

For Dessert we enjoyed the crepe suzette. Delicious!

All in all we were really impressed on our visit Bistro Du vin Clerkenwell and would definitely recommend visiting them if you want Michelin star treatment without the stuffiness.

http://img.glam.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Bistro-Du-Vin-Soho-Bar.jpg

Bistro du Vin Soho

The next week we were invited to sample the culinary delights of their other restaurant, Bistro du Vin Soho. Being in the heart of media land this restaurant definitely has a cool vibe to it. Visitors can choose to recieve service in secluded little booths, sit at the bar or the open seating area. The unique selling point of Bistro du vin Soho has to be the variety of wines that are on offer. if you are a bit of  wine connoisseur you are going to be impressed as its one of the few restaurants where you can sample most wines by the glass. Private diners can choose to host their events in the wine cellar. I was pretty impressed by the chic cocktails that they had on offer and I got to sample their Dean Street Punch, very fruity!

Like the Clerkenwell branch staff were attentive and friendly and looking around everyone in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Now for my verdict on the food: For starters I had the soup of the day which was pea soup. I wasn’t overly impressed by the soup it did taste fresh but I think it could have had more flavour. For mains I had the beef Stroganoff  which I have to say was so lovely that I am definitely going back soon to have it. For dessert I floated up to heaven eating a Belgian waffle with ice cream.

Watch our interview with the group Sommelier below.

Overall I would recommend both restaurants. If you are looking for somewhere chic, good for a date or for dinner with your friends choose Soho. For something a bit more formal that will be sure to impress choose Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell.

For more information please visit http://www.bistroduvinandbar.com/

Tags: London, food, review, restaurants, french, soho, bistro du vin, clerkenwell