Life in London – March 2010

March in London was busy despite the continuing winter but we are now seeing blossom and daffodils so Spring here we come!  What have I got to report this month?  Too much to get into one blog so I’ve picked out a classical concert  a photography exhibition, a big art show, a theatre trip, the world’s longest toilet queue (read on!), a day trip to Cambridge, several good restaurants.

Outside the Royal Festival Hall

Royal Festival Hall

This month’s music came courtesy of a friend who was singing in Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall. This piece has the largest choir of all and was an impressive and moving performance, especially my friend of course! The hall itself is wonderful and I’ve posted a photo of the stage with performers and the outside of the hall at dusk.

The world’s longest toilet queue was a charity event for Wateraid – campaigning for access to safe water and sanitation for all. We formed and orderly line outside Parliament with Gordon Brown masks to lobby for policy changes and at least got lots of press attention!  It was a Guinness world record attempt as there were queues forming all over the world so I hope we made it.

World's longest toilet queue

Platform 9 3/4

A day trip to Cambridge is well worth doing for visitors and residents alike and it’s not far so you can drive there or take the train. I chose the train this time and here’s one for the Harry Potter fans – you can visit platform 9 ¾ and I’ve posted in a photo to prove it! Cambridge is beautiful with its old and atmospheric colleges, river with the famous punting and cobbled streets with lively shops and restaurants. A couple of photos will give you an idea of it all.

Kings College, Cambridge

Cambridge

The photography exhibition I’ve chosen to mention was the Irving Penn at the National Portrait Gallery which traced his development over his career and he certainly had access to some of the most famous people of the era – from Greta Garbo (see poster photo) to Wallis Simpson to Truman Capote. He used black and white and very spare settings even to the extent of taking people right in the corner of a plainly painted room – amazing to see Wallis Simpson in that pose and you can see her confidence shine through.

Irving Penn Exhibition

There’s one really big art show in town at the moment – the Van Gogh at the Royal Academy. They have a great selection of his work and letters between Vincent and Theo his brother. You can trace his development from a self taught 27 year old, via his early work practicing perspective to his fabulous paintings and very sad death at the age of 37. His brother was an influence and support and it was amazing to see the letters with little pen and ink sketches of what was to become a great painting.

The theatre highlight was ‘Polar Bears’ at the Donmar Warehouse which had wonderful performances and a somewhat unresolved plot. We bumped into one of the actors at the bus stop on the way home which was rather unglamorous for her (as she said) but she, Celia Imrie, was lovely and as it was the first night she was very keen to hear what we thought – how refreshing!

Now here’s the restaurant selection.  The Dock was the most interesting as it’s a converted warehouse on a small dock section of the Grand Union Canal that serves one offs such as Iraqi night where a set meal of Iraqi favourites are offered to intrigued customers. The food was great and the building impressive – see photo. The best food was at Hibiscus, a 2 star Michelin restaurant who were doing a lunchtime special deal which made it affordable. I love all the extras at these types of restaurants – the amuse bouche before and the sumptuous chocolates after. The newest was Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie which was only at week 2 and the nearest to home was Hereford Road in Notting Hill which is full on meat and seafood.  There were more but I don’t want this to become a total foodie blog!

The Dock

I’m looking forward to April as it’s shaping up well with everything from the Marathon to bike rides, theatre to some great restaurants. I’ll be back to report on that in a month.

Sue

www.itsyourlondon.co.uk

Related posts:

1. Life in London… a look back at 2010
2. Life in London – August 2010
3. Life in London – January 2010
4. Life in London – April 2010
5. Life in London – July 2010