Posted by Katrin on May 21st, 2007 — Posted in Theater
Last Friday evening I was sitting at home, trying to figure out what to do with the weekend. Every now and then I have a look here, to see whether there are any affordable tickets to plays or musicals around. Honestly, I think the prices in London are absolutely mad if you don’t want to sit in the upper left corner behind a spotlight. I have done that before actually, back in my no-money-at-all student days in Paris. Half a baguette for the day, and a theatre ticket made me quite happy and I didn’t mind to compromise on the seat’s location.
Well, but thanks to this site sometimes you can get lucky. I was just browsing a little bit and found “a ticket for a tenner” for The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Called a friend, booked the tickets, and off we went on Saturday to stroll around China Town and then catch the matinee in the Apollo.
I loved it!
We had great seats in the 9th row or so, last minute bookings can be really good. It started out rather slowly, and Jessica Lange wasn’t as impressive as I had hoped (but then, who am I to judge). If you go to see a two times Oscar winner and an experienced stage actress you naturally get your hopes up.
However everyone might need some warming up on a Saturday afternoon, because the second part of the play was brilliant! Lange was fantastic, and an intense scene between Amanda Hale and Mark Umbers had me holding my breath. Ed Stoppard is great as Tom, the narrator of the play and main character. The only thing I found is that it feels a bit wrong to go out of the theatre after the play and find that it is still light outside. It just seems strange, so maybe I will avoid matinees in the future. The Glass Menagerie is unfortunately over now. But in general I can definitely recommend this venue, so watch out what is on!
Apollo Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
London, W1V 7DH
0870 890 1101Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue
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Posted by Katrin on May 14th, 2007 — Posted in Restaurants, Bars
Oh cool, who would have thought I have this jewel in my backyard! Well, not actually in my backyard, but just around the corner anyway.
I was lucky enough to be taken out to dinner last night. We knew this place was in the neighbourhood but for some reason never got around to try it. Then a little article caught our attention.
Entering through a large wooden door which has a bit of a keep-out feeling you walk into a room that has such a comfortable atmosphere to it you want to just sit down and spend the entire evening there. Dark brown wood and warm reds dominate the interior, in the warmer months the French windows open up towards the quiet street where a few more tables are standing.
The menu offers Tapas style dishes divided into vegetable, meat and seafood, pizza (small ones, in line with the Tapas theme) and desert. All on an A4 paper – I love it when there aren’t too many choices. The food is absolutely delicious! The waitress recommended about three dishes per person. Try the house salad of Puy Lentils, Feta and Olives in Honey Mustard Dressing, the Roast Sweet Potatoe and Butternut Squash with wilted Spinach, and the Pork Meatballs in roasted Tomato Sauce. The Manchego filled Dates wrapped in Parma Ham are absolutely divine and because of their sweetness can work well at the end of the meal. Be aware of the oysters though, they are very fresh and tasty but huge! I’m not exaggerating… I am a fan of oysters but there even I hesitated for a moment.
Only sad note to the evening: We didn’t have much luck with the wine. The Montepulciano was disappointing, mainly because it was watery. The Rioja couldn’t win us over either. So you might want to try a glass first before deciding on a bottle.
Priory House
Bar and Restaurant
58 Milson Road
London W14 0LB
020 7371 3999
The Priory House
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Posted by Katrin on May 12th, 2007 — Posted in Events
There’s nothing more exciting than starting something new! Last year I came across some blogs I liked, tried it myself and was surprised how much fun it is. After a trial period of blogging (the web and all its opportunities wasn’t something that came naturally to me): I now officially launch my own site!
Originally I wanted to blog about London. I live here and it seemed a good idea, especially as a tool to keep in touch with friends and let them know what I am up to. However, my blog isn’t really just about being here, it is as much about travel and being on the move.
And last but not least it is about everything that makes life just a little bit nicer.
Welcome to farfromrainydays.com
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Posted by Katrin on March 31st, 2007 — Posted in Cafés, Food supply
Bliss!
Finally the good life is back again. I have missed so much the ordinary pleasures which simply require time to sit back and relax.
This morning we went to the Borough Market - quite a usual thing to do on a Saturday morning by now - to have breakfast at the Monmouth Coffee Company Café. For long I have bought my coffee there first thing before strolling over the market and admiring the food on display. Actually there are different Monmouth stalls around, so it took me some time to come across the bigger Café at the street corner. Easily recognizable though, when you see a long line of people wrapping around the building, you can be sure that it will lead you to the right place. The lovely scent of freshly ground and brewed coffee will ease the pain of waiting…
The special thing about this place is the large wooden communal table. It has fresh baguette, jam and butter in the middle, people squeezing themselves around it so no space will be lost, chatting away and enjoying this simple but wonderful breakfast. When you order your coffee you can purchase a plate as well, find yourself a seat and eat as much as you like. At £ 2,50 this must be the cheapest breakfast in all of London, yet providing the highest quality. I love their marmelade, but the plum jam is a close runner up!
The first time we tried it we immidiately got two seats at the end of the table and by now I realize how lucky we were! It is always absolutely packed with people and to sit down after 10.30 am becomes an almost impossible task. You might have to settle for one of the standing spots at the back of the wall - not the worst thing in the world. In any case, the lively atmosphere is exactly right to start of a shopping spree at the market.
And before you leave you might want to grab one of their pastries for later…
Monmouth Coffee Company
2 Park Street
Borough
London SE1 9AB
Look it up on the map
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Posted by Katrin on March 29th, 2007 — Posted in Literature
I have been away for quite some time now. Not really physically away, but writing your final thesis takes its toll… Life turns out to be quite unexciting when you are hiding behind your desk, trying to make some sense out of the 50 books you have just read and not being intimidated about the next 50 to come. Most of my time I have spent at the British Library. A lifesaver if you ask me! Pick the tiniest subject (believe me I had one) and they will still have most of the books you need. Or if you want to look at old and rare books, this is certainly the place to go. Besides all this the British Library is an architectural site in itself.
I loved going there as it felt like going to work in a stylish environment, rather than getting stuck in a mouldy and musty place stuffed with old books.If you happen to be in the area, I recommend a quick look inside. In order to use the reading rooms you need to get a readers pass, but the entrance is free. Already the first step into the Library is quite impressive as you find yourself in a huge hall. Have a look at the beautiful square glass pillar in the back. Behind the glass you see rows and rows of books and it actually does serve as storing room: The staff can enter the pillar, shift the shelves and take out the books that have been ordered.
A few steps down the stairs will lead you to my favourite site. It is a picture of rows of shelves filled with books, but as you walk past it you realise that it is moving with you, leaving you with the impression that you actually are walking past these shelves and not just past a picture.
Although it does not take long to figure out why this is the case I couldn’t help but look at it every time I passed it. Makes you feel a bit dizzy though…
British Library
St Pancras
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
Opening Times
Look it up on the map
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