wow bikes

Have you seen of this amazing bike? The above is one of six bikes designed by artist Benedict Radcliffe in collaboration with other impressive designers, musicians and fashionistas as part of a charity initiative to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation.


Between now and the 29th Oct guests at the W Hotel in London can test ride all the bikes during their stay, but this one is by far the most impressive! The wheels are made of 18 strips of steel bolted to hold the tension that allows it to function as a wheel. It is probably the worlds first puncture proof tire...but I wonder what it would be like riding through the streets of London during a rain storm. So slippery! 


I might try to pop by and see it in the flesh before it is auctioned off on the 29th and you can see pictures and details of the other bikes here.


WOW Bike Inititative, W Hotel, 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London W1D 6QF

paramount

One thing I’ve always loved about London is its constant ability to surprise me. And as someone who usually scoffs at a night out near Tottenham Court Road, I have recently been introduced to Paramount, a gem of a bar located there.

Paramount used to be a members only club, but is now open to the public on a reservation basis only. Located on the 32^nd floor of the otherwise non descript concrete block that is Centre Point, it’s art deco styling, unparalleled 360 views on London and extensive cocktail list make it a special find.

I would suggest going just before sunset to take advantage of the spectacular views of London both before and after dark. And there is a restaurant downstairs if you are looking for something more substantial than drinks. For those brave enough to try, there is also a half bottle of Absinthe on offer, served in the traditional fountain.

Definitely a place to go on a special night out.

Paramount, Centre Point, 101-103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DD

family time

Hello friends! Hope you are well.


By the time this post goes live, I'll be in an aeroplane returning from a mini family reunion in Florida. My mom, grandmother, brother and sister have spent the last few days relaxing at the beach, cooking delicious dinners and discussing and debating til our heart's content. As my family all live in different parts of the world, it is amazingly special for all of us to be together and I hope that we are all able to be together again soon.

See you back in London!

Some other pictures of our family photo shoot(!) after the break.

zetter townhouse

Happy Friday friends! Have I got a treat for you today.


Stepping inside the Zetter Townhouse you are enveloped in a world of opulent fabrics, glittering crystal and a wonderful feeling of old fashioned ramshackle glamour. I immediately imagined a bygone era when people dressed and met for cocktails before tottering down candlelit cobblestone streets to dinner.

I was lucky enough to spend a dark and miserable evening there recently, tasting the most divine cocktails and whiling away what would have been quite a dreary night giggling with a wonderful friend.

Head barman Tony Conigliaro as designed some fabulous creations. My favourite was the Twinkle, a mouth watering elderflower and champagne cocktail. Other cocktails worth mentioning include the Somerset Sour; a twist on a whiskey sour made with cider brandy, lemon juice and Breton cidre and the classic Flintlock; made with Beefeaster 24 gin, gunpowder tea tincture and dandelion & burdock.

I always seem to be drawn to venues like this; something about the glamour, the quality of service and the promise of something warm and delicious to fight away the cold and dreary winter keeps me coming back.

The ZetterTownhouse, 49-50 St John’s Square, London, EC1V 4JJ

and now we are looking for chairs

Hello friends,


I need your help. We are trying to make a final decision on chairs for our lovely new kitchen table. Options below, please leave your vote in the comments section.


My favourites from Haus

Top pics from John Lewis

Yes I know they are all variations on the same, but that is what makes deciding so hard!

restaurant review: modern pantry

Have you been to The Modern Pantry? Situated in a pretty townhouse at the back of St John’s Square in Clerkenwell, this restaurant has quickly become one of my favourites. I actually feel a bit slow to the mark as the restaurant originally opened in 2009! But alas, I only learned about it this summer when I bought their exquisite cookbook. The recipes I’ve tried so far are delicious and I’ve been intrigued by the eclectic and at times bizarre mix of Asian and Mexican ingredients they suggest.

At dinner, I started with a dish I’d seen in the cookbook but have yet to find the courage to make myself, salmon sashimi with truffled mustard seed and yuzo dressing. The sashimi was excellent, the truffle giving an earthly balance to the bite of the yuzo dressing. My fabulous partner in crime indulged himself with a think and creamy bowl of mushroom soup topped with a dollop of spiced yogurt and a selection of wild mushrooms.  I didn’t taste the soup but as there was nothing left, I assume no complaints!

For mains we ordered a starter portion of crispy lamb served with pickled beetroots. Cubes of lamb cutlets were breaded and deep fried creating a mouthful of oozy deliciousness whilst the tartness of the beetroot cut beautifully though the fatty lamb. The second main was a simple risotto made special by the Filo baked ball of mozzarella nestled on top.

The Modern Pantry offers a wonderful selection of wine by the glass and they include pairing suggestions on the menu which allowed us to taste a variety of wines instead of being stuck with a single bottle.

Sadly, neither of us had room for desserts but as the menu changes regularly, I will definitely be back to try one next time.

The ModernPantry, 47-48 St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, London EC1V 4JJ

Images from The Modern Pantry

the minotaur

The Old Vic Tunnels have done it again! In what’s sure to be a spectacular event, Lazarides Gallery Group will be using the atmospheric underground venue for both an exhibition and dining experience for three weeks in Oct.


Called The Minotaur, the exhibition will feature an eclectic group of international artists each presenting their own interpretation of the classic Greek myth. The dining experience, which will offer two seatings a night, features a three course meal created by three Michelin starred chefs, including my favourite Nuno Mendes of Viajante.

Whilst tickets for the dining experience are pricy at £75 each, tickets to the exhibition are available for £5 each and also give you access to the bar. I have to say, it sounds like something I don’t want to miss!

The Minotaur, Old Vic Tunnels, London SE1

All images from The Minotaur

covetable floors

Hello friends! Hope you're well.

The husband’s parents visited this weekend and goodness me they were fantastic! Instead of sight-seeing as we had planned, they spent most of Sat helping us sort all the things on our to do list that never seem to get done.

Thanks to our super productive Sat I was able to spend a few luxurious hours on Sun looking for the final touches to our upstairs living space and look what I found…!

The company, Arctic Plank is owned by Icelander Hogni Stefan Throgeirsson. Like the name suggests, Throgeirsson uses old and discarded planks of wood from crates and shipping pallets and upcycles them into these gorgeous hardwood floors. I have always loved herringbone flooring and the character you can see from the old wood is hard to beat. It’s just a shame we have nowhere to use them!

More info here seen originally on PoppyTalk

oh so pretty

Happy Friday friends! Aren't these scarves dreamy? I think they are so very pretty and I love the fact you can feel happy knowing that each and every one is unique. Dyed by hand in small batches in what's sure to be an adorable studio in Minnesota (that's in the US folks), Martha McQuade also creates stunning colour block and pure cotten beauties too.

Hope everyone is enjoying this decidedly fall weather. The husband's parents are in town this weekend and we have lots of plans to keep them entertained. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ! x

McQuade's lovely scarves can be found at The Scarf Shop.

birds in woods

What do you think of these stunning prints, friends? I am still looking for small pieces to go on our latest wall o' art (will post pictures of that shortly) and think these beauties will fill the space nicely.


They are created by Dutch artist Louise van Terheijden and her lovely work can be found on Etsy here.

need i say more

My heart be still! This print says it all. And it will be going up in our flat immediately.

Fifi du Vie print available at PoppyTalk Handmade or here.

national trust: corfe castle

In early September we spent a lovely weekend in Dorset celebrating the wedding of two good friends. En route back to London, the husband and I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous fall day and check out Corfe Castle.

As with many things in England, the history of this castle is epic. Building started in 1066 by William the Conqueror and was expanded by King James from 1199 to 1216. For centuries after the castle was used as a private home until the English Civil War which saw the Roundheads (such a funny name for a political party!) destroyed the castle leaving the ruins still visable today.

The castle is on top of quite a big hill giving you views of the surrounding Dorset countryside. And to make a lovely day even nicer there is a fabulous pub at the base of the hill serving super fresh fish and seafood straight from the coast.

If you're heading south west I'd recommend stopping by. Still an impressive sight after so many hundreds of years.

Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5EZ

warm and cozy

Given the amazing heat wave we are still experiencing in London (can I get a Amen?!) I feel like posting about this superfab sweater is a little bit silly. However, you know and I know that come next week we will all be needing something warm and cozy to curl up in and this sweater is just perfect. Extra plus, they ship internationally.

Rhombus Sweater, seen originally on this super cute mama-to-be.