When Winter arrives, ice rinks start popping up here and there. I was invited to go and try the one over at Westfield London in Shepherd’s Bush (Shey Bu for short) and make a romantic evening out of it, so I dragged Solaris100 along and there we went. Blogger Douchebag Crew is in da house, boy!
London may be home to numerous iconic landmarks and world-class performing art theatres, but it’s also known to have one of the largest and most diverse collections of unauthorised urban art. From the politically driven works of Banksy to the contemporary street art of many unknown artists, the capital has got plenty of free art for everyone to enjoy as well as see a different side of London’s culture. If you’ve been watching this space for long enough, you will know that it’s one of my favourite things to look at, but I’m not really an expert but would love to know more about the artitsts themselves.
According to VisitLondon.com, some of the best places to check out for street art are in North London, where you’ll find large scale Irony & Boe sculptures of animals and birds, but it’s in Shoreditch, in the East End, where you can take an alternative tour to discover the latest artworks from the most talented urban artists. With street art changing on a daily basis, it’s difficult to keep up with which piece can be found where, and eye-catching street works can be found in loads of other places other than Shoreditch and North London.
The quickest way to learn about all the urban artwork in the capital is by utilising your smartphone. As the world approaches two billion smartphone users, which only took about three years to nearly double in size (as stated by the managers of Spin Genie in a recent blog post), the global community bridges more connections with each other through mobile everyday. Because of the unexpected manifestations of street art, the best way we can stay in-the-know is by sharing our discoveries through a smartphone app, so that art lovers the world over get to appreciate some stunning art.
In collaboration with Geo Street Art, StreetArtLondon.com has launched an app that catalogues all the known urban artworks located across the capital. Curated by experts in the area, it’s updated often to be as currently relevant and useful for users. Here are some of the app’s features:
– Latest street art displayed on home feed
– Map with hundreds of street art locations, that can be filtered by artist
– GPS tracker to help with your search
– Street Art London news updates
– Pieces are easily shareable via social media
The app is available in the App Store for under £1 and it’s definitely a must for anyone wanting to explore the London street art scene.
*This post has been made possible by Street Art London
If you’ve been following my blog for long enough or at least on social media you will have noticed how much I appreciate street art. There’s just something about it that has always fascinated me, something that started years ago when I still lived in Lisbon. It’s not like I’m an expert, but I know when something catches my eye or appeals to my sensibilities.
Last week and after purchasing a discount voucher with a friend, we paid a visit to the blow dry salon Blo, in Covent Garden. It was my first time at a blow dry bar style salon and I was curious as to what kind of services were offered. It was the perfect setting for a girly date!
Before we go any further, it’s worth noting that on a blow dry bar, hair is only styled using, you guessed it, a blow dryer. No scissors nor hair dye are to be found here. This is the perfect place to go if you fancy something a little nicer than your usual regime – before a party or a night out or just because you want to feel nice, as one shouldn’t need any excuses to want to feel pretty.
As you may have noticed, I am out and about all the time. Consequently, I end up eating out often, maybe a little too often, sometimes. Regardless, there are a few places that I go back to regularly – because the food is great and for a great price too. Here’s a list of favourites, in different parts of town.
East London
DF/Mexico – Remember when I went there a few months back? Turns out it’s been one of my favourite Mexican Street food places here in London so far. Definitely worth a visit, the frozen margaritas are delicious and the burritos are soooo good.
Pizza East Shoreditch – I went there a few months ago for the first time and lucky me, I got a discount key-ring. For that reason and the fact that the pizzas are actually really good, I’ve become somewhat of a regular. There is a good selection of pizzas as well as different Italian antipasti and salads. Never disappoints. My only problem with this palce is that when it gets busy, it gets REALLY busy and a little bit noisy. A reservation is advised!
South-East London
Dragon Castle – I’m not recommending this only because it’s owned by my friend’s family. It must be one of my favourite places to eat Chinese food, as their traditional Cantonese cuisine really is to die for. My favourites being the spicy tofu and the hot and sour soup. Absolutely delicious!
Soho
Bone Daddies – Ramen ramen ramen! If I had to pick one ramen restaurant that I’d have to stick to for the rest of my life, it would be Bone Daddies. The portions are large and delicious. My favourite is the kimchi ramen – kimchi, seafood and ramen, all floating in delicious chicken broth. This place also always has cool music, which is a plus for me – I’ve listened to AC/DC and other cool rock and roll bands while dining there before. Amazing! Go as early as possible, otherwise the queue will get too long.
Eat Tokyo – There seems to be an abundance of Asian restaurants on this list but I just can’t help it – I love Asian food so much! Eat Tokyo specialises in Japanese cuisine and it’s become one of my favourites. The menu is varied and you have plenty of options – sushi, sashimi, teryaki, katsu curry and bento boxes. The price is very friendly and I’ve never had a bad meal there. Once again, go early or be prepared to queue, particularly at dinner time. There’s other branches scattered around London, but I’ve only visited the one in Soho so far.
Pizza Pilgrims – Another pizza place, but in Soho. It’s good to know good options in all parts of town, no? Pizza Pilgrims is a small-ish place but queueing is worth it – you can leave your name at the door and go somewhere else for a drink while you wait for a table. The pizzas are very authentic – Neapolitan style, with a very thin crust. I recommend the Nduja, made with Italian spicy sausage.
All this talk of food has made me hungry now. Just need to make sure I don’t eat too much, don’t want to get any heartburn.
Have you tried any of these before? If you have some good recommendations I’d love to know.
*Thanks to Gaviscon for making this post possible and digestible!
Hello the Mushroom is a blogger turned urban artist. Check out Instagram at @hellothemushroom for frequent updates on artistic endeavours and adventures!
