London Still Rocks!

Just started  three days of film. Tonight, I headed to  California Schemin'  at the  Curzon Aldgate . It's a comedy about two youngsters from   Dundee   trying to break into  hip hop , who discover it's much easier if they pretend to be from  California ! Looked funny, and is   James McEvoy 's directorial debut - he stars as well, as a record company exec. And it's based on a   true story ! Funnily enough, I didn't use one of my free tickets (well, £65 for five, pay upfront, then they're free) for this, it worked out cheaper to buy a discounted one.. I booked to eat in   Cote St. Katharine Docks   beforehand. Could walk there, and I did - earlier rain cleared off, to give us brilliant sunshine. Have to say, I always love their location, overlooking the marina. Unfortunately, my watch was a little slow, so I didn't realise I was slightly late for the booking - never mind, it wasn't a problem, and I was quickly seated and quickly...

Tonight, back with  London Social & Cultural Detours  for an  evening late event  at  St. Paul's . Sold out a while ago. Happily, it's not a long or complicated trip from where I am - so it was a relaxed trip, and I got there early.. to find most of the group already at the meeting point. Where we waited for quite a while for our last member.. it was nice of her to do that actually, it's not everyone that would: and honestly, we had plenty of time. During which we discussed the state of the world, through the lens of Randy Rainbow .. When our last attendee arrived, we made for the (very long) queue - but it was fast-moving, and people were handing out maps of the interior, denoting where "spotlight talks" and "spotlight music" were happening. The upper galleries were closed, it was just the ground floor and crypt. And I wasn't the only one taking not a blind bit of notice of the sign that barred photography after 4.30pm.. This chap was walking ab...

Had some trouble finding something to do tonight, then CT came up with cheap tickets to  Teeth n Smiles ! It's had mixed reviews, which I thought was all the more reason to see it. The story of a rock n roll star. Showing in the  Duke of York's Theatre , and I booked for  Cote St. Martin's Lane  beforehand. Handily enough, they're doing a different dish for £10 every day this week- and today it was steak frites, which I usually have anyway! So, that was £9.50 off then.. In the war of the apps, Google Maps won today, for once - it said there'd be a bus soon, with Buses Due  (which apparently gets real TFL data) much more pessimistic. Google Maps won, and I got there just in time for the booking, but wasn't seated for a few minutes - fair enough, they were crazy busy. I was seated in the back, near where they come out with food - and every few seconds, someone would come out with a tray with about four dishes, swiftly dispatched to their respective tables. Actu...

Last night, headed to the cinema - to see  Two Prosecutors , a  Russian  drama set during the  Stalinist  era. Described as a  Kafkaesque  satire on bureaucracy, it did look good.. I headed to the  Curzon Bloomsbury . I had used all my free tickets that membership entitles me to, though.. bought their "bundle" offer to "buy" more free films. Not cost-effective for documentaries, which are cheaper, but then, this isn't a documentary.. had the usual problems with the app, which didn't even give me the option, so had to buy on a browser, then log out of the app and in again for it to register.. Wow, it turned out a hectic evening, with the last post to finish! Was doing it on the buses on the way in, and still finishing it in GBK , where I went to eat, as usual. I'd left a bit later than intended, but knew I'd be served quickly here - and I was. Wow, they didn't skimp on the sauce either - lovely, I do like it. And I was finished just in time to go...

Last Friday , the second of the year's concerts from  Rune  medieval music group, in  St. Bartholomew the Great ! This one was  A Merveillous Swevene: Dreams & Visions , and again I booked to eat in the  Old Red Cow  beforehand. And wouldn't you know it, I mistook the time of the concert, and booked dinner too early - ah well, wasn't a problem to get off early! Got buses to within walking distance - and I see the pavements are still partly blocked off, the works on Smithfield Market proceeding apace! It still just required a slight detour.. but I was a few minutes late for my booking. Got a flash of recognition from the guy behind the bar - guess that means I'm finally a regular! There was, at that point, no-one upstairs - he offered me either of the small tables, and I took the one out of the way. Classic rock on the soundtrack accompanied my dinner, which was good, and served quickly. And of course, the advantage to accidentally booking too early is ...