Concert: Laurence Juber

Yesterday, booked with CT to hear Laurence Juber in concert at Piano Smithfield. Evening, yay! I fancied eating in Cote Barbican, just up the road - used to be my local go-to place, when I lived around there. They have a habit of not being bookable last minute, though - so I got myself organised and booked the night before.

It was a hot, sunny journey - and it felt funny to be among the towers of the City again. It really is its own little world - anyway, I came to the restaurant quite early. She checked, and cancelled my reservation before leading me to one of the many empty, small tables. Service was just a teensy bit slow, but nothing too bad - I had my usual, calamari and steak frites, with their excellent, Cote-exclusive Chardonnay. And then, because I was killing time, I had a chocolate mousse - and another Chardonnay. It had really filled up by that time - although there were still some free tables. And before I left, I paid my first-ever visit to their toilets. Which were excellent, I'm happy to report!

And so a short walk to the club. It's apparently a new venue - easy to find when you come on it, but unobtrusive:

It's in a basement - handy on a hot day - so I was glad of the WiFi. The MC, who is also one of the owners, he told us, checked off my name and led me to a table near the front, explaining that I'd be sharing with someone. It's completely table service - a little slow, but again, not too much. While I was waiting, I checked with Ivan - and yes, this was the bar they played in, a couple of weeks ago: the concert he didn't want us to come to!

My table companion turned out to be a big fan of Laurence Juber - since 1977, which beats my U2 record! Wouldn't have a drink until he'd got his merchandise, at the interval. As for drinks, I was on the Pinot Grigio, the only white wine choice I fancied - at least it worked out cheaper! My companion noticed someone eating pizza - I checked, and that was on the back page of the menu. He said he thought they were connected to Pizza Express..

The man himself came on in due course:

Honestly, I'd never heard of him - neither had Ivan, BTW - but he turns out to have played for Wings, and his repertoire included much popular material from Wings, The Beatles, The Who.. There's no doubting his talent, and it was a lovely concert - longer than advertised, I'm sure, but nobody complained. Nice venue too, with - BTW - decent toilets. Very pleased to have got here at last, and to have heard this guy play. I drank more wine than I'm used to these days though, and was too tired to blog last night..

Tonight, finally back with Meetup - and Up in the Cheap Seats - for Word Play, at the Royal Court. Planning to eat at the local Cote - this one doesn't tend to fill up. Mind you, service was terrible there last time.. we shall see.

Tomorrow, I'm succumbing to the pressure, and joining The Hideout: Horror SciFi Club London for the Frightfest at Cineworld Leicester Square, where we're seeing It Lives Inside, an Indian possession horror, with lunch after at Clubhouse 5. Yes, a morning film - ah well, they have a huge schedule to pack in. Frightfest, mind you, continues till Monday - I'll have to see how I feel about going to other films that evening.

On Saturday - back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This walk is called Filthy River.. and I'm now paying him by bank transfer, at his suggestion - much handier than having to find change all the time. Then I'm racing across town for another Hideout social at Clubhouse 5.

On Sunday, meeting Ivan and James again, for our monthly get-together - this time, moving closer to where I'm now living, we'll be in the Dean Swift.

On Monday, back at Clubhouse 5 with the Hideout - social, plus we're heading to a retrospective of It Follows, at the Cineworld. So, a very sociable long weekend! They're also heading to the extended cut of The Exorcist that evening, introduced by Mark Kermode - sadly, by the time I thought of going, it was sold out.. but I have seen that cut before anyway.

On Tuesday, I tried to book a place on a walk with Mandy and London Herstory Walks - this one is Fleet Street Femmes. But she's disabled the PayPal link on her Meetup page because Meetup takes a hefty chunk of it - instead, I've booked through her own website. Where the walk turned out to be on sale anyway!

On Wednesday, heading to La Bamba - a musical at the Peacock. The matinee, since I have the choice - cheaper tickets that way.

Next Thursday, back on another of Barrie's walks with the 45+s - this time, it's Mile End. I see there's another attendee now, yay.. 

On the 1st, back with Laurence and the 45+s, yet again - couldn't resist a walk around Glorious and Grimy Gray's Inn Road! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.

On the 4th, I've signed with London Socials again - I wouldn't count on me going, mind. Still, you never know.. this time, they're off to listen to some music in the Archway Tavern.

And on the 5th, I've finally booked to see Dr. Semmelweiss, at the Harold Pinter. Cheapest tickets I found were with What's on Stage, who sent me off to Love Theatre..