Concert: The Creation

Tonight, took instruction from LGBTQ Culture Lovers again, who kindly shared that CT had cheap tickets for a performance of The Creation by Haydn, in the Royal Festival Hall. (Second concert in a row for me.) So, headed to that (solo), and booked to eat in The Archduke beforehand.

Buses were fun. There are roadworks, apparently, meaning my local bus stop was out of action - so I had to decide which bus route had the closer stop to walk to. Walked there, waited.. in the war of my bus apps, Google Maps was more optimistic - and won, predicting that my bus would arrive in 10 minutes. So it did - and, amazingly, took me there without me having to change buses! I arrived at the restaurant slightly early.

Hmm - they do a couple of great soups, one of them on offer today: butternut squash. But I continue to struggle with the mains - the chicken is lovely, but comes with a sauce I don't like, and I didn't fancy it today. I decided on the beef bourgignon, which I remembered as tasty, and it was - but wow, I don't remember it having such an unappetising appearance, in a grey sauce.. it was all right, but hmm. A couple of people at the next table had burgers, and I noted they were open burgers - might be an idea to try them whenever I'm here next..

Well, they brought a dessert menu, but I didn't have time - paid, and headed straight to the hall, and up to Level 5, where my door was. They have a bar up there too - and despite only advertising medium glasses of wine on the menu, yes, they do serve large - and you can take it in, if it's in plastic. So I did:

It did fill up a bit more than this, albeit in a very relaxed manner. The concert was lovely.. profound and dramatic melodies interspersed with curious bits, such as when God created earthworms and insects (the singing was in German, but there were surtitles..). I did note, that for all that there was a female soloist as well as a male one, she had much less to do.. hmph. But yes, it was a lovely evening.. the more so because it was a bit cooler! Oh joy..

The journey home was mildly curtailed, my bus stopping short.. not too much though.

Next, I have two appropriately vampiric days! Tomorrow, I'm back with The Hideout for Vampire's Kiss, an old comedy with Nicholas Cage, in which he thinks he's been dating a vampire, and is now turning into one himself. Showing in the Prince Charles of course, and we're meeting in Victory House beforehand. I've booked to eat in Bella Italia before that - took two goes though, the site was down the first time!

And on Friday - well, one of the things London Museums from A-Z (LoMAZ) were talking about doing for their series of Dracula events was going to a ballet - and sure enough, there is a Dracula ballet in town! Supposed to be good, with a classical soundtrack - and sure enough, when I checked, it was almost completely booked up. The only tickets left were yesterday evening - which I couldn't manage - and the matinees today and Friday - so I'm taking Friday off, and will go to it that day! Can't see I'll persuade anyone to go with me though - they'd either have to take time off work, or if not, they might not be in work, and might baulk at the price! Showing in the Palladium - I had to take the Second Circle to get the lowest price, and as legroom is reportedly tight, I made sure to get an aisle seat. Oh, and CT then advertised cheap tickets for tomorrow's matinee.. ah well..

Had booked to eat in the Shakespeare's Head (Soho) afterwards - but then London Social and Cultural Meetups (LSC) advertised social drinks for that evening in The Rugby Tavern, so I've cancelled dinner and will meet them instead, after the ballet - I can eat there.

On Saturday - back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for his Nooks and Crannies of London walk - and damnit, Meetup is charging for RSVP again! (plus an extra charge, of course). And afterwards, back with The Hideout for Backrooms - the film version of Backrooms on Creepypasta, a series of liminal horror stories about featureless, unending rooms and corridors, sometimes with hostile beings in them.. stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, as his psychiatrist, as - well, he might be expected to need one, with this kind of tale. Same details as before, except I won't need to book a restaurant - we'll be having lunch after the walk. Which makes it three Meetup days in a row. (And three days in a row of horror..)

On Sunday, I got a cheap ticket with CT for the Sunday concert at Conway Hall, with Francesca Dego and Alessandro Taverna. But with Mark and Martin cancelling last Sunday for sachertorte, we've decided to do it that day instead - the last day for it. And the weather is supposed to cool down a bit that day!

On Monday, back with Shake It Up: The Improvised Shakespeare Company, first Monday of every month in the Hen & Chickens.

On Tuesday, back with London Fun for Churchill's Urinal, about a female Chancellor of the Exchequer wanting the urinal in No. 10 removed.. showing in the King's Head. The organiser bought the tickets - and later informed us we'd been upgraded. As he says, another reason to buy the cheap tickets! (Much discussion in the group recently on the relative merits of Churchill himself.. always a heated topic.)

Next Wednesday, the last scheduled from the Crick Crack Club's Story Pick + Mix in Next Door at Theatre Deli - this time, it's We Are Fox, with Alys Torrance and Lucy Lill. And it's a good job that they recently invited me to buy a ticket - I'd completely forgotten to do so! Now sorted.

Then it's five days of Meetup.. on the 4th, I'm with Up in the Cheap Seats for a reggae musical called The Harder They Come at the Theatre Royal Stratford East - the story of a young musician trying to make it in the business. 

On the 5th, back with The Hideout for the latest Scary Movie, yay! The trailer looks hilarious, with its references to horror films and popular culture.. and as usual, it'll be interesting to try and spot them all. Only thing is, it's run by the Southeast London branch.. and while I'm in the Southeast, this is far, far southeast.. we're headed to Vue Bromley. I'll have to get a train..

Then it's a LoMAZ weekend - the 6th is their bimonthly birthday bash, in the Union Jack as usual.

And on the 7th, I'm headed with them to see an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, of Marilyn Monroe's life in pictures. Off to the Brewmaster afterwards.

Finally, on the 8th, I'm back with LSC (also advertised, again, with the London European Club) for a talk at the London School of Economics - this one is Ten Years On: Brexit and Britain's Political Future. Rumours of drinks afterwards.