The Old Vic Tunnels

A couple weeks ago, I went to the new performance place in the old Waterloo underground tunnels, now known as The Old Vic Tunnels. They had all kinds neat pieces set up depicting the various circles of hell, as inspired by Dante's Inferno. Most of them didn't photograph well in the dark tunnels, but this turned out nicely--a portrait created by chipping away parts of the plastered wall.

Speaking of hell, happy Halloween!

Community garden

Community garden in Kentish Town. I couldn't figure out how you get involved, but seems like a great way to get some fresh vegetables. Reminded me that I once heard Britons were at their healthiest during wartime rationing: very little red meat, no butter, less sugar, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Maybe we should reintroduce rationing? Hmmm...

Pigeons

Perhaps not the most interesting subject in the world, but I liked the way they were all lined up in a row.

Kentish Town Baths

There's an old bath in Kentish Town that has been recently refurbished and turned into modern gym facilities. The old signs reading "Ladies Baths," "Gentlemen's Baths," and "Second Class" are still there.

Potter

On a recent walk through Hampstead, my current favorite neighborhood in London, I passed this potter's workshop. It was closed (or, rather, "Shut" as the sign on the door read) but the enormous windows gave a clear view of the chaos of this person's workspace. I liked imagining what it must be like when it's busy.

Food is your weapon

This is an image from the Ministry of Food exhibit at the Imperial War Museum. Not exactly the greatest exhibit I've ever been to, but I loved this stencil drawing. Sums up WWII propaganda so beautifully -- food is your weapon against Hitler!

Royal College of Midwives

The Royal College of Midwives! Midwives, most of whom were women, were important healers in Western societies for centuries until the professionalization (and masculinization) of the medical field pushed them to the margins. Not sure if this college is a remnant of the old days or an example of the growing popularity of midwives in the 21st century.

True love

This is a view of the Albert Memorial in South Kensington, built by Queen Victoria in honor of her husband. I mean, damn, she must've loved him. This thing is impressive!

A.D. 1995

There are a few rows of these housing units on a street near my house. I found them quite charming and reminiscent of small English villages. The style fits in well with all the Victorian rowhouses. But notice the cornerstone at the top of the building which reads A.D. 1995. Buildings like this fascinate me: they obviously tore something down in order to build a brand new building that was deliberately meant to look old. What genuinely old building did they have to bulldoze in order to build this one?

Elephant

Ham over at London Daily Photo has been finding elephants all over the city as part of his series "London's Elephants." I've been following the blog for a while so I was very excited to find a London elephant of my own! This one is outside a shop in Hampstead (see the matching one just behind it?).

Battle of Agincourt

Victorian terraced houses on Agincourt Road in Hampstead.

Autumn

Gorgeous red ivy on the side of a house in Belsize Park.

Cumberland Terrace

A grand mansion on Cumberland Terrace overlooking Regent's Park. Many of these impressive buildings were designed by the architect John Nash who envisioned building similar estates in Regent's Park itself one day. Luckily for me, he didn't, so I get to wander around the park all on my lonesome without fear of trespassing onto the private property of a duke or an earl or some such nonsense.

Browsing

Second-hand bookshop in Hampstead. I particularly like the little grafitti dog on the wall to the right.

Reflections on art

Piece at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. The floor is covered in what looked like gasoline or petroleum or something. It reflected everything beautifully but smelt a bit.

Far off financial district

A view of central London (can you see the curved, conical top of the Gherkin?) as seen from a flat in North London.

Red box

Disused post box on Elm Row in Hampstead.

Treacy hats

Philip Treacy designed the far out hats worn by these models in 18th-century clothing at the Museum of London. It seems like they should be incongruous, but they worked fantastically well together.

Curry

Delicious-looking Thai curry at Borough Market. Alas, I was already full from the cheese sandwiches I bought at another stall, but I'll have to come back and get some of this next weekend.

Eccleston St

A beautifully painted house just off Eccleston St in Belgravia. I always feel a bit odd taking pictures of private residences, but I couldn't pass this one without snapping a couple shots.

Canadian Thanksgiving on the Heath

It was Canadian Thanksgiving yesterday and I celebrated it for the first time ever with a new Canadian friend. Decided to make a proper day of it and go on my traditional Thanksgiving walk (though, of course, mine usually happens in November). Made it up to Hampstead Heath which was teaming with people -- families playing footy, couples going for walks, dogs jumping in all the ponds. A perfect autumn day.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadians out there!

P.S. Can you imagine living in one of those houses?

Trafalgar fountain

A fountain in Trafalgar Square frames Big Ben.

Double feature!

You need to see both pictures to get the full experience. This is a £5 raclette you can get at Borough Market -- the stall right in front of the church. Potatoes and gherkins absolutely smothered in roasted cheese. And here's the artisan herself scraping that cheese fresh from a giant wedge. Oh, I'm hyperventilating just thinking about it.

Kylie's dressing room

A very odd exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum: this is an exact replica of Kylie Minogue's dressing room during one of her world tours, right down to the message written on the mirror in lipstick by her sister. Why is this in a museum? Discuss.

Saatchi speakers

An audio-visual experience at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. The photo doesn't really do it justice because what's so cool about the piece is the sound--the humming and feedback from all those speakers whenever a few piano notes are struck.

Memorial to the Battle of Britain

The spectacular memorial to the Battle of Britain which can be found on Victoria Embankment, not far from the Houses of Parliament. As someone who studies memorials and such for a "living," I really liked it. Must remember to do more reading about the Battle of Britain as the 70th anniversary commemorations were just a couple weeks ago and it was all over the papers.

Pork pies at Borough Market

Gorgeous pasties and pastries at the world famous Borough Market. I didn't try one but they have one that I may have to come back and buy for Thanksgiving: turkey, cranberry, and stuffing all in one pie. I think that'd be a nice English way of celebrating a very American holiday.

Terrible Trenches

Get ye down to the Imperial War Museum for the Horrible Histories: Terrible Trenches exhibit before it ends on October 31! And do not be dissuaded by the cashier who tells you "it's meant for small children." It's a fantastic exhibit for all ages. I learned a lot and had fun to boot (and fun and trench foot are two things that usually do not go together).

Hello, London

I recently moved to London to attend grad school and am starting this blog to share my new city with those I have left behind in the States (and anyone else interested). You can see my previous "work" at Photo A Day in Saint Paul, a project I hope to return to someday.