three styles

This is why I love London: ridiculous juxtapositions of styles.

rooftops and blue sky

This weekend is going to be SUNNY and HOT in London. Finally, we get some summer in October. And the view from my window, normally very dull and boring, is suddenly so beautiful with a clear blue sky.

union jack umbrella

A typical scene: a rainy day in Russell Square.

Adele and St. Paul's

Went to see Adele play at the Hammersmith Apollo a few nights ago. She opened the show with her hit "Hometown Glory" and this great background of St. Paul's. A lotta London love going on here.

Big Ben in the sunshine

Gorgeous evening in Westminster.

Monmouth Coffee

Best coffee I've found in London so far. Delicious cafe au lait. Always a long line.

sunny day by tower bridge

City Hall in the foreground and the City in the background.

Southwark Cathedral Lunch

Eat lunch in the courtyard at Southwark Cathedral on a nice sunny day.

Borough!

My favoritest place.

donuts!

Donuts at Old Spitalfields market! Only £2 - £2.20 each!

chipped plaster

I love the way London neighborhoods so often have these weird juxtapositions of nice buildings with deteriorating ones.

oyster card reader on construction site

A weird bit of art. This is a temporary wall hiding a construction site and the little circle on the outside has been turned into an Oyster card machine -- it's the little thing that we tap our travelcards to whenever we take the tube.

blue and green

I like a nice bright color for house facades.

stubby tree

I don't get why they do this to trees in Europe. Anyone know?

V&A

An impressive facade for an impressive museum. I've been to the V&A four or five times now and I am still nowhere near close to seeing everything I want to see.

battle of britain

A close-up from the memorial commemorating the Battle of Britain. You can find on Embankment.

important buildings

A view of some of those important government buildings that make things tick in this country.

black swan

Are those black swans I saw in St. James's Park??

rooftops

The London Eye peaks above Horse Guards Parade.

Memorial

My new job takes me to Westminster where I photographed this memorial to soldiers who died in the First World War. As if an afterthought, they've also etched in a bit at the bottom dedicating it to those who died in the Second World War as well.

I generally don't theme my photos to reflect anniversaries, holidays, or important dates, but this memorial made me think of the anniversary of 9/11 in a weird way and all the people in the world who have died as a result of human hatred. So there ya go, for whatever it's worth.

sunset over the thames

Back in London and getting ready to greet autumn which is surely just around the corner (if not already here). I wouldn't be so sad about the changing seasons if only we'd had a proper summer...

butterheads

Every year at the Minnesota State Fair, the contestants for Princess Kay of the Milky Way get their heads carved into blocks of butter. It's a perennial favorite.

specialty sausages made by special women

Okay, I lied. Here's a couple from the Minnesota State Fair (greatest fair on earth). There are so many foods to choose from -- it's a yearly struggle to pick the good stuff.

paint jobs

A newly painted Victorian next to one that needs a paint job. Wrapping up my USA photos.

cupcake

Nothing like a Salted Caramel cupcake and HyVee root beer at a Labor Day weekend picnic with the family.

651

London's not the only place with proud neighbourhood graffiti. Here we see some street art from people who love their nieghbourhood (Summit) and their area code (651).

Dinkytown Tattoo Parlour & Museum

I hope you'll indulge for a few days while I take a sojourn across the pond and post some pictures from my trip to Minnesota.

I like the idea of having a museum in a tattoo parlour.

pecan pie

Purchasing coffee and pastries.

willsenkate prolonged

Remnants of that Great Even in April. These will no doubt be available in tourist shops for years to come.

Theme Day: Perspective

A different perspective can make a tremendously normal pub look a little more interesting.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants