Kentish Town!

Phew! A quick break to catch our breath up in Kentish Town before heading back into the city for Royal Wedding madness.

I Kiss You

The Zabludowicz Collection recently installed this art exhibit at an out-of-business dry cleaner's near my flat.

This is I Kiss You by Tracey Emin (2004). There's a full exhibition from 10 March to 12 June just around the corner at 176 Prince of Wales Rd. Neat advertising strategy.

Draperies, Furnishings, Boats?

I always notice this building on Camden High Street on my bus ride home but have never managed to grab a picture of it until now. The building doesn't hold this home furnishings company any more. I think there's an Argos there, probably an HSBC Bank, etc. But I like that they kept the rather pretty tile work in place. Too bad I had to snap this picture through the bus window and so it's not the best quality. Maybe when I have more time someday (and a bit of sun?), I'll stop back and shoot it again.

Senate House Library

This is the very impressive University of London Senate House Library in Bloomsbury.

According to wikipedia, it was used by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War and inspired George Orwell's depiction of the Ministry of Truth in 1984. I've also heard tell (though I have not had it confirmed) that Hitler thought it was an excellent work of fascist architecture and planned to use it as his headquarters if he ever managed to occupy Great Britain.

Despite some of these negative undertones, I really like this building. Possibly my current favorite in the Bloomsbury area. Much more interesting than the business-as-usual Classical revivalism of my own University College London.

Evening walk

Heading home from work along Bedford Square in Bloomsbury.

I go to school around here and spent the better part of last summer looking at Google Street View images of these places to get ready for my new neighborhood. I've gotten fairly used to it now, but occasionally a spot of evening sunshine will light something up and remind me why I was so enchanted in the first place.

Pub Sign #1

I think I'm going to start a pub signs series. This is a sign on a building near where I live but there isn't a pub there anymore. It's been converted into some rather odd-looking flats. I can't quite imagine living in an old pub, chopped up into separate rooms.

Chanukah

The last few nights of Chanukah are upon us and my school is acknowledging the holiday with an electric menorah in the main quad. Obviously, I took this picture on the first night. (Also notice the statue holding a sign in support of student occupiers.)

Snowfall

We had some wonderful snowfall in London over the last few days, something that apparently doesn't happen too often. As a transplanted Midwesterner, this snow has been a real godsend. There's already a foot or so back home and I was starting to worry I'd have to wait until my trip home to see some flakes. But, happily, the weather gods took pity on me and I've been in an unspeakably good mood for the last few days as a result.

How can you dislike something that makes even my relatively ho-hum north London neighborhood look like whispered poetry?

Thanks for that

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Today, I am thankful that I come from a family and a financial background that has allowed me to get the kind of high-class education that I have enjoyed in the United States and now in the United Kingdom. Tertiary education used to be free for all UK citizens just a few years ago and now the new coalition government is threatening to lift the cap on tuition so that fees could rise, conceivably to an unlimited amount (£9000 a year is the current talk).

Protests have rocked the capital (and the country) as a result of these developments. Yesterday students occupied many universities, including my own, University College London. This is a shot of some of those students gathering prior to sitting in at the UCL Finances office.

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.