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Waxy O’Connors in Leicester Square

8 May 2009

“Have you ever read Lord of the Rings?”

I nod, wondering what analogy is going to require a knowledge of Tolkien.

“Going into that pub,” my friend said, pointing at what could have easily been mistaken for a door to a set of flats, “is like walking into the Shire.”

After a quizzical stare at the red door with the intriguing overhang of “Waxy O’Connors” I shrug and descend into one of the most unique concept pubs I’ve seen. Designed as if built into a large tree, the Irish pub features natural-style wood work, dozens of nooks and crannies, multiple bars and at least three different live bands all playing in different parts of the enormous pub.

Waxys is located in Soho in central London and clearly a favourite with locals and visitors to the city. My guide for the evening is an old friend from Colby who is back in London for the weekend visiting her former haunts from back when she studied abroad in the city. Once in the pub, our attention is caught by a group of fiddlers kicking up some Irish jigs. The group looks as though they’ve just popped in for a few pints and happened to bring their instruments along – there’s no stage, in fact they’re sitting around a table filled with food and drinks, but they’re clearly there to entertain the other customers who are toe-tapping along while waiting at the upstairs bar.

We find a table – not an easy feat and one that required some rearrangement of the furniture – under the large tree built into the centre of the pub. Drink prices are a little steep – suggesting that Waxys is more of a evening destination than a local pub for drinking and socialising but certainly worth the visit. Now if I’m ever travelling through London with a Tolkien fan, I know the place most Shire-like to take them for a drink – and that kind of London knowledge? Priceless.

Waxy O’Connors
14 – 16 Rupert Street
Leicester Square
London
W1D 6DD
020 7287 0255

Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre

7 May 2009

My newest review is live on Spoonfed for Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre:

As I sit comfortably in my seat about halfway through the first act of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre, I get the sense that despite your usual song-and-dance numbers, this show offers something a bit different than most West End musicals. Whether it’s a unique approach to music within the show, a surprisingly earnest and engaging cast of children or the RBC quality ballet performances, Billy Elliot stands head and shoulders over most commercial West End tourist fare.

Read on: Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre

I want to catch swine flu!

4 May 2009

Call me crazy, but why on earth isn’t everyone in well developed countries hightailing it to their nearest rumoured outbreak of swine flu to swap fluids and air space with the infected? As far as I can see, there benefits to catching swine flu at this point far outweigh the risks.

1) Time off work
It’s a busy year for everyone so who couldn’t do with a few days off work? And rather than getting dirty looks from your boss when you return a few days later for using up questionable sick days, you’ll be hailed as a survivor all for getting some much needed rest.

2) Obsessive doctor care
At this stage, everyone is so cautious about swine flu that you’ll be fitted with a highly trained and overly attentive medical team to ensure your full recovery.

3) Media Attention
You might be a bit strapped for cash these days but with the media frenzy surrounding swine flu, networks will be more than willing to pay for the story of your experience and the exclusive of your recovery.

4) Some Alone Time
You’ll be in quarantine so no demands from the landlord, no catering to the kids, no awkward smalltalk with that person you see every day on your way to work – just some well deserved peace and quiet.

5) Access to Tamiflu while supplies last
In the event swine flu does become a global pandemic affecting high percentages of the population, Tamiflu use and stockpiling will limit supplies and drive prices through the roof. Better get in on the supplies now.

6) Immunity
Although the flu virus is mutating quickly so you’re not exactly guaranteed immunity in the future, having given you body exposure to this form of the virus early will make it much more likely it can defend itself when the virus spreads through larger portions of the population.

So looking at that list, I’m willing to risk the uncomfortable symptoms (fever, cough, tiredness, chills, aches, and other seasonal flu symptoms – if you experience these, especially if you’ve recently been in an area of swine flu rumoured outbreak contact your nearest heathcare professional by phone) and the unlikely event of death. Look out swine flu, I’m coming to catch you.

**Disclaimer: This is an attempt at black humour and a joke. I am certainly not a medical professional and anyone who is would never recommend this ridiculous course of action. Not to mention, biologically speaking, this is about the most selfish thing anyone could do and would spread the disease exponentially. So, read, enjoy, and continue to decorate your surgical masks.

1930s Vintage Party at No. 5 Cavendish Square

30 Apr 2009

If I had been unsure of the time warp I was about to experience when some friends and I were preparing for the event by listening to 30’s jazz and modeling our hair after pictures of 30s icons, or if I wasn’t clear on what I was getting myself into when we later met up with more party-goers in a house that leaked early 20th century opulence like a sieve then walking into No. 5 Cavendish Square last night would have been a bit of a shock. But in fact the 1930s swingers party – which could hardly be described as a costume party but more of an attempt at an authentic recreation of a 1930s event – had been the talk of the girls in the office for nearly a week and even I was breaking my self-imposed work night curfew to check out the scene.

A friend knew the organizers (who had pitched their party proposal and won 10,000 pounds from Smirnoff vodka to host the bash) so after being checked off the guest list, we entered a world of pinup hair, cummerbunds and big band swing. The venue was perfect – various rooms wound up and down stairs leading to, among others a whiskey parlour and a private library. And the outfits! I was sorely out of place in what was probably a more accurate recreation of 1930s outside on a sunny afternoon compared to the evening gowns, gloves and pearls that all made their appearance on the women at the event but I didn’t notice a hair out of place thoughout the night. Instead, nearly everyone in attendence had tried their absolute hardest to come dressed for the era.

By 2am, I was beginning to feel the hour and so made my way back to 21st century London but I am so glad I went along and hope next time my wardrobe can be a bit more accommodating – amazingly the same friend knows another group who won another 10k for another 30s theme party – the next one out in a country house for a weekend of 30s frivolity. What a lark!

Scotland: Edinburgh

21 Apr 2009

Although I had a good five hours in Edinburgh between arriving in the city after my train from St. Andrews and my flight back to London, I found it was quite an awkward amount of time for properly exploring the city.  It didn’t help that I had a 15lb backpack stuffed with four days worth of clothes, shoes and travel accessories to carry around town with me.  All the same, I was determined to make the most of my brief time in the city and so began by making my way up to the highest point above Edinburgh where, naturally, sat the castle.  Compared to the small St. Andrews castle ruins, the Edinburgh Castle was a stunning feat of masonry, history and vantage, looking in every way as a highland castle should.  Despite the rather pricey entrance (12 quid plus another 3 for the audio guide), I made my way into the castle proper and found that it was going to take a lot more time than I had expected to do the castle right.  There were a vast number of rooms, chapels, monuments, passages, dungeons and turrets to explore and the crown jewels of Scotland themselves were on display.

One of my favourite parts of the castle was the view over the rest of town.  With the audio guide providing bagpipe music and a narrated history of Scotland as a soundtrack, I spent quite a bit of time appreciating the sun, warmth and spectacular view.  There was a lot to take in.  So much so, that as I started to push three hours at the castle, I felt I had to at least take a quick look at the rest of the town.

I left the castle by way of the Royal Mile, a road that leads down the hill from the castle into Edinburgh.  I took a brief detour into the tartan weaving mill tour – basically an outlet shop for tartan and cashmere goods but with a working weaving mill in the basement that allowed visitors a glimpse of the process.  Because it was a Sunday the mills were silent but it’s probably a good thing it was a quiet day or I would have quite certainly have been suckered into getting my photo taken in full Scottish tartan regalia.

I continued down the Royal Mile, bypassing the Whiskey Tour (if only because I had a lot more walking to do and a plane to catch), and crossing the entire town to make my way up the hill opposite the castle where a vast public park overlooked the town.  There, eating an ice cream, lying half-asleep in the sun, overlooking the North Sea on one side and Edinburgh on the other, I could not imaging a better way to spend an afternoon.

Dinner was a quick sandwich to go, eaten in the lovely Princess Street Gardens situated between the National Gallery and the train station before it was back on the bus to the airport.  It was a fantastic trip and I am very much looking forward to returning to Edinburgh for a bit more indepth look at what the town has to offer.