 |
| Vegetarian lunch at Nostimo |
A Day & A Night in London
I found NOSTIMO Greek Restaurant in Russell Sq—in that old Brutalist building I love so much (The Brunswick Centre)—anyway, ordered the veggie platter—which comes with chips. I forget that Britons love chips more than any side. The platter came with a gorgeous fresh salad, tahini, made-to-order pita, hot and crisp, and what looked like 2 generous slices of grilled polenta. When I cut the first of these medallions open, it spilt out fresh cooked peas and carrot, still a bit firm. What a tasty treat...the chips were not what I wanted , but the salad, veggies, and bread hit the spot. The wine was unremarkable—as any wine you get from a tiny carry-out will be, but it soothed me after a yesterday-to-today flight.
Pete the Street
 |
| Check out PeteTheStreet |
Okay, true story: every time I visit London I walk from Russell square down to the royal crown court, and I find a concrete bench and sit for a minute. It is a ritual I began in January 2022. I sit and close my eyes and relive five minutes of history (usually in just 30 seconds). So, I’m strolling down the road in search of the 3 store, to get a fresh UK sim card, and on the way back I thought "hey lets partake of that ritual before we head back to the hotel." But I was stopped cold by an oil painter from Bath, rendering the street in full colour. I stood behind him for 4 minutes watching him paint—not wanting to interrupt or call attention to myself (as an artist or spectator or anything else). And his strokes were beautiful, his command of the medium (something I never cultivated) was beautiful to behold.
He stepped back for a moment, was startled at my presence, and we started talking.
Where you from? Bath. New York.
Have you even been? Yes. Yes.
Etc. and and we discussed technique, galleries in Brooklyn and the lower east side, and the Bath economy and tourist destinations in general, and we eventually exchanged contact details.
I want to buy that painting. Cannot wait to meet up with Peter Roth again, PeteThe Street.
Drinking at the Queen’s Larder
Somehow I didn’t take a nap before the gig. Instead I went to the Queen’s Head public house for a drink. It is an old favourite...allegedly the place where mad King George’s wife, the un-mad Queen Charlotte toiled away the evenings mixing up medicines to help cure his many afflictions. Anyway, I order a Guinness and beeline for the comfortable outdoor seating—London is ridiculously warm and temperate this week. I am immediately joined by a retired old Cambridge don who has the best stories, anecdotes, and jokes I have heard in a long time. It still amuses me that men of his ilk are drawn to me like bees. I think it’s the Mohawk, speaking American, and apparently bags of time to while away of an(y given) evening.
His stories included true tales from ambassadors, heads of state, dancing with the queen mother (no, seriously!), teaching at Cambridge (and Barbados, and Singapore). sadly, I remember only 1 good and humerous tale about Gore Vidale.
The Gig:
Sananda Maitreya at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire!!!
 |
| Besides seeing the artist former known as Terrence Trent D'Arby, I saw lots... |
){kind=link}
0 Comments