Tag Archives: London

SILENCE WILL FALL…New Doctor Who Villian Arrives

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SILENCE WILL FALL…

THE SILENCE

ARRIVING AT THE

DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE

ON FRIDAY 13th MAY

{above picture} One of Doctor Who’s most terrifying enemies, The Silence, stands behind an unsuspecting Welsh Guard in Pall Mall, ahead of their arrival at the highly-acclaimed Doctor Who Experience at London’s Olympia 2 venue. The fully interactive themed experience and exhibition invites visitors to step through a crack in time to become the Doctor’s companion on an adventure. Their challenge will be to reunite the Doctor with the TARDIS whilst fending off threats from a Dalek spaceship and Weeping Angels along the way, before exploring the wonders of Doctor Who at an out of this world exhibition.

This Friday 13th May Doctor Who Experience will prove monsters are real by giving you the opportunity to come face-to-face with one of Doctor Who’s most terrifying of monsters to date as The Silence arrive at the Doctor Who Experience.

The Silence will be on show in the walk-through part of the Doctor Who Experience following their appearance in the opening two episodes of the award-wining series, The Impossible Astronaut and Day of the Moon.

Fans will be able to encounter these terrifying monsters for the first time, who, with their powers of telepathy and eerie ability to erase themselves from your memory have been cited as one of the Doctor’s more frightening foes.

Glimpse one of these creatures at Doctor Who Experience and you may feel slightly unsettled the moment it’s out of view but the real question is… will you remember?

Come fly the TARDIS and dare to meet The Silence, by taking a starring role in your very own Doctor Who adventure at the Doctor Who Experience. Step through the crack in time and become the Doctor’s companion in this exhilarating walk through experience that recreates all the best parts of the hit TV series. Come face to face with some of the scariest monsters seen on the screen including Daleks, Cybermen and the latest addition from series 6: The Silence.

There’s fun for family and fans alike with the largest collection of authentic Doctor Who props and artefacts including all the previous Doctor’s iconic costumes, the original David Tennant TARDIS set and even interactive lessons in how to walk like a Cyberman!

Tickets on sale at www.doctorwhoexperience.com

Door Price / Advance peak / Advance off-peak

· Adult: £20.00 / £18.00 / £15.50

· Child (5 to 16): £15.50 /£14.00 /£12.50

· Under 5’s are free

· Family of 4: £62.00 / £52.00 /£46.00

Schools/Groups/Tour Operators: separate pricing.

{Spotted} Christian Bale

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Batman actor Christian Bale returned to London last night, where he enjoyed a quiet evening with his family for a change. The movie star was spotted in iconic restaurant The Red Fort on Dean Street in Soho, dining on the venue’s trademark Indian Mughal Court cooking. This civilised occasion was in a stark contrast to Bale’s previous family engagements in the capital.

Londoners Life 11 by Phil Ryan

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Well the riots are over, the streets are full of tourists and London is getting back to Spring. And if there’s one thing that the London spring brings onto the streets it’s the Lycra brigade. Suddenly there’s someone looking like a Nike ad pounding along every pavement. My favourite recent sight being of two yummy mummies jogging along in Kensington pushing those ludicrously large buggies that look like they’ve been designed to withstand a bomb blast. But not only were they running in their designer sports outfits and chatting as they pushed their future investment banker along they had a Nanny in full running gear engaging with the little darlings. Poor thing looked a little like a dunkin donuts lover so was puffing and red faced as she staggered along. The children seemed delighted at the entertainment. Squeaking happily now and again. Both whippet thin, tanned women would yell encouraging things to her such as “do keep up Svetlana” and “No gain without pain darling”. I couldn’t quite see the point as both of them were smoking as they ran and one had a little Patisserie Valerie bag swinging from her buggy. Presumably not for wobbly Svetlana who really needed some kind of drugs or medical assistance. But the fitness bug hangs heavy on the breeze. It’s apparently time for Londoners to shed those winter pounds and don your trusty arm mounted ipod. Then hit the latest JD sports sale (sales still running continuously since 1668 – see Samuel Pepys Diary “Wednesday April fecond 1669 – Up at mid morning to the fplendid fprts fale at Master JD’s in the Ftrand- purchased fome kick ass trainers and a Flazenger trackfuit. Returned to my desk by afternoon to write. Wish I had a laptop) There’s no doubt running about is in – as coming hot on their heels is – wait for it – fun run marathon season. Support Endangered Lemurs in Putney etc – Never have two words been so mismatched. Fun and run. I should point out that I see these people mainly as I’m sat in the various cafes I frequent. I like to wave an éclair at them for encouragement. I exercise at home regularly and keep my tai chi routines going. It works for me plus I’ve never been a fan of sweating heavily in public or getting a rash in front of complete strangers.

But if you like sweating in public the new fitness programme from TFL kicks in with a vengeance this month. By cleverly closing Tottenham Court Road for 8 months and now regularly shutting down various lines at random every weekend they’re really getting Londoners out onto the streets walking. It’s a shame they have paid for tickets which they can’t use – but hey look at the health benefits. But it’s all necessary as the new Crossrail works are forging ahead. It could be just me. But as far as I can see we have to put up with a rubbish transport system where the prices go up year on year until 2018 or something. And then presumably the tickets will be so expensive no-one will be able to afford the eye watering prices to ride on the shiny new trains and lines to everywhere you’ve ever heard of in London. Crossrail. I’m just cross.

And talking of TFL and weight loss that brings me to our porcine Mayor. Soon we’ll get to see those Boris bike figures apparently. Turns out that as I said that the idea that it wouldn’t cost us a penny is half right. It hasn’t cost Londoners a penny to implement the bike scheme. It’s closer to 11 million pounds. As I said I kind of like the idea but I just don’t want to pay for it. Well certainly not if I never use it. So currently most of us are forking out for tourists to wobble dangerously around the streets. See London and get crushed by a lorry. Catchy tourist tagline huh? Finally whilst I’m in my fitness mode I notice that lots of gyms seem to be closing down – pour quoi? Maybe people are cutting back although presumably starvation will assist many in their desire to lose weight. The new recession diet.

So finally spring is with us. Which also heralds the tourist invasion. It’s started already. I was at Kew Gardens last weekend as coach loads of baffled Italians were being herded through the turnstiles. They seemed bemused. I heard one ask the tour guide “Is a big park no? Where are the rides?” Clearly they hadn’t quite given him the whole description. So look out for every museum and art gallery to be rammed every weekend. Forget about using the nearby cafes as they’ll be full too. The invasion has started and because the pound is so weak it’s going to be a big one this year. But do we mind sharing our space with the world. Do we mind our shops filling up with arm waving women? And do we mind our parks becoming al fresco dining rooms for every nation. No. It’s a London thing.

Short Accommodation Website For London Helps Find Somewhere to Lay Your Head.

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Head2Pillow launched its short stay accommodation website for the London area in Autumn 2010, enabling homeowners with a spare room to rent it out and make tax-free money and for visitors to the capital to find an affordable room for a short stay.

The site has been developed over a considerable length of time, with the focus being on ease of use for both homeowners and guests.

For Guests looking for a room, the site has an innovative Quick Search facility, enabling users to look for a room by *either
*town
*postcode
*venue, which now also includes the main Olympic venues.

In addition, the Advanced Search allows users to carry out a more detailed search based on a selection of criteria, including cost, distance and availability dates.

Many online accommodation sites only allow users to find out limited information online and the actual booking process is dealt with by email. Head2Pillow enables users to search for a room in real time, book and pay securely via Barclaycard all online. In addition, there is no sign up fee for Guests, no minimum stay required and no booking fees.

Homeowners with a spare room can advertise their room straight away with no sign up fee, knowing that they have complete control over the room price and availability and can rent it out as often or as little as they like. In addition, they can select to receive an SMS alert every time a booking is made for their room.

With the Government’s cuts really hitting households across the country now, there has never been a better time for homeowners to make some much needed extra cash or for Guests to book an affordable room with Head2Pillow.

Londoners Life 10 – By Phil Ryan

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Londoners Life 10 – by Phil Ryan

We often hear of problems in London with parking. The main gripe of drivers being that Councils are now just using high parking charges as a revenue generator. And it is clearly true despite the Councils mealy mouthed explanations. My favourite being that it stops commuters driving to Tube stations and clogging the local roads (this slightly shot down by the fact that parking restrictions are on every single street in every single borough now miles from any tube stations) I tell people you can drive in London you just can’t actually stop anywhere!

And if ever proof were needed recently that champion of fairness and kindness Baby Shrek look alike Brian Coleman the Leader of the Council in Barnet even laughingly said he felt they were never knowingly underpriced. This as he announced they were doubling parking charges for residents in his borough and it was just tough! But this time the residents are taking Barnet Council to court saying it’s unfair. Good luck to them. As a London driver I’m used to being abused and lied to – so it’s nice to see some Londoners fighting back. Of course they’ll lose. It’s the London way. The fix is in. But hey if it makes one idiot local councillor pause for thought it’s got to be worth it.
London sadly has a history of shooting fish (ie all London taxpayers) and in a barrel in this way. In other words once they realise they have a monopoly and there is nothing Londoners can do they rip us off. Higher prices for nothing in return. TFL are a great example of this. Prices go up and up on the Underground and then incredibly the service just gets worse and worse! And travelling conditions are really horrible lately. Squeezing people in like a game of Twister on amphetamines. The tube is getting more and more like one of those Japanese game shows without a prize at the end. And Londoners grimly put up with it. Why? No alternative. Monopoly. The Oyster card now a badge of endurance.

And whilst on Transport issues I notice the Boris Bikes are suddenly coming in for scrutiny. The scheme apparently costing the taxpayer some mad sum of money anytime someone makes a journey. Why is it so expensive you ask? Because of the company behind it and the mug contract signed by TFL and the Mayor. It’s funny how London politicians vanity projects seem to get pushed through despite apparent layers of ‘scrutiny’. Green is always good is the mantra. No matter how ineffective or expensive. After they added up the costs it turns out that the bikes would be cheaper to the public purse if they are just left in the racks and the riders are carried around by slaves in those sedan chairs. And as for the cycle highways ie blue lines painted on the road. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Please don’t get me wrong. I do love the idea of a bike scheme. But not the ludicrous costs. But I must calm down. The sun is out – the Royal parks are still free and looking glorious and the hints of spring in London are everywhere. Daffodils on roundabouts etc.
Fashion Week is over and new spring looks are appearing but the biggest sign is the re-appearance of the outside table.

Londoners can’t resist them. That Parisian air of lolling about watching the world pass by. Admittedly you also get large Buses and Lorries as well. So you can choke on your cappuccino as you ogle the passing public. I don’t get it. Who wants to sit on a pavement? Pollution falling over you as you sip your overpriced beverage.

But hey it’s that cool al fresco London experience. Despite it being five degrees, everywhere I go hardy souls are out with their new shades and iphones blabbing away. And it could just be me but where are all these tiny dogs coming from? They are everywhere. It seems de rigueur now for designer shaded girls and boys to currently accessorize with an animal that looks like an angry rat in a fur wrap. These sharp toothed little rodent dogs perch quiveringly under their owners chairs snapping at anyone who passes by. I’m still trying to work out their function. They’re skin and bone so they score low on the cuddle factor. They can’t do tricks as they’d break. I guess they could be a good defence animal as they can easily be hurled at a mugger. The element of surprise of being hit at fifty miles an hour by a small snarling rodent a great deterrent. (Kidding) Or are they just loyal companions? The jury is still out I think.

But spring is evident in the air. It’s charity time. All the great and the good are filling our airtime with their appeals. Exhorting us to open our wallets. It’s all in a good cause. Red nose this. Flowers for that. Without people dressed as clowns outside Waterloo rattling buckets it seems as if London would cease to function. But Londoners are generous. So when they’re outside in artic conditions sitting at their table drinking a cappuccino with an angry demented rat on a string what happens? Some person dressed as a giant Yellow Cat strides up demanding money for underprivileged trees. Does it bother them? Does it faze them? No. It’s a London thing.

The Frost Girls with Bethanie Lunn – How to Walk in High Heels!

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Friday February 18th 2011 – the first day of Fashion week. A flurry of high fashionistas making their way to the central point of all things chic – the quintessential week commencing all factor fabulous a La Mode.

 

The ladies of Frost Magazine were fortunate enough to be invited to a presentation hosted by none other than Beauty and Fashion pioneer Bethanie Lunn, on her talk ‘How to Walk in High Heels.’ Held at the exquisite May Fair Hotel Suites, we were greeted courteously by an array of cup cakes and bellinis – plus endless champagne for a gathering of high fashion women.

Bethanie presented her deep narration on high heel technique in a friendly, professional manner – highlighting the points us ladies all wanted to know. How to maintain posture, the do’s and don’ts of street chic walking and the imminent importance of looking after our precious feet. Lunn’s beautiful outfit was complemented by a delicious pair of daring pink shoes – in true illustration of her love for the femme fatale look – simply divine!
Sipping on our delectably fine glasses of champagne, we sat ourselves down in what can only be described as a ‘dream’ suite – presented with a narrative of Lunn’s acute vision and knowledge of good footwear, which in turn focussed on more paired up physical activities.
Lunn is simply a lady of 21st Century modernism, encompassing all the essential elements of style. Her profound knowledge and individual approach to the Beauty and Fashion industry is a true inspiration for a catalogue of fashion daring women. Establishing herself as a Fashion Editor and Stylist by the mere age of 22 is an accomplishment to marvel at. Her carefree manner, together with a strong vision for all facets of fashion, makes her presence all the more interesting and educational.
Through the course of the presentation, Lunn taught us the some tricks of the feline posture trade – breathing techniques, how to prevent slipping on untoward surfaces (which involves scratching the surface of the sole) and the ‘heel to toe’ step – enabling less distress to the front part of our feet. It wasn’t long before all us high heel wearing ladies took to the Bethanie Lunn Catwalk, to show what we had learned.
For someone who has walked in high heels since I was 16 (the height disadvantage made me do it!), Lunn’s talk really enlightened me and my fellow Frost girls on how important it is to look after our feet. In the hustle of everyday city life, we often choose to brave the pain of our delicate toes, without thinking of the consequence.
As fashion wary as we are, it’s imperative to maintain a friendly balance. Lunn masters and teaches the techniques to combining the necessary care along with an even level of manageability. By the end of her session, the once wobbly-heeled Frost girls were ready to purchase the highest pair of heels Louboutin had to offer!

Up The Creek Comedy Speed Dating {London}

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Has your Valentine left you disappointed this year? Were you given a half eaten packet of biscuits or some sort of ‘meaningful’ pen? Or did they simply neglect to wash and shave for the fortnight’s run up to v-day and present themselves on your doorstep claiming to have renounced modern society and commercial holidays before muttering comments about sustainable living and raiding the contents of your fridge. If so, then it might be time to explore your options, and one London comedy club is intent on doing just that in a new slant on speed dating.

Up the Creek’s critically praised ‘Comedy Speed Dating‘ night in Greenwich begins again on Wednesday 23rd February and continues on the last Wednesday of every month. It’s a hilarious night of laid back dating followed by top notch comedy from the biggest names on the comedy circuit.

Tickets are just £5 and pre booking is a MUST as the night is extremely popular. Booking line is 0208 858 4581

If any of our readers do decide to go…let us know how you get along.

Londoners Life 8 by Phil Ryan.

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Londoners Life 8 – by Phil Ryan

Well, in London, Christmas and the New Year are truly over now. It’s the end to that weird kind of period of semi-social vacuum. Londoners generally indulge in the early sales tradition (strikes permitting) and catching up with all the less important friends on their list. It’s a brief respite that many enjoy. But now we’re all back with a vengeance – coping with the new EVERYTHING IS GOING UP mantra that the London authorities are now teaching us to swallow.

From Oyster Cards to restaurants, the price of everything is on the increase. But the London way is to shrug and just carry on as usual. I watched people on the London News just rolling their eyes at the various reporters’ daft questions. As if to say: “Huh? This is London – plus we have no choice. Asking us how we feel is a pointless exercise. We don’t have time to feel! We’re Londoners. Busy busy.”

So what are my London predictions for this year?

Well, house prices don’t seem to be heading down, no matter what the market does. So expect the rental market prices to keep heading skywards. And the price for first-time flat buyers to remain tantalisingly out of reach – unless you’re 12 and from Qatar or Russia – in which case you’ll buy the building from your pocket money. Plus you’ll sadly notice an explosion of posher estate agents appearing in your area. Luxury properties will remain immune to the price issues and continue to rise. You’ll see the expansion of trendy middle class folk fleeing to Lidl and Aldi (as seen in all the fashion mags where various ladies enthuse about their products) and you’ll see lots more branches of said lower cost German brands appearing.

I visited a friend the other day and they were enthusing about their tins of low cost and catchily named schweinekartoffelaffensuppe from those lovely well-known folk at Krauten Valley Fabrik GMBH and some huge packets of weird looking cakes called Kuchenzuckertortestrassezitrone from Panzer Backerie 17. The kids love them apparently, but are now all diabetic.

You can expect a lot more London local high streets to empty of smaller shops and fill with shuttered fronts as the huge shop opening programme of Tesco and Sainsbury continue to suck the life from them. In my own area, we have two mini Tesco’s about eight minutes from each other, now to be joined in a month’s time by a Sainsbury’s sandwiched in between them. Convenient, yes. I suppose. Food quality, sadly crap!

So, expect more small shops to bite the dust in droves, aided by the ever-increasing ramping up of parking revenues from London Councils now sending ever growing hordes of Parking Attendants, or whatever new name they’re calling them, out onto the streets scaring customers away. Check out the new parking times arriving near you soon. In many areas, meters will soon run from 8.30am until midnight. As I say – you can drive where you like in London – you just can’t stop. Well, not without giving up your life savings anyway. Which means more local small shops will vanish thanks to the Council’s greed.

Unsurprisingly, because of the economic factors you’re going to see a lot more churchgoers this year. Especially among the young and fashionable. It’s a trend that’s expanding. Cool churches with bands and singers. More of an open mic night with Jesus. So Sundays are going to get busier in your area. But the crowds will all turn the other cheek which is nice.

Apart from that the Olympic juggernaut will roll on – relentless ads of people telling us how fantastic it’s going to be interspersed with the truth about ludicrous and impossible ticket prices, private roads for Olympic fat cats and the fact that the Government will be flogging all the buildings and venues to Overseas companies at knockdown bargain prices when the whole ghastly thing is over.

And expect the Underground to get worse if that’s possible. Regular upgrade closures and strikes will really be the order of the day. Hmm. That’s about it. Oh yes, I nearly forgot. Expect the West End to overflow with even more film to musical adaptations this year. I see ‘Shrek the Musical’ is on its way (good God!).  I was looking forward to ‘Saw IV the Musical’ myself but apparently it’s not been written.

So predictions over. Something I’m noticing is that real theatre is now virtually on its knees in London. It’s only kept alive by smaller groups and brave theatre collectives thankfully, but the big boys seem to have thrown in the towel generally. Three new plays came into the West End last year. Wowee! (we should take Kevin Spacey’s passport away to stop him leaving – he’s almost singlehandedly propping up real theatre – give him a knighthood or something I say)

Finally, while I’m on the subject of entertainment, this is the year of relaunches of various new London Clubs,  including the Blitz Club and possibly some new remakes of closed venues. But it will be interesting to see if the money and the appetite is there to support such ventures.

The London appetite for nostalgia shows no signs of abating as I also notice lots more old fashioned Tea Rooms opening up. Proper ones too, I’m pleased to report. Not the organic designer kind. Real cakes. Normal teas.

So that’s it. Predictions REALLY over. Doom and gloom with glimmers of hope here and there. But will any of this stop us having a good time? No. Not in the least. It’s a London thing.