Arcade Fire, Hackney Empire....

....On Wednesday night, Kelly and I managed to get tickets to a secret gig at the Empire for the Arcade Fire.



I had never been to the venue before, but it is beautiful and despite our seats high in the upper circle we seemed to still be close to the stage and have a great view.



The gig, it seemed, was a chance for the band to try out tracks from the forthcoming album The Suburbs and with each number, they instantly sounded memorable and likable.


Arcade Fire, gig opener.

Intertwined between these new songs were classics from their two preceding albums, Neon Bible and Funeral.


Neighbourhood No.2 (Laika)

These sent Kel & I and the crowd totally berserk. I last saw them at Glastonbury where I thought they were incredible, but in hindsight something was lost in the open air that night. Tonight they are contained by the grand Empire, the electricity of their songs and the energy of Win Butler and his band, radiating through the audience.



They encored with three tracks and ended the set, as the did that night at Glastonbury, with the euphoric and sing-along inducing 'Wake up'.



A truly brilliant gig that I expect will be tough to match by anyone.

TDO Architecture....

....This months Wallpaper* magazine features Doug and his contemporaries in their new venture, TDO.



It specifically showcases the beautiful dolls house that they created for a commission, but also for wee little Clementine Ardagh.



It sure beats this home attempt:



Be sure to see more stunning design from these chaps very soon. Lovely.

1.21 Gigawatts....

....When Marty McFly pushed the pedal to the metal in the Delorean and hit 88mph, he was transported to the future. To this very day in fact.



Alas the hover boards are no where to be seen and I'm still looking out for those Nikes on eBay! However the 3D & hologram imagery is all but here.



UPDATE: We've been duped. Read here.

Heck, maybe the hover boards aren't actually that far off:

Sunny Sunday....

....Kelly and I spent the day together yesterday amidst beautiful sunshine. We ate a belated breakfast at the Corner Deli.


My 'simple' breakfast. (Meaning full English basically!)

I had long since wanted to go here, an organic cafe with Russian owners I think, but was slightly disappointed.


The setting


Kel's poached eggs

While a seat alfresco was enjoyable, the service was poor and the food itself good, but not exceptional. However the prices are reasonable so I would probably give it another chance.



We wandered and cycled around the East End, popping in and out of shops, before stopping for a coffee and cake at Taste of Bitter Love.



This place is tiny - more of a takeaway cafe really, as the seating is minimal, only really used on such a sunny day as today. But it is well worth a visit - your coffee is served in random china, but one thing for sure is that it is really very good.



Strong, dark, slightly bitter. I loved it. The home made cake was excellent too, so we were happy campers. The rest of the day was just relaxing and sun kept on shining. I think we really are in summer now!

Rospo, Hackney Road....

....Kelly and I stumbled on this shop today. I then stumbled on and subsequently bought this rather wonderful blanket from the same place. The shop is tiny upstairs, but once downstairs it opens up in to a huge room full of vintage furniture, kitchenware and clothing. Well worth a look.

Ernesto Neto, Hayward Gallery....

....The Hayward Gallery reopened after a minor face lift with this exhibition from visual artist Ernesto Neto. I got tickets and took Richie for his birthday treat, which included a dip in the specially constructed pool on one of the terraces.


The terrace pool from afar, (hidden behind the 2 orange changing rooms)

Unfortunately no photos were allowed in that area, but as the sun went down, Richie and I had a paddle in the pool all to ourselves, as London buses and life went by. It was slightly surreal having a dip and a natter in that kind of environment - but then perhaps that is exactly what Neto had intended us to feel.


Richie, soon to be donned in his swim shorts

After the paddle, we set about the rest of the exhibition, which all took on an incredibly organic form. Tunnels made from tight-like Lycra, occasionally weighed down by spices or pebbles and all the while encouraging the visitors to interact.



I found it an incredibly satisfying and some what relaxing exhibition. Walking over green Lycra in your bare feet, walking up constructed wooden towers to look over a sea of space-like material was wonderfully enjoyable.





As per previous Hayward exhibitions, Neto was challenged to produce site specific work for each of the three terraces. Alongside the pool and a tree with a walkway around it, was this Meccano-like interlocking organic structure. It is a lovely use of the space and contrast to it's immediate surroundings.



Whilst it is only a small exhibition, (because on the ground floor, a 'New Decor' show takes place), I think it is definitely worth a visit. It plays up to our senses of smell, touch and sight and if only temporarily has the power to take you to a different, calmer place - in stark contrast to the brutalist architecture of the Hayward in which it sits and the rush & push of the surrounding city.

The boys do Bistroteque....

....Courtesy of EDF and their compensation for a 36 hour power cut earlier last month, we decided to dine out on them. Liam and Doug had not been to Bistroteque yet, so it made sense as it is also just down the road.



We had a great meal, each going for the full 3 courses.



Liam chose the oysters to start, then pan fired halibut in a broad bean & parsley broth, with an espresso chocolate pot for dessert.







Doug ate mushroom soup, steak tartare & chips, with creme brulee for dessert.





I went for sardines with capers & cranberries to start, pan fried sea bream with cockles for main, then a lemon tart with creme fraiche for dessert.






We finished with an amaretto aperitif and a couple of drinks in the downstairs bar, before retiring home. A great night had.

Veronika's place, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin....

....Veronika's flat is a lovely high ceilinged, large windowed one bedroom flat on the top floor. her natural taste and style means what little there is to adorn is done so wonderfully well. Her bedroom is tucked at the bag in the open plan space, meaning the morning sun flickers in your eyes to wake you up. Lovely.

Soho House Berlin....

....The last evening on our weekend in Berlin was spent here.



We aren't members, but lucked out as a friend of Kelly's writes for the magazine and got us entry.



We went straight to the top floor rooftop and spent the whole evening exclusively there.





I can't therefore speak for the rest of the hotel and facilities, (although I have already heard good things from afar), but we thought it fantastic. Aside from the amazing view, the first thing that struck us was the relative value.



Dinner, served from the rooftop kitchen and open BBQ grill was priced between £9-£18 for a main, whilst cocktails came in at about £6.50. I'm not saying that is cheap - but in a place that is billed as exclusive and with the scene that was set before us, I think it was well worth it.



There is a very small pool up there, almost a token pool really, but in the heat of the evening, people were using it and you can see its appeal. The bar from which the drinks were served, sat in the middle of the floor, covered, as was the kitchen. We chose to sit in seats there, rather than outside in the terrace / sun lounger territory.



Between cocktails I ate tomato gazpacho, vegetable terrine and then a lemon tart. Each dish got better and better. Kelly ate......well, I can't actually remember what she ate, (how selfish!), but I know it was enjoyed. As the sun went down, the candles came out and the moon rose. We didn't move.



The rooftop is certainly a place I would come back too - relaxing, great setting, good value, lovely service.



On the way out we even stopped for a game of table tennis in the foyer. Naturally I won! If you're in Berlin and you fancy a bit of fancy, then go to Soho Haus.