Mind the Map

The Tube map is iconic; designed in 1931 by Harry Beck, it is recognizable to tourists the world over.

It's also incredibly misleading.

The map, while beautiful in its symmetry, doesn't accurately portray distances or account for kinks in the subway lines.

According to Professor Zhan Guo of NYU, around 30% of travelers on the Underground do not take the most efficient route due to the design of the current Tube map.

However, Mark Noad has created a new map that aims to increase accuracy by including geographic truths.  It's quite a project, and will hopefully help those new to the system to navigate it most competently.

It'll be strange to get used to, but - while I respect Beck's original design - I think it's a huge improvement over the 1931 map!  What do you think?  Revelation or heresy?

Summer Holidays

You know, when London's summer still felt like DC's spring, I didn't think about going away on vacation. I was perfectly happy to plug away at work five days a week, eating lunch on the plaza and/or grabbing a happy hour drink in a beer garden if the rain stayed away.

But now that the appropriate season has really and truly arrived - yesterday the mercury hit 33* - I've gone into summer holiday mode and I can't wait for my long-planned vacation in September.  I'm yearning for...

hammocks in the shade...

Eastern Shore, June 2010

pebbled beaches...

Aldeburgh, summer 2010

sunsets over the water...

Eastern Shore, June 2010

and bonfires at night with friends...

Suffolk, summer 2010

Sigh.  I'll have to wait another two months for all of this - but it will be so worth it!  How about you?  Have you got any good holidays planned?

Monday Laugh

Verano En La Ciudad

London enjoyed a glorious 28* today with hardly a cloud in the sky.  It's a sign that I'm acclimatizing, I think, that I can't imagine being happy with higher temperatures than this - even though 28*c is only 86*f, far lower than I've experienced in either DC or New York - but regardless the summer gods seem to be smiling on us, for this is what the next few days look like:

London isn't going to know what to do with itself.  Thank God there's a day of light rain factored into the schedule or the natives might spontaneously combust!

We took advantage of today's gorgeousness by checking out the Rioja Tapas Fantasticas festival on Potters Fields Park, just at the south end of Tower Bridge.  Entry was free (bonus!) though £3 bought you a glass and tokens for four samples of wine.  You could, of course, buy more wine on your own either by the glass or by the bottle; my friend Patrick and I got tired of waiting in line for tastes and ended up grabbing a bottle of white (Evo, it was from this vineyard and we found it light and refreshing; Christian, I hope this tactic sounds familiar to you because you taught it to me) and finding two chairs in the shade.  Alongside the wine stalls - representing 28 different vineyards - were food stalls from Spanish restaurants all over London.  I snagged a delish paella and also made off with a plate of Manchego and jambon - perfect pairings for the wine.  Of course, a DJ was in residence as well.  Can't have an outdoor summer festival without some jams, you know.

See?  Heaven...

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend and that it has been filled with sunshine, friends, romance, and - claro - some rioja.

Frock Fridays - Theatre Edition

(Editor's note: this was written on Friday night when I came home, but I fell asleep before I could post it. I have changed tenses/times to reflect the fact that it is now Saturday, but it is otherwise the same post.   Apologies for being tardy!)

As you longtime readers of this blog know, going to the theatre as often as possible is a condition of my job; because I was new to the theatre world when I accepted my position I was made to understand that I had to familiarize myself quickly with the scene in London.  I was so good about bopping around shows for my first six months - I practically sat through a performance a week, which is a lot for me - but have, alas, let my theatre attendance slide since Christmas.

Not last week or the next, though!  I am a whirling dervish of theatre these days.  Oh man am I ever.

On Thursday night I saw Shakespeare's Richard III at the Old Vic with Kevin Spacey.  I loved the design - the set and the lighting and everything - though I thought that the production could have been a bit more nuanced.  The text isn't subtle at all, but even so I don't want to be hit over the head with the message, you know?  However, the acting, of course, was phenomenal; I hadn't realized that the show featured Hayden Gwynne, one of my favorite stage actresses, which was a real treat.

Last night was Nico Muhly's new opera Two Boys at ENO.  It was really pretty incredible; I can't comprehend how someone can create that kind of music from nothing.  I was in absolute awe all evening.  The plot is griping - it's based on the true story of one teenage boy murdering another, and has as its axis a web of lies and deceit spun on the internet - and was perfect material for a modern opera.  Following the performance, as I vaguely know the composer through friends, I was invited to a smashing afterparty at St. John Hotel.

Oh, hey, an afterparty!  I smell a Frock Fridays approaching...

A summer night at the opera is the perfect time to channel Taylor Swift and her high-octane affection for sequins - a murderous love triangle set to music practically demands a celebration of sparkles, glitz, and glam!

Good Books, Good Food

If I hadn't just spent all of my money on making myself look/smell heavenly - not that I need too much help in those departments, you know, but every little counts - I'd definitely invest in these lovely new editions of books on food by Penguin.

"In the Great Food Series, Penguin brings you the finest food writing from the last 400 years, and opens the door to the wonders of every kitchen."

How pretty would these be on the shelf in your kitchen?  And what inspiration you'd glean from them!  Hm, now I'm getting a bit hungry...

Get Thee To...

... the Space NK sample sale!  Today through Saturday, amazing beauty products, candles, and bath accessories will be up to 50% off at the Music Room on South Molton Street at the Bond St tube.

Obviously I'm not being sponsored to endorse this event - but it's such a rare opportunity that I have to share.  When was the last time you saw makeup on sale?  Never, methinks.  And I have a very expensive beauty habit (hello, Laura Mercier, Nars, and Bobbi Brown - wait, Mabelline, how did you get in there?) so I will definitely be taking advantage of this treat.

See you there!

Midsummer's Birthday

Midsummer Eve, Edward Robert Hughes (c. 1908)

Midsummer conjures up all sorts of romantic dreams, doesn't it?  It inspires tales of magic and fairies, strange rites and rituals around henges, and the desire for a deeper connection with nature.

(I totally blew the solstice by falling asleep just after 10pm, but the internet tells me that there were 16:38 hours of daylight yesterday in London.  How incredible is that?  There are perks to living this far north - in the summer, at least.)

But do you know what else is special about 21 June?  It's Prince William's birthday!  Yesterday the newly minted Duke of Cambridge turned 29, and I would like you to join me in wishing him all the best.

via

Monday Laugh

Happy Father's Day!

Happiest of days to all fathers, and especially to mine.

Dad, we've been through a lot over the past twenty-five years and our relationship has evolved considerably, but through everything I've never questioned your love for me or your commitment to making me into the best person I can be.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have given and taught me.

In honor of Father's Day, let's enjoy a little Gilbert and Sullivan, shall we?  I know that this is one of our shared favorites:

I love you, Dad.

Expat List - Forewarning

This blog hasn't been very expat-y recently, so I'm going to copy the lovely Michelloui over at The American Resident and give you a list of Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Moved To The UK.  (Thanks, lady - I know you know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.)

1. It will get easier and then it will get harder and then it will get easier again.  The graphic below is nowhere near scientific - after all, I made it myself - but it is indicative of what I've found from my own experiences and those of my friends:

2. The change in routine will wreak havoc on your body.  It's difficult to maintain a decent diet, let alone a decent exercise routine, in a new country.  For example, food groups seems to have shifted slightly here - chips, or fries, seem to be a vegetable in the UK, for one - and the UK certainly differs on the importance of purchasing a gym membership, which costs much more here than it would in the States.

3. There's nothing wrong with relying on the internet to keep in touch with family.  Do rely on Skype, gchat, whatever - there's no shame in calling your mother every day from your laptop just to check in.  (At least, I hope there isn't, as that's exactly what I do!)

4. Don't let all your vacation time be used on trips back home.  I'm struggling with this at the moment, actually - I have a finite amount of vacation that I can take, and I want to use it all to see my family and friends.  At the same time, though, I don't want to spend all of my days off back in DC.  I have managed to arrange the best of all possible situations this summer: one of my BFFs (she's going to hate being labeled that!) is coming to London in August and we're arranging our own Eurotrip.  I think that's ideal, to be honest!

5. Research every change in immigration law every time policy shifts.  Just because it doesn't apply to you at that very moment doesn't mean that it won't affect you down the line, and it's worth keeping in touch with the changes in law so that you're as aware as possible when you need to change your status.

Last but not least: have fun!  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you should absolutely take advantage of it.  Best of luck to all expats out there!

Frock Fridays

I don't know what you'd wear this to - a fancy beach party, maybe?  Do those exist? - but I know that if I owned it I'd want to wear it every day.  The coral is so luscious and the skirt so simple but the bodice so elegant.  And pockets!  Drool.


Pair with a tan, serious earrings, and an updo.  Definitely.

Monique Lhuillier resort collection 2012 via

(Apologies for yesterday's technical difficulties.)

Fabulous Food for Spring

Due in part to a tighter financial situation (of course; I moved from sharing a three-bed flat with three others to a studio and my rent has risen accordingly) and less space (again, of course; see the aforementioned studio flat) I haven't thrown a proper dinner party since April - that is, until this past weekend.  I got a yen to cook a really extravagant meal for friends a few days before and decided that, money and space notwithstanding, I was going to have a dinner party.

via

Late spring is, I think, one of the best times to show off culinarily; the ingredients available are so fresh and vibrant that they make even the simplest recipes shine.  You don't need any serious skill in the kitchen to make these recipes as the food does all the work for you, but your guests will be truly impressed with the feast!

We started with easy nibbles: olive tapenade that I bought at Borough Market, grissini wrapped with prosciutto, and boursin on melba toast.  The starter was Ina Garten's zucchini pancakes which are beyond simple to make and are essentially latkahs but with courgettes instead of potatoes - many thanks to Aunt Louise for bringing this recipe to my attention.

The main meal featured lamb (I essentially used this BBC recipe but omitted the vegetable bit) with a side of conchigliette (I wanted to make orzo but couldn't find any) and the most amazing salad I have ever invented:

Super Spring Salad

(amounts should depend on how many you're feeding and on how much you like the ingredients - I sort of just threw things in the bowl and mixed them up without paying attention to measurements, oops - and there are no real cooking instructions other than agitating the peas and beans in boiling water for a few minutes and then smooshing everything together in a very nommy way)

baby spinach leaves, washed

garden peas

broad/fava beans

pesto

pine nuts

I got lazy regarding dessert and just served a cheese board that featured my new finds of Cashel Blue and Sleighlett as well as Brie de Meaux and a cheddar.

It was delicious and the company was vivacious and, really, I oughtn't wait so long between dinner parties, I've decided, because they're entirely too much fun.

What are you cooking these days?  Any good entertaining on your horizon?

Monday Laugh Bonus

Oh my God - just saw this on Facebook and HAD to share just in case you hadn't seen it yet.  It's from last night's Tony Awards and it's [expletive] amazing.  Love it.  Funniest thing for yonks.

Monday Laugh

Okay, this is less of a funny thing and more of a sweet thing - but hopefully it'll make your Monday more cheerful!

Jon's Third Guest Post

(Editor's note: I asked Jon to write a response to either David Brooks' New York Times piece "It's Not About You" or to the controversy about the recently announced New College of the Humanities.  [See the Guardian for a leftist slant on the latter and the Telegraph for a right-leaning opinion.]  Please do feel free to comment on this post with your views; I might even write my own take on the situation!)

Every now and again, Betsy sees something she finds interesting and asks me to write a commentary on it; today, though, I have a choice. I can voice an opinion about how well students are prepared for university in reaction to David Brooks’ rather nihilistic article in the New York Times basically telling graduating students that they’re screwed because they’ve been taught to ‘follow their dreams’ rather than just knuckle down and fit in like a good unquestioning citizen, which is why they’re going to struggle in today’s hideous jobs market. (Funnily enough, there little mention of the disastrous fiscal policies that have left west’s economy in tatters as a contributing factor to youth unemployment, but I guess that didn’t fit in with the journalist’s particular political point of view- nope, it’s all because those pampered students have the wrong attitude, apparently. Ho hum.)

The other thing I could talk about is the new totally private university, the ‘New College for the Humanities,’ being set up by philosopher A.C Grayling and other illustrious bigwigs such as Richard Dawkins. It offers intensive one-to-one tuition, and dubiously claims to offer ‘the finest minds available’ as teachers. And so it should, given that they’re going to charge £18k per year to give the offspring of the rich and the powerful the privilege of hearing an egotistical collection of pseudo-academics explain why they’re better than the students. As you can see here and here, it’s already created a bit of a shitstorm - Oxford is dead against it, and someone actually let off a flare in a meeting on the topic yesterday. Yikes.

There was quite a lot of anger in my somewhat left-leaning office about this today, but luckily the only thing that did flare was people’s tempers (geddit?). If you’re an American reading this you might be thinking, "What’s the big deal?  It’s only one private college," but the idea taking root right now is that the UK is on a slippery slope to a system that charges students a similar amount to what they pay in the US as more private institutions end up choking the state ones and deprive lower income families a shot at a decent education. Now that is serious, and for many the idea that money should be an impediment to education is abhorrent. I, and most of my office I guess, happen to be among them.

However, I’m actually not particularly worried about it, because if it does scare some of our established institutions into becoming more competitive then so much the better. This new university has a right to exist, and people should be able to choose attandance as an option if they really want intensive teaching (even if it is from people I can’t stand). Education does cost money and it has to come from somewhere. That’s a fact, and I am unfashionable in believing that it is unfair to demand the public to subside students to a greater extent than they already do. People hark back to the days of extensive grants with rose-tinted nostalgia, when most people went through university for free, but what they’re really remembering is a time when working class people, who were not encouraged to attend university in those dark ages, were paying taxes that went towards giving the middle classes a free run. Those graduates then went on to make much more in earnings because of their complimentary degree, leading to a systematic cycle of exclusion - not exactly the level playing field some politicians have made that time out to be. 

Those days are long gone and I am up to my eyeballs in student debt, but I don’t resent that. Like most, I did my degree (in Engligh literature) not because of its benefit to society but because it was what I wanted to do; I would feel deeply selfish about asking others to cough up more than they already do to get me through it. Eventually, I’ll pay it off, and that will be because my degree has helped me get a job that enables me to achieve a decent income. The rich kids going to this new place will never need to worry about any of that, but if they had gone to a state institution they would end up being subsidised by a country that can’t really afford to foot the bill any longer.

As far as the risk of having the best lecturers lured away - again, I’m not worried. The ‘New College’ has secured its teachers because it’s offering more money, yet in my experience the best academics are never the ones who follow the money (in the UK, at least) - they’re not the ones on  TV chasing ratings, they’re the dedicated individuals interested in teaching the best minds in the country. Evidence of this was shown when the academics of Oxford overwhelmingly passed a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the government’s plan to increase tuition fees to £9,000 in state universities. That plan would have netted them higher salaries and more money for Oxford, but yet they still opposed it. Why? Because they don’t want the private system and the wealth-based exclusivity it brings. And that’s why the New College, in my opinion, will remain an isolated anomaly, drawing in the rich so that we don’t have to pay for them, whilst those with merit rather than wealth can receive the better degree.

Frock Fridays - Work Events

Evening work events and big meetings have been coming out of my ears recently and more are on the horizon, and so although my office is relatively causal - we are a theatre, after all, and vaguely artsy though not crazily hip - I am having to make a bit more of an effort than usual in the mornings.  (No, this does not mean I wake up earlier and/or plan my outfit the night before.  It means I hop around my flat five minutes after I was supposed to leave with one heel on while wolfing down an English muffin and rummaging for a cardigan and zipping up the third dress of the process.  Don't lie, this happens to you, too.)

In that vein, I'm loving these three jewel-toned dresses from one of my favorite oh-my-God-I'm-grown-up-and-need-appropriate-clothes stores: Hobbs.  At £150 each (ish) they're a bit out of my price range, but aren't they perfect for day-to-night dressing?  Great colors, great shapes, great detailing.  I'm smitten.  Hey, you know, my birthday's coming up in August...

Get Thee To - The Cult of Beauty

Because I'm supercool, I was invited to a private early morning viewing of the V&A's special exhibition "The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900."  (Okay, no, I'm not supercool - well, I am, but not because of this - I just know a guy.  It helps to work in the arts, you know.)

I wasn't allowed to take photos in the exhibit and so I can't show you any images of the stunning works, but I absolutely recommend you check out the website with information and images about/from the show and also the exhibition itself, which is open until 17 July.  Every piece featured was gorgeous - the movement was all about rejecting the industrial revolution and embracing beauty for art's sake.  I have to admit that I am easily bored by shows that only incorporate one medium, but as this included furniture, paintings, books, spoken poetry, architecture, and drawings, I was mesmerized.

If you need a cultural outing in London in the next month, put this on the top of your list!

Country Dreaming

As much as I love London - and consider myself essentially a city girl - there's something uniquely refreshing about fleeing the metropolis on a train, watching the housing developments shrink fewer and farther between and counting the increasing number of livestock in the multiplying fields on either side of the track.

There's always a funny struggle when Jon and I land at his parents' house in Suffolk: do we just hang out doing nothing but enjoying the fresh air and the cats and the Skybox, grazing from the fridge and meandering between the garden and the sitting room as the breeze wafts us; or do we tramp through the countryside, indulging in pub lunches and exploring large villages and small castles, exerting ourselves healthily?  This weekend, happily, was a bit of both.

I'm not a cat person but I'll make an exception for Topsy

We greeted Saturday with an early train out of London and, upon arrival in Suffolk, made an executive decision to vegetate all day.  It was heaven.  A barbeque was had in the evening - more family came around - as is usual on balmy summer nights here; Jon's father's birthday is coming up and so the whole thing was a bit of a celebration.

Sunday morning was coffee and the paper in the garden (and checking up on the weekend's blog activity, natch) and in the afternoon we headed to Dunwich Heath for lunch in the tearoom and a long wander along the sea.  (After a day of pure laziness, we welcomed the chance to stretch our legs!)  By the way, did you know that bird watchers are called "twitchers" here?  Must be a British thing.

We'll probably come back for a weekend in July and then another in August - Jon's parents are keen to get us out on their boat for a day or two - but, in the meantime, I'll be drinking up the memories of the tranquility of this weekend.  Aren't I lucky to have somewhere like this to escape?

Monday Laugh

I was going to pick something from Stuff White People Like to use as today's Monday Laugh, but when I went down the full list I discovered that I am most of the things that they mention.  In fact - though this is probably deeply uncool to admit - I don't really find the website funny; it's just true.  Studying abroad?  Been there.  Graduate school?  Done that.  Unpaid internships?  I've got the t-shirt.  (I have happily never been to an Ugly Sweater Party, but let me introduce you to my sister, who has got some crazy stories from similar shindigs.)

So I challenge you: what's the funniest thing you've seen on the internet recently?  Comment on this post with a link to something you have found online that made you double over with laughter.  We can all give each other some humor today!  Sharing is caring.  (But keep it clean, please, kids.)  I'll start you off with a little Monty Python for inspiration...

Busy (Opera and Zoo) Bee

Ah, London in the summer.  Is there anything better?  Well, when the weather cooperates, at least!

And boy, has it been cooperating.  Back when we had that heat wave in April (how is it June already, by the way?  I'm not ready!) everyone - and by everyone I mean every native Brit - told me to take advantage of the sun because it wasn't going to last.  Fie, I said!  (I'm not actually sure what "fie" means, but it seems appropriate here.)  I have faith in the weather gods.  Spring will become summer, and it will be glorious.  (To everything - turn turn turn - there is a season - turn turn turn; as they say.)

Lo and behold, it is summer, and it is indeed glorious.  The past few weeks have been gorgeously sunny and warm (with the exception of last Thursday, when it poured biblically) and we've all been frolicking outside as much as possible: Monday was the trip to Kew Gardens, Tuesday saw a Glyndebourne outing, and on Friday night Jon and I went to the London Zoo.

Trix aren't just for kids - and the zoo isn't either, it turns out.  In fact, on Friday nights during June and July, the London Zoo in Regent's Park is open only to adults. Entry is £18/ticket (Jon and I got ours for £9 each from LivingSocial, natch) and from 6-10pm you can check out the animals and party; we saw lions, tigers, monkeys, and exotic birds before I decided it was time to investigate the bar and food situation.  They also have a silent disco, an amphitheater show that featured a standup comic and a burlesque dancer dressed as an elephant and a fire-eater, a live band, and lots of adult-friendly zoo-related activities.  We had a great time, and I'd definitely recommend that you put this on your to-do list if you find yourself in London on a Friday night!

Glyndebourne, obviously, was a blast as well.  We saw Mozart's Don Giovanni, which was amazing - the title character was a perfect snake-oil salesman, Zerlina was sassy and sexy, and the consciences (Don Ottavio, Donna Anna, and Donna Elvira) weren't nearly as annoying as they unfortunately can be.

But - you devoted readers will remember this from last summer - Glyndebourne isn't just about the opera.   It's about the whole experience: dressing up in black-tie, making an extravagant picnic, enjoying the sound of popping champagne corks, and having your car break down in the parking lot during your attempted departure.  (Wait, what?  Yes.  Oops.)  Lovely...

posh much?

ah, pop!

don't mind if I do...

duck breast salad with peaches and a raspberry vinaigrette (nom)

What adventures!  I fear this coming week will be a bit more tame, alas, though two evening work events in three days will be good for my wallet.  How about you, dear readers - do you have any good plans ahead?  I hope you're having beautiful weather wherever you are and that you're taking advantage of it!

Frock Fridays (Late Again)

Hello, darling fashion fiends.  I know you've been anxious for your weekly dose of Frock Fridays - sorry to have made you wait!  As an apology I'm going to give you not one or two or three dresses but five pretty summer frocks in this post.  Five!  Cinq.  Cinco.  Cinque.  Goodness, you are lucky.

These are all high-street finds; I'm thrilled that financially accessible stores are getting into to vintage styles as prom dresses (as the Brits call almost any frock with a '50s shape) suit my figure very well.  Plus, they all check a trend box - ditzy florals, bright colors, nautical, tribal, and big prints.  Which is your favorite?

Oasis

Dorothy Perkins

Topshop

Miss Selfridge

River Island

Twickenham - Rugby and Donuts

For the last two weekends, I've taken part in a time-honored Twickenham rugby tradition: donuts.

See, Jon's aunt and uncle live on the road between the Twickenham train station and the Twickenham rugby stadium, and, when on major match days the road is pedestrianized, they make and sell donuts from their front garden.  If the match is at capacity attendance, they can make and sell over five thousand donuts in just one afternoon.

I could tell you about the donut process - they're six for £3 or twelve for a fiver, you know - but, luckily, some hungry aficionado made a video about "The Life and Death of a Donut" back in 2007 and put it on YouTube.  (We don't know who this guy is, but we like him.)  Look:

Anyway, making and selling donuts to (sometimes very drunk) rugby fans is how I have spent the past two Saturdays.  Happily, my old flatmates had an extra ticket to the festival (or whatever it was called) on the 21st, and so during a lull in the afternoon I went to the stadium to check out the Sevens matches, where I saw the USA beat Argentina 22-21 in the final seconds of the game.  Obviously I took some photos...

Yay for the USA!  Yay for rugby!  And yay for Jon's family, and yay for donuts, and yay for productive Saturdays.  (This is not a productive Saturday as we're in the country with Jon's parents, but yay for that, too.)