Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien
Restaurants at pricey hotels like Le Parker Meridien don't often have waiters who wear their own T-shirts saying 'Brooklyn'. Nor do they have industrial-size cans of ketchup and plastic bags of supermarket hamburger buns stacked on open shelves.
But you'll find all this in the Parker Meridien's wood-paneled coffee shop, which has a few vinyl booths, a counter with an open kitchen, and sports photos tacked on the walls. Called the "burger joint,".
I'd heard of this place from friends, and finally got the chance to go on a recent foray over to NYC. IT'S SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE - If you have ever imagined, dreamed about or salivated over just how you should have a burger in the Big Apple - this is the no frills place for you that makes the Burgers the all the American Hero of the story.
written on my pavement outside my house last night. nice.
At 'i-am' we gathered nervously in the meeting room this afternoon, our nostrils filled with the smell of popcorn and hearts heavy with anticipation to see the premier of 'DES & AMY'; a short movie created by two uber creative, graphically gifted Irishmen amongst the 'i-am' midst. They are entering it into the FutureShorts and we all hope it does well...have a LOOK
This clip has rendered us speechless and smiling! What an innovative way to get a brand message across that also relates to creating changes in people's behavior by altering their experiences - I'd walk from Marble Arch to Old Street to use that tube station on a grey Monday morning! These people show that a great experience is worth investing the time in...Just take a look - piano stairs
I am LOVING these umbrellas - walking into work under a full english, stumbling home from the local boozer under large cod and chips in the daily rag or taking a lazy Sunday stroll under some Olde English plaid..Anything that makes rain fun gets my vote...Londonundercover.com
The Frieze Art Fair takes place every October in Regent's park, London. Throughout the fair, new and established artists work is showcased to an international audience. The fair also encompasses special projects, a 'prestigious' talks programme and an artist-led education schedule.
A sculpture park will also form part of the fair amongst huge numbers of paintings, sketches and other interesting and innovative pieces.
The impressive range of artist speakers also includes Roger Hiorns who is short listed for the 2009 Turner Prize, and renowned artist John Baldessari.
So for a great, probably enlightening art day out, head down to Regent's park. Booking a day in advance is recommended as ticket numbers are limited. Prices range from £ 15 per person for a single day, to £ 40 per person for four days.
The fair opened on the 15th October and finishes on the 18th. For full times and more information on the event, visit the website here.
'The Hand From Above' installation, created by artist Chris O'Shea has been unleashed on Liverpool city centre. The giant hand, which squashes or plucks away pedestrians in real time, is seen on a huge screen mounted in the city. The 'Augmented Reality' installation was commissioned by the Foundation For Art and Creative Technology and, the Liverpool City Council.
The installation has been hailed as a piece of 'Monty-Pythonesque' art. The artist, Chris O'Shea seeks to pose the question 'what would happen if humans weren't on top of the food chain?'
Its next appearance will be in Cardiff City centre, from 22nd October to the 24th October.
Watch the video here.
From the 12th October, for six weeks, a robot will sit mindlessly 'hand' writing messages directly to MP's from young members of the public. The messages are uploaded via the 'Voicebot' website here, live web cam feeds will also follow the robots progress which can be watched at the same address.
The 'Voicebot' will obviously make a large number of people curious and it is this that the Director, Adil Abrar hopes will form a stronger relationship between the Government and young voters by breaking down communication barriers like councils, counsellors and parents etc. Similarly, such an unusual spectacle in the House of Commons will intrigue MP's as their path is partially blocked by the robot as they go in for a day's session. This will hopefully raise awareness of the real issues concerning young voters and future voters.
Perhaps we are about to see the birth of a revolutionary new form of unhindered communication between young members of public and the Government that will allow political problems to be identified and solved much more rapidly?
The robot will be on display in the House of Commons for one week and will then move to transcribe messages, which will be posted on a wall as part of the overall installation.
I went to see Anish Kapoor exhibition at the Royal Academy this weekend, and it didn't disappoint the hype. It's the most fun I've had at an exhibition since Sensations. There was a genuine buzz, with people talking and laughing and getting involved every where. It's an absolute must - and the 20 minute wait to see a pellet of wax, oil and pigment shoot across the room at fifty miles an hour into a wall IS worth it.
I was lucky enough to get invited to UP, Disney/Pixars latest creations 3D premier at the BFI on Sunday. My inner child was truly entertained not only was the animation fantastic (I cried all the way through it) but they had a giant hot air balloon styled on the main character flying house and balloon bending artists who kindly obliged me by creating a small pink poodle on a lead - yes!. Jon Lasseter (creative director for both Disney and PIxar these days) is on a mission to bring 3d viewing back to the masses. Its not about things flying out of the screen at you like an i-max movie its more about creating a roundness to the animation - you feel like you are in it. I can highly recommend it - try and catch it in 3D at the BFI.
While out perusing what the London Design Festival had to offer I sought out the Xtreme Jamie Hayon chess set in Trafalgar Square. The site saw an International competition - chess grand master vs. a relative average Joe of the chess world compete on two plinths, both signature Jamie Hayon chairs. It was a great experience to not only see the masters at work but also take in the grandeur of the chess set!
The chess set has since departed London but keep your eyes peeled for the next international showing of this or another extraordinary Jamie Hayon piece - www.hayonstudio.com
Google Wave is a 'real-time communication platform' which hopes to replace e-mail as the main way people communicate on the internet. It's a web application that combines elements of e-mail, chat, wiki documents, blogs and photo-sharing sites to create a form of internet communication called a 'hosted conversation', or a 'wave'.
Here's a helpful video to explain more...
The conker fight.
I don't think there is any experience out there at this time of year that can make you feel as ludicrously stupid and childish as this...so embrace autumn and make the most of the one time of the year when you can get away with this!
And if you're really keen check this out!
As far as customer experiences go, spending two hundred pounds on a ticket allowing you to stand in a muddy field sheltering from the rain, barely sleeping in a semi-submerged tent on a half inflated lilo for four nights and listening to XFM's finest might not appeal to everyone, but to a surprisingly large number of people the Glastonbury Festival is the highlight of their summer. This weekend (if last year's figures are anything to go by) 180,000 people will begin to secure their passes for the fortieth anniversary event and cross their fingers for sunshine.
Dating back to 1970, Glastonbury is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. It combines two of us Brits favourite obsessions - the weather and queuing. The lines both into and from the festival are legendary with stories of eight-hour waits in the car park fairly common, whilst the climatic conditions over a 900 acre square in Somerset becomes a national story in the media for the last weekend in June each year.
Yet despite the expense, the regular downpours, the mud, sleep deprivation and some of the worst examples of terrible novelty headgear you will see anywhere, there is something magical about Glastonbury which takes these ingredients and somehow fuses them into a weekend unlike any other. I should admit to being something of a Glasto addict having attended the last eight and love the diversity, atmosphere and friendliness on site as well as the genuine enthusiasm and determination of the crowd to enjoy themselves no matter what is thrown at them. It is impossible not to be dragged along with it. The good nature of it's attendees, the worthy causes it promotes and donates to, the alternative cultures it celebrates are all inspiring and enlightening.
... and I haven't even mentioned the music yet.
So if you're looking for an experience to challenge and reward in equal measure as well as the chance to witness some weird and wonderful acts and the guarantee of some fantastic performances by brilliant bands then register here, buy your ticket here, pack your wellies and introduce yourself to me by the Pyramid stage, I'll be the one in the novelty hat.
He gave away works to friends, but built up an excess and left them wrapped in bin liners outside charity shops as a donation. When he discovered that they were not being sold, but thrown out with the rubbish, he started to leave them in the streets instead, with works leaning on lampposts, doors and wheelie bins, as an open exhibition. He could produce around 20 paintings a night, and around 1,000 a year. Over a five year period, he left thousands of his works in London streets.
Check out Adam Neate or see at Elms Lesters.
52 artists and designers have got together to support the Shelter House of Cards Campaign. Big names include Damien Hirst, Vivienne Westwood and Neville Brody amongst others.
The site for the full pack of designs is also very nice with a variation of designs and inspiration, take a look here.
It started in 2008 with some cool posters and a lovely 60 second TV ad which you can see here.
New York's most famous coffee shop, Central Perk, is coming to London in the form of a pop-up shop to mark the 15th anniversary of the Friends sitcom.
Central Perk will open in Soho for two weeks from 24 September to 7 October, and will feature props from the series, including Rachel's wedding dress from the very first episode, Phoebe's paintings and the Brown Bird cookies.
Central Perk in London, 24 September-7 October, 67 Broadwick Street, W1F 9QX.
Our good buddies and favourite young hot (in more than one sense) architects, Julia Feix and Tarek Merlin have just heard they've been shortlisted on what must be one of the more exciting projects of the next few years in London, Gasometer 8 at Kings X. Their characteristically inspiring proposal for a place of fun inside this splendid old structure includes enormous slides and what will surely be the world's biggest trampoline. Fun is highly underrated these jaded & cynical days, so this assuredly gets our vote. Check out more on this at their site. Good luck with the next phase, guys x
"Innovative director Spike Jonze collaborates with celebrated author Maurice Sendak to bring one of the most beloved books of all time to the big screen in 'Where the Wild Things Are', a classic story about childhood and the places we go to figure out the world we live in."
Can't wait to see this! Comes out on October 16th. You can get the original book here.
Indulge your inner geek with a full set of photoshop magnets!
If you want to buy them - and I know you do - check 'em out here.
Check out the new Coldplay video for Strawberry Swing - maybe I shouldn't be admitting to listening (and liking) it, but the video is another beautiful creation from Shynola visual artists - the guys behind works for Beck, Queens of the Stone Age and Blur (with David Shrigley, very funny...)
Their stuff is well worth a look
The September Issue is a documentary film about the behind the scenes drama that follows editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and Vogue Magazine. Directed by R.J. Cutler, The film follows the making of the 2007 September issue. The issue ended up weighing nearly five pounds, was 840 pages, and was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published.
As the film progresses, you see into the lives of the Vogue Elite, and the making of one of the greatest fashion magazines.
