London vs Tokyo - Landmarks (March)

Each month Hannah and I set a theme and we have to take an analogue photo that meets the theme (from our respective city) - although this month Hannah cheated a little and while it says Tokyo I'm not convinced this is really in Tokyo.

Note: we do have promise of a New York joining this challenge for next month.

Last month's theme was Landmarks and here are the results:

LONDON

London Eye splitzered with Big Ben

Over Exposed St Pauls

TOKYO

Things to do at home this week

Okay this may be a little bit of a cop out for this week since I am doing very little due to insufficient funds. I will come back with a full list next week but for now here's the things I will be watching/listening/reading this week. Warning not all of these will be current, I will try to shield you from my nostalgia trip of emo music from when I was 15 though!

Reading

Hannah and I are trying to read the same books while she's away, we just finished The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga - which despite not holding much hope for it, I really enjoyed and it kind of reminded me of Crime and Punishment which I also love.

Next book on our list is A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood.

Oh and Hannah's blog of course - http://365daysoftokyo.posterous.com/

Listening

Joanna Newsom - She's getting more popular attention with this latest album. It's quite different to the previous two, which in my opinion isn't a great thing I loved them and I loved her voice. With this latest one I get the feeling some people think she has now 'learned to sing'. This album sounds a little like Joanna has been taking singing lessons from Kate Bush and Frida Hyvonen... again great things but I guess I miss Joanna's unique voice. Further listening needed I guess.

Watching

TV:

- Lost - Still loving it, we're now on episode 7 of the final series and it is better than ever!

- On recommendation from Slice Magazine I am just starting 30 Rock too. I'll let you know how it goes.

Film:

There's a few films that I shamefully haven't seen yet that are just coming out on DVD

- Fantastic Mr Fox

- A Serious Man

- An Education

When I have nothing else to do there is nothing better than just going through video after video from TED. The one below is from James Cameron.

Things to do in London this week 8.03.10 - 14.03.10

Due to a sudden drop in my bank balance I personally will be keeping it simple this week - I am saving up for my Tokyo trip in June after all - with just drinks and a comedy show this week... but I thought I'd give you some listings of what I may be doing if I did have more money.

Wednesday 10th March 2010 - Josie Long 100 Days to Make Me a Better Person

So the London Word Festival started this weekend I believe, of course you should check out everything going on at the London Word Festival http://www.londonwordfestival.com/

However, the best of the events looks to be (in my humble opinion) One Hundred Days to Make Me a Better Person. Wednesday marks the 100th day in this project. The project has been led by the wonderful Josie Long and the premise is that from December 1st everyone pledged to do something positive once a day.

http://www.hundreddays.net/

http://www.londonwordfestival.com/?p=1253

-------------

Birds Eye View Film Festival 2010 - ICA - Until Friday

http://www.birds-eye-view.co.uk/

I have made a resolution that I will go to more events at the ICA, it really is the best place to see art house cinema and each week they always have amazing events. I could have picked any one of a number of events but with the potential for us to have the first female Oscar winner for Best Direction, it seems appropriate.

I don't know that much any of the films but the one I think sounds the most interesting is Map of The Sounds of Tokyo - http://www.birds-eye-view.co.uk/2037/features/map-of-the-sounds-of-tokyo.html - and not just because I long to be in Tokyo sat the moment.

Also showing on the last night is Whip It! Drew Barrymore's debut as director.

The Comedy Store

As I mentioned at the beginning I will be heading to a comedy show this week. Check out the listings for the night you plan to go on there's always something interesting going on. The one I will be attending is a regular night called The Cutting Edge.

This is what the Comedy Store site has to say about this night:

"A sharp, topical show from a team of six highly skilled stand ups. Suggestions from the weeks' news are part and parcel of the fun, making this show a mixed bag of gags, songs and joke Competitions"

The comedians are picked from a regular selection, I'm hoping for Rich Hall though.

Things to do in London this week 1.03.10 - 7.03.10

Okay I am now hoping these are going to be a regular occurence on Driscola, I will try to put these out each Sunday with 3 or 4 things to do in a week some will be specific to that week or permanent fixtures (like cafes etc)

Gig: The Antlers at Union Chapel - Wednesday 3rd March

I have declared my love for Union Chapel as a gig venue many times on this blog and if I haven't declared my love for the Antlers on here then it's the only place I haven't.

Check out their beautiful song and video below

t>

Museum/Gallery Event: Late at Tate - Friday 5th March

Like many museums and galleries at the moment, Tate has it's series of themed late nights. This months is gaming and I am finally going to get a chance to participate in one of Blast Theory's pieces... one of my friends wrote about blast theory briefly in their dissertation (she studied theatre design) and I've been obsessed with trying to get to do one of their peices.

They explain the piece they're doing at the Tate on Friday a lot better than I can... http://www.canyouseemenow.co.uk/tate/en/intro.php

The night will also have talks and parlour games... with my all time favourite - Werewolf game.

Check out the programme here http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/eventseducation/lateattatebritain/lateattatebritainmarch2010gameplay.htm

Breakfast: The Breakfast Club

This is my favourite place to eat breakfast in London, you will probably have to queue for 30minutes unless you get there super early but it's worth the wait to have an All American (Pancakes, maple syrup, bacon, sausage, egg, hash browns mmmmmmmmm)