Button Paradise

You can see there is a Christmas theme to this window, and you would be excused for thinking that this is a very ordinary scene. Having said that I'd wager that there are some of you reading this who will instantly and correctly think "Ah-ha! The Button Queen!"

This shop in Marylebone High Street has the most incredible selection of buttons, apparently it is "London's only shop exclusively for antique and modern buttons". I wonder how many other button shops exist. It's one of those places, once seen never forgotten. I didn't know there WERE that many different buttons....

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Consume, consume, consume

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a window display. Like this one of Selfridges that says "The More The Merrier"

Why?

Or is that just humbug on my part?

Christmas is coming!

Don't know about you, but for me there is normally some moment when I realise that Christmas is on its way. Sometimes it is the smell of Christmas spices in baking, maybe just a frosty morning, or a candle in a window. This Sunday, I was in Oxford Street crisp and early on a Sunday morning and the Salvation Army were playing carols. That did it for me; I walked away with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

Scary Santa

Following on from yesterday's intentionally scary snowman,today I bring you another. Only this time, it wasn't meant to be scary, but I think it is. It's Carnaby Street's Christmas decorations. Bit of a laugh, but still a bit scary none the less. How would you like one of these jumping on top of you?

The Snowman Cometh

When I saw this seasonal sign outside the London Dungeon, I realised that I hadn't noticed that anagram before. Am I alone?

Tea, anyone?

If you are at a loose end this weekend, or in the area, the Bankside Southbank area (by the Tate Modern) is putting on a Frost Fair. I saw this teapot on Thursday, it probably takes a couple of days to brew up. If I get down there today, I'll get you some pictures.

Knit for Peace

There's a great thing going on at the Oxo Gallery at the moment - Knit for Peace. Just drop in and knit something for the children in Afghanistan. I know it sounds political but as a bloke who knits, it did get me thinking.

And what I thought was more men - especially politicians - should knit, because is seems to me:

• If you are doing something useful you don't need to worry about looking silly, the last laugh is with you
• Making real things by knitting makes it hard to destroy real things whatever they are
• You learn to appreciate all sorts of people who can knit
• It's very easy to talk to anyone when you are knitting
• Knitting is stress relieving in a way little else is
• If all else fails, you can poke 'em in the bum with a knitting needle instead of dropping a bomb

And I'm less than half joking.

Underneath the Arches

This is the light at the end of the tunnel. No, really, it is. This is just south of Blackfriars Bridge and part of Southwark Council's program for regeneration of Bankside, they call it "The light at the end of the tunnel". The purpose is to make the passages under the railway line more inviting. I'm not about to criticise anything that brightens the place up, but I can't help wondering if they are somewhat overestimating the amount that the general public think about these things.

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El Vino

El Vino is part of the fabric of London: wine merchants since 1879. It's hard to believe that until quite recently they didn't allow women at the bar and men had to wear jacket and tie. The most famous of their branches is in Fleet Street, I'll go there one day, this is in New Bridge Street. It always feels like stepping back in time as you walk through their doors.

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It's a Dark Night These Days

Holy photographers, Robin!! Kerpow!! Wham!! I was somewhat surprised to come across the Batmobile on my way into work this morning. It was all to do with GMTV's featuring the Batman movie on this morning's show. I couldn't find the footage of the car online, but here is the interview with Aaron Eckhart, following release of Dark Knight on DVD.

See more photos here.

A Window on the World of Booze

It seems like Gerry's has been in Soho forever, so redolent is it of old time London - a shop that you are unlikely to find anywhere else. In Gerry's case, booze is their raison d'etre and it would be a strange person who didn't stare at their window in wonder at the sheer variety on display.

Maybe it is my imagination, but I seem to remember them arriving in the early eighties, settling into what was then a fascinating hodge podge of different stores, next door to an amazing coffee house that roasted their own coffee. All the rest are gone, Gerry's is still there. Turns out they are online now, too.

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A London Pub Crawl

I was passing through town when I cam across this rather good natured bunch of friends out on a pub crawl. They'd obviously gone to a lot a trouble, and Santa(s), Rudolph, Elves, Fairies, Christmas Tree, Snowman and more were all in evidence. I suspect they went on to have a good night out, but I'm pleased I met them at 7pm, and not later in the evening.

Wonky Clock

Today's reminder of a bygone age (a perruquier is a wig maker) is just opposite yesterday's Amusement Arcade in Whitcomb Street. As ever, looking up in London's streets is always worthwhile. Except perhaps when you are crossing in front of traffic, maybe.

What do you mean, the photo is wonky? Ah, this will be why.

Amusements

I can never pass this Amusement Arcade without remembering a particular story.

It must have been about 1989, around the time the Berlin Wall came down. A friend of mine with east European connections had a Russian friend staying. This girl had worked in a mine and taught herself English: this was her first trip out of Russia, courtesy of a small legacy from her Father.

I was playing London host, walking around, showing the sights when we came across this place. "Ah-muuse-mentz" she read out loud. "Vot iz zis?" I explained it was a place you went into, put money into machines and then walked out. She thought for a second: "Zat must be very amusing for ze owner".

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A Taste of Spain?

 

After yesterday's taste of Spain, here is some wall art just off Hanover Square. I think it ought to at least advertise Spanish oranges, but all it is is an office block.

Fernandez & Wells

Don't know about you but I've got quite picky about where I eat these days. Maybe it is because London has such a wide choice of high quality places that you don't have to worry - if you don't like one place, another is around the corner.

So I was very happy to find Fernandez & Wells, who serve authentic Spanish style food. My Chorizo sandwich (pile on the right) was nothing short of excellent.

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Take eine letter, Miss Jones

Throughout East London, you may have noticed these letters, and thought there was rather a lot of them. The reason is that they are part of an entire alphabet created by Eine, a local artist.

You can read an interview here and see a google map of them all here.

December Theme Day - Circles and Spheres

December's theme day is Circles or Spheres, and I was pleased when I thought of the round bowler hat, which has become a true London icon (even though you will see extremely few around these days).

It has a fascinating history - it was originally designed in the mid 19th century (by a firm called Bowler) to protect a gamekeeper's head from branches while riding on horseback. Outside of London, it was something that servants like butlers would wear. Yet somehow in London it became associated with professionals and City gents - bankers, stockbrokers, civil service. It remained so through to the 60s (I remember my dad wearing one) but then fell into disuse. This guy is a doorman, so it is an appropriate use.

Up to 187 other City Daily Photoblogs have joined in the theme day. To see how they interpreted it click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Footsbarn!

When I saw this in Victoria Park today, (from the outside) I had to investigate. I can't remember ever seeing a travelling theatre company before, and they are in London for one more day (Sunday) only.

You can read about Footsbarn here and see the tour dates here. I've always wanted to see a company like this, and it is a great shame that I only found them today and I can't make it tomorrow. If any of you get to see them, do let me know how it was. I have to say if it is anything like as good as the smell of mulled wine wafting through the air, there's a real treat in store.

We are three

Three years, more than 1100 photos, more than 500,000 visitors. 25 Elephants. Wow.

It was this day three years ago when I poked my head out of my door and took a picture of my street with a somewhat archaic digicam. That was the start of my London journey, a journey about London, not about the photos. It was my hope at the time that I'd be able to add to the sum total of good stuff about, and I'd like to think I have done so - at least in a small way. If nothing else, at least I've been consistent.

My thanks to all of you out there, it's a two way thing. It's my job to put a daily photo on this site - it's yours to look at it. That's it.

Waltham .... Forest??

One of my local Boroughs is Waltham Forest, and while you can find nature if you look, you really do have to look. This pastoral plaque is not in a pastoral setting.

I walk the Bridge

A piece of creative graffiti spied on Blackfiars Bridge. Not a lot to say about this, so I offer you two Johnny Cash songs, 50 years apart. The first is fun, but as the second, if you haven't heard his rendition of "Hurt", you really ought to. Really.

Crisis? I see no crisis...

With banking so much in the news these days, I thought it was appropriate to visit the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street (the Bank of England). Grand though it is, this is the rear of the building.

These last two days I've been having to commute into town on public transport, which has forcibly reminded me just how much I prefer cycling. The only bright spot was that it has enabled me to pick up some of the "Credit Crunch" jokes that are doing the round like:

What is the difference between a 12" pizza and an investment banker? A 12" pizza can feed a family of 4.

Or, the definition of an optimist? An investment banker ironing 5 shirts on Sunday night.

Latest news: the Isle of Dogs Building Society has collapsed. They've called in the retrievers.

Sun? What sun?

I came across Lois Palmer in a wet and chilly Trafalgar Square. He is driving his way around the world on solar power, you can read his exploits on Solar Taxi.

On Parade

Bill, here, is one of London's great characters. Rather like the East End Elvises he will turn up at all sorts of public events. I saw him here several hours before the start of the Lord Mayor's Parade. He obviously puts a lot of effort into his appearances (he considers himself an unofficial mascot of the Welch Fusiliers) and I asked him about why he does it. "To put a bit of colour into people's lives" he told me. Well, hear hear.

A Copper Bottomed Case

For all that the UK now has decent kitchen shops in many provincial towns, the shop Divertimenti is still somewhere special. Special and expensive, but I remember it being around for many years - probably at least 30, I'm glad it is still about and hope it survives the recession. What you can't see in this photo are the kitchen ranges for upwards of £10,000.

As a point of interest, the copper bowls you can see are not just decorative - it seems that there is a scientific basis for eggs to whip better in a copper bowl - I just can't remember what it is.
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Eat Is The New West

East may one day be the new West (as the faded sign on this building in Hackney Road asserts) but to be honest, it hasn't happened yet.

The natural order of things is for the east side of any town to be poorer. Largely historic, with prevailing winds from the West as the earth spins, the stench of the city would pervade the eastern side, while the west received fresh country breeze. It's been many years since a fresh country breeze has been spotted in London, but apart from that there was always the docks, and docks needed workers. The East End is where immigrants have arrived for hundreds of years and worked to make their homes in this country; that hasn't changed.

Things are changing, and 2012 will change more than I an imagine - but we're not there yet.

(The title "Eat is the new west" was a typo - but I've decided to leave it because I kinda like the sentiment matched with the fried chicken joint)

Am I being shellfish?

I adore the magnificent displays of seafood you often find in Paris streets, much less frequently in London - the London version is far less impressive. Which is why it was such a pleasant surprise to find one outside Bibendum (who are celebrating their 21st birthday this month).

Lobster jokes welcome in the comments box.

Wellington's Camp

The Wellington Statue sits opposite No.1 London, Wellington's house. For those for whom English is not their first language, you may have missed the double entendre - which is probably all to the good. Let's just say the title jumped into my head as I approached the statue from this direction. Gave me a good laugh, anyway. I suppose it must have been a heroic pose once, but maybe not. See a wider view of the monument here.


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