Tuesday 17 August 2010

Lordship Lane - The Best Highstreet in London? No.3

Lordship Lane has changed so much in the last decade and will hopefully continue to flourish in the same way. A few chains (although none would be best) and dozens of independents is the smart way to grow. The high-street is becoming what Clapham's Nappy Valley failed to achieve. Affordable luxury with a family heart.

Roullier White is quite simply a home-wares shop for men (and women too if you insist) a type of shop that's not only very hard to find but rarely worth visiting. Roullier is different - every inch is merchandised with care and wit, every inch another joy to buy. Worldwide Monocle magazine recently wrote the their ant spray the best on earth!

It may be an old school Italian deli with macho staff and dusty shelves but these same shelves hold treasures to dine for, East Dulwich Deli also bakes locally simply the best sourdough breads in London.

SMBS Organic Grocers is the type of grocers one grows to rely on. If you can't find it here you probably don't need it. Also they are only two doors down from one of London's finest affineurs - The Cheese Block.

Whilst both the Palmerston Pub and the modern chip shop The Sea Cow are owed by a local foodie entrepreneur (well he is since he moved down south) and do what they do well.

Also not to be missed are the coffees at The Blue Mountain Cafe, take aways are best though, as the walk back down through the farmers market to the lane, is a joy with caffeine in hand. Taking you to perhaps my favourite haunt of all Green and Blue, these guys have the right ideas in life. A great Off Licence with an abundance of tempting wines with the brucie bonus of a bistro next door, the perfect palce to sit down for a little light loveliness and where bottles are sold at retail prices. A perfect place to sip wines you normally couldn't afford to order. Good enough to treat.

Lordship lane is a high street best epitomised by local resident and DJ Rob Da Bank. Rob used to a legendary hedonist but now enjoys family feasts at home and organising music festivals for interested adults. The true spirit of East Dulwich.

Grown Up Fun.

Dalston - The Best Highstreet in London? No.2


Dalston seems to be turning into some sort of uber urban green nirvana and no I'm not overstating the case.
Firstly we had Marnie Rose and her inspiring Kings Walk Garden where as part of the Garden Classroom boys and girls gather to learn under the branches . Next came the Dalston Mill for just one summer, quickly replaced by the Easter Curve Garden. High above which we find The Dalston Roof Park Bar where ethically engaged members drink into the sunset and reminisce about dancing till the sun came up at rave haven The Labyrinth. Dalston also has the proposed covering of Mildmay Grove with a garden to look forward too (the perfect way to blot out noise from new high speed trains) And now we have a little green retail to add to the mix. Opening very soon at 20 Dalston is The Farm Shop with chickens on the roof, indoor allotments and aquaponic fish farming. Oh and a cafe.

The September opening can't come soon enough.

With renowned theatre Arcola up the road, pound shops a plenty, the original and, cliche coming up, still the best Mangal Ocakbasi nearby, Ridley Road Market for untold tat and amazing haberdashery, plus the always fantastic Dalston Jazz Bar a stoned walk away, Dalston may be the perfect highstreet for the young at heart.

Obviously a fixed gear bike and an odd haircut may help.

Thursday 12 August 2010

The Eastern Curve Pop up Garden - Dalston Junction



Ignore the sirens and bustle of Dalston and head straight for a picnic in this charmed urban park. The cafe is yet to be built, the benches are often full of primary kids on learning experiences and the sun rarely shines but hey today was a good day. I found serenity.
Open to the public from 11am – 8pm and right opposite the rather dull yet spanking new Dalston Junction Station from where I'd recommend a trip on a fancy new train to see the dinosaur's in Crystal Palace.

Kennedy's Fish & Chips - The Goswell Road



Kennedy's has nothing to do with the eponymous south london pie makers that went out of business a few years back so don't go here in search of one of the famously good Scotch pies, do however stop by for one of the best fish and chips around. I used to think there was a black cab rank outside, no not true, it's just that cabbies from all over London congregate here nightly for a perfect fish supper. I always have the same thing and it never disappoints... "plaice and chips twice please and a loy for the walk home".



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Wednesday 11 August 2010

Jean Nouvel Pavilion - Serpentine Gallery

The Jean Nouvel Pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery this Summer has finally got it right.

It's not in the same league architecturally as the whimsical Olaofur Eliasson & Kjeti Thorsen  of 2007 nor the Oscar Niemeyer study in beauty (2003) the Toyo Ito masterpiece (2002) or last years enchanting SANAA. However it has at last realised the potential of a public space for a summer in London.

For years the public have been seemingly ignored by the starchitects need for flamboyance. Eliasson & Thorson for example gave us a stunning place to visit, one of my favourite ever interiors and nowhere to sit and cosy up.

Nouvel has given us what we wanted all along, a great place to ponder, meet friends, laugh flirt or read. The cafe actually has a rather large buzz about it, amazing considering the coffee is awful. I sat and watched as people played chess, rocked on hammocks and struggled with the not so simple game of ping pong. Maybe we just needed a Frenchmen to show London what parks are for.

Tuesday 10 August 2010

Anna Lappe - Food Hero

Today I've spent far too long procrastinating and flicking from blog to blog.
My favourite without doubt and one I return to more often than not is the inspiring Take a Bite
Written by Anna Lappe, author, activist and inspiration.
You don't need to read the book to understand the that this is a woman to follow.
My favourite quote:

"Every time you spend money you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want"

Sunday 8 August 2010

MacFarlane's - Abbevillle Road Clapham

A truly charming deli that offers everything a denizen could need. Perfect for the yummy mummies and day dreaming day off dads of Abbeville Road, a hidden gem of a high-street just far enough away from far too youthful Clapham. I especially loved the homemade Gruyere and Marmite biscuits on the counter. Irresistible and a statement to consumers that this is not a chain store. This is a place for individuals. Even if they do all wear rugby shirts, distressed Gap shorts and oddly office like shoes.