NYLON...In Heels!

40. Take in the view (& the food) at Gilgamesh.

Gilgamesh is kinda a ‘big’ deal in N. London. I mean the place is HUGE in size with a reputation to match.  After idolizing the wooden monstrosity of a restaurant that sits above the coveted Camden market (another personal fave!), we finally secured some ressies with Lorna and Chris (two peeps who are also kinda a big deal in our LON lives) and hit up the tasting menu.  Too many dumplings, noodle dishes, and cocktails to count later… we rolled out in a big ‘gilgamesh’. 

31. Get hot and sweaty on a night out in Camden (or Angel!)

 It was last.. But not least!  On our last night in London, we did it up with our LON favorites at North London’s favorite Boozer, the Old Queens Head.  It was a rocking good way to say see ya later… cause you know we’ll be back!

 

29. Hunt down the ChocStar Van.

 

For the two+ years that I lived in London, the ChocStar Van ‘lived’ at Brick lane, one of my favorite haunts.  It tempted and taunted me with chocolate delights that I disciplined myself and resisted against – I know right, what was I thinking?!?  And then I went hunting for it…

And it was gone….

On tour…

But luckily… my friend Lorna spotted it in November in Bury St. Edmonds!  And another friend Alex had the ChocStar van at her wedding (lucky duck!) and is best friends with the owner.  So ChocStar van... one request, I’d rather like it if you come visit me in New York but I WILL find you.

28. Teach the Londoners how to make s’mores.

 

This by far is my proudest moment.  Watching my friends enjoy the rich, gooeyness that are Hershey’s s’mores for the first time while hanging at our rented Farmhouse during Lamda Lamda weekend. The weekend was full of fun memories and sharing the joys of this childhood treat with some of my LON favorites was the ‘melted marshmallow on the graham cracker’ :-).

24. Breakfast at the Wolseley.

 What other breakfast do you know that is so famous it has a book named after it?  No other way to celebrate my last day of work in the LON then to hit this up with two of FHer’s Kirstie and Jen (workmates, I wasn’t playing favorites I promise, but the rest of you were too darn busy… or on holiday…to go!)  It was a morning of brekkie decadence and it is a must stop on anyone’s LON itinerary.  

Hold the eggs Benedict, I’ll be back!

19. Discover the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Why oh why did it take me to long to ‘discover’ this hidden gem?  If you haven’t been, run, don’t walk to check it out in the spring.  With an eclectic mix of over 5000 plant species focusing on medicinal plants, it was by far one of my most surprising and enjoyable ‘to-do’s’.  

When you go...Make sure you stop by the gift shop and grab yourself (and me too!) a jar of their honey, the bees pollinate all of the interesting and exotic plants in the garden meaning that this honey is out of this world!

{SNAP COMING SOON!}

12. Stay late in a museum. Late night hours at the Tate or the V&A.

As if this ‘check’ can be marked by just one occasion.  I LIVE FOR and LUST AFTER London museums.  I simple can’t get enough.  So before the big departure, I was sure to not only hit up the Tate Modern and the V&A, but also check out the Saatchi Gallery and make a pit stop by the Portrait Gallery. 

A museum is a place where one should lose one's head. -Renzo Piano 

5. Get Beautiful at Bliss Spa.

So I never promised to go to Bliss Spa did I?   Since I make the rules around here (and really when did I think I was going to have time to hit the 'spa' before heading stateside?) I decided to hit up the Bliss counter in Harrod's when J-lo was visiting.  A bottle of triple oxygen instant energizing mask is heaven in a bottle - providing me 'Bliss' every few days and reminding me each time of that precious spa that the Mr. sent me to on my first trip to London almost five years ago. 

 

3. Row on the Serpentine.

Hubby and I spent one of last days in London doing one of the most romantic things you can do in ole Blighty, 'rowing' in a pedal boat in the middle of Hyde Park on the Serpentine Lake.  It was one of those gorgeous sunny September days that reminds Londoners that summer isn't quite over yet, and reminded us why we did not want to leave just yet.  Topped off with a pretty box of Laduree macaroons, it was just lovely.

{SNAP TO COME!}

101 Things...The Finale!

So as an early Chrimbo gift to myself, I decided that for once and for all I was going to document the last things I did on my (Around) 75 Days and 101 (More or Less) Things I Want to Do Before I Leave London List®.  So whether you're ready for it or not, so here goes a series of posts that will certainly make me, and maybe you, smile.