NYLON...In Heels!

14. Shop for posh stationary at Smythson & 20. Discover Dover Street Market

A few Tuesdays ago, I had a triple "To-Do" day thanks to an afternoon off work and my accomplice Erica.  The first two "To-Do's" of the day were preceded by a Sushi Lunch at the Japanese Centre just to ensure we had our shopping stamina.  Then it was off to Bond Street we went in search of the #14. Shop for (perfect) posh stationary at Smythson. 

After perusing the selection of fine diaries, pens and papers galore, having a personal consultation for some new bespoke stationary (free samples included), I selected a box of Stamped Correspondence Cards from Coral Collection that said "Reach For Your Dreams" or in my lingo:  "You have to have me".

The experience of watching the sales women delicately pack up the box of stationary into a Smythson blue box wrapped in a box and then sealed in a matching blue bag was worth the purchase just in it self... Who knew shopping for stationary could be as seductive as shopping for jewelry?

After the stationary foray, we kicked up our heels and hot stepped it over to #20.  Discover Dover Street Market.  Dover Street Market is a retail concept from Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons located in Mayfair. The store is 6 floors of bare walls and steel beams featuring over a dozen designers including who arfully display their wares throughout their space as they see fit.  For a Fashionista it is a dream come true - for a Recessionista it makes for good afternoon entertainment and inspiration. 

Although I left DSM empty handed, I have a wishlist full of ideas for F/W 09.

Thanks to Erica for being my partner in crime on this mission and making sure I didn't make any credit card misshaps.

11. Swim outdoors in the middle of Covent Garden

In a country where the weather forecast includes precipitation 85% of the year and the average daily temperature is never usually above 75 degrees Farenheit, you can imagine how often you DON'T go swimming outside in London.

Being our silly selves, Lorna, Jenny and I happily traded in a Friday afternoon of lunch at our desk to a leisurely paddle around around the outdoor Oasis Sports Centre pool - smack dab in the middle of Covent Garden. 

Luckily for us the sun graced us with his presence, but thank goodness for heated water! 

9. Take a London Ghost or Jack the Ripper Walk.

 

The East London I've come to know and love includes Brick Lane curry houses, shopping in Spitalfields, the Routemaster, funky nights out, and street art from the likes of Bansky.  After a trip down Shoreditch's memory lane a few weeks ago, I realize it's got a bloody and brutal past that I care not to think about during my daytime jaunts.

The "Official" Jack the Ripper tour did not disappoint... with tales of doom and gloom for the victims of this 1800s "Slasher" on a warm summer nigh with good family and friends - it is a skin crawling to-do that no LONer should miss. 

A big gut-wrenching thanks to Chase, Dani, Mike, Button, Lorna, Kirstie, and Jen for being brave souls and burning their soles all in the name of historical enrichment.

 

15. Visit the Oxo Tower.

I heart the Southbank.  It's home to one of my favorite museums of all time, the Tate Modern, and is a fabulous place to roam around on a (sunny if you're lucky) Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  Home to the London Eye, the National Theatre, the Hayward Gallery, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (#4), and Borough Market...it holds some of the cities best treasures.

So passing through after the ostrich experience, we took a visit to the galleries at the Oxo Tower, home to unique designer shops, alfresco riverside bars and stylish dining with views across the River Thames.  After all these years of passing through, I posed for a quick pic and called it complete.

45. Try an Ostrich Burger at Borough Market

 

So I thought about listing all the reasons why I love Borough Market, and then I saw that someone already had (check out Food, Glorious Food here).  So hey, why reinvent the wheel, and just get on to the task at hand - telling you about my first foray of Ostrich Burger eating enjoyment.

For the past two yearsI have been subjected (in the nicest sense, truly) to the ravving reviews of the Borough Market Ostrich Burger by two of my favorite British boys Alex and Dave.  So, as a late addition to the list (and in honor of their gastronomic grumblings) I decided that I needed to put this burger to the test.

And the result: an absolute A++.  Ostrich meat (which Mike tells me I also enjoyed in S.A.) is a really lean tasty meat that may just be making it onto a grille near me soon!

A high-five to my Big Gay Bears Al and Dave for the Reco!

30. Drink a cocktail at Lounge Lover

An impromptu night out started last Friday at Lounge Lover, #30 on my list of things to do, but #1 on my list of places to go for a drink. The swanky digs, where Madonna apparently celebrated her 48th b-day, has a funky and eclectic decor that pulls you in and a phenomenal cocktail menu that keeps you there.

Mike and I LOVED the cocktail list so much that we don't remember the names of our drinks ("Postcard from Rio" topped the list perhaps??) or to snap any paparazzi style pics. So above is what you get: a borrowed photo from Flikr, and a fuzzily written NYLON post to mark the LOVELY LOUNGE occasion. 

Thanks to my own LOVER for footing the cock-tail bill and coming along!

43. Climb to the top of the dome at St. Paul's

It’s London’s most iconic building, and an important landmark in religious history. And yet every day, millions of people take it for granted.  In fact for over two years I have shared this city with St Paul’s, making frequent trips past it on the way out for drinks or with friends passing through London, but I’d never been inside it.

My brother Chase, and his girlfriend Dani, came to London and agreed to help me check off this important icon from my list.  The morning they landed, off we went (what can I say, they are super travel troopers!)

The climb is divided into three parts:

1. The first section gets you to the whispering gallery which is to the interior of the dome where you can whisper on one side and the acoustics take it to the other side. 
2. The second part of the climb is 119 steps to the outside of the dome - and to some pretty sweet views of the City. 
3. Finally, there are 152 more spiraling stairs up the interior of the dome to the tippy top...but boy was view was worth the effort!

 The dome at St. Paul's has to be the greatest view the city that I've experienced thus far!  Infact, you don't just enjoy the view across town, but there is a small window that looks all the way down to the Cathedral floor!

There is a story that Christopher Wren sat up on Parliament Hill (#38.  Take in the view from Parliment Hill) to watch the removal of the scaffolding around St Paul’s dome – the second largest in the world after St Peter’s. If it collapsed, as many said it would, he had a carriage waiting to take him to the Channel. It didn’t, and now London has an amazing iconic Cathedral to admire no matter if it's from the top of the Dome or the top of the Hill.

A gold star to Dani, Chase and Mike for taking the St. Paul stair challenge with me!

10. Eat fish & chips in Brighton.

 
So... some naysayers may say that actually checking this off "The List" doesn't really count.. but ya know, it's my list and so what I say goes.  What am I whinging about you might say, well #10, eat fish and chips in Brighton didn't really become a reality for me as I had to head home last minute.  But since it was all planned and ready to go, Mike and adventure seeking friends did go on without me.  And for surviving the trip, laying on the rocky beach, and even playing a bit of "crazy golf"... this one gets marked off as "crossed" in my book.

A big shoutout to Mike, Hannah, Huw, Kate, Alex, Jess, Larissa, Dave, and Tamsin for making all my fish and chip eating dreams come true.

22. Go to Edinburgh!

 
Ah Bonny Scotland!  Edinburgh has been on my "List" for way too long!  For the past two years, it's been waiting patiently on my travel wish list just waiting to be booked and subsequently explored.

When the parents-in-law wanted to hit up the UK before we dashed out of town, it just made sense to meet them in this festive city to kick off their trip.

Settling in at the historic Scotsman Hotel- former home to the Scotsman Newspaper for more than a century - we were well placed to explore Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile.  Lucky for us, the weekend we were there was the Scottish "Gathering" - a unique two-day event which is chance for Scots everywhere to celebrate their roots and one of Scotland's greatest traditions, Highland Games.

After finding the Lindsay clan, we "gathered" with our Anthony clan and had a delious dinner at the Witchery before watching the Clan Parade.  Sunday was spent exploring the Edinburgh Castle and the gardens (oh and snappin' up a pair of shoes for Mike) before trainin' it back to London.

Unlisted. Visit Rome, Sweet Rome.

 
Before we get too deep in posting about all the fun things being completed on "The List"... Let's pause for a quick minute to give Rome a shout out and thank that wonderful city for hosting Mike and I for a weekend early in July. 

To be fair, Rome needs much more than the two days we gave it to give it justice, but alas it was all we had to "rome" and eat our way thru this historical mecca.  Our base for the weekend was the ALEPH - a fab hotel that was converted from an old bank.

Our Birkenstock's were burnin' up the pavement covering the Vatican, St. Peter's, Sistine Chapel, The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Spainish Steps and the Trevi fountain eating no less than at least five pizzas and ten gelati's along the way.

Don't worry, we know we didn't see it all... we're savin' some for later!