Brief Moments in your lives!!! Also, show us your Pets Thread!!!

[ThePumisher]

so I was wondering if anyone of you had some nice tips and recommendations for the city of tubes and busses?

• Don't get covid while in London. I tried that 4 years ago and the following two weeks have been the worst of my life so far.
• Record stores. I bought my TDTYF 12" on RSD at Rough Trade Notting Hill.
• Camden Brewery Pale Ale is a nice beer
• Old Mout Cider Kiwi & Lime is a very tasty cider
• If you wait patiently every morning at the north-eastern end of Hyde Park, you might have the chance to meet Ed with Frank the Boss
• Same with Tottenham, because, you know, Ellie Rowsell is maybe stuck in Seven Sisters...
• Don't buy coffee at Pret A Manger, not a good coffee

[Csar]

Thank you so much for your tips, guys!

Music Video Exchange in Notting Hill. There's also a nice little brunch spot round the corner called Eggbreak which my wife and I very much enjoyed last time we were there!

That sounds lovely! I love eggs so this seems like a sure thing!

f your family is down for a bit of a culinary "experience" - there's an awesome all-you-can-eat vegetarian curry spot in Islington that I always recommend visitors check out. It's not the best food you'll ever have, but it's super cheap (still, somehow!), you can bring your own drinks from elsewhere (there are a couple of grocery stores are nearby), and the whole place is PLASTERED wall to wall with vegetarian propaganda. It's quite the event to go and eat there!

Yes, we are! We don't need "fancy", so this seems right up our alley. And if you can have fun at the same time, looking at all the vegetarian prop, even better!

You gotta do Natural History museum. It's free, and truly has such an astonishing collection. I love walking around Hyde Park too.

Let's see if I can get the "youth" interested in a trip to a museum but I'd be for sure! (*oh, I see it's of course the famous one with the dino skeleton, check!).
I wonder what Speaker's Corner is going to look like these days. Is Regent Park north also worth strolling about?

Oh, and if your family want's to try "high tea" (tea with a scone and jam), give John Lewis in Sloan Square a shot. It's not going to be your fancy decorated dining hall - but no booking required, super affordable, and there's actually quite a nice view of the city from the food court right at the top!

Perfect! Chill and affordable is all we need. And not having to book anything in advance is also appreciated for a change.

Oh, have fun in London!

Thanks a lot, @Stefan! I'll be thinking of your remark about Barking recently, as we're going to stay there

It's great to see that all these museums are admission-free so on a rainy day there's still plenty to do.

At my last London visit, I did a boat tour along the Thames, that was also fun!

That's actually something both my sis and mother demanded to do and I like the idea, too.

I also really liked visiting St. Pauls cathedral, and atop the dome you get a great view over the city (beware, it is A LOT of steps up there). There's also a nice cafe in the crypt of the cathedral.

Do you remember if you needed advanced scheduling there too btw? We definitely want to go visit St. Paul's. We will have to see if we can manage that many stairs, though, since my mom is currently experiencing some difficulty walking longer distances due to a pinched nerve.

Speaking of views over the city, if you book a timeslot in advance, you can visit the Sky Garden at the Walkie Talkie building for free

Awesome, just booked some! And just in time since there were only 3 days worth of tickets left for the week we stay. Let's see how my sister is going to handle this, she hates heights. But since one can stay inside and get a drink there, she may be fine

The Highgarden Cemetery

Do you mean by any chance Highgate Cemetery? Couldn't find "-garden".
My mom's a little bit of an ancestral nerd so this is going to fun for her. And if it's indeed the Highgate Cemetery, it's going to be even more fun, as they've got a Marx bust there so we can have a little chuckle (as citizen of the Ex-GDR )

• Don't get covid while in London. I tried that 4 years ago and the following two weeks have been the worst of my life so far.
• Record stores. I bought my TDTYF 12" on RSD at Rough Trade Notting Hill.
• Camden Brewery Pale Ale is a nice beer
• Old Mout Cider Kiwi & Lime is a very tasty cider
• If you wait patiently every morning at the north-eastern end of Hyde Park, you might have the chance to meet Ed with Frank the Boss
• Same with Tottenham, because, you know, Ellie Rowsell is maybe stuck in Seven Sisters...
• Don't buy coffee at Pret A Manger, not a good coffee

1) Oh no! That's not a souvenir I want to bring back home
2) So Rough Trade and Music Video Exchange it is!
3) + 4) Hmm, hopefully I'll be spotting those on a menu and follow suit with your recommendation!
5) Ha, maybe we should make arrangements to bring my sisters French bully along so it wouldn't seem too creepy standing and waiting there
6) Well, I guess I'd be rather likely to run into Joff, if he lived there as well, because he's apparently not joining them on their recent America tour as he's about to become a dad (I only know this because I watched a video from a US gig last night and there was an unfamiliar face playing the bass).

[Enjoyed]

Don't buy coffee at Pret A Manger, not a good coffee

On the topic of coffee - avoid Pret, Costa and Nero. All trash.

Instead, go get a cup from Rosslyn. Quite possibly the best coffee I've ever had. They have a few locations, and all are very much geared towards getting your coffee and getting out! Just a bunch of Financial Times papers plastered everywhere and the cleanest most minimal counter space you'll find. Seriously delicious if you're into the top end morning brown!

[Csar]

^noted!

On the topic of tea, was this part of the recommendation for the EggBreak ?

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[Enjoyed]

More like this...
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[Stefan]

That's actually something both my sis and mother demanded to do and I like the idea, too.

We took a one-way-boat tour that started at Westminster and took us to Greenwich, where you can walk up to the Observatory with a great view towards the city, there's also the (free) National Maritime Museum there. Easy to get back into the city via the tube. 

Do you remember if you needed advanced scheduling there too btw? We definitely want to go visit St. Paul's. We will have to see if we can manage that many stairs, though, since my mom is currently experiencing some difficulty walking longer distances due to a pinched nerve.

I was there in 2018 and can't remember whether I booked in advance. I was there during the week, before lunchtime, where it was really quiet. The cathedral is beautiful and has a great audio guide, so even if you don't go up in the dome it's worth a visit. If you sister is afraid of heights, it might also be too much from the small balcony at the top.

Awesome, just booked some! And just in time since there were only 3 days worth of tickets left for the week we stay. Let's see how my sister is going to handle this, she hates heights. But since one can stay inside and get a drink there, she may be fine

Yeah, I'm sure she'll be fine, it's easy to decide for oneself whether to go on the balcony or how close to get to the glass barrier there. Plus, no stairs required here

Do you mean by any chance Highgate Cemetery? Couldn't find "-garden".
My mom's a little bit of an ancestral nerd so this is going to fun for her. And if it's indeed the Highgate Cemetery, it's going to be even more fun, as they've got a Marx bust there so we can have a little chuckle (as citizen of the Ex-GDR )

Oh of course I meant Highgate XD Maybe my brain was befuddled from the Sky Garden or it was a case of autocorrect gone wrong.
There's not only a bust of Marx there, it is his acutal resting place Marx' tomb is in the East Side which you can explore on your own, the West Side is only accessible via a great guided tour (if you book the tour, entry for the East side is automatically included on the same day)

[Bosco]

Hate to be a party poop, but £17 for French Toast? No thanks.

I feel sorry for y'all who haven't experienced French Toast with REAL maple syrup.

[rynostar]

Hey I know a little bit about this city... (lived there for two years)

1. The walk from Little Venice to Camden Lock along the canal is lovely. Might take an hour, but get to see an interesting side of the city.

2. My favorite local was the Warrington in Maida Vale. Owned now by a big conglomerate, but has a great fresco. Also has a side bar and patio that always felt magical.

3. Go to Primrose Hill for a great view of the city

4. There are up to 162 Space Invaders (tile murals) "hidden" in the city

5. Favorite free museums are the V&A for its sculptures (including a copy of David) and the National Portrait Gallery.

[Csar]

I was there in 2018 and can't remember whether I booked in advance. I was there during the week, before lunchtime, where it was really quiet. The cathedral is beautiful and has a great audio guide, so even if you don't go up in the dome it's worth a visit. If you sister is afraid of heights, it might also be too much from the small balcony at the top.

I just looked, and yeah, it's advanced booking as well. And pretty pricey, too (which goes of course for many sights there). It looks gorgeous, though. Maybe this or Westminster perhaps.

There's not only a bust of Marx there, it is his acutal resting place Marx' tomb is in the East Side which you can explore on your own, the West Side is only accessible via a great guided tour (if you book the tour, entry for the East side is automatically included on the same day)

Oh, how could I be so ignorant?! Of course!
The west side really looks beautiful. Need to check out availability.

Hate to be a party poop, but £17 for French Toast? No thanks.

Yeah, it's indeed expensive. Perhaps it was a bit cheaper when Enjoyed was last there? Maybe I just need to get a "pot" there .

I feel sorry for y'all who haven't experienced French Toast with REAL maple syrup.

I'd like to believe that I had a "real" French Toast once back when I lived in Vienna, Virginia, at one of its diners.

1. The walk from Little Venice to Camden Lock along the canal is lovely. Might take an hour, but get to see an interesting side of the city.

Thanks, that looks beautiful! I already planned to wander around Camden Lock to Pirate Castle because I was there back in 2008. It had this nice little bridge that crosses the canal and I remember it being quite a scenic area.

3. Go to Primrose Hill for a great view of the city

Oh, great tip, thank you! Looks fantastic. Hopefully, the weather is going play along.

[Bosco]

I'd like to believe that I had a "real" French Toast once back when I lived in Vienna, Virginia, at one of its diners. 

You once lived in Virginia? That's neat! I got some family who live in the northern part of Virginia not far out of D.C./Baltimore.

If it was a diner, more than likely you had imitation maple syrup (corn syrup) which isn't horrible depending on brands, but not the natural sap from maple trees. Even here in America, REAL maple syrup is expensive. A typical lo-cost diner will tend to go the economical way. Restaurants that serve the REAL stuff will normally stipulate on the menu, and serve it in a small serving cup or actually fuse it into the dish it self.  

Final thing about REAL maple syrup, you don't need much to make elevate the dish. 

Alright, I'm done. Continue about London. You should direct your Mom to some of those CBD items if she's having trouble walking. 

P.S. I hope we see some photos/video of your travels. After all that's the general purpose of this thread!

[Csar]

You once lived in Virginia? That's neat! I got some family who live in the northern part of Virginia not far out of D.C./Baltimore.

It would fit this topic of "brief moments" I guess. I did an internship at a German auto maker at the time and lived there for about 6 1/2 months. It was the time of my life! I'm still mad at myself I didn't seize the chance to visit some of you over there  . At least I was able to get Whitenoise's Nous Somme Le Pouvoir shirt shipped while I was there, just after I was able to get me a record of Further at Amoeba's in SF. If only I could find that photo..
AND, I literally lived in a basement like a true American . Super kind hosts who rented to me. They took me to lots of family occasions and outings.
Now that I think of it, I even had the opportunity to attend the "Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or fear)" of the then unbeknownst to me blokes Steven and Jon on the DC mall.

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I virtually knew nothing about US politics back then.. Oh the cruel irony when you look back on that rally's theme...

If it was a diner, more than likely you had imitation maple syrup (corn syrup) which isn't horrible depending on brands, but not the natural sap from maple trees. Even here in America, REAL maple syrup is expensive. A typical lo-cost diner will tend to go the economical way. Restaurants that serve the REAL stuff will normally stipulate on the menu, and serve it in a small serving cup or actually fuse it into the dish it self.

Today's menu of that diner lists maple syrup as a feature of their pancake breakfast, but not the French toast. So maybe I didn't have it there and my memory makes things up. But I do remember seeing it at grocery stores and I believe I bought one tiny bottle once because it was so expensive like you said.

P.S. I hope we see some photos/video of your travels. After all that's the general purpose of this thread!

I try to get some snapshots.

You should direct your Mom to some of those CBD items if she's having trouble walking.

That's exactly what I suggested to her today. Maybe I'm going to need it, too. Ya know, family and stuff...

[Bosco]

Today's menu of that diner lists maple syrup as a feature of their pancake breakfast, but not the French toast. So maybe I didn't have it there and my memory makes things up. But I do remember seeing it at grocery stores and I believe I bought one tiny bottle once because it was so expensive like you said.

I'm not some breakfast restaurant aficionado, but my guess if you asked the server, they would say they serve maple "flavored" syrup, aka imitation/corn syrup. There is more than likely some deception being used but not maliciously.

Back in the day when I could afford not having to not cook my own meal on a daily basis, a lot of breakfast diners/restaurants use to have imitation maple syrup readily available table side similar to other American condiments like ketchup or mustard. I can't confirm if this still happens, because I really don't go out to dine anymore and I'm not sure if the commonalities of old-world dining have gone extinct. Point being, it's always been common for diners/restaurants to serve imitation maple syrup and almost expected by the consumer, unless directly specified otherwise. Most Americans are too ignorant or uneducated to know the difference, and don't even have the palate for purity products let alone ever tried any. That kinda indicates how fucked up the common American diet is.

Like I said before, not all imitation syrup is bad and some of it is actually quite tasty. But it's absolutely fake.

Never thought I would dedicate so much time talking about breakfast syrup this much.

[Csar]

Never thought I would dedicate so much time talking about breakfast syrup this much.

It's a sticky topic And a good reminder I should keep an eye out for it.