Leonardo Da Vinci Painter at the Court of Milan @ the National Gallery

It seems like the whole world has gone crazy for this exhibition and quite rightly too! Now, there has been many a column inch written about this show, by much more knowledgeable folk than I, so i will steer clear of a review. But i will offer a word of advice...this exhibition is being called the 'the greatest show on earth', so as you can imagine, demand is crazy. Online tickets are no longer available. The only way to get tickets now is to queue in person. Thanks to a hot toddy, and a game of eye spy with the man, the 1.5hr wait seemed to fly by...kind of. There is the guarantee of some pretty spectacular art at the end of it though.

The two versions of The Virgin of the Rocks (one normally lives in the Louvre, the other is a local, living in the National Gallery) are facing off, literally, within one room of the exhibition. This one here is the London version.Lady with an Ermine is the main draw of the show. I have been told on good authority (this sweet old lady in the queue) that the best tactic is to head straight for it to try and beat the scrum. 

The world's most famous smile will not feature in the exhibition...it was painted later, after Leonardo left Milan. But apparently there is this big debate on whether Lady with an Ermine is going to bitch slap old Mona Lisa, off her most 'famous painting in the world' pedestal. Discuss...

The Last Supper - As the real deal is on a wall in Milan (literally on a wall, making transportation v.tricky), the exhibition features a replica painted by Giampietrino, one of Leonardo's pupils. Leonardo's anatomical studies came a lot later in his career, so will not feature, but i love them so much that i had to get them in!

All images are from one of my favourite books of all time, the Frank Zollner, Taschen book, Leonardo Da Vinci The complete Paintings and Drawings. It is so beautiful, with gorgeous, glossy, full page images. It's also huge, to the point that if you dropped it on your foot, you would die!

Bermondsey

A walk around Bermondsey is always a treat. There's now so much to see, do and eat round there, that it's become very popular indeed. What with the new White Cube gallery opening last month (part of the see), Borough markets new foodie rival, Maltby Street (some of the do) and Jose, a little tapas bar of Spanish heaven (all about the eat) - you'll find yourself coming back again and again. The man and me had an indulgent Sunday dinner at Jose as part of our post Spain catharsis. It was so delicious, it had us studying estate agent windows on the way home! This is sure to be the first of many posts on the area, so here are a few photos to get things started.

icake pop up

For TODAY only, Miss Cakehead is opening up a Steve Jobs inspired cake shop. The pop up is part of  a celebration of Internet Week Europe, a five-day festival of events to celebrate Europe’s thriving Internet industry/ community and will also be raising money for  UK charity Pancreatic Cancer, in Steve's name. So head on down to The Hospital Club, from 11am. Show your support, buy a Job's lolly pop, for a taste of sweet genius!

the 5th of November

Of all the millions of fireworks displays in wonderful London town this weekend, i have managed to narrow it down to 3. Lets look at the pros and cons...

1. Blackheath Fireworks-

For  - a regular outing in my Uni youth, so ticks the nostalgia box

For - it was always an awesome display (and it's free - although donations are appreciated)

Against - i may have romanticised it slightly

Against - it is totally on the wrong side of town...hmmm???

2. Battersea Park Fireworks

For - Awesome display

For - my end of town

Against - you're not allowed to take your own sparklers. booooo!

Against - pricey food and mulled wine (+ admission £10)

Against - it is supposed to lash it down on Saturday

3. Richmond Annual Firework Display

For - The display is choreographed to QUEEN, yes QUEEN. AWESOME!

For - hog roast and mulled wine!

For - on Sunday...so apparently sans rain

Against - a little out of the way...

Against - fun fair = lots of kids...yes, i am a cowbag!

For - Did i mention Queen?!

Think Freddie has swung it for me!

Happy Bonfire Night...eat lots of toffee!

Hatchards pt2...the Fitzgerald fantasy

...part of my Hatchards book lust experience the other day. These babies deserved a post of their own though. Once again we have Coralie Bickford-Smith to thank for these art deco inspired, printed pleasures. Enjoy...

Hatchards Bookshop

I love books. I eat books (not literally, of course), which is why i experience an unstoppable gravitational pull, whenever i walk past a good bookshop - i only feel a slight twitch with the bigger chains! With a spare 20 minutes before meeting friends, i allowed myself to be pulled into one of my faves, Hatchards, on Piccadilly. This is the oldest surviving bookshop in London and a great place to lose yourself in a world of imagination.

Now, I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but i'm a sucker for the cloth bound Penguin classics. These stunning covers are the designs of Coralie Bickford-Smith and they literally make my heart ache. I am in the process of collecting one at a time, a painful process when it comes to choosing which one...

After 20 mins of what was turning out to be some kind of book porn, i was running late. I should have averted my eyes and marched to the door. But noooo! I was instead enticed by a display of Barnes and Noble big, heavy, leather bound classics. Now these are something special. The cover designs, the inner co-ord prints, the gold edged pages...i was in heaven! 'Looking at book covers' is not a good excuse for being late...trust me!

Happy Halloween

Walking past Fortnum and Mason's earlier, i was curious to see the results of their annual pumpkin carving competition. So i popped my head in and was greeted by these beauties! Can you believe there was a £1000 F&M hamper up for grabs?! Definitely worth the inevitable stained orange hands and unavoidable carving battle scars.  Not sure who the winner was, but we'll find out soon, when their creation lights up the next window display. Major honour. Do you have a favourite?