Saatchi Gallery and Brick Lane Photoshoots

Some new photos taken over the weekend on Brick Lane and at the Saatchi Gallery. Hope you enjoy because I loved taking them :)

Saatchi Gallery




















Brick Lane Street Art, 1001 Club and Vintage Emporium for Coffee

 
 

The Aubin Cinema - WOW, what an experience

I started off writing this post thinking I'd be reviewing the film I saw last night, Seven Psychopaths.

However, despite loving the film and wanting to say some words about it (maybe later...), I find myself desperate to tell you about WHERE I saw it, namely the Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch.

Being an avid film fan, I am regularly disappointed by the mass market cinemas and their lack of basic comfort. I will typically pay the extra to get 'Premium' seats and even then, all you get is a bit more legroom and a slightly larger seat, but not really a more comfortable one. I find myself regularly fidgeting and trying to get comfortable, which can seriously detract from my overall enjoyment of the film. All of this also comes with a price tag in excess of £20. Add to it the shockingly overpriced food and drinks and I can't help but feeling slightly ripped off by the whole experience.

I had recently seen an article in the Metro about the new 'bed seats' recently installed at the Electric Cinema, Portobello Road, and got very excited about a new type of cinematic experience.

So, imagine my sheer delight at being taken to the Aubin Cinema last night (thanks Skene xx). Why so delighted? Well, it's an experience for adults. Forget 2 litre buckets of coke, you can get a cocktail or a beer and enjoy it whilst you watch the film. Whay joy! Back to the good old days I found myself saying. I remember when that sort of thing was perfectly normal in cinemas 20 years ago when going to the cinema was a proper evening out.

However, the Aubin takes the whole thing one stage further. They have created a cinematic space and experience that is akin to watching a film in your own personal cinema, you know, the one you'd design in your mansion house for all your mates to enjoy if you had the space and the money? :-)

The venue is intimate and warm. There are single and double seats. They are REAL armchairs and sofas! There are CUSHIONS! You can snuggle up with your partner or just settle in next to your mates in the genuinely comfortable seating (Check the pictures).

Everyone has an individual footrest to stretch out their legs, individual tables for drinks, taking off your shoes, puffing your cushion and settling in properly is par for the course and everyone has a lovely soft blanket to thow over themselves to keep warm and cosy throughout.

It's beautifully laid out, the seats all have a fantastic view of the perfectly sized screen and the overall experience is one of sheer delight. It really doesn't matter what you are watching, you will love it.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I left wanting more and having thoroughly enjoyed the film, without compromise. I want to go back and see EVERY film there from now on. If you love movies and want to experience a film in a warm, friendly, cosy venue, snuggled up to a partner (or just sitting comfortably with friends!) sipping a cocktail as you watch, then this is the ONLY place to go in London.

Seriously. Go there. You will not be disappointed. It is a truly wonderful experience.

(Photos are taken from of the Aubin's website)

Check out NeelsReelDeal review here as well, which is excellent:
http://neelsreeldeel.com/2012/11/29/the-aubin-cinema/
 

Sky Go expands its Android Device List

 

Has anyone else with a high-end Android handset been waiting patiently for this?

My HTC One X has been incompatible for some time and I've been unable to install Sky Go, Sky's relatively new live TV streaming service.

Sky Go has now now added an additional 14 high end handsets to it's Sky Go compatibility list including:

Google    : Nexus 4 and 7
HTC        : One X, One XL, One S, One V
Samsung : S3 LTE, S3 Mini, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Note 2
Sony        : Xperia S, Xperia T
LG          : 4X HD

Full details of compatibe Android handsets is here:
http://www.sky.com/products/ways-to-watch/sky-go/#multibg_androidMPP-Sky_Go___Get_Sky_on_your_laptop__iPad__iPhone_and_Android___Sky_Products

Yes OK, how much will I actually watch it? Not sure, but it's nice to finally have the opportunity at least and be on level pegging with the iOS devices, which have all had it since the service launched.


 

Google Zeitgeist 2012

As the end of the year rapidy approaches, Google have been compiling their annual 'Zeitgeist' highlighting the most popular searches on the internet giant's search engines over the last 12 months. It can be filtered down by Country and various Categories.

Certain trends will come as no great surprise (Hurricane Sandy, Olympics, Kate Middleton pictures), but you may be left wondering how Gangnam Style could have come in at number 2 most searched, considering the wealth of major Global events and unfortunate natural disasters that have happened in the last 12 months. I guess it's a generation thing!

Anyway, it's quite interesting reading to while away a few minutes of your free time. Enjoy!

http://www.google.com/zeitgeist/2012/#the-world/searches

 

Louis CK - Everything is Amazing and No-one is happy

This is truly one of the funniest comedy sketches I've ever heard. I stumbled across it about three years ago whilst looking up some other comedians and have just come across it again.

A full-on takedown of the modern technophile generation and the complete lack of respect for the incredible inventions we have at our disposal these days.

Remember: EVERYTHING IS AMAZING!!!

 

Winter photoshoot

Today is the first day I've started to feel vaguely human again after 5 days of Flu.

In a bid to get out of the house and try to get myself back to some semblance of normality, I decided to go for a nice walk across the fields, round the local Reservoir and along the Grand Union Canal, all of which I'm extremely lucky to have right on my doorstep.

I love the buzz of London, but on a cold, frosty Winters day like today there is nothing as beautiful as the English countryside and the warm, low orange Sun.

I took my camera with me and snapped a few pics....

Flickr - Winter Photoshoot

 

Miracle day 12-12-12: Do you believe?

Articles:

It is 12.12.12. today - The Times of India on Mobile

12.12.12: Would-be mothers wish to deliver 'lucky' babies-India News - IBNLive Mobile

Having strong ties with India, I am not surprised to read the stories of overbooked hospitals and potentially forced births as families try to ensure their children are born on a day that contains a seemingly 'magical' date. This is probably the last time we will witness a date like this in the current generations lifetime. I guess it's understandable that many folk, especially the more superstitious or religious amongst us, might attach a cultural or spiritual significance to today.

However, in my opinion it is like Dr Sharma says in the India Times article...

"It will be like any other day"

HUD becomes a reality

Oakley Airwave Goggles | Official Oakley Store | UK

Fighter pilots have had HUD (Heads Up Display) for a while and now... so can you!

Fed up with having to stop on the piste to get out your phone to take a call or send a text? Don't want to stop and consult your piste map to fund the nearest toilet?

Your worries are over for the not too ridiculous fee of £500...

Continuum...ends?

I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere....

I'm a bit of a Science Fiction fan (or "SyFy" for Sky Customers, natch :-P ) and have been very pleasantly surprised by the Continuum series. It's really caught my attention and grown on me as the weeks have gone by.

Not quite as much as my beloved Fringe of course, but as that is ending in the very near future I am in need of decent alternatives to keep my Sky+ box full to the brim with recorded televisual delights.

Continuum series one has now drawn to a close in a satisfactory manner with people dying you don't expect and some largescale destruction, with plenty of questions left open for a good second series. Why has Alex arranged the whole thing? How do the corporations rise to power? What will happen with the rest of Liber8 now, considering we don't want there to be any spacetime continuum parallaxes (Sorry the geek in me took over there for a moment)?

And the most important question of all, seriously, how hot does Rachel Nichols look in that black catsuit?

Anyway, I for one am now an avid follower and will eagerly await the second series... (If only to see more of that fiiiiiine catsuit!!!!)


 

Apple Ruins Christmas...?

Here's hoping Santa doesn't get killed using Apple Maps this Christmas...

 

93 Feet East is Mob-Raided by the Met

Unbelievable! Brick Lane club 93 Feet East gets raided by half of the Met.

Why? Well, presumably for drugs, but seriously, there's probably more police than punters.

Brilliant video and the musical accompaniment is superb. Pure comedy genius!

Thanks to Alex C for this one :)

 

... And If Carlsberg Made DJs

The extremely talented and multiple DMC World Mixing Championships winner, please welcome on stage in one of his simplest, yet most stunning performances...

 

DJ Q-Bert at The Summit

 

If Carlsberg Made Dancers

Watch "THE REMAKES | BRAND NEW | DAISY | NONSTOP" on YouTube

 

The latest video offering from Marquese 'nonstop' Scott.

 

I've been into this guy for a couple of years now after seeing a video on Facebook that a friend posted up. I guess I had been into this kind of thing for a long time and had attended a couple of UK breakdancing competitions and DMC mixing championships, albeit several years ago now.

 

I've done some research into the various street dance crews and individuals since coming across the unique and extremely talented Mr Nonstop Scott. For me, he is hands-down the best in the world at what he does. Stunning and seemingly impossible footwork that beggars belief.

 

Check out his youtube stream and be prepared to be amazed...

 

 

Rubber Duckie Invades The City!

Giant Yellow Rubber Duck Invades London

Now that is something you don't see every day!

 

Reminding me somewhat of the stay puff marshmallow man in Ghostbusters, apparently this is part of a new government bursary campaign to encourage people in the UK to have more fun.

 

Well, I'd say mission accomplished! I absolutely love it...

 

When Doves Cry

When Doves Cry (Remix) Forthcoming on Sleazy Deep by Finnebassen on SoundCloud

YouTube: When Doves Cry (Remix) by Finnebassen

 

I was actually trying to look up the original Prince track and stumbled across this, which is a beautifully crafted and compelling remix. This guy has a wonderfully relaxed and funky house style which is very refreshing in a world of every increasing noise assaults.

 

I'll definitely be following Finnebassen from now on....

 

Getting Things Started - I love... week #1

This week I've unfortunately been bogged down with a rather nasty Flu virus. However, wishing to remain positive and take something good out of every situation, it does mean I have some time on my hands as I try and fill the many uncomfortable hours I am spending lying around feeling like crap on my death bed....

 

So, here is blog #1 to get the ball rolling.

 

Enjoy!

 

AVC

x

_____________________________________________

 

 

Podcasts

 

We Love Space Ibiza Radio  

I've just signed up to the I Love Space radio podcast. Really good stuff if you like the Space vibe. Hours of free music mixed by fantastic DJs.Perhaps a bit too much talking for my own liking (well it is a Radio podcast after all!), but beautiful vibe to it as you'd expect from Space. This is well worth a listen.

 

Available via iTunes or on this jellycast feed for anyone who doesn't have iTunes:

http://weloveibiza.jellycast.com/podcast/feed/2

 

 

On Constant Repeat

 

My must have single at the moment on almost constant repeat (courtesy of Skene - mwah x) is....

 

• Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix ft. Au Revoir Simone)  

 

 

Films

The Sightseers 
Brilliant black comedy taking place in some of the most quintessentially British tourist destinations you've never thought to go to, it follows an incredibly dark and twisted love story that is as beautiful as it is ferocious. Regardless of the incredibly gruesome (and let's face it, laugh out loud funny) scenes, it manages to be relevant to us all in some small way, proving how love has no boundaries.... You'lll be hiding behing your hands one minute and wetting yourself the next.

 

The Dark Knight Rises 

This was an amazing conclusion to the rather dark and sinister new trilogy that has brought a gritty realism to the whole Batman franchise that started in such comedic comic book style back in the 60s. Long gone are the 'holy carumba batman' and 'sock, kapowww' we were used to seeing, replaced with dark, sinister, wanton violence and destruction. I was extremely surprised to see the actor behind the Bane character was none other than Tom Hardy. Seriously, he looked like a muscle juggernaut. Staggering!!!

 

Also nice to see Reggie Lee make an appearance. He's another actor I like from one of my favourite TV shows at the moment (Grimm).

Anyway, fantastic film and 'conclusion'?? They did leave the door wide open for a potential 'Dark Knight and Dark Sidekick'.

Books

Snow Country - Yasunari Kawabata

I came across this somewhere on a list of 'fantastic, but overlooked books' somewhere and decided to try it. I'm not far in yet so this isn't a full formal review. From what I've read so far, the book has a wonderful, innocent and beautiful style that is very easy to read and does (as any good book should) transport you away from your daily worries to the beautiful, snowcapped mountains in Japan as you witness the unfurling of the slow building love story within.

 

 

General Peeves

Bad Queue etiquette

I went to the garage on the weekend to put the car through the carwash. I parked up  in the proper parking area and went in to buy a carwash voucher. On returning to the car and driving over to the entrance for the carwash, I find that someone has decided to park their car right in the middle of the entrance whilst they go into the shop, do some shopping and get their own voucher. I now sit there for nearly 5 minutes waiting for this **** to return to their car, get in and move forward. Not even a courtesy 'sorry' nod in my direction or anything, even though it's bloody obvious I've been waiting there with my voucher for a while. In my eyes, that is extremely bad etiquette for the UK and it's not the first time it's happened to me either.

 

Surely in that situation, at the very least you should nod a quick apology to the person waiting and if you had decent morals and values, you would let the other person who has clearly been waiting for you go first?? I'd like to think that's exactly what I'd do, except of course I'd never cause the situation in the first place....

 

 

You, Me, Something New

Those Moments of Inspiration

Sometimes unexpected things happen to you in life that you have no logical explanation for. They can lead you down paths you didn't know existed or certainly didn't ever see yourself travelling before. You think you know and are in control of your life and then a new door opens in front of you and you pass through it, finding yourself somewhere beautiful, slightly out of your normal comfort zone, but confident that this is where you are meant to be in life and happy to let it take you wherever it is going.

Recently this has happened to me.

A new person has come into my life that I find truly inspiring in so many ways. This person has enhanced my perception of the tracks we can follow in life and this has all occurred in a surprisingly short period of time.

This has led me to start this blog to record my likes and loves of all things, at this point I have decided to focus primarily on media... music, film, TV, the written word, websites, podcasts etc. Anything that I'm currently into (or not into!). Who knows where it will end up, but you have to start with something right?


I've done a couple of blogs in the past, but never anything serious with purpose. I hope this one may slowly build into an interesting source of inspiration for others. At the very least it will be a warm, safe haven for me to immortalise in print those transient thoughts and ideas that would otherwise escape me as they skip and bounce their merry dance round the universe.

Who is this inspiriational person? She goes by the name of Skene and all those who know her will not be surprised by any of this... te quiero mi noviecita preciosa x