It's our weekly London roundup starting with a few headlines that caught the eye in London over the last week or so, click the links for the full stories…
CAMPAIGN: London Walks guide Judy has alerted us to another East End campaign. "It's Norton Folgate all over again," she said
Sainsbury’s have submitted plans to Tower Hamlets Council for an over-sized development of their megastore in Whitechapel, east London.
Whitechapel is a diverse and ever changing area, which makes its character all the richer. However the proposals, based primarily on cashing in on high value apartments, causes irreversible harm to the surrounding community and environment.
Sing the petition HERE: www.change.org
And share the message with the hashtag #stopsainsburyssavewhitechapel
PHOTOGRAPHY: A year in the life of a South London priest…
Chances are that when you think of a vicar, your mind leaps straight to a peaceful village in the Home Counties, and possibly to a neat table laid out with biscuits in the church hall.
Photographer Jim Grover captures a rather different world in his series Of Things Not Seen: A Year in the Life of a London Priest, now on display at the Oxo Tower.
He followed his own local vicar Kit Gunasekera round his south London parish for a year, observing an oft-overlooked aspect of our city. It's a frequently prosaic story, encompassing bus stops and care homes, food banks and community groups.
Of Things Not Seen: A Year in the Life of a London Priest is at gallery@oxo until 20 March 2016. Admission is free.
Story spotted on The Londonist, read it here.
In Brief…
SUPER TUESDAY: Expats Flock to Vote – Evening Standard
ENVIRONMENT: London Worst In England for Renewable Energy – Business Green
SOCIETY: Anti-Corruption Campaigner Leads "Kleptocracy Tours" Exposing DirtyMoney – The Guardian
US POLITICS: Democrats In London Go For Bernie – Huff Post
TRANSPORT: More Segregated Cycle Lanes – The Independent
TUBE: The Night Tube – Where & When – Daily Express
SPORT: London's NFL Star – Evening Standard
FOOD: London Bus Turn into A Restaurant in El Paso – Whats Up Pub
DC Catch-Up
Stories you may have missed on The Daily Constitutional this past week…
Our regular Monday photoblog In & Around London called in on Portobello Road Market
We liked this sign down Twickenham way…
… and blogged about it under the headline The Estate Agent's Nightmare on Tuesday.
It was World Book Day here in the UK and I turned my #plaque366 series over to authors familiar to children: Charles Dickens, HG Wells , J.M Barrie and Enid Blyton .
On World Book Day (Thursday) I added Panel 31 to my Cartoon & Comic Book Tour of London – M Sasek's classic This Is London
Also on Thursday David blogged about pedometers and step counters.
On Friday I marked the 39th anniversary of the Clash's first album in the regular slot Friday Is Rock'n'Roll London Day
If You Do One
OTHER Thing In London…
Our weekly slot in which we point you in the direction of other happenings and events in our great city. A new exhibition, a gig, a museum, a pop-up-shop – the best of London within a few minutes of aLondon Walkswalking tour.
The Royal Festival Hall has operated an open foyer policy since the 1980s. This famous music venue – built for the Festival of Britain back in 1951 – fairly sings the whole day with cafes, dancing and, of course, music. The public viewing gallery is one of the best vantage points in central London and it's free. The viewing gallery can also be booked for weddings – a wonderful backdrop for the wedding pics.
At the moment there's a fascinating mini exhibit taking place on level 2 looking at the genesis of the RFH and the Festival of Britain.
Royal Festival Hall is also home to The Poetry Library. www.poetrylibrary.org.uk
The Royal Festival Hall is open daily from 10am to 11pm
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/venues/royal-festival-hall
Walking &
Footwear News
Someone has come up with a solution to the dangers of texting while walking: the phone periscope:
Distracted walking is so pervasive that it yielded the invention of a gimmicky phone prism called the Urban Periscope, meant to help us interact with phones and the world at the same time. It works by redirecting your vision 90 degrees. This allows the user to stare down at their phone while also seeing what’s directly in front of them.
Someone else – me – has come up with an even simpler solution…
JUST WATCH WHERE THE HELL YOU'RE GOING AND STOP FARTING ABOUT WITH YOUR PHONE.
There. God knows why I'm not Prime Minister.
Read the full story on PSFK here: www.psfk.com
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Seen in London This Week
We enjoyed this sightseeing recommendation from Daily Constitutionalist Kate Griffiths…
@londonwalks interesting blog! Don't forget a visit to the posh Jubiloos on the south bank pic.twitter.com/OQCS3qjZAc — Kate Griffiths (@katesfxmakeup) March 4, 2016
Thanks Kate!
Smelled In London This Week
They've got all new stock in the basement at Quinto Books. Go and have a sniff for yourselves…
They've got new stock the basement at @QuintoBookshop! #AahTheSmellOfOldBooks pic.twitter.com/FydIsdQ3pe — Adam Scott (@AdamScottG) March 4, 2016
Seen In London This Week 2
Tonight – Saturday 6th March – is the last night of London Walks guide Richard III's play Whistleblower at Waterloo East Theatre. I caught up with it on Thursday and it was a fantastic night of theater – information-dense but intensely dramatic, expertly structured and vividly staged. Congratulations to Richard and the cast – I'll update you on this blog with any future developments with this and all future plays by Richard.
Seen in London This Week 3
Best London Dog Of The Week AND Best London Shoes – spotted at King's Cross Station on Friday…
Last Word
With David on holiday I've been leading the Kensington Walk on Thursdays for three weeks in-a-row - always a pleasure, never a chore. In the process I've enjoyed some fantastic winter sunsets…
London Spy will return next Saturday. Have a great London Week!
A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at www.walks.com.
