London had me where I was supposed to be, fresh from my Queer book experience I found myself at King's Cross! The way for me was East, taking the London Overground saw me embracing those 'Shoreditch High Street' settings. The 'hipster' scene is not for me, I do not align with that part of society! Oh, 'Brick Lane' gave me another chance, I stayed sober for once!
My brief 'London Overground' moment had me truly feeling like a 'London City Boy' because those connections were becoming normal to me! Those visa anxieties had been replaced with a return visit to East London with a whole new journey in front of me! I actually couldn't help myself, getting out and about 'East London' bound felt bang on the mark! I had last visited East London in June 2015 during my original China visa run trip. Trading 'Columbia Road Flower Market' for a rather rainy January 'Brick Lane' had to be done! Hey, I needed to wait because 'Shoreditch High Street' greeted me first, walking down 'Sclater Street' had me passing judgment at those former 'East London' boozers because they served some 'hipster' nonsense and then some! You know what? Each to their own, this part of London has a new groove and with that those 'artist' types keep me curious because this part of the 'East' served something new since the West Midlands could never! Miss Birmingham is trying to transform herself, no!
The weather did not want to play ball, East London wasn't trying to do me wrong but I did wonder! That was some Shoreditch shady shade! For real, I was hungry because that 'Victorian Public Toilet' brunch moment satisfied me no more. London, were you for real? Like, no? Making mine a 'salt beef bagel' before any of those hipsters could ever try me, I wasn't playing! Britain's First & Best? Now, that was some bold claim for 'Brick Lane's' own 'Beigel Shop! Yes, East London's Brick Lane served me a whole history lesson with 'Jewish Realness' at the heart of it all! Bagels have been baked at the 'Beigel Shop' since 1855 within the heart of 'Jewish East London' as a Kosher staple for all to enjoy! Nowadays, this 24/7 operation keeps serving up those bagels 365 days per year, that's some industrious flex! I loved my bagel, not even the rain would dampen my mood! Keeping it Kosher, that was sure the plan! I couldn't lie, that 'salt beef' tasted amazing, I wanted another served up! Brick Lane was hitting different! E1, I said that B!
Nothing had changed since my last visit, if truth be told I am referring back to my 2014 boozed up summer visit! Honestly, 2023 saw me with my head screwed on and with a tight schedule, I kept things civilised. Leaving those flowers out in the rain, I first found 'Brick Lane' during the summer of 2014, visiting after I had finished university felt like the right thing to do. With a bed going spare at my parents then pub in Shad Thames, that 'funky' London area was on my temporary doorstep! Straight up, the weather had me feeling very thirsty, fast forward 9 years into the future and that sober situation impressed me much! Sure, I saved my pennies for my bagel and a pint but those boutique shops had my attention! No NYC like purchases were made, sure those establishments reminded me of those 'Greenwich Village' fashion houses. Brick Lane respected my tightfisted nature because I wanted to keep things together. What was that smell? Baby, that herbal street infusion had my senses on a different level! East London, kept it wavy!
The area surrounding Brick Lane tried to serve it like New York City's 'Bushwick' does with art galleries and 'off the wall' murals on display. As I walked down Brick Lane, I did see a serving of 'Walford' with general store fronts, a certain smattering of 'East End Charm' shone through the gentrification. Oh, what a to do! Yes! I wanted something alcoholic to drink but had Brick Lane's own 'Truman Brewery' on my radar. Did I find a beer? No, I changed my plan because the weather at that point, well it wasn't impressing me much! Not at all! It wasn't meant to be and for that I wasn't mad. Clocking a certain 'mishmash' street art display sure impressed me! The pig with a police hat on, well you know the rest because it served 'realism!' 'Straight Outta Brick Lane?' Damn right, I loved that corner of that 'East End' postcode. Keeping things moving, I turned down those lunchtime curry cravings because I had dined on that fare before. I wanted a bite to eat in Clapham! Brick Lane had me where she wanted me, I didn't protest! Let's get it, L!
I had squeezed quite a lot since my 'London Overground' train had shunted me from 'King's Cross' over to 'Shoreditch High Street. From 'Fitzrovia' to one of London's many 'Box Park' locations, those London settings kept me busy! Brick Lane kept on the beat, whilst the weather did the most and for that those raindrops made getting from place to place, well quite messy! My banging 'Beigel' taught me a lesson about London's 'Jewish East End' and then some, sure that Kosher treat tasted mighty fine! Keeping things sober paid well, I didn't make those 2014 tracks again, that has been mentioned enough. I did well, I know! Proud of myself, that's what I was! Sure! Window shopping was all I did as I walked past those 'enticing' looking shops, sure a smattering of 'East End' charm did remain. Truly, thinking about that snatched day to London in March 2022, how I made that East End chapter count and then some! Perspective truly is everything! Oh, you didn't think I would be leaving E1 without that drink? Never say never, B!
The 'Ten Bells Pub' didn't have my attention because getting boozy wasn't on my radar, I am grown now! That's a lie but time wasn't going to stand still for me, I had time for one pint of something craft like, I needed to find the Northern Line! Making tracks back to the 'Commercial Tavern' took me right back to that 'Old Rosie' fueled visit. Honestly, that summertime day didn't stand a chance with that formerly 7.3% cloudy cider! I did ask at the bar whether they still sold 'Old Rosie' but with a change of brewery that safeguarded my temporary sobriety. I loved my one and only pint of the day, well at that point! I sat back with the full view of the pub in my sights, those magazine covers still made the walls look like they did during that first visit. The weather turned things upside down but with the same spirit, those memories came back to me! With that one pint enjoyed, I moved on! There's no certainty when my next trip to London will be, 2023 took me there again at least! Taking a Tube, I headed for Clapham Common pre-sunset. Go, go!
Those Kosher Beigels!Desperately Seeking Adventure
