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…
PROTEST: Norton Folgate Saved! – East London Advertiser
PRESERVATION: Property Developers Told – Rebuild Demolished Pub – The Independent
PROPERTY: Mayfair Penthouse for £30million – The National
ADVERTISING: London Billboard That Reacts to Emotions – bt.com
FASHION: Four Young London Designers Centre Stage – Huffington Post
CYCLING: 100 Cyclists Injured And Two Dead In One Year – Evening Standard
OLYMPICS: The Olympic Legacy Under the Microscope – The Guardian
CRICKET: Aussie Food & Drink For The Ashes Test at the Oval – South London Guardian
POETRY: Mysterious London Verse of Hope – Mashable
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.
With London Walks guide & comedian Andrew Lukas leading his History of Alternative Comedy Walk next Sunday 2nd August, we're pointing you in the direction of The Museum of Comedy…
We love our big, attention-grabbing museums here in London and we are spoiled for choice with blockbuster exhibitions the whole year round.
But even better yet are the tiny gems, the unsung heroes, the under-funded off-the-beaten-track collections, the like of which we covered in our recent London Museums Podcast.
The Comedy Museum is one such gem, describing itself thus:
Founded by Leicester Square Theatre director Martin Witts, the Museum of Comedy is an interactive, immersive museum for all the family, featuring iconic props and artefacts from our rich comedic history and housing one of the most comprehensive collections of Comedy memorabilia ever to be amassed in one place.
The museum has been lovingly put together by Martin with his collection of over six thousand artefacts and print from some the most iconic comedians and comedy shows both past and present, amassed during his career spanning over three decades in the comedy industry.
It's only £5 to get in, £4 concession children are free but must be accompanied by an adult. Check the opening times here: www.museumofcomedy.com/visit_us/opening_hours/
www.museumofcomedy.com
Museum of Comedy The Undercroft St George’s Church Bloomsbury Way London WC1A 2SR
Don't forget: London Walks guide Andrew Lukas will be leading his History of Alternative Comedy Walk on the 2nd August at 10:45a.m meeting at Leicester Square tube exit 1.
Walking & Footwear News
London Spy once wore a a pair of Converse All Star sneakers to an osteopath appointment – at which the osteopath simply barked a laugh out loud and said, "There's only one safe place to wear those shoes: in bed while asleep."
It seems that the folks at Converse have – at last! – attempted to tackle this issue…
Converse plans on answering this long-standing critique today when it unveils a spiffier, pricier version of the nearly century-old sneakers. The biggest upgrade in the Chuck II, as the company is calling the revamped shoes, comes with technology imported for the first time from corporate parent Nike. Lunarlon, a lightweight, bouncy foam used in Nike's running and basketball shoes, will now be found in Chuck's rubber sole.
Jim Calhoun, the 48-year-old chief executive of Converse, knows exactly what people say when they gripe about his shoes: "I love them, I just wish I could wear them for more than a couple hours." He knows from personal experience, too. During an interview last week at new headquarters in Boston's North End, Calhoun wore an untucked blue shirt, jeans, and black-and-white Chucks. Now he believes sneakers need to feel good to remain relevant. "Kids are growing up in a world where they know comfort, expect comfort, and won't stand for discomfort," Calhoun says.
Read the full story at bloomberg.com – and if you get a pair and find 'em useful, please drop us a line. We're always looking for good shoe recommendations!
On that topic, do check out our London Walks guides' guide to good boots and shoes HERE.
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We liked the following piece from The Debrief website this week. Despite the fact that we take great exception to the opening line: "Walking is the hot new cardio exercise". Pah! It's actually the COOL OLD cardio exercise, as any fule kno. Good piece otherwise – ;) – and we particularly like the idea of catching up with a Podcast while walking (if you can't join us on a London Walk, that is!)…
We <3 a="" all="" amateur="" american="" an="" and="" as="" ask="" at="" best="" big="" bonnie="" but="" can="" check="" critic="" debrief="" deliver="" dissecting="" ear="" episodes="" eye="" fancy="" film="" friend="" get="" girls="" good="" here="" hq.="" i="" if="" inside="" is="" it="" lab="" last="" least="" life.="" life="" listening.="" maude="" new.="" not="" of="" old="" on="" opening="" or="" out="" podcast="" questions.="" radio="" s="" science="" scoop="" sorry="" stop="" t="" that="" the="" then="" this="" time-starved="" to="" walks="" want="" weekly="" who="" with="" won="" world="" you="" your="" yourself="">
Full piece at www.thedebrief.co.uk
(And if you want a good podcast, try ours! Here's the link: www.londonwalks.podbean.com)
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Last word on walking & footwear: Don't try this at home, kids. Or anyone else's home, for that matter…
(The New York Daily News) A homeowner has accused her neighbourhood’s mailman of breaking into her home on Wednesday morning to try on a pair of thigh-high black boots while off-duty, local reports said.
Richard Ringer, a 39-year-old New Hampshire mailman, was arrested Wednesday after a woman said he broke into her home and tried on her black boots.
The woman discovered the intruder through a new motion-sensitive security camera that sent her phone an image of 39-year-old Rich Ringer sporting the footwear.
Read In London This Week
Thanks to @JestSetLisette for the following shout out on Twitter…
Absolutely loved the @londonwalks street art tour led by Pepe. A must do if in #London. #streetart #travel #uk pic.twitter.com/sbNXSnUVJH
— Jet Set Lisette (@JetSetLisette) July 22, 2015
Seen in London This Week…
Great to meet up with Rick Steves in London's East End last week. Rick was on a flying visit to update his invaluable London guide book. And he posted a short video on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ricksteves) giving us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life as a travel guru…
London Spy will return in September
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.
