02 July 2017
I've Been Everywhere
Not really. Just not on here. SORRY.
(I was also looking for a good excuse to get some Cash in here. You're welcome.)
It's been a month. A year? Let's just leave it at - it's been hectic. But I'm working on it - I am coming back! Big things are happening - you'll just have to wait for it.
Barcelona, Brighton, Liverpool, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, and of course, my one true love - London - have taken up my life lately, and there will be recaps. But today, we're talking about something even better. BURGERS AND BEER.
Before I disappeared to America for the month of June, isolated from my Macbook due to plug adapter issues, the lovely team at
The Diner can be found all across London, serving you up the best of America. Burgers, hot dogs, chilli cheese fries, You name it, they'll have it. Even better? They've got a fab rooftop bar so you can have the best of both worlds - burgers, booze, and sweet, sweet sunshine.
We spend the evening in the sunset, packed with a DJ, break-dancer, and all the food and booze your hungry heart could want. My verdict? RECOMMEND.
You can find The Diner in 8 locations across London - find them and their packed menu HERE. And when you do go - take me with you. CHEESE FRIES.
13 October 2016
Beer Pong, Selfies, and Skewers
Last month, we were invited by the lovely
PR & Everything Inbetween to come and check out GEM Bar – a chic cocktail
bar right in the heart of Soho. With the
location on point, we knew it would be a place we wanted to see.
Walking into GEM, the décor took me
straight into the New York Subway – filled with colourful and eclectic graffiti
art, there was an edgy vibe to the bar. And you can even add your own designs
to the chalkboard walls along first floor – which, of course, we did. Not to mention the beer pong table they have
in the side room of the bar – we definitely partook a bit too much in that too.
Hey – we’re American. It’s in our blood.
The downstairs bar is a bit more refined
and classic. I use that with loose terms, though, as we found the world’s greatest
selfie mirror near the cloakroom. You stand in front of the full-size mirror,
and once the picture is taken, you can pick a frame, add your own drawings, and
with the touch-screen inside the mirror, voila! Prints in seconds for a perfect
momento of the night. We may have gone a bit overboard, and possibly took
around 8 or so photos … but who’s counting?
The menu was filled with delicious cocktails
and tasty treats, all that we were able to have a try of. My favourite drink of
the night was most definitely the Bounty Hunter; an amazing chocolate &
coconut cocktail with chocolate liquor Bacardi. Too good!
As a veggie, the starters menu was
absolutely spot on as well. We had a
vegetarian sharing plate that included halloumi and roasted pepper skewers,
sweet potato fries, and my personal favourite, cream cheese stuffed peppers –
all which complemented the cocktails just right.
GEM Bar is perfect for a girls night out (didn’t
you hear me? Selfie mirror and chocolate martinis!), or an evening out with the
lads for some beer pong and food.
The cocktails and yummy sharing platters
make it the perfect spot for some post-work fun as well!
Check out GEM Bar’s website for their
cocktails & platters, and make sure you get in for a visit! Located right
between Kingly and Regent Street in Soho, you’ve got no excuse not to pop in
for a well-deserved drink (or three!)
21 July 2016
Impossible Live - Noel Coward Theatre
A break-dancing card shark, a blindfolded crossbow daredevil, and a SOMETHING walk into a theatre...
Could be a lame joke, or a true story. AKA - my night at Impossible on the West End.
Last week, Heather and I headed out into the world of magic at the Noel Coward Theatre. Packed in with all walks of life - children, seniors, tourists, and locals - we were ready (or hoping) to be amazed.
There were a few tricks that I had seen or learned before through growing up or common sense, but the best parts of the show came from mind reader Chris Cox and stuntman Jonathan Goodwin. And I'll mention Ben Hart because he managed to take someone out of the audience and move her from one side of the stage to the other, but I'm slightly bitter that I wasn't chosen for that trick...
Chris Cox - an overly excited, goofy guy dressed in suspenders and a bow-tie, went through the audience at random, guessing names, thoughts, even down to what people had for lunch that day. Pulling up volunteers to choose outfits from behind a dressing curtain, he was spot on with just about everything. I'm STILL baffled by how he's able to do this!
The best way to explain Jonathan Goodwin probably comes straight from his bio -
'Jonathan has been hanged, buried alive, hung from helicopters, free solo’d skyscrapers, and performed a straitjacket escape from a burning rope hanging 300ft up in the air from the London Eye.'
Hm. Okay Jonathan. You do you.
We managed to see him do a few of these tricks - well, the audience did. I closed my eyes. It's a little much for me to watch someone shoot a crossbow at his wife blindfolded. But he did just that, and many more over-the-scale insane tasks.
The entire group was full of crowd-pleasers, and the show came full circle in the end by bringing up a young aspiring magician to help out with a trick. And we did leave the theatre in a full-on 15 minute 'How did they do that???' conversation, so I'd call the show a success.
Impossible runs at the Noel Coward Theatre until 27 August 2016. Show times are from Monday - Saturday 730PM, with 2PM matinees on Tuesday and Saturday. To get the best deals on tickets, visit boxoffice.co.uk to grab your seats now!
18 June 2016
Night Sorted at CopaCabana
Imagine this - a beach chair right on the water, Brazilian Caipirinhas, and all the chicken and chips you can eat. And to top it off - doughballs with Nutella. Yes - NUTELLA.
Lucky for me - this was a reality. Right along Southbank, Cabana has partnered up with the Southbank Centre to create CopaCabanaBeach, a summer pop up in celebration of the Rio Olympics.
Rachel (find her at Lunching Above Our Weight) and I hit up CopaCabanaBeach after work last week because - well, because rum. We walked up to a food truck with a bar linked to it, filled with beanbags and beach chairs to lounge under the summer sun (I use that loosely - remember, we ARE in London...).
A range of Brazilian cocktails with a side of sweet potato fries and malagueta chicken, which Rachel assured me was absolutely fantastic. Followed by their chocolate rain donuts and some champagne, the night could not have been better.
Mouth watering of too many rum cravings now? Worry not - this pop up will be on Southbank for the remainder of the summer. And not just that - Cabana has got locations all over London with even more goodies on their menu, so you can hit them up year-round. Rachel and I already have plans to grab a bite at their Covent Garden location this week.
Just. Too. Good.
Find more information about their locations & menu on their website, HERE!
Lucky for me - this was a reality. Right along Southbank, Cabana has partnered up with the Southbank Centre to create CopaCabanaBeach, a summer pop up in celebration of the Rio Olympics.
Rachel (find her at Lunching Above Our Weight) and I hit up CopaCabanaBeach after work last week because - well, because rum. We walked up to a food truck with a bar linked to it, filled with beanbags and beach chairs to lounge under the summer sun (I use that loosely - remember, we ARE in London...).
Mouth watering of too many rum cravings now? Worry not - this pop up will be on Southbank for the remainder of the summer. And not just that - Cabana has got locations all over London with even more goodies on their menu, so you can hit them up year-round. Rachel and I already have plans to grab a bite at their Covent Garden location this week.
Just. Too. Good.
Find more information about their locations & menu on their website, HERE!
Night Sorted at CopaCabana
Imagine this - a beach chair right on the water, Brazilian Caipirinhas, and all the chicken and chips you can eat. And to top it off - doughballs with Nutella. Yes - NUTELLA.
Lucky for me - this was a reality. Right along Southbank, Cabana has partnered up with the Southbank Centre to create CopaCabanaBeach, a summer pop up in celebration of the Rio Olympics.
Rachel (find her at Lunching Above Our Weight) and I hit up CopaCabanaBeach after work last week because - well, because rum. We walked up to a food truck with a bar linked to it, filled with beanbags and beach chairs to lounge under the summer sun (I use that loosely - remember, we ARE in London...).
A range of Brazilian cocktails with a side of sweet potato fries and malagueta chicken, which Rachel assured me was absolutely fantastic. Followed by their chocolate rain donuts and some champagne, the night could not have been better.
Mouth watering of too many rum cravings now? Worry not - this pop up will be on Southbank for the remainder of the summer. And not just that - Cabana has got locations all over London with even more goodies on their menu, so you can hit them up year-round. Rachel and I already have plans to grab a bite at their Covent Garden location this week.
Just. Too. Good.
Find more information about their locations & menu on their website, HERE!
Lucky for me - this was a reality. Right along Southbank, Cabana has partnered up with the Southbank Centre to create CopaCabanaBeach, a summer pop up in celebration of the Rio Olympics.
Rachel (find her at Lunching Above Our Weight) and I hit up CopaCabanaBeach after work last week because - well, because rum. We walked up to a food truck with a bar linked to it, filled with beanbags and beach chairs to lounge under the summer sun (I use that loosely - remember, we ARE in London...).
Mouth watering of too many rum cravings now? Worry not - this pop up will be on Southbank for the remainder of the summer. And not just that - Cabana has got locations all over London with even more goodies on their menu, so you can hit them up year-round. Rachel and I already have plans to grab a bite at their Covent Garden location this week.
Just. Too. Good.
Find more information about their locations & menu on their website, HERE!
08 June 2016
Sunshine, Steel Drums, and So Much Rum
Its summertime in London and you know what that means! Rain, rain, and more rain.
This cold, rainy summer weather has left me wanting
to escape to a warmer, tropical location with fruity drinks and the
sound of steel drums. Luckily, I had to go no further in Central
London! Caity and I were lucky enough to be invited
to a tropical Jamaican getaway pop-up in the heart of Soho Square by
Sugar Dumplin' Rum Shack. As we walked in sound of steel drums and happy
chatter filled the air. We were greeted by a tropical bar with more
drink choices than we could choose from. They
had a Jamaican Mojito with Golden Rum Appleton Signature, a Bahama Mama
which has spiced rum, bananas and tropical fruit juice and so many
more. We both decided on a Rum Runner which consisted of dark rum and
banana and blackberry liquor. Delish!
As we passed the steel drums to the back we could
smell the delicious Jamaican BBQ that was being prepared outside. Our
options available were some of the best pick from their menu. The Jerk
Chicken was covered in Jerk Sauce and topped
sliced chilli and spring onions. For the veggies out there, Sugar
Dumplin has a delicious Butternut Squash & Chickpea Creole. This
had roasted butternut, chickpeas, spinach and coconut in a creole style
tomato sauce. Their third dish was Escovitch Fish
which consisted of a lightly friend red snapper served with an
Escovitch Sause. All dishes were served with Rice ‘N’ Peas and had the
option to be topped with some delicious slaw and sweet and spicy sauce. After licking my plate I decided that BBQ Jamaican
food was now at the top of my favourite food list.
Surgar Dumplin currently have locations in Glasgow
and Camberley and looking to expand into London Territory. Our escape
into Sugar Dumplin Rum Shack was a tropical destination in the heart of a
cold bustling London and it was jusdt what
we needed. If you have the opportunity to visit one of their locations
around the UK I highly recommend it, you wont be disappoint. Watch out
for a London based Sugar Dumplin near you!
15 May 2016
So -- What Happened?
The last time I wrote in here - I was
finishing up a Master's Degree, well into an internship I was hoping
would take me somewhere, and still in that anxious uncertainty of
wondering where I would be in 4 months time.
So - what happened?
It was a few jobs through, a few more internships after that, one hell of a final paper, and a rejection or two from the UK government, but to be able to say this makes me prouder than anything I've ever done in my life.
WE DID IT.
Two crazy Americans with even crazier dreams, moved across the world together to accomplish something that not many folks can pull off. And not even one of us managed it - but we both did.
I've been with my company since July, and got my work visa in January. We're in a new flat in Fulham. We started a music events company and have put on some pretty wild gigs. I work 5 days a week and complain about how busy the tube is at rush hour. I grab a few pints at the local bars around for post-work happy hour. We spend weekends at the parks, or wandering around a market. Life is so normal - and I couldn't be happier.
I've always said I felt like I belonged here. But now, it's a reality. London is my home.
Damn that sounds good to say.
17 July 2015
Fab Four Friday
Being (probably overly) intertwined in the coolest community in the world - The Beatles -
I made a friend who offered to give me a backstage peek at Let It Be Live, currently playing at the Garrick Theatre.
Theatre ... and The Beatles ...
As if I could ever be more in my element than this day.
We got to watch a bit of soundcheck from all over the theatre,
and I'm back to report that YES - the view from the box is actually as good as they say.
Making our way backstage, we saw sound guys doing sound things, recreated guitars
(mighty fine & almost exact, I will say!),
and the many many costumes that are used throughout the night.
And more guitars. A LOT of guitars.
And no - was not successful in taking one home with me.
There's always next time.
How many can you name?
We also got a glimpse from the stage,
where we could get a view of what the guys see every night.
I'll tell you - imagining a sold out house felt incredible in an empty theatre;
I can't begin to understand how thrilling it would be when it's actually real.
While I tried and tried,
ultimately I was shot down as a sub-drummer for the night.
It just seemed like SUCH a big deal that I've never really played before?
I didn't get it either.
'John' has got a mini set list underneath the piano to follow with,
along with a few starting words to a certain song to help him remember the lyric order.
Which I thank him for - because after seeing that, I'm never going to forget that order either.
It was very cool to see how the show looks from the other point of view.
And I'd never actually been on a West End stage before, so I was a bit giddy about that too.
And having the centerfold for this entire visit was The Beatles.
And there's nooooooooothing in the world I like more than some rousing good ol' Beatles things!
Let It Be Live runs at the Garrick until 5 September 2015 - see it while you can!
Performances run from Monday - Saturday 7:30PM with matinees Thursday & Saturday 3:00PM.
Get your tickets HERE.
10 July 2015
Fab Four Friday
This will forever be one of my favorite Beatles tunes.
Just because it's great.
And sometimes you don't need a better reason than that.
We Can Work It Out has two distinct melodies in it - both way too catchy.
I remember the first time I really heard a lot of Beatles songs, and this is one of the most memorable.
On our first visit to the Cavern Club, we decided to catch the tribute band that plays on Saturday nights,
and this song specifically played, and I was - of course - jamming hard.
The next day we woke up in the hostel, I was talking to Heather about the songs I knew and liked.
And I specifically remember saying,
"There was this one that is really fast, then gets really slow, then it gets fast again... and that's the only way I can describe it.."
& Heather was all - "OKAY. I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT"
We spent about 20 minutes searching on her iTunes because it was right on the tip of her tongue.
Really slow .. then really fast .. then gets really slow .. then fast again ..
Um .. what?
She finally found it and absolutely knew it was the exact song I was talking about.
And I still tell her to this day I will never be more impressed by anything she does after finding that song
from that poor, poor description.
FUN FACTS:
- The song was recorded in only two days, amounting to about 11 hours.
- The song was written about arguments with Paul's then girlfriend Jane Asher.
Who I love. And hope Paul is still regretting ruining the relationship.
Because, to put it simply - Jane. Is Perfect.
- It was released as a double a-side single with Day Tripper.
There were disputes about which song should be the a-side and which the b-side.
So instead of figuring out who gets their way,
they just went on and made them both a-sides - releasing the world's first double a-sided singles.
Because they are THE BEATLES. And they can do whatever the hell they want.
I could watch the promo videos for this over and over.
How cute is Paul cracking up at John - they're having so much fun!
JUST THE GREATEST DUO EVER.
Just because it's great.
And sometimes you don't need a better reason than that.
We Can Work It Out has two distinct melodies in it - both way too catchy.
I remember the first time I really heard a lot of Beatles songs, and this is one of the most memorable.
On our first visit to the Cavern Club, we decided to catch the tribute band that plays on Saturday nights,
and this song specifically played, and I was - of course - jamming hard.
The next day we woke up in the hostel, I was talking to Heather about the songs I knew and liked.
And I specifically remember saying,
"There was this one that is really fast, then gets really slow, then it gets fast again... and that's the only way I can describe it.."
& Heather was all - "OKAY. I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT"
We spent about 20 minutes searching on her iTunes because it was right on the tip of her tongue.
Really slow .. then really fast .. then gets really slow .. then fast again ..
Um .. what?
She finally found it and absolutely knew it was the exact song I was talking about.
And I still tell her to this day I will never be more impressed by anything she does after finding that song
from that poor, poor description.
FUN FACTS:
- The song was recorded in only two days, amounting to about 11 hours.
- The song was written about arguments with Paul's then girlfriend Jane Asher.
Who I love. And hope Paul is still regretting ruining the relationship.
Because, to put it simply - Jane. Is Perfect.
- It was released as a double a-side single with Day Tripper.
There were disputes about which song should be the a-side and which the b-side.
So instead of figuring out who gets their way,
they just went on and made them both a-sides - releasing the world's first double a-sided singles.
Because they are THE BEATLES. And they can do whatever the hell they want.
I could watch the promo videos for this over and over.
How cute is Paul cracking up at John - they're having so much fun!
JUST THE GREATEST DUO EVER.
09 July 2015
Boozing for Brunch at Scarlets
Last weekend I was invited to check out the new & chic restaurant right in the heart of Covent Garden, Scarlet's.
And lucky for Heather and I, this brunch happened to be on the Fourth of July.
As the annoying American's the world knows best, of course we were celebrating.
A boozy brunch? What a perfect way to start.
We were welcomed with a delicious Bellini on arrival,
and after this being the second time it happening,
I'm thinking about sending in a formal request to everywhere I show up to, for champagne at the door.
Brunch, bars, work, home ... does it really matter where? It's Champagne.
And lucky for Heather and I, this brunch happened to be on the Fourth of July.
As the annoying American's the world knows best, of course we were celebrating.
A boozy brunch? What a perfect way to start.
We were welcomed with a delicious Bellini on arrival,
and after this being the second time it happening,
I'm thinking about sending in a formal request to everywhere I show up to, for champagne at the door.
Brunch, bars, work, home ... does it really matter where? It's Champagne.
ANYWAYS.
Scarlet's is a gorgeous place, filled with cute vintage-like furniture, wall hangings, and lights.
Flowers on the tables, water-colored menus - cute enough to contemplate if they could design my next flat's decor.
We were given Bloody Mary's to start the brunch with
which, while they aren't my thing, Heather downed hers. So you know it was good.
I grabbed a Rum Punch once the waiter came by and woooooow was it delicious!
Fruity, tangy, and very rummy - I absolutely loved it.
The food was just as tasty as the drinks we had before.
I ordered an Eggs Florentine - which I had never had before - and I think my life has changed forever.
These eggs were PERFECTLY poached, and the creamy hollandaise just completed it.
I was full as could be, but I could have easily eaten another one.
To finish off, we were given the new Alcoholic Popsicles to sample.
These come in three flavors - Mojito, Gin & Tonic, and Vodka & Perrier - all with fruit frozen inside.
Literally, I couldn't think of anything else except, 'this is what summer tastes like.'
AKA - Delicious. So good.
The morning was a great way to start off the day,
which was later filled with the only things that really matter in the USA;
more alcohol, country music, and a disgusting, overbearing amount of red, white, and blue.
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