For Sindiso Khumalo who is about to be propelled into London Fashion Week mayhem.
(via Wit & Delight)

Public Speaking

Fran Lebowitz reserves all her fears for writing. She has termed her terminal writer's block as a blockade.

*Apologies for leaving it so long and pausing on Arab architecture.

*Please watch Martin Scorsese's documentary on Fran. She did write in 1981 and since then has spoken for a living.

Arab Architecture

The RIBA are hosting two events as part of the Shubak festival. See here for my Phaidon profile.

Meeting up

Write on the back where and when. See here for details.

Novel on the tube

Tash looking oh so pretty by her Baker Street tube poster. Now go buy a copy of The Novel in the Viola.

Serpentine

Peter Zumthor designed this year's Serpentine pavilion. Click here for my Phaidon article.

Anyone for tennis?

Federer vs Nadal

WIM•BLE•DON from BRYANKU on Vimeo.

(via Seesaw Designs)

A woodturner

“I try to make bowls as my clients wish them to be. Often I will make a bowl out of wood from a well loved tree, so that the tree can live on after its natural death. All of my bowls are for everyday use for fruit, salad, cheese, or bread. As you use them they will gain the marks and patina of your household, they are not intended to be marooned on a shelf as an ornament.”

My aunt Katherine Hallgarten at work.

Alice Stevenson

I've been researching illustrators and remembered a friend of a friend's friend Alice Stevenson. She is a prolific book cover designer, one of which is featured on today's Design Sponge...The design makes me want to leap to Greece with the book in a straw bag.

Wit + Delight Tumblr

Pretty inspiration via Wit + Delight and the main reason I'd like to wear brogues today.

Film night

Long time readers will recall the last time Audrey and I tried to go to a Film4/ Somerset House 2010 summer film night. See here for a reminder. We plan to try again as Pedro Almodóvar's latest, The Skin I live In, will be screened on the 27 July. Picnic baskets should be designed to fit golfing umbrellas.

Barbican 2012 announced

Book for Binoche, Blanchett and Bausch tickets at the Barbican. Make a note for the Bauhaus exhibition too. Barbican, I salute your programming. If you like to plan for tomorrow and never for next year, take a deep breath out, tap a few keys and book. And then revel in the fact that the Barbican has made you a planner.

Wedding

Check out my other blog, garden wedding. It's a mood board more than anything else. A slapdash, doesn't that look lush, let's cut and paste blog. So nothing fancy but lots of garden wedding shots. Really it's so I don't send you unopened envelopes with countless wedding images!
(image via J Crew)

The Riding House Cafe - ask for The Rachel

Tash and David told me about their local cafe. David and I sat in the red lounge booths sampling the divine tapas (purse friendly £3, £4, £5 options). 10 days later we went in again. We were not around around the corner and just popping by. This was a real destination, let's head to Warren Street supper option. I asked for a non-alcoholic and no cane sugar cocktail. The mixologist proudly created a Spring mint concoction and named it The Rachel. He made a note of the ingredients in case I come back. That my friends, is service!
** update: David said "you know he names one for everyone who asks, right?" Killjoy.

High Street Main Street

Have a read of my sister-in-law Sara's new blog, High Street Main Street. As an American living in north London and town planning expert, she has a transatlantic perspective on what makes our local streets work. What makes a livable place? For answers..

Phewf! Hello again

So it's just about June and the last time I was here it was April. It's been so long we might need to invent a word. Phewf it is. Let me update you a little. In the last few weeks I've been working on:
Southbank Centre's Festival of Britain 60th Anniversary for the Black Country Atelier
Writing articles for Phaidon and Urban Junkies

I've been enjoying:
Cycling in Copenhagen and going to an art gallery by the sea
Listening to a John Cage concert at the Southbank Centre
Eating artichokes at St John
Reading John Berger's new book
Introducing David's whole family to my whole family. Thank you Hendon bagels for the rugelach. Rugelach brings families together.

And I turned 30! The day brought a big surprise. More about this in a short while.

Hope you have been well. Tell me all..

(image via The Ceder Room)

A feast meets live art. Tableau Vivant is an art installation, a performance, a history lesson and a decadent meal on Vyner street. April's theme is Dissecting Sebastian and the menu as follows:

ACT I: STARTER - YOUTH
Goats cheese mousseline with slow roasted beetroot, parmesan and walnut crisps
ACT II : MAIN - BEAUTY
Rolled spiced pork belly stuffed with apricots and prunes wilted
spinach roasted root vegetables
ACT III : DESSERT - DEATH
Profiteroles filled with 3 different creams, orange, rose water and
pistachio and a chocolate cardamon sauce

honey bee

Liv: What would you like for your birthday?
Rachel: Your visual knowledge for a year.
Liv: seriously
Rachel: Well, could we go beekeeping
Liv: seriously?
Rachel: YES! Local honey helps hayfever. Not that I get hayfever.
Liv: Well, I know the beekeeper at Hackney City farm..
Rachel: Of course you do. I don't want a whole course or anything. It might just be an afternoon fad. Or I could well become a beekeeper.

(looking forward to 30 candles)

Wedding

My wonderful friends Katie and Ollie are getting married at the Villa Ephrussi in July and I can't wait!
(the villa was recently profiled on the always pitch-perfect SeaSaw Designs)

A Bowery lift

Foster + Partners have designed a 12 by 20 foot moving gallery room in NY.