weequizzie

I hit up the soft launch of Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar on Saturday night. 50% off food? Yes, please. Downstairs from the restaurant, is a dark, tiled, slippy space that unashamedly smacks of its stripper past. We were parked on stools at the end of the bar which suited us as we were plied with cocktail samples and at close quarters with the staffs’ shirt collection – it’s vast – sort of Ace Ventura meets some 80s film with Matthew Broderick in. The rest of the bar (60 covers) is all booths, high tables and stools.

We ate burgers, chips and chicken wings. We wanted the lobster roll but, of course, it was off the menu at the soft launch. They should have removed it from the menu as we witnessed pretty much everyone ask for it, only to be told they couldn’t have it. Oh, disappointment weighs down with such heavy memory. The burgers were awesome, as they should be, it’s Hawksmoor. The menu includes other meaty treats – hot dogs, chicken burgers, poutine… Drinks were good, ten to choose from and we downed a few and they were all decent, the Green and Red Margarita probably won it for me, the Nuclear Banana was a dinner in itself and the Marmalade Cocktail was suitably decadent. Service was good, well-shirted and attentive.

I see it as a haven for men wearing suits that don’t fit, drinking man-cocktails, thinking they’re Don Draper, dicks cushioned in expensive underwear that should have their name sewn in, burger juice dribbling down chins. If you go: sit at the bar, definitely don’t take a date, take your mate, get pissed, eat burgers. I’ll probably be back, but not for the lobster roll.

Nuclear Banana (Apologies for the lame-o dark Instagram.)

BERG receipt design via Dezeen. I love it. Information. Information. Information. Feed us with the lovely information. Check out the BERG blog for even more information. Go on, create more pixels.

Got me some new birthday nails courtesy of Wah.

I got my nails WAH-ed with Janey Mac. It’s amazing, seriously amazing. Great, quick service and they last. I had mine done on Wednesday eve and they’re still as perfect as when I left the shop, and I’ve done a lot of washing dishes since then. I chose Essie Chinchilly with black leopard and Janey went for the Essie Lollipop. Magical. I love my wee tiny nails now. Respect the WAH!

Next time I’m getting the zebra.

And staying on the grey tip I thought I’d wear my lovely buckle wedges from Office. I don’t normally dig wedges, but these, these beautiful things are very different.

and it was good, although everyone around us seemed to have two brunches each – is that the way brunch works? Have I missed something?

Village East

of the day we went for a wee walk.

If you go to Columbia Road you won’t miss Nelly Duff, it’s impossible not to want to be inside this print store. I need to start saving money to buy some decent art, innit. If I had the cash monies I’d be down there now handing over the readies for these:

So, my studio recently moved from (the supposedly hip) Shoreditch to (the less hip but supposedly more arty) Battersea. I was trying to think about what’s good in Battersea and I was left with two thoughts – Albert Bridge and Battersea Power Station. Albert Bridge because it’s pink and blue, and Battersea Power Station because it’s right and honest – if it was your friend, it would tell you it straight.

We’re having a week of staycation at the end of July to celebrate the end of Maffews’ arduous but worthy trek to become the bestest architect ever, and we’re going to have a vacation once he’s slayed his tutors with his terrifyingly amazing interview in September. Well done Maffews! The vacation will be a last minute cheapo job in the sun and this pre-vacation staycation is going to ruuuule.

So, what do you do in London for a whole week? This:

1. Have Maffews’ amazing mum come to stay for a day – drink pink sparkles and laugh.
2. Go to the London Aquarium and swim with the fishes.
3. Eat delicious food at Comptoir Gascon.
4. Scope out amazing cupcakes at Hummingbird Bakery or Candy Cakes.
5. Go for bike rides come rain or shine.
6. Read books and lie on grass.
7. Go to Brockwell Lido.
8. Eat sashimi.
9. Go to Walking In My Mind at the Southbank Centre and hopefully get freaked out by how freaking amazing it is.
10. Watch Maffews take pikkers and take Diana back out into the light for some fun.
11. Eat tummy pleasing breakfast delovelies at Franklins on Lordship Lane but don’t have the OJ AND coffee – tummy says “no, no, no”.
12. Hang with the sweetastic super-auntie Janey Mac – eat super delicious dinner, drink gin and maybe sit out on the stoop.
13. Walk, walk, walk and talk, talk, talk, hold hands, drink Guinness and think, think, think.

Oh, and go to Paris on the Eurostar! Unfortunately this isn’t Andy and Emma fun, this is Janey B and Emma fun. I am excited but I feel bad, but not too bad as Maffews has already played in Paris.

when I look at these AMAZING Jennifer Loiselle headbands. These are so fantastically fantastical that they’re invading my dreams and making me wish hard, hard, hard for pay day to arrive. I think I love the ball ones best but I’m not sure. I think, I think…it’s too dang hard to choose. Hurry little pay day, put on your best running shoes and get here quick.