December 3, 2006
some recommendations
1. FILM. This is simply the best movie I’ve seen in a long, long time. I’d been meaning to see it for years, and finally last night I got the chance. I am still utterly stunned by how good it is.
Citizen Kane? Blows it away. The Wild Bunch? Blows it away. When the movie ended I felt so sad, knowing that I would never get to see it for the first time ever again [Amazon DVD here].
2. HOTEL. I’ve spent a lot of time in London hotels over the last year. As a result I’ve become a bit of a connoisseur of cheap-and-cheerful hotels, having tried out so many. Of all the hotels I’ve tried, this is my favorite, in terms of comfy, clean rooms, nice people, free wireless in the lobby and bar. Stowe Boyd has stayed there too, and liked it. The rooms generally don’t have wireless, but a few of the rooms on the third floor pick it up from downstairs. I usually pay circa £60 per night [approx $100 USD], though you can sometimes find better deals on Expedia.
3. FOOD. My favorite restaurant in London is a wee Vietnamese diner called “Viet”. Cheap and unpretentious, it has no website of its own, but it’s in Soho at 34 Greek Street, between Old Compton Street and Shaftsbury Avenue. [Thanks to Graham for the link].
They also serve Thia cuisine, but that isn’t so good. Stick with the Vietnamese etc.
4. BREAKFAST. When I’m in London, I often spend my mornings having long breakfasts here. Lovely people, funky-different, and free wireless 9am-5pm on weekdays.
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A new cartoon sent out every weekday morning to your inbox [RSS version here.].
A wee chuckle to start your day off right etc.
Seven Samurai. The scene with the horses during the final battle in the village is quite extraordinary.
Hugh, the hotel link doesn’t work.
Good call on the hotels. I put my parents in The Portobello when they came to visit (mainly because it’s just down the street from me) but it was humiliating quality for £150 a night.
Earl’s court is a bit far from here, but one thing is for sure, good hotels in London are really hard to find.
FYI: http://www.portobello-hotel.co.uk
Good call on Seven Samurai.
Amazing flick. I think it’s my favorite out of all of Kurosawa’s.
Interesting Viet tip Hugh, you mean this one yeah
http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-7229.php
Did I mention to you that a Viet resto owner in London contacted me about opening a new joint and they want to call it noodlepie?
Very cool, Graham. I’d eat there
Thanks for the link.…
Seven Samurai is an excellent film, always good to watch a bugs life and the magnificent seven afterwards. You should also check out Hidden Fortress and then watch Star Wars. My favorite Kurosawa movie though is Ikura, just brilliant:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044741/
K
Perhaps a hotel microbrand should be next on the cards.. I just booked two nights at the Barkston Gardens on your recommendation