London: Snowfall In The City

Not that being back in London is enough - the weather is also terrible. It has been snowing over the weekend and today. Although snow is not a totally unfamiliar sight in London the infrastructure breaks down right away. The tube must have been overcrowded as there was a massive queue in front of Oxford Circus station - also no bus was to be seen on my usual line. After waiting for ages the bus which eventually showed up got stuck in the traffic which was not moving at all so I got off the bus half way. Removing snow from the pavement and sanding/salting seems to be unheard of here so I more stumbled and slipped than walked my way back home. Happy Wintertimes...

Posted by Sharms.

ATL 09: Back Again

I had been looking forward to my second time in Atlanta this year for month - and then I was back and it felt like I had never been away. It was fairly cold during my whole visit but I managed to do a little cycle tour on Sunday to the Piedmont Park area. John lent me his bike - which is probably one of the best I have ever ridden - even cycling back up Glen Iris did not seem like too much hard work. Close to my former home I took this photo of the Atlanta skyline.



Along my old cycle way to Reynoldstown on Krogstreet...



Unfortunately I had to work during most of my stay and stayed in Midtown for a little while. As suspected it was not very homely - especially with constant rainstorms taking place at night. That is the view out of my hotel room.



Back in Reynoldstown on the weekend, Jen, John and I went for coffee to the dogpark coffeehouse down the road where we watched the dogs running wild in the freezing cold.



Saturday was A*** Santa day at Criminal Records. Being European I was too shy to sit on Santa´s lap and get my picture taken - however John, as you did not have any similar inhibitions - please feel free to add your picture to the blog! In the meantime I bought several records which I have been listening to the whole week - I have not yet decided which is my favorite because they are all great but Curtis Mayfield and Johnny Cash have to be among the top three.



Sunday was a depressing day - I had to go home. Here we are at dunch at the Earl - I ate so much that it lasted until the next day when I had already arrived back in London.

Posted by Sharms.

Atlanta: The Gang Reunited

We picked Sharms up at the Airport and whisked her immediately to Dynamic Dish, where she had a lovely salad to celebrate her triumphant return to ATL. Then we came back to our loft and had cake, whisky and wine (no vegan cake for Sharms unfortunately, but hey, we ain't perfect!)


We had a chance encounter with my neighbor Robert, who came by to pick up photos that Sharms brought over for him.


On Saturday night all Sharms's friends came out to say hello at the Porter Beer Bar in Little Five Points. After a few beers there we headed west to Christian's warehouse party, where we danced the night away to tasty Argentine grooves.

London: The Gringo Stars

After coming back from Bonn on Sunday evening (I travelled back to London by train - it is sooo much better than flying and a whole new transcontinental travel experience - so I can recomend it to everyone) I met Michelle and we went to the Social to see Gringo Star after a recommendation by our Atlanta friends. It was a very good concert and an appropriate way to bring the week to a good end.

Posted by Sharms

Atlanta: Dallas's Birthday - Whooop!!

Last saturday night we had an wicked fun time celebrating Dallas's birthday, starting with a great meal at JCT Kitchen, then blues at the grungy Northside Tavern, and ending in a delirious cab ride home with Kirk and Allison!!

New Forest: English Countryside

On the weekend we went to the New Forest, a National Park near Southhampton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Forest). It was pouring down Friday and Saturday, but we did a little stroll over the heath landscape anyway and met many ponies and cows (see above). The New Forest appeared to me like a fairytale landscape with all animals walking around freely. Unfortunately some of them become vicitims of road accidents from time to time.



Walk over the Heath.



Some Shetland Ponies on our way.

Posted by Sharms.

London: Ed Ruscha In The Hayward

A retrospective of Ed Ruscha paintings will open in the Hayward Gallery on Southbank on Saturday (http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/minisite/ed-ruscha-fifty-years-of-painting/). As part of a work related event I had the chance to have a look today after work and although it was miserable weather I am glad I went, partly because the Hayward Gallery as a building is always worthwhile a visit.

London: Yo La Tengo And Other Activities

Tonight I went to the Yo La Tengo concert in the Camden Roundhouse - another sign of parallel activites between London and ATL (http://hutchrenaud.blogspot.com/2009/09/rain-yo-la-tengo-dragoncon.html). The Roundhouse is a former steam engine shed and a listed building (http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/about/history) which is now used as a culture and concert venue. The concert was very good and they played some beautiful songs - so my only complaint (it might have been the fact that it is Sunday night and/or that I am of an advanced age): I have to admit that the over 10 minute noise orgy at the end gave me a headache and made me want to go home fairly soon.



My brother was visiting on the weekend and on Saturday we went to see the Tailors (http://www.myspace.com/thetailors) at the Betsy Trotwood in Clerkenwell, a traditional Victorian pub. Although my visitors initially wanted to have some dinner we decided to have a proper English evening and tried to cover our necessary calories intake by consuming beer/ale and crisps.



Chat and I are sending some greetings over to ATL.

Posted by Sharms

Atlanta: Cabbagetown Chomp & Stomp

Last weekend was the Chomp & Stomp, which starts with a 5K running race to raise money for Cabbagetown Park, shown here, and continues with sampling chili from local restaurants/bars, along with steady beer drinking and ample sunshine. It really was a perfect day for it again. Last year, Laura B and her sister joined us for the race, and did quite well. This year the organizers (or some say a lone, confused Atlanta cop) misdirected runners through the course and it was about .8 kilometers short short of a 5K, making it only a 4.2K run.... not nearly enough exercise to warrant the gluttony that followed!

Munich/Bonn: In Autumn

I spent most of last week in Munich for work where we had beautiful weather. This is the view from my hotel window: on the horizon you can see the Alpes.



Happy to leave Munich and travel back to London while stopping in Bonn, I took this picture while going for a walk. After all those stunning autumn pictures from Atlanta I felt the need to post something equivalent from Germany: Here we have a beautiful autumn as well!

Posted by Sharms.

Atlanta: Halloweening

This is the time of year in Atlanta when the world seems just right.  The weather is cool, but not too cold.  The days get dark early.  The leaves on the trees finally take on a brilliant autumnal hue.  I snapped this photo on Sunday afternoon while cycling round the city:

Notwithstanding this idyllic view, there were spookier things afoot on Saturday night, as many revelers were out and about celebrating Halloween.  I went to a party at an old auto mechanic's shop in East Atlanta called "The East Pole," where our friends in The Goldest were playing against a backdrop of scary movies:

The owners of East Pole also set up a little haunted house featuring an array of frightful imagery, like this:

However, nothing was quite as spooky as the guy who came to the party dressed up like a unicorn.  Everyone who encountered the unicorn seemed to agree that it was easily the creepiest costume of the night:

I'm even a little freaked out by the picture.  

Atlanta: View from Stone Mountain

Yesterday Jen had to go into work, so left to my own devices, I rode my bike 16 miles to Stone Mountain, and then climbed to the top (on foot) and took this photo. The city skyline is far in the distance (you may want to click on the photo to enlarge) and you can see the trees finally starting to turn colors. By the time I got home I was very exhausted. Then I went over to Scott & Genevieve's house for an amazing meal and some exotic drinks that really filled me up nicely!

Incidentally Sharms, I like your new title protocol of listing the city first in the post. Going forward let us consider that a rule that shall not be violated !

Atlanta: Thrashers Hockey

On Saturday we went to the second home game of the Atlanta Thrashers, whose name is the inspriration for the CNN Thrashers softball team in London. Joining us were Eric K, Bob W, Ramon W, and Nina K. I remembered that Jaime and Aruna first met on the icy shores of Blueland. Unfortunately, the Thrashers were beat by the San Jose Sharks, so we walked over to Elliot Street Pub to drown our sorrows!

London: Dinner For Four

Tonight Fernanda, James and Warwick came round for dinner. We had a German/English vegan dinner: Swede Soup - Bratkartoffeln, Schnitzel und Salat - and for desert: apple pies. In order to have a reasonable photo for the blog we tried to make a picture with the autotimer with limited success. It is Fernanda´s last weekend here in L., next week she will be going home already - time is flying by. She will be missed by all of us. On the positive side of things we are looking forward to December when we all will see each other again. Plans are already in the making...

Posted by Sharms.

London: Radical Nature

On Sunday I went to the Barbican (www.barbican.org.uk), Europe´s largest multi-arts center which includes a cinema, exhibition spaces and a concert hall in the City of London. It was the last day of the exhibition Radical Nature - Art and Architecture for a changing planet 1969-2000. The exhibition was very exciting and I spend hours watching a photo presentation which travelled along the Alaska pipeline.



Outside on the Lakeside Terrace I went into the pavillion being part of the project "I am so sorry. Goodbye" by Heather and Ivan Morrison which takes its inspiration from utopian communities in the West Coast of the US in the 70ies and housed a little teahouse.



This is not downtown ATL but the City of London.



Autumn starts in front of my window.

Posted by Sharms.

London: Visit to Hampton Court

Entrance of Hampton Court.



Royal Gardens.



The day ended with a visit to Manna.

Posted by Sharms.

London: Kenwood House On Friday

I took Friday off, because my family was visiting. We went up to Kenwood House (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.12783), a stately home which is situated on top of Hampstead Heath. Kenwood House was lovely as alway - next time there will be no excuse John/Jen/James - I will definitely drag you up there.

Posted by Sharms.

Le Flash Exhibition - Castleberry Hill

On Friday, James, Jared, Lauren, Ester and several others went to the Le Flash exhibit, which involved various forms of art featuring light and/or fire. Here we see the gloATL troupe dancing in the basement of an old factory building just before they stripped down to their undies and jumped in a pool of chilled water. Good times!

London In The Meantime

While it seems to be terrible weather in Atlanta, London is having a beautiful, carefree autumn so far. The weekend was summery - the best possible time to see a Tottenham Hotspurs match in the White Hart Lane Stadium in North East London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Hart_Lane). The Spurs won 5:0 against Burnley and the local crowds left the stadium in a high mood. White Hart Lane Stadium was originally built in 1899 and has been renovated several times. So far although no beauty it has kept its charm and does not look like one of the faceless, hypermodern, commercial-temple-like stadiums however its days are numbered as a new stadium is build nearby.



Clear blue sky over Primrose Hill this weekend while the leaves are changing their colour.



Darren (US) and Keith (UK) on the UK vs USA Open Mic Night. Darren, who is from Atlanta, organised this event in the Charlie Wrights International Bar in Hoxton. After listening to some interesting bands and artists from the UK and the US, we stayed on and danced until late.

Posted by Sharms.

Great Flood of 2009

I think these photos capture the magnitude of the event.

Aruna, perhaps you should bring a traditional German boat with you next time you visit Atlanta - it might help for crossing Krog Creek!

Just think its funny that someone (not me) put this together so quickly in reference to Kanye West's rude comments at the VMAs.

Rain - Yo La Tengo - DragonCon

We Atlantans are currently enduring a dreary stretch of weather unlike anything I can remember in years. It rained every day last week. It rained all weekend. It will rain every day this week. I suppose the only good news in all this is that our dreadful drought -- described here -- may finally be over.

Fortunately, the highlight of this weekend's action was indoors, because one of my favorite bands, Yo La Tengo, paid us a visit here in the ATL on Saturday night. I've always loved these guys because they are musically fearless -- they do not shy away from any style or any sound. They are just as adept at roaring through a cacophonous 15-minute noise jam as they are at playing a gentle love song that can break your heart. Plus, they carry themselves with a sense of humor and humility that makes them all the more charming. Example: before the show, YLT's guitarist/singer Ira Kaplan was sitting in the lobby of the Variety Playhouse, helping sell t-shirts:

That's Ira with the dark curly hair.

The band played a typically excellent set, mixing in new tunes from their just-released album POPULAR SONGS, along with old favorites like "Autumn Sweater" (pretty significantly rearranged), "Blue Line Swinger," "Double Dare," and "Deeper Into Movies." As always, Ira was the extroverted frontman ...

... while drummer Georgia Hubley and bassist James McNew (pictured below) quietly but effectively held down the rhythm section:

My favorite moment of the show came at the very end: a tender version, sans drums, of "You Can Have It All," from the album And Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out. Aside from a few hoots and hollers when they started into it, you could have heard a pin drop in the Variety Playhouse. Magic!

Speaking of magic, I also took some photographs of the annual DragonCon convention, which took place here in Atlanta a couple weeks ago. As you can see, it was an action-packed affair:

I was a little concerned for my safety. Despite my strong anti-gun views, I must confess that I did feel slightly comforted that this guy was around to help keep the peace:

Other than all that, just a typical September here in Atlanta ....