the thing itself and not the myth

Where did we leave off? Rice pudding & teleportation, I think. So Sunday was lunch & roller derby practice (go Bronx!) & then the rain stopped so we could go out to 5 Pointz. YAY. It’s a converted warehouse full of artist lofts, which is awesome already, but then the outside of the building is street art central. You can only paint by permit (which makes sense and is also very strange), and I took ten million pictures. Well, 79 in my Flickr set. Follow me after the jump for some favorites, and the rest of my time in New York. (more…)

The first day in NYC I apparently didn’t take any pictures at all, even though we did lots of stuff. I got to see my friend’s office & one of her volunteer sites, and we went to improv at the UCB theater, and we walked enough that my shoe exploded and I developed a blister on the bottom of my foot. Hot!

I didn’t take any pictures the second day either, when we procured a new pair of shoes and amazing gelato, and went to knitting in Astoria.

The third day… wow. This is getting to be a theme. The third day I didn’t take any pictures until the evening. I was kidnapped by a friend in time for breakfast at a tea shop (which had clearly stolen my ipod, as they were playing Spring Awakening, Rufus Wainright, and Elliott Smith), then off to sight see, particularly to the Morgan Library & Museum, which was very cool! We got lunch at Risotteria (gluten free pizza for the win, as well as v tasty risotto, and my first black-and-white cookie). Nom!

I apparently didn’t take pictures until the We’re About 9 show, so let’s continue with that after the jump. (more…)

So! Earlier this month I visited friends on the east coast. I flew into NYC & took the train to Springfield, MA. The train, by the way, was basically the best idea ever. So much more comfortable than the bus. And prettier! And with legroom! And food! Basically, it was awesome.

In Massachusetts we did lots of outdoorsy things. After the jump, more pictures than you could possibly ever want to see. As always, click through to Flickr to embiggen. (more…)

Then we were off to London. Eventually. It took a crazy amount of time to get out of Oxford, and we wound up completely reorganizing the plan for the day thanks to transit in general hating us, but it worked out okay because I got to do two things I had failed at when I was in London in July. Plus one bonus thing.

First off, in July for some reason, the portrait of Richard III was not on display at the National Portrait Gallery. I do not know why. I suspected it was just to torture me, as I had gone to said Gallery solely to visit him. I attempted it again this trip and there he was, precisely where he was supposed to be! It was amazing. I have been a bit obsessed with him ever since I read Shakespeare’s take on him, but it was only heightened when I read The Daughter of Time, in which the main character is inspired to research him based on this portrait.

Perhaps the best part of visiting him was that there was a tour going around, and I got to hear the tour guide say that they probably knew Richard best from Shakespeare, and that said play was “high propaganda”. Oh my heart! I bought a postcard of Richard down in the gift shop. How could I not?

Also in July, I failed to find the marker for 84 Charing Cross Road. This is apparently because I am an idiot. I found it this time, no problem, though it was mightily depressing to see it on the side of an irritatingly trendy restaurant. Click through to read the text.

Finally, I had really hoped to see The History Boys when I was in London. They were only selling matinée tickets at the half-price booth, but I had my heart set on it, so we stopped by the theater box office, and since I was going alone I got a seat in the SECOND ROW OH MY GOD AMAZING. Happy birthday to me! I had an issue with the casting for Posner (too old, played it way too camp), but I think I actually liked this Dakin better, and though Irwin & Scripps had a lot to live up to, I rather loved them.

Other London things after the jump… (more…)

Back in Oxford we walked down the canal and over to (flooded!) Port Meadow for a knitting photo shoot with bonus horses.

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I enjoyed some street stencil art (after the jump)… (more…)

In January, I went to England to celebrate my 30th birthday. Best. Plan. Ever. I realize that it was about ten bazillion years ago now and most of you have looked at the Flickr photos already, and the rest of you don’t care. Too bad! This is *my* poorly updated web diary whatsit! You can deal! In three parts, no less!

Here are some things that are important to mention in the order that I remembered them:

1. About an hour after I landed, a plane went off the runway, and we saw the fire trucks going to it as we left.
2. The subway in Glasgow is Lilliputian.
3. In Oxford I participated in my first ever pub quiz. And totally sucked. I do love pubs, though. Going to knit night at one was also awesome.
4. I love Innocent smoothies, jacket potatoes, elderflower anything, noodle bars with wheat free options, and flapjacks.
5. We got to see the boys choir at Christ Church and Will & Lyra’s bench in the Botanical Gardens.
6. We accidentally ran into a movie premiere. Very strange.
7. Kat & I Adventured on our own in Oxford, managing to run many errands and go to the Pitt Rivers Museum, and not get lost at all.
8. Our roommate in the hostel in London was insane. And possibly a lizard. Something cold-blooded at least.
9. And other stuff I can’t remember anymore.

After the jump are really quite a lot of pictures and possibly even a little description, but not much. As always, click through to Flickr to embiggen.

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