A lovely first week of January in London... My choices and addresses

1. Wandering in Central London:

And taking some time to go to the best travel bookstore :

Stanfords has every book a traveller needs, from travel guides to travel literature, not forgetting detailed road maps from anywhere in the world and lovely notebooks...

http://www.stanfords.co.uk/?gclid=CL-J8-nMua0CFWIntAod_B6R5Q


2. Enjoying an afternoon break after a work meeting : 

at the new Counter at The Delaunay on Aldwych. The brand new cafe illuminates the neighbourhood and brings some Vienna/Berlin 1920s atmosphere in town, also some delicious pastries from Central Europe traditions (From Chocolaty Sacher Torte to mille feuille and cheesecake Austrian style).

http://www.thedelaunay.com/counter


3. Fun circus-atmosphere in North London:

Going to see 'La Soiree' from La Clique on Friday evening. It's at 10pm in the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, check more here:

http://roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/la-soiree

The joy of having a social life again!!!


4. Trying the brand new North African style lunch in town :

In Del'Aziz version Swiss Cottage...
Passing its lush window in Clapham, I couldn't help but stopping: Attractive presentation, appealing Berber-Arabic style, mouth-watering cakes and salads, lovely decoration, space and cosiness. In a word, perfection from the Atlas...
Not being a big fan of South London, I'm going to try the one in Swiss Cottage but there are already five other locations all around London.

http://www.delaziz.co.uk/locations.php#swisscottage

or

http://www.delaziz.co.uk/



5. Checking the hot exhibitions in town:

This weekend it will be the last chance to see the 'Building the Revolution: Soviet Art and Architecture 1915-1935' at the Royal Academy...

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/building-the-revolution/

29 October 2011—22 January 2012 
In the Sackler Wing of Galleries

This exhibition examines Russian avant-garde architecture made during a brief but intense period of design and construction that took place from c.1922 to 1935. Fired by the Constructivist art that emerged in Russia from c.1915, architects transformed this radical artistic language into three dimensions, creating structures whose innovative style embodied the energy and optimism of the new Soviet Socialist state.

It's also the perfect timing to enjoy 'Grayson Perry, The Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman' at the British Museum...

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/grayson_perry.aspx

Where 'Grayson Perry curates an installation of his new works alongside objects made by unknown men and women throughout history from the British Museum’s collection'.

...And still early enough to be among the first to catch Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art From Germany,
until Sun Apr 29, at the Saatchi Gallery (Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London, SW3 4SQ)

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/germany_art/

Since Gerhard Richter is stealing all the attraction this year with the rocking exhibition at the Tate Modern, prepared teamed up with Pompidou in Paris and the Neue Galerie in Berlin, German art is more than ever on the frontline...

--

I'll finish with a dinner in Stoke Newington and some sushis in Soho.
Then, it will be time for me to leave the continent... Africa's calling!

Enjoy!