Apollo Cinema

 

 I was dying to see The Great Gatsby film, and I had to see it the day that it came out because I promised one friend I'd go with her and she was leaving the next day for a week and I knew I wasn't going to last that long without seeing it. So we went the The Apollo Cinema near Piccadilly. Do not assume its the cinema towards Leicester Square, because then you'd be wrong like we were. We were so scared we were going to miss the start of the film so we ran all the way to the Apollo. 

The interior of the Apollo is nothing like the exterior. The exterior is this beautiful old building. Inside, you want down starts to get to the different cinema screens, and you can buy your ticket at the food stand. The stairs are lined with blue neon lights and the bathrooms are gold and blue. However, the inside of the screen where they played The Great Gatsby had some cool crossing lights, and really comfortable red chairs which do not have a huge armrest like other cinemas. 

Overall I really liked this interpretation of the film and I was happy I was able to see it there in 3D on the day it was released. It was a really good day. 

Here's the cinema's website: http://www.apollocinemas.com/films-showing-piccadilly-circus.aspx

Fix 126

Fix is a coffee company with 2 stores in London. The one I went to was Fix 126, which is the Shoreditch branch. The wooden bar, and wooden tables give the place a very warm and welcoming feel. Most of the people inside are either chatting quietly, or tapping away at their laptops. You have to make your order at the bar, but unlike other Shoreditch bars they accept card payment for any purchase, so you don't have to worry about finding an ATM before you get there. 

Its set up the same way as Starbucks, you order your drink, they make it, they call out your order, you pick it up, and then you take your seat. Its nicer though, because they have a bigger variety of things to order and the atmosphere is a lot more like a community. I want to go back there soon, because I was able to focus better there than I have been able to focus at home, and it was really for me to study for my marketing exam there. 

Also one of the few other joys of Shoreditch, a random person dressed really creatively can walk in any time making your day more fun and special. Here's their website: http://www.fix-coffee.co.uk/fix-126/

Drunken Monkey

On Tuesday, after going bowling with a couple of friends three of us decided we wanted to do something else. We've walked past this restaurant called "The Drunken Monkey" so many times, but from the outside it looks so black, and gives you a feeling of unease. However, they do have a light up sign that says "DIM SUM ALL DAY" which is very inviting for me. I've not been able to eat good Chinese food around London without going all the way to Leicester Square, so I was quite happy to find this place.

I only ordered four king prawn dumplings, which I have to say were really amazing. We asked for tap water, and they came out with a huge jug of tap water with ice and lemon, which we were really grateful for because that way we didn't have to pester the staff for a refill. The menu is written on your "table cloth" that is handed to you when you tell them that you'd like to eat. Then a waiter comes by, takes one of the table cloths and writes down what you wish to order, circling the few items. The food didn't arrive all at the same time, one of my friends was done with one of her orders before everything else got brought to the table. Luckily we weren't dying of starvation because they offer prawn crackers as a free appetizer.

Sadly, I didn't really like the service, because I had also ordered beef dumplings and they didn't tell me they had run out, and some how they brought vegetarian spring rolls to our table as well. This confusion made me a bit unhappy, and therefore I had to be the bitch that asked them to take the service charge off the bill. Hopefully next time I go there it will be better. 

Here's a link to their webpage: http://www.thedrunkenmonkey.co.uk/

Shoreditch Vintage Fair

On Saturday 27th of April in the Shoreditch Town Hall there was a vintage fair. It was really well set up, each seller had a little stand where their clothes were set up, and most of them had a rack with clothes of cheaper prices, such as a 10 pounds or 5 pounds rack. If you liked something you were able to take it downstairs to the huge bathrooms and try it on. I only bought one top, but its really cute, its jeans and polka dotted with white spots. There were mostly stands with women's wear, but there were  a few with men's wear as well as a few accessory stalls.

The hall in which the event took place was beautiful, it was an old concert hall, where the people of Shoreditch would go to see theatre productions and such. 

One thing I really enjoyed was how friendly everyone was, they were all willing to help you out, and several of the vendors gave me their cards. I'm looking forward to going by their stores sometime soon. 

The entrance charge for the fair is 2 pounds, and I didn't really mind paying those 2 pounds because they use that money to set up the next vintage fair. I think the event occurs every month on the last Saturday of the month. Here's their webpage: http://www.thevintagefair.com/

Vibe Cuts

On the 21st of April I got my haircut. But you see, it wasn't just a plain haircut, I got my haircut in the street on Brick Lane in East London. The group of people doing the haircuts are professional hairdressers and they really do know what they're doing. It seems a little sketchy and uncomfortable at first, but I think any time you cut your hair it makes you a little uneasy. 

The hairdressers belong to a hair salon near Liverpool Street Station named Johnny's Place (http://www.jonnysplace.co.uk/). I got my haircut from an Italian girl, she asked me what I wanted and I showed her where I thought it was appropriate to cut. Unlike a normal hair cut, they don't wash your hair in a sink in the middle of the street but they have spray bottles where they dampen the hair in the area it needs cutting. A woman near me got lots of different layers cut into her hair so her hear was almost fully wet, whereas my hair only got wet at the bottom. 

After a couple of snips here and there my hair was done, and I was really happy. This street haircut cost me 25 pounds, a lot cheaper than my usual hair dresser in London. If you feel daring and you need a trim, I really recommend you go to Brick Lane on a Sunday and get your haircut. Its fun and it will always be a cool story to tell. 

Asos, Internet Phenomenon

I've become a huge online shopper over the past few months. Its really bad for me because I've become a frequent buyer so they email me almost everyday, and I always find something I like. Generally I only order from places that have free shipping because I like only purchasing a few cheap items. My two favourite English stores are inlovewithfashion.com and asos.com , both have a variety of products and they reflect on my style.
Asos actually means "as seen on screen". I'd like to think that since their a company with only an online market that their clothes are comfortable and they are true to size. My only problem with Asos is that they run out if my size really quickly. At inlovewithfashion both the s/m and the m/l fit me so its not hard to find what I like. Overall I should probably stop shopping since I already have a lot of clothes but its my addiction.