Author: Mark in London

An Autumn Week-London at it’s Best

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Had it not been such a beautiful fay in Tavistock Park, I might have been.

Early Autumn is a great time in London. The weather is still warm. The crush of summer visitors has ended, and students have returned to school in the UK. Still, it is vacation/holiday time for Italians and Spanish and the fairly constant flow of the French via the Eurostar continues. University students from the UK and the world populate my Bloomsbury neighborhood. My daily travels on foot, Tube and bus are filled with bits of overheard conversation in the languages of the world. Long late afternoon chats with friends bring afternoons to a happy close.

The Wigmore Hall Concert Series Begins

Each year, I look forward to the return of the Wigmore Hall concerts on Sunday mornings and Monday afternoon. The matching bouquets on each side of the stage always set a mood of peace for the concerts. In the Spring, I choose the ones I will attend and by September, I am completely surprised by each concert that I attend. The first one was a wonderful trio of musicians called “Trio Zadig.”

Their selections included works by Lili Boulanger, Robert Schumann, and Felix Mendelssohn. They also gave, an encore from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”

A Return Visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum

My first visit to the V&A in South Kensington had been a brief one and there were several exhibits I wanted to see. The one at the top of my list was closed for the day, but trying to find the room where it was held turned into one of my typical “it’s got to be here challenges that left me questioning my sanity until a kind docent explained the unanticipated closure. I’ll return to see that exhibit later.

Along the Way at the V&A

As I sought out the exhibits I had come to see, as always at the V&A, I came across some interesting things.

The lions came from Denmark where I will be next month. I was quite surprised to see them. Aren’t the stained glass windows lovely. They preceded a gallery of religious objects I’ll discuss shortly. Finally, two shots of the Cast Galleries, which are my favorites.

As I mentioned, I stumbled on a gallery of religious objects.

They went from the sublime to the downright strange. The first photo were some stunning examples of items described as “Modern Judaica in Britain. The Second was a depiction of a Christian cross made from Coca Cola cans. The question was whether it could be considered a religious object. To be clear, there were many other beautiful Christian and other religions.

Lasting Impressions-Women Print Makers 1900-Now

Finally found one of the exhibitions I was looking for.

Mary Ann Sloan “Artist Working at Her Pree

What an interesting selection of prints made by women from the pre-suffrage era through recent times.

Views of Glasgow

If you have never visited Glasgow, put it on your list. It is a vibrant, interesting city with museums, architecture, universities and centuries of Glaswegian culture. These few examples from the exhibition were not what I expected but did put me in mind of the city and makes me eager to return.

Saint Pancras Crypt

Saint Pancras New Church is a Greek Revival style building. It can be seen throughout the venerable building. No better example can be observed than the statuary above the entrance to the Crypt.

The statues, when they arrived on site were found to be too large to fit into the space. So, a bit was trimmed from their middles, making some believe that these ladies looked a bit qqcdowdy. They are impressive.

The accessible part of the crypt at Saint Pancras is empty. It is used for art installations. Deeper inside are the remains from long ago that are left undisturbed.

A Little Bit of Everything I Like

Arcadia at the Duke of York’s Theatre

Tom Stoppard created this incredible story of events at an English manor house in the early 19th century and then superimposes an attempt by various experts in archeology and history to determined what actually happened. The audience has the benefit of having “observed” the historic events and thus can simply laugh or shake our heads at the misinterpretations of the current day “experts.” Stoppard is a wonderful storyteller, managing to weave Lord Byron and Lady Caroline Lamb into the story in a way that thoroughly befuddles the latter day experts.

Old Favorite with New Reasons to Visit

On a Thursday afternoon, I was heading towards the Wellcome Collection, when I decided to stop at Saint Pancras New Church. To my surprise, a concert was taking place there.

To my delight, I learned that these concerts, by talented local advanced degree students, took place every Tuesday and Thursday. I have been back for two more, since.

The Wellcome Collection Helps Us See Aging Through Different Eyes

Another favorite local venue is the Wellcome Collection. It is just a short walk from Saint Pancras New Church and is also convenient to Euston Intercity Rail and Underground Station. I went to visit their exhibition on aging around the world and met two delightful gents, a fellow and his carer (or aid, as we would say in America) at the Wellcome Cafe where I stopped for a coffee. We had a nice chat before I went on to the exhibition.

Walking Cane belonging to Charles Darwin

I travelled through this exhibit and thought about life, my life, growing older, the joys of living a full life, the things that lay ahead, and most importantly, staying connected and making new connections. I was reminded of the words of the late American basketball coach, Jim Valvano, who, while fighting an incurable cancer gave this advice, “don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” I think that encapsulates how I felt after visiting this exhibition

The Tate Modern-Annoying but Unmissable

I love the Tate museums, but the Tate Modern always seems to be ina state of flux. I can’t find my “old favorites” but I’ll find something new and delightful. It also has a great Members Cafe overlooking the River Thames and Saint Paul’s Cathedral that always makes a visit worthwhile

Another Sunny Day at Craven Cottage (Another Fulham Loss-Showing Progress)

The All Whites got off to a better start than Transport for London (TFL), the group that runs the busses and trains. They did not mention that the maintenance would close down the only way fans could reach Fulham’s home, Craven Cottage. There was complete chaos outside the Earls Court Tube Station as hundreds of fans tried to find seats on the insufficient “replacement bus service.” After Fulham’s loss, the “fun” continued, as fans and opponents alike, crowded on to buses to try to make connections. I did meet a nice lady from South London and a visitor from Canada on the sweltering bus ride, though.

Winston Churchill-Artist At The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is a delightful small museum with a wonderful mixture of paintings, furniture, ceramics, weaponry and armor in what was once the home of the Marquesses of Hertford, Hertford House. I visited to see an impressive collection of the paintings of Britain’s wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

Sorry, I do not identify more of the pictures. I was pleased to see the picture of Igham Mote, a stately home I have visited with my dear friends Nigel and his (late) wife Gwynne Grant.

As noted above, there is quite an eclectic collection at the Wallace, below are a few more pieces.

September 11, 2026 – The Weiner Holocaust Library

As September 11th dawned, I found myself gripped by the melancholy of the 25th anniversary of the unspeakable acts of terror visited upon the United States that dreadful day. It felt wrong to go about the day, as normal, so I chose, instead to visit a place that reminds us of the cruelty our world survived over 50 years before 9/11/2001. I visited the latest exhibition at the Weiner Holocaust Library in Russell Square London. This exhibit detailed Nazi Slave Labor which became a more and more important source of labor as the German war machine faltered.

Let us all hope and pray, even after Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and all the other atrocities the world has survived since World War II, that we can truly say with conviction, “Never Again”.

ANOTHER SOJOURN BEGINS

A month has passed since I arrived in London. This blog will cover the highlights of a most unusual August, the dryest and one of the hottest on record.

The trees, flowers and grass in Russell Square Garden had never looked so stressed as they did on August 1st.

But the kids found a way to stay cool in the fountain there.

Marilyn Monroe-The National Portrait Gallery

The exhibition of photographs and portraits of the late, great American superstar were grouped by photographer. She died on August 4th, 1962, at 36 years old. I became increasingly sad as I continued through the exhibition which reminded me of all she accomplished and how very difficult life was for her in an era where her voice was often muted by those who sought to use her beauty and “sex appeal,” mear years before a feminist revolution began which might have changed and saved her life. Here are some of the images.

They will only care when you’re gone. Marilyn

The Donmar Warehouse Presents “The Guilty”

Russell Tovey starred in this atmospheric production about a police officer temporarily assigned to an emergency call room. Americans would call it a ‘911 Center.’ His performance was breath taking. I recommend this production.

The Latest from the Esoterick Collection of Modern Italian Art

One of my favorite small galleries is just two Tube stops away from my temporary home in Bloomsbury. The exhibition of the work of Emilio Isgro was titled “Erasing to Create.” Quite literally he blacked out words in documents, maps, letters, and globes to force us to consider the layers of reality and hidden messages we encounter but never consider. This was a challenging exhibition, but one that reminded me of how important it is for me to be open to different possibilities.

I had to pass on visiting the permanent exhibit because parts of the building were not air conditioned and this visit was on one of the days that felt like the temperature inside was about 400 degrees F. However, I did get these photos of the funky new patio and garden furniture.

Fulham F.C. “Home Opener at Craven Cottage

Fulham, with a new manager and many new players opened their home season with a game kicking off at 8:00 PM, the first evening match I had attended. This was against local rival Chelsea whose home ground is also in the same part of West London, so this was a “London Derby” in local parlance. The “All Whites” made a valiant showing but ended on the wrong side of a 3-2 final score. The long walk back to Putney Bridge Station through a very dark Bishop’s Park was ‘interesting. Fans used the lights from their phones to guide the way along the paths.

Jeeves Takes Charge at the Charing Cross Theatre

I am a big fan of P.G. Woodhouse and his famous duo Bertie Wooster and his butler, Jeeves. Many will recall the series that starredHugh Laurie and Steven Fry. This production was a bit different in that one actor , Sam Harrison played both Wooster and Jeeves and all the other characters (male and female) by altering his voice and posture. He was amazing and the show was side splittingly funny.

James NcNeill Whistler at the Tate Britain

TheTate Britain gathered together an impressive collection of the American born painter’s works, including the famous portrait of his mother that is usually at the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. His paintings explored darkness and light and he used muted colors in interesting ways.

Since I had made the trip to the Tate, I also stopped in to visit the wonderful collection of Henry Moore sculptures. Below are a few examples.

An End to August and the Heat Wave

As August came to an end, so did the heat wave that had hold of the UK for most of the Summer. On the one of the first cooler days, I revisited two favorite places in the local environs, Saint Pancras New Church and the plaza of the British Library where the first rain and cooler temperatures perked up some flowers and a blue sky shone over this lovely part of London.

This ends my August update more regular updates to come. Thanks for your patiences.

The Long Goodbye, The First Noel, Secret Maps

The Long Goodbye

My last week in London is a time of reflection and of fond farewells to favorite places and friends. I’ll start with two pictures of the mighty trees in Russell Square Park as they go deeper into Autumn.

In summer these trees form a canopy over the park and shield much of the outside world from view. Now, though in various shadesof gold, green and brown, they remind me that my time in London is coming to an end for another year.

The First Noel

On a final visit to Covent Garden, I found that Christmas had come to the venerable shopping arcade, even before Halloween had arrived.

The weather outside has certainly been cold enough to remind us of the coming winter season, but this used to be a time in London when poppies were sold and displayed in honor of those who had lost their lives in defense of Britain, a tradition that goes back to World War 1.

Secret Maps

The British Library had one last gift for me in the form of its current exhbition “Secret Maps.”

The exhibit included ancient maps. secret maps, escape maps, an astrolabe and more. Below are a few examples.

All in all, an interesting experience

More of the Long Goodbye

A gathering took place at Caffe Tropea. A group of my friends, who I met at the caffe several years ago, came together for a chance to wish me farewell. It is one of the joys of my trips to London to have come to know this eclectic group of people. We laugh and joke, solve the world’s problems and drink delicious Italian coffee. It is always hard to wish this group goodbye.

As the last week continues, my friends Nigel, Gwynne, and Mike met me for lunch today. We spent a few hours chatting. It was warm enough to eat outside. We were, once again, at Caffe Tropea and thus able to enjoy the beautiful views in Russell Square Park.