Kit Kemp: A Living Space
Kit Kemp is the genius behind the Firmdale group hotels, and I find them lush. All clashing prints and beautiful lighting, and so much attention to detail. Check out a space at the Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery in London, of which Kemp has created a space to illustrate the vast possibilities of commissioning art and craft for the home environment and how it can transform a room.
Marky Market
I’ve not yet had the chance to try this out, but it’s a great idea. Marky Market sources the best meat and fish from various markets around London, and delivers to your door. Prices are reasonable, and the produce no doubt tastes a million times better than what you’ll find in your local supermarket.
An Englishman in New York: Photographs by Jason Bell
An exhibition of photographs by Jason Bell has just opened at the National Portrait Gallery in London. It features British people who have swapped old blighty for that very lovable New York City (something I’d LOVE to do, if the visa situation weren’t so difficult).
Take a look at an audio slideshow from BBC News of Bell’s photographs.
Tower Bridge lego
Want, want, want. I would probably get extremely frustrated trying to build it, but it’s very cool!
Gresham Blake tailors
For the past five years or so, my fella has been getting his suits made-to-measure from Gresham Blake. On my visit to the London fitting rooms yesterday, not only did I become a little obsessed with Gresham & Fal’s (the couple behind the fabulous suits) gorgeous pug dog, but I kind of fancied being a man for a day so I could dress up in all the fineries!
Taxi tunes… Joan Armatrading ‘Willow’
London taxis are world-renowned, but this is usually referring to the fact that drivers are knowledgeable, safe, and friendly.
Once in a while you get one that’s even better… and last night, the lucky one ferrying me and my curry coma back home from dinner at Lahore Kebab House (great food = amusingly unfriendly service. dinner for 4 = £55) had Joan Armatrading on the stereo. I couldn’t quite remember what I was listening to… so I asked the driver, and not only got the song name, but the full story about how one of his mates played guitar in her bad, and that she’s actually an exceptional electric guitarist. So there you go…
Inspiring Innovation with BBC A&M Interactive
The meeting was a lot more open than usual, with staff encouraged to tweet or text their feedback while the event was taking place. We put a big plasma screen on the left of stage, and via the genius of Richard Morland and Steve Bowbrick, a hashtag for the day #amint and visible tweets, the virtual conversation kicked off and didn’t let up until well after the event. There were about 400 comments over the course of the day, and many more after the event had ended. Lots of people shared their thoughts, observations and links about innovation through our (very innovative) virtual live conversation.
Guest speakers included Vicky Williamson talking about having an #earworm, Tom Taylor talking Newspaper Club, Alastair Dant on how The Guardian visualised tweets for the World Cup (waaay more entertaining to follow than the onscreen commentary methinks), and Michelle You talking all things Songkick. We also sent staff off to see how innovation happens at Absolute Radio Labs, the Media Trust, and the Telegraph; and to talk about innovation with our friends from PhD, Poke and Somethin’ Else.
