We’re back in New York now, but managed to fit in a short trip to London after our days in Paris. In London our balance between work and play shifted toward work, but we still found time to have some fun.
We stayed at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, which is one of the oldest hotels in London but also manages to feel among the freshest. The interiors incorporate some beautiful old architectural detail, but steer clear of the period kitsch that hampers a lot of historic properties. Contemporary art, neutral colors, a mix of traditional and modern furniture and a slightly spare decorating style create an atmosphere that’s calm, cool and sophisticated –a nice counterpoint to the streets of Mayfair outside that can be a little, well, flashy (though in the nicest possible way).
I really loved about our desk lamp . . . .
Brown’s and Mayfair were a good base from which to launch a few excursions into London and beyond.
I went to the beautiful university town of Cambridge, where I did some time as a 13-year old schoolboy a long time ago.
Entrance to the back of Clare College, Cambridge
A commercial street in the town's historic center
I also walked to South Kensington, where I’d done some time as a lawyer not so very long ago, and visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, barely scratching the surface of its vast collection of art and design in a long and happy afternoon.
The main entrance to the Victoria and Albert Museum
The highlight of my trip to the V&A was a special exhibit entitled Postmodernism: Style and Subversion 1970-1990, an informative and entertaining round-up of the good, the bad and the ugly in art, architecture, industrial design, fashion and music during this period. I loved it, but I have to admit that it felt a little strange to see college kids watching music videos I watched in college (Talking Heads, Devo, Grace Jones) in a museum.
Grace Jones in a maternity dress in an image from the exhibition
Were also went to see a man about a rug in Pimlico Road, but more on that later.
As in Paris, we ate and drank well. The expertly made cocktails and warm, relaxed atmosphere at the Donovan Bar at Brown’s are reason enough to stay at the hotel, and my most memorable London dish was a strangely delicious dessert (the finale to a wonderful dinner at Hibiscus): a caramel tart flavored with dried porcini mushrooms. They must have steeped them in the cream . . . .
It was great to get away –particularly together– but I’m happy to be where my wake-up call is someone whispering “pappa, pappa” in my ear.
