Triathletes swim in Royal Victoria Dock - image/Simon Kimber

This weekend, 30-31 July, Virgin Active run their London Triathlon out of the ExCel Arena Docklands. It’s the world’s biggest triathlon and open to all. Over 13,000 competitors are expected to compete over three different distances: Supersprint, Sprint and Olympic (1500 metre swim, 40km bike and 10km run).

Swimming is outdoors in Royal Victoria Docks. Jensen Button is a regular and other slebs include Sporty Spice and Stacey Solomon.

A week later the Dextro Energy Triathlon London will be held in Hyde Park and around Buckingham Palace over the weekend of 6-7 August. Part of the World Championship Series this is an Olympic test event.

World class elite athletes will run the Olympic course whilst some of the 4,500 amateur triathletes – divided into age groups – will be able to compete on part of it too with swimming in the Serpentine. This event also hosts the world’s only elite Paratriathlon – not at this stage an Olympic discipline.

If you didn’t get tickets for 2012 action, get to Hyde Park and watch this. Both events are free to spectate and the latter will be televised by the BBC.

Check back with us next Monday for the lowdown on Olympic Triathlon.

You don’t have to wait until next year’s Marathon to run around the streets of London for a good cause. Urban games creators Fire Hazard are repeating their entertaining CityDash this Sunday in aid of mental health charity Mind. Players must use a mixture of stealth, strategy and speed as they whizz around checkpoints which open and close as the game goes on.

This time around the playing area is smaller and with more guards (did we mention the guards?) so there’s more emphasis on sneaking and on quick replanning as the map changes.

All proceeds from this event will go directly to the charity. Fire Hazard honcho Gwyn Morfey told us “Mind are doing some really important work, and they’re entirely reliant on donations. Last year the mindinfoline took 25,000 calls but missed another 17,000 due to lack of resources. Every ticket we sell is equivalent to another call that gets through and another person that gets helped directly.”

Tickets are £10 each. More information and tickets for the game can be found here.

Pictures are from Fire Hazard’s Suspected and are (c) Yao Song Ng.

If you’re not knee-deep in a Somerset mudpool this Saturday, you may want to consider CityDash, Fire Hazard’s latest urban game. Fire Hazard specialise in using the built environment  to create games which test the body and the mind. Similar to “Suspected”, a game they held at Easter on the Southbank, this one has been relocated to the Square Mile.

Citydash is a fast game of speed, stealth, and strategy: reach as many of the checkpoints as you can, as quickly as you can, without being seen by patrolling guards. Replan on the fly as secret checkpoints open, and watch the live scoreboard for updates as your competition closes in behind you.

We’re playing in the heart of London, so you’ll be dodging around the Gherkin, sneaking through the obscure cemetery near Moorgate, and ducking down alleys you didn’t know existed.

For those worried about fitness levels, Fire Hazard’s Gwyn Morfey has some words of reassurance. “The live scoreboard identifies the people in front of and behind you no matter what your rank, so you could have an intense battle for rank #31 against a couple of walkers, rather than fighting to get #1. Stealth is a big part of it, too, since you lose a lot of points for being seen. But if you want to get #1, you’re going to need to run for at least some of it.”

Tickets are £8 per person and there’s only fifty so get your running shoes on and skedaddle over here for more info and tickets.

Pictures are from Fire Hazard’s Suspected and are (c) Yao Song Ng.

Links

Last Christmas, Fire Hazard persuaded us to break into a warehouse. We had much fun.

Now in its 11th year, the British 10k London Run has become one of the country’s best known races and provides a chance for over 25,000 runners to raise vital funds for their favourite charities.

This year’s race starts at 9.35 in Hyde Park on 10th July, although as the crowd builds quickly you’d best arrive early if you want to set off at the head of the pack. If you’re a serious runner the current time to beat is 29:32, but less competitive folks can enjoy sights such as Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and the ceremonial guard from the Mounted Band Of the Blues and Royals on their way round, plus a 2-for-1 offer on entry to Apsley House once they’ve caught their breath.

Many London-based charities, such as the Air Ambulance, Cruse Bereavement Care and official race charity Anthony Nolan are still looking for runners: take a look at their websites for details of sponsorship requirements and how to enter.

The British 10k starts at 9.35 on Sunday 10th July in Hyde Park. For full details and registration options visit http://www.thebritish10klondon.co.uk

Passing through Rotherhithe by McTumshie

Well done to everyone who ran the London Marathon yesterday. The Metro picks up on the wedding, the Will Young, the world records and the war horse among the 35,000 people participating.

But we want to say a special congratulations to Dave Hill — champion of London bloggers — who ran through every London borough for his training, giving us plenty to consume from the comfort of our sedentary positions. He’s also laid down the gauntlet to us all, thus: “how can any self-respecting London blogger and commentator be worthy of the description without having taken part in the capital’s greatest sporting and mass participation event?.

Putting his feet and your money where his mouth is, Dave ran for Shelter, reflecting his concern for London’s housing crisis. Top up his total and help ease the day after agony by donating via his Virgin Money Giving page now.

All pictures were shared in the Londonist Flickrpool — and there are many more to look at — but thanks for this selection to McTumshie, Jai Grieve, normko, Stuart-Lee, row-h, Massimo Usai, Annie Mole, Mike King, Pic.tures & Stuart Cox.

The original marathon route, which took in parts of Tower Hamlets and finished in the Olympic Park, was amended in October, with the new route beginning and ending in the Mall. Organisers said that the decision was made for the sake of “minimising disruption”, but many, including the borough’s MPS, disagreed, saying that it was a cynical decision designed to showcase some of London’s more tourist-friendly sights and keep the eyes of the world away from the insalubrious streets of the East End.

Despite the IOC confirming the route, and Lord Coe stating that their decision is final, Mr. Rahman is to seek a judicial review. There is also a petition on the council’s website that supporters can sign. Yet there seems little chance that the route will be revised a third time. Lord Coe is not one for turning, and it seems likely that poor Tower Hamlets, despite being an ‘official Olympic borough’ and experiencing all the disruption that entails, will be left without a single event.

Photo / Stuart-Lee

The 5k races are hugely popular with the emphasis on participation and running for someone you know who’s affected by cancer or in memory of a loved one but there are also 10k events for those struck with the running bug. Local races are taking place in Hammersmith, Richmond, Hyde Park, Hampstead, Finsbury Park, Crystal Palace, the City, Blackheath, Enfield, Croydon between now and the end of July so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and raise support the cause. It is hoped over 700,000 women will take part across the UK in a bid to raise £60 million to help beat cancer.

And it’s not too late if you’re inspired to join the O2 run at the last minute. There are still a limited number of free places available for people to take part. Find out more at www.raceforlife.org.

PS the Jubilee Line is shut this weekend so take the Thames Clipper!

]]> This Saturday Race For Life London gets Cancer Research’s flagship fundraising event off to a high profile start outside the O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula at 10am.

The 5k races are hugely popular with the emphasis on participation and running for someone you know who’s affected by cancer or in memory of a loved one but there are also 10k events for those struck with the running bug. Local races are taking place in Hammersmith, Richmond, Hyde Park, Hampstead, Finsbury Park, Crystal Palace, the City, Blackheath, Enfield, Croydon between now and the end of July so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and raise support the cause. It is hoped over 700,000 women will take part across the UK in a bid to raise £60 million to help beat cancer.

And it’s not too late if you’re inspired to join the O2 run at the last minute. There are still a limited number of free places available for people to take part. Find out more at www.raceforlife.org.

PS the Jubilee Line is shut this weekend so take the Thames Clipper!

]]> http://londonist.com/2010/04/race_for_life_london.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2009/12/london_santa_run_tomorrow.php http://londonist.com/2009/12/london_santa_run_tomorrow.php#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:30:39 +0000 Hazel http://londonist.com/?p=15496 Puff… puff… The London Santa Run… gasp… will take place… [heave]… tomorrow… in Battersea Park… puff… puff… 2,000 entrants… pant… pant… dressed as Santa… puff… puff… will run 6km… pant… pant… to raise money for… ouch, ouch, ouch… Disability Snowsport UK… a charity that provides access to snowsport… gasp… for the disabled… enabling people with cerebral palsy, autism, Down’s Syndrome and visual impairtments… the chance to ski and snowboard… puff… puff… Runners have been raising money for tomorrow’s event… Santa suits are provided… get along to see the Santas… for yourself!… pant… puff… There had better be a stack of mince pies at the end of this… Image by McTumshie from the Londonist Flickr pool

Well, we were never going to take part. The London Triathlon is way beyond the capabilities of a team whose collective idea of exercise is to lope down the stairs to collect our pizza. Fortunately, we have sporty friends whom we can cheer on…

When Team Pimbletts originally signed up for the London Triathlon they couldn’t have been expecting weather like this. We arrive to watch the event in a torrential downpour but it’s for a good cause: the team are raising money for the Huntington’s Disease Association. Over the next two days at the ExCeL they will swim, cycle and run their way to a target of £3,500.

Saturday saw the seven female members of the team compete over the ‘sprint’ distance. First is a 750m swim, to be undertaken in the murky waters of the Thames. As the competitors round the buoy and head back to the river’s edge we are hard pushed to recognise anyone we know. Our heart goes out to those who are floundering in the water – there’s still the small matter of a 20k bike ride and a 5k run to go.

While the team peel off their wetsuits in the transition area, we dash off to find a suitable vantage point to watch the cycling. Some of the bikes have to be seen to be believed, from state-of-the-art machines to those which look suspiciously like the ones our mothers owned in the late 1980s, complete with basket (probably containing an isotonic sports drink and some jam). It’s here that the wet weather really plays havoc with the competitors sapping them of energy ahead of the run.

Fortunately for us, the finishing line is inside the ExCeL building so we have an excuse to head for cover and cheer the team home. After more than an-hour-and-a-half of gruelling battle the seven team members come home remarkably close together. They have all done their parts brilliantly – now it’s down to the two lads to do their job in Sunday’s tougher race.

We return to Docklands on the next morning to find the race already underway, this time over the full Olympic distance of 1.5k swim, 40k cycle and 10k run. We position ourselves a few kilometres into the final leg of the race. The competitors all look fresher than we do, and we have done nothing more strenuous over the last 24 hours than hold a brolly. All have a professional sportsman in their sights – Formula 1 driver and World Championship leader Jenson Button is on his way around and heading for a great finishing time. Team Pimbletts’ boys can’t quite match his time but they’re not far behind (despite a puncture with 15k still to go of the cycle), making it a triumphant weekend for all team members. And they’ve raised even more than their target. Well done everyone!

By Paul Lambert

First off, the organisers have provided a lovely spectator guide, handily with each of the pubs indicated. Download it here (warning – 3.6MB PDF).

We have our own tips, though too.

WHAT TO DO NOW:

Register online for the free track-by-text service being trailled this year by adidas. You’ll get a text when your runner reaches certain markers.

PLACES TO AVOID:

The Finish. It’s chaos and it can take a ridiculous length of time to push through and cross a very short distance. Avoid the meeting point area, seriously. Ugh. One big stress you just don’t need.

Tower Bridge. It gets rammed. People queue to spectate from 7am to get anywhere near this. Really.

Mile Markers. Avoid being exactly at a mile marker, as the crowd inevitably bunches up there – having told their running friends they’ll be “at Mile 17″.

PLACES TO GO:

The Start – with runners spread across 3 different startlines in Greenwich and Blackheath, it’s a good place to accompany your runner and calm their nerves until they’re ready to join their pen. If you can get up in time.

Isle Of Dogs – the loop south of canary wharf tends to be the least crowded of the course.

Kilometre Markers – as fewer people use these than the mile markers. Still good to be slightly away from the marker as it’ll be less crowded.

WHAT TO DO AFTERWARDS:

This is crucial! Runners with charities normally have somewhere reserved to go, and this is eminently wise because every pub, bar and restaurant within a mile of the finish is going to be choc-ful any time after 12.30pm. And with a limping marathon runner it can be heart-breaking to fail to find them somewhere warm and dry to sit down (and remember they really can’t walk far – they will be hobbling in serious pain). If you haven’t reserved anywhere, the best strategy is to choose a pub today, and then – as you’re not going to the finishline – to head to the pub by 12 and keep a couple of seats for you and your runner and wait for them.

In any case, Londonist wishes huge luck and feels admiration for every marathon runner. Many of you are running for a cause or a loved one, and it’s an intensely emotional experience throughout the race. It’s a huge achievement and we’re so very proud of you. This Londonista wil be there, aiming to sneak in at 3 hrs 59 mins and 59 seconds and will probably get a bit tear-y myself. See you, sobbing, in a corner of a pub.

Image from klbw’s Flickrstream under a creative commons license

Been to see the sprinters at the Tate Britain yet? Whatever are you waiting for? Whilst you’ve been working, eating, sleeping, living – they’ve been running running running: some 310 km each, or 192 miles, or 7-plus marathons (that’s fifteen 86-meter sprints every half hour interval, times four intervals a shift, times three shifts a week, times 20 weeks). And although we can’t tell you what these unnamed participants were thinking during their many hours spent pounding the marble surfaces of the Duveen galleries, we can give you the perspective of one runner’s short-lived encounter with participatory art. Herewith the abbreviated diary of a failed Tate Britain runner.

15 May – A mysterious message lands in my inbox: Runners wanted. For sprint intervals in a well-known public art space, as part of an art installation not yet unveiled by Important Artist. Applicants’ discretion requested.

Ah ha. This, I conjecture, is how Seymour Hersh got his start in investigative journalism. I’m immediately intrigued. I want in for a host of reasons, both superficial and intellectual: to get paid for something I already do anyway; to explore this collision of art and sport; to know what it’s like to be art, if only a small anonymous part of it; to give Londonist the inside scoop; to lose half a stone in time for the summer holidays. Somewhat impetuously, I apply.

6 June – Two weeks and one ace interview later – during which I learn that the artist in question is Martin Creed, Turner Prize winner for “the lights going on and off” – and I’ve been offered a tentative spot on the team. But a few technicalities to attend to first – an ECG for starters. A runner dropping dead of heart failure on the floor of the galleries would presumably be bad PR for the Tate, so this is a precautionary measure. The runners turn up in droves on the day of the test, giving me my first opportunity to size up my “coworkers”. And crikey are they young – a good 7 or 8 years younger on average I’d wager, a point driven home to me when the ECG technician refers to us all as “girls and boys”.

But good news! My heart is present and accounted for. After noting a few irregularities on my ECG, the technician sends me for a follow-up echo – a torturous 20 minutes during which my overactive imagination gets the better of me and I start envisioning life as a weak-hearted invalid with barely enough strength to walk to the local off-licence for a pint of milk. Instead, I’m told that despite the initially dodgy results, my heart shows no structural damage. As a writer, I appreciate the metaphoric possibilities.

11 June – Art and sport make uneasy bedfellows, I discover at the running trials. Surely it’s not every day that you meet a Turner Prize winner, but after having been instructed by the soft-spoken and seemingly unassuming Creed to “run like my life depended on it”, I’m not quite ready to lay down my life for his vision. Where’s a personal trainer when you need one? Creed’s assistant, sipping what I imagine to be a very posh coffee whilst I struggle to catch my breath between sprints, introduces himself and then goes for the jugular: “We were just wondering if you could try running … I don’t know … faster?” I smile through gritted teeth and promise to try, saving the prolific cursing session for the tube ride home.

1 July – I miss out on the next few trials due to prior holiday plans, but when I return it’s to the news that my running services are no longer required. The judgement: not fast enough. (Note to Mr Creed: It’s all about the journey, man – not how fast you get there.)

Which is just as well, as friends have threatened to show up at the gallery Say Anything–style with speakers blaring ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Or to shout ‘Run, Forrest, Run!’ everytime I trot past. Like the idea? You have until Sunday to implement it. But you didn’t get the suggestion from us.

]]> Or, Dear Martin Creed: I didn’t really want to run in your exhibition anyway

Been to see the sprinters at the Tate Britain yet? Whatever are you waiting for? Whilst you’ve been working, eating, sleeping, living – they’ve been running running running: some 310 km each, or 192 miles, or 7-plus marathons (that’s fifteen 86-meter sprints every half hour interval, times four intervals a shift, times three shifts a week, times 20 weeks). And although we can’t tell you what these unnamed participants were thinking during their many hours spent pounding the marble surfaces of the Duveen galleries, we can give you the perspective of one runner’s short-lived encounter with participatory art. Herewith the abbreviated diary of a failed Tate Britain runner.

15 May – A mysterious message lands in my inbox: Runners wanted. For sprint intervals in a well-known public art space, as part of an art installation not yet unveiled by Important Artist. Applicants’ discretion requested.

Ah ha. This, I conjecture, is how Seymour Hersh got his start in investigative journalism. I’m immediately intrigued. I want in for a host of reasons, both superficial and intellectual: to get paid for something I already do anyway; to explore this collision of art and sport; to know what it’s like to be art, if only a small anonymous part of it; to give Londonist the inside scoop; to lose half a stone in time for the summer holidays. Somewhat impetuously, I apply.

6 June – Two weeks and one ace interview later – during which I learn that the artist in question is Martin Creed, Turner Prize winner for “the lights going on and off” – and I’ve been offered a tentative spot on the team. But a few technicalities to attend to first – an ECG for starters. A runner dropping dead of heart failure on the floor of the galleries would presumably be bad PR for the Tate, so this is a precautionary measure. The runners turn up in droves on the day of the test, giving me my first opportunity to size up my “coworkers”. And crikey are they young – a good 7 or 8 years younger on average I’d wager, a point driven home to me when the ECG technician refers to us all as “girls and boys”.

But good news! My heart is present and accounted for. After noting a few irregularities on my ECG, the technician sends me for a follow-up echo – a torturous 20 minutes during which my overactive imagination gets the better of me and I start envisioning life as a weak-hearted invalid with barely enough strength to walk to the local off-licence for a pint of milk. Instead, I’m told that despite the initially dodgy results, my heart shows no structural damage. As a writer, I appreciate the metaphoric possibilities.

11 June – Art and sport make uneasy bedfellows, I discover at the running trials. Surely it’s not every day that you meet a Turner Prize winner, but after having been instructed by the soft-spoken and seemingly unassuming Creed to “run like my life depended on it”, I’m not quite ready to lay down my life for his vision. Where’s a personal trainer when you need one? Creed’s assistant, sipping what I imagine to be a very posh coffee whilst I struggle to catch my breath between sprints, introduces himself and then goes for the jugular: “We were just wondering if you could try running … I don’t know … faster?” I smile through gritted teeth and promise to try, saving the prolific cursing session for the tube ride home.

1 July – I miss out on the next few trials due to prior holiday plans, but when I return it’s to the news that my running services are no longer required. The judgement: not fast enough. (Note to Mr Creed: It’s all about the journey, man – not how fast you get there.)

Which is just as well, as friends have threatened to show up at the gallery Say Anything–style with speakers blaring ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Or to shout ‘Run, Forrest, Run!’ everytime I trot past. Like the idea? You have until Sunday to implement it. But you didn’t get the suggestion from us.

]]> http://londonist.com/2008/11/last_chance_to_see_martin_creeds_wo.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2008/10/run_to_the_soggy_beat.php http://londonist.com/2008/10/run_to_the_soggy_beat.php#comments Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:32:42 +0000 Craigie_B http://londonist.com/?p=10396

Tomorrow sees London’s first proper half-marathon, and this Londonista will be plodding around the new route in the east of our fair city.

The capital has of course always boasted a world-beating marathon course, and earlier this year we acquired our very own dedicated 10k. So it makes sense that we get a half-marathon too.

Tomorrow’s ‘Run To The Beat’ course will snake around no less then three olympic/paralympic venues. The weather looks as though it could be fairly dreadful, so if you pop down mid-morning to the O2, Greenwich Observatory or Woolwich Barracks you won’t be seeing these future sportsfields commanded by elite athletes setting world-records. Oh no, they will instead be skirted by 12,500 soggy runners desperately trying to keep going in the face of driving rain.

Oh well, at least we’ll all get to run downhill through Greenwich Park at the end. If you want to check out the route, there’s a lovely little map up here – together with a handy live results service if you decide to stay in your lovely warm, snug bed with your hot cocoa instead of coming out to support your fellow Londoners.

Next week London gets its second half-marathon around the Royal Parks, which will be both flatter and easier. But will the weather be kinder than it promises to be in 12 hours’ time?!

Image from bmfcker’s Flickrstream of the kind of running weather we’ll dream of, tomorrow. This is not a reliable forecast. Pack your wellies, even though they’d prove hard to sprint in.

The word triathlon strikes fear into the hearts of us sedentary Londoners. Competitive sporting activity over 3 exhausting sports when the weather’s limped from not very bright to downright miserable? You gotta be joking. And yet, Brockwell Park Lido’s Aquathlon this weekend is almost beckoning seductively, teasing us with a ‘number’ of lengths followed by a ‘gently undulating run’ which finishes next to the cafe. It’s like sport got inside a velvet glove and caressed us on our favourite bits, playing on our fears that we’ve got a little flabby round the edges and man, shouldn’t we make the most of our local facilities?

Awaking from our reverie, however, we clock that it really is vaguely serious. Organised in three sections, the youth category (aged 13-16) will have a 100m swim, that’s 2 lengths of the 50m pool, followed by a 1000m run. Novice adult competitors will have to swim 200m and run 2000m, and the more experienced will have a 400m swim and 7000m run. It’s only £3.50 to enter as an adult so if you can get there and are able it would be churlish not to. The aim of the day is “to gauge the level of interest for multi sport in the local community, with the goal of establishing a local triathlon club based out of Brockwell Lido”.

Whatever, it’s a good excuse to get down there – remember this? It was summery then… but it is possible the weather might be fine this weekend, hush now, don’t exclaim… – and let’s not miss another excuse to ride the wave of post-Olympic, pre-Olympic athletic spirit.

Turn up and cheer or download an application form here. Entry forms are required in advance and there will a few limited entries on the day. All competitors need to be at the Lido by 10:00am on the 14th September to register.

Image courtesy of ruscoff via the Londonist Flickrpool.

The London Marathon’s got itself a new sugar daddy.

After a highly public breakup back in December (“it’s not you, it’s us” was Flora’s graceless exit strategy), the London Marathon has been wandering adrift, at sea, not quite sure what the future would bring after the 2009 race. No worries – she’s a hot little lucrative number and we knew it wouldn’t be long before someone swooped in to occupy the vacant space by her side.

Although Londonist tried to snag a spot at the bargaining table, it seems our initial bid of several handfuls of lovely little Londonist badges was treated with something like disdain (sigh – the Londonist Marathon had such a nice ring to it). Instead, we learn today that Richard Branson’s Virgin Money has signed a five-year contract, worth £17 million, to pick up sponsorship of the event starting in 2010. Branson – perhaps you’ve heard of the 20th richest Briton, worth £2.7 billion, who apparently recently beat Jesus on a list of children’s top role models (they’re similarly coiffured – we get confused all the time, too) – highlights the marathon’s charitable fundraising potential as one of his chief reasons for choosing to sponsor the event:

It’s the single biggest fundraising day on the planet and we want to make it even bigger, our aim is to help runners smash the £1/4 billion [mark] in five years.

And so, coming to a street near you in April 2010 … thousands of crazy running minions with the word “Virgin” emblazoned across the front of their bodies.

Image courtesy of *nathan’s Flickrstream under the Creative Commons Attribution license

]]>

The London Marathon’s got itself a new sugar daddy.

After a highly public breakup back in December (“it’s not you, it’s us” was Flora’s graceless exit strategy), the London Marathon has been wandering adrift, at sea, not quite sure what the future would bring after the 2009 race. No worries – she’s a hot little lucrative number and we knew it wouldn’t be long before someone swooped in to occupy the vacant space by her side.

Although Londonist tried to snag a spot at the bargaining table, it seems our initial bid of several handfuls of lovely little Londonist badges was treated with something like disdain (sigh – the Londonist Marathon had such a nice ring to it). Instead, we learn today that Richard Branson’s Virgin Money has signed a five-year contract, worth £17 million, to pick up sponsorship of the event starting in 2010. Branson – perhaps you’ve heard of the 20th richest Briton, worth £2.7 billion, who apparently recently beat Jesus on a list of children’s top role models (they’re similarly coiffured – we get confused all the time, too) – highlights the marathon’s charitable fundraising potential as one of his chief reasons for choosing to sponsor the event:

It’s the single biggest fundraising day on the planet and we want to make it even bigger, our aim is to help runners smash the £1/4 billion [mark] in five years.

And so, coming to a street near you in April 2010 … thousands of crazy running minions with the word “Virgin” emblazoned across the front of their bodies.

Image courtesy of *nathan’s Flickrstream under the Creative Commons Attribution license

]]> http://londonist.com/2008/05/virgin_to_spons.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2008/04/busters_birthda.php http://londonist.com/2008/04/busters_birthda.php#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:46:45 +0000 Dean http://londonist.com/?p=8581

Over the last couple of years Londonist has been privileged to bring you tales from the life and times of Buster Martin, the centenarian Pimlico plumber who first came to fame after being ordered, under duress, to take a day off work on his 100th birthday.

Now, having completed the London Marathon in just under ten hours – and collecting some £20,000 for the Rhys Daniels Trust in the process – Buster was expected to be entered into the Guinness Book of Records as the race’s oldest participant. But those dour folk at Guinness World Records have stuck a running spike into proceedings: they claim that, without a genuine birth certificate, Buster’s claim is null and void.

As a French-born citizen raised in a British orphanage, Buster has a certificate of naturalisation, but no official record of his birth to prove his claim that he’s walked this earth some 101 years. Without that, quoth the Gradgrinds at Guinness, then no dice: his effort doesn’t count.

Londonist would like to wag our collective finger at the record-keepers. In a world where inane stunts and bizarre spectacles are permitted to fight their way into the once-hallowed pages, here we have a genuine marvel, a man who has negated decades of wear and tear on his body to complete an indubitably arduous task. And how is he greeted? By a fussy and fastidious clipboard-wielder at the finishing line who marks him down because he didn’t cross a ‘t’ or dot an ‘i’.

We’d like, of course, to reserve the right to ignore the above sentiments should it emerge that Buster has indeed been fiddling the numbers a little. But, for the record, we believe you, B!

Image courtesy of zimpenfish’s Flickrstream

Here at Londonist we love to indulge in all sorts of devilishly scrumptious treats. However, we know healthy, conscientious eating is the key to a happy life.

Kate Percy is a marathon runner and a cook … and, as of the 10th of January, a blogger. With her Go Faster Food blog, Kate intends to share her progress in training for the Flora London Marathon 2008 and to talk about different foods and recipes which she finds helpful to her training.

One such recipe of Kate’s is spaghetti with mussels, which serves four to six people, “depending on hunger.” According to Kate it (along with “some delicious fresh prawns, fried in butter, garlic, a little finely chopped fresh red chilli and parsley with plenty of fresh bread to mop up the juices”), did just the trick stoking her up the night before her first 15 mile run of 2008. However, she states that:

I wouldn’t eat mussels, or any type of seafood for that matter, before a race, but I love them so much, I am prepared to take a risk otherwise. Also, I feel much more confident about eating seafood if I have bought and prepared it myself.

Go Faster Food is an inspirational blog. We intend to keep reading it to follow Kate’s progress. Go Faster Kate!

]]>

Here at Londonist we love to indulge in all sorts of devilishly scrumptious treats. However, we know healthy, conscientious eating is the key to a happy life.

Kate Percy is a marathon runner and a cook … and, as of the 10th of January, a blogger. With her Go Faster Food blog, Kate intends to share her progress in training for the Flora London Marathon 2008 and to talk about different foods and recipes which she finds helpful to her training.

One such recipe of Kate’s is spaghetti with mussels, which serves four to six people, “depending on hunger.” According to Kate it (along with “some delicious fresh prawns, fried in butter, garlic, a little finely chopped fresh red chilli and parsley with plenty of fresh bread to mop up the juices”), did just the trick stoking her up the night before her first 15 mile run of 2008. However, she states that:

I wouldn’t eat mussels, or any type of seafood for that matter, before a race, but I love them so much, I am prepared to take a risk otherwise. Also, I feel much more confident about eating seafood if I have bought and prepared it myself.

Go Faster Food is an inspirational blog. We intend to keep reading it to follow Kate’s progress. Go Faster Kate!

]]> http://londonist.com/2008/03/health_nut_go_f.php/feed 1 http://londonist.com/2008/03/paula_radcliffe.php http://londonist.com/2008/03/paula_radcliffe.php#comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:40:17 +0000 Julie PH http://londonist.com/?p=8223

Well damn. Just as we were preparing to submit our accumulated evidence that Paula Radcliffe deserves admission to the International Super Heroes Hall of Fame (wherever that may be), word comes today of a crack in the steely exterior of the marathon world record holder.

The three-time London Marathon winner has been forced to withdraw from this year’s event due to an injury to a tendon in her toe (tendons! in the toe! yet another area of the body we’ve been neglecting to exercise all these years?). Despite the setback, Radcliffe is downplaying the seriousness of the injury, sustained during altitude training in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and maintains that this should in no way hamper her pursuit of the gold medal in Beijing this summer.

With Radcliffe out, we’re throwing the full weight of our support behind Buster, to whom we introduced you earlier this week, and Dave Heeley, a 50-year-old blind Briton who will run seven marathons in seven continents over the course of seven days to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Heeley, who has already collected £200,000 for the association, will end his quest at the London Marathon on April 13. Mad, mad, mad. But admirable.

If that doesn’t inspire you to sprint out the door to the pub, we don’t know what will.

Image courtesy of Paul Carstairs via the Londonist Flickr pool

]]>

Well damn. Just as we were preparing to submit our accumulated evidence that Paula Radcliffe deserves admission to the International Super Heroes Hall of Fame (wherever that may be), word comes today of a crack in the steely exterior of the marathon world record holder.

The three-time London Marathon winner has been forced to withdraw from this year’s event due to an injury to a tendon in her toe (tendons! in the toe! yet another area of the body we’ve been neglecting to exercise all these years?). Despite the setback, Radcliffe is downplaying the seriousness of the injury, sustained during altitude training in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and maintains that this should in no way hamper her pursuit of the gold medal in Beijing this summer.

With Radcliffe out, we’re throwing the full weight of our support behind Buster, to whom we introduced you earlier this week, and Dave Heeley, a 50-year-old blind Briton who will run seven marathons in seven continents over the course of seven days to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Heeley, who has already collected £200,000 for the association, will end his quest at the London Marathon on April 13. Mad, mad, mad. But admirable.

If that doesn’t inspire you to sprint out the door to the pub, we don’t know what will.

Image courtesy of Paul Carstairs via the Londonist Flickr pool

]]> http://londonist.com/2008/03/paula_radcliffe.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2008/03/dance_into_euro.php http://londonist.com/2008/03/dance_into_euro.php#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:24:19 +0000 Talia http://londonist.com/?p=8208

If you’ve not got plans tonight, then we’re very excited by new-ish club night Now We’ve Got Europe.

Held at the intimate Three Blind Mice (formerly Eastern-Euro styled Smersh), the night promises the best of French new wave, Dutch rap, German punk, Italo Disco pool-side classics and pop anthems from the continent.

Tonight has an added Spanish theme from gothic punk icons Alaska y los Pegamoides and glamorous new romantics Glamour to the Stock Aitken and Waterman-esque pop brilliance of Objetivo Birmania.

Running from 7 – Midnight, admission is free and if you can’t make tonight, they’ll be down there on the first Thursday of every month. We’ll let you know what it’s like!

Aren’t old people delightful? So feisty! Such spunk! When they’re not threatening your five-year-old with an iron bar, they might be off practising kung fu on would-be teen muggers (and quite rightly – punks) or dispensing advice to lad mag readers. This much is clear: retirement just isn’t what it used to be.

Witness Buster Martin, the 101-year-old with an invincibility complex. And no wonder. After first gaining notoriety for refusing to take a day off from his job at Pimlico Plumbers to celebrate his 100th birthday, Buster has since gone on to make headlines as agony uncle for FHM, as a member of one-hit wonders The Zimmers (that’s Buster giving the iconic rock-star finger at the end of the video), and for basically kicking the asses of a gang of muggers. So we should hardly be surprised to learn that “Bionic” Buster, after completing the Roding Valley half marathon in Essex on Sunday in 5 hours and 13 minutes, is now gunning for the London Marathon next month, even raising money for charity whilst doing so. If he finishes, he’ll be the oldest recorded marathon participant in the world.

After various gripes about the meaninglessness of records these days, Buster restores our faith in overreaching humankind. Don’t get us wrong – we think he’s crazy. Setting out to purposely run 26.2 miles in a single stretch is a bit mad even in the best of times and the height of health (and we count ourselves among the crazed). Still, we have to respect a man well over half a century our senior whose first words after crossing the finish line of the half marathon were, “Where’s my beer?”

Entirely inappropriate pic courtesy of Our Pilot via the Londonist Flickr pool

]]>

Aren’t old people delightful? So feisty! Such spunk! When they’re not threatening your five-year-old with an iron bar, they might be off practising kung fu on would-be teen muggers (and quite rightly – punks) or dispensing advice to lad mag readers. This much is clear: retirement just isn’t what it used to be.

Witness Buster Martin, the 101-year-old with an invincibility complex. And no wonder. After first gaining notoriety for refusing to take a day off from his job at Pimlico Plumbers to celebrate his 100th birthday, Buster has since gone on to make headlines as agony uncle for FHM, as a member of one-hit wonders The Zimmers (that’s Buster giving the iconic rock-star finger at the end of the video), and for basically kicking the asses of a gang of muggers. So we should hardly be surprised to learn that “Bionic” Buster, after completing the Roding Valley half marathon in Essex on Sunday in 5 hours and 13 minutes, is now gunning for the London Marathon next month, even raising money for charity whilst doing so. If he finishes, he’ll be the oldest recorded marathon participant in the world.

After various gripes about the meaninglessness of records these days, Buster restores our faith in overreaching humankind. Don’t get us wrong – we think he’s crazy. Setting out to purposely run 26.2 miles in a single stretch is a bit mad even in the best of times and the height of health (and we count ourselves among the crazed). Still, we have to respect a man well over half a century our senior whose first words after crossing the finish line of the half marathon were, “Where’s my beer?”

Entirely inappropriate pic courtesy of Our Pilot via the Londonist Flickr pool

]]> http://londonist.com/2008/03/buster_going_fo.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2008/01/londonist_inter_32.php http://londonist.com/2008/01/londonist_inter_32.php#comments Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:55:25 +0000 london_charlotte http://londonist.com/?p=7884

A couple of weeks ago our attention was drawn to the London FrontRunners, a running club that somewhat surprisingly had decided to stage their unique version of A Christmas Carol at the Drill Hall. Running and acting not being the most obvious of bedfellows, Londonist decided to find out who or what the FrontRunners really are.

We met Graham Kennedy, one of the two Presidents, and Leila Brosnan, a long-standing member, just before they headed out for a run.

Who are the FrontRunners?

London FrontRunners is one of the biggest running clubs in the UK with 230 members. Twelve years ago, it was founded by Mark Forest, when he moved to London from USA, where he had been a member of the International Frontrunners. There are FrontRunner-clubs all over the world, and we have arranged several exchange trips. We also have the London FrontWalkers, for people who prefer walking.

Why should we start running? Can’t we just play tennis on the Wii?

When you first start out, you don’t have to have any skill. Even though running may be seen as an individual sport, running with other people can give the impetus to continue training. You’re with people who all enjoy running, so there’s a lot of support. Particularly in London FrontRunners, you’re with a variety of people – it is open to all, not just gay men and lesbians. It is friendly and there are different levels of involvement and ability.

Leila: I actually find running quite relaxing.

Graham: It is a personal challenge. You get out of the office. If you run races, you get to travel. It’s social; you can chat, while you run.

[Londonist at this point begs to differ]

Leila: When you can chat, then you know you have improved!

Tell us about the Christmas panto.

We organise many non-running events: we usually have a meal after each evening run, we go to the pub, arrange cinema evenings, theatre, concerts, wine-tastings… Our Social Secretary, Martin Hooper, came up with the idea of the panto in 2006, so we did Cinderella for the Christmas party. This year we did A Christmas Carol, which we performed twice at the Drill Hall. It was a great success, and we do everything ourselves, write, direct, act…although none of us are professional performers.

Graham: It’s great to try things you haven’t tried before, even though it is daunting – I suddenly found myself on stage this year…

You also organise the Pride Run?

Yes, 2008 is the fifth year of the Pride Run and the whole event is arranged by London FrontRunners. The idea was conceived by a member, Niv Ben Yehuda, and we now have a separate committee that only deals with that. There are about 600 runners, mainly from London, and all proceeds go to charity. Over the last four years, we have raised £15,000 from the Pride Run and the panto.

Which charities do you support?

Last year it was Stonewall and the Drill Hall, but previously we have supported Terence Higgins Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and St. Barts Hospital.

How did you get involved?

Leila: I moved here and saw a notice in Time Out – when you are new to a city it is a great way of seeing the city and meeting new people.

Graham: I was signed up to do the London Marathon and needed somewhere to go for a bit of support.

What is the best place to run in London?

Both: Hyde Park – around the Serpentine – the still water is relaxing

Graham: Also very popular is our South Bank run on Monday evenings: we start at Westminster and take in all the sights: Big Ben, the London Eye…

What is your favourite mode of transportation?

Both: Not the tube!

Graham: The riverboat: it is relaxing, there is no pushing, you’re above ground…

Leila: Walking. There is nothing like walking after having had a bad day at work.

What is the best thing about running in London?

Graham: The variation in the runs you can do. There are parks, the river, Regent’s canal – Hampstead Heath for hill training.

Leila: The climate. You can run for most of the year.

And the worst?

Leila: The climate. When it rains.

Both: Pollution.

And how can we join?

There is a membership form on the website, or you can email us or give us a call. We are especially keen to get more female members!

The London Pride Run 2008 will take place in Victoria Park on 16th August and is open to all, against a small booking fee. Book your place here.

More information, membership form and contact details here.

Image of a few FrontRunners at the Pride London Parade 2007, courtesy of the London FrontRunners.

She does not, to our knowledge, leap tall buildings in a single bound, have telepathic powers, or possess the ability to control the weather. But Paula Radcliffe, who, we learned today, will be competing again this year in the London Marathon en route to trying for the gold at the summer Olympics in Beijing, could make a claim to a few other superhero abilities. Superhuman strength? Check. She runs 26.2 miles in the time it takes most of us to walk to the corner off-licence and back. Power of invisibility? Check. Very few of her competitors get as much as a single glance at her, so busy is she leaving them in her dust. Can she fly? Well, covering 26.2 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes would seem to very nearly qualify.

This woman seriously rocks.

Oh and here’s one point worth repeating: It’s been only a year since Radcliffe gave birth to her first child. Baby Isla will turn one on Thursday, yet Radcliffe has wasted no time adding another win, the 2007 New York City Marathon, to her list of accomplishments. Between Radcliffe and tennis champ and new mum Lindsay Davenport, currently competing in the 2008 Australian Open just 7 months after giving birth to baby Jagger, we sense that the concept of maternity leave has a very different meaning for some women. It may even inspire those of us without little Londonistas running around to pick up the pace on our next stroll to the store.

In the meantime, we’ll be cheering for you, Paula.

Image courtesy of Alan Cordova’s Flickr photostream

]]>

She does not, to our knowledge, leap tall buildings in a single bound, have telepathic powers, or possess the ability to control the weather. But Paula Radcliffe, who, we learned today, will be competing again this year in the London Marathon en route to trying for the gold at the summer Olympics in Beijing, could make a claim to a few other superhero abilities. Superhuman strength? Check. She runs 26.2 miles in the time it takes most of us to walk to the corner off-licence and back. Power of invisibility? Check. Very few of her competitors get as much as a single glance at her, so busy is she leaving them in her dust. Can she fly? Well, covering 26.2 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes would seem to very nearly qualify.

This woman seriously rocks.

Oh and here’s one point worth repeating: It’s been only a year since Radcliffe gave birth to her first child. Baby Isla will turn one on Thursday, yet Radcliffe has wasted no time adding another win, the 2007 New York City Marathon, to her list of accomplishments. Between Radcliffe and tennis champ and new mum Lindsay Davenport, currently competing in the 2008 Australian Open just 7 months after giving birth to baby Jagger, we sense that the concept of maternity leave has a very different meaning for some women. It may even inspire those of us without little Londonistas running around to pick up the pace on our next stroll to the store.

In the meantime, we’ll be cheering for you, Paula.

Image courtesy of Alan Cordova’s Flickr photostream

]]> http://londonist.com/2008/01/superhero_confi.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2008/01/london_internat_3.php http://londonist.com/2008/01/london_internat_3.php#comments Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:15:00 +0000 Hazel http://londonist.com/?p=7748

It’s easy to laugh at mime – the performers can’t say anything back. But in the case of the London International Mime Festival, they could well leap off the stage on bungee ropes and encase you in a massive block of clay then make you a key part of an adult puppet show. This isn’t a two week lovefest for tall chaps in stripy tops and white make up trapped in invisible glass boxes: this is the annual celebration of non-spoken performance, ranging from puppetry to aerial acrobatics to breath-taking contemporary juggling to modern clowns.

Running since 1977, this annual showcase of all that is great, good and extremely groovy in the world non-spoken theatre is the bright spot in January and fantastic international performances are scheduled for venues including the ICA, South Bank Centre, Barbican, Lyric Hammersmith and the Clore Studio at the Royal Opera House.

Keep an eye out for the one with all the clay, the one with the gobsmacking puppets and the one with the bloody enormous pole and video artist.

As the panto tide ebbs away with fading cries of ‘oh no, it isn’t!’ it’s good to see such exciting and innovative work replacing and refreshing theatreland. Get booking and prepare to be made speechless.

(See what we did there? Speechless? Mime? Yeah, we know, we know…)

London International Mime Festival, Saturday 12 to 27 January, various venues. For more information and tickets, go to the festival website here.

The queues are already forming outside Buckingham Palace to see what lurks behind door number 21. Will it be the Star of Bethlehem? Or Michael Fagin?

We’ll be running a seasonal Touch-up every day until Christmas, so please send entries to londonist – at – gmail dot com.

Source image from koltregask’s Flickr photostream.

A sad week for LAist as they lose their trusted and amazing editor Tony Pierce to the LA Times, but what a blast his last week was. He shared his 25 Favorite CDs of 2007 and wrote a great review of just a good movie, No Country For Old Men. At UCLA, thousands of students celebrated the end of their quarter by running around campus in their undies (lots of photos in a two-part photo essay, one, two). That wasn’t the only photo essay either: Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy friends and Star Trek actors all joined in at the Writers Strike and KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas brought two nights of amazing bands that included Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park (Part I), Modest Mouse, Muse, Spoon and The Killers (Part II). Not only is L.A. a great music town, it has just been named the best city for bookish types. For those who are looking for something a little more active, American Gladiators are back (yes!) and if that’s not enough, how about a Christmas gift of action and adventure?

Phillyist is counting down to 2008 (and really enjoying it – yes, in that way!), leaving them exhausted, disoriented, and irritable.

In New York, you better be careful how you wish people a happy holiday. Gothamist looks at a bunch of thugs that get in the holiday sprit by beating on those that wished them a Happy Hanukkah – and only in New York, a Muslim man helped defend the Jewish riders. Also on the subway, there’s a new trend – poll dancing. First with women looking to score a $10,000 prize (they did) and a man that’s shaking way too much while wearing way too little. They also looked at all the local names that were on baseball’s Michell Report (the biggest being Roger Clemens getting ‘roids in his buttocks), a found piece of graffiti history, and the reopening of the 2nd Avenue Deli…on 33rd Street off of 3rd Avenue! But why eat kosher food when you can have a drink called “Party Dogg” made by OG Nation.

Despite the onset of Christmas consumerism and festive cheer whatever the weather, Londonist still had time to admire some Brit art, shit art and sit-com art. Londonist was also the lucky recipient of a kind gift from a Torontoist regular, Panoramaist, who gave us an amazing view of the 02 Centre (formerly the Millennium Dome), created on a trip to see Led Zeppelin play a highly anticipated gig. And as the onset of Christmas shopping reaches a climax, hope is offered to anxious chaps wanting to purchase lingerie for their feminine lovers: a special lingerie buying academy for men is scheduled for that crucial last shopping night before the holiday.

Bostonist took a deep breath this week–a lot of deep breaths, actually. They explored the smells exuded by the city’s subway system and discovered many distinctive odors, such as Axe body spray, wet Uggs, and pee. The drivers of the subway might have been distracted by the fragrance of the system. One trolley crashed into another, sending a few riders to the hospital. In the meantime, a snowstorm descended upon the city, creating both beauty and havoc. But Bostonist braved the snow to see Joss Whedon, fellow writers Jamie Paglia and Rob Kutner, and fans–including a few young ones–speak out about the Writers Strike.

Missing your favorite -Ist? Check out this week’s favorites on Austinist, Chicagoist, Houstonist, Seattlest, SFist, Shanghaiist, and Torontoist.

Image of Max Schapiro of Needham, Mass., at the Writers’ Strike

Rally taken by Caroline Roberts; UCLA student photos, Sports Editor Adam Rose and LAist Editor Zach Behrens.

]]>

A sad week for LAist as they lose their trusted and amazing editor Tony Pierce to the LA Times, but what a blast his last week was. He shared his 25 Favorite CDs of 2007 and wrote a great review of just a good movie, No Country For Old Men. At UCLA, thousands of students celebrated the end of their quarter by running around campus in their undies (lots of photos in a two-part photo essay, one, two). That wasn’t the only photo essay either: Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy friends and Star Trek actors all joined in at the Writers Strike and KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas brought two nights of amazing bands that included Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park (Part I), Modest Mouse, Muse, Spoon and The Killers (Part II). Not only is L.A. a great music town, it has just been named the best city for bookish types. For those who are looking for something a little more active, American Gladiators are back (yes!) and if that’s not enough, how about a Christmas gift of action and adventure?

Phillyist is counting down to 2008 (and really enjoying it – yes, in that way!), leaving them exhausted, disoriented, and irritable.

In New York, you better be careful how you wish people a happy holiday. Gothamist looks at a bunch of thugs that get in the holiday sprit by beating on those that wished them a Happy Hanukkah – and only in New York, a Muslim man helped defend the Jewish riders. Also on the subway, there’s a new trend – poll dancing. First with women looking to score a $10,000 prize (they did) and a man that’s shaking way too much while wearing way too little. They also looked at all the local names that were on baseball’s Michell Report (the biggest being Roger Clemens getting ‘roids in his buttocks), a found piece of graffiti history, and the reopening of the 2nd Avenue Deli…on 33rd Street off of 3rd Avenue! But why eat kosher food when you can have a drink called “Party Dogg” made by OG Nation.

Despite the onset of Christmas consumerism and festive cheer whatever the weather, Londonist still had time to admire some Brit art, shit art and sit-com art. Londonist was also the lucky recipient of a kind gift from a Torontoist regular, Panoramaist, who gave us an amazing view of the 02 Centre (formerly the Millennium Dome), created on a trip to see Led Zeppelin play a highly anticipated gig. And as the onset of Christmas shopping reaches a climax, hope is offered to anxious chaps wanting to purchase lingerie for their feminine lovers: a special lingerie buying academy for men is scheduled for that crucial last shopping night before the holiday.

Bostonist took a deep breath this week–a lot of deep breaths, actually. They explored the smells exuded by the city’s subway system and discovered many distinctive odors, such as Axe body spray, wet Uggs, and pee. The drivers of the subway might have been distracted by the fragrance of the system. One trolley crashed into another, sending a few riders to the hospital. In the meantime, a snowstorm descended upon the city, creating both beauty and havoc. But Bostonist braved the snow to see Joss Whedon, fellow writers Jamie Paglia and Rob Kutner, and fans–including a few young ones–speak out about the Writers Strike.

Missing your favorite -Ist? Check out this week’s favorites on Austinist, Chicagoist, Houstonist, Seattlest, SFist, Shanghaiist, and Torontoist.

Image of Max Schapiro of Needham, Mass., at the Writers’ Strike

Rally taken by Caroline Roberts; UCLA student photos, Sports Editor Adam Rose and LAist Editor Zach Behrens.

]]> http://londonist.com/2007/12/best_of_3.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2007/12/extra_extra_461.php http://londonist.com/2007/12/extra_extra_461.php#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:55:49 +0000 Lindsey http://londonist.com/?p=7559

• More Olympic cost rumbling

Image courtesy of Orhan via the Londonist flickr group.

Formally half of the much loved and missed Arab Strap, Malcolm Middleton’s solo career revealed unexpected pop sensibilities. Sure, he’s no happier, and he’s just as foul mouthed, but this time he does it with added melody and pop hooks.

Tonight’s show at the Scala comes a week ahead of his unexpected stab at the Christmas number 1 with his typically jovial “We’re All Going To Die”. Originally the gesture started as a joke, but with the surprise backing of Radio 1, is now a genuine contender with odds of 12/1. Of course, it’ll never happen – no doubt the X-Factor freak show will see to that – but if this gives him the exposure he deserves, and he can escape being pigeonholed a novelty, then that’s got to be a good thing

Tonight’s set is drawn almost entirely from his last two albums (“A Brighter Beat” & “Into The Woods). Inevitably, “We’re All Going To Die” is greeted with the biggest cheer of the night. He follows it up with one of his finest songs, the genuinely heartbreaking “Up Late At Night Again”, for which the audience falls in to a reverential silence

Keeping the festive theme running, he comes back for an acoustic “Burst Noel” (“When good King Wenceslas looked out, Everything was fucked …” before being rejoined by the band for “Fight Like The Night” and finally “A Happy Medium” (“Woke Up again today, realise I hate myself, my face is a disease “) It may be Christmas, but mercifully Malcolm isn’t going to let the season of goodwill get in the way of a good grumble, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Words and photo by Martin Hills.

Buttery spread brand Flora, sponsor of the London Marathon, has decided that its bread is better buttered elsewhere. After a 14-year association with the event, Flora has indicated that it will give up its sponsorship following the 2009 race. A delightful investment opportunity for those of you with £12 million lying around!

Promoting itself as a heart-healthy butter alternative by placing its name on the hundreds of thousands of, presumably heart-healthy, runners doggedly completing the 26.2-mile course since the partnership began, the association between the Unilever-owned company and the London Marathon was a brilliant marketing move. Who will fill Flora’s running shoes, we wonder? A company in need of a healthy image upgrade? Dare we joke about the 2010 McDonald’s London Marathon?

The news comes as applicants for the 2008 race receive word as to whether their bid to secure a spot through the ballot was successful. The 2007 race drew approximately 125,000 applicants, only 40 percent of whom were offered a spot in the field. If trends hold steady this year, there are quite a few disappointed runners out there this week, reassured only by such comforting adverts in their rejection package as “It’s not the end of the road”, “Better luck next year” and “We’re sorry you’re such a loser”. (Perhaps a slightly bitter Londonista made up that last slogan, but you get the point.)

Sponsoring the race might be one way to guarantee entry into the thing.

The London Marathon is the largest fundraising event in the world, bringing in an astonishing £46 million a year for charity. If you’re still seeking a way to finagle a spot in the field, there are many worthy causes who we imagine would be happy to hear from you.

Image courtesy of GafferBee’s Flickr photostream

]]>

Buttery spread brand Flora, sponsor of the London Marathon, has decided that its bread is better buttered elsewhere. After a 14-year association with the event, Flora has indicated that it will give up its sponsorship following the 2009 race. A delightful investment opportunity for those of you with £12 million lying around!

Promoting itself as a heart-healthy butter alternative by placing its name on the hundreds of thousands of, presumably heart-healthy, runners doggedly completing the 26.2-mile course since the partnership began, the association between the Unilever-owned company and the London Marathon was a brilliant marketing move. Who will fill Flora’s running shoes, we wonder? A company in need of a healthy image upgrade? Dare we joke about the 2010 McDonald’s London Marathon?

The news comes as applicants for the 2008 race receive word as to whether their bid to secure a spot through the ballot was successful. The 2007 race drew approximately 125,000 applicants, only 40 percent of whom were offered a spot in the field. If trends hold steady this year, there are quite a few disappointed runners out there this week, reassured only by such comforting adverts in their rejection package as “It’s not the end of the road”, “Better luck next year” and “We’re sorry you’re such a loser”. (Perhaps a slightly bitter Londonista made up that last slogan, but you get the point.)

Sponsoring the race might be one way to guarantee entry into the thing.

The London Marathon is the largest fundraising event in the world, bringing in an astonishing £46 million a year for charity. If you’re still seeking a way to finagle a spot in the field, there are many worthy causes who we imagine would be happy to hear from you.

Image courtesy of GafferBee’s Flickr photostream

]]> http://londonist.com/2007/12/your_name_here.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2007/11/smile_its_tate.php http://londonist.com/2007/11/smile_its_tate.php#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:26:02 +0000 SallyB2 http://londonist.com/?p=7437

Well, the sugar people are actually living up to their somewhat irritating catchphrase at the moment, as they are being incredibly good eco-bunnies.

They are to install an awfully costly new biomass boiler (£20 million – in Londonist’s book that’s expensive: mind you, you shouldn’t get us going on the subject of the cost of plumbing…) at their East London plant which will burn on something called ‘wheat feed’ (a bi-product of the flour industry). Which is really, really cool.

In practical terms (and for the more technical amongst you) it means that they will cut their carbon emissions by 70%, and 70% of their fuel will be from renewable sources. Their carbon footprint will be 0.32 tonnes per tonne of the sticky stuff.

There have been all sorts of funny stories about cars running on fizzy pop and manure powered tractors over the years, but now it actually looks as if alternative fuels are a viable way forward for a variety of applications including heavy industry. Hoorah for the sugar barons and their wheaty bits. Apart from the fact that the term ‘biomass boiler’ so readily conjures scenes from a very bad 1950s sci-fi flick, Londonist thinks it all rocks.

Gritty, industrial photo courtesy of flattop341’s flickr photo stream.

Of course our hopes of a cooler network were not that high – what with seemingly ludicrous plans to install ice under the seats or redirect cold water in Victoria – we never really expected to be rendered anything less than hot and sweaty during our morning commute.

We do understand that living in one of the oldest cities and commuting on the oldest tube network comes at a price. We just wish that price wasn’t sweating off our face twice daily. Sort it out, please, it’s our Christmas wish.

And while we have your attention, a little insight into some of our other Yuletide yearnings:

- Full mobile reception on the underground.

- Ubiquitous public toilets Tokyo style.

- Longer tube running hours.

- If the latter prove unfeasible, subsidised taxis for solo females late at night.

Photo from geordiekid’s flickr photostream

]]> Londonist is fuming, literally and alas will be for quite some time – the £150 million plan to chill the tube looks set to be suspended. It’s deemed too expensive (shock, horror) by Transport for London, who has taken over from maintenance company Metronet.

Of course our hopes of a cooler network were not that high – what with seemingly ludicrous plans to install ice under the seats or redirect cold water in Victoria – we never really expected to be rendered anything less than hot and sweaty during our morning commute.

We do understand that living in one of the oldest cities and commuting on the oldest tube network comes at a price. We just wish that price wasn’t sweating off our face twice daily. Sort it out, please, it’s our Christmas wish.

And while we have your attention, a little insight into some of our other Yuletide yearnings:

- Full mobile reception on the underground.

- Ubiquitous public toilets Tokyo style.

- Longer tube running hours.

- If the latter prove unfeasible, subsidised taxis for solo females late at night.

Photo from geordiekid’s flickr photostream

]]> http://londonist.com/2007/11/tube_goers_try.php/feed 0 http://londonist.com/2007/11/no_power_to_the.php http://londonist.com/2007/11/no_power_to_the.php#comments Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:44:15 +0000 SallyB2 http://londonist.com/?p=7399

Harumph. Last night saw a wee splash of rain and a whole load of inconvenience in London. And this rather disgruntled Londonista was caught up in it.

It’s not that we are spoiled brats and can’t cope without our PCs and tellies for an evening. By all accounts a snuggly, fire-lit night in, cooking pancakes over candles and making conversation with each other, never did anyone any harm – why the thrice weekly power cut was the highlight of the decade for kiddies growing up in the seventies.

But utility cuts can only be designated fun times if advance notice is given, and the right supplies are laid in. When the bloody power (or water) goes off when you are covered in soap in the shower, or halfway through your souffle’s cooking time, or when you are running a business involving hordes of disorganised members of the public, it is not fun. Really, it isn’t.

Why does this still happen in London? This Londonista has had serious power failures three times this year, one involving a blackout of 24 hours. It’s not even like you can claim compensation – they only pay out after an initial 24 hour period of loss. This is the noughties, and we expect better.

It looks as if there could be worse to come ‘n’ all, if industry forecasts are accurate.

Time to buy shares in the tallow industry. And a candle powered computer, perhaps.

Flickring piccie courtesy of Glen Bowman’s flickr stream.

This Week In London’s History

• Monday – 19th November 1558: Queen Elizabeth I travels to Highgate on her accession to the throne. She is met by the bishops and escorted through London.

Random London Fact Of The Week

In the early 19th century, London was rapidly running out of burial spaces. Parish churchyards had become so overcrowded that the health of nearby residents or workers had been affected, and additional land for burial was hard to come by. A solution was needed – ideally one that would provide burial capacity for the foreseeable future.

One of the first proposals was ingenious, ambitious and somewhat surreal. An architect named Thomas Willson proposed a ‘Pyramid Cemetery for the Metropolis’ – a huge pyramid that would be constructed on top of Primrose Hill, with enough space for the internment of five million bodies. Steam-powered lifts would provide access to the 94 floors of the proposed monolith, which would be “compact, ornamental and hygienic”.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the proposed scheme was not taken up, and an altogether more traditional solution was implemented with the construction of Kensal Green Cemetery.

London’s Weather This Week

Overall, the forecasters are indicating that this week’s weather will be quite miserable, with liberal amounts of rain and some plummeting temperatures later on. However, there might be a bit of sunshine between the showers, if we’re lucky.

Maxwell’s Fullmooners has been running for some time at London’s Comedy Store – audiences can expect Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell dressed in a cloak, hip hop dancers, a creepy singer with a ukulele called Lady Carol of the Moon, the ‘concierge’ Tim Fitzhigham (who we interviewed earlier this year) and a lot of werewolf style howling. The shows start at midnight and have been something of a cult hit.

On November 24th an extra special Fullmooners is taking place. As the full moon rises through the midnight sky, a very special ‘Moontacular’ will begin in a Victorian theatre within Alexandra Palace – the first time the theatre has been used in over 65 years.

The theatre was opened in 1875 with a capacity of around 2,000 but has been closed since 1936 and has since fallen semi-derelict, having been used to store BBC scenery, props and equipment. However, a campaign has begun to restore the theatre to its former glory. The theatre was known for its grand Victorian pantomimes which used its extraordinary stage machinery to create dramatic visual effects. The survival of this system of trapdoors and flys, operated by wheels and counterweights is now almost certainly unique in a public theatre in Europe. One of the main aims is to restore the stage to working order, for heritage and educational purposes but also as an opportunity to reproduce some spectacular Victorian productions.

Acts already confirmed for the gig include Ed Byrne, We Are Klang, Phil Nichol and Peter Serafinowicz. Tickets can be purchased here.

Here is a promotional video showing you how to get there -

Image courtesy of Jono Kenyon via the Londonist flickr group.

Londonist is not normally anal or prohibitive about stuff. Hey, we can do nipple tassles with the best of them. And we are utterly dismissive of most of Nanny Government’s patronising dictums. But today we are all up tight….about fireworks of all things. We must confess to a decidedly school-marmly attitude to the things.

Sorry ‘n’ all if you’re having a party tonight – we don’t want to dampen your fun or anything. It’s just that we think that the general sale of fireworks ought to be banned.

Londonist loves pyrotechnics and lets out great child-like whoops at good displays (when no-one is looking of course). But in the wrong hands anything more explosive than a sparkler has the capacity for such extraordinary damage and destruction that they really shouldn’t be available to the public.

It is not just about kids hurting themselves when lighting the touchpapers, but also about youths hurting and terrorising the rest of us with running firecracker battles, lobbing rockets through car windows and letter boxes and letting crackers off anytime and anywhere.

The controlled sale of fireworks has failed – there still seems to be a ready supply, and so it is time to cut that supply off. We are not alone in this belief – most recently busy bee Val Shawcross has said exactly the same. The only alternative is to keep all boys (aged 5-20) on a leash from mid-October to mid-November.

OK – we feel better now we’ve got that off our chest. Right, off you go to an organised display and enjoy yourselves.

Piccie courtesy of rocketeer’s flickr photo stream.

Londonist does not support prostitution, let’s get this straight right away.

But we were pleased to spot this news flash about a Guildford hairdressing Madam having her prison sentence reduced from 18 months to 12 months. Chunxia Bao was very naughty – she made an estimated £200,000 out of her ‘special upstairs salon’, where she employed two prostitutes to administer the old personal touch. Until prostitution is regulated or legalised, running a brothel is a crime, and it is only right that she was apprehended and penalised. But is prison really the place for such offenders?

Many brothels are full of ‘sex slaves’, young girls smuggled into the country and threatened with dire consequences if they refuse to work off their fares – the bastards and pimps behind these networks do need to be rounded up and locked up: they are real criminals.

Madam Bao, on the other hand, was simply employing staff to provide a service. It is not one of which we approve, but it is hardly new, and Londonist doesn’t suppose it is going to go away. The issue of prostitution in our capital needs addressing, not sweeping under the carpet or dispatched to clutter our overcrowded prisons. A fine, heavy donations to charity, some community service – that surely would have been the punishment to fit the crime on this occasion? Hey, even Madam Cyn only did 6 months.

Oh, and some English lessons. The thing that worried Londonist about this whole story the most was the fact that the Madam in question speaks not a word of English. The potential for serious misunderstanding in such proximity to a hairdressing salon makes us shudder. Londonist is too tasteful a blogsite to attempt to spell this out for you.

Piccie courtesy of Robyn Gallagher’s flickr photo stream.

If the clocks going back filled you with winter blues this week then we prescribe you must get yourself to Sadlers Wells sharpish. For a reasonable amount of quids you can get yourself a seasonal dose of magic and wonderment which will fix you right up. James Thiérrée’s “Au Revoir Parapluie” is just what you need.

Alright, so it’s more expensive than a happy pill prescription from the GP or a map or your local park but this show almost defies our reviewing skills. There is an umbrella in it… well, more of a parasol, but what it’s all about is really peripheral. It’s an odd, elusive narrative but totally subsumed in a magical contemporary circus of music, song, mime, dance, acrobatics, aerialistics, comedy, juggling and boundary defying theatrics that only leave you smiling.

Thiérrée is a man who can make his heartbeat escape his chest. Whose family turn into water waders. Who can make a rope tree home, ride a rolling rocking chair, dry out on a tightrope, have a monumental play fight with bundles of weeds, rip up the floor and bring down the house with shuttlecocks.

Words just won’t do. Go see this. Goodbye, cruel world. Hello, Goodbye Umbrella!

James Thierree’s “Au Revoir Parapluie” is running at Sadlers Wells until 10 November. Book online or call 0844 412 4300. He’s Charlie Chaplin’s grandson: FACT.

Image by Richard Haughton

As many Londoners will know, DLR trains are entirely driven by computer. The DLR staff member on each train, known as the ‘Passenger Service Agent’ (a much less exciting title than ‘Train Captain’, which they used to be called), does not normally have any involvement in actually driving the train. Instead, their main functions seem to be to tell the train when to close the doors, to check passengers’ tickets, and to deal with problems if they arise (which they occasionally do). To quote the TfL website (which features a picture of a particularly hungover-looking DLR staff member):

Every DLR train has a Passenger Service Agent on it. They are there to help people, check tickets and make sure that the train is running properly.

Excellent. So the trains may be driven by computer, but at least every one of them carries a trained person who is able to deal with any problems, right?

So we would like to think. But imagine this Londonista’s surprise when, yesterday morning, he found himself travelling between DLR stations on a completely unmanned train. Several dozen passengers, but no Passenger Service Agent in sight!

Here’s what appeared to take place. A Bank-bound train at West India Quay station signalled that it was ready to depart, with its customary “Boinnng!” (DLR travellers will know what we mean). The normal operating procedure here seems to be for the Passenger Service Agent to tell the train to close the doors, after which the train will depart. And essentially, this is what happened at West India Quay station yesterday morning, except…

… on this occasion, the Passenger Service Agent managed to make the astonishing mistake of telling the train to close the doors whilst she was standing on the station platform. The train duly obeyed, effectively shutting the Passenger Service Agent out of the carriage. It then proceeded to depart, driving itself to the next station (Westferry) and leaving the hapless Passenger Service Agent behind.

At Westferry station, the train waited patiently to be told that it could depart again. Unfortunately, unknown to the train’s software, the Passenger Service Agent was now about half a mile away, and so currently unable to provide this information in a timely manner. And so the train waited. As did the passengers. For about ten minutes.

Eventually a slightly out-of-breath Passenger Service Agent arrived, having presumably just legged it from the previous station, and resumed control of the situation. The train was thus able to resume its journey to Bank, as if nothing untoward had happened.

So then, a bit of a cock-up, but no harm done, right? Maybe. But what would have happened if the train had experienced a problem between stations (a semi-regular occurrence in our experience)? For how long would we have been stranded between stations on an elevated concrete viaduct, without a DLR staff member to get the train moving again?

Don’t get us wrong – we think the DLR is great, a sentiment that is borne out by its award-winning history. But we would like it to carry on winning awards in future years, so we hope that farcical mistakes like this will not become too commonplace.

This account is solely based on events witnessed by one Londonista. If anyone from Serco Docklands would like to correct us, they are welcome to contact us at londonist – at – gmail – dot – com.

Update: Docklands Light Rail have contacted us about this incident – see their official response here.

At Londonist we are often chuffed when Londoners ‘do quite well’. At least initially. Like most Brits, we love The Underdog – right up until that moment when they become A Loser. Then we slag them off vitriolically, sit arms-crossed in a huff on our collective sofa, mumble that we “never liked them anyway” and promptly forget all about them when the next Underdog comes along. What’s cockney for ‘schadenfreude’ anyway?

When Shirley MacLaine recently commented that her mate Dennis Kucinich, a minor left-wing Democrat candidate in the 2008 US Presidency election, had had an encounter with a triangular UFO which sent messages to his mind, we thought this bizarre enough to warrant a report on here in itself. Possibly in the hallucinogenic drugs section. But then we did a little digging into the candidate – his campaign is online at http://www.dennis4president.com – and we found that his wife, Elizabeth, is one of us.

So here is your Londonist Cut-Out-And-Keep Guide To Why Elizabeth Kucinich Should Be First Lady:

1. Our Liz hails from the splendid environs of Upminster – yup, that patch of Essex/Havering desperately clinging on to the very end of the District Line. She’s from North Ockenden to be precise.

2. If elected, she would be the first First Lady with a pierced tongue

3. Her tongue stud is a bar with “two delicate balls on either side”

4. Dennis is currently running 6th in the race to be the Democrat nominee (polling at about the 1% mark), so he’s definitely The Underdog

5. Our Liz just turned 30. It was love at first sight, for both of them, when she met the 61-year Senator (Aww!). We do not know if it was the same for him with his first or second wife too (and, no, unlike famed magician Paul Daniels, Dennis is not a millionaire)

6. When asked about the age difference with her husband, Elizabeth appeared a bit surprised: “I have never noticed it at all”

7. Fox news described her as ‘Willowy’. She is in fact 6 foot tall and likes to wear high heels. Dennis is 2 foot 4*

8. Shirley MacLaine went to their wedding. How cool is that, exactly?!

9. The triangular-shaped UFO thing might come back if Dennis gets elected, but this time with company. It could be like Independence Day but with 3-sided space ships rather than round ones. Anyone fancy ‘Attack of the Toblerones’?**

10. Did we mention the tongue stud?

Obviously, Londonist’s backing of our favourite daughter will turn to outright hostility and then indifference the moment that Dennis and Elizabeth drop out of the Democrat primaries.

* This is not true, he’s actually 5 foot 7

** This is not likely – but then if Dennis and Elizabeth move into the White House then surely anything is possible?

Image taken from four12leafclover’s Flickrstream