Notting Hill Carnival 2011

The Notting Hill Carnival started today.  We headed there to listen to the music, watch and taste the food.  The music was definitely loud, but everyone was in great spirits. A parade, loads of delicious food stands and caribbean music!

Several of our  London vacation rentals are walking distance to the Carnival, including the Princes and the Leinster short term rentals are among them. We spoke with our guests and their families — they were excited to watch the parade and explore.

Unmistakable was the presence of the London Met, the Metropolitan Police.  In some areas, there were more bobbies than onlookers! If you’re in London, head up there and enjoy.  It’s fun event and definitely … peaceful.  Here are some photos of simply the police presence.

Group of bobbies on Westbourne Grove at the Notting Hill Carnival

More policemen at the Notting Hill Carnival

Still more...

Still more London policemen

More policemen on bikes on Portobello Road

Giving directions...

By the time we left, hundreds of people were heading to Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove, dancing, laughing and enjoying the last days of summer. It’s a fun time for all — head on over if you’re in London!

Dancing in the streets

Fairy costume

Another free spirit...

A fun day!

Wherever you are, we hope you have a great weekend!

Statue of Winston Churchill - he seems almost alive as he strides forward with steely resolve

Tomorrow marks the 67th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion — the most well-planned, massive and secret invasion of World War II.  A statue of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who helped coordinate the landings stands in Paris  and calls to mind his unwavering will and courage of the English people.  The quotation on the statue says it all:  ‘We will never surrender.’ Click here to read more about the monument and  Churchill’s famous speech.

When you visit London, you must visit Churchill’s War Rooms.  These are the rooms where Churchill directed the war, located just off the Mall near St. James Park and Westminster.  These underground bunkers were sealed after the war and opened several yeras ago. They offer a fascinating insight into life during the War and how all seemed lost.  The courage of the English to fight on is expressed in Churchill’s most famous speech ‘We will never surrender’, which plays in the background as you tour the underground rooms.

The Monaco Garden, commission by Prince Albert of Monaco won a gold medal

The 2011 Chelsea Flower ends tomorrow, after tens of thousands of people have flocked to Chelsea to see it this week. The Queen and special celebrities go a day early and are the first to enjoy the many show gardens.

The Queen attends The Chelsea Flower Show

We enjoyed watching the daily coverage on the BBC, watching the  the iconic Alan Titmarsch as moderate. He’s the best-known gardener in the UK and presents the coverage in gentle English fashion on BBC 1 and BBC 2 each day. Click here to view episodes of the most famous garden show in the world

If you love gardening or simply enjoy seeing beautiful gardens, plants, flowers and outside ideas –  this is a must-see event that takes place in May every year.  Most of our London apartment rentals become booked months in advance, because they are a walk or short tube ride direct to Sloane Square. The absolute closest apartment is the beautiful Twain vacation rental apartment, located in Chelsea and only a few minutes walk to The Royal Hospital, where the show takes place.  This gorgeous apartment sleeps up to five in complete comfort.

Here are some of our favorite gardens this year:

The British Heart Foundation Garden made from medicinal plants

The arches or ‘heart strings’ rise out of the ground into a black pool, as the beating of a heart. Above the wall are limes, perfect for their heart shaped foliage and also for their edible qualities as young leaves. It serves as a lesson in medicinal plants, as many are known their healing properties in relation to cardiology such as Salix caprea Willow asan important source of asprin.

Celebrities flocked to the show on the first day…

Gwyneth Paltrow comes to Chelsea

The Australian Garden celebrated the epic journey made by Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks as they left England to map the Southern hemisphere in 1768

The Australian Garden commemorating Captain Cooks' Voyage to Australia

In the main pavilion:  the central display was a striking sculpture and scene from Thailand. Every piece of sculpture was covered in beautiful Thai flowers.

Thai flower display in the large Pavilion

Beautiful garden won a gold medal below

The Laurent Perrier Garden

Peaceful Cornwall Garden

Chelsea Pensioner's Garden from last year

Sculptures of stone dogs at Chelsea, a popular exhibit

Whimsical Sculptures at The Chelsea Flower Show

Japanese Garden at Chelsea

Another year of Chelsea is almost over and this was one of the best ones ever.

The Princesses and their hats

British occasions — from weddings to horse races — mean English women go shopping for hats.  The Royal Wedding in London last week was no exception.  As ever, I was amazed by the bold designs, colors and sheer size of the hats!  Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice took the spotlight, while I took a moment to look back on other creations they have worn.

A younger Princess Eugenie at Royal Ascot, quite conservative

The color combination of purple and green was charming, but my French mother-in-law commented, ‘Why not a simpler, more classic design to ze dress and hat? Someone should take zem to Avenue Montaigne  in Paris, to visit ze Grand Couturiers. Tell them to stop first in Chanel and then Dior.”

A flying saucer green hat

A fun hat for Eugenie on this special occasion.

A purple hat

Eugenie has a wonderful sense of humor; butterflies everywhere!

Very busy butterflies on Beatrice

Mother and daughers all chose little feathery numbers for this wedding.  Sweet!

Mother and daughters at another Royal Wedding

Beatrice at Ascot, starting to enjoy bigger hats…

Beatrice at Ascot in pretty white hat

Amazing contrasts in fashion.  The sleek style of cousin Zara compared to the more colorful looks of Beatrice and Eugenie in London last week.

Cousins hats -- different tastes

Camilla wore an over-sized woven hat to the wedding.

Camilla likes large hats too…. in fact all of England seems to like large hats.

A large pale blue hat for Camilla …

Big blue hat

I contrast the ‘big hat’ choices with 2 stylish women who were at the wedding in London last week:  Victoria Beckham and the Queen of Spain. Some got the dress and hat just right.

Never smiling but chic hat

Even though she isn’t smiling, the smaller hat flatters Victoria Beckham and fits her head .

The Queen of Spain was stunning in a chic beige silk suit with flattering hat. What style!

And then there’s Ladies Day at Ascot…  I took a moment to ponder some of the most outrageous  hats that have appeared in London recent years. You’ve got to enjoy them, even if they’re not flattering.

The wedding cake hat

The biggest hat I've seen at Ascot

Yes, even an ice cream cone hat

Words fail to describe this hat creation in London

'Bowl of strawberries on her head' hat

How does the ribbon hat stay on?

Literally a cigarette girl hat

With a strawberry on top!

The next big hat occasion for the Press is Ladies Day at Royal Ascot on June 16.  Count on a post from us with the most outrageous hats for 2012!

Priscilla Queen of the Desert -- won Best New Musical 2010

London Theater is in full swing and you’ll be spoiled for choice by a host of new productions!

I did a survey of our theatre-going friends and here are their choices:

Clybourne Park Won a Critics' Choice Award in London

“Clybourne Park” stands out as a favorite and has just won the Critics’ Circle award.  Directed by Dominic Cooke, it features an all-British caste who play Midwestern Americans.  The story takes place post the Korean War 1950′s when a white couple decides to sell their home to a black couple.  The scene reverses 50 years later when a white couple try to buy in an all-black neighborhood.  The Midwestern twangs are accurate and acting is excellent.  Now playing at Wyndham’s theatre. www.clybournepark.co.uk

Greenland London Play

“Greenland”, playing at The National Theatre was voted original, but didn’t get universally good reviews.  It’s a collection of short vignettes about global warming.  Original vignettes and promising direction; some felt the story needed to be pulled together more. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

The Chidren's Hour

“The Children’s Hour” has a star-studded cast with Keira Knightley and Elizabeth Moss.  This drama by Lillian Hellman takes place in the1930′s, covering the painful topic of the catastrophic effects of lying.  A schoolgirl accuses her teachers of being Lesbians.  www.childrenshourtheplay.com

Coming soon:

“Rocket to the Moon” by Clifford Odet from March 23.

“Frankenstein” by Nick Dear which is directed by Danny Boyle and features Benedict Cummberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller.

“The Holy Rosenbergs” starring Henry Goodman.

We’re looking forward to a new batch of musicals including “The Wizard of Oz” ,produced by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and  “Betty Blue Eyes” (based on “A Private Function”).

In Stratford-Upon-Avon, “Macbeth” will be showing from April 16 , directed by Jonathan Singer.

Friend Sara is an avid theatre-goer who emailed her favorites:

I immensely enjoyed include “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”

Legally Blonde the London Play

Also enjoyed “Legally Blonde”, the musical!

War Horse, the play in London

I haven’t seen “War Horse”, a large scale puppet show of sorts, but I’ve heard it’s very good.

“The Rivals” (Sheridan’s18th Century play) is on at the Haymarket with two well-loved and respected British actors, and has had good reviews.

There’s quite a bit of Shakespeare on right now if they’re looking for the classic British theatre experience including “Twelfth Night” at the Cottlesloe.

If you’re coming to London this year, plan on going to the theater and book your tickets now!

Advice on Buying Tickets for London Plays:

Start looking for tickets on the theatre’s website (or better yet call them and speak to a warm body). If none available do a quick online search for London theatre tickets and find three or four ticket agencies.  Note that they charge a premium of at least £10 over the ticket’s face value, so only go there if the theatre itself has none.

Navarin d'Agneau or French Lamb Casserole

It’s a freezing day in London, a perfect time to fix an easy and delicious French casserole, called Navarin d’Agneau.  I’ve adapted the recipe from several others, especially The Silver Palate Cookbook.  I added loads of carrots and other vegetables so it’s hearty and healthy.   I love the 1/2 Cup of Cognac and wine, which tenderize the chunks of lamb and add a rich flavor.  I posted it on our ParisPerfect blog at http://www.parisperfect.com/blog/.  Click here to download my recipe:   Recipe for French Lamb Casserole.

The Queen's Household Cavalry Taking a Cappuccino Break

I stopped at the Cornwall apartment this morning and saw something that made me smile; thought I’d share it with you.   The Queen’s Household Cavalry Regiment is based nearby in Hyde Park and naturally take the horses out daily, normally around Hyde Park and adjacent Kensington Gardens.  Some days, though, they choose to trot through Kensington Streets — what a wonderful sight accompanied to the sounds of clopping horses~! Close your eyes and you could be back in the days of the Empire.

The lovely Kynance Mews offers a delicious French pastry shop with Cafe’ au lait ‘to go’.  They stopped and sent two soldiers in to take their orders! It’s so London, an everyday contrast of the English Empire and today — on horseback, but ordering cappuccino’s to go.

Two solders waited at the other end of the Mews to keep a lookout.  As I took the picture an old soldier stopped and had a good long talk with them about the regiment.

Queen's Household Cavalry -- 2 Men Keeping a Lookout