I regularly cycle over Blackfriars Bridge on my way to work, so when I saw an exhibition in which the winner's work will be enlarged and exhibited on large hoardings over the bridge while a new railway station is built, I felt like it had my name on it. My drawing of the London skyline above is one of the 100 shortlisted works going on show at the Bankside Gallery, next to Tate Modern, next week (details here).This view of London makes it look as if it has been built in the last ten years (and lots of it has), but this is actually one of the oldest parts of the city, and the venerable old Tower of London is just out of view to the right. It's one of the things I love about London: it's ancient, and yet modern.
A VISIT TO HALELUJA IN BRUSSELS - TEXT BY PHILIPPE POURHASHEMI
Sonja Noël, store owner, wearing one of Ada Zanditon's silk padded jackets Dear Shaded Viewers, I was treated to a preview of Sonja Noël's new store, called Haleluja, and loved her new concept. Focusing on high-quality, sustainable designer lines, she...
NATALIE PORTMAN AND HER BLACK SWAN OPEN THE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
Natalie is wearing a stunning red dress designed by the films costume designers, Rodarte. - GRIFFIN
where streams of whiskey are flowing
While I certainly prefer the beers over here on the American West Coast, I do on the whole prefer the pubs back home. Sure there are some interesting bars here and there, but give me a London pub any day (but with Anchor Steam and Fat Tire on tap). This is the imaginitively named G Street pub in Davis. I can’t say I’m particularly a fan of this place (where the guy at the door comes and stamps your hand after scrutinising your ID, though you may be halfway through your first pint), I much prefer Little Prague further up the road. It does attempt to bring a little piece of north London verite to the mean streets of Davis however: the toilets are as bad if not worse than any you’d find in Camden or King’s Cross. Nonetheless, it’s a good place to come and do some drawing, bar staff are friendly and pour a good pint, and there is a lot to sketch. Plus they have pool tables. That tap on the below right there is Anchor Steam, the San Francisco beer, very nice too. Mine’s a pint, if you’re asking. By Pete Scully