Old habits die hard
I am a creature of habits, every morning is the same: shower, breakfast, dress, makeup and go to arrive at the office just before 9.00. Even when I try to be late I usually fail.
Another thing I do is wait for hubby in a cafe when he is getting his haircut. His hairdresser is in Spitalfields and I always tag along and spend a blissful hour on my own at the Market Coffee House having tea and reading. I love this cafe so much, it reminds me of brown cafes in Amsterdam where I was able to spend hours drinking coffee verkeerd, eating appeltaart and chatting to my friends. The cafe serves yummy cakes, sandwiches, soups and pretty good hot chocolate.
Afterward we usually stroll around the area popping to various galleries and getting a bite to eat.
Yesterday we popped to Whitechapel Gallery to see Sophie Calle’s latest exhibit but didn’t stay long, the gallery was full and there is a lot of reading to do! However we did find a new gallery based in an old stonemason’s shop which had some amazing art, the clever people left the space untouched so the floor is marked with old grave stones, the walls and signs are also left as they were. The gallery is called Simon Oldfield Contemporary Art and the artist exhibiting at the moment is Ben Ashton, catch it at First Thursdays on 5th of November, I will unfortunately miss it again, somehow I always shoot at the beginning of the month.
East London is always changing, every time I go I find new places, old places grow, bad places go away.
The Story Deli moved next door to much bigger space.
I wish these were all over town and working.
And I wish one day to break my habit and go to Verde & Co instead of the Coffee House which is next door, looks so inviting and they have Pierre Marcolini chocolates…and an open fire for cold days.
Searching for lunch we went up Commercial Road and came across Pizza East – after getting a table and ordering it didn’t take long to realise that it is part of the Soho House empire especially as it’s based in The Tea Building, the home to Shoreditch House. The pizza was delicious especially when accompanied by a bottle of Montepulciano.
Today is Sunday and I have a whole week off ahead of me!
Tags: Ben Ashton, Market Coffee House, Pierre Marcolini, Pizza East, Simon Oldfield Contemporary Art, The Tea Building, Verde & Co, Whitechapel Gallery
October 25th, 2009 at 4:48 am
I seemed to be a day before you! I went to the Whitechapel Gallery on Friday followed by Pizza East. I would say it would be well worth returning to the Sophie Calle exhibition, I really enjoyed it. I will certainly give the Simon Oldfield Gallery a visit. Only discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I really enjoy reading it. Great guide to Soho eats too.
October 25th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Hello and thank you Wendy;)
So funny that you did the same route, I will definitely go back to have a look at Sophie Calle again but maybe when the gallery is not too busy, it was so packed so I was not even able to get to the text. It definitely looked very interesting.
October 25th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Ooh, the Market Coffee House is one of my absolute favourite places! I like stopping and having soup for lunch there. Hadn’t seen their website before – looks like they’re planning to turn the upstairs into a restaurant. Eek! I’m not sure what I think about that – I hope it’ll remain a coffee house as well as a restaurant! I guess it’ll be nice for it to be open in the evenings.
Thanks for the link to the Sophie Calle exhibition… I really like her work, must pop along! :)
October 25th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
oh do tell me how the sophie calle exhibit is….when you get a chance to see it….and do love you sharing your strolls! ;))
October 26th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Hej Sroczko, zachecona Twym przykladem tez wczoraj odwiedzilam wschodnie rubieze naszego miasta, tylko jescze bardziej na wschod niz Ty, bo az do Hackney via Redchurch Rd (genialne sklepiczki z dusza:) i oczywiscie tloczne Columbia Flower Market. Dzieki za inspiracje i za polecenie Johna Baltessari w Tate-bylam i sie zachwycilam (co mnie historykowi sztuki przejedzonemu sztuka sie nie zdarza czesto;)
October 26th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Jane, hello! I was hoping they are just expanding the cafe as it’s always packed. It would be perfect for an evening bowl of soup though but nothing to restaurant-y. It just feels so right at the moment. And they really should sort out the toilets.
if Jane – I shall duly report ;)
Domi, czesc ;) Redchurch Street jest niesamowita, ale tez odwiedz Cheshire Street ktora jest niedaleko. Labour&Wait to moj ulubiony sklep ‘domowy’. A co do Baldessari to sie ciesze ze Ci sie podobalo, jest niesamowity. Tate reklamuje Pop Life w calym Londynie ale Baldessari jest tysiac razy lepsza ekspozycja.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:13 am
I adore Sophie Calle. I first saw her at Camden Arts Centre about 10 years ago. She’s so inspiring and completely nuts!! I’m definitely planning a trip to see her and will go on to the Market Coffee House too. I love your weekends. You’re such a little busy bee/magpie!
October 28th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Hi Louise, Coffee House is definitely worth a visit when in the area! x