Consolidating Curry (Londonist)

Consolidating Curry
by Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
July 22, 2008












All we gotta say is that we hope they don’t mess about with our lunch at Tiffinbites or takeout from the Bombay Bicycle Club. We’ve been pleased with both.

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World's Most Expensive Spring Roll (Londonist)

World’s Most Expensive Spring Roll to Debut in London
by Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor

Londonist
June 20, 2008

Brilliant. With the price of rice and other commodities at all time highs and London ranking as the world’s most expensive city for dining out, oriental cuisine producers Amoy have decided to introduce the world’s most expensive spring roll at its Amoy Experience Stage during this weekend’s Taste of London Food Festival.

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Two for One Glasses of Cava (Londonist)

Two for One Glasses of Cava
by Chris Osburn, Food & Drink Editor
Londonist
May 15, 2008

... running until 15 June, a rather impressive list of London gastropubs (along with some help from Spain’s Institut del Cava) will offer buy one/get one free glasses of Cava. Sounds like a brilliant opportunity to give this Spanish bubbly a try or to indulge in an extra glass or three if you’re already a fan ...

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Yahoo! for Switzerland - Boo Hoo for London

Yahoo Will Move European Headquarters to Switzerland (Update1)
Bloomberg - Mar 13, 2008
... will move its European headquarters from London to the shores of Lake Geneva within 18 months, the Associated Press reported today. Yahoo fell 95 cents ...YHOO

Yahoo Will Move European Headquarters to Switzerland (Update2)
Bloomberg - Mar 13, 2008
Jonathan Thaw March 13 (Bloomberg) -- Yahoo! Inc., owner of the most visited US Web site, will move its European headquarters to Switzerland from London. ...YHOO

Yahoo Relocating European HQ From UK To Switzerland
TechCrunch, CA - Mar 13, 2008
Yahoo has announced that it will relocate its European head office from the United Kingdom to Switzerland. Yahoo plans to make the move to the shores of ...YHOO

Yahoo! to quit UK for Geneva
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - Mar 14, 2008
By Jonathan Russell The UK technology industry is to suffer a major setback with the move of Yahoo!’s European headquarters from London to Geneva. ...YHOO

Yahoo set to quit London offices for Geneva
Financial Times, UK - Mar 14, 2008
By Maija Palmer and Ben Fenton in London Yahoo, the internet company, is planning to move its European headquarters from London to Switzerland, ...YHOO

Yahoo abandons Blighty
Inquirer, UK - Mar 14, 2008
By Nick Farrell: Friday, 14 March 2008, 8:24 AM INTERWEB search outfit Yahoo has had a gutful of London and is shipping its entire European HQ to ...YHOO

London Lost & Found: Pizza Money Payback?

This was taped above the postboxes in the lobby of the building where I live. It speaks volumes about my neighbours and how they socialize. Hilarious. If you can't read it, here's what it says:

Could whoever it was (Thomas?) who borrowed money from me the other night for pizza please put it in the postbox for Flat 8? (Shame I have had to ask for it back)

London 2012 Won't Go Down with the Ship

London 2012 to shelve ship idea
Plans to promote the 2012 Olympics using a ship sailing around the world advertising Britain's "cultural riches" have been ditched, the BBC has learned.
James Pearce BBC Sports News Correspondent
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 11 March 2008, 17:21 GMT

London's bid book claimed the ship would: "... carry a cargo emblematic of the UK's cultural riches.

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Bonhams Urban Art Auction News (Banksy/Graffiti)

Kate Moss Banksy print fetches £96k
Times Online, UK - Feb 6, 2008
The auction signalled another step towards the mainstream for the genre, with 75 pieces of "urban art" in the catalogue. Spray-paint and stencils featured ...Banksy's Chimpanzee Picture Sells for 228000 Pounds (Update1) Bloomberg First auction of 'street art' kicks off in London all 11 news articles »

Urban art enters mainstream
Financial Times, UK - Feb 6, 2008
But now urban art, as practised by its young champions Banksy and Adam Neate, has officially entered the artistic mainstream, with its own auction at ...

Art bucks recession fear
Guardian Unlimited, UK - Feb 6, 2008
Over at Bonhams auction house last night the world's first sale of urban art saw a Banksy screenprint of Kate Moss, a pastiche of Andy Warhol's portrait of ...

First auction of 'street art' kicks off in London
AFP - Feb 6, 2008
Bonhams is planning more auctions of urban art in the future, he added. Last month, a wall painted on by Banksy, depicting a classical-looking artist in ...How Banksy made graffiti popular with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Times Online all 6 news articles »

'I made £20k in three minutes'
BBC News, UK - Feb 6, 2008
We sold it at Bonhams in the world's first urban art auction because we need the money to pay off a debt. We're both practical about it because we've got no ...

Banksy's portrait of Kate Moss sells for US$191000
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Feb 6, 2008
«By definition (urban art) is an ephemeral art form, often disappearing as fast as it appears,» Gareth Williams, senior picture specialist at Bonhams. ...

Big Bucks for Banksy Wall

Banksy wall could fetch £200,000
A businessman is hoping to make over £200,000 by selling a wall which was painted on by graffiti artist Banksy.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 14 January 2008, 13:05 GMT










The graffiti, on the side of a media production firm's base on west London's Portobello Road, shows a painter finishing off the word "Banksy".

Click here for complete article.

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£208,100 eBay bid for Banksy wall
Online bidding for a wall painted on by graffiti artist Banksy has closed with a final bid of £208,100.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 14 January 2008, 20:49 GMT

Bobby Read, art expert at specialist insurer Hiscox, said: "Banksy is a maverick as well as a hugely talented artist. It's an intoxicating combination for buyers as this price shows.

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Alan Yau Sells Yauatcha and Hakkasan

Wagamama, Alan Yau! That’s a lot of Dim Sum!
by Chris Osburn

Londonist
January 10, 2008

The Financial Times has reported that Wagamama founder Alan Yau has sold Hakkasan and Yauatcha, his two Michelin-starred Chinese restaurants, to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority for £30 million! According to the FT, Yau will retain a minority stake in the two restaurants, which seem to take turns representing London among the world’s most highly ranked restaurants.

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Yau sells top London restaurants
Gwen Robinson
FT Alphaville
Thursday January 10th, 2008

Yau who sold out of Wagamama in the late 1990s, sold Hakkasan and Yauatcha to Tasameem, a property arm of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. It is understood that Mr Yau will keep a minority stake in the business ...

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Quality of Life: It's Better "Over Here?"

UK living standards outstrip US
Living standards outstrip those across the Atlantic for first time in over a century
David Smith, Economics Editor
The Sunday Times
January 6, 2008

LIVING standards in Britain are set to rise above those in America for the first time since the 19th century, according to a report by the respected Oxford Economics consultancy.

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Photography courtesy of edmittance's photostream on Flickr.

Tumbleweeds Replace US Tourists at Covent Garden?

CNBC video report on absense of Americans in London ...


No Tourists in London

Single Travel Fares Across London Public Transport

Mayor freezes single travel fares
The Mayor of London has announced a freeze on all single fares across the city's public transport system.
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 13:12 GMT

Critics say the freeze will make little difference because of above-inflation prices hikes over the past three years ... Travellers paying for an Oystercard peak single fare will continue to pay 90p, while the single cash fare is frozen at £2.

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Photography courtesy of Kasper Weibel's photostream on Flickr.

New Pool for Hillingdon, West London

New Olympic-sized pool for London
The new pool will include a movable floorWest London is to get its first Olympic-sized swimming pool for more than 40 years.
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 16 October 2007, 09:05 GMT 10:05 UK

Hillingdon Council has approved plans for a new £22m sports and leisure complex which will include a 50m pool and an athletics stadium.

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The Difference between Old Bond St and Fifth Ave? 50 Bucks

That's Rich - London Shops Pip the Big Apple
Cutting edge
Saturday, October 6, 2007

A survey of the most expensive shopping streets in America and beyond has London's Old Bond Street just squeaking into first place against the traditionally supreme location for shopaholics, Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. There is a mere $50 (£24.50) between them, but in these days of bitter transatlantic competition, that's enough to hurt.

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Photography courtesy of grismarengo's photostream on Flickr.

Creativity Gives London a Leading Edge

London creative sectors 'strong'
London's creative industries are the key to the city's continuing economic success, according to a new report.
BBC News
Last Updated: Thursday, 20 September 2007, 15:56 GMT 16:56 UK

"Our lead in the creative industries helps ensure London remains at the global cutting edge, attracting all kinds of companies to choose London to do business because of the strength they can draw on in design, advertising, PR and many other creative fields."

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Photography courtesy of alistairh's photostream on Flickr.

Staying in London Hotels Shouldn't be a Comedy

Hotels urged to lose Fawlty image
Hotels have been urged to shed their "Fawlty Towers" image ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 17 September 2007, 08:58 GMT 09:58 UK

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) wants more establishments to be recognised in the national star-grading system.

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Photography courtesy of Dysanovic's photostream on Flickr.

London: World's Most Expensive City for Dining Out

Dinner Parties Anyone?
by Chris Osburn
Londonist
September 12, 2007

As expected, lacklustre service at London restaurants is the main complaint of those surveyed for Zagat, which seems a real kick in the shins considered how much we’re paying for it!

Click here for complete article.

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London dining is 'most expensive'
London has leapfrogged Tokyo and Paris to become the world's most expensive city for dining out.
BBC News
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 September 2007, 08:30 GMT 09:30 UK

The average cost of a three-course restaurant meal for one is up 2.9% on last year to £40 including one drink, tax and service.

Click here for complete article.

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London Prices Top Of The World
Yahoo! Finance
Wednesday September 12, 08:28 AM

London has overtaken Tokyo and Paris to become the world's most expensive city for dining out, researchers have found. The average cost of a three-course restaurant meal for one is up 2.9% on last year to £39.09 including one drink, tax and service.

Click here for complete article.

Photography courtesy of noodlepie's photostream on Flickr.

3-in-1 Oyster Card - Barclaycard OnePulse

3-in-1 Oyster card to be launched
A card combining an Oyster travelcard with credit and cashless payment facilities is being launched.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 10 September 2007, 07:50 GMT 08:50 UK

The Barclaycard OnePulse can be used to pay for items costing less than £10 without using a Pin number or signing for purchases.

Click here for complete article.

Photography courtesy of alexmuller's photostream on Flickr.

Francis Bacon's 'rent cheque' to be cashed

Bacon's 'rent cheque' to make £9m
A painting by renowned artist Francis Bacon, given to London's Royal College of Art in return for rent, is expected to fetch up to £9m at auction.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 3 September 2007, 12:14 GMT 13:14 UK



















Study from the Human Body, Man Turning on the Light goes under the hammer at Christie's in London on 14 October.

Click here for complete article.

London No Longer a Top 10 Destination for US Vacation-Goers

London is No Longer A Top Ten Holiday Destination for American
by Travel Editor
Cheap Flights News
August 21, 2007

the city’s lower destination ranking demonstrates the significant effect the dollar’s weakness has had on US air travel to the UK.In July 2006 London was ranked the 7th most popular destination for which deals were sought on Cheapflights’ US site. In July 2007, that ranking has dropped sharply out of the top ten destinations to 15th.

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Photography courtesy of chaserpaul's Flickr photostream.