Penny Blood's Black Book » Doing Things

Hackney Pearl

Penny Blood — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:54:57 +0000

Hackney Wick is clearly on the up and the Hackney Pearl is definitely a symbol of that. Oh don’t worry the area still looks like a deserted wasteland only fit for amateur fashion shoots, but salvaged Formica tables, school chairs and copies of the observer are a slap across the face reminder of where we’re at now over in the Wick. For quite a while people seemed reluctant to open any kind of business as the area was rife with gypsies who’d been kicked out of (sorry re-housed), Stratford. However so far so good as the Hackney Pearl looks to be attracting all the RIGHT KINDS of people. The staff here look like extras from (all and any) music video but are really friendly all the same. The food here is great and the carrot cake is off-the-scale delicious. It’s the kind of place where they cook muffins there and then and leave them on the counter as if your mum just made them, awww sweet, that just tickles me. The spacious interior is styled so perfectly it rivals any established café in London. I’m so proud of it being in my very own Hackney Wick.

http://thehackneypearl.com/

Hackney Pearl, 11 Prince Edward Road, Hackney Wick, London, E9 5LX
0208 510 3605
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am until 11pm Sunday: 10am until 6pm

Counter Cafe

Penny Blood — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:23:15 +0000

You might think that there wasn’t much in Hackney Wick and that’s because there isn’t apart from a lot of unemployed people who call themselves artists. Anyway for months i’d been going to a fairly nasty cafe as there wasn’t anywhere else. Then a great little place opened up, eclectic and quirky, like sitting in a film students living room and serving great food and proper coffee too, sadly it had to close as the Irish gypsy’s, sorry “travellers” kept nicking their stuff. In light of this I was so pleased to discover the Counter Cafe as it’s a great cafe by all standards. Hidden away deep in Hackney Wick, next to the canal and surrounded by artist warehouses, it’s a bit like London’s answer to Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It’s still pretty industrial but ever so slowly on the rise as it’s right on the border of the Olympic zone. The cafe itself attracts all the locals from builders to artists but mainly artists. I generally refer to it as “the Posh cafe” due to the exposed brick walls, wooden counters, leather chairs and fancy menu serving everything from soup and salad to posh sandwiches and Eggs Benedict. The fact that it’s owned by artists, run by artists and caters to artists (although the prices don’t) will give you a good idea about the place*.

* It’s clean though.

http://www.thecountercafe.co.uk

4 Roach Road, London E3 2PA
07952 696 388
Monday – Friday 7.30am – 5pm (Thursday 11pm serving Tapas)
Saturday 8.30am – 5pm Sunday 9.30am – 5pm

Camera Café

Penny Blood — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:38:17 +0000

It’s just so cute, tucked away at the back of a camera repair shop, and quiet and discreet with a few little tables and Simon and Garfunkel playing in the background (it’s that kind of place). The few customers here are total anoraks, wearing hiking gear including boots and said anoraks despite the fact that it’s the height of summer and we’re miles from any kind of hill to hike. You needn’t worry about being bothered though as they are too busy fiddling with their new 50mm F2.8 DG MACRO lens and taking close-up photos of the floor and a teaspoon, then examining the results intently whilst consulting the manual. Despite being located minutes from the British Museum and therefore in a heavily touristy area, no tourist would ever find it, just the odd camera nerd or UCL student. Not so good to meet someone for a chat but perfect if you want a bit of peace and quiet in central London.

http://www.cameracafe.co.uk/

44 Museum Street, London, WC1A 1LY
020 7831 1566
Monday – Friday 11am-7pm Saturday 12pm-7pm

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Shop@172

Penny Blood — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:14:02 +0000

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, the current climate and by climate I mean the eco-bender we’re all on not the recession (I don’t have any money now but I didn’t have any before either) means I feel not on justified but holier than thou buying one-off creations from London and Tokyo’s finest young designers. Don’t be distracted or put off for that matter by all the Kanye West Jewellery as Shop @172 is the kind of place that has one of a kind pieces which don’t cost the earth. I’ve just noticed a ‘White Trumpet’ silver jumper it’s £60 but I’ve spent too much money I don’t have this week already. If I’m still thinking about it in a week then I’ll buy it. Well I was but they’d sold it….boo.

http://www.shop172.com/

172 Brick lane, London E1 6RU
020 7650 8873
Monday – Friday 12.30pm-7pm Saturday – Sunday 1am-7pm

Labour of Love

Bang Bang

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:07:07 +0000

I’m frequently drawn in to Bang bang by a cute pair of Chanel flats or a Vivienne Westwood jacket that I kid myself will be in my price range, they are after all second hand. That’s the problem with designer vintage, they charge you more than what the item cost brand new for the privilege of wearing something that isn’t made anymore. Oh but of course I forgot, that makes it totally worth it. I always justify buying expensive second hand clothes by reminding myself and everyone else that I’m merely keeping my carbon footprint spotless by re-cycling and not patronising the slave trade in Indonesia by buying clothes made in Italy. Bang bang is all about second hand designer, but is reasonable low-rent so you may find something affordable it’s not all about jeans, t-shirts and leather jackets which despite the fact there are racks and racks of them you’ll never find a good one.

http://www.myspace.com/bangbangexchange

9 Berwick Street, London W1F 0PJ
020 7494 2042
Monday – Saturday 11am-6.30pm Closed Sundays

21 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 2PJ
020 7631 4191
Monday – Friday 10am-6.30pm Saturday 11am-6pm Closed Sundays

East End Thrift Store

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:06:35 +0000

There is little point really in reviewing vintage shops, (I might as well just list them) as they are more of less all the same and stock the same stuff depending on the trend. If leather jackets, lumberjack shirts or old t-shirts with baseball team logo’s on them ever go out of fashion most of these places will close down. Past the Turkish kebab shops and the fried chicken, past the 99p shops and dodgy guys lurking by the corner hawking drugs and stolen mobile phones and down a cobbled alleyway, you’ll find The East End Thrift Store. It’s a good one mainly because it’s in the middle of nowhere so you have plenty of room to browse and it’s cheaper than the better located ones.

http://www.theeastendthriftstore.com/

Unit 1a Watermans Building, Assembly Passage, Stepney, E1
020 7423 9700
Monday – Sunday 11am-6pm

Shock and Soul

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:05:23 +0000

http://www.shockandsoul.co.uk/

100 Islington High Street, London N1 8EG
020 7359 1490
Monday – Tuesday 11am – 7pm Wedneday 11am-8pm
Thursday – Saturday 11am-5pm Sunday 12pm-6pm

Radio Days & What the Butler Wore

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:04:34 +0000

When it comes to vintage I think London trumps any other city. Well yes every vintage store sells the same stuff like it’s all sourced from some giant warehouse in the sky but at least it’s all somewhat affordable. LA used to be cheap, not any more, New York is so expensive you’d be better off shopping at American Apparel, to hell with being original, Paris is good but the stores are tiny, full of French people who won’t get out the way and you have to have some seriously strong biceps to root through the clothes crammed in within an inch of their life. Radio days has a great collection of all things vintage, kitchenware, accessories, knick-knacks, shoes, clothes and so on. It’s been here a long time and the owners are seriously dedicated. It has that vibe of somewhere you’ll just know you will find something great, even if it is a pair of mustard brown Chelsea boots a size too small.

http://radiodaysvintage.co.uk/

87 Lower Marsh Street, Waterloo, London SE1 7AB
020 7928 0800
Monday – Saturday 10-6pm, Friday closed at 7pm

Rokit

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:03:31 +0000

I’m standing outside Rokit in Covent Garden, pacing back and forth deciding whether or not to go in, I could just have a quick look, I doubt there will be anything I want, well what’s the point of going in then? Well there might be something I want, something that would infinitely improve my life as I know it, I have no problems though, my only real problems are financial. I head straight for the faux-fur and there it is, a leopard print coat, a la Kate Moss. I try it on and it’s perfect, but I really can’t afford anything new right now, I haven’t worked in days….. hmmm but I’ll never see one quite so perfect again will I? If it’s £25 I’ll get it, if it’s £40 I won’t. I look at the price tag it’s £65. So of course I buy the coat, I wouldn’t be complete without it. And anyway the seventies throw back shop assistant has been circling me the whole time I’m in the shop he likes it he also looks like an extra from a Russ Meyer film. Where do they find these people?

http://www.rokit.co.uk/

101 / 107 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SE
0207 375 3864 / 0207 247 3777
Monday – Friday 11am-7pm Saturday – Sunday 10am-7pm

225 High Street, Camden, London, NW1 7BU
0207 267 3046
Monday – Sunday 10am-7pm

42 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2 9H2
0207 836 6547
Monday – Saturday 10am-7pm Sunday 11am-6pm

The Phoenix Cinema

Penny Blood — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:27:44 +0000

Let it be known in no uncertain terms that I will never under any circumstances go anywhere near a multiplex cinema. I would rather trek to north London to a little gem known as the Phoenix Cinema. Built in 1910 and surviving two world wars, it’s believed to be the oldest purpose built cinema in Britain. It’s plush red velvet chairs, unique art-deco auditorium and bar serving sweets and homemade cakes make it one of the most charming cinema’s around. Although nowhere near where I live I do find myself going there to catch the better breed of films that don’t make the rounds of the more centrally located cinemas. A short walk away is Bishops Avenue, home to London’s most ostentatious mansions of Arab arm dealer, Beverly hills meets Dubai ridiculously over the top, glamorous and gaudy tackorama, where no house is older than 10 years as each new owner just buys the plot brings in a bulldozer and joins the ongoing competition as to who can create the biggest heap of brick, bile, glitter and glass.

http://www.phoenixcinema.co.uk/

52 High Road, East Finchley, London, N2 9PJ
020 8444 6789