My favourite London Ladies: Kingscross by night

Kings cross by night: for the party animal, 

This area has a bit of a reputation with anyone you mention it to,  the same is definitely not true of the Kings Cross girl. The area used to be synonymous for ladies of the night, but the streets have long since been cleaned up and all that remains is the Flyingscott’s man and an old sex shop.  As with the day time girl there is a lot on offer, close to station is the St Pancreas Renaissance hotel that boasts a stunning bar if you want to have a top notch start to your night.  If you are returning from Europe there is a little Champagne and oyster bar where you can train-watch and wait to be collected in style.   

Out Euston road exit and turn right as there is a great Backpackers bar on the corner of Caledonian Road and Pentonville Road that once was the Brill bar & grill. The name has changed but it is still our local hang out we have never stayed over but I guarantee that it serves up some of the cheapest drinks in town.  Further along visit Simmons for a red wine (£10) or beer while playing a old board game. This a quaint little spot where you can chill and forget the world, that is if you can get a spot as there are only 4 table and then two lounge chair with a side table. Do bring ID (not a copy) after 6pm as there is a bouncer that will not let you in, once you are past  him you can listen to retro songs, and try figure out where the maps is from the in the toilet.www.simmonsbar.co.uk/

One or two other favourites are the Big Chill with its multiple layer’s to choose from to party the night away www.bigchill.net/house(be warned is get’s busy here), The Golden Lion that was Kings cross social club(here you put your name in a jar & you can win £50 of bar spend. It is possible as we have won it before). When all that is left is to eat, Poalina’s is a must stop (181 Kingscross Road) where the little old couple prepare the Chinese food in an open kitchen and you can bring you own alcohol and still pay such reasonable prices, it is just one of those hidden gems.

All in all Kings Cross is a changing area that has managed to keeps its charm but improve, now that sounds like someone I want to be.

Textile design a la Klimt Year 3: 2005

The small art nouveau repeated shape was my design and I incorporated it into this fabric design.

MirrorCity

Right I have something a little different for you out there.  Freshly launched this year is Mirrorcity. These guys are making some great music and I can’t wait to hear what else they come up with. Their new track Morning Light you can check out at :http://t.co/yqYkhfrf

Let them know what you think and if you want to hear first day go down to their Friday night gig tomorrow in Brighton, UK at the Below the Belt launch party for more info visit: http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Brighton/H-Bar-Club/Below-The-Belt/11742584

Third year line up 2005

6 Art Nouveau inspired pieces from my third year.

Matric farewell dress: 2005

Here Megan is placed on a bridge using photoshop in a dress I designed for her.

Ballet floating: 2nd year 2004

Here is my take on underwear as outerwear with two lovely dancers.

My favourite London ladies which one are you? II

Kings Cross a brief History:

This area is one of London’s oldest and has the train station St Pancreas International that is now the gateway to Europe with a fine selection of shop’s and deli’s inside. She is strong a beautifully designed (George Gilbert Scott, William Henry Barlow)and opened her doors for the first time in 10 October 1868. I did not have the honour to enjoy her in her original glory and neither have I now that she has been reinstated to her former glory but I have enjoyed a nice cuppa tea and pastry at the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel when the scaffolding came down. It was long awaited and worth the wait. Half of the building are private residence and the other half make out the 5 star romantic Hotel. The lobby of the private apartments look like giant luggage cases and straps it is something to behold.http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lonpr-st-pancras-renaissance-london-hotel/

This area has been undergoing so much chance and the Central Saint Martin’s College of Art now house’s her building here along the regent’s canal. This was built were on a large piece of land that once housed some of the best spots to party the night away: The Cross, The Key,  Canvas . For 15 years these spots entertained the youth of London but before that it was a goods yard for the loads that were transported by way of the canal.

The Oyster-house lighthouse stands proud on Gray’s Inn road next to the Kings Cross rails station. When you look closely you can see the area on the top that resembles a light house but also take note of how deteriorated she is. This building is currently undergoing some improvements and I very much look forward to posting the changes when I am next in London. This area at the top shone a light so that all could see from far that there was food available, Oysters in this case. Some think is could have been a clock tower or camera obscura. Feel free to read David Hayes in Camden History Review (Vol 23), but no other conclusions are drawn.

Drink, shop and Do is not part of the local history but you feel like you stepped back in time in this tea room/ art & craft classes/ sweet shop. It is a great treat to go there in a group and they offer various options to keep everyone entertained while enjoy some tea from their wide variety. Give wonderland a go and fall down your own rabbit hole. (http://www.drinkshopdo.com)

Caledonian street has two hold ‘retailers’ that has stood the test of time the first is Housmans a bookseller that has been open since 1945, (http://www.housmans.com/index.php).  You can find any reading that you would expect not to. I once bought a feminist children’s book that was self illustrated with friendly characters and not the Bratz dolls that children have today.  There is so much more drop by and see if you of your beliefs have been published. The other one will be the intro into ‘Kings Cross by night’.