6.19.2012

Weekend in London: Shopping, Spuntino & the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

When I booked this trip, I didn't know it was the Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years of Queen Elizabeth on the throne. But, it made for a very Union Jack experience... and I've never met a Union Jack I didn't covet.

I started off walking over to Monmouth Coffee at the recommendation of Eric, one of my friends who is espresso-obsessed in Baltimore. It happened to be closed on Sunday, so I decided my next destination was going to be TopShop on Oxford Street, where I was convinced I would find a non-cheesy, subtle Union Jack something to wear to the Jubilee that afternoon. TopShop was totally over the top and I didn't find something I wanted or really needed (what I still needed most was my Hunter boots that I decided against packing.)

On the way back to my hotel, dumb luck took me down Carnaby Street which ended up being my favorite shops of the day.  I still wish I had picked up the Grumpasaurus t-shirt from David & Goliath and the cool punk jewelry at The Great Frog.
Shopping on Carnaby Street in London
I'd been hearing all about friends who had great meals at Spuntino, so I popped in for brunch. They had me at truffled egg toast and a Bloody Mary.
Truffled Egg Toast & a Bloody Mary at Spuntino
Everyone had also been raving about Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes on Portobello Road, but honestly, trendy cupcakes are getting on my last nerve. I passed a Hummingbird outpost near Spuntino though and their Jubilee Union Jack cupcakes sucked me in. I decided I could justify it by getting one to take with me down to the Thames and that my personal tribute to the Queen would be toasting her with a cupcake.
Union Jack cupcakes at Hummingbird Bakery
After that, I booked it back to my hotel to blow dry my shoes and decide where I wanted to attempt to watch the royal barge on the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant. I decided that since I hadn't yet seen Parliament or Big Ben or the London Eye yet, I'd head down to the Victoria Embankment. It was perfect - jam packed with partying and even though I couldn't get a spot on the river, they had enormous big screen TVs to watch the royals go by.


Kate, Harry and Wills got lots of cheers
It was neat to be near the spectacle and with such history all around me. But, honestly, what I was most impressed by was the Queen's stamina. She stood for hours and hours and hours. At some point, I had to head back home to dry off and relax before dinner. But, she was still there, in the rain, taking it all in. Sixty years ain't nothing to shake a stick at... as soon as I got home, I downloaded this biography to learn more about her and her ascension to the throne.
Me toasting the Queen as she passed by on my left.
With the River Pageant behind me and a long flight home the next day, I had a great wild rabbit tagliolini at Jamie's Italian with Dominic, enjoyed a walk back through Piccadilly Circus to my hotel and settled in to a deep sleep.
Piccadilly Circus
PS. Clearly, I'm smitten with London, but if you need a Union Jack fix back in Washington, DC, stop by Foundry on U Street. Designer Yvette Freeman is equally obsessed and has a store full of unique Union Jacks for your home.

No comments: