Tonight, the London Classical Music and Theatre Group (LCMTG) were back to the Barbican for a concert of Haydn music by the Academy of Ancient Music. There was a talk beforehand about his time in London, so I'd have to get moving early!
Naturally, in this venue, my thoughts for dinner turned to Cote Barbican. Now, they're not quite as bad as Cote at the Royal Festival Hall, but it's still wise to check in advance - and when I did, this afternoon, I discovered that the latest time I could get that would allow me to get to the talk - was 4.30! It being 4pm when I discovered this, I ended up booking immediately, and leaving in quite a hurry. Now, when I arrived, it was pretty empty - but yes, it had filled up considerably by the time I finished. I went for my usuals - handily enough, all on the Prix Fixe menu. Hey, if it ain't broke..! Gorgeous mushroom soup - with, mind you, some rock-hard toasted sourdough bread - the ever-reliable and tasty steak frites, complete with garlic butter, and a lovely chardonnay. I dunno though, no longer enamoured of the chocolate mousse. I might give it a miss next time. Service was lovely and friendly - always a pleasure to come here!
I finished in decent time to walk over to Milton Court, where the talk and concert were. Now, the Barbican website is quite useless for information on how to get here - the entrance turns out to be on the corner of Silk Street and Milton Street:
Which was very engaging! Not many showed up for that, mind - most waited for the concert proper. Which was two hours or so, including a 20 minute interval. Included a couple of choral works, and I was delighted by the whole thing - I love the early stuff. Anyway, I had a lovely time, and it was good to see the one person I did see. As I say, it's a friendly group - I will be back.
Now, my new job - after some chasing - did finally send me the paperwork to complete. But as I only just got it back to them (you have no idea of the hoops I had to jump through), I can pretty much guarantee they won't have me up and running by tomorrow! so I've booked on another of Laurence Summers' walks with the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners - Pubs, Poets & Prostitutes: a Tour of Southwark. Got cash out for it on the way home tonight. Honestly, I think this is my favourite part of London - can't resist. And again, we'll finish fairly close to home for me - because that evening I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. Interestingly, Ryanair, with whom I'm flying, today sent me an email about possible delays at security at Stansted, and how I should allow for it - so I decided to plump for fast track, for once. On Saturday, I've booked a much-needed haircut, so I won't get to see a film this weekend.
On Monday, more classical music at the Barbican - this time it's with London Baroque Music Lovers, and this is Handel with Les Arts Florissants.
On Tuesday, headed with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) to The Woods, at Southwark Playhouse. Aw man, it's over a year since I last saw a performance from there, and over two years since I was last there in person! And would you believe it, I bought a PAYG subscription from them years ago, and it still entitles me to free tickets. So I used it for this! With the group having snapped up most of the front row, I'm in the row behind..
On Wednesday, I'm back with LCMTG - for a play this time! We're seeing Straight Line Crazy, with Ralph Fiennes, at the Bridge. Just as well we booked early - availability is low for that night.
Next Thursday is, of course, St. Patrick's Day. In Ireland, it's a bank holiday - here, Kíla is playing the London Irish Centre again. A standing gig, this time. Should be mad.
On the 18th, I'm back with London European Club, for 24 Italian Songs & Arias, at Battersea Arts Centre. They're operating a "Pay What You Can" scheme, where you pay what you want, between £5 and £35 - recommended price, £16. They even sent me a survey afterwards to see what I thought!
On the 19th, back with Laurence and the 45+s - this time, it's Highgate: A Very English Village. More hills..
On the 20th.. someone I swore I'd never do a walk with again. Well, we'll see whether she's back on form - Walks, Talks & Treasure Hunts (WTTH) is off on a walk called Secrets of Belgravia. (Courtesy of her company, London Guided Walks.) The code MEETUP3 gets you a £3 discount on all her walks - which does cover the booking fee of £1, not advertised before you come to the point of purchasing the ticket. Well, it'll be a start if she shows up!
On the 21st, I'm at another Zoom talk - Quakers at War is the story of the Quakers and their pacifism. Courtesy of Surrey History Meetup.
On the 22nd.. I'm booked for Dear Evan Hansen, at the Noel Coward Theatre! Finally - I'd booked for this before lockdown, and of course it got cancelled. Cheapest tickets from the official site.
On the 23rd, back with Civilised London (CL) - back at Le Sacré Coeur, meeting beforehand at The Crown, as usual.
On the 24th, back with TAC for Avocado Presents - Improv, at Etcetera Theatre. Eh, I think it's a jazz concert? Anyway, then back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 28th, going to see Daddy at the Almeida. Having never seen a bad production here, I have high hopes.
On the 29th, finally going to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella! I hear good things.. it's playing at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, which is new to me - Seatplan was invaluable in choosing the best seating option. What's On Stage provided the cheapest price for that seat, though!
On the 30th, back with CL - for a play this time. This is The Fever Syndrome, at Hampstead Theatre.
On the 31st, back with TAC for One Night With Robbie Williams. This is at The Courtyard.
On the 1st, back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC) for - The Grand Annual Lying Contest! at Rich Mix.
On the 2nd, back with WTTH for a Regent's Canal Walk. Different guide.
On the 3rd, the CCC again! Emily Hennessey and Sheema Mukherjee are at the British Museum, with Holy Cow! Tales from the River of Life.
On the 4th, I'm back at the Park Theatre for the first time in nearly three years! This is for Clybourne Park, a comedy about a white family moving into a predominantly black neighbourhood.
On the 5th, I'm headed to But I'm a Cheerleader, a musical comedy at the Turbine Theatre.
On the 6th, back with UITCS at Southwark Playhouse, and another free ticket for me! This time, it's for Anyone Can Whistle, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
On the 7th, Tommy Tiernan is playing at the Eventim Apollo! Now, I failed to get a ticket for this the first time around. Then it was rescheduled because of Covid.. and I got a ticket for the rescheduled event! Then that was rescheduled.. third time lucky?! Love Tommy Tiernan. The show is called Tomfoolery. And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 11th of next month, I've booked for The 47th, at The Old Vic. Written by Mike Bartlett, this imagines the American presidential elections of 2024. I am really looking forward to this play..
On the 12th of next month, I'm finally going to Six, the Musical! Based around the story of the six wives of Henry VIII (very loosely, I'd say), it's playing at the Vaudeville and I hear good things. Cheapest tickets from Leicester Square Box Office.
And on the 13th of next month, back with CL, who are off to the opera at the Southbank Centre. The show in question is The Paradis Files. Next day, I'm back to Ireland for Easter - but left it so late to book, I could only get an afternoon flight, and will have to start my new job by asking for that day off work!
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