Up-front
On yer bike
Ever had to be somewhere in London and the nearest underground station is 15 minutes away? Instead of having to walk that distance, you can now easily get on a bicycle and give yourself some spare time. At the moment you can only get a ‘Boris bike’ from the stations when you are a member. This is an easy process. Wait for the keys to arrive in the mail and you can get going. Soon casual use will be available as well, which allows you to pay immediately at the docking station. The price depends on how you use the bike. The first 30 minutes of every journey are free. You just have to pay the access fee of £1 for 24 hours.The bikes are pretty easy to use, a bit heavy and the saddle is slightly uncomfortable but besides that it’s perfect for a short ride. So if you’re comfortable with cycling in the busy traffic, hop on the Boris bike! C.B
Gold standard
Go glam with this ‘gold beaded chiffon collar’, an accessory to see you through winter. It can dress up jeans or is perfect with that LBD. By Freedom at Topshop, £40. D.B
Three floors of affordable cutting edge fashion, new designers, catwalk inspired looks and accessories make the store a
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
phenomenon.
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eleased two years ago, it seems us Londoners are only just discovering this gem of a book. By the same author of ‘The Kite Runner’, Hosseini produces yet another must read. The twists and turns of the plot, the poetic tint to his writing, and the emotional convulsions he is able to evoke within the reader really does make ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ one of the most accredited books of it’s decade. The story follows two Afghan women whose lives unexpectedly interconnect,
T
he heart of London is the underground.The oyster card
2. URBAN OUTFITTERS The brand may hail from America but its London stores
and bind together in a small village in Kabul, which later becomes victimised
have a homely feel and whiff of
through war. Tragedy brings the women together, and they both fall into the hands
Cool Britannia. Urban Outfit-
of an ethnic Pashtun, who favors the idea that women are nothing more than dis-
ters brings to you a range in
carded possessions. The book gives an insight into the
homewares, accessories and
cultural and religious differences of Afghanistan’s past
fashion suited for every occa-
and present – the tragedies, the expectations and the
sion.
poverty suffered by not only women, but both sexes. c.g
3.RIVER ISLAND
was introduced in 2003 and has
The Palace of Illusions -Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The unique ability to translate
become the London commuter’s
Divakaruni is a magician when it comes to telling
catwalk trends into wearable
passport around London, making it cheaper for the public to travel around. Buy it for £3 from any London underground station or newsagents with the oyster card
a story, with her addictive writing and absolutely charming wit, she has you hooked on her book from the first page. This is a very different version of the great Indian epic. She has brought a beautiful love story to life in this book, the love that Draupadi has
sign and top it up when needed. Once you swipe your
for Karna, who is suppose to be the bravest and most
oyster card you have to deal with crowded platforms,
handsome, but has no real family. S.M
unpredictable smells first thing in the morning, but at least you can save some money. A.A
Palmers tea shop
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1.TOPSHOP
Who’s reading what
London underground is your oyster
Located in one of London’s most diverse areas; Camden. Palmer’s pet store was previously actually the world’s first scientific zoo. It still has the same front which advertises “MONKEYS, TALKING PARROTS, REGENT PET STORES, NATURALISTS.” The entrance has a very cute little seating area with small white tables and chairs. It can be very useful if you are smoker since the smoking ban was introduced in 2007.
Top shops on Oxford Street
The interior is very fresh and most of their furniture has been bought from charity or vintage shops. The left wall is covered with mirrors and the whole place has a“homely atmosphere”. They have over 40 different kinds of teas such as; Mango Sunrise, Ginsengs Guardian Blend, Regents Park and Adventure along with many others and cost just £1.90. They also have a selection of cakes and cookies to accompany your cuppa. So come down to Palmers Tea Shop, 35-37 Camden Street,Parkway NW2. H.J
and affordable clothing explains why it’s the main name sponsor of Graduate Fashion week.
4.NEW LOOK This shop does a fine job of keeping cash-strapped fashionista’s happy. C.K
Gauguin exhibition That Tate Modern gallery is showing one of the most important artists in the world. Paul Gauguin has been a legend and very important in western culture and this is the first comprehensive overview since 1965. His paintings are quite magical and we get the chance to really see and scrutinise his work, as they look so fresh. What we see is the hero of modern art. Today, some see Gauguin’s painting as paedophilic as he painted half naked young girls, but it was in context for his time. He also had a passion for landscapes. The exhibition covers everything from his time in Tahiti from 1899 when he painted one of his most famous paintings called “Manao tupapau”. Every room of the Gauguin exhibition has its own story. His painting is astonishing and is a beacon of modern art history. H.J
Gauguin Tate Modern 30 September 2010 until16 January 2011 Bankside, London SE1, 020 78878752 www.tate.org.uk/britain
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