Today : Battersea Contemporary Arts Fair

Opening today at 6pm the Battersea Contemporary Arts Fair will play host to a brilliant bundle of contemporary artists and aims to cut out the middle man and allow artists to sell direct to the public.

Amongst the artists exhibiting is Will Rochfort, an official artist for the London Olympic Games, what an official artist does for the games exactly I am not too sue but his work is worth a look and no doubt will be a good investment come the games when his work would have no doubt gone up in value from all the exposure.

Prices start from £40 and range up to £4,000 meaning there is something for everyone. Don’t say we never talk about nuffink the other side of the river…

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Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

Friday 14th 6-9pm – 15th,16th 11am-5pm

Adults £7, Concession £4, Under 16s free

London's Hotel Rafayel hosts a traditional Cretan lunch - Cretan Diet is the Recipe for a Long Life

London's Hotel Rafayel hosts a traditional Cretan lunch from the Balcony restaurant in Sitia, to demonstrate that Greek food can be both tasty and healthy.



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At 160 miles long and 40 miles wide, Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands. A research study begun in 1960 indicates that its inhabitants have exceptionally low rates of heart disease and cancer. They also seem to live longer. In 1991, thirty one years after the beginning of the study, the University of Crete returned to the group, and found about 50% were still alive as opposed to a similar group in Finland where there wasn't a single survivor.


Read more at Suite101: Cretan Diet is the Recipe for a Long Life http://greek-food.suite101.com/article.cfm/eat-the-cretan-diet-and-live-a-long--life#ixzz0o5eh6b00

A not-so-hidden London landmark you can't visit

Powering down the station
London’s Battersea Power Station is one of the capital’s most famous landmarks. Strange then, that very few Londoners have ever been allowed access to the building; stranger still, that on Sunday 2nd May, Battersea’s residents awoke to see 300 figures performing Spiderman impressions down one of the station’s wings.

This was the first charity abseil down this iconic ruin, organised by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and for those of us brave / foolish enough to take part, it was an amazing opportunity to get a first-hand look at one of London’s most famous no-go zones.

Built between 1929 and 1933, the Power Station was one of the last major pieces of infrastructure to be built within city limits; the Clean Air Acts of the 1950s and 1960s saw them banished to the countryside. Even in the late 20s, the building of the station was controversial. Local residents protested strongly against the ‘eyesore’ and to placate them Sir George Gilbert Scott, a starchitect of the day, was brought in to handle the design.

The human cost of the building was high, with 6 fatalities on site and numerous accidents. Add to this the relatively short lifetime of the building and a run of ill luck with developers since its closure; it is surprising that the ‘curse of Battersea Power Station’ rumours haven’t started yet!

The oddest thing about the power station though is the high esteem in which it is held by most Londoners, despite being an overpowering, functionless wreck. Regardless, it has become a cultural icon, with bands such as the Beatles and Pink Floyd featuring it in films and cover art.

In spite of this great contribution to art, it nearly scuppered one of our greatest institutions - the BBC. On the night of 20th April 1964, the station caught fire, causing a power outage as the broadcaster launched BBC2. The launch was therefore delayed and the channel started life at 11am the next morning. Consequently, its first broadcast was Playschool!

Although in recent years, the site has occasionally been opened for various events, and the Conservative party manifesto launch, it remains one of the most restricted, yet high-visibility sites in London, therefore it was no surprise that when MAG announced their event, it was full almost instantly. I’m lucky enough to have a slightly mad boyfriend who had signed me up before I even knew it was happening, so my place was secure.

On the day, the first thing that struck me was the size of the place. It really is an absolute behemoth of a building. You’d think this would be obvious given it can be seen for miles around; but the scaled-down, far-away version doesn’t really do justice to its awe-inspiring dimensions.

Nowhere is this sense of size more felt than in the abandoned turbine hall. It’s also the space that brings home the decay which has set into Battersea Power Station, some feel almost irrevocably. Tiles are missing from the interior roof, the walls are dripping and structural beams exposed where plaster has ripped away. Entire areas are roped off with dramatic warning signs. In one of these areas are relics of the station’s brief period as an art gallery in the 2000s. It is these relics that give the feel of something lost. Metal life-size statues of various people, including one little girl with her arms outstretched, are eerily reminiscent of the Pompeii bodies and a stark reminder that once, this hall was at the centre of life in London – indeed, the city couldn’t function without it.

Comparing this desolate space to what has been achieved at the Tate Modern (another Sir Giles Gilbert Scott Power Station) with its vibrant, ever-changing turbine hall is to realise what an opportunity has been missed at Battersea. Developers have come and gone, with ideas including retail, housing, a theme park and an urban circus. For various reasons, none have ever come to fruition.

Oddly, inside the signs of age are very few. Some superficial damage to the wall here and there, plus a missing step or two but otherwise, it could have been closed just 16 months, not years. As I went over the edge, I was surprised. I’d expected to feel terrified – even had nightmares about it, but in the event, I loved it and felt safe almost instantly – not just because of the ropes designed to hold an elephant that ensnared my waist, but also because the building itself feels so solid.

There is a popular story in London that when Battersea Power Station was decommissioned, developers swarmed over it, until they realised that its status as a listed building meant they couldn’t do anything. Since no-one wanted responsibility for the building and it couldn’t be pulled down, it was decided to let it fall down instead. They’re still waiting – and on my experience, they’ll be waiting a long time yet!

How Gastronauts and Gourmets on ‘top table’ are rating Banyan on Thames?

How Gastronauts and Gourmets on ‘top table’ are rating Banyan on Thames- Out of nearly 250 ratings as a top diner rated restaurant we have picked all the ratings of the top reviewers of ‘top- table’:

Gastronauts and Gourmet are top reviewer status level that indicates how much of a food lover the reviewer is based on their toptable booking history. A Gastronauts reaches its seniority by at least 26 reviews and Gourmet between 15-25. This is the best barometer of a restaurants ability to satisfy its most demanding customers.

http://www.toptable.com/en-gb/user/reputations/popup/

Banyan on Thames

Reviewer : CB - gastronaut
Banyan on the Thames has a fabulous location overlooking the Thames. Service was warm, friendly and professional. Food was an interesting mix of cultures. Lovely Thai fish cakes, beautiful crispy prawns with a mango and vanilla dressing. A main of tuna was meltingly tender. A very relaxed happy evening. With the top table offer, extremely good value for money.


Reviewer : JA - gastronaut
Banyan on Thames provides an elegant setting right on the bank of the Thames with lovely views. It is unpretentious and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The posh fish and chips was brilliant and the offer made it very reasonable. To top the night off they provided a free shuttle to the tube station - brilliant!


Reviewer : Darren Reilly - gastronaut
Great venue. A hidden gem! The view was great at sunset, the service was top notch, food amazing and the Espresso Martini's were to die for! Great cigar terrace and fab cocktails. Even if your not eating it is definately worth a visit!


Reviewer : A - gourmet
Lovely setting, imaginative food and attentive service. 50% offer provided great value for money - 2 starters, two mains a desert and two glasses of wine came up to £36, without the deal this place would be overpriced in my opinion, but then i@m a student!portion sizes were good also, i@d definately recommend.

Reviewer : Jason O'Connor - gourmet
Great food, great view watching the sunset beside the riverside and excellent value for money.


Reviewer : SC - gastronaut
3rd visit and as usual good venue and atmosphere, good food (but smaller portions than expected) and of course good value with the toptable 50%-off offer. Standard wine price just like in any other good restaurants.

Reviewer : IS - gourmet
Banyan on Thames, good value with an offer, nice ambience.

Reviewer : AL - gourmet
Banyan on Thames is a lovely modern building which just sparkles. Unfortunately the Restaurant was empty on a sunday evening and it is hoped that this new establishment will gradually attract a regular clientele. The food was excellent and the service very attentive. Will definitely return. A.L.

Reviewer : N - gourmet
Good mains and deserts, chocolate brownie disappointing - Trendy atmosphere but a bit soulless - Good value with 50% off

Reviewer : CL - gastronaut
Lovely location, great view, tasty food and good service but would be expensive without the toptable 50% offer though.

Reviewer : C - gourmet
banyan on thames is a classy restaurant in a beautiful location. myself and my husband caught the end of the sun setting whilst watching a helicopter land looking across the thames sipping on cocktails- what more could you ask for! food was simply delicious- steak was divine as was the beef curry banyan style. staff were professional and attentive, without being annoying. 50% off made a big difference- i will definately be returning!

Reviewer : TO - gastronaut
Went to Banyan on thames as a nice end to the bank holiday weekend. The ambience was very nice and relaxed with the piano playong in the background although the restaurant was pretty empty. Food was good, the seekh kebabs and monkfish and chips were both very tasty as was the rack of lamb my wife had. Portions were on the small side but overall a good night out and TT offert made the bill reasonable. Worth the visit

Reviewer : JP - gourmet
Had lunch on Good Friday at Banyan on Thames. Beautiful views outside despite rainy day. The starter of Cromer crab was refreshing. Mains were monkfish and chips and tuna seared shashimi with veg. Both fusion and done wonderfully. Would come here again for dinner . Need 50% for whole bill including drinks to make it worthwhile. Hotel also offering 50% till May but only for food.

Reviewer : LS - gastronaut
Banyan, went for a birthday surprise with a friend, service great, food tasty and filling, and the dessert of Kheer was amazing. The Biryani was well cooked and the starters of prawns were tasty. Service was attentive but not overpowering. Will return again, Banyan is a great find!!
Reviewer : IS - gastronaut
The Baynan menu is a little eclectic, having a mix of Italian, Indian/Asian and South-east Asian dishes on offer, making it seem slightly disjointed. Would recommend ordering sides with the main courses unless you have the curries which are more substantial. The location is lovely and the service very good. Overall, good value for money with the T.T offer.

Star Gala at the 'Battersea'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82ndBX8x52o

Cigar bar and Hookah lounge on the Thames at The Rafayel'

Explorer Christopher Columbus is generally credited with the introduction of tobacco to Europe. Two of Columbus's crewmen during his 1492 journey, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, are said to have encountered tobacco for the first time on the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas, when natives presented them with dry leaves that spread a peculiar fragrance. Tobacco was widely diffused among all of the islands of the Caribbean and therefore they again encountered it in Cuba, where Columbus and his men had settled. His sailors reported that the Cuban Indians smoked a primitive form of cigar, with twisted, dried tobacco leaves rolled in other leaves such as palm or plantain.

In due course, Spanish and other European sailors caught the habit, as did the Conquistadors, and smoking spread to Spain and Portugal and eventually France, most probably through Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal, who gave his name to nicotine. Later, the habit spread to Italy and, after Sir Walter Raleigh's voyages to America, to Britain.




A hookah (Hindustani: हुक़्क़ा (Devanagari), حقّہ (Nastaleeq) huqqā)or waterpipe is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based)instrument for smoking tobacco in which the smoke is cooled and filtered by passing through water. Social smoking is done with a single or double hose, and sometimes even more numerous such as a triple or quadruple hose in the forms of parties or small get-togethers. When the smoker is finished, either the hose is placed back on the table signifying that it is available, or it is handed from one user to the next, folded back on itself so that the mouthpiece is not pointing at the recipient. It has been recorded that the Arabs are the biggest shisha smokers in the World and have the most shisha Cafes.

Originally from India,hookah has gained popularity, especially in the Middle East and is gaining popularity in North America , Europe, Australia and Brazil.In the Arab world, people smoke it as part of their culture and traditions.

Most cafés (Arabic: مقهىً, transliteration: maqhah, translation: coffee shop) in the Middle East offer shishas. Cafés are widespread and are amongst the chief social gathering places in the Arab world (akin to public houses in Britain). Some expatriate Britons arriving in the Middle East adopt shisha cafés to make up for the lack of pubs in the region, especially where prohibition is in place.

It is said that the Hookah was invented in India in the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542 - 1605 AD). Following the European introduction of tobacco to India, Hakim Abul Fateh Gilani a descendant of Abdul Qadir Al-Gilani came from Baghdad to India who was later a physician in the court of Mughal raised concerns after smoking tobacco became popular among Indian noblemen, and subsequently envisaged a system which allowed smoke to be passed through water in order to be 'purified'. Gilani introduced the hookah after Asad Beg, then ambassador of Bijapur, encouraged Akbar to take up smoking. Following popularity among noblemen, this new device for smoking soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry. In North India, it is a great tradition followed among Jats, Bishnois, Rajputs etc. However, the Hookah used there is not for enjoyment all the times but also for the purposes of status symbol and more precisely, for regular smoking as tobacco is used in it.

Scenes and Sounds of The Rafayel