THINGS TO DO

April 14, 2014 by: Sunny London

A London Blogger’s Weekend in Hawaii, Mexico and…

At the close of yet another sunny weekend, I wanted to give you a little peek at a London blogger’s life.

My Friday night started with an Internations event at Kona Kai.

515 Fulham Rd, London SW6 1HD

It took me 90 minutes to get to Fulham because I live in North London.

Although the whole place was reserved for this expat organisation, I struggled to meet people. The venue and drinks, however, were fantastic.

A bartender even gave me two free ones. It definitely influenced this London blogger’s opinion of the club. 😉

However, since I was making little progress in meeting people, I left after one hour.

Saturday more than made up for this flop. Mina from Kings Road Rocks invited me to join her at Catherine’s birthday bash at La Bodega Negra, a Mexican restaurant. Catherine writes Lux Life: A Lifestyle Blog and is very, very cool.

9 Old Compton Street W1D 5JF

I didn’t take many pictures inside La Bodega Negra because it was packed. And, well, I had way too much champagne to attempt a focused shot.

Catherine co-hosted the party with club promoter Diego Bivero-Volpe. Damn, can they throw a loco party!

In the early evening it ended, but Mina and I discovered the bar downstairs. Check it out if you go there!

On Sunday morning, I realised how stupid it was to drink champagne with tequila.

It hurts me just to look at that picture now.

Somehow I managed to make it to the London Blogger Brunch that Catherine organised in Marylebone for 11am.

109 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4RX

I thoroughly enjoyed my food and time with 13 other London bloggers. At these events the chatter and connections run deep. Cheers to Catherine for throwing an epic party and hosting a fabulous brunch in less than 24 hours!

The Providores gave each of us complimentary porridge. Many bloggers ordered the French toast stuffed with banana and pecans with grilled smoked streaky bacon and vanilla verjus syrup. I had the hot-smoked salmon, two poached eggs and spinach on caraway toast with yuzu hollandaise. Yummy!

After brunch, I took a stroll down South Molton Street.

Next I headed through the Theatre District.

And of course, I ended up in my favourite hood, Covent Garden.

In less than two weeks I have a big birthday. I plan to spend the whole day wandering this area again. Any suggestions on where I should have dinner? Any restaurants need a London blogger’s review?

(Could I be any more cheeky or shameless?) 😉

I decided to take a slow walk down Monmouth Street to visit my super favourites: Kiehl’s, Caudalie, Hotel Chocolat, and Monmouth Coffee Company. Too bad the last one was closed because it was Sunday. 🙁

And, if you’ve read Sunny in London before, you know I can’t resist the original Neal’s Yard Remedies in Neal’s Yard.

I caught a sneaky photo of these two because I have never seen a pizza this big in my life. Had I not just polished off brunch, I would’ve sat down and invited myself to help them…

This pub was showing a popular sports game, but since I still had a Big Bodega hangover, I steered clear.

Then, I finally made my way to the Piazza, which was filled with its usual suspects and something new…

I couldn’t quite figure out what the big media circus was all about. Maybe you can tell me?

Despite Friday’s disappointment, my London blogger’s weekend was filled with sun and fun. Have you been to any of these places, Sunny friends? Where do you suggest I celebrate my birthday on April 26th? It’s a Saturday, so I want it to be outrageous!

April 9, 2014 by: Sunny London

Guess the London Monuments Game, 2nd EDITION!

It’s time to play Guess the London Monuments again! If you’re a regular Sunny reader and played the 1st edition, you know the rules. (Actually, there aren’t any, because rules aren’t FUN!)

The only thing you have to do is slowly scroll down your screen while you read the clues to guess these famous landmarks. I’m not offering prizes. It’s just for fun. Good luck. LET’s GO!

London Monuments #1-

This is the residence of a woman the British nicknamed “Brenda.” It’s filled with priceless works of art. However, it isn’t a museum or art gallery.

Here’s what’s outside the front door…

We’ll step out a little wider…

If we walk a few steps closer, we see this memorial built in 1913.

Here’s another angle of the Queen Victoria’s Memorial.

If you haven’t guessed it yet, I’m royally disappointed.

ANSWER: Buckingham Palace

It has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

London Monuments #2-

The largest bronze sculpture in Europe crowns this monument.

It was built in 1825-7 as part of a campaign to improve the Royal Parks. It’s located in Hyde Park. Currently, you can visit it and see the ‘Carscapes: How the Motorcar Reshaped England’ exhibition.

ANSWER: Wellington Arch
It was intended as a victory arch proclaiming Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon. Did you know that you can see spectacular views of sunny London on its balconies?

London Monuments #3-

On my About page, I write about living on Great Russell Street while attending the Florida State University’s Study Abroad Program. This treasure of history is down that street. Here’s the stunning inside…

It’s famous for many things, but mostly because it’s the home of this rockin’ piece of work…

That’s the Rosetta Stone. It provided the key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Haven’t guessed the name of the historic location yet? Here’s an exterior shot that you can muse over…

Well, sunny friends… if you don’t know this British classic by now, it’s…

ANSWER: The British Museum

London Monuments #4-

From 1910 to 1982, this ridiculously famous location wasn’t open to the public.

I guess in 1982 they decided to bridge the gap. Here’s a wider view if you haven’t guessed it already…

I can’t really connect much more for you, Sunny friends.

ANSWER: Tower Bridge

London Monuments #5-

Finally, this is the headquarters for the United Grand Lodge of England. That’s one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations.

Members have included:
– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
– Rudyard Kipling
– Peter Sellers
– Ernest Borgnine
– Harry Houdini
– ‘Smokin Joe’ Frazier
– Sir Winston Churchill

Do you know the name? It’s located on 60 Great Queen Street in Covent Garden. Here it is…

You might recognise it from:
– Agatha Christie’s Poirot, TV film
– Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, film adaptation
– Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, film
– Sherlock Holmes, 2009 film

ANSWER: The Freemason’s Hall

So, this concludes the 2nd edition of our game, Sunny friends.

Let me know in the comments below how you ‘scored’. Feel free to share the link on a social network so others can test their London landmark skills too. I can certainly publish one more, if you’d like the sun and fun to continue!

March 25, 2014 by: Sunny London

Guess the London Monument Game – 1st Edition

Taking pictures of London’s beautiful buildings on a glorious Sunny in London day never gets old. So, I figured a fun way to put all these snapshots to use is through a Guess the London Monument Game. Let’s go, Sunny friends!

Yeah right. Ok, Captain Obvious. Do you really think it’ll be THAT easy?

Get ready…. and make sure you scroll slooooooowly so you give yourself a fair chance!

Monument #1-

This is located outside the monument…

Guess the London Monument Game The Tower of London

Here’s another clue…

Here’s your last one, if you haven’t guessed it yet…

If you said Tower of London, you’re CORRECT!

Guess the London Monument Game Tower of London (2)

Monument #2-

This 87 story skyscraper was inaugurated in 2012, is part of the London Bridge Quarter development, and is currently the tallest building in the European Union…

Guess the London Monument Game The Shard

Did you guess the London Shard!? If so, you’re right again! It features an open-air observation deck. I haven’t visited it yet, but I’d love to go. Any Sunny friends want to join me?

Monument #3-

For our next little trivia bit, we’re checking out this edifice designed by Christopher Wren…

Guess the London Monument Game St Pauls Cathedral

I can zoom up and give you another view. Oh, and by the way this game is strictly for fun. There are no prizes at the end, except for your own London pride. 😉

Need another view?

Here’s my last clue for those of you who require a little prayer to get you through…

Yes! St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Monument #4-

Good luck…

Guess the London Monument Game Walkie Talkie

Ok. That wasn’t really fair. This building doesn’t have a name. However, it’s nicknamed “Walkie Talkie.” This 37 story skyscraper is credited for melting cars this past summer. Yep. You read that right. Located at 20 Fenchurch Street, the building received the name due to its unique shape. You can read more about how it melted some guy’s Jaguar here.

Monument #5-

And finally, every American expat and true Londoner should know this building…

Guess the London Monument Game Selfridges

WHAAAAAAAT? You’re kidding? You need another clue?

It’s SELFRIDGES! Founded by American, Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909, this is by far my favourite department store. And it should be yours too. Because I said so.

By the way, if you can’t make it to London, you can always check out Selfridges.com 😉

Stay tuned soon for another installment of “Guess the London Monument Game”, Sunny friends. Be sure to let me know how you did in the comments below, and share this link if you had fun!

March 12, 2014 by: Sunny London

Covent Garden Academy of Flowers- the Perfect Gift for a London Girl

If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for a London girl who seems to have everything, buy her a flower design course at the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers.

Whether it’s a gift for Mother’s Day, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, a birthday, a wedding or shower, there isn’t a girl on the planet who wouldn’t truly love this opportunity. And love YOU for it!

However, I recently had the chance to take the full day Covent Garden Experience course as a guest, and I have to say it was one of the most valuable and fun experiences in my life.

At 7:45am on a Saturday morning, I arrived outside the Vauxhall Tube Station and waited with 10 lovely ladies for the course’s instructor, Gillian. I learned that several girls had received it as a present from their husband, a few were brides to be (one of whom came all the way from Grand Cayman!) and the rest were flower fans who wanted to move their knowledge to the next level.

Gillian arrived promptly, and we began our journey to the New Covent Garden Flower Market. It’s where 75% of London’s florists buy their flowers.

Gillian gave us a tour of this ginormous facility and let us wander through the aisles at various times so we could witness how much was available.

There isn’t anything you can’t find here.

Gillian made sure we made a special stop at Dennis Edwards Flowers Ltd.

We actually met Dennis, who is a total ROCKSTAR and lady charmer. He gave us each a complimentary rose. (Thanks girls for letting me borrow two for the photo!)

We took the tube back to the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers, located in St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden.

Once we were all seated, Gillian began teaching us how to groom our flowers.

Simply put, Gillian is a delicate flower NINJA! The grace and ease with which she demonstrated techniques was captivating. This beautiful English Rose is also the author of a book!

Once she showed us numerous strategies, we each grabbed a bucket full of a flower or fern and began our task.

I worked mostly with eucalyptus. By the time I was done, my hands were very sticky but smelled divine!

Once we all finished, Gillian demonstrated more tips for our bouquets. Her hands worked magic and made the process look extremely simple.

Then, she turned us loose to choose whatever we wanted among their infinite selection of flowers.

Here’s how I started:

Gillian floated through the room as we all assembled our bouquets, and her exquisite patience and approachable demeanor made it easy to ask questions and less daunting to construct our masterpieces.

Here’s how I finished:

Although I loved my bouquet, I think the other belles in the course far surpassed my humble attempt. Gillian instructed us to leave our bouquets in buckets filled half way with water so they could have a “drink” while we lunched.

When we returned, she showed us how to trim the stems so we could perfectly package our flowers for an easy transport home.

However, once they were sized appropriately, we learned a trick to keep them wrapped in water until they could be placed in a vase. (Surprisingly, cutting the cellophane was my most difficult task of the day!)

With our remaining time, Gillian taught us how to make a button hole (That’s a “boutonniere” for you Americans).

Throughout the course, I learned many tips and tricks for choosing, assembling and caring for flowers, including the MOST IMPORTANT rule to follow when creating an arrangement.

I’m not going to share everything I learned because that would ruin the allure of the course, but here’s one tip- buy a pair of these snazzy Japanese scissors for cutting stems. They have them at the Academy, and once I saw a demonstration with them, I became a believer!

I thoroughly enjoyed my day and look forward to taking more courses. I’ve also told every man I know that this is the guaranteed way to a woman’s heart! Surround her with flowers for a day and teach her how to make them last for a lifetime!

The pride I felt when completing my arrangement was enormous.

We all left absolutely thrilled with what we learned and what we had to show for our day.

Mr. Sunny and his family could not believe that I made the bouquet!

Aside from offering classes, the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers also makes arrangements for sale for businesses, holidays, special occasions or just random acts of kindness! This is one of the designs they were working on for a London hotel…

The next Covent Garden Experience course is offered at the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers on June 28^th. But, if you go to their website, they have tons of shorter evening courses that you can enjoy sooner. Some of them include: Mother’s Day, Tables for Home and Events, Christmas Arrangement and Contemporary Design.

I just can’t imagine why any person would struggle to think of the perfect gift idea for a lady in London, when the Covent Garden Academy of Flowers makes it soooooo easy!

March 10, 2014 by: Sunny London

St Martin’s Courtyard, a hidden treasure in Covent Garden

One of the reasons I love Covent Garden is because its streets are a maze of treasures. Just when I think I’ve seen every nook, I make a new discovery. Last week, I had the fortune of exploring St. Martin’s Courtyard.

With three different entrances, you would think I would have stumbled upon this courtyard of opportunities much earlier. It’s just off Long Acre, not too far from Leicester Square. (I avoid the Covent Garden tube station at all costs. But I’ll save that for a later post, Sunny friends.)

If you turn at Banana Republic and head north, you are in for a surprise of shopping and dining that doesn’t feature the nightmare of tourists so common to the piazza. (I do realize how ironic that looks on an expat’s blog 😉 )

In fact, I think St. Martin’s courtyard has only been developed over the past few years, so it’s still new to Londoners.

I learned about it through Twitter, when Dalla Terra followed me. (Read about how I discovered White Mulberries through Twitter)

The Dalla Terra website defines it as an “…urbane, contemporary take on the Italian enoteca.” Intrigued by the Dalla Terra Twitter account, I did a little research to figure out where it was located.

So, one Sunny in London afternoon, I decided to pop in for a quick look see.

It really is as gorgeous as it appears. The wine supply seems infinite, and it has a friendly, sophisticated atmosphere.

Even though I was having an afternoon tea across the courtyard at Bill’s, I couldn’t resist a quick glass of red wine and a starter at Dalla Terra.

From the Cicchetti Italian Style Tapas menu, I chose the Crispy Bruschetta, Wild Mushroons, Organic Cherry Tomato and Tapenade of Taggiasche Olives

DELICIOUS!

After doing a bit of research, I learned that they offer 180 wines by the bottle and 30 by the glass. That’s a FLOOD of liquid sunshine!

They also are an off-license and sell their wine for takeaway. And… if you go on a Monday, you can receive 15% off your drinking and dining.

While I was a bit distracted by the sea of bottled grapes, I made sure to snap some pictures of some other dining experiences available in St Martins Courtyard for you.

Suda is a Thai cafe restaurant which has a second floor that offers a great view of Long Acre.

That, of course, is Jamie Italian.

Finally, there’s also a hot yoga studio, Yotopia and Blow, a beauty concept which brings you hair, nails and make up in 45 minutes or less. Sounds cool, right?

However, this location really caught my attention…

Apparently, you can take flower design courses here. Hmmm. I think I’ve just received inspiration for a future post, Sunny friends.

I’d suggest that the next time you are in Covent Garden you make a special trip to St. Martin’s Courtyard, unless you’ve already been there. In that case, please share your experience below so we can all have the scoop!

February 24, 2014 by: Sunny London

Primrose Hill: Serenity and Celebrities?

If you’re looking for an easy, relaxing activity on a Sunny in London day, Primrose Hill is a gorgeous place to be. And, you never know, you might just spot Jude Law or Jamie Oliver!

If you aren’t familiar with the neighborhood, it’s a quick walk from the Chalk Farm tube station and is just opposite the London Zoo and Regent’s Park.

It’s a fairly quiet, upscale section of London, which is why it attracts many celebrity residents. The houses are absolutely charming.

Once you leave the tube station, navigate across the canal to Regent’s Park Road, which is the “busiest” area.

Regent’s Park Road

If you keep your eyes peeled, you might even spot Jude or Jamie at a pub, as they both have houses around the corner. The street is lined with independent stores and cafes, which may offer sweets outside.

Shepherd Foods, sells many American products inside

It’s a quick walk south to the intersection of Regent’s Park Road and Primrose Hill Road.

At that point, it’s well worth a few extra minutes (and a great calorie burner!) to venture up the hill. The views of London are breathtaking!

I was certainly glad I left my heels at home the day I trekked to the peak. And I was very envious of all the runners heading up the hill at a much faster pace than me.

Once I made it to the top of what felt like Mount Olympus, the view of London town’s horizon created a serenity that is tough to find in the hustle and bustle of the Capital.

I grabbed as many pictures as possible with my Cyber Shot DSC-RX100 digital camera and regretted that Mr. Sunny wasn’t there with his super, duper zoom lens. (Make sure you bring one if you go!) I took note of the numerous couples who had packed a picnic lunch and were enjoying it on the grass, and I’ve put that on my “Activity to Do List” for the future.

Finally, I peeled myself away and headed down the hill.

It seemed like an excellent time for a little lunch and liquid sunshine.

Walking in to The Queens Pub Primrose Hill, located at 49 Regent’s Park Road (where it intersects with Primrose Hill Road) was the next logical step for my sunny, carefree afternoon.

It’s a fabulous place to relax, eat and drink.

And, I think Virgina Woolf was 100% right here…

To keep with my healthy vibe from the hike up and down Primrose Hill, I decided to stay green and ordered the quinoa, feta, broccoli, pomegranate salad with a large Rioja, of course. 😉

It was hard to peel myself away from such a tranquil location.

But I strolled through a few side streets and headed on my way.

While I kept my eyes peeled for Mr. Law and Mr. Oliver throughout the afternoon, I didn’t spot any A-listers, this time. However, perhaps I can take my celebrity stalking to another level by becoming a permanent resident? I think I could get a great deal on a property that I spotted on this side street in Primrose Hill…

Don’t you agree? 😉

DISCLAIMER: No celebrities were actually stalked in the research of this post,nor will they be for future posts.

So, Sunny friends, have you had the chance to climb Primrose Hill and enjoy this great area? What would you suggest for a lovely sunny day?

February 13, 2014 by: Sunny London

Romance, Rum and BLACK ROSES for a HOT Valentine’s Day

It’s absolutely shocking how much sex appeal black roses will have this Valentine’s Day. That is… if you’re lucky enough to score a bouquet of them!

For one day only, THINK INK will be selling dark red roses soaked in Kraken Black Spiced Rum at a pop-up store as part of the “Kraken versus Cupid” campaign designed by visionary Miss Cakehead. These black roses can be a wonderful addition to any Valentine’s atmosphere.

Sunny friends, this will be the world’s first florist to sell only black roses for Valentine’s Day.

When I visited the store today to preview the event, I can only summarize it by saying- INTOXICATING. At first I was skeptical, but once able to view these exotic creations, I was mystified by their allure.

The flowers are placed in vases filled with rum to make them appear as dark as Kraken’s ink, because there are no naturally black flowers.

Along with the roses, Calendula Lily Eclips and Queen of Night Tulips are also part of the arrangements.

Between the harpist in the store and the sweet smell of roses and rum, I felt like I was captured by sirens as I previewed the bouquets.

Who would have ever guessed such a macabre toned idea would be so sexy?

If you’re interested in giving your Valentine a surprise that truly isn’t available anywhere else, you’ll need to hit the pop up store in Kingly Court off of Carnaby Street early tomorrow! The Krakens will start being released at 8:00am on a first come first served basis and are limited to one bouquet per customer. Of course, since they’re also giving you a miniature bottle of 5cl Kraken Rum, you’ll need to be 18 or over to participate.

Oh, and let’s take a minute to acknowledge that there’s no Kraken any jokes here with alcohol content- this luscious liquor registers a 94 PROOF!

If you get there early, there will be a range of bouquet options. You’ll also be able to choose between two messages for your Valentine.

I’d suggest you start planning your AM trip to Carnaby now, because this is going to be one HOT item when the sun rises in London tomorrow. Once they’re sold out, the event ends. You can stay tuned though by following along on Twitter:

@thekrakenrum_uk

@miss_cakehead

@carnabylondon

#thinkink

#carnaby

Oh, and another reason to set your February 14^th alarm extra early- the bouquets are offered for a voluntary donation to Project Redsand.

Sunny friends, GET KRAKEN!!!

February 3, 2014 by: Sunny London

Chinese New Year 2014 London: Year of the Horse or Stampede?

Giddy up, Sunny friends! If my day in Chinatown is any indication of what the Chinese New Year 2014: The Year of the Horse is going to be like, y’all had better grab those reigns tight!

London holds the 2nd biggest celebration of the Chinese New Year outside of Asia, and this year the biggest events were on a glorious sunny in London day, February 2nd. Sadly, I have to say my attempt at joining the party was an epic fail.

As I made my way to Chinatown, I stopped in a Pret a Manger near Piccadilly Circus for a latte. Oddly enough, for the second time in one week, I received a free coffee.

The past two times I've been in Pret a Manger, I've been given a free coffee by someone. I love this place!
— Sunny in London☀️ (@Sunny_in_London) February 2, 2014

“Year of the Horse?” I thought to myself as I clutched my drink and headed toward the scents of glorious Chinese food simmering in the air, “more like Year of the Lucky Duck!”

But this is where my fortune expired. As I approached Wardour Street, the stampede began. Literally, hundreds of thousands of people had beaten me to the Chinese New Year 2014 party.

I fought for that picture for 10 minutes and nearly lost my camera in the sea of revelers.

<CRACK!>

Aside from all the wonderful smells emanating from the restaurants, there were tables in the streets so people could share the nibbles outside. I pushed my way through the crowds and grabbed this picture to show you…

And this one which shows some of the items for sale which represent the Year of the Horse…

<CRACK!>

Whooooooa, that’s enough. What was that damn noise I kept hearing every five seconds?

<CRACK!>

It seemed to be coming from the ground, but I couldn’t see my own feet in the mobs of people.

After nearly an hour of crowd surfing, capturing interrupted pictures, and dodging floor firecrackers, I surrendered and took a walk toward my buddy, Big Ben. While passing Trafalgar Square, I could see there were even more events occurring.

But, that’s as close as I could get. Do any Sunny friends know what was happening on the stage? And how did this guy manage to sift through the crowd on a bicycle?

<CRACK!> <CRACK!> <CRACK!>

Ok, now I had narrowed the noise down to small children. They were throwing a handful of something on the ground, and when it hit, that sound happened…. <CRACK!>

At this point, my head was spinning…. Much like I’ve had a bottle of wine and taken a high-speed ride on this…

As I got further away from cha cha Chinatown, I found a British way to celebrate Chinese New Year 2014, Year of the Horse “Guard”.

However, even then I couldn’t get a clear shot of my image without someone stepping in the way. Hey lady, don’t you know I’m trying to blog here?!

Ahhhhhh. Much better.

I spent a while walking around Buckingham Palace, and then headed to my personal oasis, Covent Garden. Just as I turned a corner near Floral Street, this sign beckoned me down Rose Street…

Where I finished my day at the end of this road, with a bit of liquid sunshine.

So, Sunny in London friends, how was your experience celebrating Chinese New Year 2014 London? What tips and suggestions do you have for me next year? And WHAT WAS THAT CRACKING NOISE?

January 23, 2014 by: Sunny London

HOT Things to Do in Carnaby Street

When I mention “Carnaby Street” you might conjure up images of bohemians, 60’s mods, punk rockin’ Sex Pistols, and perhaps the great international man of mystery… Austin Powers. YEAH BABY!!! What you might not realise is this wildly popular London area has maintained its edge for decades through a focused goal of offering unique experiences for everyone. Take it from this Florida girl, there are some seriously HOT things to do in Carnaby Street NOW!

Foremost, the area sets itself apart from others by striving for one of a kind establishments. For example, the Benefit Cosmetics store is the only one in the world that also offers spa services. Who wants to join me for a full day of research for an upcoming story? 😉

The Dr Martens store also offers bespoke services (American friends, that means “custom-made”)

To keep things really hot, I’m suggesting you check out these highlights:

KUA AINA BURGER and SANDWICH GRILL-

With a magnetic force, the sign out front, “Lava-Grilled Burgers…Served with a Side of Sunshine” pulled me inside.

The friendly staff each proudly bounced around in their Hawaiian themed attire and quickly seated me at a charming table. Within minutes, I placed my order for a lava-grilled cheeseburger and started enjoying the lovely beach themed atmosphere.

My cheeseburger absolutely dissolved in my mouth and my only complaint was that entire experience lasted less than a half an hour due to the efficiency of the staff. For those eager to try it and channel their inner Barack Obama (I hear it’s one of the President’s favourites), the restaurant is also in Honolulu, Haleiwa and Tokyo. Aloha Baby!

THE RUM KITCHEN-

This “Caribbean inspired beach shack restaurant” is nestled on the 2nd floor of Kingly Court.

Their cocktail menu is a match for any Rum enthusiast, and I can’t imagine there’s anywhere better in London to devour Caribbean Jerk Chicken. While sipping on my Pina Colada, I found it hard not to start dancing to the Caribbean vibes resonating from the walls.

DISCO-

And, if you’re like me and fancy a hot night of dancing, you really need to hit Disco. There’s numerous nightclubs, pubs, and wine bars in Carnaby, but this one is really jumping.

With its “design to invoke the glamour of Studio 54,” this club is frequented by Strictly Come Dancing cast members. Be sure to get on the Guest List before you go, Sunny friends!

SWEATY BETTY and TRIYOGA-

If you like to make a great impression while you sweat, I suggest these two locations. Sweaty Betty was founded by a Londoner in 1998 and has since rocked the athletic attire industry. The Sweaty Betty Carnaby store doesn’t just sell their gear, it also offers exercise classes.

However, if you want information “Hot off the Press”, you might want to take an afternoon yoga class at Triyoga. Due to the numerous media offices located within the area, I’m told many journalists hit this studio on their lunch hour.

CAMELLIA’S TEA HOUSE and MOOSH-

With all this hot fun, you’re going to need to deescalate, Sunny friends. If you fancy a truly British cup of tea and beautifully baked sweets, just across from TriYoga is Camellia’s Tea House.

This oasis on the top floor of Kingly Court specialises in loose leaf teas containing only naturally grown ingredients. They hand-blend their teas in London. Camellia’s also offers a gorgeous selection of teapots, cups and accessories for purchase.

And finally, a great place to simmer down and chill is Moosh, a real fruit and smoothie café that claims to be a “healthy indulgence to take you to your happy place.”

I can certainly say that the Kickstarter shake (freshly ground cucumber, avocado, apple, lime and wheatgrass) I drank certainly made me feel Sunny all day. (See if you can spot it in the pictures below)

I spent two full days touring Carnaby, which is now my new favourite place. Checkout their website to learn about their Privilege Card and an app you can download for a 40-minute historic tour.

I’ll keep you in the loop when I get inside tips for competitions, shopping events (joined with Grazia and GQ magazines) and more hot things to do in Carnaby Street!

December 5, 2013 by: Sunny London

Searcy’s Champagne Bars and One Holiday Rule!

There’s nothing better than a tall flute (or two or three) of champers to take the edge off of holiday shopping and travel. Because I know all my Sunny in London friends are super busy during this crazy time of year, I’ll keep this one short…

You have one rule from me to follow this holiday season- Always find a slice of time and money in your financial budget to treat yourself with a bit of bubbly each week.

My drunk of choice happens to be sponsored by Searcy’s. Well, not technically. They’re not sponsoring this post, but I damn sure wouldn’t complain if they extended an invite for me to write another one and hooked a sister up with a free glass of life’s elixir. Hee hee hiccup.

Anyhow, it’s simple. They have venues all over London to help you follow my rule. The three that I have been to are:

St. Pancras Grand Champagne Bar

Yes, this picture is a bit dated, but it’s the first Searcy’s I visited, so it’ll forever be in my personal bucket list Hall of Fame. I love the panoramic view you have of the entire terminal. If you’re travelling through St. Pancras, build in some extra time to take the edge of your trip jitters and stress by doing some pre-celebrating at this gorgeous bar.

Next, BOTH of London’s Westfield shopping centres can satisfy your adult beverage taste bud cravings.

Sipping Searcy’s at Westfield London Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush.

I wasn’t able to buy anything that day at Dior, but I sure felt like a rockstar outside sipping my champagne. With each taste (more like gulp), I thought about everything I also wished I could afford at the surrounding stores, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Pradahhhhhhh…

One thing that does make this liquid indulgence slightly more affordable is being a member of their “Club Bubble.” This means you have their champagne loyalty card, invitations to tastings and special events, and birthday discounts. Check it out Sunny friends!

Finally, on the other end of London town, is Searcy’s Westfield Stratford City.

As you can see, equally as delicious.

So, my Sunny friends, don’t forget your inner sunshine in the hustle and bustle leading up to the New Year. Oh, and of course, let the skies rain champagne on you for the 31^st. Anything else simply wouldn’t do. 😉

DISCLAIMER: the author of this post takes no financial responsibility for what you spend at either of the shopping centres after your visit to Searcy’s. (In other words, drink responsibility so your credit cards don’t hate me later!)

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