THINGS TO DO – Page 3

October 31, 2014 by: Sunny London

Ho! Ho! Hotel Chocolat, a Tasting Adventure!

If you’re looking for a truly intoxicating date night, Hotel Chocolat offers the ultimate experience with their School of Chocolate! Mr Sunny and I spent an evening there captivated in metaphoric cocoa vaults. Here’s all the details for you, Sunny friends!

Through a two hour tasting adventure created for any passionate chocolate lover, we gained insider knowledge and tasting tips. And, we did this all right in London’s Covent Garden!

Hotel Chocolat Tasting Adventure:

We arrived early so we could interview Natasha, an esteemed chocolatier of Hotel Chocolat. She started with the company as a part-time, seasonal employee several years ago. Now, she teaches the classes offered through their School of Chocolate. Quite simply, she’s a chocolate super star.

Two other couples joined us for the intimate experience held below the chocolate store. As part of the course, each person receives 2 glasses of prosecco. Each couple’s table had a plate of bread, cacoa beans, ground cacao beans and a delicious looking bowl of white chocolate.

Well, that’s what I thought it was. Near the start of the class when I thought Natasha wasn’t looking, I went to grab a sneaky piece from my table. Stealthy Natasha immediately looked over and said, “You probably don’t want to do that.”

She informed us the bowl was filled with cocoa butter, which is the fat contained within cocoa beans. It’s also used to make lipstick soft. I did grab bits and pieces throughout the night, but I rubbed them on my hands instead. Ahhhhh so nice.

Anyhow, back to the beans.

Actually, I should say ‘pods.’ Here’s how chocolate looks before the beans. Check out the giant orange pod on my Tasting Tree below…

All of us received a Tasting Tree, which helped us identify descriptive terms for tasting chocolate. The branches had these categories: Look/Sound/Colour, Flavour and Aromas, Mouthfeel and Taste.

It was so much fun trying to determine if the pieces we sampled fell under categories like: Umami, Claggy, Mushroomy, Metallic or Lavendar.

We learned to ‘listen to chocolate.’ This meant snapping a bar like the one above in half next to our ear. A quick, hard sound meant the chocolate was very pure.

Hotel Chocolat first opened in 2004 in North London. They grow their own beans on a plantation in St. Lucia. Further, Hotel Chocolat creates their own recipes and makes chocolate fresh from their beans in their cafes.

Natasha explained the entire process of how Cacao grows and becomes delicious forms of chocolate. We learned how cacoa is farmed and harvested. From giant pods, beans are extracted. Next, the beans are fermented, dried, roasted, winnowed and ground. That, my Sunny friends, is the ‘conching’ process. It takes between 12-72 hours. It is when the mixture is kneaded and gently heated to develop flavor. However, it doesn’t taste very good at this point, at all!

We each got to sample the mixture, which was at the 18 hour mark. Natasha warned us in advance to be prepared. It didn’t have sugar yet. Whoa! If you could’ve seen my face after that spoon was empty.

Throughout the evening we altered between taking notes and sampling one glorious piece of chocolate after another. Of course, we sipped Prosecco often to cleanse our palettes. And, finally, I received my greatly anticipated pieces of white chocolate!

We learned the best ways to get to know chocolate, how to taste it and what to look for. I highly recommend this experience as a fun date night or gift idea. You can book a Chocolate Tasting Adventure by contacting their Tasting Team at experiences@hotelchocolat.com.

We went to the Hotel Chocolat on 4 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9HB. The class is also offered at Aberdeen, Boar Lane (Leeds), Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Manchester, Rabot and York.

Hotel Chocolat Experiential Events:

We also learned that Hotel Chocolat offers other experiences for chocolate lovers of all ages. Their ‘Bean to Bar Experience’ shows you how to make chocolate entirely from scratch. They also have Children’s Workshops! In these classes kids make their own chocolate. Apparently that class is appropriately messy too!

Hotel Chocolat In-store:

If you haven’t popped in Hotel Chocolat (which I’d find hard to believe), they have thousands of unique chocolate products. I especially like the boozy rows below…

And they have locations just about everywhere. I almost grabbed a few chocolate treats at the Waterloo Station store the day I went outlet shopping at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Gifts:

Here’s a few Christmassy treats they already have in the store, Sunny friends:

However, if you can’t make it, their website it really fabulous. I picked out a few more items for Mr Sunny’s Christmas stocking and put them below.

They’re the: Advent Calendar (£12.50), Christmas Jumper Slab (£5), 12 Portly Penguins (£7), A Bag of Christmas Stars (£16), Christmas Mess Selector (£3.75), Butterscotch Puddles (£5.50), and Jolly Santa (£7). All Christmas stocking fillers are £7 each, or 3 or more for £6 each.

Let me know what you think!

Here’s another tip for you… if you order a box of chocolate or two, make sure you check the box for the menu before you eat them!

Mr Sunny and I had a blast the night after our class when we opened one of our boxes and tried to guess all the chocolates. We didn’t find the paper indicating their names until we finished eating the box. Even though we got them all wrong, we still love Hotel Chocolat!!!

My absolute favourite piece I tried is Billionaire’s Shortbread. It was previously named Millionaire’s Shortbread. When so many Tasting Club members voted it as their favourite (yes, they even have a chocolate club), they upgraded the name to reflect its elite status.

Thank you, Hotel Chocolat for the complimentary evening. You’ll continue to see a lot of Mr. Sunny and me.

Oh! I almost forgot my final tip… Don’t call Hotel Chocolat to make an overnight reservation in the UK! It happens to them a lot. They only have one hotel- on the island of St. Lucia.

Sunny friends, we kicked off ‘Chocolate and Champagne’ week on Sunny in London with Belgian Chocolate and a trip to Brussels.

April 6, 2015 by: Sunny London

All Aboard the RS Hispaniola in London

What happens in London as the Spring season hits? Aside from everyone packing away their scarves and coats and enjoying longer periods of sunshine, it means the launch of Spring menus for nearly all the restaurants in London. The RS Hispaniola is no exception. In fact, Mr. Sunny and I had an exclusive opportunity to preview their new Head Chef’s first menu aboard the ship, which is a party of the City Cruises fleet in London.

Mr. Sunny and I arrived to Victoria Embankment a few minutes before the RS Hispaniola Spring Menu Launch Party started on the evening of April 1st. Since we had such a blast on the sightseeing cruise we took roundtrip from Westminster to Greenwich, we knew this City Cruises adventure would be fun too.

As soon as I saw the gangplank, I was very, very glad I left my high heels home for this event. This was no April Fools’ Day joke, Sunny friends. The angle is steep, and I am glad Mr. Sunny held my hands for balance as we entered the RS Hispaniola party.

The guest list featured a great crew of people who truly love London. Mr. Sunny and I immediately embarked with glasses of the Laurent-Perrier Brut champagne and began mingling with all the party’s attendees. This is a quick look at the interior of the RS Hispaniola restaurant.

For the event, we each enjoyed a three-course meal with exceptional wine pairings.

First, I selected the Smoked Mackerel Mousse with marinated beetroot, beetroot crisps and beetroot coulis as my Starter.

These are the Wild Mushrooms served with stilton cream, lemon, parsely, and toasted ciabatta that Mr. Sunny ate.

All the Starters are matched with Macon Villages ‘La Crepillionne’ Domaine Fichet 2013, a Chardonnay. The suggested food and wine pairing for the Mains is a Syrah. We had Domaine ‘La Croix Belle’ 2013.

I enjoyed the Seared Sea Trout, which is featured with vegetable brunoise, Puy lentils and bisque broth.

I’m sure we can definitely agree that the RS Hispaniola galley didn’t hold back on the lentils. 😉

Mr. Sunny, who always is a bit more adventurous with his food choices, ordered the Slow-Cooked Ox Cheek. That’s right. It is presented with carmelised onions, sauteed cabbage, Dauphinoise potato and onion rings.

Before we headed ashore, we each made sure to eat one of the desserts on the menu.

In keeping with the seasonal spirit of the upcoming Easter weekend, I chose the Chocolate Tart, spiced Orange segments and vanilla Chantilly cream. Mr. Sunny ate the Fruit Clafoutis with lime and coconut sorbet.

We both couldn’t resist taking this picture for you of the Blueberry, Apple and Pistachio Crumble. Can you say, ‘Pour some crumble on meeeeeee.’?

Mr. Sunny really liked the Jurancon Symphonie de November 2011, which is the dessert wine served with the final food phase.

Just before we began our debarkation for the evening, we made sure to grab a souvenir picture with all of our new friends from the RS Hispaniola party.

The Spring Menu on the RS Hispaniola:

– Features 22 European dishes from which you can choose.
– Includes other options such as Warm Wood Pigeon Salad and Lobster Thermidor.
– Has prices from £6.00 for Starters, £14.50 for Mains and £6.00 for desserts.
– Is the creation of Chef Barry White who has worked in kitchens across the globe from London to Jamaica and Thailand.
– Can be offered in a 3 Course Spring Set Menu for £28 per person.

And yes, they have an afternoon tea (which includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne) for £25 per person as well!

Aside from all the food we had at the RS Hispaniola Spring Menu launch party, we also loved the beautiful views of London from the ship. Mr. Sunny used his iPhone 6 to capture these pictures for you.

City Cruises has a fleet of 20 river vessels. Aside from Lunch, Dinner and Afternoon Tea Cruises, they also have Sightseeing Cruises, Sundowners, Riverdays and several holiday party events. As a girl who grew up in Florida and spent tons of time on cruises and boats, I want to give their ThamesJet experience a go. It looks like an outrageously great time. Keep an eye out for that one, Sunny friends. 😉

April 7, 2015 by: Sunny London

What to Wear to an Opera- A Pretty Woman Story

I opened an email recently that ‘was so good I almost peed my pants.’

That’s right. The email offered me two tickets to a show at the English National Opera in exchange for a feature on the Sunny in London blog. I had a choice among Queen of Spades, Carmen or Pirates of Penzance.

This is super exciting to me because attending an opera is high on my list of things to do in my life. Immediately, I sent a response that I wanted to move forward with the opportunity. And then, I started thinking…

‘Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.’

Growing up in Daytona Beach, Florida afforded me fantastic opportunities like living directly on the beach and regularly visiting theme parks. I have been to Disney World countless times and worked at Universal Studios in Orlando. While this lifestyle was fast and fun, it was also thin on highbrow cultural experiences. So, I have no idea what to wear to an opera.

Maybe I should not have sent that email response so fast? I started feeling a bit like Vivian in Pretty Woman. It became obvious to me that I need help getting ready for this event. Logic guided me directly to the source.

On a beautiful, sunny day in London, I made my way to Covent Garden to visit the London Coliseum, where the English National Opera is having these three shows. Who better to ask, right?

When I tugged on the doors, I was elated to find them open, so I made my way inside. As I moved quietly and carefully through the building, I could hear opera singing. Chills ran up my spine. The gorgeous sounds were coming from just beyond these doors…

I found a man seated in front of the rope and asked if I could pop my head inside to take a sneaky look. The answer was a very polite, ‘No.’ It’s what I expected, but figured I would try my luck. He thought my story idea for ‘What to Wear to an Opera’ was an interesting twist and allowed me to take pictures of the Box Office.

The helpful man also told me it might be a nice idea to look up as I made my way to the Box Office because the ceiling was well worth a shot or two. He certainly wasn’t joking.

I would like to tell you the details of this stunning artwork, but again, I missed all that art history training by spending too much time on the beach as a kid. Part of living in London for me involves catching up on those life opportunities and treasures.

I did, however, fantasize a bit about having tickets on a balcony, just like Vivian.

Next, I took a deep breath and approached the man selling tickets in the Box Office.

‘Hello, sir. I am attending my first show here soon and have no idea what to wear to an opera. Can you help me?’

He was very willing to share information. Here’s what I learned:

What to Wear to an Opera:

– The days of fancy decorum are sadly over.
– Most people attend the opera in London with the clothing they wore to work.
– Black Tie Dress Code is not required, nor followed by many.
– Some people wear jeans. Occasionally people wear hoodies.
– The London Coliseum does not have an enforced dress code for patrons.

I found this information to be a bit of a relief. It means I don’t have to purchase an expensive cocktail dress just for the event. However, it’s incredibly disappointing to hear that many people don’t respect the tradition of fine dress and actually wear gear that is more suited for the gym or grocery store.

As of right now, I still am not sure what I will wear. However, first I think I’ll probably try to take off a few pounds. When I asked a tourist also walking through the London Coliseum during my visit to take my picture, she asked me to turn slightly on an angle because ‘it always makes you look thinner.’ Hmmm…

Sunny friends, I do know which show I am going to see. Since this whole adventure already followed the emotional path of Pretty Woman for me, I picked Pirates of Penzance. In the film, Edward takes Vivian to see La Triviata. Unfortunately, that show was already featured February 9-March 13 of this year at the London Coliseum.

In the scene where Edward asks Vivian what she thought of the opera, she says, ‘It was so good I almost peed my pants.’ A gentleman near them inquires about her response, and Edward says, ‘She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance.’

It’s supposed to be a a hilarious show which will be Mike Leigh’s opera directorial debut. The plot has numerous unlikely twists, sentimental pirates and blundering policemen. Cast members include: Andrew Shore, Jonathan Lemalu, Robert Murray, and Rebecca de Pont Davies.

The show dates are:
– May 9, 14, 16, 19, 23, 29
– June 5, 13, 20, 21, 26, 27

If you’re interested in going, you can visit the English National Opera site for times and ticket prices. They are on sale now. The other English National Opera show dates on their way are Carmen (May 20-July 3) and The Queen of Spades (June 6-July 2).

The English National Opera also offers one hour long guided tours. During them, you can visit the old Gentleman‘s Baronial Smoking Hall, Stoll‘s Balcony, some Private Rooms, the Upper Glassed Terraces, the fabulous auditorium as well as the warren of staircases backstage including beneath the vast revolving stage and orchestra pit (when possible).

The London Coliseum, is known as ‘The Peoples Palace’; a theatre that was affordable to enter but which would also inspire a sense of wonder and excitement.

I am going to work on figuring out what to wear to an opera over the next few weeks and would love your feedback. Sunny friends, any help you can give me on the following questions is greatly appreciated:

– Have you ever attended an opera? What advice do you have for me?
– What would you wear to the opera?
– What would you have picked from the list of choices?
– Would you like to go with me? Mr. Sunny said he would graciously let a blog reader go with me as a special treat. Our show date will either be May 14 or 23. Just leave a comment below, if you’re interested in being my guest. Of course, any ideas on what I should wear are most welcome too!

Oh, and… ‘In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight.’

March 7, 2014 by: Sunny London

Choccywoccydoodah Secrets- What’s behind the Chocolate Empire

For nearly 20 years Christine and Christine have been molding their chocolate fortune, Choccywoccydoodah. What started off as an idea launched by finishing a bottle of gin, is now a sweet international success. Sunny friends, I’m about to tell you the Choccywoccydoodah Secrets!

Aside from currently taping its fifth television season, Choccywoccydoodah is also days away from opening a second location in Brighton which features both a chocolate shop and café. The first one is located in the Newburgh Quarter of Carnaby Street.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Henry, the Director’s Assistant for Choccywoccydoodah, on one beautiful Sunny in London day.

30-32 Fouberts Place. Carnaby, W1F 7PS

When I first stepped foot in Choccywoccydoodah London, I felt like Dorothy opening the door to Oz.

It was an immediate transformation into the surreal as I sifted through piles and piles of chocolate goodies to meet Henry.

We headed upstairs to the café and ordered 2 chocolate drinks, a white chocolate and a mocha. Henry suggested the chocolate dipping plate for lunch. Oh Henry!!! (I think he’ll be my new BFF.)

Milk Chocolate Tiffin, White Chocolate and coconut tiffin, Toffee popcorn bars (in milk chocolate and white chocolate), Brownie, Blondie, Chocolate flapjack and Coconut macaroon. Served with molten chocolate.

For the next hour, we dipped chocolate in to molten chocolate, and I learned the secrets behind this magical kingdom.

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #1-

To create the beautiful designs, Choccywoccydoodah only uses Belgium chocolate. With it, they have made everything from popcorn lollipops to cakes (wedding, anniversay, divorce and even funeral).

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #2-

Celebrity clients have included: Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Collins, Rihanna, Madonna and Kylie Minogue. Oh yeah, and Choccywoccydoodah made Elton John’s wedding cake. As you can see from this glittery list, their cakes appeal to those who are ready to go mad with chocolate design and fun.

To have a bespoke or custom made cake, a client needs to contact them via their email 3-6 months prior to the special date.

Here’s what they call a Taster Cake.

It features one layer of each flavor they offer (chocolate, lemon, ginger, coffee or coconut). Each one-inch layer is separated with a truffle filling in either dark chocolate, white chocolate, praline or champagne.

Previous designs have featured dragons, carousels, horses and even a full blown amusement park including a roller coaster! Here’s one of Christine’s favorites, a chocolate cabbage leaf.

Cakes start around £450 for 40-50 portions. The “Midi” is 2 feet tall and is from £795-£1000. It features 3 tiers and includes 120-150 portions.

Once they respond to your email, Choccywoccydoodah arranges a consultation in which they discuss your event’s themes, colors, venue and mood.

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #3-

Every design and creation is handmade. No machines are involved. In fact, Henry said he could easily name each person who made each piece of delicious candy in the store. Whoa!

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #3-

So how does one score a golden ticket for a job here? Henry indicated that there’s a close group of people who come from an array of artistic backgrounds on the team, which is more like a family. One of the bakers is actually a musician. The owners seek people with creative abilities and high problem solving skills, rather than culinary degrees. In fact, one of the Christines comes from a graphic design background.

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #4-

The London location has a Secret Room. Sunny friends, you are getting a peek today!

This room is available for corporate events, office meetings and team building events.

Oh, and Henry said they’ve hosted quite a few bloggers’ teas. Hmmmm.

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #5-

This year’s Easter theme is DINOSAUR EGGS! It would’ve been pretty sweet if I had scored a picture of the sample Henry showed me on his phone, but the eggs haven’t been officially hatched yet. You’ll just have to show up at the London or Brighton locations in about a week for your very own peek.

So, Sunny friends, I hope you enjoyed this sugary bit of inside information. Keep this great place in mind for Easter, or better yet Mother’s Day (March 30 in the UK).

P.S.- I’m still running off the calories from my chocolate lunch, but like Henry said, “It’s sooooo worth it!”

Special thanks to the staff of Choccywoccydoodah in London and Henry for an absolutely DELICIOUS day!

November 19, 2014 by: Sunny London

Rosewood London, Cabaret and a Sexy Video!

Rosewood.

That word kicks off one of the most acclaimed films of all time, Citizen Kane. Prior to this bursting dialogue, the audience sees a castle set far back from the road, encased in shadows and darkness. Orson Welles says the mysterious word, a snow globe falls from his hand and the mystery begins. From there, the viewer pieces together the puzzle. The puzzle ironically fits together through a blazing fire.

Ok. Before you go immediately scrolling down to the blog comments to correct me, I know the movie begins with ‘RoseBUD’ not Rosewood. But I couldn’t help but think of the beginning of this epic film as I approached the Rosewood London on a recent Sunday night. I was invited for Cabaret at Scarfes Bar. And it was epic.

Now, I’ve never been to a Cabaret. But, I have taught drama and acting courses, directed a few musicals and worked at a film studio.

I didn’t know exactly what to expect as I headed to Holborn, where the Rosewood London made its mark just over a year ago. However, knowing the edgy, yet luxurious reputation of the hotel which sits back in the shadows of the street High Holborn, I knew I would be dazzled.

I’ll describe the Cabaret at Scarfes Bar as ‘Explosively Sexy and Fun!’ I highly recommend it for a hot date night in a new romance.

Meet one of the powerhouse performers in the Cabaret at Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London. Prior to the show starting, cast members floated through the lounge in costume and character and mingled with the crowd. I asked her to pose for this picture just as the show started.

Normally I like a big barrier between a performer and myself. I quite enjoy a two dimensional suspension of disbelief. This is not the case at the Rosewood London Cabaret show.

The actors never made me uncomfortable as they sifted through the audience. Let’s attribute this to their outrageous wit and improv skills.

The show begins with Dusty Limits on the mic. He’s been on London’s forefront of the new cabaret scene since 1999. His vocal strength and magnetic presence make him clearly a commander of the stage.

Next, his co-star dazzles with sass and substance as she performs a solo song which stretches all through Scarfes Bar.

The banter among the cast members is fun, adult humored and engaging. As the night progresses, the sex appeal increases, and so does the amount of champagne poured for my table. I loved that the cast members sip some too.

This whirling beauty’s wings floated in the air, as her costume drifted off in to the night too. Yes, boys, I wasn’t kidding when I said this Cabaret is sexy.

The show is full of fun teasers and illusions. The night I attended there was a guest performer who captivated us all as he performed tricks on a chair.

And after one little intermission, our table really went topsy turvy with this tantalizing twist…

We even had another intermission filled with magic tricks and illusions at our table too.
For several hours, I sipped champagne, laughed and even wanted to jump on the bar and swing my groove thang. But, I kept to my better senses and left it to the professionals.
Every other Sunday at Rosewood London kicks off with the same dramatic fashion. Just follow the mysterious fire in to the hotel. Trust me, the story that awaits you at Cabaret in Scarfes Bar is a hell of a lot sexier than the one behind the doors of Xanadu in Citizen Kane.

I can tell you the show is every other Sunday and starts around 7:30pm. The show is for age 18+, and you need to book your tickets in advance. It also stars Lili La Scala, Valeriya Murzak, Sammy Dinneen, Vicky Butterfly and Laura London, as well as cabaret trio Tom Carradine, Tom Mansi and Jonathan Kitching.

If you want the scoop on where the best table is located, I can tell you that too. Just message me 😉 Or, if you need Rosewood Hotel reviews and rates, click here.

What I can’t tell you is just how edgy and sexy this show can be. But, maybe, if no one’s looking over your shoulder, you might click on this little video below that I made for my peeping Sunny friends. Go on then…. I won’t tell anyone.

July 9, 2019 by: Sunny London

London Escape Room in a Pub- Handmade Mysteries Review

Who would ever think that Mr Sunny would ever enjoy a London Escape Room in a pub??? He would actually do anything to try to stay in a pub as long as possible!

When we were invited to experience an Escape Room with Handmade Mysteries, I was a little hesitant at first because I am a total chicken. When we went to the Halloween at Thorpe Park press party a few years ago, Mr Sunny and his mate loved their Escape Room experience at the park.

I literally sat on a bench and worked on my social media while I waited for them because I was too scared to try this new phenomenon.

When the Handmade Mysteries invitation came, FOMO got the best of me and I asked Mr Sunny if he would be my guest. ‘Partner in crime’ would probably be the more applicable name!

london-escape-room-in-a-pub-handmade-mysteries

As the blog and Sunny News YouTube channel’s English food and beer consultant, he couldn’t turn down an opportunity to go. I think he was secretly hoping we would lose and get trapped in the pub forever!

London Escape Room in a Pub: Lady Chastity’s Reserve

We chose to go to Farringdon/Clerkenwell for our London Escape Room in a pub experience. I love the area and it is easy for us to get to from North London. We also liked the quest’s narrative in Lady Chastity’s Reserve. This immersive experience challenges you and friends with an hour of hilarious clue solving as you attempt to win Lady Chastity’s fabled aphrodisiac wine.

Aside from our location, The Hope Pub in Central London, it is featured in:

The World’s End, Brighton
People’s Park Tavern in East London
The Four Thieves in South London
St James of Bermondsey
The Depot in North London

Handmade Mysteries make immersive escape rooms for those who wish to escape reality and enter an entirely new world. In the game there are no screens, goggles or wires. It’s just you, your team-mates and a strange new quest filled with bizarre clues and contraptions that will make your head spin.

London Escape Room in a Pub: The Game

Our game host ‘Gabrielle’ greeted us in character and did a fabulous job of maintaining her role throughout our experience.

Obviously, I am not going to ruin anything for you because that would be no fun. I can tell you the game is well organised. The clues varied from fairly easy to challenging. Mr. Sunny solved most of them. Part of the problem was that I wasn’t expecting to be in darkness for the whole experience.

I was afraid something would jump out at me, and jump scares aren’t my thing. A partner is pretty useless in this circumstance when she insists on keeping her back to the wall in an attempt to not be frightened by the unknown. That was me- useless.

Mr Sunny searched and sorted through nearly everything as I decided my job was going to be to hold the torches (flash lights) while I stood against the wall. Lame. Lame. Lame.

It happened to be mid-day and about 72 Fahrenheit also. That’s actually not that hot. But, when you’re in a blacked out room with no open windows and just two floor fans blowing, it became hot- FAST!

We were both sweating a lot. To me, this was distracting from the game and made it harder for Mr Sunny.

Luckily, he still kept focus and worked with energy and enthusiasm to find and release Lady Chastity’s reserve wine bottle.

Our host, Gabrielle did everything possible to help us during the three times we were allowed to call for her. She assisted in moving us through clues we couldn’t not crack, and didn’t just solve the puzzles for us. She was a real star in the adventure.

London Escape Room in a Pub: Final Thoughts

Sadly, we didn’t release the bottle of wine and our time ran out. For some reason, I thought you got to drink the bottle of wine at the end even if you lost the game. That’s not the case.

I am grateful that the Handmade Mysteries team keeps the prize as a prize and doesn’t take a snowflake approach and give everyone a trophy no matter if they win or lose. However, I guess if I had known that you really don’t get the wine if you lose, I would’ve tried to overcome my fear of the dark faster.

That still doesn’t change the fact that I struggle to pull a clue out of a clue bag. What are your experiences with London Escape Rooms? Add in the comments what you think makes the experience great.

Mr Sunny had a fab time. He highly recommends going to an Escape Room in a pub because he got to take his beer with him. Can you believe that he got so involved in the game that his beer got warm?

I really liked that we were by ourselves, especially in a small, dark room.

If I could be guaranteed that no one would jump out at me (and BTW no one did at this experience), I would love to have another Escape Room experience with Handmade Mysteries.

Perhaps a winter themed one?

It’s something that you definitely want to book ahead, if you are considering going to the London Escape Room with Handmade Mysteries. I mention it as a top activity to book ahead in this video that’s less than 5 minutes.

Handmade Mysteries combine immersive theatre with live action gaming, for total escapism:

Each game room is built within a space at pub venues, so players can begin and end their adventure with a leisurely drink.
Games are hosted by dedicated actors who remain in character from the moment your team are first ‘encountered.’
As assault on all senses. The décor, sound design, music characters, clues and rigged furniture are all carefully crafted with meticulous detail.
No screens.
Silliness is taken very seriously. Comedic value is seeped into every part of the game.

They have very high ratings on TripAdvisor. This shows that even though our experience was complimentary, Handmade Mysteries offers a fun opportunity consistently.

April 21, 2015 by: Sunny London

Things to Do in Kingston- A Walking Tour with Hidden History

Why should you put a walking tour at the top of your things to do in Kingston Upon Thames? When I was invited to spend a few days in this richly historic area of Greater London, I learned so many fantastic secrets that I missed when exploring on my own. In fact, that’s exactly what happened my first night there.

I started my visit to Kingston at Warren House, a gorgeous Victorian mansion. I enjoyed their afternoon tea and then jumped on a bus to explore the city of Kingston Upon Thames. Since Mr. Sunny couldn’t join me on the trip, I was completely on my own.

For about two hours I wandered around, curious about all the things to do in Kingston Upon Thames. The adventure was a bit light-hearted because I knew the following morning I was scheduled for a 90 minute walking tour.

As an American expat living in London, I did my best to guess and take pictures of things that seemed significant. Without any assistance, it was really just an early evening stroll in the fantastic weather. Time well spent, but I knew the sights would get better with a guide.

At All Saints Church around 11:00am the next morning, I met Mike Seigel, my Kingston Upon Thames walking tour guide from Kingston First. We began with a quick walk through the Church. That is when the fun and secrets of Kingston started to unfold.

Things to Do in Kingston- The Church

The first stop featured seeing the William Shrubsole statue, which is in honour of the very influential Shrubsole family.

However, what I found super interesting was the 14th Century picture of Blaise, the patron saint of wall makers. Without any indication, this unassuming art could be missed by a strolling solo traveller like myself the day prior. It’s a dedication to Blaise, however, there is nothing on the wall to acknowledge the Saint.

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The Architecture

Next, we walked over to Jack Wills. While the building appears very historic, it actually is only 100 years old. American friends, in England that is just a splash in ye olde bucket of history. The building features important pictures of Kingston and the two kings that were crowned here.

However, the building next to it, which currently features The White Company, is centuries old.

And, if you turn just around the corner and look up in a small alleyway, you can see some of the original Tudor windows. Again, finding this happens when you have a walking tour guide to help you.

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The History

Kingston is important not only because of its rich historical connection to the River Thames, but also because it is possible seven kings may have been crowned here. Also, King Edward III gave the town its actual name, Kingston Upon Thames. It’s one of only five royal burroughs. The amount of information stretching back to 1066, when England was first united as a country, could occupy a full day of things to do in Kingston, if that was of interest.

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The Market

The Market Place was very lively when I went through on my own the sunny Sunday evening. Even though I knew I was standing among great history, it wasn’t until the tour that I really learned its powerful significance. Are you ready for this…

On the tour, Mike explained this is one of England’s oldest market places, at nearly 800 years as a market.

In the Middle Ages, this was the place of punishment in Kingston. It was common for people to be placed in the centre and have things thrown at them. Take a look at this picture to see how we’ve changed in our amusement preferences for the area…

Much better, don’t you think?

Did you notice the very, very gold statue on the building? My walking tour guide explained that if you stopped most locals in the street, they’d probably have no idea who the statue actually depicts. Most would likely guess Queen Victoria. However, it’s actually Queen Anne. She lived at Hampton Court Palace a lot of the time, which is just nearby.

The statue is from 1706 and was refinished three years ago for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. Do you think this statue may have too much of a Midas touch now? 😉

King Charles I (the only English King that was beheaded) gave Kingston a true monopoly in this market. During his reign he forbid any town within seven miles to have any markets.

Kingston was also the first staging post. This means Central London stage coaches had to stop in Kingston on their way to Portsmouth. These stops would be for people to refresh themselves, their horses, or both. In the height of the era, they might have 50 coaches going through a day.

The Druids Head is the only Inn that still survives from this time period in the market area, albeit a different name now.

This was also a very lively place to be up until fairly recently. On Shrove Tuesdays there used to be futbol matches between two teams, ‘fondly’ called the Saxons and the Danes in honour of English history. However, these matches had to be stopped after the crowds became too drunk and unruly through the years.

Finally, there’s also another statue connected to the Shrubsole family. It is a memorial to them and also served as a water fountain at one time, representing the Kingston Upon Thames strong ties to the river.

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The Bridges

While I may have ventured across this bridge during my solo cruise around town, I really got ‘an earful’ from my tour guide about it. Its name is Clattering Bridge.

During Medieval Times, women could be punished for talking too much. They would be brought to this area and dipped in to the river for excessive ‘clatter’. Hmmm. don’t get any ideas, Mr. Sunny!

And, here’s one of the most fascinating things you will learn on the tour. Any guesses what this is… (look at the area in the foreground of the picture, not the buildings or River Thames)

This is the area where the first bridge to cross the River Thames (aside from London Bridge) stood. It also remained so for 500 years. Parts of it were rediscovered in the 1990’s when a John Lewis department store was being built in Kingston. In fact, Mike walked me over to what seemed to be a desolate building and indicated it was only open one weekend a year. As I peered closely through the window, I could see parts of this historic bridge, and I was able to capture an image for you too!

On the left, you can see the old bridge still somewhat together underground. On the right is the reflection from the current Kingston Bridge, which was located just behind me as I took the picture. I love that my tour guide’s silhouette is centered between the two images! I am giving this picture the title ‘Metaphoric and Literal Bridges.’

Finally, I learned that this bridge previously involved people paying a toll to cross. During the Winter, many would try to travel across the ice of the River to avoid paying the fee.

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, Hidden Artifacts

We passed a few raised gazebos on the edge of the River Thames that certainly aren’t hidden. However, the reason they’re placed there could be mysterious to those not with a tour guide. Mike informed me they were built for a Japanese Prince when he planned a visit to Kingston Upon Thames. The purpose for them was to give the Prince and his entourage somewhere wonderful to sit and enjoy the views of the River Thames. Sadly, he never made his visit.

While the Coronation Stone isn’t ‘hidden’, it is certainly not something that is a focal point of Kingston. In fact, it seems randomly placed on an unassuming street.

The stone has been in various places in Kingston. Each of the spears around the stone represents one of the seven Saxon kings which ruled England before it was united in 1066.

One of the suggestions people currently have is to move the stone to the courtyard area of the Church (featured below), where it may be more easily found. I definitely think that’s a great idea! Picture it here…

With my tour guide’s help, I also saw many other Kingston Upon Thames artifacts that I literally walked right by the evening before. These include: a mural in Shrubsole Passage which illustrates the major historic events in Kingston Upon Thames and symbols on buildings.

The Town Hall has numerous water symbols that might go unnoticed to a solo traveller eye. Notice the three fish in various places on the building below? This is the symbol used to represent Kingston Upon Thames.

Things to Do in Kingston: Final Thoughts

Sunny friends, I openly admit that history has never been my strength. Therefore, when I visit new areas, I tend to focus on shopping, food and other pop-culture events. Beaches, naturally as a Florida girl, attract my attention too. This walking tour made the city come alive for me in so many ways.

While this city in Greater London is known as a great shopping location because of its popular stores like Reiss, Karen Millen and Bentalls Department Store, I highly recommend taking a walking tour as one of the top things to do in Kingston Upon Thames.

And, of course, you should finish your tour on a sunny day with lunch at one of the numerous eateries along the River Thames. There are tons of options, including English pubs and chains like Comptoir Libanaias, where I enjoyed a spectacular Grilled Halloumi and Lamb Kofta.

Things to Do in Kingston: Book a Walking Tour

To inquire about booking your walking tour in Kingston, you can visit this website. Kingston Town Centre tours start from the Church Gates in the Ancient Market Place and cost £5.

Summer Walking Tours are from April 1st to the end of September and begin at 11am every Sunday morning. Winter Tours are October-March and at 11am the 1st Sunday of the month only.

For more information about all the area has to offer, give KingstonFirst a good look too.

Many thanks to my fabulous city tour guide, Mike Seigel! Although he didn’t dress up for the day of my tour, just take a look at Mike from a previous tour when he proudly adorned a costume representing King Athelstan!

Photo courtesy of Mike Seigel

If you aren’t sure of who King Athelstan is, Sunny friends, then you have one more reason to take this fantastic walking tour!

When you do visit Kingston Upon Thames, please let me know how much fun you have. As always, any suggestions you have for people visiting are appreciated in the comments below.

And don’t forget to read my review of Warren House Afternoon Tea with Beautiful English Gardens. There’s also a Warren House Afternoon Tea YouTube video of my experience too!

June 19, 2015 by: Sunny London

An American Review of Memphis the Musical in London

With so many reviews on Memphis the Musical in London available online, what could possibly make this one different? Two things.

These are:
– My American ears heard things that British ears can not.
– I have musical directing experience.

Let me explain.

Memphis the Musical in London: The Sounds

You’ll probably read everywhere that the vocals of the cast reach measures beyond stage expectations. Yes, they are that phenomenal. Leads, minor characters, and the ensemble present a vocal package that delivers consistent excellence in this production.

The score is lively and soul shaking with lyrics that move the plot along and make you sway to the rhythm in your seat.

But it’s the twang, y’all, that sends this show off the standard expectation charts.

As a girl growing up in Florida, I consider myself a dialogue expert for the Southern US.

And here is a little more history…

When I first lived in London on Great Russell Street, Grease was playing at the Dominion Theatre. I saw it many times because the first time I couldn’t understand the cast. Basically, British people were playing American characters and their imitation accents were bad. Really bad.

Through that show experience, I learned it’s painfully obvious to natives when you fake their accent to them. They can hear every missed syllable. It hurts.

Therefore, I held a stethoscope right to the heart of the line delivery as soon as the curtain opened at Memphis the Musical in London.

The cast nailed their dialogue delivery, y’all.

I anticipated a show set in Tennessee (a state with perhaps the thickest Southern accent), but performed in London, would give me ear canal damage.

Not so.

It. Was. Flawless.

Not one syllable sounded British.

Without this distraction, I became completely engulfed in the dancing and suspension of disbelief.

For two hours and twenty minutes, evidence for numerous awards exploded all over the stage. Memphis the Musical owns these titles:

– Olivier Awards 2015: Best Sound Design, Best Theatre Choreographer
– Tony Awards: Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Orchestrations, Best Musical

Memphis the Musical in London: Directorial Elements

The precision of accents leaves all other elements of a production strong and balanced. Casting is exquisite. Sets and transitions are brilliantly timed, and staging powerful. Most impressive is the tactful representation of a violent scene that takes place just before the end of Act I.

Memphis the Musical in London: Final Thoughts

This show rocks! You will enjoy this show if you appreciate American Southern culture, love dancing and enjoy rock ‘n roll with soul.

That’s all, y’all.

Memphis the Musical is playing at Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP.

May 18, 2015 by: Sunny London

City Cruises London ThamesJet with GoPro- Speed Boat Tour

Looking for things to do in London that involve sightseeing and thrill seeking? If so, the City Cruises London ThamesJet experience should be at the top of your list.

Mr. Sunny and I had the chance to take this speed boat tour on the River Thames, and we both feel it 100% ROCKED! And we have the video to prove it!

When we received an invitation to enjoy the City Cruises London ThamesJet experience, I grabbed my GoPro HERO and screamed ‘Game on, yo!’

Since the weather has been getting warmer in London and the hours of sunshine are even longer, I miss my childhood life of playing on Florida beaches and cruising on boats even more. However, in Florida it’s not possible to take a speed boat cruise while passing the world’s most famous landmarks and monuments.

Seeing porpoises, manatees and gators while whizzing around the Intercoastal Waterway in Daytona is fun, but the City Cruises London ThamesJet experience is historically EPIC.

Here’s how it works…

You can schedule your tickets in advance on the City Cruises ThamesJet. Mr. Sunny and I enjoyed the ThamesRush experience, which is 50 minutes and costs £35 per person. With our printed tickets in hand, we arrived 15 minutes before our scheduled speed boat tour at Westminster Pier.

We received our waterproof coats and life jackets and then had a quick safety lesson. However, we were assured nothing would go wrong and they were right.

Our biggest dilemma prior to leaving the dock was how to manage filming the experience. Since I have a GoPro Accessories Kit, we weren’t sure if mounting the GoPro to the front of the jet speed boat would be easier. Or, perhaps we should just test our skills and shoot manually on the trip ourselves.

We opted for the true challenge, based on Mr. Sunny’s prior expertise as a camera and sound man for NBC News. However, since I am the boss of the blog, we agreed I would have the main responsibility for filming the thrill seeking experience.

Although I was armed with the wrist band and prepared to throw on the head strap mount, all of the footage was caught using the monopod stick.

The City Cruises London ThamesJet Voyage:

The City Cruises ThamesJet journey involves leaving Westminster Pier and heading West for a slow pass by Parliament and Big Ben on the right. The speed boat curves around and begins heading East by The London Eye. Since there’s a speed limit in this stretch of the River Thames, the cruise is leisurely.

You pass under tons of London’s bridges and by The Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, and other historic landmarks. I actually shot the pictures below with my iPhone5 in my right hand while filming with the GoPro in my left hand.

Then the speed boat approaches Canary Wharf. And THIS is where it gets mental!

When you watch the video, I am the one filming until this point. A pre-recorded announcement advises passengers to hold on to the handle rails, because you are about to launch in to the choppy water at high speeds. I lasted all of 30 seconds. While hanging on with one hand for my dear life, I managed to get the GoPro on the monopod to Mr. Sunny with my other shaking hand.

Feeling like I was right in the middle of an episode of Miami Vice, I thought the speed boat was going to flip. Meanwhile, my husband, the international camerman who has shot footage in countless war zones, felt this assignment was a hell of a lot easier than others he has faced.

While the speed boat thrashed around and the Mission Impossible theme song blared through the boat’s speakers, I thought my life as a blogger (and life period) was meeting its demise.

Obviously, we survived. And, if I had the chance to do it again, I’d run right to the dock to suit up. It was phenomenal. So here’s what you should do…

Advice for the City Cruises London ThamesJet Experience:

– You won’t get nearly as wet as you anticipate. However, I did put all my electronic devices in a plastic bag under my coat just in case. The tote bag with GoPro accessories nearly flew off the speed boat because I set it by my feet when we started. When we hit high speeds, I ended up clutching it between my legs.
– Bring something to tie your hair back if it’s long enough to blow around in a breeze. You’ll need both hands during the ride, so don’t count on one to hold your hair.
– Don’t drink the night before your City Cruises London ThamesJet trip. This is not the place to cure a hangover.
– Travel light. Although they have a lockbox on the dock to store everyone’s belongings while they ride, I wouldn’t bring much to the Westminster Pier.

Words can only capture so much. If you really want to see how thrilling the City Cruises London ThamesJet speed boat experience can be, watch here…

For a sightseeing boat trip that’s a bit more leisurely, you can read about our River Red Rover experience on City Cruises London. We’ve also had the chance to have dinner on the RS Hispaniola with City Cruises London too. All of my experiences with this company have been brilliant. If you’re visiting or live in London, City Cruises London offers tons of exciting adventures for sun and fun.

Sunny friends, how would you have approached filming this epic opportunity? Would you take the GoPro challenge and film yourself or mount the camera on the boat and enjoy the sights hands free?

Here’s what I used:

Both items are best sellers on Amazon.com

June 29, 2015 by: Sunny London

The View from the Shard with a GoPro?

If you’re looking for a really great date idea in London, get tickets to see The View from the Shard. I wrote a review last year on the breath-taking experience.

When I received an invitation to go back to The Shard to enjoy their brand new summer garden, I couldn’t respond fast enough. It offers the highest vantage point in Europe at 800 metres. This means you are guaranteed outstanding pictures of London on a sunny day.

Visiting the View from the Shard is actually great for anyone, not just those looking for a romantic evening. In fact, I went the second time with my New York blogger friend, Jess from Love and London. We had a blast.

However, there is one thing I wonder about a trip to a View from the Shard. What type of camera should you use to video the experience?

My friend Sara from Big World, Small Me sent me a tweet suggesting I shoot with my GoPro HERO. I thought this was pretty funny. Did she think I was planning to jump off the building? Did I miss the summer garden with a side of bungee jumping memo? Why would I want to use a camera designed for action to film a confined space mostly full of tourists? Trusting her advice, I gave it a shot. Literally.

This is the vlog I created about the experience. Whether or not you are an experienced vlogger, I would like your feedback. What do you think about using a GoPro HERO versus a standard digital camera?

I do like the addition of the garden at The View from the Shard.

Did you see the people sitting on blankets in the vlog? They seem really to be enjoying the Fortnum and Mason afternoon tea that they’re offering for the summer.

Having a ‘picnic in the sky’ with one of London’s most famous afternoon tea brands is certainly a unique concept. It combines the view of nearly all London’s iconic landmarks with the most British cultural tradition and way of life.

Regardless of what type of camera you use, the images you will take from a visit here this summer will be heavenly!

Please be sure to leave your comments and feedback either here or on the Sunny YouTube channel. And, if you’re visiting London, make sure to look at the Sunny Guide for Americans Visiting London for the First Time. Cheers!

Hotel Chocolat Tasting Adventure:

Hotel Chocolat Experiential Events:

Hotel Chocolat In-store:

Hotel Chocolat Christmas Gifts:

The Spring Menu on the RS Hispaniola:

What to Wear to an Opera:

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #1-

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #2-

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #3-

Choccywoccydoodah Secret #3-

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Choccywoccydoodah Secret #5-

London Escape Room in a Pub: Lady Chastity’s Reserve

London Escape Room in a Pub: The Game

London Escape Room in a Pub: Final Thoughts

Things to Do in Kingston- The Church

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The Architecture

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The History

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The Market

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, The Bridges

Things to Do in Kingston- Walking Tour, Hidden Artifacts

Things to Do in Kingston: Final Thoughts

Things to Do in Kingston: Book a Walking Tour

Memphis the Musical in London: The Sounds

Memphis the Musical in London: Directorial Elements

Memphis the Musical in London: Final Thoughts

The City Cruises London ThamesJet Voyage:

Advice for the City Cruises London ThamesJet Experience:

THE ESSENTIAL 1st TIME GUIDE TO LONDON

HARRY POTTER

PUBS IN LONDON