But in the end, the Raymond Carver short story wins out, and that's the title we're left with.
So, what DO we blog about when we blog about love?
Here's what I'm going to do: Talk about the things I love about London so far. This is, after all, still a travel blog at heart. Sure, I'll be using 'love' a bit hyperbolically. But that's what Valentine's Day is for, right? That and giving Hallmark something to do in February. (Such a pity Presidents' Day Cards didn't take-off.)
Are you ready? Then we'll begin.
The Green Man
I have mentioned this place before. It is a cider house, but not in the John Irving sense (though it does rule). It's more of a pub that specializes in ciders and awesomeness. Lots of different ciders. From ciders so dry it feels like you're drinking a pint of wine (Westons Organic Vintage) to ciders made from pears instead of apples (Gaymers Pear). But the cider of choice: Green Man Special Cellar, a cider made especially for the Green Man. Perfection in a pint. Sweet and strong, you have to be careful if you have more than one. And you'll want to have more than one. But good drinks alone do not a good pub make. This place also has an excellent atmosphere. All sorts of crazy stuff hanging on the walls. And "Room 2" upstairs features a bunch of classic movie posters, like "Forbidden Planet" and "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari." And they play all sorts of great music (see below). And they know us there now. For the most part. Well, two of the bartenders do. So I can check that off my London to-do list. Speaking of to-do lists, I'm working my way through trying all the ciders. I will provide more thorough information when I complete my mission.
New Music
From the moment I stepped into Subway (see below) and heard a song I'd never heard before in my life, I realized I'd probably stumble upon some new music in London. This has indeed been the case. Much of this music has been found at the Green Man (see above). They have been so kind as to list a lot of the stuff they are playing at the pub on their website, which has helped me track it down on Grooveshark. Here are some artists I've been listening to from that: Bombay Bicycle Club, Memory Tapes, Fools Gold, We Were Promised Jetpacks. All make for great listening. I've linked to my favorite songs on Grooveshark. But I definitely recommend checking the rest of it out. Especially the Memory Tapes album "Seek Magic" and the We Were Promised Jetpacks album "These Four Walls."
I've also just recently (read: yesterday) seen some live music, as part of HMV's "Next Big Thing" series of concerts highlighting bands and musicians who are, well... the Next Big Thing. Last night at a place called The Borderlines we saw three acts. First was a fellow named Andrew Morris. I think he was good, though we weren't really listening at that point. After him came Matthew P. Very good stuff. He only has two songs up on his Myspace* music page. Unfortunately, my favorite is not up there. Even more unfortunately, his EP "Swimming" is not available in the states, so if you like what you hear (and you're in America), you can't buy it. And I can't even find out if my favorite song he played is on the EP. Though I don't think it is. Anyway, there was a third band that night, too, but they were old and awful, and don't have much time left to become "The Next Big Thing."
Sub of the Day
When you don't have a dollar in your currency, a five dollar footlong is not a possibility, so what is a country to do? England's answer: The Sub of the Day. Every day of the week, you can get a different six inch sub for 1.99. Now, they don't let you decide -- it's a calendar that they appoint. But it's a good calendar. It includes Turkey & Ham, Italian BMT, Tuna, Spicy Italian, and more... My personal favorite: Monday's Chicken Tikka. Perhaps simply because it's something we don't have at home. But more likely because it is incredibly delicious. If you are ever wondering, "Hmm... What is Evan eating for lunch today?" Just check this website, and you will have your answer.
The Senate House Library
My adviser/tutorial leader in the English department recommended I check out this library in addition to UCL's. His argument was built on the fact that they had more film books. He was absolutely correct. I went here on Friday and it blew my mind. First of all, the place is a maze. Separated into two massive wings, each with several floors, rather than just have large, expansive rooms full of books (it does have those), it also features hallways with dorm-room sized rooms coming off of them, each of which is filled with shelves. And the film books (what I was seeking out to find some books by and about Frank Capra) are housed in the same area as all the American Literature section. Now, the maze-like nature of this library would probably annoy a lot of people. But the way I see it, I'll never be in a rush to find a book, by virtue of the fact that I am not in a Dan Brown novel, nor am I Nicolas Cage (THANK GOD). For me, the opportunity to wander invites me to pick up another book that I can use to take breaks from my work-required reading. Which is why Faulkner's "Go Down Moses" is sitting on top of my stack right now. Excellent. Also, in among their Modern American Lit. was a copy of the novelization of E.T. So how can this library get any more amazing? Answer: It could come with me back to Georgetown.
UCL English Lectures
Okay, so not always. But for the most part, I have loved my lectures in the English department. The system they have here is really cool. My class subjects in English are extremely vague, if you don't remember: American Literature to 1890 and Modern Literature. Every week, a different lecturer comes to talk to us about a specific subject. Examples from recent lectures include: Walt Whitman, New York, The American Short Story, and Melville's "Benito Cereno" in American Lit. and Reading Film, Vertigo, J.M. Cotzee, and Post-colonialism in Moderns. The variety in lecturer is really great, as it gives you the feeling that whoever is lecturing on something is doing so because they really know their stuff. Now, whether or not this is the case, I'm not sure. To be fair, I've had a few lectures that didn't seem to interesting, but... They are more than balanced out by entertaining and engaging lectures by Mark Ford and Michael Sayeau, my favorite members of the English department here.
So, that is just a sample of some of the things I'm loving about London. Check back later this week for some potential updates on: My feelings toward the Amazon Kindle, a summary version of my paper on Frank Capra, and a preview of my plans for my trip to Ireland. Oh, and maybe those photos of Amsterdam!
*Dear readers, if you have a Myspace and are not a musician, I kindly request that you de-activate it immediately.
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