Inspired by Charlotte Higgin’s terrific article in the Guardian earlier this week as to why the Frieze Art Fair works in this uniquely civic-minded city, I decided to visit the art that is here for all to enjoy, namely the outdoor eye candy. Where to begin? At the top, of course, with the Queen.

The Queen, Prince Phillip and I visited the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London yesterday (not together, sadly). Nearly a million ceramic red poppies have been filling up the moat outside the tower, paying tribute to the British and Colonials soldiers who died fighting in WWI a hundred years ago.  Unable to get a selfie of  Liz and me, I settled for a  more sweeping shot.

From there I headed west to Southbank to admire a cherry red installation called Unstoppable Spirit. Spot the car?

Designed by Italian artist Nino Mustica in collaboration with Land Rover, Unstoppable Spirit fuses art with automotive design. Not so practical for getting around town, but it sure is easy on the eye. Launched during Frieze Week, the sculpture takes off Sunday.

Then onto my favourite freebie, Frieze’s Sculpture Park where twenty works represented by Frieze and Frieze Masters exhibitors have been scattered throughout the manicured English Garden in divine Regent’s Park, a three minute walk from the fair.

Here are just a couple to whet your appetite.

Small Lie by KAWS,  Galerie Perrotin

Pumpkins by Yayoi Kusama, Victoria Miro

Finally, cool off with an unruly mass of garden hoses at Fountain by French artist Bertrand Lavier. This is a brand new installation at the Serpentine’s Sackler Gallery.

 October, 2014

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Dedicated urbanites can still smell the roses amidst the diesel. Below are a few of my London summer-time picks. Kensington Gardens and the Serpentine Pavilion are easy green options.

Shoppers can catch some rays at Q, Selfridge’s pop-up terrace restaurant.

For something a bit buzzier visit Granary Square at King’s Cross where daily street vendors sell everything from Mexican tacos to Mumbai meatballs to Falafel wraps. It’s the edible U.N. here, otherwise known as Kerb street food collective.

You can watch the boats pass by.

Or follow the tennis.

And for a special garden treat outside central London –  Petersham Nurseries near Richmond Park is unbeatable. Its bohemian glasshouse restaurant (dirt floors, sublime food, cool staff) and the chic garden shop make the journey well worth it.

Fragrance maker Jo Malone believes in the power of gardens to provide solace and lift the spirit. Jo Malone Urban Community Garden Project  supports gardens in deprived areas in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Bristol. Buy a Silk Blossom Home Candle in the UK to help this cause, and bring a little piece of garden home.

July, 2014

* Petersham Nursery photo courtesy of Keiko Oikawa

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