To Market!

Summer in Philadelphia has been brutal. Long spans of days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, crazy storms, and humidity that makes the air almost impossible to breathe. I've still found time (and a little bit of energy) to do things, however. I turned 21 and am now finally fully legal in my own country! Being in Europe, especially Belgium and Germany, helped me to develop a taste for good beer. The summer has been a whirlwind of hanging out with my boyfriend and friends, working a lot, drinking moderately, being far too hot, spending a lot of time in New Jersey (I know), and telling and retelling stories about my European adventures to everyone (only sometimes begrudgingly). I haven't done too many exciting things, though I have taken a few trips. A couple trips to NYC (one to meet up with Jay and see the McQueen Exhibit at the MET, well worth the 4 hour wait in line), a trip to Washington DC, and just this past weekend a relaxing camping trip with the boy and his friends in the Pine Barrens. It's been a low key summer, and a good recovery from the craziness of the spring. Classes start next week, and I'm both excited and frightened of the work load.

But, I digress. I fear that I have not talked enough about my trip, and posts have been sadly lacking. So, without further ado, I present to you a post about one of my favorite things about London (and Europe in general): markets!

While in London, I visited a good amount of markets, including Borough, Brick lane, Portobello road, Spitalfields, Camden, Church street, Marylebone, Angel, Exmouth,  and more. I loved Borough and Brick Lane especially, though each market had it's merits. A quick rundown:

Borough Market

An exquisite food market, where you can find all kinds of specialty products, including cheese, meats, and more. I would often be too full from sampling all the cheese, jams, and other veggie items to buy lunch there! Both a vegetarian and an omnivore can find so much to love there. The area is very old, located near London bridge and the river. The market itself is under bridges and overpasses, and has been there for years.

Brick Lane

Brick Lane market (and the surrounding area) was one of my favorite places in London. The vibe is great, and the market is fun. The old truman brewery buildings and surrounding streets house food stalls and vendors of all kinds, spilling out into the street. I loved to go early to shop for vintage and goods from local artists, then grab a cheap lunch, and finally a stop at Brick Lane coffee shop. The area already has a good selection of cool vintage stores and places to browse, great curry and Indian restaurants, and is only a short walk away from Spitalfields Market.

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields is one of the oldest markets in London, and different days attract different goods. Thursdays boast a fabulous array of antique dealers, and I was able to score some Roman coins that had been excavated a few decades ago in London. On other days, lots of local artists sell their pieces, mixed in with the usual vintage.

Camden Market

Camden Market has different sections, situated along the Camden lock. Though a good portion of it caters to tourists, you can find some great pieces if you look hard enough (and avoid the crowds.) The Stables Market is particularly beautiful, and has some great shops and stalls. I liked to sit by the lock with a cup of coffee and cheap market food and watch what was going on.

Portobello Road

My advice: go early! I was able to find some cool pieces before the crowds took over from noon onward. It's probably the busiest and most popular of London's Markets. The area has become more and more gentrified in recent years, with lots of cute, colored houses. A portion is situated under the Westway. You can bet I was always humming the Clash and Blur songs under my breath. The market is huge, and has everything from food to antiques. And, of course, street performers.

There were many other markets in London, though these stood out in my mind. I also visited markets in Belgium and Berlin, where I found some amazing pieces. I tried to haggle, though it's not my forte. I have always loved flea markets, but the markets in London are so much bigger, better, and more frequent. We need to bring more market culture to the States!

Well, that's it for now. Another post will hopefully be up shortly.

I'm so bored of the USA...

I have been back in the USA for over a week now, and I am somewhat re-adjusted. I am sorry for the lack of posts, but as soon as classes started, my life became too busy and tiring for blogging. That really is no excuse, but oh well.

From the last post until now, I:
Started my classes: menswear (my favorite by far), literary london, fashion shows, fashion internship
Secured a positition as an intern in the womenswear studio of Alexander McQueen
Designed a great capsule collection for menswear and executed my three pieces perfectly
Was visited by my boyfriend, who insisted we spend a fabulous weekend in Berlin (he knew I loved it)
Made some great friends (Alice, Jay, Shaqwanda)
Went clubbing in Soho quite a lot
Became a devoted customer to a great cafe in Soho, Foxcroft & Ginger
Started to really like London, even as it ate away at my bank account
Partied with the city for the royal wedding
Went to Brussels with Caitlin for Easter Weekend, where we tried a bunch of local beers and wandered around the city
Went to Paris with Alice the following weekend, where we wandered around the fiercely beautiful city and went to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Explored so many areas of London, but always returned to the same neighborhoods and markets: Brick lane, Soho, etc
Worked my ass off as an intern at McQueen
Worked the sample sale for McQueen, where I was rewarded by a pair of amazing boots and a discount on some pieces: mens shirt, scuba skirt, and fabric (I'm thinking from Plato's atlantis) for myself, a t-shirt for the boy and a draped top for my mom
And just generally had an amazing time, complete with great experiences, stress, and good memories. It's strange to be back here, but I get to enjoy summer with my friends in a city I love, so it's not so bad.

Oh, and I have a thousand pictures. I will post more about individual experiences and things, but for now, just an overview and post to say I am alive.

That's all for now. I am still using the excuse of jetlag and general restlessness to explain why I am tired and not ready to work again. This will all change soon, but I will enjoy it for now.

Ich liebe Berlin!

I'm interupting my musings about London to make an announcement: I love Berlin. My one night there completely blew me away. I started falling in love with it as soon as I got on the S-Bahn from Schonefeld airport and started heading into Mitte. The city was such a mix of elements that I love: both industrial and beautifully ornate buildings, gritty street art and graffiti, modern buildings next to old ones, bridges and rivers, train tracks and trams, primary colors, history, weird structures, greenery, pretzels, good coffee, nice people, artists, an alternative scene, and so much more. I could go on and on.

Pictures don't do it justice. You really just have to go there and see it in person. I wandered around from the afternoon into evening, and seeing it at dusk was just breathtaking. Mike called me as I walked a river, near an area with many museums. I couldn't help but gush about how wonderful it all was. The city didn't feel as crowded and frenzied as most capital cities. It's a city with a checkered past, that has experienced so much in the previous century, and has become a modern place with a discernible alternative side. When I think about the atrocities that happened there, the ideologies that surfaced, and the insjustices of the past, I have a hard time placing it all in the context of the amazing city I had the pleasure to visit. I am not sure if I making much sense here at all. I just feel completely captivated by the city and something about it just clicked with me.

I found my way to Tacheles first, and if it was the only place I got to see in Berlin, I would have been happy. It is a building area occupied by a community of artists. You can see their work, buy pieces, have a drink, and disappear for a while. I bought a necklace made of forks and wandered around in awe. I would love to be part of a community like this, forget industry.

From there I wandered towards Alexanderplatz and got to observe some amazing views. I love to get a bit lost and find wonderful things, and I couldn't help but do so in Berlin!

I got back on the train and found my hostel. I stayed at Plus Berlin, and it was really wonderful. Clean facilities, great staff, and a good value overall. Best of all, it was located only a short walk away from the East Side Gallery, which is the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin wall. The wall is covered with different artwork, and really is like a gallery.

I then crossed the Oberbaum bridge into the Kreuzberg area. I browsed in a few shops, then had a fitting dinner: a veggie burger and a beer!

I would love to have more time to explore this area during the day, as there were many interesting shops and restaurants. I found more wonderful street art. including these great pieces:

I didn't want to stay out too late, alone, so I went back to the hostel, bought a kinder bar, and went to bed. I woke up early the next morning to catch one more glimpse of the wall, and attempt to get to the airport on time.

I also bought some pretzels (er bretzels) for the journey. Berlin is like the Philly of Europe. Yes, I understand that pretzels were brought to Pennsylvania by German immigrants, but this sounds cooler.

I am determined to make it back to Berlin before I leave here in june. It really had an effect on me I can't quite put into words. It was just fantastic.