Celebration Day

A friend of mine, Suzanne (above), was lucky enough to score a first row seat to the Led Zeppelin "reunion" (Jason Bonham stood in for his late father, John) at London's newest concert hall, O2. Here, she shares her musings and reviews the concert and chance of a lifetime. Enjoy...

As soon as I got to London Saturday morning, I met some Led Zep forum friends and we scoped out the 02; security said no one was lining up. I went back to my hotel and crashed Saturday night for 5 hours. Met the guy who sold me his guest ticket, went to the 02, and got my wrist band. Meanwhile my friends already started the queue, so I was number 4 on line. Slept there Sunday night, we all took turns not to lose our spots. I brought a blanket from my hotel and the security guys gave us broken down cardboard boxes to sleep on; and we had bathroom facilities over the very long night. Early evening on Sunday was the sound check, which was a charity event; people were strolling in looking very smug indeed. At about the third song into the rehearsal, security got a little lax, and 5 people from other beginning of the line were able to sneak and scam their way in. I did not make that split-second decision. I did not want to lose my spot on line. Me and a Canadian dude (he also is in the pic on Newsday) stayed behind to hold down the fort. Funny thing, last time I was in the front row was for Bad Company back in the late 70s, which was another great show, and I know one can lose their spot very easily. I was not taking any chances. Oh, Paul Rodgers did 2 songs before Led Zep came on and he blew me a kiss.... LOL! So, my new friends got in and one of them got to shake Jimmy Page’s hand....I was the first person to touch his hand after Jimmy Page!

Just a little background of the 02...imagine a mall inside a dome made out of heavy cloth....there were two Starbucks (yeh!!), restaurants, a huge movie theatre, an ice skating rink, and lots of shops—then the arena within the dome. There was no heat, but at least we were away from the wind and rain. The 02 security guys were so nice and we really made a nice connection with them. When we finally were officially lining up to get in they took the first 25 people and personally escorted us to the front row so we had no chance of losing our spots....

I feel we were all meant to be there, it was all very serendipitous...and magical.

We all stopped fluids around 3pm that afternoon, so we wouldn't have to pee...LOL!
We were all very parched, but around 10:30 one of the photographers gave me a bottle of water, which we all took small sips of....no way we were missing out on the show.

OK, by now you must have heard the set list: “Good times, Bad Times” started a bit off, as well as “Ramble On”. They clicked on the third song, “Black Dog”, and from that point on they totally rocked. “In My Time of Dying” was next...then for the first time ever live they played “For Your LIFE”!!! Awesome indeed...the whole show. During “Dazed and Confused” they had this green sphere of light radiating over Jimmy. Plant came in a little early in the song and Page gave him a bit of a surprised look. Jason Bonham was awesome (I really never use that word but that’s what it was). The camaraderie between them all was present.

“Stairway to Heaven” (over-played on the radio, so I usually turn it off) was brilliant and much more like the studio version...during “Does anybody remember laughter?") Plant gave a big cheeky grin. Plant and Page were smiling at each other...so cool.... (I got in late last night and i am still flying over this). Like I said, by the third song their confidence was there...and they totally clicked. “Kashmir” was mesmerizing, once again Jason rocked...it was like he was possessed. “No Quarter” had a nice touch with dry ice smoke. “The Song Remains the Same” was another great performance...the crowd was freaking out. It was exceptional....the production was on, and not cheesy. Total class, without the pyro of a lot of shows these days.

They had a huge screen behind the stage of what was going on stage from different angles.

Plant had a real good sense of humor. I felt he didn't drop it down a key, which I have seen Plant do on his solo tours, but talking with other fanatics, they heard maybe a half a key. I think he could of pulled it off...he sipped tea between songs. Plant seemed a bit stiff during the first two songs, but then he turned into his rock god antics. Hey, the dude is 62 and he can still pull it off.

All in all, it was a surreal weekend, meeting people from all over the world and finally meeting the people I chat with online at the forums. I met so many others who were obsessed prior to the show, and it made me feel validated with everything I’ve been feeling about the show. Many people I know just did not get it...why I would fly over solo and make it to the front row....

Stunning performance and I feel truly honored and privileged I was there.... Oh, Paul McCartney was there with his family in tow. Dave Grohl, David Gilmore, Juliette Lewis...

I hope you got a feeling from this review how magical the night was, because it was simply splendid indeed...

London Sweets

I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure that Britain may have the most candy bars and cookies of any country on this spinning globe. And talk about variety and creativity! Here's a sampling of some sweets you will definitely want to try when you're Londonside. (And if you can't wait, order them direct here.)

Guess the marketing peeps at this manufacturer were looking to corner that male chocolate-eating population. I ate it -- and I'm a woman. So there. It's actually just a nice milky solid chocolate. Nothing special.


I'm a big fan of Mint Aero. I was sceptical at first, but was on-board after my first try. It has a lite mint airy center. The color is so fake, but the taste is delish.
If you like dark chocolate and coconut -- you're golden. It's a lot like Mounds and used to be available in the US.

Like a bar version of the Cadbury Creme Egg. What's not to love?

This is a popular treat. A flaky stick of chocolate often used to dress up a dish or cone of ice cream.

Now for some to make ya giggle:

Russian Roulette

Now, on to the biscuits (cookies) and puddings (steamed cake):

My personal favorite cookie in the entire world. You have not lived till you tasted a Hob Nob. You can lucky sometimes in the international foods section of your supermarket -- you might snag a package of this delightful oaty, whole grain cookie.



Not as awful as it sounds... it's a spongy raisin filled angel-food cake. Best if served warm.

London Eats! Part Deux

I don't know how I could have forgotten this bit, but...

There was a shortlived craze in America for smothered baked potatoes as a lunch/meal. It didn't last... Shame. But it's thriving still in England. While you can readily find jacket potatoes on any pub menu, the best place to get one -- by my account -- is at a little stand right alongside Covent Garden's Jubilee Market Hall. Talk about cheap -- depending on what you decide to top on your Jacket Potato, you can have a hearty and filling meal for 3 pounds. Not bad, especially with today's dollar being in the shitter. I always preferred the baked beans and a shredded white cheddar on mine. Take it to go, with a cover -- just in case you can't finish it -- now, about face and stroll into to the covered market hall interior and listen to the entertainers, who sing for their supper. Good food and entertainment: What else could you want?

London Eats!

Recently, a couple of friends and I went to London. (It was 15 years since my friend Gary and I had studied at Thames Valley University -- so it was a little trip back down memory lane for us). So much had changed...

London, much to our chagrin, had become so Americanized. The Starbucks' on almost every corner were a bit disconcerting. And where did all these Pizza Huts come from??? Shame as it was, it didn't spoil our stay. We tried extremely hard to stay away from anything American during our 10-day visit...stopping into Starbucks only for desperate bathroom (toilet) visits and the undeniable need to get caffeinated when a Cafe Nero or Coffee Republic or Costa Coffee weren't available to our thirsty palates.
What's great about the Cafe Neros is that they afford the same kind of relaxed appeal as a Starbucks but with a European flair. The Cafe Mochas are to die for, even if they are prepared without the exquisite expertise of a dedicated barista. Gary swears by Coffee Republic and will have to add his two pence on the subject, as I never got to sample. Costa Coffee is also a delight, but some locations don't afford the advertised air conditioning -- which on a warm day can be a bit oppressive. Nero and Costa both offer a small selection of sandwiches, which -- even with the incredibly horrible exchange rate -- won't break the bank. You can probably manage a $10 lunch if you're careful.
And speaking of reasonable lunches -- if you're eating out at least 2x a day, then make one of your stops to Pret a Manger. You can find Prets all over Manhattan now, but they started in London. Offering cheap, fresh, pre-packaged sandwiches and salads for the on-the-go tourist or quick-to-lunch office worker, Prets are delightful and are located on almost every major thoroughfare, and then some. The best Pret we encountered was in Camdentown, which had simply great seating area in the back, up a small series of steps -- with comfy couches and cushy stools.
Speaking of comfy -- you must hit up Kudos, off the Strand in Central London. By night, it's a popular gay bar catering to middle-/upper-class businessmen and professionals. By day, it's very low-key and relaxing environment with cushy sofas and low-set tables make for a relaxing repast during a travel worn day. You will love it.
What you simply must try when in London is the Indian cuisine. And there's so much to sample. It's said that London offers the best Indian cuisine in the world -- better even than India. Who knew? I'd have to agree. We stayed in Bloomsbury, just near Marchmont Street -- near the Russell Square tube. On Marchmont, you'll find Motijheel's -- a tiny Indian restaurant with lunch specials that won't leave you penniless. The garlic naan is out of this world and the chicken tikka is outrageous. You won't be disappointed. I lost count how many times Andrew and I visited -- the staff grew tired of us. LOL... and Gary, who hadn't tried Indian was swayed to its enticing tastes.
English food is known for its heartiness. One-dish meals are quite popular and the best place for an all-inclusive snack is Square Pie. You can find them popping up all over London. Reasonably priced for a filling meal -- your choice of pie can be served with mash (rustic mashed potatoes) and mashy peas (coarsely mashed sweet green peas). Get both -- you won't be disappointed.
Now, for Fish & Chips... a must when in London -- and do put lots of malt vinegar and salt on your chips, or I do believe the gods will smite you if you don't. You have lots to choose from here and it can be daunting. The best Fish & Chips are from shops that sell just that, and nothing else. But, they have crazy hours and the lines can be long. If you're in for pub atmosphere, you'll find most pubs do serve their version during limited hours of the day and evening. We frequented The Rocket in Euston -- it was close, cheap and the large screens afforded us great views of the Manchester United matches. It's a modern-ish pub with a young crowd. If you're looking for something more traditional, try Mabel's in the same area -- or duck into various pubs in your travels. You'll find friendly staff and great chats with locals, who can lend you amazing inside tips the travel books won't tell ya.
Wash down your Fish & Chips with hard cider, which flows liberally from the tap at every pub. Why it's not popular stateside, I will never know. It's a refreshing libation with roughly the same alcohol content as a beer, but is deliciously sweet and tart and just, well dammit, yummy. The best concoction I sampled was from Strongbow. Ahh, I can taste it now.
Tea... what's London without tea? It would be a friggin' crime to go to London and not enjoy a proper tea service. Even though coffee is actually easier to find and more readily available, you'll find tea is still a very important part of English life. For a fabulous Cream Tea (2 scones, clotted cream, and all the jam you can muster coupled with a personal pot of loose tea brewed to perfection), head to one of the Patisserie Valerie's located throughout London. It may be French, but the pastries will have your head swimming and the tea will warm you up. It's a loud, but pleasant atmosphere. I definitely recommend the location in Marylebone over the one in Spitalfields, for the charming decor and pastoral murals. Just a short walk from St. Paul's and Mary-le-Bow.
Want a traditional English breakfast (eggs, bangers, tomatoes, toast, baked beans, and bacon)? Go no further than your Bed & Breakfast. You haven't booked a B&B? For shame. Why stay at a hotel, when you can stay at a local B&B for a fraction of the price and get breakfast served to you daily? It's a no-brainer. For excellent rates and selections: Head to B&B Net. We stayed at The Mentone Hotel, located at Cartwright Gardens -- a quiet crescent (except after the pubs close) in Bloomsbury. It's utilitarian and clean; the the staff is pleasant and the food was good.

It is said that English food is really not worth eating. I beg to differ. I think you will, too.

'ello 'ello

15 years ago, my love affair with Britain began...and I haven't been the same since. In these pages I'll be making observations and sharing tidbits of a very British nature... A way to catalog my thoughts and love for a very special place...