So long, farewell, adieu to you and you and you
We cannot believe how quickly the semester has gone by. We hope you have enjoyed your experience at BU London – we are so glad you were able to join us for the term.
Have a safe journey home and a very happy holiday.
With my very best wishes,
Christine (on behalf of the BU London staff)
Obama-ology
The European premier of the Aurin Squire play at the Finborough, Obama-ology, recently staged at the Juliard School in NYC.
“I am black enough to get stopped by the police, and I’m sure as hell black enough to work on a campaign for the first African American who has a chance at being the leader of the free world.”
Check out this interview with one of the lead actors, Pearl Mackie:
Follow Warren, a recent graduate who starts his first job out of university on the 2008 Obama campaign. Idealistic, energetic, he quickly finds out that changing society isn’t nearly as straight forward as he hoped.
Tickets are £14. On from now till 20 December.
Conflict, Time, Photography @ the Tate Modern
The Tate Modern’s new exhibit on Conflict exhibits the impact of war on cities, small communities, and families as well as landscape.
Fait, by Sophie Ristelhueber. Kuwait, 1991. First Gulf War.
Photos taken during and after the events (sometimes moments after, sometimes days, weeks, or even years after) by photojournalists depict the haunting, long-lasting affects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, the US bombing of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001,and shell-shocked soldiers in Vietnam.
Mushroom Cloud, Hiroshima by Toshi Fukada
Dresden, 1945, Richard Peters.
The photos are ordered according to how long after the event they were taken by the photographer, connecting the viewer to the legacy of conflict rather than just the immediate effect.
Student tickets are £11.30. On from now until February.
Winter Festival @ the Southbank
Boasting its own Christmas market with traditional stalls, delicious food and drinks, and a Christmas Tree Maze, the annual Southbank Winter Festival is back.
Lit up against the Thames as a backdrop, the Soutbank sparkles like a holiday beacon. There are also alternative gift shops, carol singers, and other events going on.
London Eye & Festive Lights
Tree Maze
Dum Dum Donutteries (baked, not fried)
Looking for some less guilty pleasure? Dum Dum Donuttery bakes their donuts, rather than deep frying them in oil (as is traditional) without loosing any of the flavour.
The original location in trendy Shoreditch’s Boxpark, produces donuts that are light and fluffy in a plethora of varieties – classically British ones like Banoffee (banana toffee), Creme Brûlée, and Almond & Pistachio. You can also find Dum Dum Donuts at nearby Harrods in the Food Hall.
Strawberries & Cream Donuts
Hot Chocolate
With Winter upon us, it seems an apt time to discuss hot chocolate – the perfect way cap off any Thanksgiving Feast (or any other winter meal!) The Evening Standard has its top 5 here.
Divas Can cook has a recipe here, using Nutella:
If you are more a of a traditionalist with your hot chocolate, the BBC has a recipe with vanilla pods and cinnamon sticks here while Jamie Oliver calls his “Epic”, right here.
Holidays Past
The Geffrye Museum on Kingsland Road, East London has a new exhibit on called “Christmas Past”. Admission is free and the museum though small, hosts a variety of other “Period Rooms” with historically accurate depictions of homes from the 1600s to the 20th century.
Christmas, 1935. Photo Courtesy of the Londonist.
The museum (opened in 1914) by the then local city council. It museum was originally a house (built in 1714), built with funds from Sir Robert Feffrye, who the museum is named for.
Christmas, 1870; photo courtesy of the Londonist
Foodies Xmas Festival
Food Fans, this one is for you. The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane is hosting a holiday themed Food Festival. 
Live cooking demonstrations, drinks master classes, giant gingerbread houses galore! On from Friday, 28 November until Sunday, 30 November, from 11am onwards. Student concession tickets are available, though the cost of tickets increase on Sunday. Click here for more festival information. There will be an international Cheese Village, vintage style Tea Rooms with live music, former Great British Bake Off winners. There will also be vegetarian and vegan demonstrations which include meat-free, but still delicious holiday foods.
The Enchanted Woodland
Syon Park (located in Brentford) is a bit of a trek, but the Enchanted Woodlands are well worth it.
Check out footage from last year’s installation below:
Enchanted Woodland, photo courtesy of Enchanted Woodland.
Gardens illuminate trails in the 600 year old park. Click here for tickets.Filled with maple trees, it is one of the earliest botanical gardens in the UK. The park is also connected to Syon House, one of London’s last remaining great houses. The house has been owned by the same family for 400 years and holds a wealth of artistic and cultural treasures.
Click here for information on Syon House.
Night Tales
Pop up party, Night Tales is back. With a 10,000 Square foot space in Shoreditch and a seven week run, the very affordable admission fee of £3 has something for everyone.
Night Tales, Shoreditch; photo courtesy of Dalstonist
Gardens, log fires, chalets, excellent food and drink options – all under a white canopy to warm you from the winter night. Click here for more venue information.
