lifeofyablon.com

by yablon | December 10, 2012

Mallon+Taub: Got my EYE on you.

As you, my readers, know only too well, my body is far from perfect. So perhaps those of you with specs, contact lenses or just living a blurred life will avert your eyes. My eyesight, ladies and gents, is 20:20 – despite the fact I am the wrong side of 40.

Mallon+Taub specs line the walls

But this isn’t a gloat. I’m just lucky (in some ways!). Having sharp eyes (instead of mind?) is no reason not to have them tested every couple of years – I am reliably informed by Joan Mallon, one of the two founders of Mallon+Taub, Marylebone High Street, W1. It turns out that visiting an optician is not simply about checking your vision and, while I was there, Joan was keen to screen my eyes for conditions such as cataract, blepharitis and dry eyes, diabetes, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

dreaming of wacky glasses

It had been ten whole years since I have last had my eyes tested. But I can’t really mention my appointment without confessing the REAL reason I was there. You see, the fabulous specs and sunglasses lining the shop walls had lured me in. Like sweets in jar, they just looked so appealing. As I waited for Joan, I tried on one pair after another. How much more intelligent and serious I looked! It was finally time for glasses, I had decided.

Joan Mallon and her big machines

getting an eye-full at Mallon+Taub

Mallon+Taub use the most sophisticated, state of the art optical equipment in their 30 minute appointments.

I mean, if someone asked you if they could test your intraocular pressures, would you allow them?

Tod’s leather rimmed aviators

The final hurdle was for Joan to take a picture of the back of my eye. No mean feat. But out rolled an instant image of my retina.

Unfortunately those specs weren’t meant to be. But, as I glanced at the Tod’s leather rimmed aviator sunglasses, I thought: thank goodness everyone’s eyes need to be protected from the sun.

An eye test at Mallon+Taub costs £60

Mallon + Taub Opticians 35d Marylebone High Street W1 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7935 8200

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by yablon | December 8, 2012

Old Money, Hampstead Theatre: load of old cobblers?

Oh dearie me. I bear bad theatre news. The woman who brought us the best ad ever (I have been counting ologies ever since), Maureen Lipman, is currently performing in a most disappointing middle class drama at Hampstead Theatre, NW3.

Maureen Lipman in Old Money at Hampstead Theatre

Now I love to support local businesses, particularly cultural ones. But more than this, Hampstead Theatre is a registered charity and one which I know regularly appeals for financial support. So, I had decided to take the Red Head along as part of her belated birthday present. She and I have always been fans of Maureen.

Written by Sarah Wooley, the script is where the real disappointment lies. So lineal and one-dimensional is the story of these three generations of women that I found my thoughts wandering to a conversation I had had earlier that day, to Mini’s carol concert and to anything other than the play I was watching as I wondered when anything would actually HAPPEN.

Lipman is, of course, sheer joy to watch though. She gives a wonderfully inspiring performance as Joyce, the recently widowed grandmother looking for some fun in her life after 46 years of dull marriage. Keen to avoid grandchildren childcare duties and endless cash handouts in the direction of her whining, depressingly-hopeless up-the-duff 42 year old daughter (Tracy-Ann Oberman), she makes some necessary, (perhaps) selfish life plans.

Tracy-Ann Oberman and Maureen Lipman in Old Money

Without any real twist nor unpredictability in this plot, the play bumbles along held together simply by Lipman and her striking red coat and strip joint visit rationale, which are amusing. The delivery of her lines is immaculate, making her character utterly convincing despite surrounding soulless performances.

Red Head with Maureen Lipman after her performance in Old Money

Red Head and I were in no hurry to leave the theatre as we began to discuss the play. Maureen Lipman was leaving at the same time as us. She seemed disappointed to see that the Hampstead Theatre bar was shut (another commercial faux pas?) but did kindly pose for a quick photo before she left.

Until January 12 (020 7722 9301, hampsteadtheatre.com)

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by yablon | December 7, 2012

seriously Ceviche and very Piste

There are 2 sides to every coin. I understand that sharing a free meal while I review is genius for any hungry friend, but there does, of course, come a time/special occasion when it’s just not appropriate for me to question the menu, challenge the waiters and snap the food before we eat. Let’s face it: it’s plain irritating.

Cerviche, Frith St, W1

The Blonde’s birthday celebration was one of these occasions. But then there was the issue of finding a table somewhere suitably cool during London’s party month. After a fair amount of jostling, Ceviche responded to my twitter appeal (bullying?) and offered us a table we couldn’t refuse.

pisco sour, the Peruvian drink

Seeing as this is NOT a review, I’ll just say that there is nowhere better to drink pisco sours (the Peruvian national drink: grape bandy, mixed with syrup, lime juice, bitters and egg white) and eat raw fish marinated in lime juice, chilli peppers and onions.

cerviche: marinated raw fish

And when we should have headed home, we didn’t. The fabulous PRs of Piste (the new après ski bar under Archer Street Wine Bar) provided us with raspberry and rhubard cocktails and a dance floor for more silliness.

Piste, Archer Street. W1

Piste is perfect for those Soho nights when you just can’t bring yourself to accept that the evening is over. Going home to bed seems like the boring option whereas flinging our arms above our heads seems a much better idea. Until morning, that is.

raspberry and rhubarb cocktails at Piste

Skis on the wall at Piste

Ceviche, 17 Frith St, W1 Piste 3-4 Archer St, W1

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by yablon | December 6, 2012

All they want for Christmas… the Life of Yablon 2012 Gift Guide

With the remaining number of shopping days now on the serious decrease, it’s time to knuckle down and get that Santa-buying hat on. So, I thought I’d help out (think: blog elf) and show you a few of my favourite things:

Godchildren. Both of my delicious godchildren are kind enough to have their birthdays in December too – giving me the right to really spoil them.

Molly Brown birthstone bracelet

God boy is ten and BIG into cricket so I’m organising a tour of Lords Cricket Ground for the 2 of us in January (quality time built in too). Boy fashion is so tricky but I reckon that’s why Johnnie invented Boden.

God girl is in luck. Early this year, I interviewed Erica Illingworth, founder of little girl jeweller Molly Brown. Her birth stone is turquoise making her a prime candidate for the Collection 12 December Birthstone Bracelet.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

My nephews and nieces who don’t yet own a copy of my favourite children’s book, The Giving Tree will be receiving their copy.

Per-fekt lash perfection gel

Glamorous girlfriends will be given Per-fekt Lash Perfection Gel, £24. Strengthening, lengthening, darkening, conditioning those lashes ready to flutter into 2013.

stocking fillers from Honey Jam

This week (Kate Moss and) I stocked up on perfectly-retro stocking fillers at Honey Jam (2 Blenheim Crescent, W11).

Little BU nail polishes

Mini is campaigning for painted toes as her Christmas beach treat. Little BU sent me these non-toxic, odourless polishes which will wash off in the sea.