Fall is officially here, the days are getting shorter, and the clocks are inflicting their malevolent whims of change upon us— in other words, it’s time for the time change that makes it get dark by 5:00 pm. Not my favorite part of the season. If you like this time change, I’m sure you have your reasons, which probably primarily include a love of waking up at a perversely early hour. I’m sure if I could manage those sorts of hours, I’d like it too.
Several of the things on my list this week are perfect for staying in on a chilly evening. The other things I will be staying in and enjoying from home on these chilly evenings anyway, because they would involve a long plane trip that I can’t take just now. Whether you’re experiencing the items on this list in person or from a distance, I hope you find something to amuse yourself with this week!
This Exhibit about Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots
You may not think of a library as a place to go to see anything other than a bunch of shelves holding your possible next read, but the British Library will be quick to disabuse you of this idea with their current exhibition, Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens. This exhibition explores the fraught relationship between the two queens through their correspondences and 16th-century manuscripts and printed works, while objects relating to Elizabeth and Mary ground the tragic story in physical reality.
Sadly I’m not going to be able to go to London to see Elizabeth and Mary this winter, but I’m glad I got to visit it vicariously through the @diaryofalondoness Instagram account when Scarlett toured the exhibition.
The exhibition runs until February 20. Full-price admission is £18, but discounted rates are offered for many groups.
House of Gods
Kelly Prince-Wright is pretty much living my dream life all around (yes, she has a very cool job, yes, she lives abroad, and yes, she has an English husband who looks like Tom Felton), but one of her latest exploits is one that I intend to experience for myself as soon as possible. On a recent trip to Edinburgh, she stayed at the astonishingly chic House of Gods, a hotel whose boutique look and mysterious aesthetic was only improved by the “Treat me Like I’m Famous” package, which includes, yup, a champagne button and bedtime cookie service. The only questions left are when am I going to Edinburgh, and who’s splitting a room with me?
Cider Season!
I mentioned apple cider as one of the things I was looking forward to this fall, and it’s here! I look forward to a few weeks of blissful cider consumption every year, and it never disappoints. It’s great heated with a cinnamon stick, or cold as an accompaniment to hot, salty, buttery popcorn. To get the really, really good cider, you have to find some that comes from a local (or as local as you can manage, anyway) orchard. My personal choice is Scott’s Orchard. It’s located in north Alabama, and they ship their products to some grocery stores in the region. As well as having the best cider around, they also sell many varieties of crisp, delicious apples. A few varieties make their way to grocery stores, but you can visit their orchard to see the full range of their produce.
If you don’t live close enough to pick up some of their tasty cider in person, you have the option of ordering it from their website, but hurry— supplies run out quickly!
Emma Bridgewater Mugs
I love a good mug. I’m pretty dedicated to my Polish pottery mugs, which I use most every day for my morning coffee, but I’m still a sucker for an attractive paint job.
Recently I found a new collection of mugs that I’m pining for. Emma Bridgewater, perhaps best known for cheerful polka-dot pottery, has collections called Cities of Dreams, which feature cities in Britain and Europe (but also New York), and Landscapes of Dreams, which celebrate English landscapes. I can definitely imagine filling one of these cute cups up with some cider and curling up with a blanket to daydream about future visits to the places depicted.
Dracula AD 1972
In celebration of Halloween, I watched my favorite campy horror movie: Dracula AD 1972. It is as absurd as a title like that would lead you to believe. In this work of cinematic wonder, Dracula— played by Christopher Lee, of course— is resurrected by a loyal follower (or I guess the descendant of a loyal follower?) and together they wreak havoc in 1972 London as Dracula seeks his revenge against the Van Helsing family. Our heroine is Jessica Van Helsing, owner of a bonkers early ’70s wardrobe (my personal favorite is the kerchief outfit; you’ll know it when you see it), an intense early ’70s shag, and a gang of party-loving friends. You can probably imagine how things go. Pairs well with the aforementioned cider-and-popcorn combo.
