Tennessee Valley
This running route takes me - including intermittent walking - somewhere between an hour and a half and two hours. It’s my favorite loop. I call it ‘Green Gulch, the long way.’
Start in the Tennessee Valley parking lot and head down towards the beach.
Head right up the hill. The view at the top is breathtaking and a nice reward after the steep and brutal incline. You’ll see a sign for Fox Trail which takes you up over a hill and back to the parking lot. You can take that short cut if you’re worn out or short on time. Instead, I like to continue along the coast, down the stairs and through the windy trails above Pirates Cove. This continues all the way to Muir Beach with an unobstructed view of the ocean the entire way. Go on a clear day, it’s spectacular.
From Muir Beach cut through Green Gulch farm and take the Middle Green Gulch trail back to the top. This is a long and steady incline of switchbacks with some patches of overgrown foliage. It’s a tough climb but feels amazing when you make it to the top. Follow Coyote Ridge and look for a trail off to the right which will descend all the way back down to the parking lot.
Dynamic view here: http://bit.ly/AuBVla
London List
Two of my close friends asked me for London recommendations recently. These are some of my favorite places and activities from my five months there in 2011.
Art Museums
Tate Modern: The Gerhard Richter exhibit is there until Jan 8th. His work is the best painting I’ve ever seen. He’s phenomenal. Go if the dates work out. Even if his work is no longer there, go anyway because the permanent collection is fantastic. They have great resources online and apps and explanations in the rooms and on the walls. Among my favorite things there: a small version of Ai Wei Wei’s sunflower seeds and a whole collection of Rothkos.
National Portrait Gallery: I never made it here but everyone recommends it. It’s near Trafalgar Sq if you wanna check them out on the same day.
Serpentine: This gallery is smack in the middle of Hyde Park. Go see it one day while walking through the park. It’s small and has one exhibit at a time. I’m not familiar with their current show, but again it’s easy (and free) to drop in when you’re already in the park. Go see the cafe that’s built right in front of the gallery itself - it’s a temporary piece of structural art itself.
V&A: The museum space is interesting and gorgeous - there’s a huge courtyard with a beautiful fountain in the middle of the space. The post modernism exhibit is there until Jan 15th and is highly instructive and an easy one to absorb. They walk you through the defining pieces and people of the 1970 - 1990s post-modern era in a way that’s sorta academic (like, this proceeded this which begot this which takes you to Andy Warhol and the neon 1980s and Madonna). The gift shop - I got a hot pink plastic watch there that I love - and cafe are great. They serve wine and beer.
White Chapel: This is a small, cozy gallery in E. London. I saw the Rothko in Britain exhibit there (still up) which I loved - it consists of just a single Rothko painting but tells a story (through surrounding letters, imagines, audio, etc) of how the American artist’s work originally ended up in Britain. It’s well done if you have the patience to pay attention to all the fine print in this single room. The dining area in the gallery looks quaint although I never had a chance to try it. If you make it to E. London this is worth visiting, I think.
White Cube: This is a small gallery space also in E. London located on Hoxton Square. The area reminds me of the Mission (actually all of E. London has that kind of feel to it). I don’t know anything about the current exhibits, there. If you go, this casual diner-like place, the Breakfast Club, is across the street and always seemed packed when I walked by and seemed especially popular for brunch.
Tate Britain: I didn’t see it but friends did and liked the John Martin exhibit here. If you can only do one of the Tates, skip this and spend time in the Tate Modern.
Restaurants:
La Fromagerie: This is in central London in Marylebone (where I lived) and they have delicious brunch (and lunches), assuming you like cheese. They have a small market of fresh fruits and vegetables inside, too. It’s cozy and wonderful.
La Petite Maison: This is in Mayfair, a fancy part of central London, and on an alley amongst cute shops and nice bars. It’s French with Italian influence and has a nice evening ambiance.
Modern Pantry: A short menu, simple, and nicely done. I don’t have anything to suggest immediately nearby, but, it’s between central and E. London.
Riding Horse Cafe: Cool place, good food, and a neat artsy interior. Kaffeine coffee shop is right across the corner and also a favorite.
The Hix: Contemporary and popular place. Check out the bar downstairs, too, it’s a sorta fancy but living-room decor kind of lounge space. It’s nicely done. Go for dinner or a drink, it’s definitely an evening place. Damien Hirst, a popular British contemporary artist, created a piece that hangs like a mobile with mini fish in plastic cases above the bar on the street level.
Dinner: This is a Heston Blumenthal restaurant in the Mandrian Oriental. He’s a sorta crazy, adventurous, famous British chef. It’s pricey and has a lot of old, traditional British dishes on the menu. This would be good for a particular kind of taste (not everyone’s), so read the menu and see if it appeals to you.
Parks and Activities:
Hyde Park: You can’t miss this - it’s right in the middle of the heart of London and huge. Go to the Serpentine Gallery and check out the pond. I walked through the park all the time with headphones, listening to music or books on tape.
Regents Park: Also beautiful for walking. There’s a delicious and casual sausage place in the middle of the park called the Honest Sausage that I totally recommend. The Queen Mary rose garden is nearby, too. You could check out all three in combination, and / or head to Marylebone High Street for a meal. They’re all walking distance.
Borough Market: A great Saturday activity. You can grab breakfast or lunch while walking around and sample tons of food. Monmouth Coffee there is quite famous, too. Apparently the inspiration for Blue Bottle, etc.
Columbia Road Flower Market: Amazing and in E. London. Go if it’s open in January!
Other:
High Tea: I don’t have a favorite place to suggest, but afternoon tea is a fun activity. The Mandrian Oriental and most nice hotels offer it.
The Londonist has great recommendations (daily and weekly summaries) of things to do. Check them out for talks, festivals, openings, etc.
