Showing posts with label LONDON. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LONDON. Show all posts
London Tries to Bite New York's Style ?
from the NY TIMES
First of all, its subway system, officially called the Underground but known as the Tube, as extensive and rivalry-worthy as it may be to New York City’s, shuts down at night (except for New Year’s and other special occasions). The trains generally stop running at 1:30 a.m. and start up at 4:30 a.m. (It has to do with maintenance.)
Next, London does not have late-night movies. Most of its “last showings” start at 9 p.m., or even 8. In Times Square alone this weekend, more than a dozen movies can be seen after midnight, including “Hamlet 2” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.”
New York has a 24-hour Apple Store. London’s Apple Stores close between 6 and 9 p.m.
Moreover, until 2005 London’s pubs closed at 11 p.m., when the party at many a New York bar is just getting started. The 11 p.m. closing, which was set by laws put into place during World War I, was loosened by ministers who hoped to end the nightly scramble to down as many drinks as possible before last call. The race at closing was thought to contribute to a binge-drinking culture, in contrast to that of neighboring countries like France or Spain, where alcohol is consumed in more moderation.
THE DECAPITATOR STRIKES LONDON
An anonymous graffiti artist has been attacking London advertisements, with a signature graffiti style.
He or she has been gorily removing heads from well known advertisements such as this year’s blockbuster movie “Sex and the City” the movie.
Kissing couples, beautiful models and aspiring celebs have all come under ‘the East London decapitator’s’ knife; their beautiful heads replaced by bony, blood drenched stumps. His artworks are defined by the media as culture jamming or sub-vertising, which Wikipedia describes as, ‘the practice of making spoofs or parodies of corporate and political advertisements in order to make a statement,” thus their appearance has been predominantly on fashion and film posters such as the recently tagged Uniqlo t-shirt campaign.
Many believe that the works are a ‘head’ start on tackling the visual bombardment of adverts that Londoners recieve each day, Cities such as Sao Paolo, Brazil have already completely banned billboards in a campaign for a ‘New Clean City’ as a reaction against what many saw as outdoor advertising going too far.
HOW TO GET BELGIANS TO COME TO LONDON
An advert depicting a tattooed skinhead urinating into a china teacup is being used to promote tourism to London.
The image is part of a new Eurostar campaign aimed solely at the Belgian market.
Posters have gone up on billboards in Antwerp, Brussels, Liege and Ghent to promote the new high-speed train connection to the English capital.
The company says the advert is great for British tourism.
"It's fun, it's supposed to show how cosmopolitan London is. Yes, I really think it says London is cosmopolitan," insisted a spokeswoman for Eurostar.
Lesley Retallack added: "You could walk down Camden market and you can see someone like that.
"It just captures your imagination, stops you, makes you think. People get it."
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The campaign, created by a Belgian ad agency, also features John Cleese and his Ministry of Silly Walks along with Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and John Major apparently bursting Union Flag balloons.
Miss Retallack explained: "The whole idea is that London is just around the corner. Belgians absolutely love the British and follow them closely.
"The adverts are meant to show how cutting edge London is, the amazing mix.
"It's all meant to be very humourous, very funny and to get across the message that London is just around the corner."
She went on: "We wouldn't do something if it meant people were put off coming to London and they have been enormously effective."
Since the posters went up on November 14 only one member of the public has complained, said Ms Retallack.
Elliott Frisby of the British Tourist Authority, told Sky News: "Belgians think of themselves as closer to us than to France. They expect us to be quirky."
He said the adverts work well in Belgium and believes they are advertising Eurostar rather than Britain itself.
"We do not think the images are derogatory or give off the wrong message about the destination," he said.
"It is not what we would do but Eurostar is a commercial organisation."
The adverts have already prompted some Sky News Online viewers to react angrily.
Stressing that the campaign was intended to promote only London, Ms Retallack said: "Obviously a few British people may see it in the papers now but it's meant to appeal to the Belgian people."
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