Yesterday we enjoyed a beautiful, chilly, Autumn, aromatic afternoon in Brick Lane. Apart from feasting on a delicious curry there – it would be rude not to, really – we soaked in the buzz and the vibe and the air of east London. Just not as much as some people did. The famous curry centre of the universe!Brick Lane has a fascinating history and today has become known as the curry capital of the United Kingdom. Home to indoor markets, food stalls, curry houses and night clubs, it is also popular for fashion, fine art and graffiti. You cannot walk down Brick Lane without being accosted by restaurateurs touting their “very good deal” meals. I have not eaten in a restaurant there yet, because I just love the vibe of grabbing a takeaway dish, and finding a spot somewhere outside to sit and eat and watch the world go by. We did just that yesterday.
We waved off the formal establishments, and went into the Sunday Up Market. After checking out every exotic spicy food possibility you can imagine, we settled on Moroccan food. Pretty much all the meals – complete with rice or couscous and trimming – cost five quid a pop, you get a good-sized helping and it’s always yummy! We took our brimming foil dishes and plastic forks and went and sat on the kerb outside to eat our meal! It was really funny pulling our feet towards us as cars came past along the narrow road – otherwise we would seriously have had our toes flattened. This is how we ate our lunch.We became aware of a large, navy blue Audi gliding slowly into a parking spot on the other side of the road from us. What made us take notice was the sound of metal on metal as he glided into the car in front of him. With clearly no panic, he unhitched his vehicle from the other, reversed and then glided forward to position his car just right. He wanted to park next to the kerb, and seemingly had no objection to graunching his hubcab against the pavement – another crunching sound of metal on concrete. With no sign that he needed to extricate his car from the pavement, he and his passenger emerged from the car and set off – in slow motion – to the market. He was enormously wide-eyed and nattily dreadlocked, she was just wide-eyed. I have no doubt they had just spent the past hour parked on a middle island somewhere, Cheech and Chong style, their car filled with the sweet aroma of happy smoke. They glided off, wondrous and in awe, dude, of the market that lay ahead and oblivious of the damage he caused as he crash-landed his car. What you don't have to do in Brick Lane.When we finished eating, we walked through the other sections of the market. In the busy-ness of Sunday, we looked at hats, paintings, light shades, jewellery, clothing, coats, shoes, T-shirts, lingerie, vintage clothing, designer clothing and anything else you can think of. There were displays and displays of designer watches – large plastic-faced, neon-coloured, cartoon-charactered watches – and I think, on some of them, you could even tell the time.
Famous for food and everything else.We soon came across a huge seating area with wooden benches and tables, where we could have sat to eat our meal! I guess we would have missed out on the doobie dude, so I’m glad we sat street level.
Mr Curly Tache walked past us in the market – he had a curly, waxed moustache, his hair was neatly combed and side parted, he wore a checked shirt and purple-striped tie, pink corduroy pants (trousers) and a blue jacket. This sartorial experiment was not alone. Brick Lane is filled with alternative, fabulous, colourful, fascinating, different and beautifully-dressed people. And ordinary folk like us too. This is no place for the fashion police. Anything goes in Brick Lane. I found this fabulous mural on a wall near Brick Lane.In Brick Lane, you can clash your colours, scrape your hubcaps, haggle for your curry and buy second-hand wellington boots. Anything goes and no-one’s watching. Well, there are always people watching, but no-one really cares. It's blogger heaven. And we always find sunshine in London!Sunshine signing off for today!
Brick Lane sounds fantastic! I love that you saw a guy with a twirlled, waxed-up mustache. I’ve always wondered what sort of fellow would do that, and now I know!
“I have no doubt they had just spent the past hour parked on a middle island somewhere, Cheech and Chong style, their car filled with the sweet aroma of happy smoke. ” – That line made me giggle like a little girl. Happy Monday, Sunshine!
What a lovely way for me to start my morning…a trip down Brick Lane. It does sound like blogger heaven, with waxed moustaches and doobie dude. I was laughing about the bad MAN driver, until it was clear he was under the influence. (I’m sure he’s still a bad driver.)
Thanks, Darlene! He was an appalling driver … just as well the real police weren’t around, as I don’t think he’d be laughing now. Just ask George Michael!
Sunshine xx
Your description of Brick Lane makes me think of Queen Street West in Toronto during the ’70’s! Pretty much anything went there too!
The reference to Cheech and Chong reminds me of our art teacher in junior high (1973-75)…he used to bring their records in for us to listen to during class (pretty sure that wasn’t an action approved by the school board!)…
Thanks, Wendy! I’m sure if you’d seen the two emerge from the car, Cheech and Chong would have rung loudly in your ears! I also can’t imagine their records were approved by the school board, but I’m sure you all thought it was soooo cool!
Sunshine xx
Brick Lane is always a delight. The curry sounds delightful. Dubie dude sure presented much entertainment. All sounds like you both had a great colourful day wondering around. Thanks for sharing and painting such a vivid picture in my minds eye. X
Glad you enjoyed the vivid picture – it was vivid in real life too! I love Brick Lane – always! Would love to go there with you guys, we’d have fun, hey?
Sunshine xx
I feel like I just experienced a mini-vacation after reading your post! Oddly energized and refreshed, all at the same time. What a wonderful place to put on my Bucket List!
Oh, Miss Sunshine, you do go to the most fun places. Loved the pictures and the descriptions of all the characters. There used to be a guy that delivered bread to our store that had one of those curled up ‘stashes. Awesome. Funny you should mention Cheech and Chong. We have all of their albums! And I just posted a blog that features a Purple Haze cake! And yes, the butter in the frosting was “special”. Have a super week! I look forward to your next installment.
Sunshine in London 
Brick Lane sounds fantastic! I love that you saw a guy with a twirlled, waxed-up mustache. I’ve always wondered what sort of fellow would do that, and now I know!
“I have no doubt they had just spent the past hour parked on a middle island somewhere, Cheech and Chong style, their car filled with the sweet aroma of happy smoke. ” – That line made me giggle like a little girl. Happy Monday, Sunshine!
Thank you, Maura! Wish you could have seen the dude and dudesse … they were hilarious! Glad you started your Monday with a giggle!
Sunshine xx
What a lovely way for me to start my morning…a trip down Brick Lane. It does sound like blogger heaven, with waxed moustaches and doobie dude. I was laughing about the bad MAN driver, until it was clear he was under the influence. (I’m sure he’s still a bad driver.)
Thanks, Darlene! He was an appalling driver … just as well the real police weren’t around, as I don’t think he’d be laughing now. Just ask George Michael!
Sunshine xx
Hi Sunshine:
Your description of Brick Lane makes me think of Queen Street West in Toronto during the ’70’s! Pretty much anything went there too!
The reference to Cheech and Chong reminds me of our art teacher in junior high (1973-75)…he used to bring their records in for us to listen to during class (pretty sure that wasn’t an action approved by the school board!)…
Loved the photos!
Hugs,
Wendy
Thanks, Wendy! I’m sure if you’d seen the two emerge from the car, Cheech and Chong would have rung loudly in your ears! I also can’t imagine their records were approved by the school board, but I’m sure you all thought it was soooo cool!
Sunshine xx
Brick Lane is always a delight. The curry sounds delightful. Dubie dude sure presented much entertainment. All sounds like you both had a great colourful day wondering around. Thanks for sharing and painting such a vivid picture in my minds eye. X
Glad you enjoyed the vivid picture – it was vivid in real life too! I love Brick Lane – always! Would love to go there with you guys, we’d have fun, hey?
Sunshine xx
I can’t think of any place like that I’ve seen. Would love to. But it would drive me nuts. I’m a bit of a priss. 😉
It’s really fascinating – I just love it!
Sunshine xx
Sure would have fun there with you’s guys’s LOL! We might have to pass through the UK for a while on the way back to the Souf again.
Well make the stop more than a few hours, see? xx
I feel like I just experienced a mini-vacation after reading your post! Oddly energized and refreshed, all at the same time. What a wonderful place to put on my Bucket List!
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed a mini-vacation – that’s wonderful!
Sunshine xx
Oh, Miss Sunshine, you do go to the most fun places. Loved the pictures and the descriptions of all the characters. There used to be a guy that delivered bread to our store that had one of those curled up ‘stashes. Awesome. Funny you should mention Cheech and Chong. We have all of their albums! And I just posted a blog that features a Purple Haze cake! And yes, the butter in the frosting was “special”. Have a super week! I look forward to your next installment.
XO Patty
Just checked out your blog – food all looks amazing! Thanks for your comments, as always!
Sunshine xx
Those signs are fantastic Sunshine! Thanks for sharing and I’ll have a sunshine breakfast please 🙂
xx
Thank you! Sunshine breakfast on its way!
Sunshine xx
I think I told you that my daughter lives in London. Haven’t been to Brick Lane. My son-in-law is mad for curry. Will have to go on my next trip. Yum!
Well, that’s an absolute must – it’s so fascinating! xx