"That's not a thing!"

...Stella and I chorus to each other as we watch the latest episode of Girls together. God bless Elijah.

Barthelemy Togue's Purification 2012, in the 'Citizens' room of works used in political debates

Today is Tate Modern Day. But before I do that I hit the TKTS booth to see if I can score tickets for Les Mis. Sadly, they're not one of the shows listing last minute seats and I wonder if they ever have a show that isn't sold out. I walk from Leicester Square to the Tate Modern. I get lost for a bit and find myself in Trafalgar Square. I've been here before so I try to get my bearings until I see a giant thumbs up opposite the statue of King George IV. I have no idea what the hell a thumbs up is doing at what I consider to be somewhat serious-and-important sight. Not that I know, but it's big and in Europe so I'm assuming. 

Top pic: self conscious, bottom: real happy

I become a jerkoff and take a selfie in front of the thumbs up, hating myself, hating the selfie, hating my urge to make the picture snide. Then I find the placard that explains the statue's intent and I'm instantly humbled by the wish to make the world a more positive, optimistic place and I take a better picture. I don't even take multiples to try and make myself look better.

As I walk over the Golden Jubilee I take pictures of Britain's sights: Big Ben, Parliament, the Eye of London, and a proper posh Englishman complete with top hat and umbrella cane. The sun ruined his picture, but he could have been in a British museum he was so perfect. 

The Tate is extraordinary. The only thing I remember about my last visit is the huge sun installation which is gone now. The thing I'll likely remember most about this visit is how I came within a couple of inches of knocking down a city made of quinoa when I tripped over the safety boundary lines. Pictures of other highlights below. 

Who just leaves this out for me to almost ruin? Silly museum people, that's who.

On my way back across the river I decide I'm hungry but I don't feel like stopping for a big meal. I swing into an eatery chain called Eat and discover Broth Shots. £1 for a coffee cup of yummy broth on a chilly day? America get on this please. 

Golden Jubilee Bridge

I spend the afternoon looking for (and after getting lost a couple times, finally finding) a used bookstore I discovered online and watching Raw at Picturehouse (Love! Still!!!). I've been wanting to see both equally. I'm shopping for a book for my bus ride to Stonehenge tomorrow (Stephen King's It if I can find it), and I've been hearing about Raw for weeks. Both are good. 

Eye of London. They used to
call it the "eyesore"

I want to say more about Raw, but I heard so much about it before I saw it, I can't like it as much as it deserves. I suck at that. I've ruined many movies for myself by either reading too much about them, or listening to one hundred people tell me how much they liked it. I need to learn to wait a year to watch something so I can really enjoy it. I acknowledge Raw was well done, had a dynamic story, and intriguing relationships, and it was good, but... I already knew it would be good. Wait a year, forget what I've said, and then watch it and let it rock your world.

One thing that's not oversold is the Picturehouse. I took pictures this time! Soooo prettyyyy...

Picturehouse Central. See? I wasn't lying.

Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!

Lorna Simpson, one of my new favorites artists

Cildo Meireles' Babel 2001

I forgot to get the name of the artist or piece,
but it has to do with digital something-something

This artist (not this lady) used spiders
to symbolize her mother

Mmm, also forgot to get the info on this...

This was human hair! It made
me nauseous, but was also cool

This made me eyes vibrate, as did the
other pieces in this optical illusion room

Another form of art: the Sweets Wall at Picturehouse Central!