Its storied past of wealth coupled with destruction has made the City a unique area to explore, where iconic modern high rise office towers, such as Norman Foster’s Gherkin mingle with Roman ruins and architectural examples of virtually every area in between. From its ancient past as a Roman trading outpost to its status as the wealthiest square mile in the world, the City of London is full of fascinating history.

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History of the City of London

It’s almost February. We’re well into 2012, and I’m just now getting around to post about things from before and around Christmas. Geez.

If you had even half as much fun as I had the final few weeks of last year, then you ended 2011 on an especially high note. Now back in London for some time after a nice long stretch of a visit to my hometown along with a four state whistle stop tour of the south, I’m still on a bit of a high from my trip.

The best stuff during my break was, of course, spending Christmas with family and friends and subjecting … erm I mean introducing my girlfriend to the crazy patch of country where I grew up. The only bummer was not being able to spend more time with folks or find the chance to see everybody I’d hoped to. Putting all the personal aside, here are some of the highlights from my Christmas trip back to Georgia that for whatever reason didn’t get much mention on this blog, my tikichris-to-go Tumblr blog or one of my client’s blogs.

Crawfish Springs: Sweet little spring fed lake down the street from my Mom’s house. Magnolias, ducks, a gazillion squirrels, mist rising off the water in the early morning – gorgeous.

Rocktown: One hundred and fifty acres or so of weird massive sandstone boulder formations situated down a long dirt road atop Pigeon Mountain in Chattooga County, Georgia. One of the most fascinating places around where I grew up.

Cloudland Canyon: Just up the road from Rocktown but on Lookout Mountain and a lot more widely known, Cloudland Canyon State Park is a spectacular setting with elevations ranging from 800 to 1,980 feet through this deep gorge cut by a creek.

BBQ Caboose Cafe: Really good BBQ at this little joint in downtown Lynchburg, Tennessee (and sadly one of the only places I got to eat some BBQ while back home). The owner was especially friendly and made a real effort to have my mom, niece, girlfriend and me feel at home. Appreciated!

Pickle Barrel: Still the place to drink in Chattanooga. Such a relief to see it hasn’t totally collapsed in on itself. Toilet graffiti is some of the best I’ve ever seen.

Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens: Closed for the winter and in a pathetic state of disrepair, it was still good to drive down to Summerville, Georgia to stroll around Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens.

Yellow Deli: The vibe is Appalachian Hobbit. Run by what seems to be a hippie cult. The food is very good, fresh and healthy.

Lamar’s Restaurant: Still the swankest place for the strongest drinks I’ve ever been. Plus one of the world’s greatest jukeboxes … and fried chicken.

Clermont Lounge: To call this fine establishment a retirement home for old strippers misses much of the point. It’s still one of the most wonderfully trashy places to drink cheap beer in ATL.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Driving across the Smokies in the snow was beautiful (if stressful). I got up close and personal to a pileated woodpecker in the park’s Cades Cove scenic loop. Wow.

The Tomato Head: Southern cuisine … but healthy. Happening upon this bustling eatery in downtown Maryville, Tennessee was a tasty treat and a bit of non-fried relief.

Enterprise: The dude at Enterprise rental car in Ft Oglethorpe, Georgia went out of his way to help me with a bit of a logistics challenge and saved me a bunch of money too. He deserves to be commended. The card I took from his desk reads “Tim Wilson” but I’m not sure if that’s his name.

Tennessee Pride Sage Sausage Roll: Real country sausage. The best you ever tried.

And soooo much more …  See all the Christmastime pics here.

The Jack Daniel Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in America. Since all the way back in 1866, JD’s been located in the sleepy little town of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Surrounded by rolling hills and farmland and only about 75 miles away from Nashville, the distillery makes an excellent day trip destination with Lynchburg offering an ideal setting for getting away from it all and retreating from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

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Visiting the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee

Bob Dylan, kosher wine, Tsuru loyalty cards, a new bar for Hawksmoor Spitalfields and more food and drink news …

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London Food & Drink News: 26 January 2012

Tired of London, Tired of Life is a 224 page book published by Virgin Books. It is the labour of love by Londoner Tom Jones (no, not that Tom Jones). Featuring illustrations by Hannah Warren and designed by Lottie Crumbleholme, the book takes a simple yet brilliant idea and runs with it.

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Tired of London? Not with this New Book!

Talk about a bubble bath! The Cadogan hotel in London will soon be offering to its guests the ultimate indulgence of a Champagne bath. Keep reading for the decedent details about this new offer along with some other upscale reasons this five-star hotel has a century old reputation for being one of London’s poshest accommodation options.

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New Highs in Luxury at London’s Cadogan Hotel