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My London: James Gooding
By Charlotte Williamson, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 18.10.02
James Gooding: Kylie's ex
Where do you live, and why? In Hackney. It's where my lab is - I'm a keen photographer - and it's also where most of my friends live now. It's so expensive everywhere else that they've all moved.
How long have you lived there? About four years. I lived on Roman Road when I was 16. I've always stuck to the East End.
What was the last play you saw in London and did you enjoy it? I saw a midnight showing on, I guess, midsummer's night of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Globe Theatre. It was fantastic, a joyous experience.
What advice would you give to a tourist? Stand on the right-hand side of the escalator at Tube stations. It's so annoying when you're trying to get past a herd of chatting tourists.
Who's in your secret address book? I have the numbers of some maître d's - from Mirabelle, Eyre Brothers and The Quality Chop House. It's sometimes the only way to get a table.
What have been your most memorable London meals? Dinner at Mirabelle is always a favourite of mine for special occasions. The Chop House is good for egg and chips at 11pm. And I used to love that café under the bridge on Portobello Road for breakfast, but it closed down.
What's your earliest London memory? Kind of feeling small and really little. London felt so big. I was 12 or 13 when I first came here; I'm from Walton on the Naze in Essex. I don't really miss it but I liked the sea.
Which is your favourite: Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Harvey Nicks - it's a one-stop shop. Have you seen all the gadgets - the widescreen TVs and surround-sound hi-fis - they now have on the top floor? Amazing.
What are your favourite home comforts? Being by myself, listening to my records and reading my books.
What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? I would only allow deliveries to happen before 7am and after 10pm. So much traffic seems to consist of white delivery vans and it would help massively if they were banned during the day. It would also create more employment for night porters.
What is your life philosophy? The only person you can rely on is yourself.
Where do you buy your sunglasses? Airports. I usually lose them straight after buying them.
What is your favourite photograph? Any picture from Teenage Lust by Larry Clark, particularly the Bryant Park Acid Girl. Cameraworks by David Hockney is one of my favourites, too.
What is your favourite camera? I have three: the Contax T3, the Mamiya 7 and the Polaroid SX70. But I really want the new Olympus C5050Z digital camera.
What is your favourite shop? The Bookshop on Islington Green, an independent store next to Screen on the Green. I lived in America for three years and I really miss all the little bookshops there.
