North London Food & Culture

Community Pinboard: 7 Tips To Beat The Seasonal Blues


1. Try Life Drawing in a Beautiful Space. Yes, the new show at Zabludowicz Collection is now open for business. T Rooms is artist Matthew Darbyshire’s immersive environment of vinyl banners, a study of individualism and the ability to choose. During Frieze week the gallery has extended opening hours (9 to 14 October Tuesday–Wednesday 12–6pm, Thursday–Saturday: 12–8pm, Sunday 12–6pm) but why not combine it with attending a life drawing class, every Wednesday evening, 7-9pm? Led by artist John Close, it’s suitable for all levels. Paper and some materials available. Places are limited, so booking is recommended.

2. Eat Well. Eat St market, the foodie doo-dah in King’s Cross, relaunches today as KERB. Trading every weekday lunchtime on King’s Boulevard, its first service will be preceded by a procession of street food vans at 1pm. Head to Granary Square tonight for a special launch party with 15 traders under the canopy next to the fountains; and if you’re a Streetfeast fan, regulars Bhangra Burger and Horn OK Please should keep you happy.


LOCAL ADVERTISING


3. Dance. Dance. Dance. We hardly ever mention longstanding locals’ favourite Fiddlers’ Elbow, but if you fancy a bit of sk-sk-ska this Saturday head there (perhaps after a Prince Of Wales Road crawl from The Grafton and Camden Brewery) for Dumplins Live Ska night, with oodles of early reggae and rocksteady bands, plus DJs. It’s monthly, every first saturday, although in November it takes place on the 10th. At 1 Malden Road, £5 on the door.

4. Learn from a Challenging Play. Premiered at 2011 Not Part Of Festival Manchester, Cupcakes and Carousels is the fourth work by Gavin Crippin and the theatre company A Rebours. A psychologically devastating drama, it’s an honest look at the effect abuse and mental illness can have on relationships both old and new. Cripes. At least there’s the pub downstairs for a brandy afterwards. Lion & Unicorn Theatre Oct 9-14.

5. Or Just Get Pissed. Oktoberfests are kicking off all around the capital this week. Three that we recommend are Carry On Up The Snooty Fox in leafy Canonbury, with 25 ales (don’t forget that owner Nicole was originally at much-missed NW5 boozer Monkey Chews). Closer to home is The Abbey, with their enticing Meat & Ale festival (Oct 3-11), and in a fortnight, grande Kentish dame The Junction are pulling out all the stops with the best alefest in town (Oct 19-21).

6. Take A Walk Around The Manor. Those caring North Kentish Towners in the Kentish Town Neighbourhood Forum are running two identical walks round the area the weekend (Saturday 6th October at 2-4pm & Sunday 7th October 11am-1pm). Meeting point is at the mini-recycling centre at the junction of Burghley Road and Highgate Road. Armed with maps from 1875 and the 1890s for historical perspective, long term residents will be sharing their knowledge of their bucolic streets. Sounds very ‘Wednesday Picture’, right? Right.

7. Finally, Have A Strong Coffee. Our new sponsor is cute Gospel Oak coffee bar and micro property consultants Houspresso. Their teensy-tiny shop is the epitome of urban cool, with its soviet-style exterior, and interior packed with ace vintage furniture (include Ercol tables and chairs) and piles of sturdy architecture tomes. And owner Gavin tells us he’s hired two shit-hot new baristas, so the expresso, an arabica/robusta blend from Miscela D’oro (also used in Hampstead’s Coffee Cup) is wonderful. Even better, readers can enjoy a free bottle of Evian with every coffee purchased. Just mention you-know-who.

Got a tip for our Pinboard? Email info@kentishtowner.co.uk


Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

About Kentishtowner

The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.