Damn, it’s been one hell of a day to be doing a paper round. But we made it in one piece and we’re pleased to say our summer special – free, as ever – is now stocked in the usual 50+ outlets across 6 north London postcodes.
This month we offer tips on how to make the most of those balmy August days, when there’s really nothing better to do than hit, say, the Heath, or Camden Beach (which opens again next weekend at the Roundhouse).
We’ve illustrated a handy world map outlining the best restaurants to “go abroad on your doorstep”, offer not one but two takes on hot new caff Bear + Wolf, and name-check some of the more imaginative ice cream parlours to cool down with. Elsewhere we meet Kentishtowner couple Sian Pattenden (who drew our popular Cultural Map) and her musician-cum-writer husband, Luke Haines.
If you’re a bookish type, there’s also a list of top local summer reads and Dartmouth Park-based author Joanna Briscoe talks about what inspired her new novel Touched. But don’t fear, it’s not all sedentary: we get off our behinds and saddle up with writer Kevin MacNeil’s paean to cycling.
And for those interested in local history, Channel 4 reporter Jennifer Rigby shows you how to explore the blue plaques of some of the most celebrated thinkers and artists in the world (and where to refuel en route). And lest we forget: the two big local free festivals are on consecutive weekends this year, Alma Street and Queen’s Crescent.
New this month: Shoe Shop and Bear + Wolf, Fortess Road; and Black Truffle, England’s Lane
Shops, Libraries & Galleries
[button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/future-found”] Future & Found [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/soho-hip”] Soho Hip [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/phoenicia”]Phoenicia [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/harrys-fine-foods”] Harry’s Fine Foods [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/owl-bookshop”] Owl Bookshop[/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/flaxon-ptootch”] Flaxon Ptootch [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/zabludowicz-collectio”] Zabludowicz Collection [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/kentish-town-library”] Kentish Town Library [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/DRAF”] DRAF [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/queens-crescent-library”] Queen’s Crescent Library [/button]
Cafes & Restaurants
[button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/dirty-burger”] Dirty Burger [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/ruby-violet”] Ruby Violet [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/pizza-east”]Pizza East[/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/guanabana”] Guanabana [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/the-fields-beneath”]The Fields Beneath[/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/arancini-brothers”]Arancini Brothers [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/marios-cafe”] Mario’s Cafe [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/wine-cellar”]The Wine Cellar[/button][button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/doppio-cafe”]Doppio Cafe[/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/rustique-cafe”]Cafe Rustique[/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/houspresso”] Housepresso [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/truffles-deli”]Truffles Deli [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/delicious-by-franco”] Delicious By Franco [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/kentish-canteen”] Kentish Canteen [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/e-mono”] E.Mono [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/map-studio-cafe”]Map Cafe [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/cafe-leyas”] Leyas [/button]
Pubs
[button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/the-grafton”]The Grafton [/button][button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/southampton-arms”]Southampton Arms [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/colonel-fawcett”]Colonel Fawcett [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/tufnell-park-tavern”] Tufnell Park Tavern [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/junction-tavern”] Junction Tavern [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/bull-last”] Bull & Last [/button][button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/the-star”] The Star [/button][button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/dartmouth-arms”] Dartmouth Arms [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/the-vine”] The Vine [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/the-pineapple”] The Pineapple [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/The Oxford”]The Oxford [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/lion-unicorn”] Lion & Unicorn [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/abbey-tavern”] Abbey Tavern [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/camden-brewery”] Camden Brewery [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/tapping-the-admiral”] Tapping The Admiral [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/lord-stanley”]Lord Stanley [/button] [button style=”info” color=”silver” link=”/nearby/the-torriano”]The Torriano [/button]
Live a little further away?
York Way/Caledonian Road: Shillibeer’s/Pleasance Theatre, North Road N7
King’s Cross: Canal Reach Canteen, Drink Shop, Do, The Fellow &
Belsize Park: Black Truffle Deli, England’s Lane
Hillmarton/Holloway Rd: Bunny Little’s Bakery, Campdale Road N7
Hampstead: The Stag and Beetroot, Fleet Road, NW3