Community Pinboard: It’s Summer Now – with (Olympic) bells on.

1. Ring My Bell? You may be aware that the work that opens the Olympics is Martin’s Creed’s All The Bells, which takes place tomorrow (Fri 27).

It’s a large participative project involving anyone, anywhere, ringing a bell for 3 minutes…just after 8am. 8.12am to be precise.

And guess what, you can be a part of it in NW5. Gather at the junction of Lady Somerset and Burghley Roads and bring a bell of any sort (and perhaps a flask of fairtrade coffee to boot). ‘Hand bell, bicycle bell, old bell, new bell,’ trills organiser Sandy. That chimes with us. Ahem.

2. Hear An Author Speak. Kentish Town’s nicest literary agent Tom Williams is giving a talk at Owl Bookshop tonight (Thurs) at 6.30pm about his forthcoming book ‘Raymond Chandler, A Mysterious Something In The Light’. It’s a free event and ‘there will be wine,’ he says encouragingly. And guess what? The first person to shout ‘Tom!’ below in our comments section will win a signed copy. Isn’t that lovely?

3. Take A Tour Around A Spooky Churchyard. During the Olympics, St Pancras Old Church – one of our favourites in the manor – will be open everyday apart from Sat 4th Aug from 9.30am-5pm with free tours which promise ‘the building of a railway, an iconic telephone box, Charles Dickens, Sir John Soane, Thomas Hardy & The Hardy Tree, The Beatles, and more,’ says Rachel Flloyd (020 7424 0724).

4. Buy Vintage Stuff. We were mildly disappointed by the Abbey’s first foray into vintage markets. We had imagined a boozily sybaritic crowd, smokin’ BBQ and busy schedule of live bands – in short, something of a festival vibe – but what we encountered was a perfectly pleasant market with some nice people milling about. Still, give it another go this Sunday for clothes, jewellery, handmade things, food, tarot readings, choons & more.

5. Six Quid In The Manor: On the subject of disappointed, standards appear to have slipped at the bohemian joint that is Map Cafe. The coffee has been beyond ordinary on our last visits, and carrot cake inexorably dry. Still, during one of the boiling hot lunchtimes this week, we enjoyed a simple plate of mixed salads for £3.50. And it’s very pleasant on the terrace or one of the outside tables. But come on guys, OK?

6. A Must For Streetfeast Fans? Camden Lock did it first with quality world food stalls (not the oriental fast food tat in the Stables) and it’s now set to come alive every Thursday with a weekly Night Market launching in the West Yard and Camden Lock Place from tonight (6–10pm): ‘a mixture of fashion, vintage, accessories, arts & crafts and homeware stalls and a variety of delicious, globally inspired street food will be on offer too,’ say the organisers. Canal-icious!

7. Bounce Around On Ancient History (Sort Of). Finally – don’t forget Turner prizewinner Jeremy Deller’s ‘Sacrilege’, or inflatable Stonehenge, appearing for one day only on Parliament Hill Fields next Wed Aug 1st. We are so there (in fact, with bells on). Mrs Kentishtowner will, of course, reluctantly be leaving her heels at home.

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