1. The Rebirth Of What? As the race to attract the, er, post-Soho House pound quickens, two major landmarks are set to be reinvented in the new year: O’Reilly’s and Annie’s Bar. We can’t divulge much about the plans for the former yet, but a little bird tells us it’s all go at Annie’s over the road.
The Kentish Town Road venue’s legendary interior (above), which we admit we’ve struggled to warm to (a bit) over the years, is set to relaunch in January 2013 with a spanking new ‘rough luxe’ look – think exposed brick, industrial lighting, a little je ne sais quoi pourquoi. Plus there’ll be a ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ element, apparently, a simple food menu, and refreshed cocktail range. And yikes, is there a new name on the cards too?
So if that’s piqued your interest then check out the final of their own X Factor-style singing competition this Monday night (15 Oct). ‘The talent has been outstanding,’ gushes manager Donna. ‘We had hundreds of applicants and we are down to our last six artists.’ Cosmopolitans at the ready, girls; 7pm.
2. But Before that, Peruse Some Art. Frieze Art Fair returns to Regent’s Park today (till Oct 14) and it’s always worth a visit, even if you have zilch budget to spend on the hard stuff. This year a weighty 175 contemporary art galleries worldwide will be flogging their wares. (Our favourite experience? Standing next to Zadie Smith as we watched wealthy patrons posing live for the Chapman Brothers, as they depicted their sitters with trademark penis heads and vagina mouths).
3. Too Much Like Hard Work? Step off Prince of Wales Road into the Beardsmore for a few contemplative minutes. The compact contemporary gallery welcomes Francesca Simon back for her first solo exhibition, Taking Shape, from today. Peer through geometric shapes that cut into flat grey foregrounds, and see beyond to rubbed and scrubbed surfaces inspired by the landscape of North Yorkshire. And a mere scotch egg’s roll from new boozer the Grafton for post-culture critiquing. 22-24 Prince of Wales Road. 11 Oct – 9 Nov.
4. A Tad Pretentious? Try This. On an even cosier scale, soak up Mike McGoran’s new exhibition over coffee at Mario’s Cafe until 17 November 2012. It consists of black and white photographs of trees shot in the UK and France, a small selection from a much larger exhibition at the Chateau de Bosmelet, Normandy in 2009. Mike is a locally based advertising photographer, but this is his first personal work.
5. No More Art? Then Watch A Movie. Tufnell Park Film Club is run by notable meedja types including Nigel Something from the BBC. They’re really keen to get you lot on board so come to the next showing, upstairs at the Lord Palmerston in Tufnell Park, on Tuesday (16 Oct) – the old Burt Lancaster/Tony Curtis flick Sweet Smell of Success. 33 Dartmouth Park Hill, Starts 8pm. Free first visit and only £10 annual membership thereafter.
6. Or Eat Foraged Food At Some Expense. Tuesday is World Food Day, whatever that means, and Hampstead-based charity the Gaia Foundation is putting on a Wild Food Supper Club at nice Gospel Oak/Hampstead gastropub The Stag in collaboration with forager Miles Irving and chef Jesse Dunford Wood. The cost? £55 (includes wine & 4 courses). The Stag is at 67 Fleet Road. Yikes.
7. Finally, Keep An Eye Out For Our New Site. Yes, that’s the current masthead on the right. But we launch The Kentishtowner’s long-awaited new look on Monday. There’ll be new features and columns, including a smaller logo designed again by NW5 artist Russell Loughlan, a ‘Nearby’ button to use on the high street, as well as the unveiling of our new charitable sister project Young Kentishtowner. That’s all we can say for now. Till Monday!
And finally, Gavin at our new Community Pinboard sponsor Houspresso would like to thank the hundreds of readers who’ve come in to try his coffee since last Thursday. He tells us he was rammed last Saturday. Find his teeny-tiny little shop opposite Gospel Oak station.
Worth a detour, Kt-ers.
Words: Stephen Emms and Georgia Grimond
Got a story for the Pinboard? Email info@kentishtowner.co.uk
7 thoughts on “Community Pinboard: More Relaunches & A Dose of Art Too”
The only acceptable re-purposing of O’Reilly’s would be to expand E Mono into a K Town version of Dalston’s Mangal Ocakbasi. Otherwise why can’t just one boozer be left alone for the people who have been in NW5 well before the bloggers, the Bugaboos and the bien-pensents moved in? Both the Lion & Unicorn and the Grafton used to be working-class pubs and have now had soulless reworkings to chase that elusive gastro-pound. You literally can’t throw a brick in the air in NW5 without hitting a fifteen quid plate of sausage and mash. But no doubt here comes another starry-eyed trustafarian with too much money and a “me-too” attitude…
“Change and decay in all around I see”
Oh Uncle Theodore! Relax, my man. If you’re after a traditional boozer, don’t fear, there are still a rash to choose from in NW5 – how about the George IV on Holmes Road, Robert Peel on Queen’s Crescent, Fiddler’s Elbow on Prince Of Wales Road, the Gloucester Arms, Leighton Arms, The Oak on Mansfield Road or The Westport on Malden Road. Then there are great pubs like Tapping The Admiral, The Pineapple, and Southampton, all of which balance a mixed clientele really well and have cheap food options. Don’t say we don’t spoil you.
Uncle Theodore makes a valid point. A year ago O’Reilly’s would have been on your list. I think you know full well that the rest will be swallowed up soon. Well, maybe not the Gloucester Arms…How about a pub crawl review of them before it’s too late?
You’ve second-guessed us. A pub crawl review of traditional NW5 boozers is coming very soon!
very intrigued by Nigel Something from the BBC. Is that his real name?
Our sources tell us that Nigel Something is the pen name for someone Very Important at Radio 4. Yikes
Hi Tim – I’m really not that intriguing!