Community Pinboard: Green-fingered Poetry, Dance Around The World – and a Reader Warning

1. Get Out of the Garden and into the Pub. We haven’t been to the Colonel Fawcett – formerly one of our favourite openings this year – for aeons. But this Saturday might require a return visit for some green-fingered poetry courtesy of St. John Stephen, otherwise known as the ‘Hanging Gardener of Babylon’. Well respected in the London scene, he’ll be bringing ‘Room of Abandon’, a day of verse, music and open mic. So, why not put down that trowel and head on over for a pint and a poem? 7pm.

2. Get Out of the Pub… and into Another Pub. Finally of a legal drinking age itself, the 18th Beer Festival at the Junction Tavern gets underway this weekend, Friday to Sunday. Twenty, yes twenty, beers will be ready and waiting your perusal – amongst them winners from the Great British Beer Festival 2012 along with some seasonal specials from independent brewers. There’s even a discount for beardy types with CAMRA card in clammy paw. Arrive early if you want to sample all that’s on offer – although we’re not condoning 20 pints of course.

3. After All That Booze For Heaven’s Sake Be Careful . We had an email this week demonstrating the two sides of KT. A reader was sadly mugged of her phone cutting down Fortress Walk at around 7pm on Wednesday last week, yet the selflessness of others around her, who jumped to her assistance, meant she happily got her phone back. So be aware K-Towners, with the evenings getting darker keep your yourselves safe. And from the lady herself, a big ‘thank you to all of the lovely people who ran over to help me, and to check that I was OK afterwards, but especially the man with a beard’ who chased the mugger away. Yay. Maybe he has a CAMRA card too.

4. She Survived! So Let’s Celebrate And Dance. The twelth annual Dance Around The World Festival takes place this weekend at Cecil Sharp House in lovely Primrose Hill. It’s a community festival over two days which sees performers and teachers provide a non-stop programme from a bleary 10am to a weary 11pm each day (Sat & Sun, £12 each day or £20 per weekend). Visitors will be able to watch and try for themselves traditional dance forms like Flamenco, Indian, Caribbean, South East European, Tango. Just don’t go after all that booze at the Junction. More info here.

5. Hungover? Now Eat Cake. Who fancies a Mad Hatters Tea party, then? Coole Cakes of Hampstead are throwing such an affair on Sunday at Kentish Town Community Centre in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Take the kids along from 3-5pm for cakes, cupcakes and bite-size treats and help and an excellent cause. Plus, it’s National Baking Week, so it’d be rude not to celebrate.

6. Before All That, Jump Around A Bit. Limber up for all that ale and cake at West Country band’s Yes Sir Boss’s first ever Camden gig tonight. The indie-ska six piece, who are signed to Joss Stone’s label Stone’d Records, headline Parkway’s Jazz Cafe – a venue we haven’t been to for a while, either – to accompany the release of their debut album Desperation State.

7. And Finally…Back To The Pub. For Charideee, right? Everyone enjoys a good pub quiz, no? And what makes it even better? When it’s for a Good Cause. The local Amnesty group is taking over the back room at The Abbey, from 7.30pm tonight, in aid of Amnesty International and The Prisoners of Conscience. Prizes include a Whole Foods hamper, a meal for two at Haché as well as cakes, champagne and chocolates; and at £3.50 entry you’d be mad not to do your bit. You can even pop by the Jazz Cafe afterwards.

Words: Conor Fisk

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