
1. Swan about in a horse-drawn carriage
This Saturday, 13th December, you’ll be able to whoop it up like a true Dickensian and take a horse-drawn ride in a carriage around Dartmouth Park. No, really! Clever old Lee Smyth from Truffles – who once worked in the Royal Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment – is using his equine connections to add a splash of seasonal theatricality to his beloved locale. Bookings are for half hour slots all day – book through Truffles Deli. Tickets £12.50 adults, £8.50 kids. 33 York Rise NW5
2. See the bloke from Supergrass – and support a charity
3. Don’t miss 501 things
The first two performances of fast-rising local playwright Nicola Wren’s one-woman show, 501 Things I Do In My Bedroom, sold out in about twenty minutes after her piece on these pages a few weeks back. And, having LOL-ed our way through the show – which is loosely about identity and self-discovery – we can confirm that this twentysomething is severely talented. Funny, poignant and pacy, 501 Things makes a rip-roaring yet reflective hour that we highly recommend. One night only, Friday Dec 19, 930pm Etcetera Theatre, Camden High Street.
4. Shop – and booze – at the Grafton Xmas Market
5. Scoff a seasonal ice cream
Increasingly award-winning local parlour Ruby Violet is not letting you ignore them until the weather warms up next year. Hell no! They’ve been busy concocting such crazy flavours as mince pie, marzipan, and gingerbread ice creams, along with mulled wine, and chandon, elderflower & orange sorbet, all made into Christmas balls, bombes and logs, along with a few zingy, zesty and boozy treats to get any party going. 118 Fortess Rd NW5
6. Splash out on a posh lunch
7. Shimmy on down to London’s only 1950s fair
A mid century market is making its debut at Cecil Sharp House on the Camden Town/Primrose Hill borders on Sunday 14th December. High quality of stall holders guarenteed from clothing and homeware to records and jewellery, all either inspired by the fifties or true vintage pieces. 1030-4pm. £3 2 Regent’s Park Road NW1
8. Nibble on a raw vegan Xmas cake
9. Stock up on pressies in a contemporary art gallery
There are festive markets galore this weekend. Kentish Town City Farm has theirs on Sunday (12-4pm) while on two consecutive Saturdays (13 and 20) the Zabludowicz Collection is hosting a Christmas Fair showcasing a selection of artists and designers. To get punters a little merry, there’s mulled wine and mince pies too. And if you haven’t seen the current solo exhibition by Lizzie Fitch/Ryan Trecartin, it’s ker-azy stuff, disturbing and about as un-Xmassy as is possible. Which all makes for a delightful juxtaposition. 12-6pm Thurs-Sat. 176 Prince Of Wales Road NW5
10. NYE: posh cocktails or raving?
And one more…
Book today for A Winter’s Tale at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre, which continues its Shakespeare Sessions with this classic tale of obsession and the path to redemption. Starts tonight, until Jan 3. Tickets: £19 (Adults)/£15 (Concessions) Box Office: 08444 77 1000 or here. 42-44 Gaisford Street, NW5