SHOPPING: K-Town Spex
Just in time for an ethical Christmas pressie or two, local eyewear designer Gillian Caplan has launched a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pop-up store at Tolli’s much-missed former patisserie. The cutely-named K-Town Spex sells a range of stylish “timeless” eyewear from £20-350, with net profits going to Eyes For East Africa, who work to eradicate preventable blindness in Kenya and support children in need of spectacles who cannot afford them. Find out more about Caplan’s range of glasses here. K-Town Spex is at 327 Kentish Town Road daily until 30th November, follow@gilliancaplan.
MUSIC: The return of NW5’s Musical Advent Calendar
Last Christmas in peak lockdown we published an article about local musician mothers who put together a musical advent calendar, recording individually and remotely in lockdown. It proved extremely popular, and this year, these enterprising women have finally been able to record with each other in person to produce “an even more exciting musical advent calendar”, says soprano Suzy Robinson. “It’s brimming with fantastic performances for each of the advent ‘windows’, all recorded specially for this project, spanning many genres, and we have old Christmas favourites alongside new arrangements, and some world premieres too.” Support this inspiring NW5 festive initiative here.
EVENT: Festive Lights return
And finally, great to see a special seasonal Saturday evening hitting the streets next weekend. The prosaically named Kentish Town Lights are back on the 27th at 5pm, when lamp posts will be lit up from the Assembly House pub right down to the junction of Prince Of Wales Road. There’ll be free food thanks to local businesses, late-night shopping and general merry-making on the high street, as well as a schedule of cockles-warming live music on Islip Street curated by the nearby Oxford Tavern. Sounds unmissable, right? Starts 430pm-630pm, 27th November, follow @kentishtownlights
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