This week’s Highlights
Kentish Town’s new Turkish, Korean & a wine bar
If you’re partial to a Turkish grill, we wager you’ll already be a fan of hopping on the Overground to Green Lanes for a proper scran. However, now one of the leading restaurants from that legendary Harringay strip has conveniently opened a new outpost over this way – directly opposite Kentish Town tube. It’s surprisingly big inside, including a huge counter up front groaning with mouthwatering dishes. Also new to the area is Korean spot Bonga, serving classic fried chicken, donburi, soba noodles, bibimbap and BBQ dishes on Fortess Rd (the site vacated when sushi heroes Kami moved just down the road). Also, nearby Kentish Town Stores launch their brand new wine bar tonight, and to celebrate, there’s 50% off list price on all low intervention by-the-glass wines, and 10% off bottles to take home.
Curling at Coal Drops, Back to the Future in Camden
King’s Cross has brought back last year’s curiously compelling curling rink located in the heart of Coal Drops Yard, offering a nicely affordable wintery thing to do (£7 per person and under 12’s free), if you are won over by the art of sliding stones competitively along an ice lane. Meanwhile just up the canal, Camden Market have announced the latest scoop in their ever-increasing range of blockbuster ‘experiences’, with the arrival of the Back to the Future movie memorabilia exhibition coming this month at Hawley Wharf. Set the date on the flux capacitor clock for Nov 26th, 2022.
An Italian family story (with Lee Scratch Perry)
Mario’s Café is a Camden backstreet breakfast institution that’s been serving classic ‘caff’ fayre since way back in 1958, and has been owned by members of the Saggese family all that time. Local audio artist and writer, Ivan d’Avoine, was drawn to record a 15-min audio documentary with Mario when tracing one of the café’s many infamous stories through the years – the time reggae royalty Lee Scratch Perry came in for a sandwich and cryptically nailed a 20p coin to a tree outside. Listen to the story now.
Free family display at Corams Fields tonight
Camden has largely swerved organised fireworks displays since the demise of the dangerous-but-stunning displays on Primrose Hill, set against the twinkling backdrop of Central London back in the day. One exception to the rule though is the special early event for kids at Corams Fields, which returns tonight after a two-year Covid hiatus. The event is free to attend with the gates opening at 3.30pm for those coming straight after school, and the display firing off at 6pm, so you can get home in good time before your shattered, well-sugared progeny launch a similarly explosive meltdown.
AFRICAN AFRIQUOI at Lafayette
Fusing African dance music, Congolese guitar and Gambian kora with electronic music, this live 6-piece band are bringing something special to Lafayette. Fri 04 Nov
DREAM POP JADU at The Underworld
This pioneering Berlin singer has created her own genre: military dream-pop, blending social criticism with dream pop and martial style figures. Sat 05 Nov
REGGAE REGGAE STREET at Fiddler’s Elbow
The Reggae Street Band ft. Jhay Palmer are bringing good vibes and classic reggae tunes. Followed by a set from DJ PRODIIG. Sun 06 Nov
NEO-SOUL DON’T TOUCH MY HERITAGE at Cafe KOKO (pictured above)
An intimate line up of three artists accompanied by the DMTH Live band in celebration of London’s diasporic culture. There’ll also be designers and DJs, a photobooth and live art. Tickets are free but necessary. Mon 07 Nov
CLASSICAL COMPOSERS’ PLATFORMat the Royal Academy of Music
This free concert showcases new works by the Academy’s composition students. Tues 8 Nov
& Also
Lucky commuters passing through St Pancras International were treated to a surprise live performance from talented singer-songwriter Tom Odell last week. If you missed it, his stint on the station’s famous Elton John piano is up now on their Insta Reels >>> Stack and Dome is the new gourmet burger spot at Buck Street Market, with premium toppings and sides. Also new in the eco-focused shipping containers are tandoori street food specialists Frankies and the latest branch of fast-growing South American eatery Taste of Venezuela. >>> As part of the ongoing Black History Season, eight biographies of significant individuals of African and Caribbean heritage linked to Camden, and whose achievements led to significant social change, is currently on show at Camden Local Studies and Archives Centre at Holborn Library >>> The latest podcast from the Camden Clean Air Initiative speaks to Camden’s Mayor, Nasim Ali, about his life in politics, charitable work, supporting and representing the borough’s large Bengali community. >>> Strong work by ethical finance lot Algbra, who caught our attention with their guerilla flyering this week for their upcoming Chai Mama free financial empowerment meet-up for young women and mothers, taking place at Chalk Farm Rd’s Luminary Bakery on Monday.urk
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Camden Fringe Review: A Lady Does Not Scratch Her Crotch
A joyful romp through the baffling world of sexual awakening, complete with an audience participation kissing finale
Spider: a black comedy where ‘Whiplash’ meets ‘The Goonies’
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Jun Noh on his play Things Between Heaven and Earth
This psychological thriller sees a widow discover her husband’s affair – and murder – through a book written by their close friend. It explores the ethical implications of writers using their and others’ lives as material for their work.