Launch Email 10

Open House, a reopened theatre, and very cheap drinks

After a week of fully-fledged Indian Summer, keep the sunshine vibes alive with our latest selection of brilliant things to do

> Friday 18 September 2020

 Peak behind closed doors 

This is your timely reminder that Open House weekend kicks off tomorrow - back for 2020 with a combination of building visits, guided and self-guided walking and cycle tours, plus a big online programme. Nearby highlights include the newly reopened Cartoon Museum, Kenwood House, St Pancras clock tower, and Camden's beautiful but little-known Fitzroy Park Allotments. Booking is required for most visits, so best start plotting your route.

  Brad Pitt, pizza and gin  

If you're looking for an alternative night out this Saturday, Lost Boys Pizza are ticking are a few boxes - combining cocktails, pizza and vampires with back yard movie screenings. As if 2020 wasn't already scary enough, join them for an immersive viewing of the 1994 classic ‘Interview With The Vampire’, with tickets including three cocktails from City of London Distillery. Brad Pitt, pizza and gin, in Mornington Crescent - what more could you want?

 The wonder of wandering 

Conway Hall is marking the publication of new book 'Wanderers: A History of Women Walking' with an online discussion with author Kerri Andrews on Wednesday. For many of us, walking the streets and green spaces of Camden became a lifeline during the more restrictive lockdown months, and Andrews knows just how important this can be. Her book traces the lives of ten women who have found walking essential to their sense of self - from Virginia Woolf roving around Bloomsbury, to Nan Shepherd hill walking in Scotland.

 Queer here 

Queering Camden is on a mission to create a living map of queerness in all its forms across the borough, welcoming local stories from anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+. As more queer spaces close and LGBTQ+ people face higher rates of mental health problems due to Coronavirus, this project celebrates the community and reclaims space by digitally mapping queerness all around us. Their first online exhibition of work by artists exploring their experiences launches tomorrow.

 Pub theatre to return 

Starved culture vultures are celebrating the announcement that Kentish Town's lovely

 

pub venue,

The Lion & Unicorn Theatre

, are preparing to

for Covid-safe performances from Wednesday 30th September. They're back with some brand new work, plus some old favourites, as well as re-launching their submissions process - which offers support for emerging theatre makers, at a time when it's surely never been so vital.

 Need a local COVID test? 

With the Government's track and trace website currently frustrating the nation, remember this very handy spreadsheet containing all the info on walk-in centres closer to home. Put together by a Camden resident, it's grown to include locations in other London boroughs, and has saved locals many hours in recent days.

  • Camden People's Theatre have had the genius idea of hosting a Best Before Party to make sure they don't lose their booze to its expiration date. Round up five friends and book an hour of heavily discounted drinks in a special venue.

  • We love joining Kentish Town City Farm for their annual London Harvest Festival antics. This year is set to be the same but different as it moves online for the first time on Saturday. Sign up to meet the animals, join cook-a-longs, and partake in some virtual fireside revelry.

  • This week, Anneke of the Camden Watch Company has been telling us about the huge impact - and subsequent quick thinking - that lockdown forced upon the business, and it's flagship store in Camden Market's North Yard.

  • If September's back-to-school vibe has got you in the mood to attend a class of your own then Camden's WM College is on hand to get you learning with a selection of fun and creative short courses in arts, crafts, digital creativity and much more.

  • Good news for quiz heads – the Dartmouth Arms’ Tuesday night quiz has returned, with cash prizes up for grabs every week. Inevitably, there’s a maximum of six people per team, and you’ll need to book ahead.

  • Green School Runs (GSR) Park & Stride is a practical solution for getting children to school, offering the opportunity to drive part of the way, parking, and then walking the rest. Parents with children in the NW3 area can sign up to join a trial of the scheme with free parking at the O2 Centre.

  • The purchase of legendary Camden Town music venue Dingwalls by steady hand Vince Power was one bit of positive news for the local gig scene during lockdown. But a legal wrangle means he's not able to use the historic name, instead having to call it The Powerhaus, when it reopens - hopefully soon.

  • Now is the time to have your say on the future of the canalside around Camley Street and St Pancras Way. Take a look at the council's draft planning documents to influence future development in the area.

  • Euston's innovate dance space, The Place, is preparing for a new season of classes and events for all ages, including screenings next week of the award winning short film 'Lost Dog - In a Nutshell'.

  • The Jewish Museum has a host of events lined up for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, including talks, quizzes and family activities.

  • Midweek diners rejoice, the popular Eat Out To Help Out scheme lives on in September in many of the eateries of King's Cross, including The Lighterman, Happy Face Pizza, Arabica London, Hicce, Vinoteca, and Drake and Morgan. 

Camdenist is collaborative and transparent by design. We'd love all locals to participate, so we've built a form where you can send us ideas on who or what we should be featuring. You may even want to produce the piece yourself? Let us know.

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