Your Friday morning essential read. Five local feel-good highlights, including exclusive special offers and events. Prepared with love by the team at Camdenist

 EAT: Booking Office 1869 

If you've had your Christmas party season frustrated or scaled back by cancellations in recent days, never fear. There are still plenty of ways to have a thoroughly festive, Covid-safe night out locally. High up the list must be treating yourself to a dinner splurge at the just-renovated,

Grade II listed Booking Office 1869

in the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. It was always heavy on refined Steam Age nostalgia and glamour, but now former

Chiltern Firehouse

and

Allegra

chef, Patrick Powell, has transformed the menu to truly befit the sumptuous surroundings. Expect classic dishes with a quality modern twist, plus strong cocktails with Victorian influences. With the subtly lit gothic stonework inside, and the twinkling lights on the concourse outside, Christmas most definitely isn't cancelled here. Remember to check out Camdenist's daily Advent Calendar guide to the many attractions of shopping and socialising in St Pancras Station all this month, too.

 EXPLORE: Open studios and Christmas markets 

Rochester Square's open studios are back tomorrow with a treasure trove of handmade work to browse. You can buy rejected ceramic pots for as little as 50p, while supporting the community studios in the process. If you're on the hunt for unique gifts, head to King's Cross for Casa Pastor's Mexican Christmas Market where you can pick up artisanal clothing and crafts, as well as traditional sweet bread and hot chocolate. The neighbouring Canopy Christmas Market will be on all weekend too, as will the Lower Stable Street Market where you can find food and drink options alongside quality gifts and handmade crafts. Whilst you're there, stop by the Prism tree in Coal Drops Yard, a 28 feet tall kaleidoscopic installation covered in angled lights and mirrors, and Tenemos, another radiant seasonal spectacle, well worth a visit in Granary Square. 

 WALK: With London's ghosts 

Euston's

New Diorama Theatre

have devised a free app that guides you on a ghost walk through the City of London. An incredible cast will tell stories in your headphones, including Olivier Award-winner Juliet Stevenson, Adam Buxton, Lydia West, Tanya Reynolds, Paterson Joseph, Nina Wadia, and David Mumeni. This weekend's inaugural guided events are sold out, but you can talke the walk anytime if you download the app and follow these instructions. 

 DANCE: Club nights return to King's Cross 

Tomorrow night, award-winning UK Garage DJ Spoony is at Lafayette for a Christmas Party special. The hot new King's Cross venue got to open its doors for a mere two weeks before the pandemic saw them forced to shut. Now it's back with a strong live gig line-up, plus they have some some extended late night festive club events too, which also includes Romesh Ranganathan Hip Hop Saved My Life New Year's Eve party with the excellent DJ Jaguar Skills. 

On that note...

Early January sees us publish the next free print magazine: Camdenist presents...the night. We're supporting the late night hospitality and culture sectors at a time when they will really need us all to go out and enjoy what they offer. 

Email us to find out more.

 VIDEO: The magical toy shop in Gospel Oak 

Many locals will be mourning the passing of legendary owner of eponymous toy and dolls house miniatures emporium 

Kristin Baybars

, who sadly died at the end of last month. Her quirky shop on Mansfield Rd has been beloved of generations of children for nearly 50 years, and you can recapture the magic via this enchanting short film by Alex Osman and Justin Allder, narrated by Kristin herself. The shop has been closed in recent months due to Covid, but the passionate staff intend to open it up as soon as possible. 

 THIS WEEK'S ONE-CLICK POLL As Christmas creeps ever closer, how is your present-buying going this year? 

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:

Camden's lovely public waterways are just as busy these days in winter as summer, day and night. But how do you feel about walking along the canal?

Camdenists are a bunch of waterway-lovers, with less people fearing the lawless former reputation of the Regent's Canal that in days gone by. With the C6 route reducing much of the cycle traffic on the towpath these days, perhaps the nervous 23% should reconsider? What better time for a frosty canalside walk to check out the floating market that starts on Monday alongside The Lighterman restaurant in King's Cross, too. 

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