Your Friday morning essential read. Five local highlights you really need to know, researched and presented with enthusiasm by the team at Camdenist

 EAT & DRINK: Pop-up brings 'LA Thai' to Holborn 

Rondo La Cave is the natural wine bar and subterranean pop-up space beneath The Hoxton Holborn, which from Tuesday (17th) becomes hot new Thai-American fusion joint Chet's. For the next four months, you can tuck in to a menu of classic American diner food infused with Thai flavours courtesy of Kris Yenbamroong (renowned internationally for LA's Thai food hangout Night+Market). Full info here. In other local food gossip The Patate, the Camden Market food stall that took French beef Bourguinon burgers to Kentish Town Rd, have upped sticks again to a new home just i bit further down the road in Seven Dials. Find them now in Neal St. And another launch bash went down last night at The Camden, from Shoreditch beermeisters E1 Brew Co, bringing back the former Purple Turtle venue as a feeder party bar directly opposite the shiny new KOKO. Head there for comedy, karaoke and other lively events at Mornington Crescent's classic pre-gig rendezvous spot.

 CULTURE: Camden's rich historical threads 

London Festival of Architecture

 runs throughout June, and with the Borough of Camden picked as one if this year's key focus areas, there are masses of local highlights which have already started to get into gear. Last night saw the launch of

Somers Town Museum

 pop-up on Phoenix Rd, offering an exhibition, curated film screenings with Q&As, walking tours, radical printing workshops (pictured above) and the painting of a giant mural. It's part of the

packed calendar of events

celebrating the area's vital role in the history of social housing and well worth checking out to book some of the popular ones. Meanwhile, at the nearby

Charles Dickens Museum

, you can step back in time with a special summer show dedicated to his debut novel

The Pickwick Papers

. Last night was also the world premiere of

Copperfield: The Musical

 at Highgate's

Upstairs at the Gatehouse

. This was Dickens' favourite of all his novels, and with many scenes set in the streets that surround the theatre today it's an evocative place to enjoy new music and performance all about writer and his famous characters. Runs to 5th June. 

 MUSIC: Live at the HEX tonight 

Fancy a totally unique musical experience this evening? Stop by the listed brutalist Assembly Hall at Acland Burghley School to discover the first in a series of multi-genre concerts. LIVE AT THE HEX features seasoned musicians, including the school's resident orchestra the OAE, special guests and young performers across four different stages. Wander around (pausing at the bar) listening to the 'live playlist'. It's on from 7pm and you'll need a ticket. Intrigued by a local school having an orchestra-in-residence? Find out more in the full Camdenist interview.

 FAMILY: Pub lunch in peace 

Lovely just-refurbed

West Hampstead

pub

The Alliance

 is the latest spot to offer a merciful space for parents to eat out - while someone else deals with the littluns for a rare moment. 

The Kid's Table

is a free service where creative carers entertain the over 3's with crafts, mask decorating, tabletop games and more, Sundays from 12-4pm. If you're travelling to see friends further afield, they operate in masses of other pubs and restaurants across the capital too.

 WELLBEING: Calmness on the canal 

Paddling along Regent's Canal always looks like a tranquil pursuit, and good folk at

The Pirate Castle

know that not only is it great for upper body and core strength, it does indeed have a positive impact on stress and calming the mind, too. That's why they've just launched

Men's Wellness on the Water, 

casting off on fortnightly Sundays from their fortified home. Book ahead as places are limited. A male instructor guides a small group followed by a social chat. Beginners are welcome.

 MORE: from Camdenist 

• VIDEO: Walking the length of Camden's buried River Fleet

• FOOD: The Top 10 Brunches in Primrose Hill

• AWARDS REVISITED: The Old Crown pub, Holborn - pivoting during Covid

• MUSIC: BBC's Robert Elms on Camden's enduring musical attraction

• LOCAL HISTORY: Bloomsbury School memories of 1911

THIS WEEK'S ONE-CLICK POLL

With Somers Town 'people's' Museum popping up as part of the LFA, how much did you know about the role of this often-neglected part of Camden in the history of UK social housing and radical activism?

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:

We have to admit that a...errr... slight error on last week's email meant the actual question part of the poll had dropped off the final message 😳. However apparently enough of what we were talking about was contained in the answers for for the following votes to clock up, regardless. Basically, locals are fairly curious about this new kind of offering at Camden Market, so many of you will be clambering, zip-wiring or dressing in 1920s clothing down there some day soon....

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