Camdenist presents your Friday morning essential read. Five local highlights and cultural happenings across the borough.

1

 GROW: A new magazine + a Google partnership 

It's been a big week for launching exciting new things here at Camdenist. On Wednesday we hosted the first event in our programme to help Camden's independent businesses to grow and to thrive. The partnership with Google sees an initial group of 20 local shops, cafés, designer-makers and more (many of whom you'll know) participate in a totally free series of events. Look out for their fascinating stories, coming soon. Today is also when the first copies of the new edition of our quarterly free magazine can be found across the borough. Camdenist Presents...Grow is 32-pages of urban gardening, personal growth ideas, technology, culture and interviews. It's a celebration of print, coming in the week that Time Out stopped printing its regular London edition, so go grab one, find a nice deck chair in the garden or park and enjoy a good screen-free read.

2

 EAT: Fatto a Mano in Pancras Square 

Brighton's famous pizzeria opened a brand new King's Cross branch yesterday, now serving their signature slow-proved Neapolitan-style pizzas (with fab vegan and gluten-free options) alongside five interesting beers on tap. Find them in Pancras Square, with pickup and delivery also available, of course, but we suggest you spend some time hanging out there, as it's a bit of an oasis at this time of year.

3

 WALK: Footways leads the way 

Recent fine summer weather and the train strike mean urban walks are very much the thing at the moment, even for those who rarely move around à pied the rest of the time. Footways is a network of quieter walking routes that aim to show how strolling about in central London can be really enjoyable anytime. They've produced some lovely maps that will be on sale soon, but if you are quick you can get one for free from the information booths at Euston or King's Cross stations. There's a digital map on the website, too.

4

 PARTY: Keats House throws garden bash 

Hampstead Summer Festival rolls on this weekend with the lovely Garden Party on Saturday afternoon at the famous Keats House & Community Library. Alongside the tea and cakes, kids activities, adults wine bar and giant chess, there's a chance to get up close to some birds of prey. 

5

 WIN: Festival weekend tickets for 4 

A weekend of Glastonbury envy awaits most of us, with images of the best-of-times beaming back from Pilton. However you could be dancing in a field that's just an hour's drive from Camden over the weekend of 29th - 30th July for free, as Camdenist has teamed up with boutique family festival Campo Sancho again this summer to offer you the chance to win 4 free full festival, camping and parking tickets. DJs include Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Bushwacka!, Dave Lee, Heidi Lawden, Trevor Fung and Omar singing live. Kids circus activities, brilliant local food, hot showers and loads more too, all put together by  the Sancho Panza soundsystem crew, who ruled at Notting Hill Carnival for many years. Head to @camdenist Instagram to enter now - good luck!  

 MORE: from Camdenist 

• FOOD: Vibe N Go - Camden's hidden backstreet BBQ

• HEALTH: Fitness tips from Kentish Town's Form Room

• AWARDS REVISITED: Local Care Champion, Carolyn Hayman OBE

• MUSIC: Musicians behinds bars - meet the creatives working in hospitality

• LOCAL HISTORY: 10 amazing facts you might not know about North Yard

THIS WEEK'S ONE-CLICK POLL 

Distraction is the scourge of modern living, so how well do you feel you cope with the constant bombardment of interruptions, notifications and stray thoughts?

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:

What do you think a potential new owner of Camden Market should do with the iconic destination?

&

 UP NEXT...  more local events, stories & gossip from Camdenist  

Camden elects a new set of

Youth MPs

from next week - check out the

candidates videos

and get involved (if you are under 18) 

 >>> 

US burger joint Wendy's has commissioned

Camden Open Air Gallery

artists to paint a huge 

sassy mural

to celebrate their opening in Camden Town next week

 >>>

 The long-awaited

Peaky Blinders: The Rise

immersive theatre show

opens tonight

in Camden Market's North Yard 

>>>

 lconic Haverstock Hill pub

Sir Richard Steele

has reopened with a new

food and events

offering plus some great new beers  

>>>

 Diminutive local gig venue Camden Assembly was thankfully spared when this big fire broke out in the flats next door last week, instead the venue caused a roadblock with an intimate gig by stadium rockers Twenty One Pilots on Wednesday

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