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: Indulge yourself locally at NoMad 

With international travel looking decidedly iffy for some time to come, Camdenists are lucky enough to have the first international location of New York's uber-stylish

NoMad Hotel

 newly opened up just down the road. Their world class design team have transformed the already sumptuous surrounds of the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court into a luxurious hotspot of art and carefully curated interior design. A sure-fire winner if you're considering an urban summer staycation splurge, or put it on the list for the next special drink or meal in the lush atrium dining room (pictured) to feel like you've been truly transported somewhere way more exotic than the streets of Covent Garden outside.

 BOOK NOW: Luna Cinema and live gigs on the Heath 

There are loads of outdoor cinema operators knocking about (no doubt more than ever this post-lockdown alfresco everything summer), however 

Luna Cinema

 trumps the lot by specialising in stunning landmark backdrops to their shows. They roll into Camden from 21-25 July, where Kenwood House will provide the perfect moonlit stately home silver screen vibes. Tickets for classic films including Cinema Paradiso, Notting Hill and a sing-a-long The Greatest Showman are selling fast here. Meanwhile, also now booking are the rearranged Heritage Live concerts featured in last week's wider list of brilliant Camden festivals. It sees Culture Club, Rag'n'Bone Man, James and David Rodigan's Outlook Orchestra play actual gigs again in front of actual crowds, from 19-22 August. 🥳

 PLAY: Chess club at MAP Cafe 

Beloved backstreet music venue and all-day hangout MAP Studio Café had to crowd-fund to make it through the lockdowns. Thankfully now back in business and open every day of the week, MAP is exactly the kind of community asset we all need to visit this summer to get Camden's economy thriving again. While we await the imminent return of live music, they also have a chess club that runs every Thursday from 6pm, with all ages welcome - the perfect social antidote to staying at home for months.

 WATCH: Virtual Loudest Whispers show for Pride 

It should have been the rainbow-clad riot of the Pride parade this weekend if lockdown hadn't lingered, but here we are. So in the spirit of the era, the 13th annual Loudest Whispers exhibition has shifted to become a virtual gallery, featuring the work of 38 LGBTQ+ artists, plus videos of them talking about the creative process. It's a surprisingly 'real' way to enjoy paintings, sculpture and more. Find out more about the Regent's Pride Network, for loads more locally, too.

 OFFERS: Exclusive Camdenist discounts this week 

Remember to take advantage of the local special offers we've negotiated for readers running until the end of June (ie Wednesday). Get 15% off your total bill at the new Powerplant vegan restaurant inside the Selina on Chalk Farm Rd. Full review of Camden's hip new hotspot here. Alternatively, grab some fresh pasta on-the-go with 50% off regular dishes at the new Remoli takeout next to the Eurostar in St Pancras Station. Read the interview with their founder here. And get fit for summer with 50% off the joining fee at Highgate Rd's The Basement LDN. Read all about their new gym here. All it takes is to mention Camdenist when booking and the discounts are all yours...

 THIS WEEK'S ONE-CLICK POLL This week on Camdenist.com there's an extended interview with Philippa Found, creator of cult website Lockdown Love Stories: anonymous accounts of relationships, sex and human connection in the time of Corona. How would you rate your own experience of lockdown love life? 

LAST WEEK WE ASKED:

E-scooter trials have begun in other parts of London, so how would you welcome their arrival in Camden?

As you might expect, there's a fairly cool response to the prospect of loads more e-scooters on our roads. However, the combination of rapid innovation and the need to get us all out of our polluting cars - especially for shorter local trips - means they are likely arriving soon to transform our streetscapes...

 COMMUNITY: Refer friends and WIN 

How does 4 free music festival tickets including VIP return eco-taxi travel directly to/from the campsite sound? Here's how you can win:

• Share your unique link (below) on social media, Whatsapp groups or by email

• Tell friends you could all be partying together at the boutique Campo Sancho festival at the end of July

• The more friends who sign up to receive this email, the more chances you all have to win the prize.

• You currently have *|RH_TOTREF|* entries in the prize draw, and have until July 9th to add loads more. Full details here. This summer is really looking up 🤩

 Copy your unique referral link:    

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