It's here again! The Crouch End Festival, UK's largest community arts event, is now in its fifth year, and this, the 2016 festival will be bigger than ever. There's everything from open air cinema, live music, art, poetry, food and even a Latino Day when Crouch End goes all Latin. Check out the … [Read more...]
Father’s Day lunch at Heirloom, London N8
The Englishman enjoying his Father's Day pre-lunch pint.There's a new kid in the restaurant block in Crouch End, called Heirloom. Both the Englishman and I have been watching the changing shopfront of the restaurant on Park Road while walking past on our way into town on a Saturday, or passing … [Read more...]
Comedy Downstairs at the King’s Head
Last Saturday, on the spur of the moment, and because of The Englishman's recent interest in stand-up comedy (more about this later in the year), we decided to check out the Comedy Cabaret Downstairs at The King's Head. I'd heard great many good things about the acts that perform there, so I was … [Read more...]
Crouch End Knowledge – Done!
On a complete spur of the moment, the Englishman and I decided to go on a pub crawl last night. He'd been going on and on about the fact that I'd not finished The Knowledge (this self-imposed task involves visiting every pub in the area) and thought last night was good as any to finally achieve my … [Read more...]
Crouch End Knowledge: Scarlet Rage Vintage
I have to come clean: I don't like vintage shops. The only good item I've ever got in a second hand shop (as they used to be called) was a beautiful Victorian christening gown for Son. And that was nearly twenty-six years ago. (Time flies). I still have it, for the next generation, and I truly … [Read more...]
Jazz and Swing in North London
Photo: BBC I've been loving the new BBC Two drama, Dancing on Edge directed by Stephen Poliakoff and starring the fantastic Chiwetel Eijofor and Matthew Goode, among other big stars. It's a story of a jazz and swing band in 1930's London, and the acting, direction, plot and above all … [Read more...]
4 reasons why I’ll never forget 2012
Another year is nearly over and after such an eventful 2012 in London (Olympics etc!), personally I too have had quite a remarkable year. Here are the four major reasons why.1. In January '12 we finally took the plunge on the property market and moved into our own flat in Crouch End. I cannot … [Read more...]
Life Touch Massage in Crouch End and my old life in the country.
Eleonora at Life Touch MassageI've been suffering from a painful shoulder since last December. But it wasn't until May this year, when the pain became acute, that I decided I needed to go and see somebody. I found a web page for Eleonora at Life Touch Massage, read the testimonials, and decided I … [Read more...]
Brunch at The Blue Legume Cafe, London N8
When we moved to this particular corner of North London last January, I set out to do The Crouch End Knowledge, i.e. visit all pubs, bars and cafes in the N8 area and report back to you. But, due to some other important business (such as the publishing of my book), this task has been rather on … [Read more...]
My Interview at Tania Writes
Tania HershamnTania's latest book.Tania is one of my writing heroes. I've known her since we ended up in the same critique group on our MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa, and I've greatly admired her beautifully succinct and clever short stories ever since. As expected both of Tania's … [Read more...]
