February 2011

London / photos

Pic of the day: a pair of photographers, South Bank, London

Mon 28th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Two snapshots in progress, the South Bank, London. [More photos]

London / Places

Critical Mass bike ride, London Feb 2011

Mon 28th February, 2011Sun 27th February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Assembling on the last Friday of every month underneath Waterloo Bridge, central London, Critical Mass is an ‘unorganised coincidence’ which involves a lot of cyclists all deciding to cycle the …

Brixton / Clubs & Nightlife

Captain Hotknives and Atilla the Stockbroker in SW9

Mon 28th February, 2011Mon 28th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

This was a great night out in SW9, with the Acoustic Insurgency benefit night serving up punk poet Atilla the Stockbroker and the hilarious Captain Hotknives.

Clubs & Nightlife / London / Places

Monochrome Set at Popfest, 100 Club, London

Sun 27th February, 2011Sun 27th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

It was great to see my old mates The Monochrome Set playing last night at the fabulous London Popfest, the 100 Club, London.

Brixton / Clubs & Nightlife / photos / Places

Offline DJ special – photos from the mayhem! 25th Feb 2011

Sat 26th February, 2011Sat 26th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

I was rather expecting a bit of a quiet night seeing as it was a last minute booking and we had no bands playing but – blimey – the place …

New York / Places

A rainy night in Manhattan, New York

Fri 25th February, 2011Thu 24th February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Turn up the Frank Sinatra on your MP3 player, pull up your collars, light up a Marlboro, tilt your trilby at a jaunty angle and take a stroll with me …

Brixton / photos / Places / railways

Brixton station in the steam era (1950s footage)

Thu 24th February, 2011Wed 23rd February, 2011 - by editor - 1 Comment

Filmed in the 1950s, this fascinating amateur-shot footage (below) shows a tantalisingly short glimpse of steam trains thundering through a Brixton station still controlled by mechanical signals.

Brixton / photos / Places

Lambeth Town Hall occupied by anti-cuts protesters, 23rd Feb 2011

Wed 23rd February, 2011Thu 24th February, 2011 - by editor - 7 Comments.

There were lively scenes in Lambeth tonight as angry protesters stormed the Town Hall to disrupt the council’s meeting to vote on its proposed huge budget cuts.

Clubs & Nightlife / New York / photos / Places / railways

The Ear Inn – the oldest working bar in NYC, with a Nunhead connection

Wed 23rd February, 2011Wed 23rd February, 2011 - by editor - 1 Comment

The Ear Inn at 326 Spring Street, NY (btw. Greenwich and Washington) claims to be the oldest working bar in NYC and is a designated Landmark of the City of New York.

Places

Lambeth Council cuts budget vote – demo in Brixton, 6pm 23rd Feb

Tue 22nd February, 2011Tue 22nd February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

This is tomorrow – and I’ll be there! Please come along if you can. Read on for the full press release from Save Our Services including details of the protest.

Brixton / Places

Cafe Sitifis review, 11 Rushcroft Road, London SW2 1JS

Tue 22nd February, 2011Tue 22nd February, 2011 - by editor - 7 Comments.

Tucked away off the main drag of Brixton’s Coldharbour Lane is Cafe Sitifis, a friendly cafe serving up a reasonably-priced selection of meze, hot and cold paninis, cooked and continental breakfasts, …

Brixton / Clubs & Nightlife / music / Places

The Nuns rock Brixton Windmill

Mon 21st February, 2011Mon 21st February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Last night I went along to a benefit gig at the Brixton Windmill to raise funds for Sedgehill School of Lewisham’s school trip. Once I’d stopped gazing in awe at the Windmill’s shiny …

Brixton / Places

Brixton Nuclear Dawn mural turns 30, a party follows

Mon 21st February, 2011Mon 21st February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

A large crowd of around 60 folks turned up to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of Brixton’s most iconic murals, “Nuclear dawn,” a slowly fading 50ft high mural featuring a …

London / photos / Places

No matter how bad your Monday morning is…(worst job in London?)

Mon 21st February, 2011Mon 21st February, 2011 - by editor - 5 Comments.

You may be feeling a bit sorry for yourself as it’s a Monday morning – but – come on – things have got to be better than what this poor …

Brixton / Clubs & Nightlife / Places

Pussycat & the Dirty Johnsons/Vinny & the Curse at Brixton Offline

Sun 20th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

There was fun, dancing, falling over and drinking to be had in perilously large volumes at the Offline show at the Prince Albert on Friday, 18th Feb.

Brixton / photos / Places

Barclays Bank Brixton closed down by UK Uncut protesters

Sat 19th February, 2011Sat 19th February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

With Barclays Bank paying just 1% corporation tax in 2009 – a paltry sum of £113m after the company trousered record profits of £11.6bn – protesters have targeted their high …

Clubs & Nightlife / music

Here’s what the death of the music industry looks like

Fri 18th February, 2011Fri 18th February, 2011 - by editor - 3 Comments.

People can talk about the death of the music industry and throw figures around, but nothing brings its demise into sharp focus more succinctly than this graphic plotting sales over various formats from 1973 to 2009.

Brixton / Clubs & Nightlife / Places

Remembering the Rest Is Noise pub, Brixton

Fri 18th February, 2011Fri 18th February, 2011 - by editor - 11 Comments.

I thought I’d pen a short obituary to what was a short-lived but rather fine addition to Brixton’s boozers.

Brixton / Places

Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9: big ugly billboard goes up. Is it legal?

Thu 17th February, 2011Mon 21st February, 2011 - by editor - 24 Comments.

I always thought that planning permission had to be sought before companies could erect large billboards, but there certainly hasn’t been a single notice posted anywhere in the area for this monster …

London / photos / Places

Squatters take over £6m Fitzroy Square mansion. LOL

Thu 17th February, 2011Fri 18th February, 2011 - by editor - 5 Comments.

Squatters have moved into stinking rich movie maker Guy Ritchie’s enormous £6 million mansion, located in London’s upmarket Fitzroy Square. At least 12 people are thought to have taken over …

New York / photos / Places

Three pics: Hollow sidewalk, Joe’s Locksmiths, fire hydrant, NYC

Wed 16th February, 2011Tue 15th February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

‘Hollow Sidewalk – No Trucks Allowed’ handwritten sign, Soho, Manhattan NYC scene.

London / photos / Places

London boozer bags ‘Best Pub in Britain’ prize from CAMRA

Wed 16th February, 2011Wed 16th February, 2011 - by editor - 3 Comments.

Located close to Trafalgar Square – so handy to pop out for a quick beer if you’re busy protesting – The Harp at 47 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, WC2N 4HS …

New York / Places

Daniel’s Bagels, Third Avenue serves up some of NYC’s finest bagels

Tue 15th February, 2011Tue 15th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

Spurred on by a particularly daft bunfight on the urban75 boards about ‘who makes the best bagels‘, I’ve been wishing I was close enough to pop out and bag myself …

Brixton / photos / Places

Archive Brixton scenes from Reggae Britannia

Tue 15th February, 2011Tue 15th February, 2011 - by editor - 4 Comments.

Still available on BBC’s iPlayer (if you’re quick enough) is Reggae Britannia, an excellent documentary charting the impact of reggae on Britain’s music scene, featuring interviews with greats like Big …

London / Places

Another lost London dodgy boozer: The Globe, Tollington Rd, N7

Mon 14th February, 2011Mon 14th February, 2011 - by editor - 4 Comments.

Captured here all bricked up and awaiting its fate is The Globe public house, 107 Tollington Rd, N7 7JH.

London / photos / Places

Photo of the day: Stockings and Salt & Vinegar crisps, Soho

Mon 14th February, 2011Mon 14th February, 2011 - by editor - Leave a Comment

For Valentine’s day, here’s a Soho street scene, London.

Brixton / photos / Places

Pic of the day: Preacher asks the question, Brixton

Sat 12th February, 2011Fri 11th February, 2011 - by editor - 2 Comments.

Walk through the centre of Brixton on any given day and you can guarantee there’ll be some religious types hollering the Word of God in your ear ‘ole.

Clubs & Nightlife / London / Places

Lost dodgy London boozers: Cundy’s Tavern, Silvertown

Fri 11th February, 2011Fri 11th February, 2011 - by editor - 8 Comments.

Captured here in its last death throes in May 2005 is Cundy’s Tavern in Silvertown, reputed to be one of East London’s dodgiest boozers.

Brixton / Clubs & Nightlife / Places

Elm Park Tavern – a proper old school Brixton boozer

Wed 9th February, 2011Fri 11th February, 2011 - by editor - 1 Comment

If you like your pubs untouched by the hand of progress, gimmicks, poncy gastro-types and braying yuppies, then take a trip to the Elm Park Tavern, 76 Elm Park, Brixton, …

London / photos / Places

Gravestones in a tree – the Hardy Tree, St Pancras Churchyard

Wed 9th February, 2011Wed 9th February, 2011 - by editor - 4 Comments.

Situated a short distance north of the grand St Pancras railway station is St. Pancras Churchyard, a quiet public park that was completely deserted when I visited on a cold …