First Thursday, Raven Row
On the evening of the first Thursday of every month, all the galleries in Spitalfields and the entire East End throw open their doors. There is an infectious sense of carnival as people parade from gallery to gallery catching up on the contemporary art scene and collecting as many free beers as possible. I recommend a trip to Raven Row (a new gallery comprising two beautifully restored eighteenth century houses in Artillery Lane) which is opening Eduardo Paolozzi : The Jet Age Compendium tonight.
Taj Stores, Ramadan Mubarak
The green and blue lights are up in Brick Lane and it is the month of purification, fasting and devotions. There is an uncharacteristic hush among the residential streets of Spitalfields and, appropriate to the season, at the Taj Stores they are selling these exquisite little baskets of delicious dates (£7.99), as a traditional and healthy restorative for when the time comes for you to break your fast.
The stones of Spitalfields
History is literally just beneath my feet here in Spitalfields, as I’ve discovered recently while they have been resurfacing our streets. For just a few brief hours after they had scraped off the old surface and before they laid the new tarmac, the beautifully laid granite setts were exposed. I was struck by the fine craftsmanship and it reminded me of the streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Apparently, these setts have to be covered in case they damage cars that drive over them, though it occurred to me that leaving them exposed might provide some welcome traffic calming. Now the stones are covered again with a thick layer of tarmac but, as my neighbour said to me, it is nice to know they’re there.
Ponystep, the beautiful people
Manhattan had Studio 54 but here in Hoxton we have Ponystep. Last night, Richard Mortimer’s legendary club (the successor to BoomBox) returned from an eight month sojourn in Paris, and I was exhilarated to be there in the thick of the dance floor, whooping it up with the models, fashionistas and style pioneers that create the unique atmosphere of this superlative event. What a party, what a night!
Columbia Road Market 1
Each Sunday morning I visit Columbia Road Flower Market and arrive before eight just as the stallholders are setting up, in order to get the best pick of the plants. With rising expectation, I pass the bleary-eyed clubbers stumbling home down Brick Lane and then arrive at this weekly horticultural paradise. Every week I buy plants for my garden, and each week I will show you what I get and tell you what I paid for it. This morning I bought these two large Chrysanthemums for £10 to bring some freshness to my tired garden now most of the summer’s blooms have been and gone.
Saturday ritual, Bethnal Green
At the tiny church of St Peter’s Bethnal Green in a corner of the even tinier churchyard, they are growing Dahlias. As the priest explained to me, they found they had a suntrap, so they piled up the leaf mould from the surrounding trees into raised beds and hey presto – spectacular dahlias. I passed by on Saturday afternoon as the flower ladies were proudly harvesting the blooms in preparation for display on Sunday.
St John, the Daily Loaf
I have been all around the world but the most delicious bread I ever tasted is baked here daily in Spitalfields by Mr Gellatly, the baker at St John Bread & Wine. At least three times a week I head down to Commercial St, visit the counter inside the restaurant and return with a beautiful round loaf of brown sourdough tucked snugly under my arm.
