Need a flatmate? Win a prize!

Here's a good thing. Win vouchers at West Hampstead businesses simply by advertising for a flatmate.

Lots of you use Twitter as a way to find flatmates. You post a tweet and, as long as I see it, I RT it adding the #whampflat hashtag. You can see the most recent tweets on the website (you may not have known this).

Now we're stepping this up a level, in conjunction with Apartli. Apartli's a flatmate finding service run by ex-whamper (so you know it's going to be great, right?) Simon, who some of you have probably met. He's a very nice guy and Swiss, so what could go wrong?

What's different about Apartli? It's the first flatsharing website that allows users to find flatmates and flatshares through their friends by letting users sign in through Facebook. On registration, users can see if they know potential flatmates through a mutual friend. You don't need to sign in in order to browse available flatshares though. Arranging viewings is easy. Users can see viewing times for each flat and request a viewing with the click of a button, removing the need to play message tag just to find a suitable time.

So, if you've got a room to rent in West Hampstead (and yes, this might be just across the border in NW3 or NW2) then place your ad for free on Apartli and the first 10 ads will receive a £10 voucher from local businesses including The Wet Fish Cafe, Mill Lane Bistro, The Gallery, Cocoa Bijoux, West End Lane Books and Feng Sushi (I'm afraid you can't choose which voucher you get - it'll be drawn at random, but c'mon - they're all pretty decent right?).

To enter, publish a real West Hampstead flatshare ad on Apartli using the promo code WHAMPNW6.

• A "real NW6 flatshare ad" means it is a real flat in West Hampstead, London that is really available and you are really the one looking for a real flatmate. For reals.
• You can only enter once. How many flats do you have anyway?
• The first 10 eligible real ad posters will win a £10 voucher for a local NW6 business. The voucher has no cash value and Apartli won’t exchange or substitute it for anything else.
• Once your ad is published Apartli will review it for its eligibility and send you a email within two working days to notify you if you've won. If you've won, Apartli will ask for your address so your voucher can be mailed to you.
• You need to have at least three photos.
• Please read the full terms and conditions on Apartli's website. 

Now post those ads!

Disclaimer: I have no financial connection with Apartli, I'm just helping Simon kickstart the operation in this area because it helps solve a genuine issue people have. We are hoping to integrate Apartli into West Hampstead Life at some stage though.

Kilburn Grand Tour in October

October is "Kilburn month" at the Kingsgate Workshops.

As part of a collaboration between the front-of-house volunteers at Camden Arts Centre and the Kingsgate Workshops Trust, Kingsgate Gallery's exhibition project is focused on the artistic exploration of the Kilburn area and its history, and especially the engagement with the local community.

What's on? Let me hand over to the organisers to whet your appetite. You can also check out the latest news regarding the exhibition.

As well as the specific events listed below, Asako Taki’s blog project, which started in May 2012, reflects her encounters with the people of Kilburn. Throughout October, Deborah Farr installs a glow-in-the-dark mural in the Iverson Road arches, while the collective Kilburn-Mapping-Project of Cornelia Marland continues to grow within the gallery, through the help of our visitors. Also inside Kingsgate, Suits Meso’s flag-and-sound installation is displayed alongside a performance-wall drawing by Evy Jokhova. Jokhova is also making a short film that follows one day in Kilburn for 50 years using archival documents and footage filmed by herself.

So drop into the gallery Thursday–Sunday from midday to 6pm (it's free), or come to one of the events.

October 4: Kilburn Grand Tour Opening Night 6pm-9pm

Join us for the opening night of our one month-long creative and artistic exploration of Kilburn. As with any Grand Tour we know our destination, but the journey is not set... From hidden rivers, imagined maps, and constantly-evolving art we need your help to inspire our voyage.

As the project evolves, the gallery space will change, so don’t miss your chance to see what might not be visible a week later. Help us give our project the best possible start and join us for the official kick-off of The Kilburn Grand Tour at the Kingsgate Trust Gallery.

October 6: Blue Flower River Project - Gardening Event 2pm-4pm [Ed: I think this sounds like a brilliant idea]

Join in this celebration and remembrance of the River Westbourne with a gardening twist! Guided by Helene Latey, walk the river path and see the Blue-Flower-River project along the way.

Come back to Kingsgate gallery for refreshments and a short presentation on Green living given by the Camden council Sustainability Team. Also at the gallery, pick up a river map and wildflower seeds and get involved in some guerrilla gardening of your own as you continue the river walk through the Kilburn streets.

October 13: Suit Meso’s Flag Making Workshop 1pm-4pm

Come along and get creative at this flag making workshop. Learn about flags from around the world, draw on your cultural influences and merge symbols and signs to design and make your own personal flag.

Led by artist Suits Meso and tying in to his artistic practice, this workshop will result in the creation of a large scale “Kilburn Flag” constructed from the individual flags produced on the day and to be displayed as part of the Kilburn Grand Tour exhibition.

October 14: River Talk: “The River Westbourne - Kilburn’s Hidden River” 6pm-8pm

Could there be a river running beneath your feet, or even beneath your house? Now’s the time to find out as river historian Stephan Myers, author of Walking on Water, London’s Hidden Rivers Revealed, will reveal Kilburn’s own hidden river in his presentation on the River Westbourne.

Learn the fascinating history of this now underground river, map its location beneath the Kilburn streets and follow its influence and role within the Kilburn landscape all within the art filled atmosphere of the Kingsgate Gallery.

October 19: Evy Jokhova: Kilburn Grand Tour 5pm-6.30pm

Jokhova’s Kilburn Grand Tour opens to the public with a screening of a film compiled from newspaper clippings, personal and borrowed film footage that follows Kilburn on one day in October for the past 50 years. The screening of Kilburn Grand Tour will be accompanied by a public panel discussion between artist Nicola Lane, Kilburn historian Dick Weindling and local residents on what makes Kilburn a ‘home’.

Following on from this Jokhova will create a week-long performance drawing in the gallery space inspired by the contents of the discussion.

October 19: Artist Talk and Walk 7pm-9pm

Live in Kilburn? Long to live in Kilburn? Or just want to get to know Kilburn a bit better? What better way than to come along for our special Artist Talk, and let our artists illuminate (literally) this wonderful area of North-West London for you!

Following the overground trail of the hidden River Westbourne, artists Helene Latey, Deborah Farr and Lara Smithson will take you on an hour-long walk through Kilburn, presenting their artworks along the way; an experience which will make you see your surroundings and community in a whole new light. The walk will end up at Kingsgate Trust Gallery where there will be refreshments, more art and the chance for everyone to contribute to our very own Kilburn-map.

October 26: Closing Party 6pm-9pm

The Kilburn Grand Tour’s closing party will take place on the final Friday of October. Come along for the final chance to see our artists’ completed work, catch-up with our process and celebrate the creative and artistic life and spirit of Kilburn.

If you're not familiar with the Kingsgate Workshops Trust, it supports a wide range of arts and crafts in studio spaces of variable sizes. The workshops are a converted 19th century warehouse which provides studio space for more than 50 artists and crafts people as well hosting up to 12 public exhibitions a year.

NxNW6 film listings Sep 28th-Oct4th

Time again for the weekly West Hampstead film round-up brought to you by Mark - the Pele of NW6 (tweeting at @NxNW6).

Film Listings for Sep 28-Oct 4
Another busy week for local cinema. Highlights include a new sci-fi film to get genuinely excited about, two classic multi-award winners and the Kicking & Screening football film festival.

Film Event of the Week

Kicking + Screening launched sucessfully last year and considers itself the world’s premiere football film festival. It returns to NW London for 7 days from Friday across the Everyman cinema chain.
The full programme is available on the website (http://www.kickingandscreening.com/blog/london-2012.html), but I have picked out three highlights:-
Hero - documentary about the life of Bobby Moore introduced by his wife Stephanie - Sun 15:00 Maida Vale £18
El Clasico - documentary about a group of students from the US who travel to Spain on a mission to understand the rivalry between Real and Barca. Live panel includes Steve McManaman, Albert Ferrer and Guillem Balague. Tue 21:00 Maida Vale £18
The Beautiful Game world premiere of a documentary tracking the development of the game in Africa. With special guests Patrick Vieira and Cyrille Regis. Thu 20:30 Maida Vale £18

One-off screenings
Stand By Me (1986, drama, 89 mins). The second Fortune Green bike-powered film screening is this 1980s classic starring River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton. It's a coming-of-age film directed by Rob Reiner (When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap) and based on a Stephen King novel. 7pm on the Green, free (donations accepted).
The Apartment (1960, romantic comedy, 125 mins). Everyman Hampstead Sunday afternoon film club 12:45 £10
Billy Wilder’s multi Oscar winner (including best picture) from 1960 showcases Jack Lemmon in one of his very best roles. A classic from start to finish, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Regular programme
The Hampstead Film Society
Marty (1955, comedy drama, 90 mins). Hampstead Town Hall Tue 19:00 £7
A fitting tribute to Ernest Borgine who sadly died last month aged 95. Another multi Oscar winner including best actor for Borgine and best picture. The film centers on two lonely people who have almost resigned themselves to never being truly loved.

The Tricycle Cinema
About Elly* (2009, drama, subtitles, 119 mins).
Latest in a line of strong Iranian cinema releases for 2012. About Elly concentrates on three Iranian families who are travelling to the north of the country. Then Elly goes missing.
To Rome with Love*
Not Woody’s finest but fans will find plenty to enjoy.
Fri 14:30, 20:45, Sat 18:15, 20:45, Sun 17:15, 19:45, Mon-Thu 20:45.
Samsara
Sat 16:00, Sun 15:00 Thu 14:30.
Fri, Mon-Thu 18:00
(£9.50 adult, £8.50 concessions, Mon £6 adult, £4.50 Brent resident).

The Everyman Cinemas
Belsize Park
Untouchable
Fri-Thu 15:20, 18:10, 20:50 (exc Sun when 12:00, 14:50, 17:40, 20:20, extra screening Sat at 12:30, no late screening Wed).

Hampstead
Looper* (2012, action sci-fi, 118 mins)
After a year of disappointng sci-fi films (John Carter, Total Recall, Lockout), along comes a film that could just restore your faith in the genre. Involving time travel and starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon Levitt playing the same person – this looks a lot of fun.
Fri-Thu 15:15, 18:00, 20:45 (exc Sun when 12:00, 14:45, 17:30, 20:15, extra screening Sat at 12:30, early screening Thu 14:45).
Killing Them Softly
One of the best casts of the year (Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Ray Liotta) play out a film that, on first impression, appears to be about organised crime but ultimately becomes a comment on US politics and the male psyche. Picking up 5* reviews across town, I thought it was excellent. Recommended.
Fri-Thu 16:10, 18:30, 21:10 (exc Sun when 15:40, 18:00, 20:40, extra screenings Sat at 13:45 and Thu at 12:20, no 18:30 screening Monday).

Maida Vale
Untouchable
Fri-Thu 15:40, 18:20, 21:00 (exc Sun when 12:00, 14:40, 17:20, 20:05, extra screening Sat at 13:00, no late screening Wed, Thu 15:00, 17:40 only).
Hope Springs
Fri-Thu 15:20, 18:00, 20:30 (exc Sun when 12:35, 17:40, 20:30, extra screenings Sat & Wed at 12:45, Thu 15:30, 18:00 only)
Prices vary for all three cinemas, but expect to pay around £13 for an adult ticket and £10 for a concession. Booking advised.

Multiplexes

Finchley Road Vue
Resident Evil: Retribution 3D* (2012, action, 96 mins)
Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S Anderson return for the 5th film in the series. The latest developments of the Umbrella corporation are fast becoming a guilty pleasure for me. But realistically it is unlikely to recruit many new fans to the franchise.
The Campaign* (2012, comedy, 85 mins)
Thinly veiled crude satire on the Republican party and the Koch brothers in time for the US election. The film centres on Will Ferrell and Zach Galifanakis as rival candidates in a North Carolina election. Has disappointed in the States.
OMG – Oh my God* (2012, Bollywood, 140 mins)
Bollywood comedy about an antique shopkeeper taking god to court when his shop is destroyed by a tornado. Part of the new commitment to Bollywood cinema by the Vue chain.
Looper*
The Perks of Being a Wallflower* (from Wed only – more next week).
Taken 2 (from Thu only - more next week).
Savages
The House at the End of the Street
Now is Good (limited)
Killing Them Softly
Untouchable (only until Tue Oct 2)
Hope Springs
Paranorman (2D + 3D)
The Sweeney
Lawless
Anna Karenina
Dredd 3D (limited)
Brave (2D only)
TED (limited)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Dog Days (limited)
Ice Age: Continental Drift (limited, will it ever stop?)
Other films show in Kids Club slots
(£11.25 adult and £8.40 concessions. Before 17:00 on a Mon, Tue or Thu, adult tickets are £8.00.)

Swiss Cottage Odeon
Barbara* (2012, German with subtitles, 105 mins)
Germany's official entry into the Best Foreign Fim category at the 2013 Academy Awards, Barbara tells the story of a doctor working in 1980s East Germany who is banished to a small country hospital.
Looper*
Killing Them Softly (club)
Untouchable
To Rome With Love (club)
Anna Karenina
Hope Springs
The Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists 2D (limited)
(£10.75 adult, children £8.75 (£2 extra for 3D, £4 for IMAX). An adult seat in a club cinema is £16.00, a child’s £12.50.)

COMING SOON
Oct 5 - Taken 2, Sinister, Liberal Arts.
Oct 12 - On the Road, Pusher, Ruby Sparks.
Oct 19 - Beasts of the Southern Wild (current Best Picture favourite), Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Ginger & Rosa.
All times correct at time of publication.
*new release.

Contact Mark via Twitter or .

Are you sitting comfortably?

Got this in an e-mail from the people behind Locally Sourced, which, if you don't know, is a group organising words & music events in Brioche every so often.

Anyway, it's a blatant advert for a storytelling course, but I thought it sounded a bit different and the tutor seems to have good credentials so I'm passing it on.

"If you want to improve your confidence, public speaking and communication skills, or if you want to tell a story in front of an audience but never dared to do it then this might be the course for you."

Over five sessions you will learn:

• Basic skills of storytelling.
• Some understanding of narrative structure
• An appreciation of traditional tales
• Experience in telling a story and engaging an audience
• A combination of theory & practice in a fun & engaging way

The course will culminate in a Locally Sourced evening with class participants each telling a story to an audience of friends and neighbors. This will take place the evening of 26 November at Brioche café in West Hampstead.

Tutor: Ariella Eshed. Ariella is a theatre director, storyteller and workshop leader based in London. For the past six years she has led courses in storytelling at City Lit in Covent Garden. She has worked for many years with the National Theatre Education Department on their storytelling programme in schools and with other companies and organizations in Israel and the UK.
Guest tutor: John Eastman
Course dates: Five Wednesday evenings between 24 October-20 November 2012 from 19.30-21.30 and the performance.
Where: West Hampstead (location to be confirmed)
Cost: £90

For more information or to book your place please contact ariellaeshed@gmail.com

Stand By Me on Fortune Green

Short notice, yes, but I just got confirmation that the second Friends of Fortune Green outdoor film screening will happen this Saturday evening. It's Stand By Me.

If you came along to Breaking Away earlier in the summer you'll know how this works. Basically, the film is powered by bicycle. Now, Breaking Away is a film ABOUT cycling, which probably inspired people. Stand By Me isn't (although I do seem to recall a couple of scenes on bikes?), but people still need to be willing to do a 5-10 minute stint on a bike. It all worked fine last time, and there's no obligation at all to get on your bike and ride.

The film, if you don't know it, is a 1980s coming-of-age classic, starrring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix and Corey Feldman (Richard Dreyfus and Kiefer Sutherland are also in it). It's based on a Stephen King novel and was directed by Rob Reiner. So, basically, it's a good film. If you've already seen it you'll know it's well worth watching again and if you haven't then now's the perfect time to rectify that.

The screening starts at sundown - which is 7pm, though if you want a good spot I'd get there quite a bit earlier as the bikes do slightly limit the viewing angle. Last time there must have been at least 200 people there, so hopefully there's a similar turnout this time - and hopefully it's too cold for the mosquitoes that plagued us all. Bring a picnic blanket, bring a picnic (Nautilus should be open for a sustaining fish & chips takeaway), and bring some friends.

The event is free, but FoFG will be asking for donations to help cover similar future events, so be nice and give a little something for this great community event.

Democratic paradox south of the tube line

The local Neighbourhood Development Forum (which is now on Twitter by the way), held its latest meeting last week. I just perused the minutes and was intrigued by a paradox of democracy.

Walk with me.

The NDF has to determine the precise boundaries for its local plan. Ward boundaries are not necessarily the solution, but at the moment they're the easiest option and the NDF covers West Hampstead and Fortune Green wards. This means that, for example, Broadhurst Gardens is not covered because it's in Swiss Cottage ward.

According to the minutes of September's NDF meeting, WHGARA - the residents association for the streets between Lowfield Road, West End Lane, Hemstal and Sherriff Roads - has not yet decided whether to support the Forum, but would make its decision on October 9th. I have discussed before the psychological and physical divide felt by some, but not all, residents who live south of the tube line between them and the rest of West Hampstead.

NDF members said they thought it would be hard for WHGARA to express its views on the development of the area, particularly the Interchange, if they excluded themselves from the Forum; WHGARA's representative said she "thought the Forum was pro-development and didn't have much support in the south of the West Hampstead area."

James Earl, the NDF chair, said that if WHGARA decided not to support the Forum, the southern boundary would probably move north to be the railway line.

This raises a couple of issues. First, I'd like to see the evidence of the support or lack of for the Forum in the WHGARA area. My unproven hunch is that most people have probably never heard of it, let alone have a view on it. Second, although I accept that residents assocations generally represent their area, they are not necessarily representative of an area, so to my mind it seems odd that if an RA chooses not to support an initiative, this automatically means that area is excluded.

But this is not the paradox.

Keep walking with me.

Later, the minutes explain that the October 22nd NDF meeting will be open to the public and run in conjunction with WHAT. "Members said it was important to invite and involve more people than ‘the usual suspects’. There was a desire for publicity to be at the new farmers’ market; in shops and local businesses; and at other public events. Suggestions for poster locations also included on trees; doctors’ surgeries; schools; nurseries; community centres; parks; and cafes."

Excellent - I wholeheartedly approve, and you can be sure I'll mention it on here too. Now we come to the paradox. You live in the WHGARA area, but have never heard of it- or it's not your thing perhaps. You're browing the cauliflowers at the farmers' market when you notice a flyer for a public meeting about shaping the future of West Hampstead. This sounds more interesting. You toddle along, but then find all too quickly that it will have no bearing on your immediate streetscape because some people you don't know have decided not to support it.

Moving beyond the usual suspects is surely the right thing to do - the process should be open to as many people as are interested. So why then, is something as important as the boundaries for the whole plan dependent on the powers that be at WHGARA? More bluntly: what sort of majority off what sort of turnout is needed at a WHGARA meeting to determine whether it's a yay or a nay? Do leave a comment if you know the answer to this question.

I would urge the NDF to stick to its guns and use the two ward boundaries as the basis for the plan. Even though I don't think it's perfect, I remain unconvinved that the lack of support of a residents association (should that be the eventual outcome) is enough reason to shrink the size of the area.

And there's the paradox. Democracy should be about opening up decision making to the people, but it's also pragmatically about electing decision-makers and abiding by their rules. Yet at this hyperlocal scale, the two seem to have the potential to clash.

You can stop walking now.

Is Mill Apartments £15,000 sweetener enough?

A couple of months ago I went to have a look round the show apartment at the Mill Apartments. Back then they were called the Mill Apartments Hampstead, though they have since been rebranded - extremely sensibly - as the Mill Apartments West Hampstead (although the website address hasn't changed). I saw a 3-bed flat, which was very nice. And very expensive. £815,000 expensive to be precise for this first floor flat. The service charge would be in excess of £2,500 a year and a parking space was an extra £25,000. More hilarious was that if you wanted storage space in the basement "big enough for a bike and a couple of sets of golf clubs", then you'd have to part with another £10,000. I think I laughed out loud at this point. Sounds like I might not have been the only one.

You might argue that £815,000 for a modern nice 3-bed flat in West Hampstead isn't out of the ordinary. By the way, lets not kid ourselves here, while pretending these apartments are in Hampstead was presumably verging on some sort of property misdescription, they can hardly be said to be in the heart of West Hampstead either. Shoot-Up Hill is much nearer than West End Lane. Nevertheless, it is quite a lot of money for any flat around here outside the NW3/NW8 postcode. This is the cheapest 3-bed in the building, they go up in price as you go up the floors, so the 3rd floor 3-bed flat is £830,500.

Floorplan of the 3-bed apartments

Which brings me to the point of this story. To date, 17 of the 27 non-social housing flats in the development have sold (the three 3-beds have not). The prices for the four penthouses, which are just coming on the market now, are not on the website, but early communications said that the top price flat would be £1.5m, so I guess we assume that's the price of the only 3-bed penthouse, while the cheapest penthouse is £1.35m.

Looking south from one of the penthouse suites

Given that the apartments don't seem to be flying off the shelves, so the developer, Taylor Wimpey, is holding an open day and resorting to "buy now" discounts in the form of cash/cash-equivalent incentives.

If you sign on the dotted line this Saturday at the open-day then it will throw in either a luxury holiday, £15,000 to spend at Selfridges or a brand new Mini. According to the PR company, "Offering these incentives is a new trend for estate agents and house builders, in order to kick-start a property industry that has slowed in recent years." Or in other words "we overpriced the apartments a bit". Now, if you're willing to drop £1.5m on a 3-bed apartment in what is almost Cricklewood, it's debatable whether a £15,000 cashback deal (1%) is going to make much difference to your yes/no decision. Even for the cheapest apartment still available (£588,000), you'd only be getting a 2.5% discount.

The press release implies, although certainly doesn't make clear, that that expensive car parking space might be thrown in as well (or a 2-year parking permit). That's a far more valuable incentive, both financially and practically, but this is a common negotiating tool as far as I'm aware.

Anyway, if you want to go along on Saturday, then there'll be drinks, nibbles and live music between 11am and 3pm. If you want to view an apartment (and surely that's the only reason to go), then best reserve in advance by calling 0845 676 2377. Even if you don't have half a million quid to spend on the day, us locals are apparently welcome. I quote: "It is also a fab opportunity for local residents to find out more about their newest neighbour!". Which is very friendly.

What's sold and what's not by Sep 26th 2012 (penthouses not included)

Farmers' market makes a splash

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the first West Hampstead Farmers' Market last Saturday, but intrepid correspondent Nimet was on hand to record it for posterity in both words and pictures.

"Shortly after 10am on a crisp Saturday morning on the Thameslink station forecourt, in front of a small gathering, Cllr Gilllian Risso-Gill rang the inaugural bell and announced the West Hampstead Farmers’ Market open.

Finally! The is it on / off palaver had caused some entertainment in the run up over the past few months, but the resident cow had certainly left no doubt that the market was definitely on.

I arrived shortly before 10am, spoke to Cheryl Cohen from the London Farmers’ Market, then watched some of the hardy stall holders dressed in their gloves and hats set out their stalls ready for business (you can find out more about the full list of producers). The vibrantly coloured fruit and vegetables, freshly baked bread, cheese, flowers, fish and meat soon looked at home on the normally empty forecourt.

I spent over an hour at the market wandering around speaking to the vendors about their produce, observing the crowds and earwigging conversations. Each producer was more than happy to let you try a sample (where appropriate) and all spoke passionately about their produce. One farmer gushed about how his wife had handmade all the sausages and gave expert advice on how to cook them.

The shoppers really were loving it, there was a chaotic buzz and very few stalls struggling for custom while I was there. Most came with empty bags which slowly filled up with fresh produce. The evidence on Twitter (#whampFM is the hashtag in case you’re wondering) is clear – it was a resounding success, Jonathan also Storify’d the reaction. I’m pretty certain the weather played a huge part in the massive turn out and the stock sell out my midday. I really hope that Whampers still make the trip to support the market when the weather isn’t so fair.

Someone on Twitter asked me what ‘Lincolnshire’s finest’ was doing in West Hampstead…? Well, we didn’t expect many NW6 producers did we? In fact, quite a lot of the vendors aren’t actually from London. As Jonathan explained in a previous post, all the producers come from within a 100 miles radius of the M25 and they must raise, grow or bake all their stock. Well, that’s good enough for me.

Stupidly, I went to the market with only a £1 coin in my purse so I hunted for best way to spend my fortune. I settled on 6 large eggs that were laid the previous day. I made dippy egg and marmite soldiers. Delicious.

The West Hampstead Farmers’ Market is trading each Saturday between 10am and 2pm on the West Hampstead Thameslink station forecourt, see London Farmers’ Market website and Facebook for more."

What have I missed since September 10th?

I've been two weeks out of the saddle, so what's been happenng in Wild West Hampstead?

The West Hampstead Farmers' Market opened this Saturday. Everyone seemed very pleased.

A plaque to author George Orwell was unveiled, followed by a reading in West End Lane Books by his son Richard Blair.

The Red Arrows swooped over West Hampstead after the London 2012 victory parade.

Timmy Mallett was among the stars at the annual Hampstead CC charity cricket match.

Chris Philp (Conservative) and Ed Fordham (LibDem) both announced they wouldn't stand again for Hampstead & Kilburn at the next general election. This means three new faces to contest the seat next time around.

West Hampstead WI is on Twitter (it's not all cakes and jam y'know) @WestHampsteadWI.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (yes, really) is @NxNW6's Film of the Week.

The Camden housing office at 156 West End Lane will stay open until 19 October because of a delay in sending out letters to tenants.

Coming Up
Saturday: a charity night at The Railway starting at 8.30. Run by West Hampstead fire station for Help The Heroes. Live music, free buffet, raffle, £5 in.

Also on Saturday, the final old stock Met Line train will be making its journey from Moorgate, departing at 9.55am. I'm afraid the journey is already sold out, but you could always go to Finchley Road to see it.

Tweet of the Week
Amid all the gushing over pigeon breasts and kohlrabi, the inevitable farmers' market related tweet of the week was altogether more prosaic.

NxNW6 film listings Sep 21-27th

Time again for the weekly West Hampstead film round-up brought to you by Mark - the Indiana Jones of NW6 (tweeting at @NxNW6).

Film Listings for Sep 21-27
The final outdoor screening of the summer, new films from Brad Pitt and Oliver Stone and a French new wave double bill at the Tricycle all feature in another busy week.

Film of the Week

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, action, 115 mins)
Simply one of the best popcorn films of all time. If you haven’t seen Raiders of the Lost Ark on the big screen then this is the perfect opportunity. Still can’t quite believe it is more than 30 years old.
Swiss Cottage Odeon from Friday – 1 week only (playing approx. 4 times daily).

One-off screenings
The Nomad Cinema presents The Big Lewbowski (1998, comedy, 117 mins)
The Queens Park outdoor screenings have been a big success this summer and this Coen Brothers classic should continue the trend. The Dude is surely one of the best onscreen characters of recent times and with a supporting cast including Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman, you are onto a winner. Great subtle Kraftwerk joke as well.
Sat Sep 22 – Queens Park (outdoors) 19:30 (tkts £12:50, £8.50 concessions).

Nouvelle Vague double bill - The Tricycle
Antoine et Colette (1962, dir. François Truffaut, 32 mins).
Paris vu par (1965 dir include Godard, Rohmer, Chabrol, 95 mins).
Very rarely screened French New Wave films exploring the different districts of Paris directed by some of the greats of the movement. Bring your best beret and pensive look.
Sun Sep 23 The Tricycle Cinema - 15:00, £6

Regular programme
The Tricycle Cinema
Anna Karenina
Fri 14:30, 18:00, Sat 15:15, 18:00, Sun 19:45. Mon 20:30, Tue-Thu 18:00
Hope Springs
Fri, Sat 20:45, Sun 17:30, Mon 18:15, Tue-Thu 20:45
(£9.50 adult, £8.50 concessions, Mon £6 adult, £4.50 Brent resident).

The Everyman Cinemas
Belsize Park
Untouchable* (2011, comedy drama, French with subititles, 112 mins)
One of the biggest hits of all time at the French box office (think Avatar and Titanic big). Untouchable (or "Intouchables") tells the story of a quadriplegic aristocrat who hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. With the always excellent François Cluzet (Tell No One).
Fri-Thu 15:20, 18:10, 20:50 (exc Sun when 14:50, 17:40, 20:20)

Hampstead
Killing Them Softly* (2012, crime thriller, 97 mins)
Gangster crime thriller from the team that brought you 'The Assassination of Jesse James'. Pitt plays Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer brought in to investigate a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. Support comes from James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins and Ray Liotta. Tellingly being saved for Oscar season in the US.
Fri-Thu 16:10, 18:35, 21:00 (exc Sat when 11:40, 14:25, 18:00, 21:00 and Sun when 11:00, 14:05, 17:15, 20:30).
To Rome With Love
Fri, Tue, Wed 15:25, 18:00 Sat 15:20, 20:35,Sun 14:50, 20:05, Mon 15:30, 20:35 and Thu 12:25, 20:35.
Lawless
Fri 20:35, Sat 17:55, Sun 17:25, Mon 17:55, Tue 20:35, Wed 20:35 Thu 17:55

Maida Vale
Untouchable*
Fri-Thu 15:40, 18:20, 21:00 (exc Sun when 15:10, 17:50, 20:30, ext screening Sun 12:30).
Hope Springs
Fri-Thu 15:20, 18:00, 20:30 (exc Sun when 14:50, 15:25, 20:00, ext screenings Wed at 12:45).
The Imposter
Sat 12:45, Sun 12:15.
Prices vary for all three cinemas, but expect to pay around £13 for an adult ticket and £10 for a concession. Booking advised.

Multiplexes

Finchley Road Vue
Savages* (2012, thriller, 131 mins)
The new film from Oliver Stone (JFK, Platoon, Wall Street) brings together a series of episodes with numerous characters, centered around the Southern Californian drug world. Guaranteed to be thought provoking, political and polemic.
Tower Block* (2012, thriller, 90 mins).
Russell Tovey and Sheridan Smith star in a UK film based around the residents of Tower Block 31 who are all witnesses to a murder. A year later, they find themselves being picked off one by one. Looks intriguing and the two lead actors are always worth a watch. Notable for the only UK film this year not to star Noel Clarke.
The House at the End of the Street* (2012, horror, 112 mins)
A mother and daughter move to a new town and find themselves living next door to a house where a young girl murdered her parents. Straight to DVD product that has been given a cinema release off the back of Jennifer Lawrence’s star making turn in The Hunger Games.
Now is Good* (2012, drama, 103 mins)
A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity. Looks like a laugh riot.
Killing Them Softly*
Untouchable*
Hope Springs
Paranorman
The Sweeney
Lawless
Anna Karenina
Dredd (3D)
The Possession (limited)
Brave (2D only)
TED
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Dog Days (limited)
Ice Age: Continental Drift (limited, it's back!)
Other films show in Kids Club slots
(£11.25 adult and £8.40 concessions. Before 17:00 on a Mon, Tue or Thu, adult tickets are £8.00.)

Swiss Cottage Odeon
Raiders of the Lost Ark* (IMAX) – 1 week only, see film of the week.
Killing Them Softly* (club)
Untouchable*
Hope Springs
To Rome with Love
Anna Karenina
(£10.75 adult, children £8.75 (£2 extra for 3D, £4 for IMAX). An adult seat in a club cinema is £16.00, a child’s £12.50.)

COMING SOON
Sep 28 – Looper, Holy Motors, The Campaign, Resident Evil: Retribution,
Oct 5 –Taken 2, Sinister, Liberal Arts.
Oct 12 - On the Road, Pusher, Ruby Sparks.
All times correct at time of publication.
*new release.

Contact Mark via Twitter or .

The Road to West End Lane

Sadly, I couldn't make the grand unveiling of the plaque to George Orwell last week, but mercifully (and appropriately), Danny from West End Lane Books could - and kindly penned a few words about it.

"I've got something in common with George Orwell it seems! I gleaned this priceless piece of dinner-party ammo the day that Kilburn Historic Plaque supremo Ed Fordham triumphantly brought Richard Blair to town to unveil a tribute to his father, the mighty George Orwell, on the Kilburn estate they briefly inhabited before being bombed out in WW2.

Nowadays, the building is called Kington House in Mortimer Crescent and Blair, not the slight, pale figure I imagined, but a broad avuncular man of old-school bank manager appearance, admitted he didn't really recall it — unsurprisingly since he was an infant the last time he laid eyes on the place.

A good crowd had gathered to meet the man whose father has so enriched us all and confirmed that Orwell did indeed work on Animal Farm while living in our postcode.

After the unveiling of the plaque Blair and Fordham braved rush hour traffic to hotfoot it over to West End Lane Books where another eager crowd had gathered and was treated to a reading from Orwell's Bookshop Memories essay — and that's where I learned of mine and George's shared experiences!

Bookshops, Orwell remarked of his time working in one, were places ‘you can spend a long time without spending money’. Yep, that bit still rings sadly true. And although our customers aren't of the 'motheaten' variety that Orwell depicts and nor do we regard children's books as 'horrible things' (they obviously didn't have Puffin, Walker, Usborne et al in those days), his description of the 'brutal cynicism' of the marketing of Christmas, in particular the order form for advent calendars displaying 'two dozen Infant Jesuses with rabbits' brought a blush of shame.

Orwell went on to describe life with George as his (adopted) father, noting that while he was always Eric Blair to at home, he was only ever George Orwell to his friends and professional contacts ('the name change was to protect us,' said Blair.) and often the two camps were not aware of the other; some family members remaining ignorant of George's alter ego even as his books were published and word began to spread of his work.

Blair recalled his father as an affectionate man who often read to his son—classics such as AA Milne (also honoured by a Kilburn plaque) and Beatrix Potter, but also his own little stories and poetry, none of which survives to our loss. While retaining the then-customary stoicism about his struggles with TB ('he was slightly vague about it'), Blair told us that his father was nonetheless constrained by his illness and felt that physical contact with his son needed to be minimal for his own safety.

Orwell also read aloud chapters of Animal Farm at home to his wife and Blair reminded us that even this literary colossus had initial trouble finding a publisher. Blair himself was not allowed to read 1984 until some time after his father's death when he was 11 and when asked when he first became aware of Orwell's status, he remembered it as a form of osmosis around the same age.

Listening to Blair's recollections of Orwell doing bits of woodwork, rolling fags with newspapers when he ran out of cigarette papers and all of the everyday trivia family life is filled with, I for one had a few frissons: this man lived with Orwell…this man knew Orwell!

What an honour to have Richard Blair in our shop. What an honour for NW6 to have such a connection! Major thanks to Ed Fordham for making this happen."

NxNW6 film listings Sep 14-20

Time again for the weekly West Hampstead film round-up brought to you by Mark - the Leonard Zelig of NW6 (tweeting at @NxNW6).

Film Listings for Sep 14-20
This week not only sees the return of Woody Allen to the local cinemas but also of the Hampstead Film Society with its Autumn season.

Film of the Week

French Cancan (1954, French musical, 102 mins)
Hampstead Film Society – Hampstead Town Hall - Tue 18 19:00 £7
The Autumn season of the Hampstead Film Society gets off to a flyer with this Jean Renoir film from 1954. It focuses on the world of the Moulin Rouge, but is light years away from Baz Luhrmanns’ vision. Recommended.
The full Autumn season for the Hampstead Film Society can be found here .

One-off screenings
There are a couple of preview screenings of upcoming films from the Everyman this week.
Untouchable (2011, French comedy drama, 112 mins) Belsize Park Sun 10:45; one of the biggest hits of all time at the French box office (think Avatar and Titanic big). Untouchable (or ‘Intouchables’ to give it its original title) tells the story of a quadriplegic aristocrat who hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker. With the excellent François Cluzet (Tell No One). Released across London on Sep 21.
Liberal Arts + Q&A with Elizabeth Olsen (2012, comedy drama, 97 mins) Hampstead 17:40 Sun
US indie film written, directed by and starring Josh Radnor (Ted from ‘How I Met Your Mother’) with a supporting cast that includes Elizabeth Olson, Richard Jenkins and Zac Efron. Not out until Oct 5.

Regular programme
The Tricycle Cinema
Hope Springs* (2012, romantic comedy, 100 mins).
After thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship. With Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell. File under gentle and silver-pound chasing.
Fri-Thu 18:15, 20:45 (exc Sun when 17:30 and 20:00, ext screening Fri at 14:30).
The Imposter
Sat 16:00, Sun 15:30 Thu 14:30
(£9.50 adult, £8.50 concessions, Mon £6 adult, £4.50 Brent resident).

The Everyman Cinemas
Belsize Park
Anna Karenina
Fri-Thu 15:05, 18:00, 21:00 (exc Sun when 14:00, 17:00, 20:00)

Hampstead
To Rome With Love* (2012, comedy, 100 mins)
Annual Woody Allen film and the first since 2005’s Scoop to feature the man himself. The plot revolves around the lives of visitors and residents of Rome and the romances, adventures and predicaments they get into. I’m a huge fan but it’s fair to say that reviews have been mixed.
Fri 15:25, 18:00, 20:40 (exc Sat when 12:30, 15:05, 17:40, 20:20 and Sun when 12:00, 14:35, 17:10 and 20:10).
Lawless
Fri-Thu 18:25, 21:05 (exc Sun when 15:00, 20:45).
The Imposter
Fri-Thu 16:00 (exc Sat when 13:00, 15:40 and Sun when 12:30, only screening at 13:00 on Thu).

Maida Vale
Hope Springs*
Fri-Thu 15:45, 18:15, 20:40 (exc Sun when 15:15, 17:45, 20:10, ext screenings Sat at 12:30 and Sun at 12:10).
Anna Karenina
Fri-Thu 15:00, 17:55, 21:00 (exc Sun when 14:30, 17:25, 20:30, ext screenings Sat at 12:50 and Sun at 12:00).
Prices vary for all three cinemas, but expect to pay around £13 for an adult ticket and £10 for a concession. Booking advised.

Multiplexes

Finchley Road Vue
To Rome with Love*
Hope Springs* (2012, comedy, 100 mins)
Premium Rush* (2012, action thriller, 91 mins)
In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city. With Joseph Gordon Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises, 500 Days of Summer) and the very underrated Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire, Take Shelter).
Paranorman (2D& 3D, 2012, cartoon, 100 mins, daytime screenings only)
Very well reviewed animated film from the people who made ‘Coraline’. A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
The Sweeney* (Xtreme + std, 2012, action, 100 mins)
Starring Ray Winstone and Ben Drew (aka Plan B) and directed by Nick Love (The Football Factory, The Business). There are no prizes for guessing what to expect with this one. Danny Dyer is still waiting for the phone to ring.
Barfi (2012, Bollywood, tbc mins)
Set in the 1970s in a corner of India, Barfi is the story of three young people who learn that love can neither be defined nor contained by society's norms of normal and abnormal. Part of a new commitment to Bollywood cinema from the Vue cinema chain.
Lawless
Anna Karenina
Dredd 3D
That's My Boy .
The Possession (limited)
Total Recall
The Imposter (limited)
The Watch
The Bourne Legacy (limited)
Brave (2D only)
TED
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Dog Days (daytime screenings only)
The Dark Knight Rises (limited)
(£11.25 adult and £8.40 concessions. Before 17:00 on a Mon, Tue or Thu, adult tickets are £8.00.)

Swiss Cottage Odeon
Hope Springs*
To Rome with Love*
Anna Karenina
Lawless
Total Recall
Brave (2D limited)
The Dark Knight Rises (IMAX)
(£10.75 adult, children £8.75 (£2 extra for 3D, £4 for IMAX). An adult seat in a club cinema is £16.00, a child’s £12.50.)

COMING SOON
Sep 21 – Killing Them Softly, Savages, Untouchable (French phenomenon ‘The Intouchables’), Raiders of the Lost Ark (IMAX rerelease).
Sep 28 – Looper, Holy Motors, The Campaign, Resident Evil: Retribution,
Oct 5 –Taken 2, Sinister, Liberal Arts.
All times correct at time of publication.
*new release.

Contact Mark via Twitter or .

What have I missed since September 3rd?

Everyone went back to school this week - even though the Paralympics and the weather are there to remind us of the summer. What marked the new term in West Hampstead? Well, actually this week is rather dominated by Kilburn news!

The Guardian reviewed the latest exhibition at Kilburn's Tin Tabernacle.

HungryInLondon reviewed Ariana - and liked what it found.

A water main burst on the North Circular causing traffic chaos throughout the area.

Zadie Smith is all over the media at the moment, and all over Kilburn.

I wrote about two different videos about Kilburn.

The Kilburn Grand Tour announced its programme.

The Kilburn Comedy Festival started Friday.

Brent residents can now get England tickets at Wembley Stadium for £20 (£10 for kids). Show a bill proving your Brent residency at Wembley box office (max 8 per household).

It's the end of the line for the old-style Met Line trains.

A Silence of the Lambs supper club screening is this week's local Film of the Week.

Coming up
West Hampstead Community Centre has its AGM on Monday 6pm-7.30pm. Come and hear about the future of your community centre (there's cheese and wine!)

On Tuesday, George Orwell's son, Richard Blair, will be reading at West End Lane Books, as part of the unveiling of a green plaque for Orwell. Please book ahead for the 4.30pm reading.

Tweet and Photo of the Week.
Stiff competition this week. The Farmers' Market cow being milked was a close runner up, but in the end the award goes to Tom.

Kilburn: All within 100 yards

As the literary world turns its gaze on Kilburn in the light of Zadie Smith's new book, Kilburn is also the focus of a short film by Mark James.

Give it 10 minutes of your time.

For a different cultural take on Kilburn, watch this music video from Jonny Granville, supported by Camden Calling (a social enterprise run collectively with homeless and ex-homeless people with the broad aim of improving the access homeless and vulnerable groups of people have to mainstream music / arts and popular culture).

Zadie Smith shines light on Kilburn

"I do not claim to know what happens in villages"

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith is everywhere at the moment, and yet this media ubiquity also has a very firm geographic focal point: North-west London.

No great surprise there, after all, Smith has become some sort of literary symbol for the cultural melting pot of this part of the capital. And when she titles her latest book "NW", you can't blame journalists for making something of it.

Since 2010, Zadie Smith has been a professor of creative writing at New York University. She's not popping into Poundland on the Kilburn High Road of a Saturday morning. Yet the sense of north-weezy (as the kids say) identity and affection clearly runs deep. Back in June, she wrote an impassioned article in the New York Review of Books about the plans for Willesden library and bookshop (read the article if you haven't already).

In what one hopes was a great editorial idea, rather than clever publisher PR, TimeOut this week took Smith up the Kilburn High Road to meet a few locals. Although defining what "local" is in Kilburn is a tricky matter as one tweeter commented.

@jamesrobking @timeoutlondon how many "locals" did she Speak to? Er none by the looks of it. But welcome to all the visitors of Kilburn.
— ANNE MOUTADJER (@kilburnbelle) September 6, 2012

Kilburn High Road has always been a street on the move though. It's arterial, with all the blood-pumping energy that implies. Not so many "born and bred" locals, but a galaxy of people who've called it home at one time or another. That's what has made it Kilburn.

NxNW6 film listings Sep 7-13

Time again for the weekly West Hampstead film round-up brought to you by Mark - the George Lazenby of NW6 (tweeting at @NxNW6).

Film Listings for Sep 7-13
There are four outdoor screenings scheduled over the weekend in Kilburn Grange Park and Queens Park. There's a whole separate post on them for more info. Elsewhere, there are five new films released across NW London and an unique film of the week experience.

Film of the Week

The Silence of the Lambs (Supper Club) (1991, horror, 118 mins)
Buffalo Bill’s crispy potato skins? Dr. Lecter’s chicken liver pâté with fava beans and a nice chianti? Or maybe Clarice Starling’s slaughtered lamb pizza? They are all on the menu for this pretty unique film experience. The film that follows isn’t bad either.
Everyman Maida Vale Mon 19:40 £38 (includes 3-course themed dinner)

One-off screenings
The Last Night of the Proms 3D (2012, music, 210 mins)
Good cultural addition from the Odeon and at a very reasonable price. The novelty of the 3D is another reason to get off your sofa.
Swiss Cottage Odeon Sat 19:30 £8

Regular programme
The Tricycle Cinema
Lawless* (2012, crime western, 115 mins)
Set in Depression-era Virginia, a bootlegging gang is threatened by a new deputy and other authorities who want a cut of their profits. This new film from the director / screenwriting team of John Hillcoat and Nick Cave has a great cast (including Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman and Jessica Chastain) and at least one rocking cardigan.
Fri-Thu 18:15, 20:45 (exc Sun when 17:30 and 20:00, ext screening Fri at 14:30).
Searching for Sugarman
The music documentary of the year comes back to the Tricycle for yet more encore screenings. Go if you get the chance.
Sat 16:00, Sun 15:30 Thu 14:30
(£9.50 adult, £8.50 concessions, Mon £6 adult, £4.50 Brent resident).

The Everyman Cinemas
Belsize Park
Anna Karenina* (2012, drama, 130 mins)
With a screenplay by Tom Stoppard, this Joe Wright adaptation of the Tolstoy classic is being billed as one of the film events of the year, but the jury is still very much out. Keira Knightley stars with support from Jude Law and Aaron Johnson.
Fri-Thu 15:05, 18:00, 21:00 (exc Sun when 14:00, 17:00, 20:00, no late screening on Wednesday).

Hampstead
Lawless*
Fri-Thu 15:40, 18:25, 21:05 (exc Sun when 12:30, 15:10, 17:55, 20:35, early screening Thu starts at 15:25).
Berberian Sound Studio
Sun 12:10
The Imposter
Fri-Thu 15:15, 18:00, 20:30 (exc Sun when 14:45, 17:30, 20:00, early screening Thu 12:30).

Maida Vale
Anna Karenina*
Fri-Thu 15:00, 17:55, 21:00 (exc Sun when 12:15, 14:30, 17:25, 20:30, ext screening Sat at 12:00).
The Queen of Versailles* (2012, documentary, 100 mins).
A documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles. During the following two years, their empire falters due to the economic crisis. Would have thought this will be on BBC4 before the end of the year.
Fri, Tue, Thu 18:15, Sat 15:45, 20:40, Sun 12:00, 17:45, Mon 17:15, Wed 15:45, 20:40.
The Imposter
Fri, Tue, Thu 15:45, 20:40, Sat 13:20, 18:15, Sun 15:15, 20:10, Mon 14:40, Wed 13:20, 18:15.
Prices vary for all three cinemas, but expect to pay around £13 for an adult ticket and £10 for a concession. Booking advised.

Multiplexes

Finchley Road Vue
Lawless*
Anna Karenina*
Dredd 3D* (2012, action, 95 mins)
Uncomprising and with an 18-rating attached, this looks like it won’t take any prisoners. Word of mouth has been strong, although the trailer would suggest it is an unofffical remake of ace Indonesian action film The Raid: Redemption.
That's My Boy* (2012, comedy, 116 mins).
The annual Adam Sandler comedy film that is fast becoming a textbook example of the law of diminishing returns.
The Sweeney* (from Sep 12 only, more next week)
The Possession
Total Recall
Shadow Dancer
The Imposter
The Watch
The Three Stooges (limited)
The Expendables 2
Take this Waltz
The Bourne Legacy (Xtreme + std)
Brave (2D & 3D)
TED
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Dog Days
The Dark Knight Rises (Xtreme + std)
Ice Age : Continental Drift (2D, yes - still)
Other films show in Kids Club slots at weekend.
(£11.25 adult and £8.40 concessions. Before 17:00 on a Mon, Tue or Thu, adult tickets are £8.00.)

Swiss Cottage Odeon
Anna Karenina*
Lawless* (club)
The Imposter
Total Recall (IMAX, club)
The Bourne Legacy (club)
Brave (3D only)
The Dark Knight Rises
A Monster in Paris (2D)
(£10.75 adult, children £8.75 (£2 extra for 3D, £4 for IMAX). An adult seat in a club cinema is £16.00, a child’s £12.50.)

COMING SOON
Sep 14 – The Sweeney (from Wed 12), To Rome with Love, Hope Springs
Sep 21 – Killing Them Softly, Savages, Untouchable (French phenomenon ‘The Intouchables’).
Sep 28 – Looper, Holy Motors, The Campaign, Resident Evil: Retribution,
All times correct at time of publication.
*new release.

Contact Mark via Twitter or .

Outdoor film bonanza in NW6

An extra post for you from @NxNW6 (aka Mark, the Tommy Lee Jones of NW6)

There are an unprecedented five outdoor screenings scheduled locally in September. I thought it would be worth quickly looking at all of them, and where and when you can catch them.

The Kilburn Grange Pop-Up Cinema Weekender Sep 7-9

Located 2 minutes walk from Kilburn tube (entrance next to The Black Lion). There will be a bar on site and hot food will be available as well as popcorn.
Doors open at 7pm and the films start at 8:30pm.
Friday: Dazed & Confused (Richard Linklater, 1993, 102 mins)
Ensemble slacker comedy that kick-started the careers of Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Renee Zellweger and Ben Affleck among others. Set on the last day of school in mid-70s America.
Saturday: Grosse Point Blank (George Armitage, 1997, 107 mins)
High school reunion film with a twist – John Cusack plays a freelance hitman (a growth industry). Notable for the killer soundtrack and the last time Dan Ackroyd was funny.
Sunday: Top Gun (Tony Scott, 1986, 110 mins)
We lost the great man the other week. This is a small but fitting tribute.
Single film £8, weekend ticket £20.

The Nomad Cinema comes to Queens Park

Located physically in Queens Park itself. Access from Harvist Road
Saturday Sep 8: The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967, 106 mins)
"I’ve got one word for you Benjamin – plastics". Incredibly, now 45 years old, The Graduate more than stands the test of time. Worth it for the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack alone.
Saturday Sep 22: The Big Lebowski (The Coen Brothers, 1998, 117 mins)
Was not considered a massive success when it first came out, but has grown in stature over the 15 years since its release. ‘The Dude’ is surely one of the best onscreen characters of recent times and with a supporting cast including Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman, you're on to a winner. Great subtle Kraftwerk joke as well.
Tickets are £12.50 (£8.50 concessions). Doors at 6:30pm, films start at 8pm (The Graduate) and 7:30pm (Lebowski).
The films will be enhanced by musical and theatrical surprises themed around the eras that they were made (60s, 90s). There will be food and drink available in the form of tapas, popcorn and ice cream.

Now we just need to hope for some sunshine…

What have I missed since August 28th?

In a week when we gawped at the exploits of Paralympians, and prepared to go back to school (with or without help from Michael Gove), what was happening closer to home?

The farmers' market cow suffered a slight mishap at the start of the week. The market is on Facebook as well, and a banner went up.

There was a meeting about the proposed West Hampstead dispersal zone.

A pioneering surgeon is to get a blue plaque in West Hampstead.

Local MP Glenda Jackson chaired a meeting about Kilburn High Road which sought to re-establish cross-borough cooperation on improving the road.

Notable local Robert Webb called out a fan who tweeted about seeing him in the Black Lion.

The Westbury's replacement, which opens at the end of the week, is no longer called The Hudson. It's now called Love & Liquor.

The West Hampstead women's centre held an East meets West art project.

Kingsgate Community Centre has an impressive range of courses for the new term.

The O2 has a new venue - Sparkle Bar and Lounge.

The paralympic torch skirted West Hampstead on Wednesday as it headed for the stadium.

Firefighters were called to a shed on fire in Broomsleigh Street on Thursday, no-one was injured.

Mill Lane Barbers celebrates its 10th anniversary with an amazing prize. Each haircut in Sept will entitle the customer to entry into a draw to receive a year's worth of free haircuts!

Berberian Sound Studio is this week's local Film of the Week.

It's still a long way out, and full details/tickets won't be available until the end of the month, but Whampgather X will be at The Alliance on Mill Lane on November 15th.

Coming up
Next weekend there are three outdoor screenings in Kilburn Grange Park and one in Queens Park.

Tweet of the Week
A late entry, but a good 'un