Author Archives: Tom

La Sera – Seafood and Parties

By Tom | Published: 30 January 2012

Isn’t it funny how you can live in a place for 10 years or so, and still there are locations you haven’t explored properly. La Sera has always been one of those places for me. Tucked in between the Coach & Horses and the 24/7 Turkish supermarket, two of my favourite haunts in Stoke Newington, this seafood restaurant [...]

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Stokey Smoked Salmon

By Tom | Published: 26 September 2010

Just when you thought we had it all… along comes a man from Norway and starts offering salmon smoked in our own backyard. Ole  Hansen-Lydersen has recently set up his smokehouse in Shelford Place here in Stoke Newington, carrying on a family tradition that has now lasted four generations in his native Norway. He and [...]

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Tin-Tone’s Magical Guitars

By Tom | Published: 7 July 2010

All photos by Ben Hopper (http://THEREALBenHopper.com) I’ve always loved guitars. Even though I can’t play to save my life I just can’t help but stop in front of music shops or any other collection of those beautiful shiny instruments. Imagine my surprise then to find a collection of the strangest and prettiest little guitars I [...]

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Desperately seeking… Tony & Annette Paul

By Tom | Published: 15 June 2010

[Press Release] In early 1960 a brand new fountain was installed by Hackney Council on Stoke Newington Common. The fountain was dedicated to Florence duVergier, the very first woman to be elected Mayor of Hackney, during the war in 1943. Originally a teacher, Florence duVergier was elected to be a Hackney Councillor in 1928 and [...]

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See it roar: New beginnings at The Lion

By Tom | Published: 4 June 2010

You might have noticed the light. Over the last couple of days Church Street has been lit up like a Christmas tree… The Lion is back! Well, almost. After well over six months of refurbishment, severe water damage that completely destroyed the new hardwood floors, and more refurbishment, The Lion is re-opening on Saturday, 12 [...]

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The Hackney Gentlemen’s Racing Club – From Church Street to Mongolia

By Tom | Published: 13 May 2010

Whatever plans you have for summer, chances are they won’t be quite as wacky as those of the Hackney Gentlemen’s Racing Club, a group of local residents who are competing in this year’s Mongol Rally, an automotive endurance race to Mongolia. In July, the four friends from Stoke Newington who make up the team will [...]

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Tallulah Rendall and the art of independently producing an album

By Tom | Published: 9 May 2010

Last year we interviewed Tallulah Rendall about her first album, Libellus, which turned out to be a bit of a beauty. Now she is back at work on her second offering, and to finance it she has found an ingenious way of mobilising her fans and support a charity on the side. We caught up [...]

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Calling all artists…

By Tom | Published: 8 May 2010

Basket House Village Universe, the newly established gallery in Leswin Place, have just announced their new summer show Open ’10, an extravaganza of art for everyone, and they are giving all you artists out there a chance to be part of it. Whether you work in painting, printing, photography or sculpture, this is your opportunity to [...]

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What do you love most about Stoke Newington?

By Tom | Published: 8 April 2010

Stokey means a lot of things to a lot of different people. Which areas, things, places or characters do you love about living here in Stoke Newington, and what do you dislike, hate, avoid or feel is ruining it? Becky Ford, a local resident and freelance graphic designer, is working on a project to create [...]

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The Drop Opening Night

By Tom | Published: 5 March 2010

Phew… so only a couple weeks after the Butchers closed its doors to be turned into yet another gastro pub we now have a new late night venue in Stoke Newington. And, fear not, my gentle friends, I’m glad to be able to tell you that it is nothing at all like that fiendish place [...]

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