August 1 to 7 – From a taste of the Riviera to WickED

From Hackney WickED last year. Pic: MarsaliDixon

From Hackney Wicked last year. Pic: MarsaliDixon

Eastlondonlines presents Pick of the Line; this week venture from Hackney Wick’s very own Riviera to Kopparberg’s Urban Forest in Dalston. Bask in Hackney’s WickED Art Festival and get wild, before shuffling through Danny Boyle’s festival immersed deep inside Tower Hamlets cemetery. Soak up more artistic inspiration this week by visiting Mile End Art Pavillion and float through twilight in Wanders Park with Shakespearean magical delight.

Hackney

Bringing a slice of the Côte d’Azur to Hackney Wick this Friday August 1 is Flamingo Pier at Counter Cafe. This monthly party, which also includes art exhibition, will open the Hackney WickED Art Festival with bespoke food, drink and music all flavoured from the south of France. Saunter along to this soiree and enjoy palm trees and French-style sculleries. Sip on signature cocktails and craft beer, whilst shimmying the night away to the systematic DJ duo Chaos in the CBD.Entry is £5.

Back for its 6th year, Hackney WickED has curated a programme filled with capacious and quirky events that will keep you captivated from August 1-3. The extensive line-up champions all forms of performance and creativity through exhibitions, open studios and site-specific art to film, live music and workshops.

If you fancy a flavoursome treat, visit the Beggar’s Banquet on Saturday August 2 and feast like kings on 5 courses cooked using food that would otherwise go to waste. Tickets are £25.

'Heads and Bodies'. Pic: Rooftop Summer Club

‘Heads and Bodies’. Pic: Rooftop Summer Club

Remember playing ‘heads and bodies’ as a kid? Don’t worry if you don’t, head down to Rooftop Summer Club, Queen of Hoxton and relive your youth this Wednesday August 6 from 7pm – 8-30pm, playing the imaginative game with strangers! There are prizes to be won. Rules are easy peasy; draw a body part – scarier the better – fold the paper and pass it on. Simples.

Catch the end of the Kopparberg Urban Forest this weekend in Dalston. Transforming a once barren car park into a midsummer’s dream, this Sunday will see one special fairy work her florist magic in the grand finale disguising men’s beards with flowers.This free event has included a spectacular line up of musicians, and the closing acts this weekend include and Bernhoft so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Kopparberg Fest. Pic: Holly Wing.

Kopparberg Urban Forest. Pic: Holly Wing 

Tower Hamlets

Danny Boyle’s award winning Shuffle Festival – which began in an abandoned psychiatric hospital – is back for a second year to bring life and laughter to Tower Hamlets Park Cemetery.​ Running until August 5, the festival intertwines two outdoor cinemas, live music, art installations and a host of activities inside one of London’s most urban woodland areas.

Shuffle also has comedy acts, an outdoor swimming pool and a short film competition run by none other than Danny Boyle himself. Its worldly programme has something for everyone regardless of age, so be sure to take a gander – and if you are an E3 resident you’ll only pay £5! Bargain.

What better way to enjoy a family day this summer than with a visit to Mile End’s alluring Art Pavilion? This week sees the characteristic space transformed into ‘Sky High in the Pavilion: from Munich to Mile End’ which commemorates the start of the First World War and will run until August 7. The exhibition boasts a colossal 3D model of a rare German zeppelin airship – created by Emergency Exit Arts (EEA) in conjunction with local schools groups.

A Midsummer Nights Dream. Pic: CODA

A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Pic: CODA

CODA’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is enchanting Wandle Park Friday and Saturday this weekend. Become bewitched with fairy dust, fall in love and laugh whole-heartedly at the bewildering situations that will leave you captivated within Wandle Park’s bandstand.

Lewisham

Don your finest swimwear and flip flops this summer and take the whole family to the beach at The Conservatoire in Blackheath. Blackheath Beach will fill your summer holidays with free music, live talks plus much more Monday to Sunday.  Be sure to catch Friday Food Night or Seaside Sunday Brunch, but check the website for more details.

Entrance is free for all, but capacity is limited! So wristbands are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. A small number of reserved spots are also available for a fee.

Street Feast will be taking over Lewisham Shopping Centre’s old Model Market this summer, with a selection of scrumptious street food pop-ups serving sizzling sustenance. Scottish or Schezuan – whatever you fancy there will be a delight for you.

What would a Street Feast be without any beats? The nights will also see a line-up of wicked DJs so be prepared to boogie the night away.

 

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