The Greenwich Gazette

The Kids Grow Up: Docklands Sinfonia to Perform for the Queen!

2011-05-07T14:11:00.000+01:00

They only started out in 2009 and The Greenwich Gazette has been there from day one to see them progress year after year. Now, they crown their hard work with a performance for the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Congrats and here's the press release:

Docklands Sinfonia is honoured to have been invited to perform for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace this Monday, 9th May 2011.

The symphony orchestra will perform alongside distinguished artists – including world famous soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa - and rising stars at a reception to celebrate young talent in the British Performing Arts.

Docklands Sinfonia, which has been rated as one of London’s top 5 non-professional symphony orchestras, will be involved in a specially commissioned theatre performance which has been inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The performance, which has been produced by the English National Ballet in association with Dramatico Entertainment, will showcase distinguished artists and young people pursuing excellence in drama, dance and music.

It will present a light-hearted exploration of Shakespeare’s story and feature mentor artists such as Dame Kiri, Anne Reid MBE, Bryony Hannah and Amy Robbins, in addition to rising stars such as Tamsin Egerton, Daniel Kaluuya, Rumer and Alleviate.

Around 450 guests representing organisations and indivuals involved in the performing arts will attend the reception. They include representatives from organisations such as English National Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the National Youth Music Theatre.

Docklands Sinfonia’s involvement in the Buckingham Palace reception is the latest major achievement for the orchestra, which was only formed in January 2009 by musical director Spencer Down.

The orchestra has also just been invited to record at the BBC studios in Maida Vale later this month for BBC Radio 3’s ‘Light Fantastic’ celebration of British light orchestral music.

The young and dynamic symphony orchestra has already performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Grammy award-winning singer Imogen Heap, performed on BBC1 and held a number of sell-out concerts with major classical artists.

Docklands Sinfonia’s founder and musical director Spencer Down said: “It is a dream come true for Docklands Sinfonia to have been invited to perform for the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

“We are incredibly honoured to have been included in this fantastic celebration of young people in the British performing arts.”

DOCKLANDS SINFONIA

Docklands Sinfonia is a young and dynamic new symphony orchestra which aims to be a major cultural force in London’s dynamic Docklands. The orchestra is a unique blend of professional musicians, music students and talented amateurs – living and working in East London.

In June 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was rated as one of London’s top five non-professional orchestras by the respected industry magazine ‘Classical Music’. Since its formation in January 2009 by musical director Spencer Down, the orchestra has enjoyed incredible success. Just weeks after its first rehearsal, it was asked to perform on the BBC1 series ‘Clash’ and it has performed a number of sell-out concerts featuring major classical artists.

In November 2010, Docklands Sinfonia performed the world premiere of Grammy award winner Imogen Heap's 'Love The Earth' to a sell-out audience at the Royal Albert Hall.

World class soloists who have performed with the orchestra include cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich, baroque soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, saxophonist Christian Forshaw, the Raven string quartet and LSO principal trumpet Philip Cobb.

The orchestra also has a strong track record of commissioning and showcasing new works by up and coming British composers including Andrew Keenan, Christian Forshaw, Mick Foster, Jeremy Holland-Smith, the Raven string quartet, Peter Meechan and Robert Davies.

Docklands Sinfonia is honoured to have Admiral Lord West as its patron. It rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7pm to 9:30pm at St Anne’s Church, Limehouse.

Celebrating Burns?

2011-01-25T13:17:00.001Z

Five years after Robert Burns died, a group of his friends got together to remember him and his poetry. The tradition became established and now, every year on his birthday, 25th January, Scots all round the world celebrate Burns Night with a Burns Supper which follows a format similar to the original dinner (often with much toasting and drinking of whiskey!)

If you and your family would like to join the tradition, this website can help set you on your way:

http://www.rabbie-burns.com/ and one for the kids http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/burns_night_for_kids.htm

and of course http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper

No Pay, No Meridian Line!

2011-01-23T08:00:00.003Z

I have friends coming over to visit good old Greenwich from Canada come this May half-term. About time too. I have been urging them to visit the town since I moved to this area (quite a long time ago) and they have finally agreed. Home to the Meridian Line and the place where all time started. A World Heritage Site and previous home to two Queens. Come come I urged where you can enter a Painted Hall and walk the grounds of where Pirates of the Carribbean was filmed. It's our little piece of Hollywood I bragged. We can walk the Thames, stroll through Greenwich Park and pose by the Meridian Line. All FREE, FREE, FREE. And that's not all I encouraged: As we get up to the Royal Observatory, we can jump over the Meridian Line and look through telescopes and enter a magnificent planetarium. Bar the planetarium shows, we can do all that for free free free. That's how it's done here in Britain. Culture for the masses.

Spurred on by my enthusiasm, they have been on to all relevant Greenwich websites pinpointing what they want to see and do during their two weeks here. Fascinated are they by the fact that the Olympics (dude the Olympics! shouted their sixteen-year-old) will be held here they can't wait to get here fast enough. Plane tickets have been booked, West-End shows have been allocated and "Can we pay by card at the door to the Observatory or do they only take cash?"

"Must be some mistake," I cockily and knowingly chipped in, the Royal Observatory is free for all. "Not on their website it isn't. For someone with an online blog about Greenwich, you're not up-to-date are you? Check their website".

And I did. And I am sad to announce that come March, Flamsteed House and Meridian Line Courtyard will be charging £10 for each adult but children under 16 still get to go in for free. Entry tickets are annual passes (visitors are able to return as many times as they like within 12 months for no additional charge).

When did that happen? How come I never heard of it? And to be honest had my Canadian friends not been so (and I mean this in the kindest way) thorough and a pain-in-the-ass, need-to-book-everything-in-advance sort of people I would never have found out until the next time I attempted a jump over the Meridian Line maybe? Sorry mate, that jump will now cost you £10. I am sure there is more to this story but right now I am too distraught to find out and am already planning the number of jumps I can get in before March. Watch this space.

To check out the Royal Observatory's times and admissions section, click here.

Constructs, Spectacle and Self Exhibition

2011-01-17T07:00:00.002Z

Kelly Brown

Exhibition dates: 13 January to 13 February 2011

Opening reception: 20 January, 6-8pm

Exhibiting photographers: Kelly Brown, Catlin Harrison and Kerry Clark

The Viewfinder Photography Gallery is pleased to present “Constructs, Spectacle and Self”, a group exhibition of photographic projects by Kerry Clark, Kelly Brown and Catlin Harrison. The work featured in this exhibition explores identity and gender roles, with a gaze on historic and contemporary references to women.

Viewfinder curator Kathleen Brey says, "Kelly Brown, Kerry Clark and Catlin Harrison are photographers working with the most personal of subjects - themselves, and how they see themselves in the world. Emphasising the spectacle of self, Harrison, Clark and Brown place distance between the subject and the viewer. The artists looked at historical sources (ancestors, old masters, 19th century photographic processes) in the hopes of finding themselves in the present. The resulting photographs by each artist have a performative quality. Clark, Harrison and Brown use photography to portray one’s ongoing soul-search, playing with how we construct our own identities.”

Viewfinder Photography Gallery: 52 Brixton Village (formerly Granville Arcade), London SW9 8PS.

Follow the Viewfinder @ www.viewfinder.org.uk

Join Trinity Laban’s World Choir and Perform at the Roundhouse!

2011-01-16T18:08:00.000Z

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is inviting adults of all musical abilities to take part in a unique singing project starting in February. Over six weeks participants will work with acclaimed vocalist Kerry Andrew to form a new World Choir before showcasing their talents at one of London’s most popular venues, the Roundhouse, in March. Whether you are budding amateur or a seasoned professional it’s always a thrill to sing in a choir so become part of this amazing experience and join in the fun!

The newly formed World Choir will work closely with multitalented vocalist and composer Kerry Andrew for six weeks learning English, Scottish and American folk songs by ear. Singers will learn how to use layers, looped vocal riffs and experiment with unusual vocal techniques. Drawing on her expertise in contemporary vocal music and musical theatre, as well as pop, jazz and folk, Kerry will lead the singers in performing innovative vocal pieces for all to enjoy.

The World Choir project will culminate in a performance on 27 March 2011 in the foyer of the Roundhouse as part of the Voices Now festival. This performance will precede a live edition of BBC Radio 3’s popular programme The Choir which will feature performances by the BBC Singers and the Latvian Radio Choir.

The project is open to anyone with a passion for singing regardless of previous experience. This is a great opportunity to try something different, meet new people and perform at a top London arts venue which has seen the likes of Bob Dylan and The Doors grace its stage.

Rehearsals begin on Wednesday 9 February, 7.30pm – 9.30pm at Trinity Laban’s Theatre Studio in the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London. Following rehearsals take place on Wednesdays 16 February and 2, 9, 16, 23 March.

The full course fee is £50 which includes six rehearsals, the Roundhouse performance and a ticket to see BBC Radio 3’s The Choir on 27 March at 18.30h. Optionally, the course costs £45 excluding The Choir ticket. To book your place or to find out more please call Katie Winsor on 020 8305 4378 or email ed.comm@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Kerry Andrew says, “Learning songs by ear is the most inclusive form of musical education there is. This course welcomes everyone with a passion for singing and presents a brilliant opportunity for those who want to build their confidence, develop their singing skills or just love performing in public!”

For more information on the festival please visit www.voicesnow.co.uk or http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/

Boris and Santa!

2010-12-28T08:52:00.000Z

What do Mayor Boris and Santa have in common? Click this link (http://www.freshnetworks.com/blog/2010/12/social-santas-and-christmas-fun/) to find out. Enjoy!

From Mischief to Medicine Cabinets: Spring Season at Laban Theatre

2010-12-28T08:40:00.002Z

Shake off winter with an exhilarating programme of dance at Laban Theatre this spring. Marvel at the anatomy defying choreography of Wayne McGregor Random Dance, enjoy a spellbinding show for all the family with Theatre-Rites and Arthur Pita’s Mischief, dig deep into your medical cabinets with a thought-provoking new work from dANTE or dIE, and delve into the depths of our justice system with a celebrated production from Jasmin Vardimon Company. There’s also the chance to catch exciting new work by acclaimed artists Angela Woodhouse & Caroline Broadhead, Stephanie Schober and Charles Linehan Company.

Opening the season in true theatrical style, Jasmin Vardimon Company presents Justitia (January 20). Staged on an impressive revolving set in a film-like replay of events, the audience plays witness to a gripping crime story from different perspectives - at the crime scene, in the court house, inside an intimate group therapy room - discovering new realities as a series of secrets unfolds. Performed by a company of nine international dancers, Justitia is punctuated with provocative and insightful humour, treating us to a generous helping of Vardimon’s unique brand of highly acute physical theatre - fiercely athletic, daring and beautifully detailed.

Between (January 24 & 25) is the premiere of a stunning new performance installation by dance artist Angela Woodhouse and Jerwood award winning textile artist Caroline Broadhead, following the success of their critically-acclaimed collaborations Sighted and Sighted 2. Through the interplay of dance, materials and light, Woodhouse and Broadhead generate highly charged and atmospheric audience experiences. Between explores the tension between visual spectacle and the hunger for intimacy. Inhabited by three performers and up to forty viewers who move freely around the space, the work is performed in silence and interrogates what it is to experience dance performance. The work is made in collaboration with performers Stine Nilsen (Co-Artistic Director of Candoco Dance Company), David McCormick (DV8 Physical Theatre, Richard Alston Dance Company) and Martina Conti.

For the perfect half-term treat for all the family, look no further than Mischief (February 19 & 20), the award winning show from renowned children’s theatre company Theatre-Rites and innovative choreographer Arthur Pita. Bursting with energy and fun, it’s a fantastic mix of dance, visual art, puppetry, music, and playful clowning. As multi-coloured lines of foam are transformed into an abstract forest, seven dancers take the audience on a magical journey through a wonderland of colour, shapes and surprises. Accompanied by live music and song, it’s designed to appeal to the over-fives, and adults who haven’t entirely mislaid their inner child! Following two highly successful tours in 2007 and 2009, the Laban Theatre dates give London audiences another chance to be enthralled by this popular show before it tours to Barcelona and New York.

Side Effects (March 1) by dANTE or dIE is a playful new dance theatre piece that dissects our medical histories and urges us to investigate what's in our medicine cabinet. Inspired by the fact that the average UK citizen takes 14,000 pills in a lifetime, Side Effects is performed by five dancers between the ages of 20 and 75 who slide between life threatening illnesses to hangovers, questioning how aware we are of what medicine is, how it works and how it can shape the person you are. Side Effects is a unique collaboration with The School of Pharmacy, developed from a 20 minute piece that the company performed at The Place as part of Resolution! 2010 and The Linbury Studio as part of The Royal Opera House Firsts ’10 Season.

Groundbreaking Wayne McGregor

Random Dance returns to Laban Theatre with its latest feast for the senses, F.A.R. (9 & 10 March). McGregor is one of the most in-demand choreographers of his generation (“If any artist has defined the decade - it’s Wayne McGregor” – The Times) and this is a great chance to catch his work in an intimate setting. Inspired by the controversial Age of Enlightenment, F.A.R. explores an era that first placed ‘a body in question’. Ten incredible dancers confront the distortions, sensuality and feeling of the 18th century’s searing contemporary sensibility to a new, haunting score by the critically-acclaimed composer Ben Frost. Staged in a mesmerising environment of shadow and light, object and film, F.A.R. binds cutting edge design with awe-inspiring choreography.

Stephanie Schober & Dance Company will premiere an intriguing new work that draws inspiration from Tom Johnson's minimalist music composition, Abundant Numbers (16 & 17 March). This will be Schober’s first work with live music, and she has been working with accordionist Camilla Barratt-Due and dancers Keir Patrick and Lise Manavit. Johnson’s composition is based on mathematical principles of accumulating materials, providing a rigorous medium for the performers to share the stage and their materials in surprising ways. The as-yet untitled piece has been commissioned by Laban Theatre and The Garrick Charitable Trust, with support from Arts Council England.

In April, Laban Theatre welcomes Charles Linehan Company with two new works, The Fault Index and The Clearing (April 27). Since 1994, the company has been winning audiences over with its understated style – The Guardian has described Linehan “one of our classiest choreographers”. The Fault Index is a celebration of isolated events - a series of connected and unconnected incidents are presented in a different order for each performance. In The Clearing, slow transformations evolve within a complex weave of interlocking melodies, off-rhythms and beautiful sonorities. Featuring a specially commissioned score by Richard Skelton, The Clearing is performed by four dancers including Linehan’s long-term collaborators Rahel Vonmoos and Greig Cooke.

For information on all Laban Theatre performances and to book tickets, please see www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/labantheatre or call 020 8469 9500.

Trinity Laban Announces Honorary Fellows

2010-12-15T11:20:00.000Z

Akram Khan MBE, Alan Britten CBE, Anna Jattkowski-Hudson, and Robin Kiel MBE have received Honorary Fellowships from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in recognition of their outstanding efforts and unique contributions to the arts. The awards were presented at the Trinity Laban music graduation ceremony on December 8 in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich.

Akram Khan MBE is one of the most acclaimed choreographers of his generation working in Britain today. Born in London into a family of Bangladeshi origin, he studied with the renowned kathak dancer and teacher Sri Pratap Pawar. In 2000 he launched Akram Khan Dance Company with producer Farooq Chaudhry, which has provided him with a platform for innovation and a diverse range of work through collaboration with artists from other disciplines. Akram Khan Dance Company has performed to packed houses as part of Trinity Laban’s Laban Theatre public performance dance programme.

Alan Britten CBE became the first chair of the English Tourism Council in 1999. A former Trinity College of Music and Trinity Laban board member, he is a trustee of Trinity Laban, and President of the Friends of Aldeburgh Music – the year-round performance centre which supports artists at all stages in their careers by providing inspirational and relaxed spaces in which to create new work.

Trinity Laban alumnus Anna Jattkowski-Hudson currently works as Registrar at Rockford College – an independent liberal arts higher education provider in Illinois, USA. She is a popular figure at Trinity Laban having spent 10 years working at Trinity College of Music and Trinity Laban, first as Curriculum Manager and then as Academic Registrar.

Robin Kiel MBE, who studied the bassoon and composition at Trinity, has been a lifelong advocate for the performing arts. He played a major role in the development and promotion of the Government’s national Music and Dance Scheme which provides exceptionally talented children and young people access to high quality dance and music education through hubs including Trinity Laban’s Centre of Advanced Training and Saturday school Junior Trinity. In 2008, Robin was appointed MBE for his work in this important area of provision for talented young musicians and dancers.

Chairman of the Trinity Laban Board of Governors Sir Robert Scott comments: “We are delighted to welcome Akram, Alan, Anna and Robin as Trinity Laban Honorary Fellows. Each of them stands out for their unique accomplishments in the fields of performing arts and arts education. It is inspirational for our students to see examples of people who have – through vision, dedication and hard work – achieved so much.”

Trinity College London also presented honorary awards under the licence of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance during the graduation ceremony. Professor Charles Alderson was appointed Honorary Fellow (Hon FTCL) for his extensive services to the College and the arts. Robin Popplesdorf and Glyndwr Jones became Honorary Members (Hon TCL) in recognition of their commitment and dedication to the Institution.

This Saturday At Blackheath Halls

2010-12-03T13:00:00.000Z

SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER 3PM

Aladdin and his mates like mucking about down at the market place. His Mum, Mrs Din, dreams of being more than just a school dinner lady. A TV chef perhaps? Then Aladdin claps eyes on the beautiful Princess Badou and his heart beats to a new tune. At the same time, an enchanting stranger enters his life and promises riches beyond belief - turning the existence of Aladdin and his mum upside down.

Meanwhile at the Palace, the Sultan announces the forthcoming wedding of his daughter Badou to the Grand Vizier's son, Twit.

Can Aladdin win his Princess? Will Mrs Din cook anything eatable? Will the Genie of the Ring get off the loo in time? Shall the Sorcerer gain the upper hand, as well as the biggest? And can the Grand Vizier solve the mystery of that lamp?

Suitable for ages 5 - 11 years

TICKETS £7

Do something different this Christmas

2010-12-02T08:00:00.001Z

Christmas Star Party

The Christmas star party at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich offers a unique festive experience for families. The programme includes Christmas Stars planetarium show, a chance to look at the Moon through a gigantic telescope, an opportunity to use small telescopes in the Meridian Courtyard and time to stand on the Prime Meridian of the world and take in the amazing view. This includes hot chocolate, mulled wine, mince pies and other festive treats while in the courtyard. Christmas attire or accessories are a must for adults and children alike.

Please note: If adverse weather conditions prevent viewing through the telescopes, an alternative programme will be offered. We are not able to offer refunds under such circumstances.

Location:Royal Observatory Greenwich; Courtyard; 28-inch Telescope; Planetarium

Who's it for?: Family (over-5s); Adults; Young people

Dates:17th Dec 2010 - 18th Dec 2010

Times:17.25, 17.30, 18.45, 18.50

Fee:£20: per person £70: family ticket*

Event type: The Royal Observatory in Greenwich

Booking: Booking required. Debit / Credit Card only

Online: www.nmm.ac.uk/tickets

(Tel: 020 8312 6608)

The Bookings office is open 10.00-16.00

* Family ticket = 2 adults, 2 children OR 1 adult, 3 children.

GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER IMOGEN HEAP TO PERFORM WITH DOCKLANDS SINFONIA

2010-12-01T08:00:00.003Z

Love The Earth – featuring Imogen Heap

Friday 3rd December 2010, 7:30pm
St Anne’s Church, Three Colt Street, Limehouse, London E14 7HP

Grammy award-winning singer songwriter Imogen Heap will make a guest appearance at Docklands Sinfonia next concert on Friday December 3rd.

The world-famous artist will conduct the orchestra for the second performance of a groundbreaking new film project called ‘Love The Earth’ (lovetheearthfilm.org). The orchestra was honoured to have been involved in the Love The Earth world premiere at Imogen’s sell-out Royal Albert Hall concert on Friday 5th November. The performance, which was met with a standing ovation from the audience, was also streamed live over the internet in high definition to over 480,000 people worldwide.

Love The Earth is a concept film from Imogen Heap and Thomas Ermacora which involves the crowd-sourcing of video footage to create a nature film. The film will be screened at the concert while Docklands Sinfonia perform the score live under Imogen’s baton.

Spencer Down, Docklands Sinfonia’s founder and musical director, said: “We are honoured and excited that such a phenomenal artist is performing with the orchestra.

“Love The Earth is a breathtaking film. It is a testament to Imogen’s immense talent that she wrote her stunning orchestral score in under three months while performing a world tour.”

Imogen added: “'I adore the Docklands Sinfonia! I'd never conducted in my life and it was a dream come true to conduct my first orchestral piece at the Royal Albert Hall. I was grinning from ear to ear.

“The orchestra will be fond in my heart forever. I am so looking forward to doing it all again at their concert on December 3rd."

Imogen is an innovative and eclectic British musician. Her latest album Ellipse earned her a Grammy (Best Engineered Album) and Ivor Novello award. Her graceful tunes such as her signature track "Hide & Seek" populate movies and TV shows from The O.C. to the Chronicles of Narnia. She is also well-known for her use of the web and social networking to communicate with her loyal fan base.

Docklands Sinfonia, which was only formed in January last year, has already achieved stunning success with a BBC1 performance and a number of sell-out concerts with major classical artists. In June 2010, Docklands Sinfonia was rated as one of London’s top five non-professional orchestras by the respected industry magazine ‘Classical Music’.

Tickets are selling fast for the concert, which takes place at the Hawksmoor-designed St Anne’s church in Limehouse and starts at 7:30pm. The orchestra will also be performing Sibelius Symphony No.2 with conductor Spencer Down.

Tickets, costing £15, can be booked directly from the orchestra’s website at www.docklandssinfonia.co.uk or from the Docklands Sinfonia box office on 07827 568992 or info@docklandssinfonia.co.uk.

MILITARY BAND PLAN LOCAL CAROL CONCERT

2010-12-01T08:00:00.001Z

Residents of south east London and north east Kent can soon get well and truly into the Christmas spirit with a festive carol concert featuring the renowned Royal Artillery Orchestra. The concert on the evening of Saturday 18 December will take place in the atmospheric setting of Firepower The Royal Artillery Museum in the historic Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Traditional Christmas carols will be performed and the audience will be welcome to join in or just listen and enjoy the festive entertainment.

The concert will start at 7pm, tickets cost £5 seated, £3 standing and can be pre-booked on 0208 312 7123. The concert will last about 90 minutes and the Museum Cafe Bistro will be open afterwards for seasonal treats and supper - reservations can be made.

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18 6ST

The Krystal World

2010-11-30T08:35:00.000Z

Joel Lardner

2 December to 12 December 2010

Private view: Thursday 2 December, 2010, 6-8pm

Exhibiting photographers: Joel Lardner and Dan Tobin Smith

The Viewfinder Photography Gallery is pleased to present “The Krystal World,” a collaborative project initiated by Joel Lardner and Dan Tobin Smith. The project attempts to stimulate new imaginative strategies via an alchemical photomontage technique. Tobin Smith’s photographic archive provides a seductive sequence of images from which new meanings are formed and new worlds explored. Cordyceps fungi provides a way of understanding this creative process and the discourse associated with beauty and decay that permeates this body of work.

The photographs of Dan Tobin Smith are transformed and transmuted into different forms by the illustrative work of Joel Lardner in an expressive, organic and intuitive response to the original photographic work. These organic forms evolve out of the photographic work and depend upon it for their development in much the same way as the Cordyceps fungus invades and exploits its host for its own development and survival.

Viewfinder Photography Gallery: 52 Brixton Village (formerly Granville Arcade), London SW9 8PS. Follow the Viewfinder @ www.viewfinder.org.uk

Greenwich Market's Christmas News

2010-11-30T08:26:00.004Z

Greenwich Market open 7 days a week

London’s famous Greenwich Market will be open 7 days a week through to 31 December. 150 Christmas-themed stalls will offer unique hand crafted and designed gift ideas and stocking-fillers, handmade jewellery, fashion and beauty treats as well as food and drink of a festive nature. Remember to visit the special St Alfege Market (by the church) open 7 days a week too.

Father Christmas arrives in SE10

Visit Father Christmas in his Grotto at 5a Greenwich Market every Saturday and Sunday this Christmas. His funny elf will treat the children to lots of magic and balloon fun while they wait their turn to talk to Santa and collect their Christmas gift bag.
12.30 pm to 5.30pm daily – Saturdays and Sundays - 27 and 28 November, 4 and 5, 11 and 12, 18 and 19 December. £4 a visit.

Young Musicians in Greenwich and Lewisham to Benefit from Mayor’s Music Education Fund

2010-11-30T08:07:00.000Z

An inspiring new music initiative that will help young people in Greenwich and Lewisham develop their music skills has been awarded funding as part of a major scheme launched by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The Animate Orchestra is borne out of a creative partnership between Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Trinity Laban) and Greenwich and Lewisham Music Services, who will work in partnership with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), Southbank Centre and The O2 to inspire young musicians. The project aims to motivate young musicians from Years 6-9 in Greenwich and Lewisham schools to progress in the fields of ensemble and creative music making and to continue music tuition during the transition to secondary school, when many can ‘drop out’ of instrumental learning.

Young people will be invited to create their own ensemble that represents an ‘orchestra for the 21st Century’. They will make music alongside members of the LPO, staff and students from Trinity Laban and teachers from Greenwich and Lewisham Music Services, as well as perform and attend performances by other artists, at venues to include Southbank Centre and The O2. The Animate Orchestra launches next spring with a series of interactive performances taking place at secondary schools across the two boroughs, reaching over 1200 children between the ages of 10 and 14. Young people will be invited to attend a series of holiday courses to create the new ensemble, working alongside orchestral musicians, music tutors and a creative director. The Animate Orchestra will perform during 2012 as part of Cultural Olympiad programming.

This is one of six new partnerships funded by the Mayor’s Music Education Fund. Over the next two years, these partnerships will give in total over 5,000 young people from diverse social backgrounds and at different levels of learning the chance to develop their skills on a musical instrument, play in a group with other students, and work and perform with some of the UK’s finest professional musicians in some of London’s most inspirational venues.

Currently music is a compulsory subject up to the age of 14, but fewer than one in 10 students takes the subject at GCSE level. It is hoped that with the Music Education Fund and through the work of the Music Education Strategy, more and more young people will be encouraged, not only to take up a musical instrument, but to continue their instrumental learning with opportunities to take part in orchestral, band and inspirational projects with professional musicians.

Councillor Jackie Smith, Greenwich Cabinet Member for Children and Young People says: ‘Greenwich has a proud record of nurturing the musical talents of our children and young people. The Animate Orchestra provides an excellent way to further develop our existing partnerships so that more local children can experience the unique sense of pride and achievement associated with creating and performing live music.’

Andrea Spain, Head of Professional Skills at Trinity Laban says: ‘Performing in an orchestra can be one of the most exciting aspects of being a musician. By bringing together a professional orchestra, the musicians of Trinity Laban, the expertise of music services and the creativity of young people, we look forward to capturing the power and impact of orchestral musicianship, in an ensemble that represents the ideas and culture of a new generation.’

Timothy Walker AM, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra says: ‘Thanks to the Mayor’s Music Education Fund, the LPO has been able to forge a new partnership with Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Greenwich and Lewisham Music Services, Southbank Centre and The O2 to create Animate Orchestra, a new ensemble and a new musical pathway for talented young people in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham. We hope to support children who have participated in wider opportunities, Saturday centres and other instrumental learning schemes and nurture them as young musicians through transition into secondary education.’

New Dance Production, Corpo-realities at Laban Theatre this November

2010-10-25T18:53:00.000+01:00

Sankalpam – Corpo-Realities

Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 November, 19.30h
Laban Theatre, Laban, Creekside, London SE8 3DZ
Tickets £12 / £8 (concessions)
Booking: 020 8469 9500 or via www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/labantheatre

Asian-inspired dance company Sankalpam are showcasing their new innovative and collaborative production, Corpo-realities, at Laban Theatre in South East London on 16 and 17 November at 19.30h. Corpo-realities, featuring a triple bill for 5 female dancers, fuses the ancient South Indian classical dance Bharata Natyam with contemporary techniques.

Three artists have been commissioned to create a collaborative choreographic framework for Corpo-realities. These include Luca Silvestrini, known for his outstanding work with Protein Dance, who uses clever observational movements to reflect cultural hang-ups; former resident Southbank Centre artist Stephanie Schober (a Trinity Laban graduate) whose sophisticated choreography exposes the performers’ desire to communicate; and Sankalpam’s joint artistic director Stella Uppal-Subbiah who has collaborated with theatre director Phillip Zarrilli to explore the psychophysical expressive process of abhinaya (internal acting).

Bharata Natyam is often thought of as the dance of the mind and soul, and Corpo-realities certainly captures this essence. This promises to be a passionate performance by the dancers delivering the progressive choreography of Silvestrini, Schober, Uppal-Subbiah and Zarrilli within the appropriately modern yet intimate Laban Theatre.

The accompanying music compliments this varied evening of dance featuring pieces for keyboard by Bach, a mixture of Chinese, Indian and French music, and meditative drones with cleverly integrated sound and text.

Sankalpam, founded in 1994 by current joint artistic directors Mira Balchandran Gokul and Stella Uppal Subbiah alongside Valli Subbiah and Vidya Thirunarayan, aims to stretch Bharata Natyam beyond its traditional classical form. However, Corpo-realities is a big departure from their usual work as it incorporates work from contemporary choreographers and dancers trained in contemporary dance technique. This blending of cultures attracts both fans of contemporary dance and those of classical Indian dance.

Expect to see precise and well articulated movement which challenges ideas of form, identity and artistic freedom, all executed with the utmost grace. By reducing the cultural specificity and religious associations of Bharata Natyam, Sankalpam revives the language of South Indian dance and makes this unique art form more accessible.

For tickets please call 020 8469 9500 or visit www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/labantheatre

UNIVERSALLY SPECTACULAR SIGHT

2010-10-22T19:17:00.000+01:00

Sky 3D brings ‘The Universe’ to life over London with nine giant helium filled ‘Planets’

To celebrate the launch of Sky 3D, Europe’s first 3D TV channel, spectacular scenes from its forthcoming 3D premiere of The Universe: 7 Wonders of the Solar System were brought to life above London’s Royal Greenwich Observatory.

Nine helium filled ‘planets’ measuring between two and six metres in diameter were floated and illuminated above London’s skyline creating a unique spectacle ahead of the screening of the new programme from History™.

The Universe: 7 Wonders of the Solar System is the first episode from a new series of the popular History series The Universe and will be screened in 3D. The programme is part of the 3D entertainment line up for Sky’s ground breaking 3D channel, which launched on 1 October 2010. Viewers will be transported to the outer regions of space from the comfort of their sofa on Sunday 24 October at 9pm on Sky 3D.

John Cassy, Sky 3D’s Channel Director comments: “The phenomenal universe we live in has captured the imagination of generations for centuries and we wanted to add yet another dimension. It’s taken a team of 17 people over 100 hours to recreate the Solar System over the London skyline, with the impressive Jupiter dominating this celebration of ‘The Universe’ on Sky 3D.’

Sky’s groundbreaking new 3D channel is Europe’s first domestic 3D TV channel offering a variety of movies, documentaries, sports arts and entertainment. The channel is available through all existing Sky+HD boxes and compatible with all ‘active’ and ‘passive’ 3D TVs being produced by LG, Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic.

The Universe: 7 Wonders of the Solar System will screen on Sky 3D, channel 217, on Sunday 24 October at 9pm. For more information on Sky 3D and 3D TV at home visit www.sky.com/3d

To view the ‘behind the scenes’ video of the solar system being brought to life above London’s Royal Greenwich Observatory visit: www.sky.com/3duniverse

Greenwich International Early Music Festival & Exhibition 2010

2010-10-15T10:04:00.000+01:00

Greenwich International Early Music Festival & Exhibition 2010

12 – 14 November 2010

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, SE10 9LF

From viols to vespers, the stunning baroque architecture of the Old Royal Naval College will resonate with the sounds of all things early music in November during the ninth Greenwich International Early Music Festival & Exhibition. Across three days, a diverse programme of performance featuring acclaimed musicians will run alongside the world’s largest and most prestigious early music exhibitors fair, featuring over 100 international instrument makers. Run by the Early Music Shop and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music (Trinity Laban), this unique event has proved an essential fixture on the early music calendar.

Among the highlights of this year’s programme is Quartet New Generation (QNG), a female recorder collective juxtaposing contemporary and early music, hailed as ‘recorder virtuosos’ by The New York Times and ‘mind-blowing’ by the Los Angeles Times. Performing on over 30 different recorders of varying sizes and shapes during the course of a typical performance, QNG transports the listener into new sonic worlds (Fri 12 Nov, 5.45pm, St Alfege Church).

On Friday at 1pm head to St Alfege Church to hear the fascinating story of the Golden Lyre of Ur – dating from 2,550 years BC. The poignant discovery in 1929 of three lyres and a harp in a mass grave in Mesopotamia led to six years of investigation and the subsequent painstaking recreation of this remarkable instrument. Told through narrative and music, it is a tale of deaths, mass-suicides and royal court musicians who played to the bitter end.

One of the themes of this year’s festival is the work of Haydn. The renowned Café Mozart will be will be joined by Steven Devine (fortepiano) to perform Haydn a L’anglaise (Fri 12, 7.45pm, Old Royal Naval College Chapel). A mixture of songs by Haydn as found in English editions available in London when he arrived in 1791, instrumental music converted into “Ballads” and keyboard Rondos based on Haydn’s English Canzonettas will be performed alongside keyboard music by Haydn’s pupil Thomas Haigh. Steven Devine will also be performing a lunchtime recital of concerti by the Bach family with harpsichordist John Henry in St Alfege Church (Sat 13, 1pm).

Baroque flute player Rachel Brown, described by The Sunday Telegraph as ‘a performer of remarkable intensity and musicianship’, will be performing Telemann’s Fantasias on Saturday 13 (3pm, Old Royal Naval College Chapel). A leading authority on historical performance practice, Rachel is known for her moving and virtuosic performances on a wide range of flutes and recorders.

Significant anniversaries celebrated at this year’s festival include the 400th anniversary of the publication of Monteverdi’s Marian Vespers, which the Trinity Laban Early Music Ensemble and Choir will mark with a programme of early 17th century Italian sacred music (Sat 13, 7.45pm Old Royal Naval College Chapel). Also on Saturday, The Burney Players mark the 300th anniversary of Thomas Arne’s birth with a programme of his chamber music, also featuring the music and writings of Charles Burney (5.45pm St Alfege Church).

The last day of the festival opens at the Recital Room in Blackheath Halls as the Fitzwilliam String Quartet celebrate their 40th anniversary with a lively programme of Purcell, Bach, Mozart and Haydn (Sun 14, 10.30am).

Also performing at the festival: Trinity Laban Early Music Prize 2010 winners Due Corde – a violin and cello duo who specialise in performing 18th century violin sonatas with basso continuo realised on the cello alone; and a solo recital by Pernille Petersen, the talented winner of the 2009 Moeck Competition.

The Exhibition will be located in the magnificent Christopher Wren-designed Painted Hall on the Old Royal Naval College site for the duration of the festival. A diverse group of early instrument makers from around the globe, as well as shops, music publishers, societies, recording companies and early music forums will all gather under one roof. An array of superb instruments will be on display and for sale, including harpsichords, clavichords, spinets, organs, viols, baroque violins, mediaeval fiddles, lutes, harps, hurdy-gurdies, crumhorns, shawms, rebecs, pipes, sackbutts, trumpets, drums, tabors, and an extensive variety of recorders. Exhibitors will provide advice on all aspects of these instruments from basic servicing and string replacement to decoration and troubleshooting, and there will be free makers' demonstration recitals on the hour.

Performance programme tickets available via 020 8463 0100 or via www.ticketweb.co.uk Exhibition tickets should be purchased on the door. For more information see http://www.earlymusicfestival.com/

MUSEUM PREPARES FOR UNIQUE NINE DAY HISTORY EVENT‏

2010-10-15T09:58:00.001+01:00

A re-enactor from La Columna portraying a British
anti-fascist volunteer during Spanish Civil War, 1938.

For nine days from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 October Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum will be staging a range of events and activities marking those same days in October throughout history. No two days will be the same and on each day visitors can find out what was happening on that day in history.

The unique event, Nine Days in History, will begin over the weekend of Saturday 23 to Sunday 24 October with two days of living history. Among the characters from history who will be there to meet visitors will be British volunteers fighting the fascists in the Spanish Civil War and wartime Gunners. There will also be film shows, Firepower’s own vintage radio station broadcasting round the world and family history experts. Visitors arriving in their own period costume (only Allied allowed) will get a free gift. Residents of the London Borough of Greenwich will have free admission for the Living History weekend of 23-24 October.

During the school holidays from Monday 25 to Friday 29 October the Museum will be providing a range of great family friendly activities including military style drills with soldiers, free fun tours, making a gas mask, firing a real wartime 25 pounder gun, dressing up in uniform, Hunt the Horrible trails, wartime storytelling, bungee run and Firepower’s firing range.

Nine Days in History will end on the weekend of Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October with the Royal Arsenal Heritage Quarter Community History Days. Again for these two days, residents of the London Borough of Greenwich will get free admission. These two full days of heritage activity in and around Firepower and the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Re-enactors including Firepower’s Living History Team will bring exhibits to life, family history experts will be on hand, there will be talks and tours on the historic Royal Arsenal, archive films of old Woolwich and wargaming demonstrations. Due to popular demand a Halloween ghost tour will take place on the evening of Sunday 31st.

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is based at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich - the birthplace of the Royal Artillery that was founded there in 1716. The Museum is acknowledged as the world’s oldest and premier artillery museum. Firepower tells the story of the Gunners – the more than 2.5 million men and women of the Royal Artillery, and the part they have played in history and their role today in the front line with the British Army. Tales of extraordinary heroism and endeavour are presented alongside explanations of the technological and scientific advances driven by the development of artillery from Roman times to the present day. Experiences at Firepower include the ground-shaking Field of Fire audio-visual show where visitors are put in the midst of battle as shells and aircraft fly overhead and guns roar all around, giving an insight into the experiences of an artillery gunner.

Firepower will be open from 10.30am each day and is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames. Woolwich Arsenal DLR station is just a five minute walk from the Museum. Normal admission costs: Adults £5.00, children £2.50, concessions £4.50. Discounted family tickets are also available.

Halloween Fun at Greenwich Market

2010-10-15T09:52:00.001+01:00

Halloween kicks off at Greenwich Market on Friday 29 October when the Market, decorated with pumpkins and balloons, will echo to the sound of scary music. Children aged 6 and over are invited to take part in one of the FREE Halloween Costume Workshops taking place from 11am on Friday. They can choose to make outfits including a witch, Dracula, goblin, evil fairy, good fairy and zombie. All materials will be supplied and, dressed in character, they can have their face painted for free and take part in the scary fashion show at 5pm - the best costume will win a prize! Other Halloween activities will include decorate your own trick or treat bag with Bubblelucy, scary cupcake decorating workshops with Ms Cupcake, ghostly story telling and scrummy pumpkin soup tastings.

Grown ups can take part too – on Saturday and Sunday, there will be sewing workshops for adults to make quirky contemporary Halloween style crafts including hats, fancy pants, simple bags and accessories – from 11am to 5pm and cost just £7.50 per project. Fun and easy for the beginner through to more advanced for the practised. Machinery and fabrics will all be supplied – just turn up and get crafty with Miss Libby Rose.

All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Viewfinder Photography Gallery has a new home

2010-10-07T15:48:00.000+01:00

The Viewfinder has taken up a permanent residency in Brixton Village (formerly Granville Arcade), an alternative market which has been rejuvenated by a non profit organisation called Space Makers. Near to the Photofusion Gallery, and close to the tube, there is a lovely mix of shops, artist spaces, galleries and restaurants in the market which have attracted quite a buzz of press. The energy and community of Brixton and Lambeth council provides a wealth of potential for the Viewfinder gallery. Special events will happen in the market on Thursday evenings and Saturdays; do get involved!

Viewfinder Photographer Gallery will now be at:

Viewfinder Photography Gallery

52 Brixton Village

(Formerly Granville Arcade)

London, SW9 8PS

Tube: Brixton (Victoria Line)

Meet the new curator:
Kathleen Brey has taken over from Louise Forrester as manager and curator of the Viewfinder Photography gallery as of September 2010.

As manager and curator of the Viewfinder Photography Gallery, Kathleen intends to continue the rich programme of exhibitions and workshops established by the gallery. Among the programming that will be added to the Viewfinder's profile going forward will be a Professional Development Scheme for emerging photographers.

Blurring The Big Draw: A fun free family drawing event at Goldsmiths

2010-10-07T15:34:00.000+01:00

When: Saturday 23 October 2010, 11am - 4pm

Where: Great Hall, Richard Hoggart Building, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW

Admission: FREE

As part the national Big Draw event, Goldsmiths, University of London will be inviting families to take part in ‘Blurring The Big Draw’ on Saturday 23 October from 11am – 4pm.

Goldsmiths’ Great Hall will host a wide range of creative activities and workshops ideal for children up to 14 years old. Visitors will be encouraged to take part in a variety of guided activities led by postgraduate trainee teachers from Goldsmiths making this free event a fun day out for the whole family.

The 2009 Big Draw event ‘Colour: The Big Draw’ was the biggest so far with more than 700 visitors. It was so successful that it won the prestigious Trailblazer Award prize in the Drawing Inspiration Awards.

The theme for the 2010 Big Draw event at Goldsmiths is ‘Blurring The Big Draw’, and it will emphasise the cross-curricular future of drawing. For the first time in Goldsmiths' Big Draw history, English PGCE students will team up with Art and Design PGCE students to design and run the event which aims to blur the boundaries of drawing and mark-making.

This year Goldsmiths’ Big Draw is partly sponsored by Aspire Aimhigher, the South East London partnership working to give young people in the area more opportunities to access further and higher education. The event is also supported by the Centre for Arts and Learning, a research centre at Goldsmiths dedicated to the practical and theoretical exploration of learning practices across the arts within diverse social and cultural contexts.

For more info visit www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/bigdraw/

Johnny Depp to the Rescue of a Budding Pirate in Greenwich!

2010-10-07T15:28:00.005+01:00

It seems that Johnny Depp has been busy around Greenwich and not just filming the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The crazy pirate answered the call of a "budding pirate" at a primary school in the area (a cool one actually that lies just on the Meridian Line and is duly named Meridian Primary School) where he showed up with other pirates just in time to save the day and give the pirate her well-earned cuddle. He apparently made everyone's day and they all lived happily ever after.

For more on the story, click here.

Minnie Bennett Sheltered Accomodation in Greenwich win Community Green Corners Award

2010-08-27T12:40:00.001+01:00

All four corners of the capital were turned green in July in London’s Green Corners Awards, organised by The Conservation Foundation. Eight green corners have been chosen for July with Lambeth and Islington coming out as the month’s greenest boroughs.

Minnie Bennett Sheltered Accommodation in Greenwich is chosen as the Community Green Corners winner because of its green fingered residents’ successful efforts to bring colour to their surroundings.

In Lambeth a resident of Wareham House in Carroun Road has a glorious window box which brings colour to the whole building and wins them the Roof Terraces, Balconies and Windowsills Award, while Ashmole Primary School’s children have created a green oasis in their playground and with edible and scented plants.

In Islington, St Mary Magdalene Church in Holloway Road picks up the award for the Sacred Spaces category and the Edible Green Corners Award goes to SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) Good Food Society for its splendid food growing space.

Arocaria Greek Restaurant in Crouch End wins the Health and Wellbeing Award for its wonderful display of flowers whose owner’s “Generosity of spirit and rewards of his hard work healed my anxiety and restored my well-being,” according to its nominator.

The No Man’s Land award goes to Union Street Orchard which this summer has been transformed from a disused site in Bankside into an urban orchard and community garden.

A cul-de-sac mews in Marylebone wins the Mews category - Bingham Place has been turned green by its residents and now attracts the admiration of passers-by.

“Despite one of the driest Julys on record, London can still be proud of its green corners,” says Conservation Foundation Director David Shreeve. “It’s great to see so much variety in this month’s winners and the care and thought that has gone into creating a green and biodiverse place for all to enjoy.”

The Green Corners Awards celebrate the Londoners whose green corners brighten our lives and improve the capital’s biodiversity. There are monthly winners who will go forward to the Grand Finals next spring for judging by a panel of celebrities and gardening experts.

Anyone can enter a green corner or nominate one that catches their eye – a garden isn’t a requirement. For details visit http://www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/

The Conservation Foundation was founded in 1982 by David Shreeve and David Bellamy to promote positive environmental news, awareness and action. Since then it has created and managed a large number of initiatives involving a wide range of environmental issues. Currently these include London’s Green Corners Awards, Gardening Against The Odds, The Great British Elm Experiment, Tools Shed, The Millennium Yew Programme, Wessex Watermarks and Think Big, O2’s community programme.

The Judges of London’s Green Corners Awards are Christopher Woodward, Director of the Garden Museum, botanist David Bellamy, David Shreeve, Director of The Conservation Foundation, actress Susan Hampshire, Lucie Nottingham of the Tanner Trust, Rosie Boycott, chair of London Food Board, Bob Crawley, Archant London’s Editorial Director and gardening writers Matthew Appleby (Horticulture Week), Pattie Barron (Evening Standard) and Sir Roddy Llewellyn.

One winner a month will be chosen for exhibition in a special Green Corner at the Garden Museum.

Read this and thank me later!

2010-08-26T13:40:00.002+01:00

So look it's coming up to the end of the children's Summer Holiday (Yay if I'm being honest) but we've still got this last haul to make before our kids are safely tucked back in school and we can really start to rest again. But what to do until then? (drugging them being not an option here). So I have the solution for you if your kid is over nine years old. If not, hmmm I dunno, go to the park again I guess besides we're not talking about your child today. Sorry!

Now before I go into telling you briefly what the book is about I would also like to tell you that Neil Gaiman is the same author of Coraline and Stardust among others but these are my favorites. Also after reading any book I usually google the author to see a photo and this author is delicious so if you're not interested in the book just check the dude's photo. Something for mum and something for kiddo you see? Yummy!

Where was I? oh yes. The Book. It's called THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman and it is by far one of the best children's books I have read in a while. Being a 'good' mum I thought I would read it first before handing it over to my son. The illustration (marvellous yet ominous and creepy) were a clue. I was hooked from the first sentence. That first chapter has to be one of the scariest ever and once I'd finished it (the chapter) I knew my kid would love it. The great thing about its scariness that although the chapter starts with describing a murder scene the word 'blood' is not mentioned once yet you can imagine (even smell it?) just by telling us about that big wet knife.

The story is about "that man Jack" who murders a family (mum, dad, and sister). The toddler by some stroke of luck manages to escape because being a rather naughty and inquisitive boy had gotten out of his cot and ended up in the street. Mistaking the sound of bodies falling for mum and dad moving about the house he slithers out slowly through the door left open (unknowling by him - he's only two) by the murderer.

Anyway, he ends up in a graveyard where is adopted by two ghosts and given a new name 'Nobody Owens' (Bod) and is appointed a guardian called Silas who only appears when the sun sets never during sunlight hours (there's a clue here). The man Jack does follow the toddler to the graveyard but by more lucky events he is turned away to look elsewhere and for now the boy is spared his own death.

Every chapter you move through, Nobody grows up two years so by the time the story ends he is a teenager ready to face the living world. But until then he has to live within the world of the dead and learn their ways. He makes friends there and declares that he is never afraid of dying (even when faced with its true possibility) as most of his best friends are dead anyway.

This story although a mere 300 pages is packed with adventure. From werewolves to ghouls and vampires. Witches, ghosts dead for thousands of years and a Sleer and the somehow lovely yet daunting Lady of the Grey, it leaves no tomb unturned.

My best parts were Nobody befriending a real human Scarlette who becomes his friend yet towards the end is the most to cause him pain. This is a very touching novel, for adults and children alike, and will remain with me for a long long time. I don't think I'll ever look at a graveyard the same way ever again!

Stars: * * * * *

For more on this book, click HERE

Join the Carnival!

2010-08-23T11:09:00.001+01:00

Friday 3 September, 7-10pm, £8 (2 tickets for £15).

Booking is now open for the fun packed CARNIVAL hosted by the Viewfinder Photography Gallery. This promises to be a fun filled night of games, pop up photography booths, performances and live music among a lot more.

The night will also witness the launch of ReViewfinder2 which collates Viewfinder exhibition catalogues from June 2009 to September 2010. Copies can be purchased between now and 23 August 2010, for collection at the Carnival only. From 23 August, 2010 ReViewfinder2 will only be available to read online.

To book your tickets, click here.

MUSEUM EVENT TO CELEBRATE WARTIME HOME FRONT HEROES

2010-08-23T10:57:00.000+01:00

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is to mark the sacrifice of Britain’s wartime population with a special living history event on Saturday 11 September. Fighting on the Home Front will give visitors a unique insight into the daily life of the people who for a variety of reasons remained at home while the Second World War raged around the globe..

The Museum's own living history team will be representing soldiers recently returned from Dunkirk, while the ARP Warden will be telling visitors what to do in an air raid and no doubt to "Put that light out!" Local Defence Volunteers, the forerunner of the Home Guard (Dad's Army) will be drilled while archive film of Woolwich and London in the Blitz are shown in the Museum’s cinema. Visitors will also get to meet a policeman, fireman, Land Girl and some members of the Home Guard too as well as a young woman talking of her role as an anti-aircraft gunner during the Blitz. As well as the re-enactors, the event will also provide the opportunity to meet members of the Evacuee Association, real evacuees who will tell their stories of being young in wartime Britain.

“We are delighted to be hosting this event to recall and salute the people who fought on Britain’s Home Front during the Second World War” says Eileen Noon from the Museum “Working in factories, manning anti-aircraft guns and simply carrying on all kept Britain going while the Services were fighting on the front line. This event will remind the public that the war was fought everywhere, including the Home Front. Air raids, evacuation and rationing were just part of their experience, as were bravery, deprivation and sacrifice.”

Firepower will be open from 10.30 on the day and is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames. Woolwich Arsenal DLR station is just a five minute walk from the Museum.

Admission costs: Adults £5.00, children £2.50, concessions £4.50.

http://www.firepower.org.uk/

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18 6ST

Great to be Back!

2010-08-20T11:48:00.001+01:00

Hello Everyone,

It sure does feel good to be back in the UK after such a long absence. As you all know I've been on my two month break. Enjoying lovely sunshine when I could get it and will share anecdotes with you soon. Hope you're all enjoying the rest of what's left of the Summer and it will be business as usual here on Monday. Hope you all like the new look (all suggestions will be taken on board). Getting there slowly but surely!

Cheers,
The Editor
xx

Not Here Yet

2010-06-16T00:28:00.001+01:00

1 July to 8 August 2010

NEW VENUE: Viewfinder Photography Gallery, 46 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London SE10 9BL

As our cities and coast lines seem to change at an ever increasing pace, these photographs present us with a record of places on the cusp of dramatic reconfiguration.

Mike Whelan writes: "The catalyst for my Ad-Site project was the increase in new construction works taking place in London. Walk past one of these building sites and you'll be greeted with 'artists impressions' of modern utopias, which promise an elevated social existence by living, working, or even just visiting one of these locations. There is a radical distinction between utopian vision and the social reality which attends the upheavals of regeneration, however, and this remains out of public view. I wanted to deconstruct these projections of pristine living and suggest towards the unseen on the social infrastructure that 'gentrification' entails."

Milo Newman writes: "in the autumn of 2007 I began travelling to the low-lying shores of the British Isles searching for the manifestations of anthropogenic Climate Change - the predicted rise in sea levels, the storm surges that prey upon our coastal defences and the increasingly violent weather systems that pass over them – in order to portray them, and the reasons for them, in a series of photographs.

The resulting images in my series 'Till the Slow Sea Rise' follow Walker Evans’ principle of lyrical documentary, linking together to form a cohesive narrative. They are direct responses to these landscapes, as well as to vernacular objects found within them, speaking of the wider social and environmental themes involved in how we choose to react to the threat of anthropogenic Climate Change. The majority of the photographs are taken in twilight, at the beginnings and ends of winter days. This strategy enabled me to make use of the vague, grey light that causes a de-lineation of form, melting the corporeal world, thus speaking of loss, as well as of change, allowing the photographs to convey the fragile beauty of our deteriorating world."

Curator Louise Forrester comments: "This exhibition shows us the impact of civilisation both at an urban scale, and on the environment at large - they are striking, resonant images which I urge you to see!"

2010-06-16T00:20:00.000+01:00

for more info, click here

Easter at Charlton House

2010-03-31T14:03:00.000+01:00

Craft activities in celebration of Spring. Be inspired by Charlton House and its beautiful grounds. Children of all ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free event. 10am - 11:30am and 12noon - 1:30 pm on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Charlton House, Charlton Rd, London, SE7 8RE.

Eltham Palace Egg Hunt

2010-03-31T13:59:00.000+01:00

Follow a fun egg hunt trail at Eltham Palace on April 4&5. Find hidden eggs and receive a chocolate treat from 10am - 4pm. Eltham Palace, Court Yard. Tel: 020 8294 2548/ Adults £8.70, Conc. £7.40, Child £4.40, Family £21.80

Lambing Day Is Here

2010-03-31T13:55:00.000+01:00

Join Woodlands Farm staff for Lambing Day on Saturday April 3, 2010. The event takes place between 11am - 4pm to see the new-born lambs, and enjoy the chance to buy quality local produce at reasonable prices, including home-made preserves, cakes and honey. Relax in the café, enjoy the treasure hunt or get involved in craft activities. All proceeds go towards caring for the animals.

Woodlands Farm, Shooters Hill. £1 adults, 50p kids, for more info, click HERE.

Cafe Jazz Comes to the Royal Arsenal In Woolwich

2010-03-30T16:58:00.000+01:00

The evening of Friday 9 April will see the start of a new season of jazz and showtime sessions and musical suppers taking place at the Firepower Museum Café in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Music will be provided by Continental Drift, fronted by Sarah Jane (photo attached) and featuring the profound pianistic skills of Roger Lewin. Both of these gifted performers are well-known in the Medway area and South East London and will be joined on double bass by Dave Silk for an evening of musical nostalgia in a uniquely atmospheric riverside setting in the historic Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

Tickets do not include dining or drinks but bar snacks and evening menu will be available. Show starts at 7.30pm. Entry costs just £5.50 and to book tickets call the ticket hotline on 020 8312 7123 or visit www.firepower.org.uk/events.

FIREPOWER MUSEUM TO MAKE SURE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS GO WITH A BANG

2010-03-29T21:24:00.000+01:00

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich has announced its programme of family activities for the coming school holidays. Firepower is always a favourite destination for families looking for a fun and interesting day out and these school holidays will be no exception. The famous museum has lined up activities and experiences that will guarantee that a visit to Firepower really does have something for the whole family.

Day-long programmes of free activities will include military drill, crafts, films, meeting wartime characters and playing games. Extra activities (small additional cost of £1.50 per activity) include Firepower’s popular Camo Zone where children can try their skill on the Firing Range, take the Bungee Run challenge or do battle in Tank Command. Perhaps the most exciting of all is the chance to fire a genuine Second World War 25 pounder gun and everyone who fires the gun gets a commemorative certificate.

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is based at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich - the birthplace of the Royal Artillery that was founded there in 1716. The Museum is acknowledged as the world’s oldest and premier artillery museum. Firepower tells the story of the Gunners – the more than 2.5 million men and women of the Royal Artillery, and the part they have played in history and their role today in the front line with the British Army. Tales of extraordinary heroism and endeavour are presented alongside explanations the technological and scientific advances driven by the development of artillery from Roman times to the present day. Experiences at Firepower include the ground-shaking Field of Fire audio-visual show where visitors are put in the midst of battle as shells and aircraft fly overhead and guns roar all around, giving an insight into the experiences of an artillery gunner.

Firepower will be open daily from 10.30 to 5pm during the school holidays and is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames. Woolwich Arsenal DLR station is just a five minute walk.

Admission costs: Adults £5.00, children £2.50, concessions £4.50. Discounted family tickets are also available.

The Greenwich Gazette Weekend Guide

2010-03-27T07:49:00.002Z

Saturday 27 March, 2010

Nearly New Sale, click HERE for details.

Hamlet at the picturehouse, click HERE.

Recital at St Alfege Church: Kiyoko Fukuo (piano). 1:10pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church St, SE 10.

Southbank's Chocolate Festival (Saturday & Sunday): 11am -8pm. (Closes 6pm on Sunday). Indulge in mouth watering chocolate treats with dozens of stalls featuring truffles, cakes, pastries, hot chocolates and chocolate making kits. Learn recipes from chefs, get books signed and make chocolates. Royal Festival Hall. For more info click HERE.

Saturday Club Workshop: Fools and Jesters for April Fool's Day. Children 5-12. Free event. Greenwich Heritage Centre, Royal Arsenal.

Hunt the Rat at HMS Belfast, Tooley Street, SE1: Following the rhyming riddle around the ship, where ten mischievious rats disguised as members of the ship's crew are hidden. Each completed entry form will be entered into a prize draw. Children under 16 free.

Viewfinder Gallery in Greenwich (Saturday & Sunday): Become part of an exciting experiment this weekend at the Viewfinder Photography Gallery in Greenwich. As part of its Masked Ball exhibition, the gallery’s set up a pop-up photo booth where visitors are encouraged to have their self-portrait taken for free. There will be masks for those wishing to don a disguise, and the photos will then be printed out for visitors to take home and also projected in the gallery throughout the weekend. For more info, click HERE.

Sunday 28 March, 2010

Chasing Shadows, The National Gallery, The Education Centre foyer, Trafalgar Square: 11am - 1pm, 2pm-4pm. Make your own shadow puppet in this fun and exciting hands on art workshop exploring the features of some of the National Gallery's paintings with artist Noel Paine. No booking required. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 5-11.

Nearly New Sale This Weekend

2010-03-26T08:11:00.000Z

What: Nearly new/secondhand clothes, toys and other items.

Where: Craft Stall, tearoom, Greenwich Steiner School, Woodlands, 90 Mycenae Road, Blackheath, SE3

When: Saturday 27 March at 2-4pm

Textile Recycling on your Doorstep

2010-03-25T13:18:00.001Z

Greenwich Council is offering a free textile collection service from April 1, 2010. If you still haven't received the leaflet through your door, you soon will as they are distributing them as we speak. Residents can have bags collected by calling the council's contact centre and making an appointment. All re-usable textiles and shoes will be sent abroad into industrial wipes or for stuffing upholstery.

Materials that residents will be able to recycle include clothing, shoes in pairs, sheets, towels, blankets and curtains. Once your appointment is made for a collection you will be directed to the council's website to download a tag that you can attach to the bags that you place outside.

To arrange a textile collection and for further information email contact-centre@greenwich.gov.uk

Everyone Can Swim!

2010-03-25T07:00:00.001Z

If you are 17 years of age or over and live in Greenwich borough and have always wanted to swim but never got round to it? Now is your chance to learn.

Free swimming lessons are going on offer after Easter thanks to an initiative launched by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) in partnership with the Amateur Swimming Association and Greenwich Council. The six-hour lessons will be taught by a qualified teacher in groups of no more than 12 people.

What are you waiting for? Sign up today at your nearest local leisure centre.

Enjoy a Steam Ride This Easter

2010-03-24T20:52:00.000Z

This Easter, the Science Museum will be offering visitors the chance to enjoy an exciting steam ride on a replica of Stephenson's famous 1829 locomotive train 'Rocket'. Then you can enjoy the Making the Modern World Gallery. Rides cost £5 plus goody bag.

Hamlet at Greenwich Picturehouse This Saturday!

2010-03-22T12:55:00.000Z

The Metropolitan Opera 2010 season in HD at the Picture House – Hamlet

Simon Keenlyside and Natalie Dessay bring their extraordinary acting and singing skills to two of Shakespeare’s unforgettable characters. When this production opened at Covent Garden, the Independent called Keenlyside’s Hamlet, "a revelation - thrilling throughout."

Conductor: Louis Langrée; Production: Patrice Caurier/Moshe Leiser; Natalie Dessay, Jennifer Larmore, Toby Spence, Simon Keenlyside, James Morris.

When: Saturday March 27, 2010

Time: 5.00pm

Price: £25.00 / £21.50 concessions. £19.50 members and under 15s.

Address: Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 8NN.

Telephone: 0871 704 2059 0871 704 2059

Website info: click HERE

Rory Bremner's Election Battlebus Tour 2010 For One Night Only!

2010-03-22T12:44:00.001Z

As Britain gets ready to vote in the biggest election in a generation, the country’s top satirical impressionist takes to the road again for his first stand-up tour in five years. In the run-up to polling day, Rory Bremner will give his own unique take on the characters and events dominating the news, with impressions ranging from Gordon Brown to Louis Walsh and back again. WARNING: May not contain Nick Clegg!

Described as a ‘one-man opposition party’ Rory has been at the heart of political comedy for twenty years. Here’s a chance to see him in action live.

Venue: Greenwich Theatre
Price: £15
Time: 7:30pm

Date: April 27, 2010

For more info and to book tickets, click HERE.

St Alfege Recitals This Week!

2010-03-22T12:30:00.001Z

Recital for this week is on Thursday 25 March, 2010: Trinity College of Music Early Music vocal ensemble. 1:10pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church St, Greenwich, SE10

Greenwich Beer & Jazz Festival May 2010

2010-03-20T12:32:00.001Z

The last two years of the Greenwich Beer and Jazz festivals have been great successes and we are delighted to announce this years line up which is bigger and better than ever! The James Taylor Quartet make a welcome return on the opening night and are followed by Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Hayseed Dixie, Brand New Heavies, Tony Hadley and his swing band and Incognito supported by Omar.

But Greenwich Beer and Jazz is not just about great music which is guaranteed….the perfect pint-sized summer festival now in its 3rd year at the Old Royal Naval College once again will satisfy all the senses. With over 200 real ales, ciders and summer brews from the best of British breweries at the Real Ale Garden and The Cider Orchard, bottled beers and summer cocktails at Bar Carnival along with a Festival Soul Foods area, this really has every ingredient required for a long summer’s day of chilling.

Music beer flows from lunchtime each day until 10pm making it the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon. Tickets are now on sale so click here to see the full lineup!

Greenwich Beer & Jazz Festival 27 May - 31 May, 2010

Le Cirque Invisible Returns in August!

2010-03-19T15:41:00.000Z

We know here at The Greenwich Gazette that this may not be an event happening in Greenwich (although why not?) but still last year a Greenwich Gazetter reader went and said it had been the best night ever and the kids had loved every moment of the show. So if you missed last year's Cirque Invisible at the Southbank Centre, you'll get to see this fantastic show this August as it returns to the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

With an infectious sense of fun and whimsical grace, Jean-Baptiste Thierrée and Victoria Chaplin mesmerise adults and children alike with sublime illusions and fantastical transformations. Fall under the spell.

Thursday 5 – Wednesday 25 August, 2010

Evenings With The Stars

2010-03-18T13:26:00.001Z

A unique experience including a planetarium show, a chance to look at the Moon through a magnificent 28"diameter refracting telescope and an opportunity to take in the incredible view from Prime Meridian after dark.

When: Friday 19 March - Sunday 21 March
Time: 5:30pm, 6:10pm, 6:50pm & 7:30pm
Price: £15/£11 conc.
Place: Royal Observartory Greenwich, Greenwich Park, SE10
Tel: 020 8858 4422

Easter In Greenwich: What's On?

2010-03-17T15:04:00.001Z

Easter at the Theatre: Have a great easter with the best shows in town. Click HERE for more info.

Easter Egg Hunt at Pleasaunce: Click HERE for more info.

Zippo's Super Easter Circus: Each day from April 1st until April 13th. Blackheath, A2 Shooters Hill Road, Go to http://www.zippos.co.uk/

Easter Egg Creatures: Make a chocolate creature and find out all about chocolate in this sweet and sticky workshop for children 5+. Time: 12:30 & 2:30pm. FREE adult entry 2-5 April. Kids go free all year round. Museum of London Docklands, West India Quay, E14. http://www.museumindocklands.org.uk/ or just click HERE.

Sport Relief Sunday 21 March, 2010

2010-03-17T07:00:00.002Z

There’s no better way to rise to the challenge than by entering the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile. It’s all set to be bigger and better than ever before, with 16 fantastic Flagship Miles and hundreds of other Mile events taking place across the UK on Sunday 21st March. You can even choose how far you go – 1, 3, or 6 miles – whichever’s a challenge for you.

And the really amazing bit is that all the money you raise by getting sponsored will make the world of difference to people leading really tough lives both here in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.

So what are you waiting for? for more details on how to join and where your nearest event is just click THE MILE.

Fancy Some Music Today?

2010-03-16T11:01:00.000Z

Folkmusic/Artmusic

Harmony of Peoples: The Music of Béla Bartók

Peacock Room, Trinity College of Music

Admission £5 (£2 concessions)

Available on the door only

Tue 16 Mar 2010, 7.00pm

Including Contrasts for clarinet, violin and piano (commissioned by the jazz clarinettist Benny Goodman), compositions by Trinity students on the theme of folklore and assorted keyboard works.

Trinity College of Music, King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10

Beats in the Bar

Blackheath Halls

Admission free

Tue 16 Mar 2010, 7.30pm

Martin Speake and Andrea Vicari

Kick back and soak up the atmosphere of Beats in the Bar as Trinity jazzers do what they do best… perform, improvise and generally have a good time!

Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, SE3 (020 8463 0100)

Winter Tea Dances with the Hugh Ockendon Band

2010-03-16T10:36:00.000Z

Sat 20 Mar 2010 2.00PM - 4.30PM

Sat 24 Apr 2010 2.00PM - 4.30PM

gDA invites you to enjoy a taste of days gone by with its traditional Tea Dances. The Hugh Ockendon Band will be striking up all the old favourites in the magnificent setting of the Borough Halls whilst dancers take to the floor to revive the waltz, the Cha Cha Cha and the Lambeth Walk amongst others! There will be refreshments in the form of tea and cake and a chance to win somethiing fizzy in the raffle- what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Ticket & Booking Information

£5.00

Concessions: £4.00.

To book, call 020 8293 9741 020 8293 9741

Venue

Borough Hall @ gDA

Telling Tales at Laban Theatre

2010-03-16T10:27:00.001Z

Friday 19 Sunday 21 March

1100hrs (Friday) 1200hrs, 1630hrs (Sunday)

Laban Theatre

East Midlands Children's Theatre Consortium

£5 / £3 (Children under 12)

A playful introduction to dance, Telling Tales presents two well-loved children’s stories and two new pieces: The Hare and The Tortoise and their famous race; a dressing-up game with the biggest overcoat you’ve ever seen; The Golden Goose involving a cast of thousands and the Sea of Clothes where shirts and skirts join the dance!

Telling Tales is an East Midlands Children’s Theatre Consortium production, created with acclaimed international choreographers Enrique Cabrera (Aracaladanza) and Hélène Blackburn (Cas Public).

To book and for more info, click here.

Alchemists: Exhibition in April / May at Viewfinder Photography Gallery

2010-03-16T07:00:00.001Z

29 April to 16 May 2010

Alchemists: Unusual processes and media

The Viewfinder Photography Gallery presents a group exhibition of photographic images created using alternative techniques, cameras and media. Taking inspiration from painterly approaches, ‘pure’ photography and specialist printing techniques, these photographers challenge the potential ease and speed of producing a digital image, and defy picture-perfect effects in favour of more whimsical and mysterious images.

Catlin Harrison is a Londoner by birth and inclination, who finds that the city provides a fresh helping of eclectic people to watch and wonder about every day. She is fascinated with the human form, especially meta-figures such as ghosts, dolls or archetypes. Her approach is akin to the Victorian collectors’ sensibility - each piece of work is an independent specimen, a set of examples of a particular type. Presence, oddity, beauty and humour are important elements in all of Catlin’s’ work: strange objects in jars, classification, crypts, fashion, botany and medieval European painting are just some of the things that inspire her. The exhibited series came about after buying a collection of dolls at auction, and reflecting on the dubious privilege of once living in one of the most haunted houses in Britain.

Catlin Harrison

Christophe Dillinger practices what he calls “WYSIWIGOTN” photography, which stands for “What You See Is What I Got on the Negative”. His images are free from digital manipulation and are the result of a single shot. They are a fusion of film-based photography and traditional mark making techniques such as painting and drawing. His photography work features pigments, ink or curry powder, as well as till rolls, sugar paper, receipts, printers’ sample rejects and extracts from technical books. Christophe uses paintbrushes, toothbrushes, charcoal, wax pastels and even sticks, superimposing their textures and graphical dynamism onto classical portraits or local landscapes. Randomness is allowed to seep through the image making process so that photography becomes a game, a discovery for the viewer as well as the photographer.

Christophe Dillinger

Jo Mills is fascinated by the worlds of the real and the unreal, and the places in which they meet and overlap, such as the mirror. She explores the ‘mirror world’ where nothing is as it seems, and where nothing can exist without its polar opposite – light and dark, tragedy and beauty, creation and devastation. In fairytales, myths, legends and gothic literature the idea of the 'looking glass world', where nothing is what it seems, is deeply rooted: the beautiful can be deadly, humans can fly, and anything is possible. Her photographic practice stems from this, as she aims to create immersive spaces for the spectator to interact with and explore, or which hint at the unknown space beyond. Jo's photographs are particularly influenced by the surrealist movement, play and the uncanny.

Jo Mills

Marysia Lachowicz presents 'Shifting Tides', an ongoing series of work about the coast. The exhibited images were all taken during coastal walks in East Fife, Scotland. This area includes picturesque villages, craggy outcrops and rock pools, as well as long stretches of sand. Marysia has captured the changing nature of the villages and continues to document the coastline both in colour and in black and white. She feels that the tactile nature of liquid emulsions and early photographic techniques bring out the history and physical nature of this environment by producing an often imperfect but unique image. Some of the processes Marysia utilises involve salt prints, cyanotypes and using liquid emulsion.

Marysia Lachowicz

Nicolas Gonzalez creates abstract images using light within a photograph. The impressionistic portraits are ‘painted’ straight onto the film using coloured lights and extremely long exposures. Nicolas is interested in exploring the texture, intensity and movement of the light in the image, and in creating a painterly effect.

Nicolas Gonzalez

For David Rann, alternative photographic printing processes like Gum Bichromate and Cyanotype are an occasional but welcome diversion from his day to day photographic work. His first series of Gum prints, 'Know the Place', which depicts details of the Hebridean island of Eigg, has inspired further such projects. David finds the uniqueness and unpredictability of these processes is part of their charm.

David Rann

Curator Louise Forrester comments: "This exhibition focuses on the magical side of photography and on the physical process of creating images - don't miss it!"

Free Exhibitons This March

2010-03-15T09:41:00.000Z

Until March 19, 2010: Sclpture in the Workplace: Ceramic and bronze work by Glenys Barton. Free. Lobby, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14

Until 20 March, 2010: Girlguiding UK Centenary Exhibition: Woolwich District Exhibition celebrates Girlguiding through the ages for the 100th Anniversay of the founding of the girlguiding movement. Tues-Sat 9am-5pm. Free. Greenwich Heritage Centre Building, 41 Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18.

Until 31 March: Ms Understood: Women's Liberation in 1970s Britain. Exhibition marking the 40 years of teh Women's Movement. 9:30am-5:30pm. Free. The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, Old Castle St. E1

Unitl 6 April: Ancient Egypt: Pottery from the Nile: An exciting exhibition based around Bexley's significant collection of Egyptian pottery. Free. Hall Place & Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent.

What to Cook This Sunday

2010-03-14T10:41:00.000Z

Chicken Braised with Lemon, Fennel & Black Olives

Sweet onion and salty olives balance tart lemon in this practical, make-ahead chicken dish (to serve a larger group, double the recipe and use a 9-by-13-inch baking dish). If Meyer lemons are available, they are an excellent choice; just omit the sugar.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Start to finish: 1 hour 50 minutes

To make ahead: The dish will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To reheat, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees F until heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.

Serving suggestion: Couscous.

Degree of difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest, divided

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

11/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 3 pieces each

1 large fennel bulb

1 large onion

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup oil-cured black olives, pitted

1. Whisk 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper in a 71/2-by-11-inch (2-quart) glass or ceramic baking dish. Add chicken and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or for up to 8 hours.

2. Meanwhile, trim stalks from fennel, reserving the lacy greens for garnish. Slice the fennel bulb lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Lay slices flat and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slivers. Peel onion, cut in half lengthwise and slice.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add fennel and onion; cook, stirring often, until softened and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. (You may need to add a little water to prevent scorching.) Add wine, broth and the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice; bring to a simmer, stirring. Cook for 5 minutes, then stir in olives. Spoon this mixture over the chicken. Cover with foil and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the fennel is very tender, 30 to 35 minutes.

4. Finely chop enough of the fennel fronds to make 2 tablespoons. Combine with the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon zest; sprinkle over the chicken before serving.

Makes 4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each.

Per serving: 291 calories; 15 g total fat (2 g sat, 7 g mono); 106 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 27 g protein; 3 g fiber; 412 mg sodium.

Ingredient note: Oil-cured olives are cured with salt rather than a brine, then rubbed with olive oil. They can be identified by their wrinkled skins.

What To Do Today

2010-03-13T08:48:00.000Z

Easter Fair:
A great day out for all the family with a variety of activities, an international food fair and mini farmers' market. 11am - 3pm. Blackheath High School, Wemyss Road, entrance via Paragon Place, Blackheath, SE3

Coffee & Charity
In aid of Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice enjoy a coffee morning with Bring & Buy. 10am-1pm. Free. 185 Bostal Hill, Abbey Wood, SE2

Princess Ida in a Day
The Centenary Company's fundraising performance is a 'concert from scratch' where singers go through their paces in the afternoon for an evening performance. 7:30pm, £7. St Alfege Church Hall, St Alfege Passage, Greenwich, SE10

Mums Eat Free at Smollenskys!

2010-03-12T15:41:00.000Z

Smollensky's in Canary Wharf is offering mothers a free meal from the restaurant's set menu when they dine with three other people on Sunday March 14.

The three course menu is priced at £24.95 and includes smoked salmon blinis to start, steak or mushroom risotto for main and desserts of sticky toffee or vanilla panna cotta. Diners can also choose from vine tomato soup, minted lamb burger or chocolate mud pie.

For more info go to http://www.smollenskys.com/

Los Dawsons at Pelton Arms This Sunday, March 14

2010-03-12T15:12:00.000Z

The Los Dawson have sent in this note to invite you all to the Pelton Arms this Sunday, March 14 from 6pm onwards. They say it better than we can ever do and here's from them:

This should be fun, we are playing the usual flurry of varied music from our repetoire.. this should be a nice vibe (the beer is excellent) tell your friends and friends friends etc.. If you have not been to the Pelton Arms, its a wonderful Pub in Pelton Road off Christchurch Way wich runs north off Trafalgar Rd (Maze Hill end) towards the river Thames. The idea is to have a chilled post prandial music experience as the Sunday lunches are rather super...

Hope to see you there!
Cheers: The Los Dawsons

Mike Dearing

Ben Hillyard

Dave Burrluck

Dana Myzer

http://thelosdawsons.blogspot.com/

2010-03-12T15:05:00.000Z

To Go to website, click here.

Grand Designs Live, ExCeL London, 1-9 May 2010

2010-03-11T09:55:00.000Z

For the sixth year running Grand Designs Live, voted the UK's Consumer Show of the Year, is the event for design and inspiration for your home! The show is set to take place over nine days from 1-9 May 2010 and will combine cutting-edge design products, interactivity and an eco-friendly message.

Grand Designs Live is perfect for anyone who has an interest in interiors, build, kitchens, bathrooms, gardens, shopping, food, village and technology. If you're looking to make the most of your home, the show will provide you with plenty of amazing ideas to unlock its potential and turn your dream home into a reality.

For more information and to book tickets, click here.

Docklands Sinfonia Celebrates First Anniversary‏

2010-03-11T07:32:00.000Z

DOCKLANDS Sinfonia – London’s exciting new symphony orchestra – is celebrating its first anniversary with its most exciting and challenging concert to date. The orchestra will be at full strength – with more than 90 players - as it performs Gustav Mahler's Symphony No1 'Titan’ on Friday March 19th.

Mahler is enjoying a massive revival as the music world marks this year's 150th anniversary of his birth - and a century since his death next year. The rest of the programme includes Aaron Copland's 'Appalachian Spring' and the World Premiere of British composer Peter Meechan's 'The Karman Line'.

Docklands Sinfonia was formed just 12 months ago and has already achieved stunning success with a BBC1 performance and sell-out concerts with major solo artists. The orchestra, which is made up of professional musicians, music college students and talented amateurs, is aiming to be a major cultural force for the Canary Wharf area. Since its formation in January 2009, the orchestra has appeared on theBBC1 television series ‘Clash’ and has performed with renowned musicians such as international cello virtuoso Leonard Elschenbroich, and baroque soprano Elin Manahan Thomas.

Docklands Sinfonia’s Conductor and founder Spencer Down said: “I am incredibly proud of the orchestra’s achievements in just one year and am looking forward to building on its success. This promises to be the most exciting and challenging Docklands Sinfoniaconcert to date.”

‘TITAN’ CONCERT Friday March 19th, St Anne’s, 5 Newell Street, Limehouse, London E14 7HP

The Karman Line (world premiere) – Peter Meechan Appalachian Spring – Aaron Copland Symphony No1 in D Minor ‘Titan’ – Gustav Mahler

Tickets: £10 (box office), £12 (door) and £8 (concessions)

BOX OFFICE: 07827 568992 (24hr) or info@docklandssinfonia.co.uk

If you think you know Greenwich, think again!

2010-03-11T07:00:00.006Z

From Saturday 20 March to Sunday 28 March 2010, a host of popular Greenwich attractions, cultural venues and restaurants are throwing open their doors and offering special discounts and promotions to local people. Greenwich council has teamed up with participating venues in Eltham, Greenwich and Woolwich to run events across the borough for nine days.

Highlights

Watch out for offers and events including:

50% off entry to the Art Deco Eltham Palace.

Sample all 11 brews from local brewery Meantime at a free talk and tasting session at Well Hall Pleasaunce on Wednesday 24 March.

Live music and international stalls at the Festival of Food at Passey Place on Sunday 28 March.

2-for-1 tickets at London's Peter Harrison Planetarium.

2-for-1 tickets for Volpone and The Duchess of Malfi at Greenwich Theatre.

2-for-1 entry to The Fan Museum’s latest exhibition.

2-for-1 River Roamer tickets on Thames Clippers.

Lunch and dinner at special rates at many of Greenwich’s restaurants including Café Rouge, Novotel's Elements Restaurant, Devonport House's restaurant.

Comedy at Comedy on the Common with a special offer of two tickets for £10.

2-for-1 entry to the Thames Barrier Information Centre.

There will also be the chance to join discounted guided walks around the borough, exploring local themes and discovering new areas with Greenwich Tour Guides.

How to enjoy the offers?

All you need to take advantage of the special offers at participating venues is a copy of the Be a Local Tourist 2010 leaflet which you can download from the Council's website by clicking here.

For full terms and conditions plus location details, visit: www.greenwich.gov.uk/bealocaltourist

THE MUSIC OF THE FANS

2010-03-11T07:00:00.002Z

04 March 2010 - 04 July 2010

If Music be the food of love, play on....From 4th March to 4th July 2010, The Fan Museum’s latest exhibition delves into the many facets of fans which feature musical instruments, musical themes, opera, ‘musicals’ and other music-related subjects.

Did you know that, in 17th and 18th century Dutch paintings, the bagpipes (on account of their shape) had an erotic connotation? Have you ever stopped to wonder why the lyre is used so extensively in almost every form of decorative art? This, and much more, is revealed in this ‘homage to Apollo’, which celebrates all things musical through the intricate and fine artwork from The Fan Museum’s extensive collections.

Subjects touched upon in this unusual and exciting exhibition relate to the great personalities in music, from Rossini and Wagner to Gilbert & Sullivan, with examples of contemporary ‘specials’, such as a small hand-painted autographed fan painted in a (very) limited edition for members of the Fan Circle International on a group matinée booking for ‘Cats’.

Most of the fans on show belong to the museum’s own collections, including a fan painted by Walter Sickert (after one of his own ‘compositions’) for one of his pupils. This features Little Dot Hetherington pointing to the spotlight in a number which she first sang but which Marie Lloyd made popular: ‘The Boy that I love is up in the Gallery’.

Musical instruments featured on the fans are complemented with loans of the actual objects, kindly lent by private individuals.

Another Fan Museum special, not to be missed.

4th March 2010 until 4th July 2010 - Tue to Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 12noon-5pm

Address: Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill, SE10 8ER

Greenwich Trial for the Mini London Marathon

2010-03-10T15:34:00.000Z

Children and young people aged 11 to 17 have the chance to represent Greenwich on Virgin London Marathon Day, Sunday, April 25. Teams from different age groups will be chosen from the Greenwich Mini-Marathon trials over three miles at Sutcliffe Park Athletics Track this Sunday, March 14 at 1:30pm.

The trial is open to children and young people living or going to school in Greenwich. Call Augustus Peters from Greenwich Sports Legacy on 020-8921 8406 for more details or just turn up on the day at 12:45pm to register.

Are You Under 26? Then Off You Go to the Theatre For Free!

2010-03-10T14:43:00.001Z

If you’re under 26 and want to try something different, then you can get free tickets to some of the best shows around with the 'A Night Less Ordinary Scheme'. Simply click here and book some free tickets!

Just go to the website, type in your area or postcode to search participating theatres near you. Have a look at what's on offer and grab your tickets quick. Local theatres participating are The Albany Theatre in Deptford and Greenwich Theatre.

Re-enactors Prepare to Salute Vast Wartime Airborne Airborne

2010-03-10T12:00:00.001Z

The 39-45 Living History Society will be at London’s Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum on the weekend of 20-21 March to mark the 65th anniversary of Operation Varsity, the Allied invasion of Germany. The team of expert re-enactors will be portraying airborne Royal Artillery Gunners who took part in Operation Varsity, the vast airborne operation of the Second World War that took place on 24 Mar 1944.

Operation Varsity was a joint American and British airborne operation and involved more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft. It was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location. The re-enactors will salute the men who took part in the operation by using and wearing original wartime clothing, equipment and vehicles (including a Jeep and motorcycle) alongside relevant exhibits from Firepower's world-renowned artillery collection. The 39-45 Living History Society pride themselves on the accuracy of their equipment and recreations which have been scrutinised and verified by historians and veterans alike.

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is based at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich - the birthplace of the Royal Artillery which was founded there in 1716. The Museum is acknowledged as the world’s oldest and premier artillery museum. Firepower tells the story of the Gunners – the more than 2 million men and women of the Royal Artillery, and the part they have played in history and their role today in the front line with the British Army. Tales of extraordinary heroism and endeavour are presented alongside explanations the technological and scientific advances driven by the development of artillery from Roman times to the present day. Experiences at Firepower include the ground-shaking Field of Fire audio-visual show where visitors are put in the midst of battle as shells and aircraft fly overhead and guns roar all around, giving an insight into the experiences of an artillery gunner.

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18 6ST.

http://www.firepower.org.uk/

National Frog Day at Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park

2010-03-10T07:00:00.002Z

If you're still wondering what to do for Mother's Day why not take a different approach and spend the day with the family doing something fun. Think The Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park for a quirky take on the day.

The Ecology Park is holding a family fun event celebrating the time of year when frogs return to their breeding ponds and the mother frogs lay frogspawn! Activities include pond dipping, bug hunting, quiz and prize trails, froggy arts and crafts, storytelling, barbecue and refreshments, gift stall and raffle to raise funds for a traditional punt (type of flat bottomed boat).

Since this is also Mother's Day, mums and female carers get a free cup of tea and cake!

Free entry and all activities free - no booking required!

Sunday 14 March, 11am to 3pm

The Ecology Park Gatehouse

Thames Path

John Harrison Way

Greenwich Peninsular

London

SE10 0QZ

Tel: +44 (0)20 8293 1904 or +44 (0)20 8293 1904

Entry to the park is free. Please remember that dogs (apart from guide dogs) and cycling are not permitted. Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult. The Park has full disabled access.

The Park is open every day except Monday and Tuesday.

The Park opens to the public at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first.

Help for Heroes Concert in aid of BLESMA

2010-03-09T16:39:00.001Z

This is a concert at Charlton House in partnership with Trinity College of Music Student Union Brass Band. All proceeds go to BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association). It takes place on Friday March 26, 2010 at 7:30pm. £8 ticket including refreshments £5 - concessions. Booking necessary.

DISABLED ACCESS: Full access

Booking Tel: 0208 856 3951

Booking email: charlton.house@greenwich.gov.uk

Charlton House

London

SE7 8RE

The gDA Cabaret Is Back!

2010-03-09T11:33:00.000Z

Fri 12 Mar 2010 7.30PM

Fri 23 Apr 2010 7.30PM

Fri 21 May 2010 7.30PM

This month’s line up will include a dance with a BMX bike by Etta Ermini, a deadpan duet by Gary Clarke, gDA’s first ever trapeze performance from Aircraft Circus, an excerpt of work from Springs Dance Company and a Fado and Dance collaboration by Nuno Silva. With live jazz and comedy poet compère Elvis McGonagall alongside a well stocked bar.

The gDA Cabaret is a sociable dance event that takes place in Greenwich Dance Agency's beautiful 1930's Borough Hall. It features the best bits of a traditional Cabaret event (table service, live band, compère) alongside a distinctly modern, diverse line up of dance, performance, spoken word, circus and film.

-Dress up or dress down

-Sit at a table with friends

-Order drinks whilst you watch

-Bring your own food

-Haggle for your tickets

-Come back next month with more friends

Ticket & Booking Information

£15.00

Concessions: £10.00.

HAGGLE OFFER AVAILABLE

Venue

Borough Hall @ gDA

Special Instructions

Book early to avoid disappointment and to secure the best ringside seats.
Each month there are a limited number of haggle tickets available, which means you tell us how many people you would like to bring and how much you would ideally like to pay and then we embark on a haggling match. All HAGGLE enquiries to ellen@greenwichdance.org.uk

For more info and for the chance to be part of the Cabaret, click here.

Easter Hunt at Pleasaunce Greenwich

2010-03-09T07:00:00.005Z

The Friends of East Greenwich Pleasaunce will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday April 4, from 11am to 1pm. For more details call 020-8858 5193 or email pleasauncefriends@hotmail.com

The Oscars 2010!

2010-03-08T11:55:00.000Z

SEE WHAT WE THOUGHT OF THE OSCARS IN OUR FASHION BITS. JUST CLICK HERE.

Masked Ball at Viewfinder Photography Gallery This March: 18 March to 5 April

2010-03-08T10:52:00.000Z

The group exhibition 'Masked Ball' presents portraits of people in a variety of marks – from animal heads to cheese slices.

Laura Hensser takes self-portraits, wearing mundane objects that suggest her memories. Hiding behind a false façade, the artist challenges the conventions of performance based self-portraiture. Rather than presenting external details, the artist's face is concealed and we see only hints of her internal self. In one, cup cakes are stuck to her face like inverted limpets. In another, cheese slices are pushed into every crevice of Hensser's face, merging to form a mask that resembles latex. Whether her face is covered with glistening, red jelly or swaddled by a map, the viewer is offered little clue as to the sitter's identity or persona.

James Reid presents a departure from the norm of masked balls, with humans wearing formal clothing and animal heads – from oversize, colourful chicken heads to comic horse heads. The urge to read emotion in animal faces is invoked here - do the animal masks tell us anything of the sitters? Or do they simply conceal the emotions on their faces? The series was shot on location in big brand boutique stores in Paris - Reid questions whether buying branded clothing offers the chance to escape identification, to take on different personas.

Stuart Southwell presents portraits of three generations, dressed for a variety of roles (from a general to a doctor) and in distorted, disturbing masks. Southwell explores the way in which we are shaped by others around us, adopting or rejecting hobbies, careers, and ideals. Southwell believes that in contemporary Western society we are unable to accept our 'true selves' but instead choose to constantly recraft our physical appearance to suit any given situation. These macabre portraits suggest the extent to which we may have become puppets of the media.

Curator Louise Forrester comments: "Although each photographer is using masks in portraiture, the results in each series is markedly different. Some unsettling, some funny, there is something here for everyone."

Accompanying this exhibition, Nigel Rumsey presents a pop-up photo booth in the gallery on Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 March (12-4pm). Members of the public will be able to take their own self-portrait, either masked or unmasked, in the booth. Photographs taken will be printed out on the spot for the sitters to take home, and included in a slideshow of images projected in the gallery all weekend. This is a unique experiment to interact, and become part of, an exhibition - pop down to the pop-up photo booth and get involved!

'Masked Ball' is part of ‘Be a Local Tourist in Greenwich’ (BLTG) event, which runs from 20 March to 28 March 2010, and also British Tourism Week (15 to 21 March 2010).

Viewfinder Photography Gallery

Linear House
Peyton Place (off Royal Hill)
Greenwich
LondonSE10 8RS

What to Cook on Sunday?

2010-03-07T07:00:00.002Z

Roasted Ratatouille with Eggs & Cheese

Served with plenty of crusty bread and a green salad, this is a perfect dish for brunch or a light supper. Roasting is an excellent technique for ratatouille because the vegetables retain a distinct texture, yet the flavors meld. Pay close attention while you are cooking the eggs in the oven; they turn from nicely set to hard as a rock in a flash.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Start to finish: 1 hour 40 minutes

Makes 4 servings.

Per serving: 402 calories; 21 g total fat (6 g sat, 11 g mono); 227 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrate; 22 g protein; 7 g fiber; 775 mg sodium.

To make ahead: Prepare recipe through Step 4, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat before continuing. Degree of difficulty: Moderate

Ingredients:

1 small eggplant (about 12 ounces), trimmed, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 small zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes with juices

2 tablespoons torn fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

4 large eggs

4 ounces part-skim mozzarella, thinly sliced and cut into 1/4-inch strips

4 slices Italian bread (1/2 inch thick), preferably whole-wheat

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Use a large baking sheet with sides and lightly coat with cooking spray.
2. Combine eggplant, onion, zucchini, bell pepper and garlic in a large bowl; drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil; toss to coat. Spread the vegetables on the prepared baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Roast the vegetables, uncovered, turning often, until lightly browned and tender, about 45 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cut the tomatoes into chunks. Stir tomatoes (and their juices), basil and parsley into the vegetables. Cover with foil.
4. Bake until the ratatouille is hot and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven.

5. With a large spoon, make four evenly spaced indentations in the hot ratatouille. Carefully break an egg into each indentation. Sprinkle cheese over the vegetables and eggs. Bake, uncovered, until the eggs are set and the cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes.

6. While the eggs are baking, toast bread and drizzle each slice with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Divide bread slices among 4 plates or shallow soup bowls.
7. To serve, lift an egg and ratatouille from the baking dish and place on top of a slice of toasted bread. Spoon remaining vegetables and juices around the edges, distributing evenly. Garnish with more basil, if desired.

Mother's Day Offers & Gift Ideas

2010-03-06T07:00:00.003Z

Treat your mother to a fantastic night of hospitality and live entertainment at The Royal Albert Hall:

Fine Dining at Swan Lake, Wednesday 9 - Saturday 19 June Tell me more...

Fine Dining at Tony Bennett, Wednesday 30 June & Thursday 1 July Tell me more...

VIP reception at Cliff Richard, Monday 11 - Thursday 17 October Tell me more...

Mother's Day At Cafe Rouge. To check out the completely delicious menu on offer for the day and to make that all essential booking, click here.

Linea Super Mum mug from House of Fraser, £8. To buy, click here.

Say it with flowers from Greenwich's own Manchester's Flower Shop. For orders, click here.

Normal But Not: The Album Art

2010-03-05T07:00:00.002Z

As part of the Hall's reflect series, Normal but Not is a selection of images by Storm Thorgerson Studios and Hipgnosis, highlighting the many iconic album covers which they have produced over the past five decades. On display will be a collection of old and new cover designs, reproduced as high-quality fine art prints – as big and bold as the music they seek to represent. Works shown include Muse, The Cranberries, Biffy Clyro, Pink Floyd, The Mars Volta, Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Powderfinger, Black Sabbath, Peter Gabriel, Yes and many others.

Born in Potters Bar, Gateway to the East in 1944, Storm Thorgerson attended the Cambridge High School for Boys along with Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Syd Barrett. He started the Hipgnosis design studio in 1968 with Aubrey Powell where he produced numerous album covers for rock 'n' roll bands. Along with Peter Christopherson they went on to direct adverts and videos as well as making television documentaries before Storm inaugurated StormStudios in the early '90s with Peter Curzon. This is where he still works with a changing affiliation of freelance designers and photographers producing still more album covers, posters, book jackets and T-shirts. He is also the author of several books on album cover art.

This exhibition takes place around the ground floor corridor of the Royal Albert Hall. You can view it when attending performances or by calling in on one of the following free open days:

Saturday 13 March 11am – 3pm

Sunday 14 March 11am – 3pm

Saturday 20 March 10am – 1pm

Enter through Door 1.

For more info, click here.

President Zuma at Sainsbury's Greenwich!

2010-03-04T20:50:00.000Z

Spotted passing infront of Sainsbury's Greenwich today President Zuma & wife in a really big convoy. Now that's not something you see everyday when you go for milk and the paper! Procession too fast to get a photo so if anyone managed that it would be great to share with us here.

Thomasina Miers Book Signing Event

2010-03-04T07:00:00.001Z

Meet Thomasina Miers, co-founder of Wahaca & Masterchef winner 2005, who will be signing copies of her new book Mexican Food Made Simple.

To mark the occasion, Wahaca will be giving away delicious guacamole and tortilla chips fresh from their restaurant in The Park Pavilion.

Please arrive early to avoid disappointment, only copies of the book will be signed. Signed copies cannot be guaranteed and may not carry dedications. Reservation will be available. For further details please contact Waterstone's Cabot Place East on 020 7513 0060 020 7513 0060

Canada Place Crossroads, Tuesday 9 March, 1pm

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift at Charlton House!

2010-03-04T04:22:00.001Z

Charlton House

The Old Library in Charlton House will be hosting artwork by locals, professionals and amateurs. It's a great chance for all art lovers as many of the items will be on sale to the general public. The event takes place on Saturday, March 13 from 10am-5pm & Sunday, March 14 between 2pm-5pm. Entrance is £1. This could make a seriously perfect Mother's day gift!

For how to get there, click here.

FAB FOUR FIREPOWER: Beatles Musical Tribute Band at Firepower’s Museum Cafe

2010-03-03T07:00:00.002Z

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is preparing for a Fab Four Finale to its first season of Firepower Nights in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. A Beatles musical tribute band will perform in Firepower’s Museum Café on the evening of Saturday 6 March, 2010. Firepower Nights sees entertainment and dining combine in the historic but relaxed setting of the Royal Arsenal museum and the £6.50 tickets can be prebooked on 020 8312 7123 020 8312 7123

“The first season of Firepower Nights has proved very popular", says Frank Crosby, Firepower spokesperson “We will be announcing the next programme very soon and it’s sure to feature live entertainment and fun quizzes. The Museum is pleased to be leading this vital social aspect of the regeneration of the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich and the events we have staged have been unanimously popular with everyone who came”.

More than 40 years since the Beatles released Sgt Pepper, experience a musical tribute night to the Fab Four. Bar snacks and evening menu will be available. Tickets costs just £6.50.

Firepower is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames.

In Love with Van Gogh!

2010-03-02T21:30:00.001Z

I must have been a teenager when I happened upon a book in my father's library entitled Lust for Life which was a journey of sorts into the life of Vincent Van Gogh. As with most experiences at that age it felt intense, exhilarating, rebellious and dare I say even one of the most romantic books I had read at the time. To think that someone would cut their ear off as a gift to a loved one well that just sealed the deal for me. I was inlove with Van Gogh.

We are in the present, and alas the teenager no more, I was still excited to know that not only would Van Gogh's work of art but also his letters were to be centre stage at the Royal Academy of Arts here in London. I excitedly counted the days to when I could go and see the paintings maybe even smell them and be close to my teenage crush of long ago. As one would, I wondered if my love for Van Gogh had been a passing thing of youth or was it more? Had the tears I had shed on reading about his final days been the incomprehension and sensitivity of youth? Had I over dramatized?

The day came and off I went to Royal Academy of Arts and from the first moment I was there it felt like a date with destiny. I was always meant to see this and to feel this way. Each painting seemed to be addressing me, beckoning to me, knowing I had loved it with such intensity, with such innocence and with such youthful vigour. And what better love than youthful love? Van Gogh himself seemed to greet me and me alone as if the man himself knew that I was there to see him and him alone. It was a meeting of old souls who'd met long ago yet still the flame burned on. "Hello dear one, it has been a long time coming but finally we meet face to face."

The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters runs at the Royal Academy of Arts until 18 April, 2010

Exhibition at Viewfinder Gallery: Make Your Mark

2010-01-06T12:55:00.002Z

Exhibition dates: 14 to 31 January 2010Photographers: Naomi Stannard, Anna Hindocha & Ioana Marinescu,Curator: Louise Forrester.

'Make Your Mark' brings together the striking work of three photographers – each series explores how the placing of a mark in an environment recreates the space. Marks are documented at three very different scales: in cupboards, in rooms and across cities.

Naomi Stannard's series 'The House I Once Called Home' documents her childhood home, and the ways in which personal belongings transform a built space into a home. By photographing each meticulously labeled cupboard, the artist creates her own archive, and in effect, a portrait of her family through their own marking.

Anna Hindocha's work investigates the personal and political use of urban space in London. The artist photographs modifications made to rooms by their inhabitants, from eccentric workshops to murals in squatted social centres. Her series 'The People's City' examines manipulated spaces that appear static, but through their physical modifications speak of history and activity.

Architectural photographer Ioana Marinescu's documentation of gas pipes in Romania reveals how the insertion of a line changes the perception of a space completely. The pipes can be seen as inadvertent municipal branding, as the yellow line of pipes traverses the city.

Curator Louise Forrester comments: "I'm delighted to exhibit these three intriguing projects, which are each so visually distinct but all speak of the marks we make on our environments. I hope that these images will encourage visitors to become aware of their own mark making, and to think about reading the marks that surround us all."

Whether subtle manipulation or willful transformation, Make Your Mark imaginatively considers the many ways in which our personal histories are written in the spaces that surround us. This unique exhibition is a timely reminder of our relationships to our environments,and should not be missed.

This exhibition follows the 2008 exhibition 'Marking/Erasing' at the Viewfinder, in which mark making was employed as part of the image making process.

Make Your Mark is supported by Ambigraph

Upcoming Workshop: Make Your Mark
31 January, free
2-5pm

Join two of the exhibiting photographers (Anna Hindocha and Naomi Stannard) for a creative workshop, accompanying the exhibition 'Make Your Mark'.

Recycle your Christmas cards with the Woodland Trust at Greenwich Shopping Park

2010-01-06T12:48:00.003Z

Give a present back to the environment this Christmas by recycling your cards with the Woodland Trust.

By recycling your cards in special bins in WHSmith at Greenwich Shopping Park, off Bugsby’s Way in Charlton, this January, you will be helping the charity reach its target – to plant 12,000 native trees or an area of woodland half the size of London Zoo!

Since the Woodland Trust started its Christmas Card Recycling Scheme, a total of 659m cards have been recycled - 59m last year alone, which funded the planting of 14,000 trees.

In the 12 years of the project, 13,080 tonnes of cards have been collected, allowing the Trust to plant 155,000 trees

The big difference this year is that if people visit our web site and pledge to recycle, they can choose the planting region for the trees they are helping to fund.

To pledge, simply click onto www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/cards.

Paul Hetherington, from the Woodland Trust said: “Each year we value the wonderful support from everyone who recycles their Christmas cards with the Trust, which makes a huge difference to our work! This is why we want to say a big thank you this year by giving people the opportunity to choose where their trees are planted.”

Money to enable the Trust to plant trees is generated from donations from the participating retailers.

INTERNATIONAL CELLO VIRTUOSO TO STAR AT DOCKLANDS SINFONIA CONCERT

2009-11-23T13:15:00.000Z

CELLO virtuoso Leonard Elschebroich will perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with Docklands Sinfonia – London’s exciting new symphony orchestra - on Friday November 20th.

The winner of the prestigious 2009 Leonard Bernstein award has caught the attention of some of the world’s greatest conductors and has recently performed the Brahms double with Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival in Germany.

The concert at St Anne’s Limehouse, will include Saint-Saens’ rousing Symphony No 3 ‘Organ’ and the London premiere of ‘Blast! for Kate’ – a brass, percussion and organ fanfare by British composer Jeremy Holland-Smith.

Roger Sayer, organist at Rochester Cathedral, will be playing St Anne’s recently-renovated Gray & Davison organ – which won a gold prize at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was once heard by Queen Victoria.

Docklands Sinfonia, which is made up of professional musicians, music college students and talented amateurs, is aiming to be a major cultural force for the Canary Wharf area.

Since it’s formation in January 2009, the orchestra has appeared on the BBC1 television series ‘Clash’ and has performed with renowned musicians such as baroque soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, saxophonist Christian Forshaw and The Raven string quartet.

Docklands Sinfonia’s Conductor and founder Spencer Down said: “This promises to be the most spectacular Docklands Sinfonia concert to date. We are very honoured to be performing with the world-class cellist Leonard Elschenbroich, who is one of the most dynamic musicians on the international music scene today.”

He added: “The St Anne’s organ is a stunning instrument which is rich in history and we are very excited that it is taking such a prominent role in our programme.”

ORGAN SYMPHONY CONCERT
Friday November 20th, 7:30pm
St Anne’s, Limehouse, Three Colt Street, London, E14 7HP

‘Blast! for Kate’ – Jeremy Holland-Smith
Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104 – Antonín Dvořák
Soloist: Leonard Elschenbroich
Symphony No 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 – Camille Saint-Saëns
Organ: Roger Sayer

Tickets: £10 (box office), £12 (door) and £8 (concessions)

BOX OFFICE: 07827 568992 (24hr) or info@docklandssinfonia.co.uk

LEONARD ELSCHENBROICH is the winner of this year’s Leonard Bernstein award and winner of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust.

The 24-year cellist has caught the attention of today’s greatest international conductors and has received invitations to make orchestral debuts from Valery Gergiev for Basel Symphony, Semyon Bychkov with the WDR Symphony, Manfred Honeck with the Swedish Radio Symphony, Christoph Eschenbach and Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, as well as personal invitations from Dmitri Kitajenko, Howard Griffiths and Paavo Järvi.

This year, he has made further debuts with the the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Brandenburg State Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Bremen Philharmonic, Munich Symphony, as well as performing the Brahms Double Concerto aside Nicola Benedetti and the ULSO in Hong Kong.

Upon recommendation of Sir Colin Davis, Leonard was a Borletti-Buitoni Trust winner. Born 1985 in Frankfurt, Leonard was invited to the Yehudi Menuhin School in London at the age of 10. He finished his degree at the Music College of Cologne with Frans Helmerson. He held a Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music in London and is currently a fellow at the Trinity College of Music in London. www.leonard-elschenbroich.com

ROGER SAYER is Organist of Rochester Cathedral. He began his musical career as a chorister in Portsmouth. He went on to study at the Royal College of Music under the late Nicholas Danby, winning all the major organ prizes.
Between 1980 and 1984 he was organ student at St. Paul's Cathedral, London and in 1981 was appointed organist of Woodford Parish Church, where he built up a fine musical tradition. Since graduating he has been constantly in demand as an organist and conductor.
Roger, who is the Musical Director of the Rochester Choral Society, has recently performed in St Paul's Cathedral London in the Celebrity Series and Riverside Church in New York. Roger has made numerous highly acclaimed recordings both as an organist and conductor.

His concerts in many parts of the world have included the organ symphonies of Vierne and all the Organ Works of Durufle. In 2009, his performances have taken him to Iceland, Italy, France, Germany and U.S.A. www.rogersayer.org

SPENCER DOWN is Associate Conductor of the Junior Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, has taught conducting at the Royal Academy of Music summer school and adjudicated the London College of Music’s Wind and Brass Competitions. Currently working at the Junior Guildhall, he is brass co-ordinator, professor of euphonium and conductor. He has recently designed the Trinity Guildhall euphonium diploma syllabus.

Spencer has conducted members of both the London Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra in educational projects. Under his leadership, he has established the Kew Wind Orchestra as one of Britain’s leading wind ensembles. In April 2008, the orchestra was given a rare consistent achievement award for winning three successive gold awards at the National Concert Band Festival Finals.

Spencer’s musical career has taken him around the world and he has conducted in the UK’s major concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Snape Maltings and the Sage Gateshead. www.spencerdown.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.docklandssinfonia.co.uk

Charity call for choirs who’ve got talent!

2009-11-23T13:09:00.001Z

Greenwich Shopping Park off Bugsby’s Way in Charlton, is searching forschool, youth club and other community group choirs in the Borough to showcase their singing talent at the park this Christmas. The Park is giving local choirs the chance to sing at the Park to help raise funds for a charity of their choice, in a bid to help support the local community and bring a festive cheer to shoppers.

All funds raised will be kept by each choir to donate to their special cause. From hip hop to choral groups, choirs of any size and age are welcome to come to sing at the Park. A space will be allocated for the choir to perform beneath the sheltered walkways between the individual stores to help keep voices at their best.

Sian Nicholls, Greenwich Shopping Park representative, said: “Christmas isan important time of the year for us all and as a time for giving, what better way to help spread a festive cheer than to support the local community and charitable causes. We hope that we can get as many different choirs down to the Park to take part in our festivities.”

Choirs interested in singing at the Park should contact Helen Newton on 02920 764 100 or visit www.greenwichshoppingpark.co.uk for further details.

EMERGING & OUTSIDER ART EXHIBITION

2009-11-23T13:02:00.001Z

‘S E E through ROSE TINTED’

When : 4th December 09 – 24th Dec 09

Where : No 8 COLLEGE APPROACH GREENWICH SE10 9HY

Curated by Katie Rose Whiting and Ben Oakley. ‘SEE through ROSE TINTED’ is proud to present a pop up gallery showcasing refreshing work from 20 emerging artists. During the exhibition each artist will be in rotation offering the public an exclusive insight into his or her works. On sale will be a diverse range of art including Sculpture, Lighting, Original paintings, Ceramics, Textiles and Limited edition prints.

This manifesto will exist to expose invigorating work, make use of an otherwise defunct space and uplift the lives of those who come into contact with the gallery.

Transport : DLR. Greenwich Cutty Sark
TRAIN. Greenwich Station

Hours: Mon -Sun 11- 6.30 pm Late night Thursdays
Website: www.rosetintedart.co.uk or FACEBOOK ‘SEE through Rose Tinted’

WARTIME EVACUEES GATHER TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES

2009-08-25T12:17:00.004+01:00

photo courtesy of Royal Artillery Museum

The remarkable experiences of London’s children during the Second World War are to be commemorated at a unique event on Saturday 5 September. Seventy years on, Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum, in Woolwich, is to host the unique Wartime Evacuees Day. This moving day of memories and nostalgia will include an exhibition of evacuee memorabilia, archive films, living history re-enactors and, most importantly, give visitors the opportunity to meet and talk to evacuees themselves about their experiences seven decades ago.

With enemy bombing attacks expected as soon as the Second World War started, Operation Pied Piper began. This was the evacuation of Britain's cities - the biggest and most concentrated mass movement of people in Britain's history. In the first four days of September 1939, nearly 3,000,000 people, mostly schoolchildren, were transported to places of safety in the countryside. Over September 1 - 3 1939, officials evacuated over 1.5 million women and children from ‘danger zones’ in London alone. In buses and trains, children left the city to find refuge in the country. The authorities did not want chaotic scenes at London’s train and bus stations so insisted that parents said goodbye to their children in the school playground where they had to assemble. The older children were often given the enormous responsibility of looking after their younger brothers and sisters.

“For some, evacuation was a welcome adventure and escape from their homes in London” says Eileen Noon from Firepower “But for others it was a terrifying and heartbreaking separation from their parents and their friends. Nobody knew when they would return to London or if they would see their home again. Our Wartime Evacuees Day will give visitors the opportunity to meet evacuees and hear their stories first hand.”

The event will also feature an exhibition about local people's experiences during the war entitled Woolwich and the Blitz. Firepower's own living history team will be on duty for the event so visitors can meet and talk to a wartime ARP air raid warden, two Royal Artillery Gunners, soldiers manning an anti-tank gun as well as Local Defence Volunteers - the forerunners of the Home Guard made famous in BBC TV's Dad's Army. Archive films will be shown in the Museum cinema and the Museum will be open as normal.

Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is based at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich - the birthplace of the Royal Artillery which was founded there in 1716. The Museum tells the story of the Gunners - the men and women of the Royal Artillery, and the part they have played in history and their role today in the front line with the British Army. Tales of extraordinary heroism and endeavour are presented alongside explanations the technological and scientific advances driven by the development of artillery from Roman times to the present day. Experiences at Firepower include the ground-shaking Field of Fire audio-visual show where visitors are put in the midst of battle as shells and aircraft fly overhead and guns roar all around, giving an insight into the experiences of an artillery gunner.

Wartime Evacuees Day – Saturday 5 September
Admission: Discounted family tickets £12.00, Adults £5.00, Children £2.50, Concessions £4.50.
Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18 6ST

For more information about Firepower visit www.firepower.org.uk , call 020 8855 7755 or email info@firepower.org.uk.

Precious photos for keeps

2009-08-25T12:13:00.002+01:00

Parents in the (Greenwich) Borough are being given a special opportunity to bring their little ones down to WHSmith at Greenwich Shopping Park to have their photo taken on Tuesday, 01 September to Saturday, 05 September 2009.

Pixi Fotos, a specialist in children and baby photography, will set up its mobile studio at the WHSmith store and for just under £5.00, parents will receive one picture with the opportunity to purchase more on the day. No appointment necessary.

WHSmith, Greenwich Shopping Park, Bugsby’s Way, Charlton.
Visit www.greenwichshoppingpark.co.uk for more information.

Making Shopping Kid’s Play this August

2009-08-18T18:36:00.001+01:00

Greenwich Shopping Park located off Bugsby’s Way in Charlton will be handing out limited edition Ice Age 3, Dawn of the Dinosaurs film-themed wristbands to help keep children who are visiting the Park safe this summer.

The wristbands are part of a summer initiative set up by the national organisation, Child Safe and filmmakers, 20th Century Fox to celebrate the release of the blockbuster. Greenwich Shopping Park is part of the Child Safe programme and recently celebrated the first anniversary since its official launch in June last year.

Throughout August, parents or guardians are able to collect wristbands from the security office at the Park and write their mobile number on the wristband. Should they become separated from their child, anyone finding the youngster knows immediately who to call, so that they can be quickly re-united with their family.

FLASH MOB THE WOOLWICH FORESHORE!!

2009-08-14T11:31:00.004+01:00

Join Thames21, London’s leading waterways charity, for a FLASH MOB OF THE FORESHORE.

Part of the fourth annual Cleaner Thames Challenge, the event this year will take place in four different locations on the River Thames, one of which is in WOOLWICH. Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your colleagues and help clean up the foreshore in Woolwich.

DATE: Saturday 22 August

TIME: 8.30am - 11.00am

MEET: at the end of Venus Road, SE18.

The clean-up will take place on the foreshore by New Ferry Approach. MAP LINK. Access to the foreshore is by steps. Please contact in advance if you have any special access requirements. The nearest train station is Woolwich Dockyard and is a short walk from the meeting point.

CONTACT: Alice Hall, 07824 692592, alice.hall@thames21.org.uk

Events are suitable for all the family. All equipment, including wellies and gloves, will be provided to volunteers. Please wear old clothes you don't mind getting muddy and appropriate to the weather. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs.

EMAIL: FLASHMOB@thames21.org.uk if you are bringing a group. For more Thames21 clean-up events, visit www.thames21.org.uk/events

The Second Greenwich Annuale

2009-08-07T21:02:00.002+01:00

An exhibition by the Greenwich Satellite Group of London Independent Photography
Private view: Thursday 20 August, 6.30 to 8.30pm

Exhibition dates: 21 August to 30 August 2009

The Greenwich group of London Independant Photography returns to Viewfinder Photography Gallery in August for an exhibition reflecting the diverse styles, ideas and interests of this flourishing collection of both local and international photographers.

The Greenwich group formed in May 2007, meets monthly at Viewfinder and now numbers over 130 photographers. The diversity of this talent is reflected in the 2009 Annuale.

The inaugeral Annuale of 2008 featured over thirty photographers, gathered extensive press coverage and exceeded the hopes of all who contributed. Commentary on the exhibition remarked on the professionalism of the entries and the curatorial skill of the presentation. Selected as top exhibition to visit in the British Journal of Photography, it presented 34 photographs ranging from street photography to landscapes, from larger-than-life human portraits to pictures of pigeons.

The second Annuale, bigger and better, will present the work of over sixty photographers, a reflection of the growth of the group in the past year. Londoners dominate, the home counties send significant numbers and Europe (old and new) continues to contribute. The group is also blessed by those who join while passing through - those at college and university, those on secondment to London offices, those on short-term contract. Some join for one meeting, some never miss one.

The Greenwich group is inclusive - all ages, all stages. From those who bought a camera last week to those who bought one during the reign of the last King, all can enter the Annuale and all are accepted.

Participating photographers:
Neville Austin, Dan Bachmann, Quentin Ball, Debra Bazell, Jane Bowden, Nicky Boyd, Stephen Brockerton, Corin Ashleigh Brown, Catherine Caitlin, Bashkar Charavarti, Anita Chandra, Lisa Chillingworth, Alicia Clarke, Nicholas Cobb, Anne Crabbe, Melany Darke, Brian Daubney, Robert Davies, Jenny Dawes, Siobhan Doran, Linda Duffy, Orde Eliason, Susan Folkes, Louise Forrester, Caroline Fraser, Bogdan Frymorgen, Anne-Marie Glasheen, Alan Golding, Elizabeth Gowing, Tony Hale, Laura Harding, Anna Hillman, Lotta Holmberg, Chris Hudson, Jenny Johnson Burrows, Tiffany Jones, Martin Jordan, Julie Kertesz, Marysia Lachowicz, Caroline Lamburd, Jennifer Lanier, John Levett, Gill Lightfoot, Stefan Lubomirski de Vaux, Peter Luck, Jon May, Dave Mason, Alex McIlhiney, Steve Miller, Alan Phinbow, Michael Rodgers, Nigel Rumsey, Paula Salischiker, Surinder Singh, Bob Smith, Krystina Stimakovits, David Thorpe, Duncan Unsworth, Joanne Wallace, Kate Wentworth, John Whitfield.

London Independent Photography (LIP for short) is an informal group of over four hundred amateur and professional photographers of all ages, backgrounds and levels of expertise. For over twenty years its members have come together to build a programme of practical workshops, master classes, talks and exhibitions. Its satellite groups meet up each month in various homes, galleries, studios and pubs throughout London to share work, arrange exhibitions and talk photography.

Special Treat At Royal Artillery Museum This Sunday, August 9

2009-08-07T20:53:00.003+01:00

Visitors to Firepower The Royal Artillery Museum are in for a special treat this Sunday, 9 August. The popular heritage attraction within the Royal Arsenal Woolwich is hosting an afternoon of rousing military music with The 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers Corps of Drums.

The Corps is a group of civilian enthusiasts keen to promote and preserve the traditions and music of the British Army’s drum, flute and bugle Corps of Drums. The group has adopted the title and eye-catching scarlet full dress of the pre-1908 Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers as a mark of respect for those who served as Volunteers in the past.

Popularly known as fifes and drums, the Corps of Drums is Britain's oldest military music. From the early 1500s drums, and later drums and fifes, signalled soldiers' movements on the battlefield, and cheered them on the march and in camp. By Victorian times the Corps of Drums had assumed its modern form - lead by a Drum Major and consisting of side-drummers, tenor drummers, a bass drummer, a cymbalist and flute players.

The demonstration will begin with a marching display at 2pm, static playing from 2.45 – 3pm then another marching and playing display at 4pm.Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum is based at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, the birthplace of the Royal Artillery which was founded there in 1716. The history of artillery is illustrated by Firepower’s world-class display of artillery from catapults to rockets, from the medieval battlefield to modern peacekeeping missions, the collections including uniforms, drawings, diaries and medals bring together 700 years of artillery and human history.

Experiences at Firepower include the ground-shaking Field of Fire audio-visual show where visitors are put in the midst of battle as shells and aircraft fly overhead and guns roar, giving an insight into the experiences of an artillery gunner.

Admission to the Museum costs: Adults £5.00, children £2.50, concessions £4.50. Discounted family tickets are also available. For more information about Firepower visit www.firepower.org.uk , call 020 8855 7755 or email info@firepower.org.uk. Firepower is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames.

Photography talent uncovered by DLR competition

2009-05-22T14:13:00.003+01:00

Patrick Bonsu receiving his prize, a £250 digital camera courtesy of DLR

The Image that won the prize

At the start of this year teenagers in Woolwich were invited by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to take part in a photography competition to celebrate the opening of the station at Woolwich Arsenal.

The winner has been chosen as Patrick Bonsu, 17, from Gildermore Street, Woolwich, who will receive a state-of-the-art digital camera worth over £250. His photo depicting the O2 arena showed real flair for creative photography, as well as depicting some key landmarks on the DLR network.

The standard of the photos submitted for the competition was outstanding and John Zammit, a professional photographer who judged the competition, was very excited to see what Woolwich youngsters had achieved.

“It was very exciting and encouraging seeing all this new local photographic talent. The standard of each entries image showed individualism and so much artistic skill that it made judging an eventual winner particularly difficult. However with his particular articulation of subject matter I felt that Patrick showed a real flare and mature approach to his photography, I hope that he continues to pursue his photography talents.”

Under the title ‘What’s Your Journey?’ the photographs had to represent a physical, inspirational or emotional journey the person taking it had been on.

Simon Dobson, DLR, comments: “This competition was one of many community initiatives the DLR implemented to engage with a wide range of residents in Woolwich. The station means a lot to teenagers who can now access other areas of London easily and we were very pleased with the high quality entries we received for the competition."

Patrick said of his entry: “I thought of the idea for this picture while passing through the DLR station. I thought the best image would be to include locations that the DLR railway passes through. Of all the locations, the Millennium Dome and the surrounding areas are places I think stand out the most in making London and Woolwich a notable landmark.”

The £180 million extension to the DLR network links with North Woolwich providing easy access to the City and Central London. The new high-spec station is an architectural first for the DLR.

Further information about the new DLR link from Woolwich is available by visiting www.dlr.co.uk.

The Los Dawsons CD on sale this Sunday‏

2009-05-22T14:07:00.003+01:00

The Los Dawsons have sent The Greenwich Gazette this message. I, for one, will be there. The weather promises to be fantastic. See you all there:

Its called Cattleya Nights, its live, its 10 tracks, its had the front cover illustration designed by Lance Bohl which is a lovely Picasso Pastiche.. It will be ready for sale at the Oxleas Wood Gig this Sunday 3-6pm 24 May 2009 for a lovely £6 each all we need now is the weather to be fantastic..

I suggest you bring a blanket and your own booze cos its not licenced - obviously buy your lunch from the Cafe - its really good... a mini festival..

The Los Dawsons: Mike Dearing, Ben Hillyard, Dave Burrluck, Mark Walker

http://thelosdawsons.blogspot.com/

Greenwich Get Together Events This Summer

2009-05-21T08:00:00.000+01:00

Saturday, May 23, 2009: Eltham, Blackheath Rugby Club, Kidbrooke Lane, 11am - 4pm

Saturday, June 20, 2009: Woolwich, Royal Artillery Barracks, Repository Road, 11am -4pm

Saturday, June 28, 2009: Charlton, Charlton Park, Charlton Road, 11am-4pm

Saturday, July 11, Trust Thamesmead, Summer Festival, Birchmere Park 10am - 6pm

For more information about the Greenwich Get Together events visit Greenwich Council website at www.greenwich.gov.uk

Support Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice

2009-05-20T12:30:00.001+01:00

Show your support for the Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice on Saturday, May 30, 2009 by showing up at The Vicarage in Thamesmead to buy hand-made greeting cards for all occasions. The event will take place at the Open Gateway Craft Club open day from 1-5:30pm at The Vicarage, Battery Road, West Thamesmead. Cards will be priced at £1-£2.5 and all proceeds will go to the hospice.

MUSEUM APPEALS FOR INFORMATION ON WARTIME PLANE CRASH

2009-05-20T09:47:00.001+01:00

The Library and Archives Team at Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum are looking for witnesses to an historic event that took place almost seven decades ago. On 31 July 1940 an RAF Spitfire piloted by Flying Officer Robin Waterston was shot down in combat over London and crashed near the Royal Artillery Barracks and Repository Road Woolwich Common near, Woolwich. The Museum wants to pinpoint the exact location of the crash site and would like to hear from anyone who remembers the incident.

Anyone with information about the crash or crash site can contact Mark Smith, Curator, Firepower, The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6ST, call 0208 312 7120 or email marks@firepower.org.uk

Firepower The Royal Artillery Museum is based at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, the birthplace of the Royal Artillery which was founded there in 1716. The history of artillery is illustrated by Firepower’s world-class display of artillery from catapults to rockets, from the medieval battlefield to modern peacekeeping missions, the collections including uniforms, drawings, diaries and medals bring together 700 years of artillery and human history.

For more information about Firepower visit www.firepower.org.uk , call 020 8855 7755 or email info@firepower.org.uk . Firepower is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames.

Pizza Hut is proud to sponsor National Family Week - the biggest official celebration of families

2009-05-19T09:44:00.002+01:00

From 25th – 31st May 2009, family life in the UK will be celebrated through a jam-packed schedule of events, activities and competitions run across the country, as part of the inaugural National Family Week. The Week is aimed at bringing as many families together as possible and Pizza Hut is proud to be a gold sponsor of such an exciting new initiative backed by the largest coalition on family in the UK'

Alongside fantastic National Family Week events, which include a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest-ever simultaneous picnic, Pizza Hut is joining in the celebration with some activities of its own. Including a special family meal take away deal on Monday 25th May, which includes 2 pizzas (or combination of pizza and pasta), garlic bread or potato wedges, salad and 1.5L Pepsi all for £19.99.

National Family Week will also be searching for the all time Favourite Family Recipe, so any families who have a dish that holds a special place in their hearts and on their tables, could be in with a chance of winning a sizzling selection of prizes. Pizza Hut will then also select their favourite pasta dish from the entries, offering a once in a lifetime opportunity for it to be featured on their menus!

After taking part in all of these fun activities, there are bound to be lots of hungry children and families across the country. Pizza Hut will therefore be offering kids the chance to eat free with a full paying adult: choosing a bigger persons meal from the children’s menu on Sunday 31st May. This special offer will be celebrated at 2.30pm with balloon releases at Pizza Hut restaurants. Budding artists will have the chance to show off their skills and win a Pizza Hut voucher worth £30, by entering the chef’s hat colouring competitions in their Pizza Hut restaurant. The best entries will even be displayed for all to see.

So National Family Week will not only be the perfect chance to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones but also a selection of fantastic value, delicious food. All offers can be redeemed with a voucher, which can be downloaded at www.pizzahut.co.uk/nationalfamilyweek.

Laura Wise Restaurant Manager Pizza Hut Eltham comments: “The average family has changed a lot over the past decade and so has Pizza Hut in its 50-year history. We welcome all families and work hard to make sure both adults and kids have a great time together at Pizza Hut. We want this to be especially evident during National Family Week.”

As the UK's leading family restaurant, Pizza Hut welcomes half a million families through its doors each month and understands the importance of spending quality time together. Pizza Hut offers families a relaxed and informal setting in which to dine, as well as providing kid’s fun-and-games booklets, tailored children’s menus (some made with hidden vegetables in order to help children get their 5-a-day) and, as of August, look out for the exciting new Pizza Hut birthday parties.

For further details on National Family Week including a full list of all events and activities taking place during the week, log on to www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk

Please contact your local Pizza Hut to find out further information on activities.
Pizza Hut Eltham 020 8850 9977
Pizza Hut Sidcup 020 8308 1880
Pizza Hut Bexleyheath 020 8298 0088

ROYAL ARSENAL TO HOST MAJOR COMMUNITY HISTORY EVENT

2009-05-08T08:24:00.003+01:00

The Community History Day will show how the Royal Artillery have shaped family history in the area of Woolwich

Firepower’s experts will explain how medals can help you add to your family history.

On the day and evening of Saturday 16 May, the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, south-east London, will host the first Royal Arsenal Community History Day. Visitors will be able to experience a full day and night’s activity in and around Firepower The Royal Artillery Museum and the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

Firepower’s Living History Team will be bringing the past to life with their historic characters while fans of family history can get advice about researching their own family tree from Firepower’s own genealogy experts. Local author and Royal Artillery expert Brigadier Ken Timbers will be giving talks on the history of the Royal Arsenal and the unique architectural gem within the Royal Arsenal - the Old Royal Military Academy. Local Scouts will also be performing Gang Show routines.

Local residents (those with an SE18 or SE28 postcode) will enjoy free entry to the Museum with proof of identity. The event will go on until 10pm as part of the Europe-wide Museums at Night programme. There will be a display of previously unseen historic photographs of the Royal Arsenal complex and its workers so local residents can look for their relatives and ancestors. The fun continues into the evening with expert guided tours of the Royal Arsenal while lectures by Firepower’s Curator will tell the gripping and moving stories behind some of the Museum’s collection of medals awarded for bravery. The Museum’s refurbished Café (fully licensed, 3 course menu) will also remain open until 10pm.

“This is the first community history event to take place in the Royal Arsenal” says Firepower’s Eileen Noon “We want to showcase the heritage of this fascinating part of south-east London and highlight how people’s own history may be entwined with the history of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich and perhaps the Royal Artillery. We are delighted to offer free admission to local residents for this event to encourage them to find out that history can be fascinating and fun.”

Firepower is located in the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, between the A206 and the Thames.

Admission costs: Local residents with an SE18 or SE28 postcode will enjoy free entry to the Museum with proof of identity. Other visitors - adults £5.00, children £2.50, concessions £4.50. Discounted family tickets are also available.For more information about Firepower visit http://www.firepower.org.uk/, call 020 8855 7755 or email info@firepower.org.uk.

READY, STEADY, ESCARGOT: Café Rouge marks National Escargot Day with a Blackheath snail hunt

2009-05-08T08:08:00.003+01:00

Limited-edition “snail menu” available from Café Rouge in Blackheath

Café Rouge will be marking this year’s National Escargot Day with a snail-themed treasure hunt in Blackheath on Saturday 23 May.

The restaurant is paying homage to the humble snail by teaming up with Eurostar, Bonne Maman and other partners to give away prizes in celebration of France’s famous delicacy.

As Café Rouge celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, restaurant staff at Café Rogue Blackheath are celebrating on a big scale by hiding a total of 20 oversized cut-out snails around the city which can be redeemed for special prizes including:

Return tickets to Paris with Eurostar - the high-speed rail service between London and Continental Europe (www.eurostar.com).
A shopping bag containing biscuits, cakes and a ceramic cookie jar from Bonne Maman, the UK's favourite French food brand.
Goodies from Président® Cheese, one of the world's premiere cheesemakers (www.president.uk.com) Bottles of French wine and champagne Café Rouge vouchers And lots more French-themed prizes!

Each snail will be labelled with instructions on how people can claim their prizes. True to form, they will reside in those damp and dark shaded places rarely looked in – so those moving at a snail’s space could miss out.

The snail hunt will be taking place on Saturday 23 May from 11am in and around Montpelier Vale, Blackheath. Log onto www.caferouge.co.uk/ned for more details.

Café Rouge’s snail supremo, Caroline Réveillon, said: “Love them or hate them, we are expecting lots of prize-hungry Londoners to come out of their shells for the snail hunt. Snails are served in the finest restaurants France has to offer. We want Brits to take a lead from our friends over the Channel and finally embrace the snail as a tasty treat and give it a try for themselves.”

Last year, Café Rouge sold record numbers of the slippery critters, introducing thousands of people to the mighty mollusc. This May, the restaurant is continuing its trail to transform the nation’s taste buds with a brand new “Escargot Day” menu and is shipping 34,000 snails for the occasion.

Café Rouge’s limited-edition 20th anniversary snail menu will include two new dishes - Terrine d'Escargot aux Lardons - snail and bacon terrine served with rustic brown bread, and Cassolette d'Escargots Jurassienne – casserole of snails, white wine, cream and Paris mushroom.

The restaurant’s signature snail dishes will also feature on the menu – snails cooked in rich garlic butter, snails covered in melted goat’s cheese and a mouth-watering combo of snails served with spinach and mushroom.

Caroline Réveillon said that snails could well be the next super food, “Snails are low in fat and high in magnesium and protein, so they are highly nutritious. They also have a very gentle, buttery texture, which will remind many of lobster or sushi - probably not at all what you might expect!”

The menu is available at Café Rouge Blackheath from 18th - 31st May, with dishes priced from £4.95

Urban Sounds at Canary Wharf Throughout May

2009-04-24T08:00:00.000+01:00

Throughout Canary Wharf (see individual artist locations)Tuesday 5, 12, 19, 26 May 12.30pm-1pm and 1.30pm-2pm

Urban Sounds puts a spring in your step at the start of the working week bringing free music performances from emerging artists into the shopping malls and outdoor spaces at Canary Wharf. Get the most from your lunchtimes by enjoying fresh new music from some of the best up and coming musicians on the scene today.

May 5 Haley Glennie Smith: 12.30-1pm and 1.30 -200pm. Canada Square Park

www.myspace.com/haleyglenniesmith
May 12 Laura Colegate: 12.30pm-1pm and 1.30pm – 2.00pm. Jubilee Park

www.myspace.com/lauracolegate
May 19 Susan Black: 12.30pm-1pm and 1.30pm – 2.00pm. Cabot Square

www.myspace.com/susanblackuk
May 26 Lee MacDougall: 12.30pm-1pm and 1.30pm – 2.00pm. Westferry Circus

www.myspace.com/susanblackuk

Celebrate St George's Day In Style

2009-04-23T09:44:00.003+01:00

Royal George Pub celebration

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009,
Location: Royal George Pub, Blisset St, Greenwich, London SE10 8UP
Description: We shall be having A Knees up, Pie & Mash and Jellied Eels all from 12-11. We are also holding a raffle in aid of The George Boys Charity, which supports local elderly Greenwich residents at Christmas. All are welcome.
Email: h.farmer@live.co.uk

St George Morris & Clog Dancing

Thursday, April 23, 2009,
Southwark, London SE1
Description: New Esperance Morris, Hammersmith Morris Men and Old Palace Clog dancing, 8pm at The Old Thameside Inn (Pickfords Wharf) *** 8.30pm at The Globe Tavern (Bedale Street) *** 9pm at Brew Wharf (Stoney Street) *** All times are approximate, but all the pubs are very close to each other and it’s difficult to miss around 30 Morris & Clog dancers!