Say Hello to Jeremy...

I'm off on this Pleasure Bus Tour, so Jeremy is taking over for a bit. Jeremy is an East Dulwich Regular, a smashing chap & a reet good laugh. He's scared of Moth's, eats grissle & has recently fallen off his bike, so be gentle with him. Enjoy J.

Street Art Exhibition

If you haven't already been to the Po-Tatey Modern to check the Street Art exhibition then do, it's good.

Loving Sixeart

Proper Love the Sun me...

Crane Get's Stuck

I was on my way to East Dulwich Train Station, then I wasn't. A lorry with a big crane on the back had forgotten that a bridge was there. Still I wasn't bitter. I like the walk to Peckham Rye.

Street Cleaner & Leaf Blower Chat

A beautifully observed moment captured by Schninkle McFinkle.

Horniman's Plunder

Nicola's been on about the Horniman Museum for a while now, so we popped along to take it all in, and there's a lot to take in. What struck me straight away was a similar feeling I have when I look round the British Museum. A sense of Awe then a smack of guilt. There's lots of wonderful stuff in here, but everything feels like it's got there through a rather sinister story ie. Horniman either killed it or nicked it. Still, on a positive note, there's a bee hive inside. We played spot the Queen Bee for while. Then gave up & banged the Indian musical instruments with the kids.

FREE Party...

I'm heading off on an adventure on wedsnesday 13th of August & want you to join me & my buddy nick at our FREE Pleasure Bus Tour Launch Party. Check The Pleasure Bus Tour to see what's going on. There'll be a free disco, art work for sale & hopefully some free bizzle to snizzle. Come, Say hello.

NYC in ED

We found this classic NYC taxi on our meander up to Forrest Hill. I had to move the bins and everything to get this picture. The local shop keeper wasn't too impressed. I put them back though. I don't reckon this car moves much though. Sad eh?

Goose Green Fest

We wandered across to the Goose green Carnival, got involved in the candy floss free for all, bought a book showing a monkey giving birth for 20p, won a pair of fluffy handcuffs on the tombola & found the best dancer we've seen in a long time. See Below. Good all round really.

Respect

Respect from Rob Ellis on Vimeo.
Simon are you watching?

Well I never!

The T'other week we innocently headed for Bar Story, in Peckham. We like Story as it's full of quirky art folk who enjoy the less conventional forms of entertainment. They've also got an art gallery in the back, underneath Peckham Rye Train station. We wandered in to what appeared to be an artistic appreciation of the female body, or a soft porn shoot to some. Interesting huh?

South Bank Meltdown

Check Massive Attack's meltdown festival on the southbank. We spent a good twenty minutes wandering round this sound & light installation trying to figure out if we we're actually making any difference to what we were seeing & hearing. Not convinced. But we'll give it another chance. Maybe in the evening next time.

Eryka Badu - Brixton Academy

Wow? Team ME popped along to Brixton Academy on Monday night to take in Eryka Badu's Vortex Tour. She's a simply a Superstar. Great songs, great band, great performance with a Goose pimpling voice to match. Wow?

Innit?

Please join me, my mate Nick, and friends on the Pleasure Bus Tour, as we meander through the best of Britains backyard in the Pleasure Bus.

The Pleasure Bus is a big gold campervan that doubles up as a mobile art gallery, shop (we sell art. innit?) and our home. Check out where were going on the blog, and Come along. Bring along a happy face and a rich friend.

http://pleasurebustour.blogspot.com/



In the meantime I'd like a volunteer to carry on blogging about East Dulwich. If anyone can be arsed to write stuff for an audience of 6 readers then you've got the job. email me or ring me if you want the job.

rob.

Meet Gary

Gary the Gorilla lives outside The Hat Mans HQ in Blackwater Court.
Down the road from the bad boy Butchers on Lordship Lane.
Friday & Saturdays I think they open up.
Lots of folk who work in Blackwater Court show & sell what they do.
Lots of interesting things going on in the Court.
It's all done with hands & with love.
Next time you're stocking up on meat, pop by and say "Hello" to Gary (& Co)

Penguin Crafts

The "Hello" hand above is made by a hand stamp thingy. It's from Penguin Crafts. You can find Penguin Crafts on East Dulwich Road, sandwiched between the newsagents & the plate painting place on the corner). Their stamps, weird printing toys, and embossing thingies are like a playground for crafty kids. Go.

5am...

...What better time to take in your surroundings? The early bird catches the worm and the dirty stop out contemplates his night as a time lord visiting the year 2008 and having a great time.

Jack's Your Body

Jack's is the best coffee shop we've found in East Dulwich. Top fodder, free papers to read, an eyefest of loveliness all over the walls, plus you can buy your veg whilst you toy with the dilemna of eating the onion tart & cupcakes before finishing your breakfast. Nice one James & Jack's.

Cuba Festival Coming Soon...

Know what I mean bruv? It was in bubble wrap Bruv? Yeh Bruv.

Say hello to Jackie @ QuickPrint

We visited my favourite photocopy shop in the area on Monday. Jackie, unlike the grumpy chap on lordship lane actually trusts me to do my own photocopying. thanks Jackie, it means a lot. Anyway, I like Jackie, she's friendly and always a great source of blog knowledge. This particular visit revealed that the art work outside (see pic up there) is part of the Council's regeneration for the area. I like it. Apparently it's trying to create a nostalgic image of kids to encourage community's to come together.

Jackie went on to discuss the road bollards (another part of the regeneration). She wasn't fussed, as each one apparently costs 2 big fat G's, and they look a bit mucky. I like them, mainly because they look a bit mucky....



I think Kirst agrees that they look mucky (sorry Kirst! I'll take the picture down if you want me to)

Anyway, back to Jackie...

Whilst in the shop I noticed this picture. Jackie explained that most afro carribean households have a pic of their grandad like this. originally black and white photo's were coloured by hand. Brilliant, bright and colourful. Thanks to Jackie for all the local knowledge. Nice Squoval Nails Lady!

StokeFest

Nursing a team hangover from Jim's party on Saturday we set off for StokeFest. I've been year in, year out for the last 4 years and it's got pretty massive. Usually I'd have headed straight for the rasta tent and got some bad boy bass dobo action going on, but frankly, I felt rough as a badger's arse, so settled for laying in a less crowded bit next to the raison d'etre tent. I don't think I was the only one who couldn't face the monster stokefestivallers. Saying that, although we didn't party hard we did enjoy icecream, the cracking stalls (I bought an egg cup made of plastic soldiers and nick & Pas got a Proper peruvian knitted hoody), baloons for matilda and the colourful people around us.

Jim Bowen's Party

Thanks to all that made Jim Bowen's party on Satursnacks eve. A special set of bully darts and mugs go to Kirsten & Nick who braved the sea and the ferry to come and join us in "France". Judging from the empty fridge and full recycling bin I put out the other day we all had a super smashing time. well I did. The banter covered everything from 8 year old's breast feeding to squoval Nails, and the rest, well the rest is a blur. Nice one

Tree Huggers Beware...

The council are greasing the trees to keep the monkey's out of the trees. This is the sort of thing that encouraged monkeys to grow wings and serve the Wicked Witch of the West. Trouble Downt Mill indeed.

DJ Derek

Put it in your diary's Dulwich. This night has fun factor 10 written all over it.

Isn't Street Car Amazing?

Yesterday we had a family outing to See Nicola & Jeremy's Cousin Juliette (happy birthday by the way). It was the first time I've come across streetcar. Jeremy's hot on this. Once a member you can locate cars close to you (apparently there's loads in London now), book it out online, swipe your card on the car, and hey presto you're off. bring it back by a certain time, and bob's your uncle, fanny's your aunt.

Doncaster 1 Leeds Utd 0 (ie Bad)

Well, what a disapointment. Leeds United's support swamped Doncaster's, but yet again we we're left sour faced by the outcome of the Division 1 playoff final. You're right to ask "should I give a monkey's?", and i'd tend to agree. I do find it really unnerving being a northerner (and a Leeds supporter) in South east London. Millwall and Chelsea notoriously don't get on with anything to do with Leeds. So yeh, this post is all about me standing my ground and staying true to the football I believe in. Dogged, Ball breaking passion, with flare and speed (none of which was on display on Sunday). What was refreshing for me, was that Yorkshire took over a bit of London for the day. Thousands of gravelly, gruff joyous Yorkshire Folk swearing their heads off in harmony. It would be my dream for me to have a Yorkshire district in London one day. Much like there's a turkish area or jewish. Imagine the shops; Ikley Moor Bar Tat's, Pudding & Pies, Compo's Fish & Chip shop, and a Ferret pet shop. I can only dream.

Slick Rickery

As I was riding to the Tate I passed this fine beast of a car going through Peckham. Sweet innit? I've spotted a few cars like this in ED and in London. My guess is that we've been importing vintage Cuban & American cars because we're tired of the same old ford mondeo generic boring cars. Which is fair enough. I'd much rather drive something with character. For me their loss is our gain, and our gain is also our loss. If we take all their classic cars, when we visit Havana and the likes we'll be grumbling that we don't have an authentic experience anymore. Thoughts?

'Tatey Salad?

I set off on my bike for the first time from East Dulwich to go to the Tate. I took the no 23 cycle route for the first time and I arrived at the Tate in no time at all. Piece of Cake. After wandering around outside looking at the street art on the walls of the Tate, I venture into the Turbine Hall to be greeted by a lot of people watching a giant salad being made. It was part of the Long Weekend program. I stood for about an hour watching a small orchestra play Mozart, lots of people chopping salad, then throwing it over the bridge into a big green canvas sheet, they mixed it up with spades and pitch forks before plating it up to us. It was surprisingly good, and I even managed to get a bit of cucumber in mine, whereas most people just got leaf. A few folk asked me what it was all about, poo pooing the bollocksy art. I had a few theories, but I think you have to work it out for yourself.
Or read the free newspaper you got and repeat what that said to them. I like art, and I like salad.

You're All RyeT

A number of my friends and work buddies who live in East Dulwich have been banging on about The Rye Hotel for a bit now, and like most things people say "you have to go there/you have to do this" I've ignored and stayed clear. Well frankly that was just stupid. This place is excellent. The food is great. The beer gets you drunk. And the crowd seems like a good bunch. Plus there's a huge garden for some serious bbq action. So yeh, you were right. This is my favourite pub so far in SE London. Jar anyone?

G Framed

This is our friend Gabe. He has a habit of getting in the way of my camera (generally in a pointy finger pose), so for his birthday we had a picture of him framed at The Arterie, a picture framers on Northcross Road. It took the Framers less than a day and cost 18 golden nuggets. Top work and greatly appreciated by all. Thankyou

Dog Festival

So last Saturday was Dog day in East Dulwich. A frenzy of all things canine; obstacles, behaviour lessons, a sort of doggy model show and the compulsory bum sniffing. Not my bag personally. But lovely day for it.

Marrakech....

So we've just got back from Marracrazy, we departed on the sunday the 11th as the May fair on Goose Green was setting up their stalls. We we're a bit jealous that we were missing out on it, but we did, in the end settle for a nice break in Marrakech. It truly was a special place, totally frantic, but an all round treat. If you ever fancy a trip, i'd recommend going for 5 day, do a trip to setti fatma, and maybe a day dash to Ossuirra. Oh and stop here, great location & very reasonable.

One last thing about Marrakech, be wary of buying leather poofs out there. we Bought one and its made our front room stink of horse shit.

Bandstand Thankyou.

So a big (belated) thanks to Bandstand, Mr Rob Da bank, Mark Ronson, The cuban Brothers , The Queen of Hearts for taking time away from her throne to play tennis with us, and not forgetting the young lady who gave me a glitter show and a glitter Tash. Top one, nice one, lovely. More please.

The Music Man

I've been meaning to plug this chap for a while. There is a music man who has a stall in Northcross Road's Market on a Saturday. I've stopped and chatted to him on a number of occasions to ogle his collection of CD's. Generally I've walked away guiltily knowing that I've just wasted his time, but I thought this should come to an end. And it did. So I bought "An England Story" on Soul Jazz records for about 8 quid. It's a real carnivalistic bass biscuit of a summer CD. The music man described it as "Raucous Throughout", I'd a agree. On the whole I'd give it 3.5/5, mainly because I'd have rather have original uptown top Rankin, rather than estelle's.

Moving on. You can bag all sort of super sounds from the music man. stuff from BBE Records, Soul Jazz Records, all sorts of jazz classics, soul, reggae, dub, obscure rarities, electronic, and my guilty pleasure; disco . Plus he's got loads of flyers for great stuff that hovers just on the horizon. Visiting this store reminds me of when I started getting into music, when I'd visit a chap in a record store in Huddersfield and he'd feed me music like dj shadows endtroducing, dj hype's super sharp shooter & DJ Qbert. Magic. And exciting.

Thanks Mr Music man. See you Saturday.

ps. To our neighbours who repeatedly play Justin Timberlake's "round and around" song. Go see the music man. you've got no excuse. shame on you.

Wow?

We spent a very pleasurable satursnacks wandering through Forest Hill and Nicola's childhood memories (her old family house, the flat she almost bought, her primary school, secondary school, past the hairdressers where she used to sweep up hair... you get the drift). Then Nicola pointed out that you get the best view of London from around this neck of the woods. She wasn't wrong was she? Proper Loveliness.

Eve & Teena Charles Curtain Co

Along the bustling North Cross Rd is this little beauty. I must have walked past it numpteen times without it registering on the radar. Isn't it brilliant? Surely if you wanted people to buy curtains from you, you'd have some nice ones in your window? Or are they good? Tack meaning good or Tack meaning wack?

The Doors to infinite Knowledge, Peckham

We wandered past this place t'other day on our way to getting my phone unlocked in Peckham. I had no idea what goes on here, I suppose I just wanted to know what Francis Bacon had to do with it. I couldn't find anything on the webternet, but I'm guessing Franky Bacon was part of the gang and it's beliefs.
Apparently these guys are like an old school scientology crew. I delved into what they do, and apparently if you sign up you can "become not only the Masters of your own lives, and Architects of your own destiny, but also incorporate the highest existing ethical ideals into your personality". If you want that, give the door a knock, if you want your phone unlocking head to the internet cafe on peckham high street (a fiver a pop).

Pony Parking

As I was fast-walking to the East Dulwich station I had to stop and grab a shot of this. It was too good to miss, unlike my train, which I did miss. I think you have to sacrifice getting into work on time for a little pony now and again.

Raw Brocoli Kids?

Nicola had a cracking story for me yesterday. After shopping at Sainsbury's in East Dulwich Nicola stumbled across a slightly bizarre conversation. She overheard an ED Dad addressing his young kids. Jubilant and triumphant from his successful family shop he asked his young kids if they'd like a "treat". "Raw broccoli kids?" asked the dad, to which they replied with unbridled excitement "Yes!, daddy".
This confirms a few things for me about East Dulwich. One, the parents are obviously looking after their kids (by warping their minds into making them think raw brocoli is a treat), and secondly the kids are getting a raw deal. Have they not heard of crisps, midget gems and kinder eggs?

Easter Deli Raids

Above is the the East Dulwich Deli, a feast for the eyes and for the bellies. Fabulousness everywhere. We bought really expensive easter eggs (mainly for the packaging). Word of warning tho, the chap who works behind the counter doesn't like his picture taking. I guess he's just sick of people like us snapping away and promoting his shop on blogs and whatnot. fairy snuff.



Also came across this in the East Dulwich Deli. Stating the obvious, but still quite nice.



Next. The Cheese Block. This place smells like dog, but tastes like a dream. Like most people I have a thing for cheese. It's a bit like crack, you just can't get enough, but if you get into it you end up looking a bit pale and pastey. Anyhoo this shop is brilliant, we bought some soft italian cheese & some parma ham. hmmm.



Finally, with our arms sore from our deli raids we hit the William Rose. Seeing the the length of the queue, we figured this is also what most East Dulwichers do do on their weekend. Lovely meat though. Nice chirpy staff. We'll be back for homemade pies in the future. Yes indeedy.

East Dulwich Warehouse

This is for the folk who have somehow not been given the East Dulwich Warehouse Flyer. My favourite offerings from the Warehouse are the stalls that lets you fill up pots of spices & herbs, the one that has an old school TV set that looks like a daft punk robot helmet and the oyster bar. I did try an oyster but it wasn't the most pleasurable experience, mainly for the fact that I was whiplashed by a stringy bit whilst trying to guzzle it down. Gip for me, but not for all. My Fam munched them down like they were pork pies (they love pork pies).....

Dalston Massive

Yes this has nothing to do with East Dulwich, but I do want to encourage people to venture further a field. Dalston, my former home is brilliant. It's a hub for Turks, Africans and trendy shoreditchers who've been pushed out by the city slickers. It has lots on offer; the Arcola theatre, the jazz bar, Barden's, a host of of the finest kebab shops this side of istanbul (my favourite is Umut 2000), plus there's a new edition to the many bizarre shops that can be found in Dalston; Hot Nuts. Can there really be a big enough demand for so many hot nuts? or is "Hot Nuts" just a front for money laundering or a turkish drug dealing? hmmmm.