Greenway Volunteering Day - Friday 29 October

The Hackney Wick end of the Greenway has been completely changed in the last few years. Gone is the muddy, burned-out motor-bike, overgrown, lawless, ASBO populated path of old. Some may say that they loved it that way - but families, cyclists & some of Hackney Wicks longer term residents are happier as it is slowly becoming.

The whole area has been severely hard landscaped - and although a few landmarks like the Second European War Pillbox (http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/2009/03/is-this-pill-box.html) and some of the apple trees we planted years ago - are still there - but it's time to start replanting.

We tried some guerrilla planting a few weeks ago - but the whole area is infested with Olympic guards now - every time we pulled out a shovel - a pair of jackboots was soon on the scene.

Of course we will always continue to plant local & indigenous plants all over the Wick including the Greenway - but here's an opportunity to do some spying:

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are doing a voluntary planting day this Friday 29th along the Greenway. This is an ideal way to see what is being planted by them - so that we don't duplicate some of our efforts. Plus - you get a free lunch in the bargain from our good friends at the View Tube Cafe (http://www.theviewtube.co.uk/) into the bargain.

It's open for all - though the very short notice is somewhat suspicious - so please come along.

Meeting up at the View Tube Cafe at 10am for a quick chat & introduction. Planting then takes place between 10.30am & 1.00pm - with everything supplied by the ODA. Then your free lunch at 1.00pm - with the day closing at 2.00pm.

So please come on down and enjoy a bit of time with fellow Wickers - and you'll get to be part of the future landscape of Hackney Wick!

Artisan Designers Market in the Brittania

I'm sure many of us will remember Erin & Mat from the Hackney Wick Festival. They had that amazing handmade fabric jewellery stall that we were all drooling over!!

Well - now's your chance to check them out again - or you can even hire a stall alongside them as well! Stalls cost a mere £10 - and because there will be many other amazing stall holders there - the punters will come flooding in - getting their Xmas shopping in nice & early.

This incredible market will be on every last Saturday of each month - starting October 30th - from 11am to 5pm.

So come on Hackney Wick - whether you want to set up stall - or simply browse yourself sill in a great pub - hop on the number 388 & get yourself down there!!

Hackney Pearl wins Time Out Award!!!!

A very belated congratulations to James from the Hackney Pearl (http://thehackneypearl.com/) on winning the Best New Cafe award in Time Out a couple of weeks ago!!!

(Check out - http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/519/time-out-eating-and-drinking-awards-2010#cafe)

We all know just what a great guy James is - but what many of us don't know - is just how committed he is to Hackney Wick!

Very quietly - behind the scenes - he is a very community spirited member of Hackney Wick. He's offered community gardeners free cuppas to warm up after freezing days planting up the Wick. He's involved in redesigning the street scene around the Pearl to make it much more attractive for the rest of us. He is a member of the Hackney Wick Partnership - which looks at how best to masterplan Hackney Wick for generations to come - I could go on & on - but..........

........the best thing about him is his cafe!

Please pop down to the Hackney Pearl and sample his amazing food - you'll be so very happy you did!!

Free narrow boat trips and fun event
Sunday 19th September 2010, 12 – 5pm

Windsor Wharf, Wick Village, E9 5NY
via Meadow Close, off Eastway, Lea Bridge end
or via Silk Mills Square, off Berkshire Road

Limited places, book in advance: Fiona 0208 525 4347 fifi@spacestudios.org.uk

Activities
12 – 5.0: Exhibition of model narrow boats. Artists Jack Brown and Isobel Manning worked with local schools to build model narrow boats whilst investigating Hackney Wick's history. Each boat has been hand coloured and pupils have added their own unique cargos with stories to tell.
1.15: Pop up singing from the Secular Choir
1.45: Jo Roach, Hackney poetry performance
2.15: Peter ‘Wiggy’ Wilson talk and walk to the Eton Mission Rowing Club, Wallis Road (approximately one hour in total)
2.30: Jo Roach performs a second set of poetry
3.0: The Secular Choir pops up
4.0: The Secular Choir pops up again

We’re taking part in Hackney Wick Festival!
www.hackneywickfestival.org..uk
THE CUT

THE CUT is an artist led oral history project collecting stories from people who work and live alongside the waters of the Hackney Cut - along the River Lea from Lea Bridge to Old Ford Lock.

From September 2010 to March 2011 there will be three artists and a team of local volunteers exploring the industrial, physical and social history of this area of Hackney Wick.

Through interviewing local residents they will document the importance of The Cut to the community in an area undergoing huge change and create new work for exhibition in 2011.

SPACE provides artists studios across east London including Bridget Riley and Britannia Studios on Fish Island and Eastway Studios in Hackney Wick.

http://www.spacestudios.org.uk/

Go On a Date & Make the BNP Lose!!

Please join, enjoy and promote this facebook page: http://www.facebook .com/# !/pages/Celebrate- Cross-Cultural- Dating-Day/ 110621505643696

Celebrate St. George's day (Fri 23 April) by continuing a great English tradition ofdating across borders. It doesn't matter if they're from a different 'race', culture, religion, suburb, or football club. Don't be shy... make that call!

Invite the lucky guy / girl down your local Indian / Chinese / Eritrean / El Salvadorian Restaurant / Fast Food Outlet. Have a great night, introduce them to your national drink and find out something new about someone attractive from somewhere exotic.

Cross-Cultural Dating Day coincides with the launch of the manifesto of the British National Party. The BNP, a small but courageous self-help group have come together to make a public admission that they have an irrational fear of people with a different skin-colour to theirs. Help them overcome their phobia by enjoying a pleasantevening out with someone from a different culture. Send them the message that love could come from where they least expect it.

Remember, great things can come from dating across borders... just look at Barack Obama.

If you're already in a relationship why not have a cross-cultural double date? (but keep it clean... no car-key lucky -dip!)

THIS PAGE: was set up by a small group of optimistic young people. Our aim is to elicit a wry smile and spread a bit of joy on this special Friday. PLEASE PROMOTE: on your blog, Twitter feed and Facebook profile.

Hackney Wick - North South East West

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Great Hackney Wick Flea Market 27.03!!

Yet again the Hackney Wick Flea Market was a great success! It seems to be going from strength to strength!

The most notable change at today's market was the amount of food stalls. In fact - coupled with the Stour Street market - there are more than enough amazing bakers, brewers & BBQers to take on Broadway Market further down the canal!!

Wouldn't that be a fantastic weekly event?! Imagine Hackney Wick Village Green (opposite St Mary's Church) hosting all the incredible food stalls that are currently in these 2 great markets?! People would travel for miles around to come & enjoy delicious food near the largest Artists Quarter in the world!!

Many thanks have to go to Man Hon for always putting on such a brilliant day for all of us!


See also: http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2010/02/hackney-wick-flea-market-great-success.html
http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2010/02/hackney-wick-flea-market-sat-2710.html
http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2009/12/hackney-wick-flea-market-xmas-special.html
http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/2010/03/hackney-wick-flea-market-sat-2703.html
http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/2010/02/hackney-wick-flea-market-brilliant.html

Meg Hillier in Hackney Wick!!

Our elusive MP will be in our neck of the woods this Saturday 27th March! For too long now - many of us thought she was just a photo on an ID card - but no - she is real - and will be at the Hackney Wick Community Centre - in the flesh!!

Could the small fact that there is an election looming have anything to do with this?!

As many of you know - the fact that Ms Hillier is a junior minister (for ID Cards) means that she cannot personally raise our concerns in the House Of Parliament. According to the excellent interview with our fave blogger - Blood & Property - she does represent us - sort of behind the scenes though.

There's a relief - and there were we thinking she was only concerned about moving up a few political ladders - with us - her constituents - scrambling around the feet of the ladders.

Anyhow - the day is predominantly about the Hackney Wick Time Bank - but as it's a few weeks to go before the election - I'm sure she wouldn't mind answering a few questions from her constituents huh?!

Please check out Blood & Property's amazing interview here: http://bloodandproperty.blogspot.com/2010/03/meg-hillier-answers-blood-and-property_22.html

Hackney Wick Flea Market - Sat 27.03

One of the most community spirited people you're ever likely to meet here in Hackney Wick - Luk Man Hon (Yes! him of http://www.vinylpimp.co.uk/ fame!) is putting on yet another Hackney Wick Flea Market in the doomed Main Yard Gallery.

Please see: http://hackneywick.blogspot.com/2010/02/hackney-wick-flea-market-brilliant.html
http://leabanksquare.blogspot.com/2010/02/hackney-wick-flea-market-great-success.html

......... for a flavour of past successes - but please also come down to be a part of the rapidly changing landscape of the Wick before the Olympic Juggernaut obliterates everything in its path!

Luk Man Hon encapsulates everything Hackney Wick needs in its residents just now. He runs his own very successful business, knows everyone in the Wick, always has time for a chat (even late last night in the checkout queue) - and still finds time to get as many people from Hackney Wick together for these brilliant events.

Events are what Hackney Wick needs many more of just now. We all love getting together for a relaxed chillout session - just enjoying our Hackney Wick with friends!

Hackney Wick Time Bank Launch - Sat 27th March

Want to plant some seedlings for your neighbour? Maybe get your plumbing fixed in return?

Good guitarist? Give lessons to someone else. Can't reach your top windows - borrow an extra long ladder?

Please come along to the Hackney Time Bank Launch at the Wick Community Centre this Saturday 27th March between 11am & 4.30pm.

There will be smoothie making, henna tattoos, food, fun football - plus bring along any broken bicycles and get them fixed for free by the Bike Dr!!

For more information contact Gemma McGrath on 0208 829 4683 - or gemma.mcgrath@familymosaic.co.uk

Come on Hackney Wick - let's get sharing & making The Wick a lot nicer to live in!