Welcome

This week we're wishing those who celebrate a happy Jewish New year - shana tova - and sharing a great honey cake recipe.

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We've also got an update on the Regents Park Road Bus Lane challenges (scroll down or sign the petition here) and the second half of Antiques Roadshow from Finchley.

🍎🍯 Happy Jewish New Year

Tonight is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year.

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What are the Jewish New Year traditions?

It’s a two-day festival, a time for reflection in the run up to The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur ten days later. A time for families and communities to come together and celebrate. One custom is to hear the notes of the shofar, ram's horn, to awake you to reflection.

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Traditions include eating apple and honey, for a sweet new year, saying blessings over a new fruit (typically pomegranate, although in our Ottolenghi times many people partake of pomegranates on a regular basis!) and honey cake.

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From Sasha...

I am delighted to share the honey cake recipe I’ve been making for over twenty years.

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I usually make a spare one for the freezer, and use it to break the fast after Yom Kippur. Nothing quite like a slice of honey cake and a cup of tea.

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Honey cake recipe

This is a family recipe, invented by my friend Paul’s Grandma, and improved by his Auntie Lynne – it’s really rich and moist. Also on insta.

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First, warm together gently in a saucepan:

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· 1lb Golden Syrup

· equal volume of water

· 8oz caster sugar

· 8 floz vegetable oil

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Allow to cool, then add:

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· 1lb self raising flour

· 2 tsp mixed spice

· 1 tsp ground cinnamon

· 1 tsp ground ginger

· 1 tsp baking powder

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Fold in:

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· 3 eggs

· 2 level tsp bicarbonate of soda

· 5 tbsp kiddush or sweet wine

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Use a cake liner for your tin(s) as this is a runny batter.

Transfer the batter to tins, filling about 2/3 full as the mixture rises, and cook for 45 minutes at 180C, 350F, gas mark 5.

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Traditional greetings

So wishing all those who celebrate shana tova u’metuka – a sweet and happy new year.

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And even if it’s not your tradition, you may want to try the honey cake recipe, it’s delicious. 🍎🍯

Events

ARTS

Monday 29th September

​The Arch That Time Forgot | Mon, Sep. 29 | Lauderdale House Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG | Free | Artist Peter Gallagher's latest exhibition explores the medium of ink drawing. These works suggest a medieval and brutal world where chaos and danger are never far away. A place on the edge of the labyrinth that is ready to collapse...

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Thursday 2nd October

Beginners Watercolour Art Class | Thu, Oct. 02 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | 58 Bishops Ave, N2 0BE | £40 for 5 weeks in advance | Come and join Age UK Barnet's new beginners water colour art class, starting Tuesday 2nd October 2025. Learn new techniques and create beautiful pieces of art with our highly experienced art teacher Doris Chu. £8 per class payable in advance for x 5 sessions £40. To book call 0208 203 5040.

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​Guinness: A Family Succession - Afternoon Tea With Lord Iveagh at Kenwood House | Thu, Oct. 02 | 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm | Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR | Free | Join for afternoon tea at Kenwood's Old Kitchen with Arthur Edward Guinness, author of Guinness: A Family Succession. In conversation with Jenny Abramsky, Chair of the Friends of Kenwood.

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Sunday 5th October

​Bootyfull Car Boot | Sun, Oct. 05 | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | Bootyfull Car Boot William Ellis School, Highgate Road, NW5 1EJ | Free | The car boot has a complete array of goods and merchandise which is constantly changing as many sellers are families decluttering. You will find collectables, vinyl records, jewellery, vintage fashion, all manner of home and cooking implements as well as a plethora of knick knacks.

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OLDER PEOPLE

Sunday 5th October

​Silver Sunday | Sun, Oct. 05 | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | Middlesex University, The Burroughs, NW4 4BT | Free | Join for a celebration of ageing well including live music and dance performances, health checks, talks and advice sessions (e.g. making a will and power of attorney plus Professor Catherine Loveday on the psychology of social connection), a disco room and more. Contact Salima on 07503 353157

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THEATRE

Thursday 9th October

​Accidental Death Of An Anarchist | Thu, Oct. 9 | 7:30 am to 9:30 am | Upstairs at the Gatehouse, N6 4BD | £15 concessions £13 | A razor-sharp political farce that proves the most dangerous weapon isn't a gun - it's laughter.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Wednesday 24th September

​90 Mini-Meadows In 60 days | Wed, Sep. 24 | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | East Finchley Library, 226 High Rd, N2 9BB | Free | Finchley Pollinator Project will hand free wildflower seeds to Finchley residents (N2, N3, N12) who will make a meadow in their lawn or in a pot before the end of October. The mini-meadows will look lovely in spring and will boost the local biodiversity.

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Saturday 27th September

​Barnet & District Beekeepers Association Annual Honey Show | Sat, Sep. 27 | 2:00 pm | Hadley Memorial Hall, 29 Hadley Highstone, EN5 4PU | Free | The aim of the Association is to foster the art of beekeeping in the Barnet area by providing members with information, advice, training, support, insurance as well as an apiary for association and members' hives.

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Sunday 28th September

​N11 Repair Café and Reuse Craft Workshops | Sun, Sep. 28 | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Friern Barnet Community Library, Friern Barnet Road, N11 3DS | Free | Our monthly Repair Cafe is completely free and the ideal spot to bring your broken items for our talented repairers to fix. Whether it's small electrical devices, scooters, or textiles, we have you covered.

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NATURE

Sunday 5th October

​Guided walk - Birds of the Heath in the Autumn | Sun, Oct. 05 | 9:30 am to 11:00 am | Burgh House New End Square NW3 1LT | Free | Join the Heath and Hampstead Society for a guided walk on birds. Despite its urban location, there’s always something interesting to spot on the Heath.

Events - Book Ahead

Wednesday 29th October

​Little Shop of Horrors | Wed, Oct. 29 | 7:30 pm | The Bull Theatre, EN5 5SJ | £22.50 | The cult-classic horror-comedy-musical packed with catchy tunes, eccentric characters, and a bloodthirsty plant with a voice of its own. Flower shop assistant Seymour pines for co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood.

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Friday 5th December

​Conker Championships 2025 | Fri, Dec. 05 | 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm | Parliament Hill Bandstand, NW5 1QR | Free | Join in the fun at the return of the world famous, world record-breaking Hampstead Heath Conker Championships at the Parliament Hill Bandstand.

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Saturday 6th December

​Alice in Wonderland & The Stolen Christmas List | Sat, Dec. 06 | 1:30 pm | The Bull Theatre, London, EN5 5SJ | £10 | Alice never expected Christmas to turn out like this. One moment she’s at home, the next she’s whisked away into the magical and topsy-turvy world of Wonderland. But there’s trouble brewing… the mischievous Queen of Hearts and her silly minions, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, have stolen Santa’s all-important Naughty and Nice List. Without it, Christmas morning will be ruined for children everywhere.

Local Lowdown

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Roadshowing

• Treasure troves in Finchley. Antiques Roadshow returns to Stephens House & Gardens with eye-popping finds, from a miniature Charles II chair to a signed Live Aid guest book. Fiona Bruce even dips into Dickens’ letters and Spike Milligan’s mementos. History, humour, and hidden gems - right on our doorstep.

Voting

• Shuffle at the ballot box. Hendon ward will have a by-election. This follows the disqualification of Cllr Joshua Conway because of a job change at a local authority-run school. The council will confirm the election date this week once the official Notice of Election goes live.

Grazing

• Woolly wonders (i.e. sheep) were back on Hampstead Heath for the first time since the 1950s. Norfolk Horn and Oxford Down ewes from Mudchute City Farm have been grazing the Heath Extension this month. It’s conservation with a fluffy twist.

investing

• Brent’s getting a much-needed glow-up. The council is spending over £8 million from developer funds on 60 local projects. This includes more patrols to reduce antisocial behaviour, extra support for cost-of-living, and 1,500 new trees for greener streets.

Cricketing

• Five-star finish. Mill Hill Village Cricket Club is celebrating all five adult league teams earning promotion this season - a record in living memory. Leading the charge, the 1st XI grabbed the Division 4B title for back-to-back promotions under captain Devraj Ray. A summer of sharp habits and even sharper batting.

The Finchleyite: Regents Park Road

Have you been affected by the Regents Park Road Bus Lane Scheme?

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Many locals are concerned that the new road layout it is dangerous.

If you feel the same – please sign the petition to stop any further work and reinstate the road.

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The new road markings force many drivers and cyclists to cross the central line and drive into ongoing traffic. It also seems to have caused Been busy this week working with neighbours in the community to talk to Barnet about the new bus lanes on Regents Park Road.

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There have been complaints from residents, local councillors and our MP. Barnet Council cancelled further construction planned for 29 Aug – 1 Sep 2025 pending a review.

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If you'd like to discuss this with neighbours, then join the Regents Park Road Bus Lane WhatsApp group link is here​

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The most helpful thing you can do is to please sign the petition.

Editors' Note - From Tessa

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Ventured outside of Finchley to see the legendary Penn and Teller this week at the London Palladium.

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Stalwarts of magic celebrating 50 years of working together.

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We loved it.

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Also, let us know about local events or local news. We curate our content to keep it a 5-minute read, so can't include everything we're sent.

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You can now get a guaranteed (paid) listing for local events or local lowdown/news items.

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​And email us with any projects or ideas you'd like us to write about.

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Tessa Davis Sasha Frieze