Welcome

This week we've got a curated round-up of local crafters and makers - perfect for gift giving.

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And did you know that crisps were invented in North London?

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And a happy birthday to a very special Finchleyite.

🎁 6 Unique Creations, Perfect Presents

Are you turning your mind to the gift-giving season? Why not explore local crafters and makers for a truly unique gift. For a friend, family member or even yourself.

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We’ve curated a list of North London local makers and crafters for you to enjoy.

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1: LunaPetal Crochet Studio

Hand-crocheted floral bouquets, plus bespoke orders. Check out Vinted and Insta.

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2: Tracy O’Neill Jeweller

Tracy studied Jewellery Design in Hatton Garden and her passion for it only increases. She makes bespoke one-off items with recycled precious metals, as well as undertaking repairs. Beautiful sterling silver work. Check out her Insta.

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3: KTCD Upcycled Jewellery

Katie began making jewellery from old CDs in 2018, born of a passion for recycling combined with beautiful jewellery. At KTCD you’ll find recycled bicyle inner tunes, computer circuit boards, electric cable and wine corks. Rescued from landfill and handcrafted for you. Check out the website and insta.

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4: Papershades

Paper and collage artist Rosalind Freeborn loves working with paper, and creates unique flatpack paper lampshades as well as teaching workshops for you to make your own. Check out the website and Insta.

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5: Tin Soldier

Tin Soldier in the handmade “arm” of the Can’t Buy Me Love vintage shop in Muswell Hill. Cool handmade novelties available in the store and online on Etsy. Check out their Insta.

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6: Audra’s Brooches

If you’re seeking the vintage vibe, then Audra sells authentic vintage, maximalist brooches, pins and clips from the 1880s to 1980s. Find her at Insta and at the Canopy Market in Kings Cross

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If you’re jonesing for more local handmade goodies, then check out the Slow Fashion & Knitwear Fair this weekend – November 2nd and 3rd – in Stoke Newington N16. And sign up to find out more about the Indie Jeweller’s Market. Or follow the Insta.

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Why not support small businesses and enjoy the skills of our local crafters. 🎁

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Events

KIDS

Monday 28th October

​Family Cinema | Mon, Oct. 28 | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Pavilion, 145 Claremont Rd, NW2 1FE | Free | Head to the Visitor Pavilion from Monday to Wednesday during half term for the new lunchtime cinema sessions. Popcorn will be served.

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Tuesday 29th October

​Glittery Creatures Workshop at Little Crafters Cafe | Tue, Oct. 29 | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Little Crafters Café, EN4 0DP | £15 | Kids will paint and decorate wooden creatures with tons of glitter and creativity. It’s the perfect way to let their imaginations shine. A glitter-filled afternoon of crafting and fun awaits.

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Wednesday 30th October

​Glitter Slime Workshop | Wed, Oct. 30 | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Little Crafters Café, EN4 0DP | £17 | Join a spooky, sparkly, slime-filled afternoon! Kids can make their own glitter slime, enjoy popcorn, and sip on a refreshing drink.

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Thursday 31st October

​Arts & Crafts With Anna Van Der Poorten | Thu, Oct. 31 | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | Claremont Park Cabin, NW2 1AJ | Free | Join Anna Van Der Poorten in the Claremont Park cabin for fun, friendly arts & crafts sessions. There are two sessions on each day, both of which are suitable for all ages.

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Monday 4th November

​Hands-On Electronics & Computing For Juniors | Mon, Nov. 4 | 4:00 pm to 4:50 pm | St. Mary's Church Hall | £16 | Come & learn an entirely new topic with your child as you both go on a fascinating journey of hands-on exploration of modern technology: electronics, sensors, & computing. Taster session for a term of excitement.

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OLDER PEOPLE

Wednesday 30th October

​How To Prevent Dementia | Wed, Oct. 30 | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | Stephens House and Gardens, N3 3QE | Free | Hear Professor Gill Livingston, an expert on preventing dementia talk. The talk is aimed at increasing our understanding of dementia and dementia prevention. At the event, you will also get valuable insights into how dementia works and the proactive steps you can take to help prevent it.

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ARTS

Tuesday 29th October

​Online Reading Group For Black History Month Featuring 'James' By Percival Everett | Tue, Oct. 29 | 7:45 pm to 9:30 pm | Online | Free | Dr Ariel Kahn, Interim Director of Programmes for Theatre, Creative Writing and Journalism at Middlesex University Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries will host an online reading group for Black History Month featuring 'James' by Percival Everett.

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Wednesday 30th October

Pumpkin Carving | Wed, Oct. 30 | 10:30 pm to 3:00 pm | Friary House, N20 0NR | Free | Are you looking for something spooky this half term? Come along to the pumpkin carving and 3D art workshops at Community Focus. create and design your own sculptures and carve you pumpkin just in time for Halloween. Email ben@communityfocus.co.uk for more details.

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​Cold War Spies Week - Spy Mystery Hunt | Thu, Oct. 31 | 11:00 am to 11:45 pm | RAF Museum London, Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL | £7.50 | Join the historic reenactors in a spy-themed mystery hunt. Participants will use a series of clues to worm out the secret Cold War Spy. You will be assisted by our Military Intelligence Agents to unpack a series of clues around our historic Home Front room.

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COMMUNITY

Saturday 30th October

​Young Gifted & Black | Sat, Oct. 30 | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | One Stone Grove, 5 Hayling Way, HA8 8BN | Free | A celebration of Young black talent in the past, present and future. Talent including art, poetry, music, and food.

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Friday 1st November

​Black Burlesque Festival | Fri, Nov. 01 | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | Jacksons Lane Arts Centre, N6 5SS | £15 | Closing out Black History Month UK, Sadie Sinner & The Cocoa Butter Club present the inaugural staging of The Black Burlesque Festival — a two-night spectacular featuring the provocative, playful, and powerful Black burlesque stars of our stages.

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THEATRE

Tuesday 29th October

​Fast | Tue, Oct. 29 | 7:30 pm | Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 1 North Rd, N6 4BD | £16 | Celebrity influencers, protein shake peddlers, diet pill pushers… we tell ourselves it’s a modern phenomenon. But is it really? Fast is the true story of ‘Dr’ Linda Hazzard — complex, charismatic and utterly driven — whose promotion, in the early 1900s, of her own radical fasting cure, gripped the press and divided a nation.

Events - Book Ahead

Saturday 23rd November

​Highgate Wood - Autumn Guided Walk | Sat, Nov. 23 | 11:30 am | Highgate Wood, Muswell Hill Road, N10 3JN | Free | Learn all about the wonderful ancient woodland during these walks led by knowledgeable Highgate Wood staff and volunteers. The walks will include information on wildlife, flora, fauna and the rich history of Highgate Wood.

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Wednesday 27th November

​Poets Corner: Portals Of Discovery | Wed, Nov. 27 | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Westminster Abbey, SW1P 3PA | £5 | Prepare for an unforgettable evening of poetry at "Portals of Discovery," curated by Jade de Robles Rossdale and held in the iconic Poets' Corner. The event will feature readings by seven talented poets and writers from London, who will share their own work as well as selections from the poets commemorated at the Abbey.

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Saturday 30th November

​Silent Disco At The Natural History Museum | Sat, Nov. 30 | Natural History Museum, South Kensington, SW7 5BD | £35 | Silent Disco at the Natural History Museum, London. who’s coming with you to dance under the dinosaurs? Three DJs, three wireless channels, and a mix of new and old hits with.

Local Lowdown

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Playing

• Playtime upgrade. After a four-year transformation, East Finchley's Market Place Playground is now a green haven. Swing by to check out the new swings, slide, and sandy play area. It’s part of Barnet's journey to NetZero, with £464,000 invested in improvements.

Housing

• Sky's the limit. The Archway Road skyline could reach new heights with a proposed 27-storey student tower at the historic Archway Hospital site. The plan includes 178 homes - half are marked as affordable - and 242 student rooms.

Drinking

• Raise a glass. The Good Reader, is Park Road's freshly named pub. It celebrates Sir Henry Reader Williams, the local hero commemorated by Crouch End's iconic clock tower. The pub was formerly called The Princess Alexandra. Cheers to local legends.

Planting

• Greening the scene. Hannah Gould, a dedicated firefighter, has spruced up West Hampstead Fire Station with a £2,000 grant from Camden Giving. Now featuring lush hanging baskets and shrubs, the station's new look invites locals to stop by and chat.

Employing

• Ho ho ho, job seekers. Aldi’s gearing up for the festive season with a jolly recruitment drive, aiming to fill 195 new roles in Greater London. Plus, Muswell Hill's getting its own brand-new store by the end of the year.

Finchley History: Smith's Crisps

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Who knew that crisps were born in North London? In 1920, Frank Smith converted garages behind The Crown pub-hotel in Cricklewood into the UK’s first crisp factory.

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Smith worked with his friend Jim Viney to build Smith’s Crisps. Inspired by his former boss, Smith and his wife began making and selling crisps to local pubs. By 1913, they were producing 1,000 bags a week, expanding to 12 employees by 1920.

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To solve the problem of stolen salt shakers, Smith introduced a pinch of salt in a blue paper twist, creating the iconic Salt 'n' Shake crisp. His business grew, moving to a larger factory in Brentford in 1927.

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Smith later expanded to Australia, where his brand thrives. Although the UK factories closed (check out the factory buildings at the Museum of Crisps), Walkers continues Smith’s legacy through the Salt & Shake brand and the Smith’s Snackfood Company continues in Australia.

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Extra reading: how crisps became a British snack obsession.​

Editors' Note - From Tessa

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Special Happy Birthday wishes to my partner-in-all-things-Finchley, Sasha.

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We have had a fun year hanging out and writing about Finchley (+ Surrounding Areas).

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Sasha never fails to make me smile, and always brings a different perspective. This is one of the many reasons we make such a great team.

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Finchley Now wouldn't have been anywhere near as much fun if I'd done it with anyone else.

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Happy Birthday!!!

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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