We’re looking through  portfolios, shifting through sketch books and paintings & arranging accessories.

There’ll be things to look at, stuff to buy, and a variety of  beverages & such provided for you.

Alex Stewart, Emma Cousin, Elizabeth Porter & Emma Burton. We look forward to seeing you…

Theroux, 40, known for off-beat profiles of subjects as diverse as Jimmy Savile and the Ku Klux Klan, has turned his attention to his home of Harlesden, where he has been nominated “town champion”.

He said: “In so many ways Harlesden is a wonderful place, full of energy and life. But it isn’t living up to its potential. The roads are decaying, the buildings are dilapidated, and some of the finest buildings are derelict.”

Theroux made the speech following the publication by Brent council and Transport for London of the Harlesden Town Charter to improve the area. He said: “Working together we can tame the traffic, create new public spaces, care better for our buildings and streets, and promote a sense of community.” Proposals in the charter include cleaner streets, a new public square or civic centre and working to unclog the roads.

Original article : http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23882660-lets-fix-decay-in-dilapidated-harlesden-says-louis-theroux.do

This coming Saturday, 25th September, Puss in Boots presents LJ, The Slight Aches and Marianne from Country Dirt. Start time around 9pm at the Royal Oak, NW10. If you like a bit of folky, bluesy entertainment – then this is your night. Entry free!

Puss in Boots presents:
Lace on Lipstick
www.myspace.com/laceonlipstic
After a dedicated couple of years tightening harmonies in their bedrooms, Lace on Lipstick have recently made the bold move to live performances. With a mixture of originals and original covers catch this acapella trio heading your way this summer… Very special!

Rony Corcos
http://www.myspace.com/ronycorcos

Ever since the first shows, Rony preformed on many stages in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the north of Israel ,alone (acoustic version) or with her band.With every show, she gained an amazing, constant and loving audience, that does not miss a show and already sings the songs along with her…she is great!

Filling the time in between acts will be Robin with a mix of different music to keep you amused.

At the last meeting, we began a discussion on the formation of the Town Team and introduced the key themes for the draft Harlesden Charter. At this upcoming meeting, we would like to:

- Update you on the Harlesden Charter

- Discuss the organisation and involvement of Harlesden Town Team with the soon-to-be published charter, and

- Introduce a few possible early win projects.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday, 07 June. Please do invite friends and colleagues to attend!

Urban Design Skills

I’ve designed a logo for the Harlesden Town Team forum group, I’d like your opinion on it!!

As some of you may be aware, Harlesden Town Team is an umbrella group for the various Residents Associations in the area, formed out of meetings conducted by Urban Design Skills and Brent Council. The main idea behind its formation is the need for LB Brent to have a one-stop organisation that understands and represents the residents of the area, whilst being independent of council itself, and broadly representative of the wider area, rather than specific streets. One of the short term aims is to secure funding of £3.5m from TfL to improve the urban realm in and around Harlesden.

If you have been involved in the workshops that took place to create the Harlesden Charter, then you are a member of the Harlesden Town Team!! There will be upcoming meetings to discuss the charter, and organise events in the area. Which will be advertised on this site.

With that in mind, I feel it is important for Harlesden Town Team to have an identity, when presenting documents, and campaigns.

I chose to incorporate the most prominent, well known landmark in the area, the Harlesden Jubilee Clock, as this is recognisable to most, if not all Harlesdenites. The colours used reflect those painted on most of the street furniture. I aimed to make it simple and yet distinct, I hope it achieves that.

I’d like to suggest this logo to be adopted by the organisation, however I know its not perfect so feedback would be very welcome, feel free to make comments.

Other designs are very much welcome.

Benamin

Harlesdengallery.co.uk will be linked to a new community website – www.harlesdenlife.net – whose aim is to become an online centre for the local community, promoting campaigns, events and activities. It will act as a forum for local people to have their say, as well as acting as a notice board for events and news on Harlesden life, including civic plans etc. Visitors to the site can become members, register and upload comments, listings etc.

The ultimate ambition for harlesdengallery.co.uk is to acquire a permanent space to operate as a commercial and community gallery. Volunteers working on the www.harlesdenlife.net project are currently lobbying the council to requisition abandoned commercial units to be used by local artists and the community at large. Such schemes have been used in other areas of London and have proved successful in improving the civic environment and even reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.

But this is just an ambitious goal at the moment. For now, we hope the website will serve as a successful means of exhibiting the work of local artists.

www.harlesdengallery.co.uk

‘It’s been going really well since we opened in mid-April,’ Dora says, smiling warmly. ‘One woman told me she’d been living in Harlesden for nearly 30 years and had never been able to enjoy a coffee after going shopping. She was delighted we’d opened.’

As I devour the last of my muffin, Dora tells me that she was inspired to set up shop in Harlesden after looking at a few other sites in different areas around north London. ‘When I came here and saw a lack of coffee shops I thought it would be perfect.’ Looking at the few crumbs remaining on my plate she adds: ‘There wasn’t anywhere for people to come and simply sit and enjoy a coffee and a cake.’

Of course Dora’s Delights is not the only café in Harlesden – there are several. But, it could be described as the first inclusive coffee shop on the high street. Some residents feel excluded – rightly or wrongly – from other cafes in the area because they give the impression of appealing to a specific demographic.

There’s no such complaint at Dora’s Delights. Originally from Afghanistan, Dora now lives in West Hampstead and insists she wants to make welcome all the communities represented in Harlesden. Situated opposite the landmark Jubilee Clock, it’s the perfect spot for the avid people-watcher and, with its glazed façade and seats that face the street, anyone with a nosey disposition can watch the world go by at their leisure.

Although Dora has enlisted the help of her husband, daughter and daughter’s boyfriend (who does a mean clean-up with a mop!) to help in these early days, the business is ultimately hers. And, it certainly seems to be making an impression on the high street with many people doing a double-take as they walk by, surprised to see it open. In the short time I’m here, one lady returns to the café and declares: ‘I’ve come back for some more of your hot-chocolate. I can’t get enough of it!’ With that self-same sentiment, I order another latte and greedily prepare to tuck into my second muffin.