🦊 Things to do this weekend in North London Feb 28- 1st Mar

Bits and bobs worth knowing.

💧 Cally Road's flooded again - still closed, 170 homes without power:
Cally Road flooded Tuesday and it's still shut. Thames Water found a split water pipe plus a big underground hole during repairs. 170 homes still without electricity. One shopkeeper, Mohamed Zakaria, says the flood's destroyed his business after 17 years. This keeps happening on Cally Road. Islington Tribune's looking into what's actually being done to stop it. Caledonian Road Traders Association raising funds for businesses hit by flooding. Donations will help replace essential items and urgent repairs. Click here to donate.

💷 Council tax going up in North London boroughs from 6 April: Most North London councils raising by maximum 4.99%. Means roughly £100 - £110 extra per year, about £8/ £9 monthly if spread over 12 months.

🍕 If you thought London had reached peak hype pizza, think again: Bar Etna opening in Newington Green this April. Run by Ed McIlroy (The Plimsoll, Tollington's) and Joe Beddia from Philadelphia. Joe's pizza spot there got called "Best Pizza in America" by Bon Appétit, also got a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Joe did initially say "I can’t wait to introduce London to what real pizza tastes like”. That got him roasted on Instagram, he ended up deleting the quote. Probably should've visited London first, mate.

🍝 Rossella opening second spot in Muswell Hill this May: Kentish Town Italian expanding to Muswell Hill. Taking over old Giggling Squid site on Muswell Hill Road.

🥐 French gluten-free bakery Copains opened on Upper Street last week: Parisian bakery known for gluten-free pastries opened at 133 Upper Street on 19 Feb. Taking over old Toast store. Everything's naturally gluten-free. Does chocolate praline financiers, matcha cookies, lemon poppy seed cakes, chocolate madeleines. Also breads, sandwiches, vegan pistachio croissants, cinnamon rolls, almond croissants. Uses organic flours, avoids wheat.

Heritage Fair | 📍Lauderdale House, N6 | 28 Feb | Free
Learn about Highgate and North London history from people who know it. You'll see 20 local organisations from museums, historic houses, history societies etc. All part of Highgate Heritage Weekend. 

Kilburn Library Grand Reopening | 📍42 Salusbury Road, NW6 | 28 Feb | Free
Kilburn Library reopening after redesign. Come see the new space - more study areas, digital zone, modern children's area with interactive sensory features, expanded book collection. Celebration day with African storytelling, live music, printmaking, circus skills, green workshops, health checks, community stalls, family activities, refreshments. All ages welcome.

Ceramics Seconds + Samples Sale | 📍Abney Hall, N16 | 28 Feb-1 Mar | Free
Join 60+ ceramic artists selling seconds, samples and one-off trial pieces at discounted prices at N4 Market ceramics sample sale. Handmade mugs, plates, bowls, plant pots, sculptures, wall art, jewellery. Slightly imperfect pieces are still beautiful, plus current collections are reduced.

Lantern Festival | 📍Canopy Market, N1C | 27 Feb-1 Mar | Free
Canopy Market closing Lunar New Year celebrations in style. Three-day Lantern Festival with Yunnan Cultural Festival. Traditional lanterns lighting up the canopy creating a magical atmosphere. Chinese food, crafts, jewellery, calligraphy, artwork, traditional Hanfu and Qipao dress. Free hands-on workshops, live music, surprise pop-up performances across the weekend.

ELUCIDATE Exhibition | 📍157 Regent's Park Road, NW1 | 25 Feb-1 Mar | Free
Contemporary art exhibition with painting, sculpture, photography, installation, digital work. Exploring identity, memory, the body, girlhood, family history, migration, grief. Artists working with ceramics, glass, linen, metal.

Seed Swap | 📍St John's URC, EN5 | 1 Mar | Free
Swap seeds and plants with local gardeners, save money on seeds, try something new. Bring spare seeds, small plants, cuttings, tools, pots - whatever gardening stuff you've got lying around. Swap with someone else, take home new things for free. Don't have anything to bring? Come anyway, plenty to share. Meet local food growers and gardeners. Run by Edible Barnet.

Who Dunnit? Murder Mystery | 📍Chickenshed, N14 | 28 Feb | (£)
Step into a 1920s speakeasy for murder mystery night raising funds for Chickenshed's inclusive theatre. Join a detective team, watch the murder unfold around you with live performances and jazz, solve it. Teams who guess right enter a prize draw. Fancy dress encouraged (flappers, gangsters).

50-Hour Improvathon | 📍Pleasance Theatre, N7 | 27 Feb-1 Mar | (£)
Improv comedy show that runs for 50 hours continuously. Starts Friday 7pm, ends Sunday 9pm. Performers make up a soap opera set in 1980s America as they go along - 25 two-hour episodes over the weekend. You can watch just one episode (each starts with a recap) or multiple.

Pruning Workshop | 📍Lordship Rec, N17 | 1 Mar | Free
Learn to prune fruit trees in Lordship Recreation Ground Orchard. Led by arboriculture and ecology expert Russell Miller. Hands-on workshop, practical skills. 9:30am for 10am start. Lunch break 12:15-1pm, bring packed lunch or order from the hub in advance. Wear warm outdoor clothes, waterproof boots (boggy ground), and bring gardening gloves.

Light Up Kilburn | 📍Kilburn Grange Park, NW6 | 27-28 Feb | Free
Free lights festival at Kilburn Grange Park over two February evenings. Illuminated trails through the park, light installations by local artists, soundscapes. Second year after successful first run in 2024. Family-friendly, drop in anytime between 5-9pm.

Leaves Hampstead Pergola Walk | 📍Hampstead Heath Railway Station, NW3  | 1 Mar | (£)
Walk the less-visited North East corner of Hampstead Heath with Izzy from Leaves. Hill Garden and gorgeous Pergola, Golders Hill Park, admire the views. St David's Day so sharing Welsh tales and looking for daffodils. 2-3 hours, hilly and muddy. Izzy sends a Whatsapp link and photo so you can find her. Meet 10:20am Hampstead Heath Overground, set off 10:40am. Stop at a cafe for loos and hot drinks.

Disabled Legacies | 📍The Building Centre, WC1E | 27-28 Feb | Free
Disability art and culture event at The Building Centre. Talks, performances and workshops exploring how disability justice can help us all live better lives - not just "access" and "inclusion" but ways of thriving and being.

Marylebone Vintage Furniture & Flea Market | 📍St Cyprian's, NW1 | 28 Feb | (£)
Vintage furniture market at new location near Baker Street. 30+ traders selling mid-century and retro furniture, homeware, lighting, ceramics from 1920s onwards. Real pieces not reproductions. Tickets cheaper online: £5 early 10:30am, £3 from 11:30am, £2 from 1:30pm. Under-16s free, dogs welcome.


Colombian Caribbean Dance Show | 📍Seven Sisters Outdoor Market, N15 | 28 Feb | Free
You could go see Colombian Caribbean dance performance at Seven Sisters Market. You’ll see the youth team in traditional colorful costumes performing Fandango, Cumbia, Mapalé and Puya - traditional songs and dances from Caribbean Colombia. Music, culture, Caribbean energy. Everyone is welcomed.


LGBT History Month Zine Workshop | 📍Whittington Park Community Centre, N19 | 28 Feb | Free
Make your own zine celebrating LGBT History Month. Learn about zine history and how the LGBT community uses zines for connection, reflection and healing. Led by Jason Kattenhorn from Sassify Zine. All materials provided, no experience needed.


These Walls That Protect Us | 📍Gallery44, Primrose Hill NW1 | 26 Feb-1 Mar | Free
Myriame Dachraoui showing paintings about home and protection at Victorian townhouse in Primrose Hill. She's a painter trained as an architect. Works displayed room by room through the house, exploring home as shelter and boundary.

First No Car Boot Sale at West Green. You'll be able to rummage through second-hand clothes, furniture, books, homewares from pitches. People bring stuff by hand, no cars. Coffee and bakery on site. £1 entry adults, kids free. Cash only, exact change helps.

Highgate Ceramics Collective back at Muswell Hill Books & Parlour for their second exhibition. Seven local ceramic artists showing handbuilt vases, vessels and sculptural pieces. Browse ceramics and books together.

Model railway show at Alexandra Palace, 25th year. Walk around 40+ miniature train layouts, tiny detailed worlds with trains running through them. Classic steam to modern. Kids love watching the trains move.

Love Your N21 market back at The Sidings next to Winchmore Hill station. Small businesses selling handmade crafts, food, coffee, bread, pastries.

English National Ballet doing two new ballets about how we move through the world. Crystal Pite's Body and Soul starts with two dancers, builds to mesmerising group movements about conflict. She's world-renowned, UK premiere of work she made for Paris Opera Ballet.