😂 Canadian comedian Bobby Mair, who you may recognise from 8 Out of 10 Cats and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, headlines tomorrow’s Comedy Night at Timber Lodge, Thurs 5th Nov. He’ll be joined by Martin Davis and Emmanuel O, and host Graeme Mathews.

🏮 The River Lea gets a little brighter on Fri 6th Nov with River of Light, a free lantern procession starting from Three Mills, walking to Cody Dock. Created in collaboration with Tower Hamlets schools, children will carry their own lanterns along the river, with music from Flotsam Collective at the dock.

🗿 Not For Sale Gallery hosts The Ethical Vandal Society Vol. 1 on Sun 8th Nov, bringing together three sculptures by Ellie Niblock, Sophie Gresswell, Anna Mays and Mahalia Henry-Richards. The gathering explores ideas around art, value and what gets preserved or forgotten.

💃 Vittoria Wharf Studio hosts BREAKIN’ ASIA on Fri 6th Nov, a showcase celebrating Asian communities and their long-standing connection to hip hop. Some of the UK’s leading breakdancers of East and South East Asian heritage will go head to head in a dance battle, with music from DJ BobaFatt and Sama Sama Records founder Norsicaa.

🛍️ Bottle Factory Flea returns to Hackney Bridge on Sun 8th Nov, bringing together more than 40 independent traders across the indoor and outdoor space - with vintage clothes and accessories, furniture, homeware, street food and a bar on hand too.

🎭 Shakespeare gets revamped in The Last Hamlet by dance theatre company Lost Dog, at Sadler’s Wells East from Wed 4th - Sat 7th Nov. The darkly comic show imagines Hamlet turning up for one last performance after his play has been cancelled, in a dance exploration of love and revenge.

🎤 One Night Poetry Slam returns to LVLS on Tue 10th Nov with a £50 prize for the winner. The night’s featured poet is Brighton’s Gray Taylor. Slammer tickets guarantee a place, with any remaining spots available to sign up for on the night.

♟️ Gwenda is hosting a Negroni Chess Society every Tuesday, including Tue 10th Nov, with open decks, chess boards (and cheese boards) and £8 Negronis all night.

🍺 Beer fans might want to get themselves down to Beer Merchants Tap on Sat 7th Nov for All Killer No Filler: Toppling Goliath at the Tap. The tasting spotlights two imperial stouts from the Iowa brewery: Assassin 2023, a barrel aged stout, and Term Oil, Vanilla Pistachio Granola. There’ll be plenty of other beers pouring too…

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🎤 Poetry meets jazz and experimental soul tonight at Colour Factory, Wed 4th Nov, for aja monet + keiyaA + Momoko Gill. Part of Pitchfork Music Festival London, poet, writer and activist aja monet headlines, joined by vocalist and producer keiyaA and musician Momoko Gill.

🇵🇸 Eastway Baths hosts BHAN for Palestine on Fri 6th Nov, bringing together music, art and fundraising in solidarity with Palestine. There’ll be a social and fundraising space before the dancefloor opens, with DJs Nephew and sOlar•ity providing a mix of deep house and techno. Limited edition posters will also be on sale, with profits going to Medical Aid for Palestinians.

🪩 Two collectives join forces at Grow on Fri 6th Nov for Salotto Sounds x Daydream Disco. Alfaz B2B ARLYSS, Bowlcut and Nathan Simpson are on the decks for a night of soulful dance music and forgotten gems.

🌱 Plants are taking over the dancefloor again at Number 90 on Sun 8th Nov for Plants Can Dance: Nature’s Orchestra. The afternoon combines a workshop exploring the technology behind plant biosonification with living terrariums and music from Lamine, Auntie Flo and Pierre Paslier. There’s also a premiere of Nature’s Orchestra, a collaborative piece featuring field recordings and contributions from Cosmo Sheldrake, Jack Penate and Leo Abrahams.

🎧 Fridays at Gwenda are for Friday, With Guests, returning on Fri 6th Nov. The regular guest selector night moves between disco, house, funk, Afro and Latin, with visiting DJs taking over the decks.

🎄 Christmas bookings are now open at The Lord Napier, so whether you're planning a festive get together with friends or a full blown Christmas party, our only local boozer has options for celebrating over the festive season. Head to their website to check out the packages and get your booking enquiry in.

🛝 The QEOP is planning to refurbish the play and gym facilities in South Park, with improvements due to be completed by summer 2027. The team wants to hear from the people who use them, including what works well and what could be better. Have your say by completing the short survey or by emailing [email protected] by Mon 14th Dec.

🌳 Our Parklife is looking to team up with local organisations and community groups on projects that make a positive difference to people and the environment. The Community Collaboration Programme is open to ideas at any stage, from early concepts to existing projects that could benefit from a helping hand. There’s funding available for successful projects, with a focus on community wellbeing, volunteering, inclusion and improving local green spaces. Submit an expression of interest to explore a collaboration.

🎬 Dalston's Rio Cinema is looking for a Senior Project Manager to lead a major heritage project celebrating the much loved independent cinema's history. The 12-month role will involve community archiving, public consultation, commissioning and coordinating activities, with a particular interest in candidates who have strong connections to Hackney. It's three days a week, paying £45,000 pro rata. Full details and how to apply here. Apply by Fri 4th Dec.

📱Hackney Council is looking for a Licensing & Digital Media Officer to help promote the borough's markets and small businesses. The role combines licensing and administration with creating social media content, filming and editing videos, and showcasing local traders. It's full-time, paying £35,493–£37,077 a year. Full details and how to apply here. Apply by Thurs 12th Nov.

🌱East Bank has opened SEEDED, a part-time paid residency programme for East London artists and creatives to explore and grow ideas relating to their socially-engaged practice. Each ‘Artist in Residence’ will partner with their chosen East Bank host organisation, with places available for 2027 at Sadler's Wells East, UCL East, V&A East and London College of Fashion, UAL. Starting in January 2027, a total of four applicants will be appointed, one at each host institution, and will be immersed into a team made up of expert practitioners, academics and facilitators. The residency aims to offer an accessible and supportive space which fosters mutual learning, collaboration and exchange of ideas within an experimental and inspiring environment. Full info and application details found here. Apply before Mon 16^th Nov. 

📱 Hackney Empire is recruiting a Social Media & Content Creation Trainee to join its Creative Development and Marketing & Communications teams. The part time role averages 21 hours a week at £14.80 an hour, with hands-on experience creating social media content and campaigns, designing flyers and posters, communicating with local communities, and supporting programmes and shows including Alter Ego and the Nannies of Today podcast. This opportunity is specifically for someone with lived experience of forced displacement who has sought asylum or refuge in the UK. Applications close Mon 23rd Nov.

🎨 Royal Docks Originals returns in autumn 2027, and the call is out for local artists, creatives, businesses and community groups to get involved. There are grants available for new projects, including collaborations between artists and local venues, as well as funding for groups of creatives working in the same studio space. The free festival will bring a month of art, installations and performances to the waterfront, so now’s the time to get your ideas moving. Applications close on Mon 23rd Nov.

🎵 The Youth Music Trailblazer Fund is now open for applications, offering grants of £2,000-£30,000 to organisations running projects that help children and young people make, learn and earn in music. The fund is particularly interested in projects that trial a new way of working, help sustain a grassroots programme, disrupt the status quo - or ideally, all three. Applications close on Fri 20th Nov.

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