Redesigning Paris, Heathrow....and The Vortex

Mike Davies is a great supporter of our club and one of our most eminent architects, being the partner of Richard Rogers. In between completing Heathrow Terminal 5 and advising Nicholas Sarkozy on a new vision for Paris (he's on the left - The Man In Red), he has suggested how the Vortex could be extended outwards.
There's just a small matter of the money that would be involved. Any ideas for raising £300,000 or so??

Dalston - a land fit for kings

For years, I would never have thought of Dalston as anything but a traffic jam where the Balls Pond Road crossed Kingsland Road and created delays on the journey to the Blackwall Tunnel. The move of the Vortex to Gillett Square of course created, perforce, a move to the area. The car park outside the Vortex filled up on Friday nights for the hard core African clubs and by day for Ridley Road market and the car wash team.
Of course, the Africans are still here, the Turkish restaurants are still fantastic, the Rio ploughs its furrow as one of the truly independent cinemas in London. And the Arcola is striving to be an eco-friendly as much as a creative friendly theatre. The drunks have been forced elsewhere, and some of the clubs have been closed down.
How much the area has developed as a centre of artists and clubs was brought home to me in force by the Land Of Kings event on Thursday and Friday this week. A dozen or so venues opening their doors and the Vortex packed to a bright young crowd for Oriole particularly yesterday night. Briony Campbell came round to do some photos of the team at the Vortex as part of a project photographing the venues in the area. The first few can be seen at the Arcola Theatre and she has identified 24 alone. The results will be posted up on the web soon and I'll put the details up when I have them.
Fortunately the recession means that these venues will grow steadily and strongly, but not too fast. And we hopefully shan't be overpowered by the Hackney Council glitz on Dalston Square, whenever that appears.
Today I'm off to open my shop as part of an event exploring our food through art. And will be drinking copious amounts of coffee at the Vortex to recover from a late night. With finally, a performance by the amazing Six Strings and The Beat. Go Phil!

Banksy image by the Vortex

A new Banksy graffiti has just appeared in Gillett Square. Kid with boombox and teddy bear.
The opposite end of the Square from the Vortex. I note that it's the first new Banksy since last Autumn. And it was even done next to a CCTV!
I gather that it's getting increasingly difficult for the Council to remove these things immediately. Although they are the freeholder, the lease is with Hackney Co-operative Developments. Who won't give it up easily.
Long may it remain.

New range of CDs in the shop and coming online

The Babel shop now has a selection of CDs from pi, AUM Fidelity, Camjazz, Basho, ACT and Winter & Winter. As well as the full Babel catalogue

These include the new John Taylor solo CD "Phases", as well as his other Camjazz CDs and those of Kenny Wheeler.

I have also picked up some interesting CDs from Czech Republic. There is also a £2 bargain bin, with some of the remnant CDs from the Vortex. (All proceeds from these sales go direct to the club.)

Among the UK CDs now in are: Barry Green's New York Trio, Liam Noble/Paul Clarvis - Starry Starry Night, Trianglehead, Jim Mullen Organ Trio featuring Stan Sulzmann.

More and more of the CDs are also available online via the Babel website or click here

Come down to check it out.

9 Gillett Square, London N16. Next to the Vortex.
Core opening hours: Thursday-Saturday 3-11 p.m.
Other times: a small selection for Vortex gigs when I'm there

Otherwise, email me on shop@babellabel.co.uk if you have any particular order. You can specify when you want to collect.