Our top tips for what’s on in February…
Mon 9 @ Upstairs at the Ritzy. Tonight the Ritzy hosts their ‘board games and beyond night’, a free event of gaming, from strategy games to skill and party games. Fans of Carcassonne, this is one for you. From 6.30pm.
Tues 10 @ St Paul’s Church. News at Christmas revealed a dramatic increase in numbers using Foodbanks last year, so if you can, do help by donating food at the Brixton distribution centre in St Paul’s Church on Ferndale Road anytime between 10am to 1pm. Shopping lists for each week can be found at norwoodbrixtonfoodbank.org.uk.
Weds 11 @ Whirled Arts. Whirled Arts cinema shows Manakamana, a documentary about Nepal, at 8.30pm tonight. The film is shot entirely inside a cable car above a Nepalese jungle as it transports villagers and tourists to an ancient mountaintop temple.
Thurs 12 @ Black Cultural Archives. The BCA are running a series of evening events called the ‘Café Club’ and this one is going to be a corker. An evening of conversation, memories and dance about the first wave of female UK hip hop. ‘Fly Girls, B Girls and Home Girls’ will document female MCs, dancers and promoters who started out in the 1980s. 7-11pm, tickets are £20.
Fri 13 @ Upstairs at the Ritzy. It’s swingtime! Steve Coombe’s Hot Six band will lead an hour class at 7.30pm followed by hours of live music inspired by Harlem Swing and Hot Jazz of the twenties. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.
Sat 14 @ Brixton Market. Go on one of the excellent Brixton Society heritage walks which take in the street markets, covered arcades and shops of Brixton. Walks start at 2.30pm from Brixton Station Rd and cost £3 including a book on the history Brixton. We haven’t forgotten Valentine’s Day, of course. See our special tips for our romantic highlights.
Sun 15 @ Brunch in Brixton. In a recent, fairly unscientific poll of our readers, Wild Caper, Le Deli Corner, Kaff, and The Lido Café came out top. Salon Brixton, Focaccia GB and Parissi also have great breakfast menus.
Mon 16 @ Electric Brixton. Singer-songwriter George Ezra will be playing at Electric Brixton tonight ahead of his Academy gig on February 20. The gig is part of a series celebrating British talent in the build-up to the BRIT awards.
Tues 17 @ The Dogstar. Get over the mid-February funk at the Laugh Out Loud London comedy night at 8pm tonight. It’s only £5 for advance tickets and £7 on the door. Simon Nunnery, Phil Nichol and Nish Kumar are all set to perform.
Weds 18 @ Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses. The Community Greenhouses have some excellent workshops for kids on offer this half term. Today you can make a mini garden inspired by Japanese styles and learn how to make origami blossoms to decorate it. £5 per child, with discounts for unwaged/low income. Book with Beth on 07427685714 or education@brockwellgreeenhouses.org.uk.
Thurs 19 @ Brixton Library. Kids aged 9 to 11 years old can learn how to create computer games, animations and websites at Code Club from 4-5pm, for free. Go to codeclub.org.uk to sign up.
Fri 20 @ The Prince of Wales. The Brixton Boogaloo series takes place tonight with Joey Negro headlining, while We Love Vinyl and Grooveschool will support in room 2. Tickets are £10-£15.
Sat 21@ Upstairs at the Ritzy. Help raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association at Bill’s Blue Quiz Fundraiser, a mixture of general knowledge and music rounds for £5 from 7.30pm
Sun 22 @ the Vintage Furniture Flea Market. Vintage traders will descend on the Lambeth Town Hall today to sell affordable furniture and homewares from the 50s onwards. General entry is from 11am to 4.30pm and you get to it via the Town Hall entrance on Acre Lane. Tickets are £2 or £3 for an earlybird.
Mon 23 @ Camberwell. Sometimes on a Monday we like to take a sneaky trip out of Brixton and travel down the road for a bite to eat in Camberwell. Chinese at Silk Road or a big feed at The Camberwell Arms are our favourites.
Tues 24 @ Brixton Academy. The War on Drugs play the Academy tonight. We saw and loved them last year, so if you can get a ticket, it’s highly recommended!
Weds 25 @ Brixton Recreation Centre. If you think your child would enjoy basketball, sign them up to the Brixton Topcats. It’s the largest grass roots basketball club in south London. Sessions are £4 a session and £2 for members, every Wednesday and Friday night for all abilities between 4-18 years old.
Thurs 26 @ The Clink, Brixton Prison. The Clink restaurant in Brixton Prison will be celebrating its first year with an Indian-themed night from 6pm-9.15pm. Guests will be treated to a non-alcoholic fruity drink before sitting down to an evening of Goan, north Indian and Bombay food. It’s a fundraising dinner and costs £75 per person, or you can book a whole table. Email brixton@theclinkrestaurant.com for details.
Fri 27 @ Hootananny. See out the month dancing to the Moviemientos DJs at this Effra Road favourite. There will be ska, rocksteady, afro-latin beats and lots of fusion sounds in between. Free before 10pm.
Sat 28 @ Brockwell Lido. The Lido pool will be open from 8.30am, so why not don the wetsuit this morning and join the brave Icicles for a chilly dip? Then get straight into The Lido Café for a large, warming brunch.
