There is serious talk of Sainsburys moving into Stoke Newington, an area rich and diverse that is an oasis in London for independent retailers, for free thinkers and families.  The A10 slices right though our neighbourhood but we have maintained an interesting and diverse community that we are proud of.

We have a passionately run and growing local chain of  vegetable shops that would rival any anywhere in the country…a master butcher and baker…a wine merchant…the only organic farmers market in the country that pops up every Saturday (voted best for food in The Observer Food Awards earlier this year)…an award winning and pioneering book shop as well as a list of businesses that have been here for years serving the local community…and thats before we get to fashion, vintage stores and homewares stores…Why oh why do we need Sainsburys on our doorstep…Its simple…we don’t!

The A10 that connects Stoke Newington to the city is busy enough as it is…the impact of delivery trucks 24/7 would have a huge impact on the environment causing noise pollution and would be a threat to road safety.

We have until April to get as many signatures as we can…I don’t know if it will make a difference but its got to be worth a heroic sprint to the finishing line.

It takes seconds…so please join in and share this link to the petition to Hackney council.

Thank you.

Inspired by a sudden memory of my sister having a painting exhibited in the Vision On gallery in the 70′s I  started a new board on Pinterst called CHILDREN’S ART to quite simply celebrate children’s creativity.

We have had some great pins of children’s art and each month we will be picking our favourite and sending our little artist of the month some art materials to encourage more creativity.  You need to email to be added to our list of pinners so please don’t be shy…

email ashlyn@olivelovesalfie.co.uk to start pinning.

With so much to choose from, it can be hard to make your mind up for a festive treat at Christmas.  But with competition keener than ever between different venues, the Christmas show is attracting the most dynamic playwrights, directors, designers and performers in contemporary theatre to create magical shows for children, so there are some mouthwatering options for all ages this year. Here are some hot tips that will give you and your kids a taste of top quality live performance and spectacle this Christmas season.
CHRISTMAS FAMILY SHOWS

Top pick is FEATHERS IN THE SNOW at Southwark Playhouse by Philip Ridley, renowned children’s author (KRINDLEKRAX, SCRIBBLEBOY) and leading playwright (TENDER NAPALM, THE FASTEST CLOCK IN THE UNIVERSE). With a massive cast and an epic narrative, expect a celebration of the power of storytelling with unforgettable language and exciting visuals.

There are at least four different versions of CINDERELLA in London this year, but the most adventurous is bound to be MIDNIGHT’S PUMPKIN by the celebrated Kneehigh company at BAC, those specialists in the reinvention of fairy tales (previous hits include THE RED SHOES and the wonderful RAPUNZEL). Recommended age 6+.

There are also four different versions of Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL, but we’d bank on the one at Waterloo East Theatre being the freshest and most interesting. It’s directed by Tim Carroll, who did the current Mark Rylance productions of TWELFTH NIGHT and Richard III in the West End, and is performed by Dominic Gerrard with a host of puppets. Ages 9+.

If you want to splash out, the big dance event is MATTHEW BOURNE’S SLEEPING BEAUTY at Sadler’s Wells with its ravishing Gothic take on Tchaikovsky. The show is Bourne’s third in a trilogy of classic adaptations that began with the legendary SWAN LAKE. Or there’s a tempting prospect at the National Theatre, where renowned director Katie Mitchell and rising playwright Lucy Kirkwood present a new version of HANSEL AND GRETEL for children aged 7-10.
SHOWS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN

The one that really grabs the eye is IN A PICKLE at the Unicorn, where the perennially excellent children’s theatre company Oily Cart team up with the RSC to create a magical show exploring the weird and wonderful landscapes of Shakespeare’s imagination for a very young audience (ages 2-5). But it’s also worth checking out THE HOUSE WHERE WINTER LIVES, by Punchdrunk Enrichment, for children aged 3-6 at Discover Children’s Story Centre on High Holborn – taking the children into a cottage in a winter wonderland, it’s bound to use interactive ideas with special inventiveness and an anarchic sense of fun.

PANTO
For those with a yen for traditional Christmas panto, our very own Hackney Empire or Theatre Royal Stratford East both reliably come up with the goods each year, with DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT at the former and JACK AND THE BEANSTALK playing at the latter.

Our hot Panto tip this season, though, is CINDERELLA at the Lyric Hammersmith, where Artistic Director Sean Holmes takes charge of the Christmas offering and ought to breathe some exciting new life into the genre without sabotaging any of its time-honoured pleasures.

Life is a work in progress especially when you have a head full of creative ideas and people to share them with. There are lots of things that I love about life at  Olive Loves Alfie but probably the best thing is the people that we have the chance to meet, the conversations we have and the ideas that develop along with new friendships. Christmas is coming and I am taking my usual renegade position, that in many ways isn’t that of a retailer. You won’t notice any evidence of Christmas  in our store until the beginning of December. Instead in good old fashioned style we try to hold onto the magic for as long as we can.

In our own pared back, home spun style, this Christmas our window will shine with simple messages of love and peace – the two things that we want to sing out to one and all. Very much work in progress we will keep you posted with news of our window when the lights go on!

For two evenings in December we are going to transform our window into a  shadow puppet theatre with the help of the rather magical and elfin puppeteer and sculptor Justina Kochansky.  Studying puppetry in the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre’s Bali Program Justina’s work has been seen around the world.  For 2 evenings only passers by and friends from our community will be able to enjoy something special from the pavement outside of our store.

We couldn’t resist giving you a sneak preview of the puppet of Olive and her friend the squirrel in work.  Taken from a photograph her profile is perfect and we just can’t wait to see her come to life.  Oh and don’t you just love Squirrel’s tail!

The first show on 5th December is just part of the festive celebrations that are being planned by Stoke Newington N16 Christmas Lates.  Gathering the community spirit of the neighbourhood stores will be open until 8pm with special festive offers and events.  The show ‘A Winters Eve’ is inspired by the view from our shop window in the heavy snow of 2011.

The second show has been devised especially for children and families.   ‘Olive Loves Christmas’ will be performed on the eve of our community Christmas Carol singing on the 13th December.   A festive family night, our first show will be performed at 6.15 just minutes away from the Carol singing that takes place outside the Fire Station.

Performances of  the 10 minute shows will begin at 6.15 and will be performed every 20 minutes until 8pm.

Whats next?… our round of the the best family shows written especially for us by theatre director Matthew Lloyd, and a special ticket competition to see our pick of the London theatre season!