Camilla Laake

Plans for the weekend? If you haven’t yet checked out the Brixton Design Trail, part of The London Design Festival, it’s your last chance this weekend to catch the majority of events. Here are six of the highlights. 1. Brixton Street Gallery by Squire and Partners Take a stroll down Stockwell Avenue and get involved in Squire and Partners interactive outdoor installation. Inspired by Brixton Design Trail’s ‘Rebel Rebel’ theme, the project delves into the dynamic relationship people have with public spaces. Stockwell Avenue is transformed into a large scale canvas where you can contribute or just admire the fresh art work. Contributions come from Squire and Partners and local artists Kaylene Alder, Azarra Amoy and Unify.    A rare glimpse of @unifyartist at work installing a special artwork for #brixtonstreetgallery @l_d_f_official @brixtondesigntrail #ldf16 #brixtondesign #graffiti A video posted by Squire and Partners (@squireandpartners) on Sep 15, 2016 at 5:24am PDT 2. PAJAKI 'Spiders of Straw' by BRIXI & Bobbin and Bow Fear not, there isn't a giant spider hanging out in Brixton. Pajaki (which means Spider in Polish) is a traditional Polish chandelier, crafted from straw and paper, which dates back to the eighteenth century. If you missed the Pajaki workshops at recent Crafty Fox Market, you can still bask in the beauty of the giant Pajaki hanging outside BRIXI in Brixton Village.     Huge #Pajaki by @bobbinandbow hanging in #BrixtonVillage #Brixton outside @brix

Londoners will put up with most things: incompetent landlords, sharing a house with rodents, long working hours, job cuts, unpaid internships, overpriced coffee (well, overpriced EVERYTHING), as we’re a career-driven, optimistic bunch. Still, here are the things we can’t help but hope for in the New Year:   1. The night tube to materialise    Bring on the 24-hour tube!© Annie Mole We’re an impatient lot when it comes to travelling around, so we didn’t plan on still having to get the night bus during our Christmas festivities – let alone in the New Year.   2. Maintenance of usual escalator etiquette Stand on the right and walk on the left.© Barney Moss That’s stand on the right and walk on the left for anyone who wasn’t mortified last month, when told to stop walking on the left of the escalator in Holborn. We’ll pretend the breaking of escalator etiquette never happened. Better still, we’ll leave Holborn to the laid-back newbies of London, and avoid it like the plague in the same way we avoid Bank (it’s easier to get out of jail than Bank). Meet at Holborn station you say? Not on our watch. 3. Pedestrian fast lanes don’t appear Can you imagine anyone keeping to pedestrian lanes?© Jolene Chocopiano At first pedestrian fast lanes seemed like a great plan when the idea cropped up in the news in 2010 – but this was before we’d all had our morning caffeine fixes. And then reality hit us in a shot. As much as we like to get around fast, deep down we know such lanes wouldn’t w

Forest Hill is bursting with sweet independent cafés where it's not unusual to find a vintage shop, a free art exhibition or even a therapy room alongside the tea and cake. And they're all really pretty too. Here are three worth checking out the next time you're in SE23.   The Montage  Spread over three floors, The Montage combines a café, free art gallery, and a vintage shop.     #TheMontageCafe #ForestHill #VintageShopLondon #ArtGalleryLondon #LondonCafes #LondonTea #Art #Vintage #London A photo posted by Camilla Laake (@camillalaake) on Jul 3, 2016 at 12:59pm PDT   Furnishings are sourced from vintage markets in the UK and abroad, and practically every item you see or sit on is for sale – you could literally go in and walk out with the whole café.     #TheMontageCafe #ForestHill #VintageShopLondon #ArtGalleryLondon #LondonCafes #LondonTea #Art #Vintage #London A photo posted by Camilla Laake (@camillalaake) on Jul 3, 2016 at 1:00pm PDT   Recipes and artwork (available to purchase) fill the walls – go in for a tea, and leave with a tip or two from ‘The Spice Cookbook’ (Avanelle Day and Lillie Stuckey), and a new painting for your home. 33 Dartmouth Rd, SE23 3HN   #TheMontageCafe #ForestHill #VintageShopLondon #ArtGalleryLondon #LondonCafes #LondonTea #Art #Vintage #London A photo posted by Camilla Laake (@camillalaake) on Jul 3, 2016 at 12:56pm PDT   Canvas & Cream If someone told you this café was made up of donated furniture you would probably envisa

Finally, the night tube will be arriving to make our lives a lot more nocturnal this August. Hooray for more drinking time, and shorter and cheaper rides home. Of course, it won't be for everyone - but if you're prepared to stomach all tube etiquette going out the window after 2am, and seeing a lot more commuters getting stuck in-between tube doors, here are the Londoners bound to cross your path:   1. The Kebaber They’re the reason the tube smells of a kebab shop. You’re slightly grateful for the smell, as at least it’s part concealing the stench of sick on the floor next to you. They are the Londoners who will likely appear online the next day, thanks to those sneaky photographers fascinated by people indulging in a quick commute snack.     2. The Chatter Upper No interaction on the tube will be a thing of the past post 2am. This commuter has had enough shots to think dancing on the bar top was a good idea – until they found themselves kicked out the club an hour before closing. Now on the tube with bags of alcohol-infused confidence and no bouncer in sight, be prepared for some cringe pick-up lines and drunken dance moves on the seats.       © Rob Pearson-Wright   3. The Canoodlers No rush for that last tube means more booze, which equals lowered inhibitions come home time. If you get uncomfortable with PDA or watching porn anywhere in public, you may want to rethink your route home – as after hours you’re in for a steamy ride. Let’s just say there's going to be far more

If you've already collided into fellow commuters, received uncomfortable looks for trying to spark up convos on the tube, or discovered the hell that is Bank station, breathe: we've all been there. But rest assured, it will get better. Here are six handy reminders to help fresh arrivals to the city get used to their new home.  © Tom Page  1. Attach your Oyster card to a lanyard You’ll burn through Oyster cards quicker than you can get them out, so having it attached to you means you’ll be saving a hell of a lot of fivers on deposits. No, it may not look stylish — but extra fivers means extra wine; and after extra wine you’ll no longer care.   © Annie Mole  2. Resign yourself to the fact that you're going to get through a lot of umbrellas — know where you can pick up a free one If they’re not snapped in two by gale-force winds, you'll almost certainly leave them on public transport. Instead of shelling out for new brollies, pop to your local theatre. There’s a good chance they’ll have an uncollected stash in lost property that they’re happy to give away, before they chuck them out.   © Adam Tinworth  3. Invest in a quality rucksack For a week you may feel a bit like a school kid again — but it's well worth the absence of backache. You’ll save a good £60 on not needing to fork out for a massage a month.    © Mark Hillary  4. Get a good pair of trainers Travelling around London sure keeps you alive and well, but it murders your shoes. Trainers may not go with the brand