Life and death celebrated ☠️ Mexican style

It’s a Mexican takeover at Hackney Bridge all this weekend, as London’s official Day of the Dead Festival lands for two full days of entertainment.

Officially supported by cultural champions Mexibrit and the Mexico Embassy, it means our very own Hackney Bridge hosts Europe’s biggest Dia de los Muertos fiesta, no less.

There will be loads of Latin American culture to see, hear, buy and eat, plus children’s workshops in the day and bands and DJs on Saturday night.

🎨 Kalopsia means ‘the delusion of things being more beautiful than they actually are’, which is the them for this new exhibition from five artists that opens at Indra Gallery on Nov 8th with a private view and general admission on the 9th. The works all explore themes of decadance and decay within the arts.

🎭 Currently showing at The Yard Theatre is Flea, the true story of the Cleveland Street Scandal that shook Victorian England, from the shadowy streets of Bermondsey to the gilded halls of Buckingham Palace. Featuring the people who fought to expose it, and those who'd do anything to keep it hidden, it’s a tale of power, sex and deception. Runs until 30th November.

📽️ UCL’s School for the Creative and Cultural Industries Cinema Club is hosting a rare free screening on the Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves 90s classic Point Break, complete with an introduction to the themes of masculinity, homosocial bonding, games and play by Professor Tim Beasley-Murray. It’s at One Pool St Cinema on Wed Nov 20th.

💪 Expressions of Resilience is a new exhibition and week-long event series celebrating East London’s emerging creative talents, hosted by youth consultancy Beyond The Box at urban art supporters BUILDHOLLYWOOD’s space on Quaker St in Shoreditch. It kicks off with a special event on Mon 4th Nov celebrating the work of young architects, designers, makers, and artists. Then look out for panel discussions and immersive pop-ups all week.

🪑Nordic vintage furniture warehouse Ælfred hosts another Great Yard Sale on Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd November, to celebrate their second birthday. Landing the very same weekend is their largest delivery to date, too, meaning loads of mid-century pieces and unmissable deals in a veritable furniture frenzy.

🐺 It’s Howl-o-ween on Thurs 31st Oct at Howling Hops tank bar - naturally! DJ Bioux will be spinning the spooky selections with food and drink specials all night and fancy dress prizes.

🩻 In more Day of the Dead business, Peruvian record label Ritmo del Barrio and Grow proudly present Chicha Por Favor – an immersive journey into Peruvian Cumbia, also known as Chicha on Sat 2nd Nov. You’ll head Los Musicos, Paskal Rough & Tough and Ritmo del Barrio DJs.

💃 There’s a pajama party with a ghoulish twist on Friday 1st Nov at Fabwick with the Halloween PJ Party bringing live bands, DJs a drag show and costume comp to Queen’s Yard.

🚧 Just across the Yard on the same night, Fri 1st Nov, Nitecawr is also throwing a Halloween rave in the exclusive upstaris of Colour Factory bringing the nightcore, breakcore, hardcore, J-core and more-core sounds.

🩱 Grab your spandex and prepare to shimmey and swish your way to fitness as Dolly Trolley brings her outrageously fun Drag Aerobics to Trowbridge’s Strong+Bendy this Friday 1st Nov, and every first Friday of the month. There’s a cheeky add-on glass of prosecco for after the class, too.

🌛 Tomorrow night sees the early onset of darkness celebrated with the return of the 5k and 10k night runs Chase The Moon to the Olympic Park. There’s still time to register if you get moving, too…

🚶‍♂️‍➡️Join the Canal & River Trust on one of their weekly free wellbeing outings, Let’s Walk, which meets this Thursday Oct 31st at 11am outside Hackney Wick Overground station, from where you’ll be lead along the Olympic Park’s waterways to learn lots of fascinating facts while being social and keeping fit.

🎤 There’s another chance to join a two-day song writing camp with The Inscape coming up across the weekend of 23-24th November in the studios at Grow. The Wick newsletter readers who use the code ‘CREATIVEWICK’ when booking get an exclusive 10% off too.

👝 Join textile reuse champions Yodomo at their Fish Island Hub this Sunday 3rd Nov, to learn all the skills involved in making your own triangle tote bag from industry surplus materials.

👩‍🎓 Loughborough University London is inviting local organisations to explore research collaborations with their masters students as part of the upcoming Collaborative Dissertation project. It gives you access to rigorously supervised research, and you can find out more about it either in person (on the Here East campus) or online at a special event on Wed Nov 27th. Register your interest here.

🌉 Roach Point Bridge is about to be demolished as part of the ongoing Wickside redevelopment along the canal. The final day you’ll be able to use it to access/exit Fish Island will be next Sunday, 3rd Nov. From Mon 4th you’ll need to use alternative routes until a brand new bridge opens in the spring. Find out all you need to know about the bridge project here.

🚧 The latest newsletter from Hackney Yards is also now available online, with updates on their works beside Hackney Wick Overground, and latest measures to mitigate the ongoing air quality issues.

❎ VOTE! Floating restaurant Barge East has been nominated for Sustainable Business of the Year in the annual The Staff Canteen Awards. They’re asking all local fans of their waterfront drinking and dining experience to vote for them today. It only takes a moment and might help bring home a prestigious circular economy gong for one of the area’s most iconic restaurants.

🏢 LLDC are looking for Assistant Development Manager to work on the ongoing ambitious development projects delivering new homes, retail and community space in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Closing date Nov 3rd.

🌐 London College of Fashion UAL are recruiting for a Head of International Partnerships to drive the university’s global engagement strategy with existing and new strategic partners across a range of disciplines. Apply by 31st Oct.

💁‍♀️ The upcoming Digital Body Festival (15th-17th November at Hackney Bridge) is now recruiting for volunteers to help visitors and work with festival staff in the event’s five main areas: the interactive exhibitions, the screen-based gallery, the prototypes and workshops lab, the talks and panels area, and the performance programme. You’ll get a pass for all three days of the festival, tickets to all festival performances, local travel costs and refreshments during your volunteering shift.