Buying a copy of our upcoming book, The Wick – 15 Years of Culture, Community & Change, is about more than just having a lovely pictorial history of Hackney Wick & Fish Island on your coffee table.

Every purchase - particularly the ‘Friend of The Wick’ and ‘Patron of The Wick’ levels - goes towards ensuring we can continue to provide cultural media dedicated to this exciting part of East London.

It also means we can support an ecosystem of new and established journalists, photographers, designers and illustrators who contribute to the title, plus the many artists, independent business owners and community organisations we promote and showcase in our storytelling.

As a reader of this newsletter each week, we know you appreciate these endeavours, which remain 100% free for everyone to read, share and enjoy across print, digital and regular in-person events.

So if you’ve not already reserved a copy of the book, please do so today. Better still, join us as a Friend or Patron, as we need the backing of enthusiastic readers to help keep the show on the road.

The book provides us with a premium product we can sell in order to fund all the other free content and activity.

Businesses might want to consider a bulk buy for Christmas gifting to clients, gracing the coffee tables of new tenants, or demonstrating the creative heartbeat of where you are based. Just get in touch with requirements.

Thanks in advance to everyone for showing the love…

It’s the biggest party bank holiday of the year, with three days of rave-ups, full-throttle festivals and carry-ons, be they bar room freebies to roof/garden/waterfront parties or some of London’s most in-demand ticketed events, here’s The Wick’s guide to the best ways to celebrate ‘round here this long weekend…

🌳 It’s the second weekend of the massive All Points East festival at Vicky Park, Fri 22nd-Sun 24th Aug with Barry Can’t Swim headlining on Friday, the impressive vocal talent Raye on Saturday, and The Maccabees rounding things up on Sunday, plus masses more live bands and DJs to catch across all the days.

🍺 There’s the return of the epic Two Tribes Hackney Weekender at Hackney Bridge this Sat 23rd & Sun 24th Aug which brings Moxie and the Voices Radio DJs on Friday, then a special unannounced guest to tear things royally up Saturday, and rounding things off with the Double Vision party on Sun night, inviting key players from the dance music scene to step outside their usual styles as SICARIA, Elijah and SP:MC take over Block C.

🎶 With Alfio Pienne and DJ Wandervogel flying in from Italy, the free Spicy Juliet All Dayer takes over Two More Years from late lunch into the night on Sat 23rd Aug.

🕧 Underground promoters Point are celebrating 10 Years On Point with a marathon 22-hours Bank Holiday Sunday special that kicks off at Colour Factory on Sun 24th Aug with the likes of OMAR (UY) b2b Oriana and Raphael Carrau DJing, and then rolls straight into an open-air session next door at Crate Terrace with music and merriment by the canal through until 9pm on Monday.

🪩 You can join Makin’ Moves for their next Bank Holiday Special at Grow on Sun 24th Aug with Matt & Jamesey, Joe Cox and Leigh Howlett dropping house from the deep to the disco and downright soulful.

🥳 The Cause bring their In Bloom series - which supports pairing exciting party promoters with top draw DJs at Slippery Slopes on Sat 23rd Aug, featuring a rare extended b2b from Ehua and Beatrice M at The Cause’s Fish Island loft venue Vittoria Wharf Studio.

🥞 The legendary Half Baked summer party is on at No.90 this Sat 23rd Aug with DJs Raresh, ReSolute resident Shvili + Trixie keeping things very lively on home turf.

📺 Global livestreaming platform themuddshow comes to the UK for the first with with their debut party happening at No.90 on Sun 24th Aug and a lineup bursting with top talent, from Polygonia's organic techno to the deep tech house of Matthew Neequaye.

🌞 Warm up for the bank holiday long weekend at The Lord Napier tonight, including 100 Free Cocktails (either Aquare di Cedro Lemon sour or Cedro Spritz) being handed out tonight, Wed 20th Aug, up on the rooftop from 6pm. Then return for the Hackney Wick Summer Garden Party on Sat 23rd Aug with DJs and bank holiday rave-up vibes throughout the pub all day long.

Want to be featured here? We spread the word about whats on and where to go to over 8k locals every Wednesday lunchtime. Email your event, business or offer to [email protected] for consideration.

If you’d like a premium listing or full editorial feature, paid promos start at just £99 - more info & ratecard 😃

☕ It’s the grand opening of the new pan-Asian cafe Kubo Garden this Sat 23rd & Sun 24th with 50 free cups of coffee each day to the first in the queue from midday.

🍔 Fabwick is busy blossoming into Queen’s Yard’s latest global food hall, with Mediterranean classics, steaks and burgers soon to be joined by Chinese and Thai in the kitchens, plus regular live music and parties, too, of course.

🎨 Once, Lotus is a collection of paintings by Chinese-born artist Mingzhang Sun, that trace a decade of artistic evolution, shaped by introspection and cultural memory. It’s a visual autobiography unfolding from a childhood in central China to establishing a new life amongst the facades of London, now showing at Felstead Art gallery at The Trampery Fish Island Village until 4th Oct.

🎨 Barge East have added a final Summer Workshop date with artist and teacher Dan Whiteson to their popular series; Lee Krasner: Destroy | Create on Mon 23rd Sept. You’ll Krasner’s innovative use of collage, repurposing “failed” or old drawings into bold, dynamic new compositions, and create your own expressive works before tearing, cutting, and reassembling them into something entirely new.

💚 Have your say in proposals to green-up Prince Edward Road and give central Hackney Wick some much needed additional public green space. Consultation closes on 15th Sept.

🍻 Hackney Wick-born Crate Brewery are spreading their wings and opening up a brand new brewery over in Canary Wharf this October, offering the same cold beers and hot pizzas as at the original. They are looking to fill a range of positions including General Manager and Head Chef, plus a Front of House Team including a leader.

🏢 Stour Trust is recruiting a freelance Engagement and Communications Lead to provide high quality, varied administrative support as part of their team. The contractor will have a passion for land justice, communications, project management and outreach. Apply by 30th Aug.

📤 UCL East is looking for a part time Community Engagement Officer to support the delivery of a major public art commission at the university’s new UCL Multi Lab facility, opening this Autumn, co-developing and delivering an inclusive engagement strategy that brings local voices into the heart of the project. Apply by 1st Sept.

This fascinating video interview from a few years back features Christine, a lifelong resident of Stratford, as part of a project by US University Stanford. It sees her looks back at what life was like growing up in amongst the the factories and pollution of ‘stinky Stratford’, featuring lots of amazing historic images, and then contrasts with how the area has been transformed since the London 2012 Olympics.