Well, it’s been hectic.

Having previewed so many brilliant, though-provoking events in this newsletter over recent weeks, I’ve spent the last 10 days attending all of them.

Which has meant a bamboozlement of inspiration and connection, ranging from Farage-investigator John Sweeney discussing the Far Right threat (The Nerve Live at Vision Festival), through to accidental £150m-raising Whizz-Kids charity founder Mike Dickson (at Impact Unlimited Summit) and even a keynote from drum & bass royalty Fabio and Grooverider (AVA London at the British Library).

I’ve chatted to dozens of interesting people - new and familiar - every day, and all that’s before running our own Camdenist panel event on the relationship between analogue experiences, digital technology and future placemaking on Saturday afternoon as part of the Vision Festival. Phew.

It was fantastic that we were joined at the Tarporley canal boat by Wayne Hemingway, who quite literally nipped across the water from his Classic Car Boot Sale that was going great guns in the late summer sunshine at Granary Square (main pic above).

We discussed how culture and socialising really are the key to revitalising our high streets and markets, with Wayne supplying examples from all over the country of where such real world interactions have led to thriving places and spaces.

We looked at how the Camden Film Quarter might bring all this to a whole new part of the borough, in the daunting era of AI film-making ahead, and also how proudly analogue experiences, such as learning about canal boats aboard Tarporley, (as children and vulnerable adults regularly get to do with the charity), can offer a priceless change of pace, which is hugely attractive as an alternative to the endless scroll.

Best of all was a chance to meet some members of the Camdenist community for the first time and share a couple of waterfront drinks afterwards. It’s been a long-term goal of mine to host events like this, but with slim resources and only two weeks to arrange everything, it was particularly satisfying to have had such great input from all the speakers to have been able to pull it off.

It got me thinking about how we can build upon the fantastic goodwill and engagement that exists around this weekly newsletter right now.

It’s been a rare but very welcome few days for local media sustainability, with Camden New Journal getting substantial rescue funding from philanthropist Dale Vince, and the locally-born Townspot platform scoring a decent chunk of the government’s Local News Fund to add listings to sites like the Council’s Love Camden.

But Camdenist isn’t a news-based rival to the CNJ, or a comprehensive what’s on guide. The type of media I’m trying to make truly sustainable here is all about building a strong sense of community around the content and real world events.

While we might not have had a similar funding windfall, I’ve never been more excited by the potential of how this digital platform can galvanise stronger community ties, positive actions and joyful outcomes beyond the screen.

So, we’re going to lean further in to all that, based around our new community tools and also more events and local partnerships, so that Camdenist can give you a real sense of belonging in desperately uncertain times, as well as an enjoyable Friday morning read.

I’m putting the usual weekly poll question on hold in favour of a series of topical conversation-starter questions each week, where you’re invited to leave a comment (or two) over on the community pages. If it works, this should really stimulate the two-way feeling of being part of something bigger than oneself, but I do need you readers to join in to make it happen. Just click a button below and get chatting.

Unlike a neighbourhood WhatsApp group or Nextdoor feed, this space is culture-led and aimed at curious minds. Are you in?

The full Analogue Joy in a Digital Age panel discussion was recorded, which I may make available to premium subscribers at some point. This would be the first time any Camdenist content is not available 100% for free, and forms part of an experiment as to how to fund all this into the future. Added perks for paying members also include more offers and invites, so if you’d like to show your appreciation for what I’m doing, please do upgrade, and thanks as ever to those of you who already have.

NIGHTLIFE 🕺🏼 Lost, the much-heralded ‘no phones, no line-up announcements’ club nights, that ran a secretive pop-up residency inside the abandoned Odeon Shaftesbury Avenue earlier this year, has announced - typically cryptically - that it’s set to make a bold return to a new venue in the West End in November. The organisers say only that they have ‘uncovered a city within a city, a 24-hour district in the heart of London’, which sure sounds intriguing. With the ongoing consternation about the lack of decent places to go out after midnight in the centre of the capital, this could be a pivotal development for afterhours cultural production.

Meanwhile, up at Camden Town’s own derelict Odeon, the Lost blueprint is being thoroughly mimicked by a copycat club pop-up called Plaza, which borrows the historic name of a cinema that once operated round the corner. Kicking off on Sat 10th Oct, Blanche at the Movies sees the electronic record label return from summer parties in Ibiza to bring DJs Aline Umber, Arapu and Bas Ibellini to the big screen dancefloor space.

And in other nightlife news, local DJ hero Erol Alkan is going to be headlining the very special Rhythm Stick club night up at Ally Pally on Sat 21st Oct, which is an event designed and produced by people with disabilities. The party is the culmination of a free events management programme run at the venue, and aims to be ‘London’s most exclusive inclusive club night’.

FOOD 🌚 Kerb’s Seven Dials Market begins an autumn season of lates tomorrow, Sat 3rd Oct as Dials After Dark: Voices Radio Live sees the King’s Cross-based station’s DJs entice diners to linger after their meals for some drinks and a boogie.

FOOD 🐟 It’s exciting to see Hackney Wick’s much-loved gluten-free fish and chip shack Wicked Fish have just opened a residency in the kitchen at the Camden Eye pub. Their usual seafood menu will be joined by a few local specials including the Camden Cow burger, that comes slathered in horseradish gorgonzola sauce.

MUSIC 🎺 Tomorrow’s Warriors has transformed British jazz by nurturing promising next gen talent, and tonight, Fri 2nd Oct sees I Am Warrior celebrating that impact at The Jazz Cafe. Alumni including ESKA with Soweto Kinch, Binker Golding, Cherise, Mark Kavuma, Yazz Ahmed, Emily Tran and Axel Kaner-Lindstrom will join the TW Big Band.

FESTIVAL 🗿The 20th year of the Bloomsbury Festival sees over 150 events to enjoy at 40 venues this month, with picks for this week including upLIFT: Stories of Joy bringing emerging spoken word, song and storytelling artists to Holy Cross Church on Cromer St this Sat 3rd Oct, or try young ensemble Mad Song as they explore repetition in music through the work of five living composers, culminating in Steve Reich’s Double Sextet, all happening at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church on Thurs 8th Oct.

STAGE 💘 Opening tonight at the Kiln Theatre is Table 17, the award-winning play that’s sold out runs in LA and New York, which centres around a dinner date between two exes who may or may not be ready to give love another chance. Runs until 24th Oct.

MUSIC 🎸There’s the album launch party for Patti Smith band-member Lenny Kaye & Friends Riot on Oxford Street LP at the Fiddler’s Elbow on Sat 3rd Oct with free posters for all ticket-holders, too.

EVENT 💡Rebel Later Life: The Ideas Party is an innovative-sounding one-day conference where guest speakers, authors and campaigners will be challenging the traditional media narrative around ageing. Explore topics including what it takes to redesign a relationship after 50, how to create income from the things you enjoy, rebellious medicine, co-housing and the 100-year life at Cecil Sharp House on Sat 10th Oct.