Hi there - I’m re-posting and updating these from Myspace…
23 August 2006
I moved to Bow about a year ago, and I’ve had *loads* of fun exploring the area and finding cool, cheap or free ways to spend my time. My idea of fun may not involve death-defying feats or wacky japes but put it this way, I think we have a lot to learn from old ladies. Books, tea, pottering, strange hats…. it’s all in there. Though I have included a couple of “discotheques” for the youngsters.
Roman Road
Chicchi - at the end of Roman Road Market, nearest tube Bow Road or No8 bus
This a lovely Italian cafe serving proper nice food (salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes plus cakes and ice cream) gorgeous but affordable coffee and milkshakes and a huge range of weird teas. For example, they have two different kinds of white tea. They also have a sort of mix ‘n’ match Belgian waffle menu, with different ice creams and sauces - my favourite is coconut ice cream with raspberry coulis 
It’s all black leather chairs in strange shapes and art on the walls, but totally unpretentious. There’s internet access too.
A bit further down Roman Road, moving away from central London, there is Fiesta Cafe which is pretty unexceptional I suppose but I think it’s the best greasy spoon in the world ever, as their friendly staff and vast omelette breakfast (hash browns! onion rings!) has nourished me through many a hangover.
The market itself is quite lively, and has lots of cheap clothes, though the highlight has to be the Brazilian donuts - they are basically a sort of test tube made of doughnut, which gets filled with flavoured goo (or apple sauce) I love them primarily because they are the most phallic piece of confectionary I have ever encountered and that makes me laugh. Every damn time.
There’s also Bow Idea Store (which means “library” in regeneration speak) which has a cheap cafe where you can sit with some lemon meringue pie and read a book without having to take it out first. This may be more common in London, I’m not sure, but certainly in my local library in Cornwall the idea of food in the library would bring the librarian running out of his office flailing and screaming “the books! the books!” before launching himself at the offending comestible and covering it like a bomb.
Globe Town, on Roman Road, nearest tube Bethnal Green or No8 bus.
This is a collection of shops and cafes that are linked to the London Buddhist Centre, comprising of:
Wild Cherry Cafe - sells lovely vegetarian and vegan food
Sudana Charity Shop - a *proper* charidee shop, where all sorts of random items are piled high in total confusion and most things cost �1
A second hand bookshop - have a big sofa, plus 2nd hand records and books on Buddhism
Evolution Gift Shop - sells all sorts of nice ethically-traded bits and bobs, gifts, stationery, cushions, incense
Friends Organic - your standard-issue health food shop
Bethnal Green
Couple of cool places on Bethnal Green Rd, including E Pellicci, a classic caff in a listed building with a massive following.
There’s also the Pleasure Unit, a cosy retro venue for gigs with friendly, non-pretentious clientele and cheapish drinks. It’s the perfect place to dress wear your favourite 50s teadress and spill cider on your shoes! They have a few club nights as well, the best of which is the Unskinny Bop. It’s the third Saturday of every month and technically a mixed gay night, although there’s lots of straight people too. They play Zombina! I love them *cries*
Nearby is the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, which seems to have retained it’s original members while acquiring a whole load of funny-lookin new ones. It’s all gone a bit alternative, but in an exciting sparkly, burlesque way, and Oh My God I Miss You! run regular nights here.
Join me in the next thrilling installment for Brick Lane and Spitalfields…
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