As many of you will already know, Lambeth council has cancelled the fireworks on Clapham Common this year which is a real shame and means that a lot of local businesses wont get that annual assured boost, that so many depend on. However the fireworks haven’t disappeared completely … they are going to be on a three year rotation between Clapham, Brockwell Park and Streatham. This year is Brockwell Park’s turn and the fireworks will also be a joint celebration of the bicentenary of Brockwell Hall, now a Grade II listed building. The fireworks will be set to music from the last 200 years and a funfair and stalls, food and mulled wine will be available from 4pm – best of all it’s FREE! Fireworks start at 8pm. Other displays close by are Wimbledon Park on Friday and Battersea Park and Crystal Palace on Saturday, all of which will charge an entry fee. Should you not be around this weekend, next Saturday 12th, The Lord Major’s Show and Fireworks are a definate must see and FREE too! Have fun Clappers and don’t forget your sparklers!!!

On Saturday 12th November ‘Shout About’ an online magazine for creative writing and illustration will be launched at Under the Greenwood Tree, in Clapham Old Town. Local authors will be running events throughout the day. The event starts with storytime, craft sessions, writing workshops and a writing surgery where children can bring their stories to be workshopped.

10:30 – 11:30 Story time with Judy Allen followed by craft/drawing session with Margaret Bateson -Hill

11:30 Story time with Nicolas Allan reading ‘Father Chrsitmas Needs a Wee’

3:00 – 4:00 For the older kids a ‘Secret Self’ writing workshop with Sarah Mussi & Sam Osman. Ages 8+.

2:00 – 5:00 Open Writing Surgery with many great South London authors for childrens ages 5+There will be surprise speed reads by guest authors, book signing and activities going on all day so it’s well worth popping along.

A new venture from Hamish Johnston of Northcote Road, The Tiny Italian is a brand new stall selling simply the best in Italian food. Remember Salumeria Napoli? The legendary Italian deli run by the unforgettable Salvatore Maggiulli. Well since its recent closure, the long running family business is moving to pastures new. Not in the form of a new shop, but a new stall, a tiny Italian stall. And luckily for all you Clappers…it’s just across the road! The Tiny Italian is run by Paola, Salvatore’s daughter and she promises to uphold his excellent reputation of selling the finest of Italian foods and she will certainly give her father a run for his money when it comes to his famous, friendly chat! So there’s no longer a reason to miss out on your italian favourites, Phew!  Every weekend from this Saturday 22nd October.

World-renowned artist Andrew Logan has been commissioned to create works of art for Clapham’s new public library and leisure centre sites. The artist is currently working on two large-scale works of art: a giant red glittering heart will hang at the centre of the new leisure centre, while the word ‘LIBRARY‘ will be spelled out in two metre high letters along Clapham High Street outside the new public library. The sculptures will be entirely covered with Logan’s signature brightly coloured hand-crafted mosaic of glass, mirror and found objects. Clapham residents are being invited to donate personal mementos, which Logan will include in the mosaic on the sculptures outside Clapham’s new public library. Andrew commented ‘This is my first public realm commission in London after being here for over 40 years. I am delighted to contribute to the life of the city in a manner that celebrates healthy minds, healthy bodies and quality of life. I hope to visit the pool with frequency!’. Collection of has started and will carry on until 31st October. You can donate your items at the three following places: Clapham Library (North Side), Clapham Family Practice on the High Street and at the new Clapham library site on the High Street.

If you’re venturing down towards Northcote Road in the next few weeks you may want to check out the new Edward James Salon.  Being the flagship store they’ve gone all out and its not just a hair cut you get but a whole relaxation experience, complete with a pre-consultation massage. The salon is an Aveda partner, exclusively using their range of up to 97% naturally derived hair and skincare products. Intimate and luxurious, the premises have undergone a radical transformation including National Trust sourced tree trunks, hand-made eco-lighting and reclaimed timber flooring and fixtures – all of which allow you to treat yourself to a calming and fresh experience. But even more exciting is that all LoveClapham readers get 50% off a cut and blow dry when you buy a colour service or £20 off yourfirst appointment! Who doesn’t love a bit of a bargain offer?! Just quote LoveClapham when you book.

Do let us know how you get on and what you think!

Having spent a top night at Gigalum (Clapham South) on Friday night I thought I’d let you know about a seriously hot ‘must be there’ night coming up next weekend. On Sunday 11th September, Italian DJ, Manuel de la Mare is being flown in specially to get Gigalum jumping with his beats that mix somewhere between house and techno.  Already a familiar face at global venues like Ministry of Sound in London, Womb in Tokyo and Fabrik in Madrid, Manuel has managed to procure a worldwide fan base that has enabled him to perform his music throughout Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, as well as North and South America. With a soaring profile and constantly growing international followers and fans Manuel launched his own labels 303Lovers and Hotfingers back in 2007 along with Alex Kenji and Marshall. The labels has now showed themselves as one of the key names in House and Techno Music with a never-ending flow of quality releases which fire the dancefloor. So if you want to party it up with one of the hottest DJs on the planet then head over to Clapham South this Sunday and great news – its free!

The fruit juice and nectar company, Simply Nectar is sending a banana to hand out FREEBIES to Clappers this Friday!! All you have to do is head over to Clapham Common and say happy birthday to a large, human banana! The fruity character will be based in the area throughout the day handing out freebottles of Banana Simply Nectar and ‘other goodies’ to passersby in celebration of company’s tenth anniversary.The festive giveaway is also being held in a bid to promote a healthy lifestyle and to encourage people to opt for pure fruit juices and nectars rather than sugarfilled alternatives. Simply Nectar van and the large banana will start making its wayround Clapham Common and the surrounding areas during the morning of Friday 26 August. They will also be donating some drinks to local charitable organisations. For more information on Simply Nectar click here or read their blog follow this link.

Nectar has always looked for the UK’s Savviest Shopper; people would email in their top tips and hints to save money. This year Nectar decided to expand the campaign, this time to find the “UK’s Savviest Family”. Over a period of two months, up to eight families are going head-to-head in a competition to see who can be the savviest with their saving and spending. Families are blogging their savvy experiences online at nectar.com and are in the running to win prizes such as flights, cash and obviously loads of Nectar points! One of the eight families is the Owen family from Clapham. Tabitha Owen commented ‘- In a town like Clapham, it’s really easy to be Savvy. I make the most of the local charity shops, where I buy all my books and the park is also an easy and free day out. It’s great how you can make use of the wide open spaces of the common. I also grow my own vegetables with the help of my son, which really helps to cut costs’. The competition runs to the 31st August when one family will be crowned UK’s Savviest Family. To find out more about the Savvy family competition, the Owen family and lots of money saving tips click here.

As an official partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Sainburys are throwing a big celebration to mark one year to go until London 2012. Bringing together some of the UK’s biggest music acts and Paralympic sport, this is a unique family festival that is not to be missed!

On Saturday 10th September, 11am-9pm, Clapham Common will be the place for an action packed day – with live music from some of the hottest pop acts around, the chance to try out Paralympic sports and the opportunity to meet our London 2012 hopefuls, there will be something to keep everyone entertained. The Saturdays, Pixie Lott, Olly Murs, Chipmunk, Taio Cruz and the Sugababes are just some of the acts secured so far, with lots more to be announced. If the music isn’t enough already, theres plenty more to do including an inflatable obstacle course and slide, face painting, arts & crafts area, zorbing, bungee trampolines and an inflatable sticky wall. What a day! If you’d like to purchase some tickets click here.

In a few weeks time the wait will finally be over for thousands of teenagers across the country to see if their hard work has paid off on GCSE and A Level results day. One school that results day will be extra special for is Lambeth Academy, who will be celebrating the graduation of its first ever pupils.

There was some controversy prior to the opening of the school in 2004, with neighbours in Elms Road objecting and saying that they didn’t want a comprehensive school on their doorstep. But parents pushed back and campaigned for the school to be opened, saying that there were not enough places for pupils in the area, with an excess of 300 pupils having to go outside the borough.

Seven years on and the school, run by educational charity The United Learning Trust, is going from strength to strength. Of its first pupils to take GCSEs in 2009, half of them achieved five about grade C and last years Ofsted report commented that it was making an “outstanding contribution to the promotion of community cohesion”. Two weeks ago, 120 of the first ever students came together to celebrate the academy’s success and ‘coming of age’. A YouTube video has been made by staff and pupils at the academy sharing their experiences, memories and opinions and can be viewed here. Good luck to all those getting their exam results in August!