I made a podcast! I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while but it’s all very new to me and I’m still getting to grips with the technology …..
In this episode, I’m talking about art, music, celebrations and outdoor swimming in Cambridge.
You can find this podcast episode on Spotify and on the main podcast listening platforms. Just search for New in Cambridge.
Please have a listen and do get in touch through my Contact page if you’d like to suggest topics for future podcasts.
It’s set to be another busy month here in Cambridge with so much going on from steampunk to poetry, comedy to ceilidh and everything in between! Read on for more and please do get in touch through my Contact page if you know of an event I could add in to the listing. 1st … Continue reading “What’s on in Cambridge – May”
It’s set to be another busy month here in Cambridge with so much going on from steampunk to poetry, comedy to ceilidh and everything in between! Read on for more and please do get in touch through my Contact page if you know of an event I could add in to the listing.
1st 4 – 8pm Student Discount Event, 25% off at Tindalls Art and Graphics, King Street
2nd 8pm St Matthew Passion, J S Bach. Singers from Trinity, St. John’s and King’s. Cambridge University Bach Ensemble. Trinity College Chapel. Tickets on the door.
4th 2 – 4pm Family First Saturdays. Fun activities and art making for the family on the theme of “Toot, toot, beep”. Free, drop in. Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street. http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/calendar/whatson/2019-05-04/family-first-saturdays-40
5th 10.30am – 4pm Cambridge Vegan Market. Food stalls, lifestyle brands, cosmetics, ethical clothing, charities and more. Guildhall, Market Square. http://www.veganmarkets.co.uk/cambridge Read more about Cambridge Vegan Market here
5th 10.30am – 11pm Steampunk in Cambridge V11: May the 5th be with you! The seventh annual Steampunk in Cambridge event. Museum of Technology, Cheddars Lane. http://www.museumoftechnology.com
6th 9am meet for 10am departure. The Reach Ride, a bike ride to the 800 year old Reach Fair. Free. Organised by Camcycle. Assemble in front of the Guildhall, Market Square. http://www.camcycle.org.uk/reachride
7 – 12th Cambridge Festival of the Voice. Cambridge Early Music. http://www.CambridgeEarlyMusic.org
7th 8pm Rhapsody in Blue. Cambridge University Wind Orchestra and Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra. West Road Concert Hall. http://www.adcticketing.com
8th 3 – 8pm Spring Student Night, Grand Arcade. Discounts, DJ, freebies, drinks. www. grandarcade.co.uk
11th 10.30am – 4pm Eat Cambridge. Annual food and drink festival celebrating Cambridgeshire’s independent food scene. Followed by two weeks of fringe events. Guildhall, Market Square. http://www.eat-cambridge.co.uk
11th 11am – 5pm Open Gardens, Christ’s Pieces Residents’ Association. 8 gardens open in Parker Street, Victoria Street, Clarendon Street, Orchard Street and New Square. In aid of Jimmy’s Homeless Project East Road and the Cambridge Children’s Charity. £10 ticket on the day for all gardens (children are free) from the Unitarian Church, Emmanuel Road. Tea provided.
11th 4pm A Spring Concert with Rolling Thunder. CSD Brass. Free, retiring collection. St Luke’s Church, Victoria Road
11th 7.30pm Symphony 3, Mahler. City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, St Catherine’s College Girls’ Choir and St John’s College School Senior House Chamber Choir. West Road Concert Hall. http://www.adcticketing.com
11 – 12th Jesus Green Lido Open Weekend. Everyone is welcome for a free swim this weekend as the Lido reopens for the summer. http://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/cambridge/jesusgreenlido Read more about Jesus Green Lido here
12th 12 – 4pm Studio Sunday. Artist led workshop for families. Free, drop in. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk
15th 8 week course Learn Improv. Improvised theatre and comedy classes for beginners. Facebook: RedCapeImprov
15th 5 – 9pm Late at the Fitzwilliam. An after hours evening at the Museum, including talks, the Long Road Sixth Form College 2019 Graduate Art Foundation Show, late night shopping, wine and tapas. Free. Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street. http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/calendar/whatson/late-fitzwilliam-2
15th 6 – 9pm Museum at Night. Explore the Museum of Zoology after hours and experience the natural world after dark. Age 18+ Free, no need to book. Museum of Zoology, Downing Street. http://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk
16th David Parr House reopens. A terraced house and arts and craft movement treasure which was home to Victorian decorative artist David Parr. 186 Gwydir Street, CB1. http://www.davidparrhouse.org Read more about David Parr House here
16th 7.30pm Poetry at the Pub. Readings from two poets, open mic floor spots and books for sale. Blue Moon, Norfolk Street. http://www.cb1poetry.org.uk Read more about Poetry at the Pub here
17th 2pm and 4pm Puss In Boots. A ballet for children. 2pm is a Relaxed Performance. Northern Ballet. Cambridge Corn Exchange. http://www.cornex.co.uk
17th 6 – 9pm Drink and Draw. After hours sketching in the Cast Gallery with a glass of wine. Adults only, free, drop in. Materials provided, all abilities welcome. Museum of Classical Archeology, Sidgwick Avenue, CB3. http://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/events/drink-and-draw
17th 6.30 – 9.30pm LATE guest curator: Oscar Murillo. Creative workshops, pop up talks, music, a performance by Oscar Murillo, cocktails and refreshments. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/events/late-oscar-murillo/
18th 10am – 5pm Festival of Plants, with live music and pop up food trucks. Botanic Garden, Brookside. http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
18th 7.30pm Mass in B Minor, J S Bach. Cambridge Chorale and Academy of Ancient Music with soloists from Amici Voices. Trinity College Chapel. Tickets on the door or from http://www.cambridgechorale.org.uk
18th 7.30pm From London to Venice: Fusing Poetry and Music. Monteverdi, Grandi, Strozzi, Caccini, Ferrari and Merula. Clare Hall, Herschel Road. Tickets from Porters’ Lodge or music@clarehall.cam.ac.uk
19th 5.30pm and 7.30pm The Pelicantata, narrated by Sir Tony Robinson. Come dressed as your favourite Roald Dahl character! Cambridge Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and Chorus. Choirs from Chesterton Community College and Sawston Village College. West Road Concert Hall. http://www.cambridgephilharmonic.com
19th 6pm The Time of Gifts. Spring themed Medieval and Renaissance songs, traditional Spanish pieces with classical and contemporary works. The Lucy Cavendish Singers. Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington. http://www.lucycavendishsingers.org.uk
20 – 22nd Pint of Science. A worldwide science festival which brings researchers to your local pub to present their scientific discoveries. Various venues around the city. http://www.pintofscience.co.uk/events/cambridge
20 – 25th Cambridge Beer Festival. Cider, perry, mead and English wine also available at this CAMRA festival. Opening times vary. Jesus Green. http://www.cambridgebeerfestival.com Read more about Cambridge Beer Festival here
23rd 7pm “Guess the Toppings” pizza evening. Guests will be blindfolded and have to guess the pizza toppings. Fundraiser for Cam Sight. The Punt Yard, Quayside. http://www.camsight.org.uk/event/guess-the-toppings-evening Read more about Cam Sight here
24th 6pm – 10.30pm Summer Night Market and Outdoor Cinema, showing Coco and Mamma Mia. Free. Market Square. http://www.cambridgebid.co.uk/open-air-cinema-night-market
25th 10.30am – 4.30pm Affordable Vintage Fair. Over 30 traders selling shop quality vintage, handmade, reworked and retro with fashion, accessories and collectables from 1940s – 1990s. Guildhall, Market Square. Facebook: @JudysAffordableCambridgeVintageFair
25th 7pm until late. Ceilidh. A charity evening in aid of the World Land Trust. St. Paul’s Church, Hills Road Tickets from becky.lockyer21@gmail.com
26th 12 – 4pm Studio Sunday. Artist led workshop for families. Free, drop in. Kettle’s Yard, Castle Street. http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk
26th Cambridge Fringe Festival. A community oriented comedy festival focusing on stand up and improv. Free entry to shows. Various venues around Mitcham’s Corner, CB4. Facebook: @FringeCambridge
Cambridge takes on an air of fiesta in June. Our beautiful green spaces are full of people enjoying the summer sunshine, chatting, picnicking, playing rounders, playing guitars, even practising their circus skills! Ecstatic students celebrate the end of exams at the famous May Balls, with the sound of revelry floating on the night air and amazing firework displays as darkness falls. It’s a time to enjoy life outdoors so I’ve put together some ideas to help you make the most of summer in the city.
What could be nicer on a summer’s day than messing about on the river? You’ll get a spectacular view of the colleges with their historic buildings and beautiful gardens as you glide along the Backs in a punt. Avoid the touts in the city centre and head down to Quayside at Magdalene Bridge where you’ll find several punt hire operators. Established in 1910, Scudamores are open every day from 9am to dusk. Self-hire punts take six people and cost £30 per hour. If you’d rather just sit back and relax, take a 45 minute shared guided tour at £20 per adult. Concessions and private tours are available. The punt chauffeurs are a fount of historical information and while I’ve never heard them sing “O Sole Mio”, they might if you ask nicely!
The Star & Mouse Picture Show is back for a new season, bringing weekend screenings underneath the stars at fabulous venues in and around Cambridge through the summer. This “trinket cinema” creates magical evenings of fairy lights, food and fire pits with live entertainment themed to the film. From 1-3 June, Star & Mouse lands on the riverside at The Double Tree Hilton in Granta Place, Mill Lane, showing “Inception”, “The Goonies” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”. Watch the sun go down then as darkness falls, park yourself in a deckchair, put on your wireless headphones and enjoy the film. Advance booking is recommended. Tickets are £12, bookable through www.starandmouse.com
Jesus Green Lido opened in 1923 and still has a reassuringly old school feel with its wooden changing cubicles and its attended Basket Room for safe storage of your possessions as you swim. One of the longest outdoor pools in the country, it’s surrounded by trees so it’s sheltered and private with shade on sunny days and plenty of grassy space for sunbathing and picnics. There’s a dedicated lane for speedy swimmers, a sauna and a little café for drinks and snacks. The Lido is unheated so the water temperature can be bracing but it’s quite acceptable to wear a wetsuit if you’re not the hardy type! You’ll find the Lido opposite Chesterton Road, between Jesus Lock and Victoria Bridge. An adult non member swim costs £4.70. Membership, season tickets and concessions are available.
www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/Cambridge/jesusgreenlido
King’s College is famous worldwide not only for its academic excellence but also for its stunning Chapel and its choir whose Christmas Eve service, “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols”, is broadcast to millions of listeners across the globe. On Sunday 24 June, join The King’s Men (the choral scholars of King’s College) for “Singing on the River”, their final concert of the season. The King’s Men will be on the Cam in punts singing madrigals, part-songs and close harmony while you’ll be relaxing with your picnic on the College’s back lawn which runs down to the river bank. Tickets are £12.50 or £5 for students (under 12’s get in free) from the King’s College Visitor Centre in King’s Parade or from shop@kings.cam.ac.uk
For a cool drink on a warm day plus breath taking 360 degree views over the city, head to the Roof Terrace Bar at The Varsity Hotel in Thompson’s Lane. It’s stylish with comfortable outdoor seating, colourful planting and a dedicated table service rooftop bar offering an extensive gin menu, summer cocktails, wine, bottled beers, champagne and prosecco alongside non alcoholic cocktails and soft drinks. There’s a small barbecue and salad menu too. This is one of my favourite places to sip a gin and tonic (Cambridge Distillery gin, naturally!) while watching the sun set on a summer evening.
This post is The Cambridge Scene column which I write for Eastlife Magazine, a terrific guide to all that’s happening in the east of England. To read more of the June edition, take a look on http://www.eastlife.co.uk
Jesus Green Lido is open again for a new season. One of the longest outdoor pools in the country, it’s been going since 1923 and still has a reassuringly old school feel with its wooden changing cubicles and its attended Basket Room for safe storage of your possessions as you swim. It’s surrounded by trees so it’s sheltered and private with shade on sunny days and plenty of grassy space for sunbathing and picnics.
I met with Charlotte Anderson-Chapman and Callum Lewis of GLL, which manages the Lido for Cambridge City Council, to get some facts and figures. The Lido, which runs alongside the River Cam, is 91 metres long, 14 metres wide and its depth varies from 1.2 – 2.5 metres. It takes 7 weeks to get the pool ready for opening day … it’s emptied and cleaned and every 4 years it has a full coat of paint with 65 tins of specialist paint rollered on by hand! It then takes 4 days and nights to pump enough water in to refill the Lido.
The Lido is unheated so the water temperature can be bracing but it’s quite acceptable to wear a wetsuit if, like me, you’re not the hardy type! There’s a dedicated lane for speedy swimmers and while triathletes and open water swimmers train here, it’s a great place for a leisurely dip in the open air on a hot day. In fact, there’s quite a community that grows around the Lido each year. The Friends of Jesus Green Pool is an informal group of regular swimmers who help to set up in the grounds, act as a voice for pool users and arrange several social events each year.
Facilities include showers and lockers in the changing rooms, a sauna and there is full disabled access with a poolside hoist. The cafe sells hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice cream. Memberships and season tickets are available or you can just turn up with your bathing kit on a sunny day and pay for a single swim.
https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/cambridge/jesusgreenlido
Off Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX
Well, April brought us a short, unseasonal heatwave but as we move into May, the weather’s reverted to wind, rain and generally grey murky conditions … surely, surely we must be due some decent spring days soon?? Anyway, there’s plenty going on in the city so here’s the What’s On listing for May. It’s a mix of all sorts of things that come to my attention and I update it through the month, so it’s worth checking back occasionally. And please get in touch via my Contact page if you know of an event that I’d like to include.
3 – 7th Cambridge May Fair, Midsummer Common
3 – 12th 11am – 5pm Sound of Silence. Still Life Exhibition. Alessandra Tarcia and Akiko Hirai. St Peter’s Church, Castle Hill http://www.flowgallery.co.uk
3rd 8pm Martin Speake QT ft. Ethan Iverson. Hidden Rooms, 7b Jesus Lane. http://www.cambridgejazz.org
5th 10.30am – 4.30pm Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair. Guildhall, Market Hill
5th 7.30pm K.239 Chamber Orchestra. Elgar, G. Jacob, Mozart, Schonberg. St Luke’s Church, Victoria Road. Tickets on the door.
5th 8pm The Empyrean Ensemble. Beethoven. Trinity College Chapel. Tickets on the door. http://www.tcms.org.uk
7th 9am The Reach Ride. A bike ride to the 800 year old Reach Fair. Assemble in front of the Guildhall, Market Hill, for a 10am departure. http://www.camcycle.org.uk/reachride
8 – 10th 9.30pm Queue – A Freshers’ Sketch Show. Corpus Playroom, St Edward’s Passage. http://www.adctheatre.com
12th Jesus Green Lido reopens. http://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/cambridge/jesusgreenlido
12 – 13th 10am – 4pm National Mills Weekend at Impington Mill and Garden. Free entry. http://www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk
12th 8pm Ensemble Pro Victoria. The Kinges Musicke. Rarely heard music from Tudor England and the Continent before and after the Reformation. Cornysh, Fayrfax, Byrd, Victoria. Trinity College Chapel. Tickets on the door.
13th 12 noon – 5pm Polish Heritage Day. Guildhall, Market Hill. Facebook: @polishdaycambridge
18th 6.30 – 10pm Summer Night Market and outdoor cinema (Sing and Meet the Parents). Market Square
19th 10am – 5pm Festival of Plants 2018. Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, Brookside http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
19th 10.30am – 4pm Eat Cambridge – Main Event. Guildhall, Market Hill. Festival Fringe events run until 2 June. http://www.eat-cambridge.co.uk
20th 3pm Music for the Madonna. New Cambridge Singers. Poulenc, Durufle, Villette. St Botolph’s Church, Trumpington Street. Tickets on the door. http://www.newcambridgesingers.org.uk
20th 3.30pm Blue Smoke. The Lucy Cavendish Singers. Classical, traditional and country music followed by tea and cake. Childerley Hall Long Barn, Dry Drayton. http://www.lucycavendishsingers.org.uk
30th 10 – 11am The Red Hot Fireball. Children’s bilingual storytelling with the Alliance Francaise Cambridge. Central Library, 1st Floor, Grand Arcade. Free, no booking required.
New in Cambridge 