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| BRIXTON: It’s Vibrant! | Spanish |
Famous as much for its clubs as for its street markets, Brixton is a vibrant and cosmopolitan area that has been rediscovered by the people who are in search of a genuine atmosphere of community and of the energy that comes from the mixture of cultures. Probably the most famous market in Brixton is the one that is on Electric Avenue, which acquires its name for being the first street market in the country to be lit with electricity. Brixton is the home of one of the greatest communities of Afro-Caribbean, and this is reflected in the great variety of exotic food that can be found there. The market of Brixton is an animated and over-populated collection of stands full of colorful fruits and exotic vegetables.
If you walk down Granville Arcade, you will be able to find an incredible variety of ingredients for the Caribbean kitchen. It is the perfect place to obtain conserves of ackee (also known with the little tempting name of “vegetable brain”), used for the national dish of Jamaica: Ackee with salty fish.
The wonderful thing about the market is that it is open every day, excepting Sundays. In Atlantic Road you can find clothes and elements for the home at a very good price.
After an arduous morning of shopping, you will definitively need to rest. And for the task of finding a relaxed and friendly restaurant Brixton it is the ideal place.
One of the best places to recharge the energies is the restaurant BUG (previously known as Bah Humbug), at the moment located in the crypts of St. Mathew’s church. The restaurant has a cocktail bar and attracts young and exotic customers. Try the delicious Thai Butterfish Curry and you will have a taste of the new Brixton.
Brixton also has great pubs. Visit The Effra for a warm welcome and a pint of Guinness. The pub also has live Jazz Sundays. Other bars to check out are the Dogstar in Coldharbour Lane, where the DJ in residence will mix an exciting music list creating a pleasant atmosphere; Tongue and Grove in Atlantic Rd.
The Telegraph has a great bar, a Thai restaurant and live music every night. This is also where Basement Jaxx took its first steps.
The records scene in Brixton is one of most dynamic due to the powerful mixture of energy and innovation. The most famous places in Brixton are Brixton Academy and The Fridge, both considered sites of peregrination for the lovers of clubs and they regularly make the long trip to the south of London and see if by chance they catch a top DJ or bands. The Academy has one of the biggest dance floors in the capital. It began like a cinema, and so did The Fridge (constructed in 1914 and known originally as Palladium Cinema). The Fridge is the place for techno and trance, of Hard House and gay nights.
But do not believe that everything is noise; there is a calmer part to Brixton. The area has several artistic associations. Vincent Van Gogh lived there for a while, and so did Charlie Chaplin.
The Bettie Morton Gallery, the first gallery in Brixton, has regular exhibitions of new works of visual artists. If you go to Brixton in the summer and need a little peace and tranquility after one night of disco, then visit Brockwell Lido, with its outdoor swimming pool where you can get a massage, practise yoga or tai chi.
Whereas Brixton acquired a bad reputation in the 80's for a series of street fights and continues suffering from high levels of crime, the area has experienced a renaissance. Young designers, executives of marketing and media professionals have been attracted by the spacious Victorian houses, the markets, pubs and restaurants. Inevitably, some of the authentic characteristics of the area are being lost. But, given the high popularity of the shopping areas, bars and clubs, and the ability that Brixton has to attract visitors from all parts of the world, few are the complaints of the local residents.
Because of all this, if you have still not experienced the unique atmosphere of Brixton, now is the moment for going to the south, to relive the immortal words of Eddie Grant and “Rock down Electric Avenue”.
© Robert Dennis