An Afternoon of Film and Talks

By Meg Lee Chin, 18 November, 2023
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The Wheatsheaf
An Afternoon of Film and Talks
The Wheatsheaf, 25 Rathbone Place, London, W1T 1JB

The Temple of Ideas presents an afternoon with;

Miguel Curiel - London-born Venezuelan Cinematographer, Director and writer. Films include "La Niña de Maracaibo 2011", "Une Noche Orientale 1986" and "Lily 1983" https://mcartistworks.wordpress.com/meet-miguel/

Eric Jay Robinson - music producer, songwriter, vocalist, pianist and currently the owner of "Mosound Music" an independent record label. As a singer and performer Robinson had a hit with the S'Express: "Hey Music Lover" 1989 Music Video. Other credits include collaborations with SYLVESTER, Byron Stingley, Whitney Houston, Rev James Cleveland and Aretha Franklin

Julie Dennis -Hip hop music producer, vocal licensing agent, and vocalist. Dennis is the owner of Simply Vocals Ltd and Petulant Records. https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliedennis/...

The afternoon will kick off with a screening of "Haiku Drops" (short Haiku and Poetry videos) created by our members and I (Meg Lee Chin)

This will be followed by a short film "Al Calor de Una Nevera, Descompouesta (In the Heat of a Broken Fridge" = English subtitles) by director Miguel Curiel and with Q&A afterward. WARNING: The film contains a tiny bit of sex and nudity. So you may be asked to prove you're over 18! 😉

Later Julie Dennis will interview Eric Robinson about "Life in the Music biz for Unstoppable Over 55s.

As always we'll end the afternoon with a bit of a singsong and jam.

Feel free to bring your poems, artwork, writings and bits in case there's time left over!

The room we've got is upstairs at the Wheatsheaf pub in Fitzrovia.

You must be over 55 and admission is FREE!

 

Open Mic/Jam Session/ Poetry/Karaoke at the Old Crown

By Meg Lee Chin, 4 October, 2024
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Old Crown Open Mike
Open Mic/Jam Session/ Poetry/Karaoke at the Old Crown
33 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1BH

Join us upstairs on the first floor in the karaoke room at The Old Crown Pub, 33 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1BH for our FREE weekly afternoon Temple of Ideas Open Mic every Saturday in October.

Bring your poetry, instruments, comedy, songs and topics for discussion or just hang out chat and watch.

The venue is giving us a chance, let’s make a great impression and secure this space as our regular hangout.

Here’s how you can help:

Performers, arrive by 2 PM sharp. Time is limited, so if you want to perform, get there early to secure your spot.

Spread the word far and wide. Share this event with your friends, networks, and anyone who loves creativity. The more people we bring, the stronger our chances of keeping this venue.

Entry is FREE, but we ask everyone to buy something from the bar to help secure this space for the long haul.

Whether you’re performing or just coming to enjoy the atmosphere, it’s all about creating and connecting together.

Although we only have the performance room until 5 PM, feel free to stick around and hang out in the pub with us afterward for more drinks and chats.

Excited to see everyone there—let’s make it happen!

Generation Landslide at Dragon Hall

By Meg Lee Chin, 10 July, 2024
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Afternoon Disco - DJ Meg Lee Chin
Generation Landslide at Dragon Hall
Dragon Hall - 17 Stukeley Street. WC2B 5LT

Calling all vintage beatniks, eternal hippies, funky groovers, seasoned rebels, renegade rockers, psychedelic relics and steam-powered punks;

The Temple of Ideas hosts an electric afternoon gathering with DJ Meg Lee spinning classic hits spanning the 60s to 90s. The music will be at a moderate volume, allowing for easy conversation or dancing and singing.  Sing and dance along to the music or just sit, watch, socialise and chat. Whatever get your motor pumpin'!

Come celebrate the boomer revolution and our proud generation when music was more than just throwaway entertainment – it was a way of life.

PLEASE NOTE: You MUST be a member of Dragon Hall to attend. But the good news is membership is FREE Simply

1. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/dragonpunks
2. Sign the code of conduct: https://tinyurl.com/dragonconduct

To book a ticket to the disco, please click the link below, cost just £2:00.
https://forms.gle/XYrbZapopCMeg7tF8

 

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Amy and Helen

Open Mic Picnic in Hampstead Heath

By Meg Lee Chin, 29 May, 2024
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Hampstead Heath Open Mic
Open Mic Picnic in Hampstead Heath
The Gazebo at the Old Sports Ground, Hampstead Heath, London

Join us for a relaxed afternoon picnic in Hampstead Heath every Saturday this summer. 

Feel free to bring your poetry, musical instruments, comedy, songs or topics of discussion you'd like to share. Any dish of food, drink or snacks to share would be welcome by all if you can.

Dont worry about rain, we're meeting under a big covered gazebo which we turn into a stage. The location is at the graffiti-covered Gazebo in the Old Sporting Field. It's just north east of the mixed bathing pond. On the rare occasion that the Gazebo is already occupied by another group we'll be nearby just to the left or right of it. 

You can meet us in front of the Hampstead Underground Tube Station between 1:00 - 1:30 pm and we can walk over to the picnic together. Alternatively, you can use the map to make your way there anytime from 2pm onwards. Just print it out or if you've got the "What Three Words app" the secret three words are:

peanut.gangs.face

Latitude: 51.5631301°N Longitude: 0.16665969°W

Arrive anytime from 2pm. We'll stay till around 6pm.

Get ready to tap into your mystical side, because Hampstead Heath is no ordinary wood. It's made of pure magic and every tree whispers ancient secrets.

Seriously...they do

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Temple of Ideas Map to picnic

A Lazy Afternoon Picnic in the Enchanted Woods of Hampstead Heath

By Meg Lee Chin, 21 April, 2024
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Temple of Ideas - Hampstead Heath Picnic
A Lazy Afternoon Picnic in the Enchanted Woods of Hampstead Heath
Secluded spot above the mixed bathing pond in Hampstead Heath

Join us for a lazy afternoon picnic at our secluded spot in the Enchanted Woods of Hampstead Heath.

Also feel free to bring along any musical instruments, poetry, or songs you'd like to share.

Due to soggy ground we've moved this Saturdays picnic to the bandstand in the nearby Old Sporting Field which has a roof and a raised floor. There are some benches plus we have some portable chairs for seating.


To get there - Hampstead Heath rail station is your best bet. Or you can hop on any bus heading towards the Royal Free Hospital near the Heath. This includes the 1, 24, 46, 168, 268 and C11.

We're meeting in front of the Hampstead Heath Rail Station on South End Rd between 12:15 - 12:30 if you want to walk down together. Otherwise you can use the map to make your way there.

See the attached maps and either print them out or if you've got the "What Three Words app" the secret three words are: "young.rocket.tend"

The bandstand is in the Old Sporting Filed (See the attached maps)

You can arrive anytime from 1pm. We'll stay till whenever...

Get ready to tap into your mystical side, because Hampstead Heath is no ordinary wood. It's made of pure magic and every tree whispers ancient secrets.

No seriously, I kid you not, they do!

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Temple of Ideas Picnic

Social Gathering - Indian Vegetarian Buffet

By Meg Lee Chin, 2 April, 2024
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Old Timers Indian Vegetarian Buffet
Social Gathering - Indian Vegetarian Buffet
Chutneys, 124 Drummond Street, London, Nw1 2pa

Join us for an afternoon of connection, laughter, and delicious food at Chutneys Indian Vegetarian Restaurant in Euston.

No need to book as the buffet is open to the public. Just show up at 12:30pm and look for a group of colorful, creative and energetic over 55s. Introduce yourself and join in. We are a friendly bunch of eccentric old-timers.

The cost is £12.95 for "All You Can Eat". You can pay the restaurant directly on the day.

It doesn't matter whether you're veggie or meatie, the food is great!

£5 Film - "Perfect Days" by Wim Wenders

By Meg Lee Chin, 20 March, 2024
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Perfect Days film by im Wenders
£5 Film - "Perfect Days" by Wim Wenders
The Garden Cinema 39-41 Parker Street London WC2B 5PQ

Come along to an afternoon screening of "Perfect Days" the new film by Wim Wenders at the lush Garden Cinema in Covent Garden. Tickets are just £5. But they go fast so grab yours now! My seat number is B7. We can all meet in the bar for a a cup of tea an hour before the film.

https://bookings.thegardencinema.co.uk/.../TSelectItems...

A highly anticipated return to fiction feature filmmaking from Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas, Wings of Desire), Perfect Days takes the writer-director to Tokyo to tell a story celebrating the hidden joys and minutiae of Japanese culture. Winner of the Best Actor award at Cannes 2023, Koji Yakusho (13 Assassins) stars as Hirayama, a contemplative middle-aged man who lives a life of modesty and serenity, spending his days balancing his job as a dutiful caretaker of Tokyo’s numerous public toilets with his passion for music, literature and photography. As we join him on his structured daily routine, a series of unexpected encounters gradually begin to reveal a hidden past that lies behind his otherwise content and harmonious life.

Combining a refreshingly unstereotypical depiction of the Japanese capital with a soundtrack comprised of iconic hits from the 60s and 80s, this is a subtle, shimmering and ultimately life-affirming reflection on finding beauty in the everyday world around us. Nominated for the Best International Film award at the 96th Academy Awards.

£5 Afternoon Film- The Trust Fall - Julian Assange

By Meg Lee Chin, 20 March, 2024
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Film - Julian Assange : The Trust Fall
£5 Afternoon Film- The Trust Fall - Julian Assange
The Garden Cinema

Join us at the Garden Cinema in Covent Garden to see this very urgent and important documentary about whistleblower Julian Assange. If you don't know about this key journalist of our times - you should. Grab your £5 tickets here - they're going fast.

https://bookings.thegardencinema.co.uk/.../TSelectItems...

‘THE TRUST FALL: JULIAN ASSANGE’ examines the meaning and significance of the insights that WikiLeaks shared with the world, the resulting behaviour of the governments involved, the extraordinary personal risk taken by Assange, and the wider fundamental issues around press freedom that affect all of us and our right to know.

Filmed over two years on three continents and in ten cities, the film features an array of luminaries including Daniel Ellsberg, John Pilger, Tariq Ali and Chris Hedges, with the insights of experts including Jennifer Robinson, Jill Stein, Stefania Maurizi and Nils Melzer, in addition to reflections of Assange’s family including Stella Assange, John Shipton and Gabriel Shipton. It is narrated by Roger Waters, M.I.A, Tom Morello and Jonathan Oldham.

Examining the motives of this peace activist and innovator, this astounding, shocking and inspiring film invites viewers to embark on a journey of understanding, where the circumstances are unprecedented, and the destination unexpected.

Director Kym Staton said: “We wanted the audience to experience somewhat of an emotional ordeal in watching the film, a range of emotions, from sadness, to anger to shock, to hope. To leave the cinema exhausted, shaken and compelled to take action. The aim of this film it to add weight to the campaign for the freedom of this heroic, courageous Australian journalist and peace-activist. For his freedom, and the freedom of us all”.

Journeyman Pictures released new documentary: ‘THE TRUST FALL: JULIAN ASSANGE’ just days ahead of Assange’s final court appeal.

We're Gathering Again for the Indian Veg Buffet

By Meg Lee Chin, 14 October, 2023
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Temple of Ideas Indian Vegetarian
We're Gathering Again for the Indian Veg Buffet
Chutneys, 124 Drummond Street, London, Nw1 2pa

Join us for a social gathering and catchup at 12:30pm in Chutney's Indian Veg buffet behind Euston Station. No need to book as the buffet is open to the public. Just show up at 12:30pm so we can all sit near each other. The cost is £9.95 for "All You Can Eat". It doesn't matter whether you're veggie or meatie, the food is great!

Social Gathering - All You Can Eat Indian Veg

By Meg Lee Chin, 1 October, 2023
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Temple of Ideas Indian Vegetarian
Social Gathering - All You Can Eat Indian Veg
124 Drummond Street, London, NW1 2PA

Join us for a social gathering and catchup at Chutney's Indian Veg buffet in Euston. The cost is £9.95 for "All You Can Eat". There's no structure to this meeting - the buffet is open to the public. The buffet is open from 12-3pm so you can wander in anytime, but best to get there at noon when the food is at its freshest and tastiest. You don't need to book but please PM me as it'd be helpful to know how many are coming. It doesn't matter whether you're veggie or meatie, the food is great!