In the alley people are smoking, the maroon door is open, and it guides us inside a warehouse. Along the way, we can notice plants, four throw rugs, a couple of bikes, and longboards parked in the corridor. Music that is coming from the amplifiers proves we are at the right place. We step into an open space filled with records. Later we would learn there are about 30,000 on the shelves. Yes, the zeros are correct, 30K. Hon is closing a deal. This is the place he resides, has occasional parties, and operates <a fr-original-style="" href="https://instagram.com/vinylpimp?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=&utm_source=aposto" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Vinyl Pimp</a>. Hon: A record shop owner, amateur photographer, BBQ master, and music connoisseur. These are just a few of the adjectives we could combine to describe him. He is, what we would call a Hackney Wick dynasty.<h2 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">ID&nbsp;</h2>My nickname:&nbsp;Hon Gao (Big brother Hon in Chinese)I have recently biked to:&nbsp;Holborn for my haircutAfter living decades years in London, I have recently discovered:&nbsp;You can cook BBQ on the street without much interference from the authority&nbsp;I live in:&nbsp;Hackney Wick, East LondonI am from (in my heart):&nbsp;Hong KongA Londoner you must meet:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.instagram.com/topuptruck/?utm_source=aposto" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: rgb(9, 9, 9); text-decoration: none; background-color: transparent; outline: none; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: auto; box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Ella Shone</a>, she started the Top Up Truck to help us become sustainable.Only a true Londoner would know:&nbsp;To never swim in the Thames<img lazy="loading" src="https://images.aposto.com/1200xauto/2022/7/3/1661358758357.jpeg" style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" width="550" ratio="1.00" fr-original-style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">These are just some of Vinyl Pimp's favorite records<hr fr-original-style="" style="height: 0px; overflow: visible; border-bottom: none; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; box-sizing: border-box;"><h2 fr-original-style="" style="margin: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); font-weight: 500; padding: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">SHOOT THE BREEZE</h2>How long have you been living in London? What made you a Londoner?I first moved to London in 2005, straight after uni finished. I have always enjoyed my trips to London during my school breaks and decided to make it long-term.Where is your hood? How did it change since you moved in there? What are the side effects of gentrification?This is my 14th year as a resident of Hackney Wick in East London. It used to be full of young creatives living and working in warehouse spaces, but the property developers also got the memo, bought up a bunch of lands, and started building flats not too dissimilar to Ikea furniture. The main side effect of gentrification is the loss of character in the area, and it all looks and feels a bit same.What makes you keep going, holding on to London? What surprises you most about the city?My business and friends are what keep me here. I live in one of the remaining close-knit communities.<img lazy="loading" src="https://images.aposto.com/1200xauto/2022/7/3/1661343596616.jpeg" style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" width="550" ratio="1.00" fr-original-style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Luk Man Hon or Hon Gao<hr fr-original-style="" style="height: 0px; overflow: visible; border-bottom: none; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; box-sizing: border-box;">A place you are regular at on any given Sunday?The local farmer market is my go-to place on Sunday's, as I like to eat in season and chat face to face with the farmers and producers.Is London still a music capital? If so, in what way?London is still very much the cultural hub in the country. If we are speaking strictly in music, there are events of every style and genre just about any day of the week. Classical, metal, jazz, rock, or squat techno raves, we have got it covered.Any local gem you can share with us?Grow in Hackney Wick has a lovely view of the canal, and they are doing things right!A fast track for a fast-paced city?Goldie - Inner City Life

It was one of those days, one of those gloomy, rainy days of London. I was sitting at the table, facing the glass windows. On the other side, people were passing through, people with orange hats, and umbrellas tangled in the storm that would last about seven minutes, and people were rushing to catch the Overground. Dogs were there too, with their Burberry raincoats. And a fox, I saw.The waiter stood next to me at around 4.30 p.m. and asked “Would you like something else?”&nbsp; Yes! I wish it would stop raining, a nice stroll along the park, and go to a pub playing jazz. Or maybe that cocktail place with a shape for a name. The waiter announced they were closing down in a couple of minutes.That day, right after I left the shelter, the rain stopped. I hopped from pub to pub in search of a live gig, but I couldn’t find it. I ate tofu Bánh mì at Dalston, had a pint at The Spurstowe Arms met some people in front of the off-licence because I wanted to grab a beer while waiting in the queue for Brilliant Corners. Danced a while, drank Old Fashioned, and met some other people from Biarritz, Puglia, Colombia. At 1 a.m., the lights went on, and the music stopped. The sun wasn’t going up for another seven hours but that night I went home with a question in mind: London, are you still alive?<img src="https://images.aposto.com/2022/7/3/1661344277748.jpeg" style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" width="550" ratio="0.75" fr-original-style="display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Columbia Road Flower Market, Sunday&nbsp;<hr fr-original-style="" style="height: 0px; overflow: visible; border-bottom: none; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; box-sizing: border-box;">Aposto London was born right out of this feeling: Not to discover London but to rediscover it. Each week, every Tuesday, at 5 p.m. (GMT) you will receive a weekly dose of walk-in, plan ahead or last chance Hopping recommendations; meet a Londoner, gaze the city through their steps; get a sniff of What’s Cooking in the kitchen.Tag along, we’ll guide you to coffee shops that feel like home, South London late nights, places with a good cause, and date ideas you never thought of. Don’t forget to send this to your loved ones.Here we go, let’s London!Hazal

A weekly, practical zine to London for those who want to make this city their neighborhood. Every Tuesday.

Aposto London

Here we go, Londoner! Every Tuesday, you will receive a weekly dose of walk-in, plan ahead or last chance Hopping recommendations; meet a Londoner, gaze the city through their steps; get a sniff of What’s Cooking in the kitchen.