Winter may have its chilly fingers firmly round your throat but take heart. As the days grow even shorter and you develop a chesty cough waiting for the bus, you're guaranteed to find something here to warm you up - and all of it just around the corner. Whether it's 17th Century Christmas stockings, Ancient Greeks desperate about their conjugals or candlelight and children's voices on the frosty air. Think festive, think local, think Hackney.

Hackney Museum (tel: 0208 3563500/ www.hackney.gov.uk )
I Hackney runs until 20 February - an interactive exhibition which includes contributions from a wide range of residents describing why they like working or living in the Borough, a specially commissioned film, a family badge-making workshop (3 December) and even a replica 38 Routemaster, guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye.

Geffrye Museum (tel: 0207 7399893/ www.geffrye-museum.org.uk ) 
Until 19 February The West Indian Front Room: Memories and Impressions of Black British Homes examines the changing nature of the homes of generations of immigrants from the 1960s onwards. Photographs, interviews and artefacts from the Windrush Generation and their descendants detail how they settled into London life. On 10 December, 2pm and 3.30 pm, artist and performer Michael McMillan will give a talk exploring the significance of Christmas in African-Caribbean and Black British homes.

Now in its 16th year, Christmas Past: 400 Years of Seasonal Traditions in English Homes (29 November - 8 January) provides a welcome retreat from the demands of a modern day Christmas, and offers a feast for the eyes and soul as 12 period rooms are decorated in authentic festive style. Related Events include Find your Christmas Spirit, a special candlelight evening featuring a seasonal room talk, festive music from a gospel choir and children's workshops (8 December, 5 - 8 pm). There'll be a Concert by Candlelight at 8 pm on 15 December, and bid a traditional farewell to Christmas on 6 January at 4 pm, with traditional burning of the holly and the ivy, carol singing, stories of the Epiphany and some mulled wine and Twelfth Night cake.

Arcola Theatre (tel: 0207 503 1646/ www.arcolatheatre.com )
Following the huge success of Tartuffe earlier this year, Ranjit Bolt returns with a new translation of Aristophanes' Lysistrata - a sophisticated comedy in which the women of Athens join together to refuse their husbands sex until a treaty is signed to end the war with Sparta. A celebration of life as well as a condemnation of war, it explores the importance of the female psyche, the conflict between public and Entertainment private life and political hypocrisy. More timeless themes are explored in The Constant Prince, a new translation of a 1629 play from the Etha Theatre Company set during the Crusades, exploring the repercussions of a refusal to compromise between two monolithic religious convictions. Plus ça change.

Just a reminder that the Arcola Youth Theatre (ages 13-19) offers free evening courses. Call the theatre to learn about open days, auditions and taster sessions.

Rio Cinema (tel: 0207 241 9410/ www.riocinema.co.uk ) A varied choice, including the wizardry of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. At the time of going to press, the December listings had not been announced but check their website. There are the usual Sunday double-bill matinees, mother and baby screenings and don't forget the Saturday Morning Children's Film Club.

Hackney Empire (tel: 0208 985 2424/ www.hackneyempire.co.uk  ) 
Rid yourself of the ghastly memories of Cannon & Ball by sitting amidst gorgeous Victorian décor while you enjoy traditional family pantomime at its best. This year it's Jack and the Beanstalk (5 December - 7 January), which promises masses of audience participation and the most spectacular giant ever seen on stage.

Golden Wonder 
By Trevor Jones

'Ordered a pizza the other day, thin crusty supreme. Ten minutes later Diana Ross turned up'

Philip Goldsworthy better known as 'Goldie', Stokey's answer to Jack Nicholson, is the hottest stand-up comic to hit the area. Goldie started life in the National Youth Theatre where all his parts were comic - 'I was always Bottom when we did a Midsummer's Night Dream'. His National Youth Theatre contemporaries included Matt Lucas and David Walliams (Little Britain), Daniel Craig and many other household names. After the National Youth Theatre, he went into the film business as a wardrobe assistant. Films he has worked on include Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, Scott's Black Hawk Down and Burton's Sleepy Hollow. 

'Went into the bemusement arcade and just stood there' 

On location, he is often called on to do stand-up routines and impersonations. Goldie reckons that comedy is in his blood. His grandfather was a stand-up comic at the Hackney Empire and his father was a civil servant addicted to the Goons and Morecambe and Wise. He got into comedy after being a big hit at a Devon talent show organised by ex-Moody Blues, road manager, Pete Weber. Fuelled by this and other things he did a sell-out gig with Ed Tenpole Tudor at a local venue in November. Make sure you don't miss Goldie's next Stokey outing (to be announced on our website when details are
available). 

'My dog doesn't eat meat. Why not? We don't give him any'

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