Cherry

The long-awaited inaugaral Cherry Kingpins Bowl and Booze evening kicked off – or rolled off, rather – last Friday night at the superb All-Star Lanes, downstairs from our studio in The Old Truman Brewery. The gauntlet thrown down late last year by Cherry was picked up by rival agency Display Digital, who talked the talk in the build-up, but looked decidedly sluggish on the evening due to a pre-match curry down Brick Lane.

Cherry, however, opted for a far superior warm-up routine. Two bottles of Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout (10.1% by volume!) gave our elite team a Ready Brek-style glow. What maniac decided to combine beer and chocolate to send our pleasure sensors into overdrive?

Display got off to a flyer, however, with their man-machine ‘Magic’ Mark Hanlon scattering the skittles with a succession of strikes. Their second man, Steve ‘Lemonade’ Levin, put in a steady performance, while their secret weapon bringing up the rear, a man known only as ‘The Apprentice’, found the only ball fitted with a gutter-magnet.

Class began to shine through though, as a black sambuca topup gave Cherry the imputus to grind out results in the crucial ‘last third’ of the game.

A late volley of strikes from Mark Hanlon almost nicked it at the death, but Cherry held on to secure a famous 317–288 point victory.

The Display Digital boys put on a competitive show with Mark Hanlon, coming out as the highest scoring individual, but at the end of the day the team effort from Cherry ensured the glory was theirs!

A highly enjoyable evening was had by all, with bowling itself coming out as the real winner.

Keep your eye on the scores as a trophy will be presented to the highest scoring team at the end of the year. If you haven’t done so already, get your team together and drop us an email if you think you have what it takes to win!

There’s been a real renaissance in the art of the hand-made here in London recently. Just walk around Spitalfields Market in the run-up to Christmas and you’ll be presented with dozens of independent traders lovingly sewing, knitting and stitching an array toys and gifts for shoppers looking for one-off pieces with a little more substance than the usual mass-produced stuff available on the high street. It’s good to see.

Those wanting more should head to Bust Magazine’s Christmas Craftacular – until now confined to New York and LA, this year the indie craft extravaganza comes to London. Happening on 6th December right next to Euston Station, it promises drinks, DJs and classes on making your own gifts. Perfect if the Credit Crunch is hindering your Xmas shopping.

For those unable to make it, there’s Etsy, a wonderful site with over 100,000 independent sellers offering handmade goods ranging from original illustrations to dancing robots. Coming over like a more wholesome eBay, it makes Oxford Street seem very unappealing indeed.

To celebrate the opening of All Star Lanes in The Old Truman Brewery here on Brick Lane, we’re holding regular Cherry Kingpins events throughout 2009, starting in January.

The rules are simple. Cherry Kingpins (an elite Cherry bowling/drinking team) extend an invite to all our clients and friends to come down and challenge us. You’ll need a team of four (no ringers please), and be able to bowl with one hand while holding a Zombie in the other.

Want to take part? Drop us an email or give us a call, and we’ll take on your challenge at the next available Cherry Kingpins night. We can accommodate one team per night, so get in quick.

Keep an eye out for updates and scores as the year progresses.

Below is an example of simple design that strips the message down to the bare essentials. However, surely once the curtains have been drawn the sign should be turned round and read ‘do not disturb?’

While sat at the table last night enjoying a second helping of Sunday roast, though already full from the first, my housemate borrowed a great quote from Oscar Wilde and reassured me that:

“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.”

I guess then we should all dare to be a little more decadent!

Cherry recently jumped at the chance to get involved with the branding and design for the superb underground club night Not in Kansas Anymore, run by our great friend Guillermo Ramos… not least so we could secure tickets to see bands like The Duke Spirit in a venue smaller than your average front room.

We created the branding, and our superbly talented illustrator Chris Floyd let his strange mind loose on a set of twelve illustrations. The illustrations are being used, one at a time, on the flyers for the once-a-month nights. They’re collectable, and fit together to make a poster. Look out for them, and if you get the chance, join us at the next Not in Kansas Anymore night soon.