Turkish restaurants, fried-chicken joints and bars line the E8’s main drag, which, depending on the cross street, is called Kingsland High Street, Stoke Newington Road or Stoke Newington High Street. On a recent Wednesday night, restaurants and bars were packed as if it were Friday. A preppy-looking line sprawled out onto the sidewalk in front of Dalston Superstore, a late-night cocktail bar. A few smokers lingered in the alley outside a wine bar just down the street from Barden’s Boudoir, a subterranean live-music venue. This particular night it was packed with a 20-something crowd who came to see three live bands fronted by tall, skinny, white dudes.

The full blog post is at INTELLIGENT LIFE.