CREDIT: SAMANTHA KACZALA
Collections is a new small museum in East London where viewers can go and enjoy the sights of retro antiques, toys and other memorabilia.

East Edge Press Works brings out Collections: A Gathering Place Unlike Any Other to it’s building at 790 Dundas St., in London. Collections is a small museum with a retro twist on its display shelves recently renovated to display the personal collection of the owner, John, who wanted to share his items with the community. Currently the artifacts are a gathering of antiques and retro memorabilia from the 1900s.

This coming Halloween, Collections will be hosting a late night party at the museum for people to enjoy gazing at the displays, playing games, eating delicious food and drink as well as dress up for a costume contest.

Ilana Walker, owner of Events Plus, who is working with Collections to host the Halloween party, said that people will be surprised by the classy vibe the museum gives off when you enter inside.

“Coming down here (east London), you don’t necessarily think you are going to find something like this. Every single person who comes here are thoroughly surprised by how fancy, classy and fun this place is.”

Walker, an alumni from Fanshawe, said that she was excited for students to become aware of this fun night.

“There’s going to be a dance party, billiards, a costume contest, and some other fun Halloween games. A fun night for everyone,” Walker said.

Walker explained that it was their shared goals, Events Plus’s and the owner of the collections’, which was what brought about the Halloween event.

“I’ve worked for a lot of fundraising and helping the music and arts community in London, so bringing community, culture and art to the east end of London, bring this community together, is a really big focus,” Walker said.

Collections is home to other works outside the personal collection from the community, such as some of its walls being painted in graffiti from local artists.

“From the fine edge tables being made by a local artist to the furniture being found at Funky Find down the street, there is a big focus on community. Whether it’s in London or the surrounding area,” Walker said, “Here, we really want to bring the community these type of events where you don’t have to travel to Toronto or New York City to experience it. We are bringing that vibe to London.”

Walker explained that for future events, the works would be changed to match the theme.

“The artifacts will be changed out that we do depending on the theme of the event. Just to switch it up and show different art pieces,” Walker said, “We are thinking about opening up the museum on a more regular basis. In the future, because this event is a 19 plus event, we are hoping to have family days. John (the owner), has a collection of games and retro toys and that would be really cool to be able to play around with it. So we have lots more in store.”

Walker stated that they have plans to hold more events and hold markets right outside to promote community and interaction within the east end London community.

The 19 plus Halloween event is on Oct. 27 at 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with tickets being $10 in advance and $15 at the door for the night. To learn more information and to buy tickets to the event, visit “Collections: A Haunted Gathering” on Facebook on their events page.