Tomorrow is the first day in Margate’s big weekend. Tracy Emin is wriggling into a Westwood frock (probably) to cut the ribbon on the new Turner Contemporary gallery, and kicking off two weeks of celebrations in the town.

I have a vested interest – I own a flat in Margate, and sincerely hope that the gallery and linked regeneration projects work for this beautiful, shabby, eccentric town. The last week has seen lots of positive publicity, as well as Brian Sewell slagging off the building and its contents in yesterday’s Evening Standard. Which also must be a good thing, I think.

Photograph: Richard Bryant/arcaidimages.com

There has been criticism of the ‘shed’-like quality of the building, but with a flat on the cliff just behind it, I can see how the light and sea will play on the walls to make it an endlessly shifting canvas in itself. Seeing Vox Pops on the news, with local people saying the money should have gone on a leisure centre, I know there’s a long way to go, but I remember the Tate being built in St Ives, and many in the local community voicing similar opinions.

Margate Revealed by Lauren A Wright

I know for sure that I’ll go down for a visit later in the summer – I want to combine the gallery visit with a swim on the huge, soft sand beach. And by the sounds of it, the Old Town is well worth another shopping trip. I reported about a year ago on the influx of vintage shops and cafes, but it seems there’s plenty more to see, including a new craft and brik-a-brak market on Sundays. This Guardian guide gives you an idea. All I can say is I really hope the opening weekend goes great, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good weather.