The nice people at the City Inn in Manchester invited me to bring three friends along to try out their Sex and the City-themed cocktails – and I was only too happy to oblige. Not only did I get to catch up with my friends, drink some fancy drinks, but we didn’t even have to watch the film (I can’t not speak and sit still for two and a half hours).
On the balmy summer evening when I posted all these Castlefield photos, we decided to check out Choice Restaurant. I’ve heard it’s supposed to be good, but when you get off the bus at Piccadilly it’s a right hike to get out to Castlefield so had never tried it out.
Anyway, we were there and we were hungry AND they had a two courses for £12.95 offer on. The modern British menu definitely tempted our tastebuds so onwards we went. Showing its raw original brick arches to their full potential, the decor was understated, with a clean finish. So far, so good.
Remember that sunny weekend in Manchester? The sun came out, got us all excited about summer and then disappeared again.
Castlefield is absolutely the best place to be in Manchester when the sky is vibrantly blue, and the sun is beaming away. At the weekends, the canal basin area is full of beer-drinking pub goers. But we went down on Monday evening, and apart from at Dukes 92, we only saw joggers and a few people out walking.
We were invited to test out the City Inn’s new spring menu a couple of weeks ago on a similarly sunny evening, which led to a cocktail binge round the Northern Quarter with Mr Manchester Is Ace.
The City Inn is a place that has really developed in the last few years – in fact who can remember what was there before it appeared? Its surroundings are ultra-modern offices and an swanky apartment block, completely tranforming the previously grotty Piccadilly approach area. The new footbridge, which takes you over to Piccadilly station, means that the outdoor terrace is great for attracting passers by.
Manchester is playing host to its first Food Summit tomorrow (Monday, May 24, 2010) to create a new forum for the food and drink industry to discuss important issues affecting them at the moment.
There is an impressive line up of events, with a key note speech from Matthew Fort. The Guardian food reviewer is a hero of mine since I read his book about travelling around Sicily while I was there on my honeymoon, and marvelled at the sheer amount of food that one human can consume.
The event is organised by Edge Street Events, who also run Manchester Food and Drink Festival and takes place at the Ramada Manchester Piccadilly.
It was a tropically sunny day for Manchester’s Open City photography day today, and the city centre was heaving with red-faced, skimpily-dressed Mancunians enjoying the rays. I was assigned to Andrew Brooks (pictured just below), who creates the most amazing hyper-real photographs using Photoshop.
By taking numerous images of the same scene, including wide lens shots, close ups and different weather conditions, he layers different parts together to create a type of ‘photo painting’. The result is a very deep and detailed image full of atmosphere. Take a look at his photo gallery for all the images, including fantasy images created from Andrew’s imagination using different component photographs.
Photo by Andrew Brooks
Now this is an event which is right up my street. After spending a considerable amount of money on a beautiful Nikon I still haven’t read the instruction booklet (much to the amusement of my friends).
Manchester’s Cityco has organised an Open City photography day which gives up to 100 people the chance to be taken on a free two hour photography tour and tutorial around the city centre on Sunday, May 23.
It’s exciting times, people of Manchester! For Artisan du Chocolat has landed in Selfridges. The divine chocolate company has finally branched out of the Big Smoke and made it’s way up North. And that’s because we all know that Manchester is Ace!
We’ve not had a gourmet chocolate maker (although I’m sure someone can correct me) in Manchester, since Plasir du Chocolat in the Royal Exchange and Harvey Nichols closed down and sadly went into administration. Obviously the Chocolate Cafe in Ramsbottom does amazing things, but it’s not on my walk home after work.
That famous nudey artist Spencer Tunick is coming to Manchester on May 1 and 2. But no, he doesn’t get naked himself. He wants YOU the people of Manchester to whip off your togs and show some skin.
Does he not KNOW how cold it is in Manchester? Well, dear reader, I’d love to tell you I was going to take part in this piece of art history in the name of journalism. But erm, I’m busy that day. And I’m not stripping off, especially when I’ve been eating Easter Eggs all day (yes I know it’s not Easter Sunday yet.) read more
Red Chilli, I’ve been told by many, is one of the best restaurants in Manchester. And this is by people who’ve actually been to London (unlike my provincial self).
And since I started going about a month ago, it’s now my favourite restaurant in Manchester too. Actually I’d like it better if it wasn’t a chain, but that’s food snobbery for you.
And I didn’t even let my first terrible experience put me off.
I knew it was going to be spicy but I didn’t really consider how spicy it would be. SO I merrily ordered the mixed meat and seafood clay pot and happily drunk my house sauvignon blanc (which is not bad for a ‘housey’).
