Month: February 2010

Manchester – Arts & Entertainment – Theatres

I cannot remember all the names of the great and well-known actors who graced the stage of the Library Theatre, but I know that Alan Rickman was one of them. The theatre is located at the lower ground floor of Manchester Central Library and regularly brings some of the best plays to the Mancunian public. Most recently, they staged Bertolt Brecht’s Good Person of Szechwan and the new adaptation of the Grimm tales by the newly crowned Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. I personally went there to see All of My Sons and The Price by Arthur Miller, and a poignant drama The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard.

The great thing about the Library Theatre is that you can actually come in for a rehearsal. I have never done this before, although I’d love to! As far as the sound and all the usual characteristics of a theatre go, the Library Theatre is certainly not huge. It is an intimate space, which possibly is ideal for such serious dramas, as Miller’s plays.

And on the food side, while everything is good as far as the theatre buffet goes, I’m the rare one for their Welsh ice-cream!

 

Manchester

For the lack of better word, I call this composition “The Monument to Cleanliness”. There is no plaque gracing the pedestal, on which is mounted a massive broom. By the side of the pedestal stands a spade. For a poetic soul this will be the place where God left his cleaning instruments and went in for a curry and a pint. And naturally, forgot to go back to collect them.

Jokes aside, this seems to be one of the least known landmarks in Manchester. It stands just across the road from the former post office in Thomas St, and is hard to ignore. But it seems to have assimilated with the rest of the street to such extent that it’s become a natural and hence unimportant part of it. Sadly so, I think.

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Cafes & Coffee Shops

This has to be my favourite Caffe Nero in Manchester! I’ve been to many, but none seems to strike the cord with me apart, maybe, from CN by Piccadilly train station.

Location is one huge plus here. It is simply beautiful to sit at the tall tables by the window and watch Cross St, while drinking your espresso. Or to find a place in that cosy corner to the right where you can sink in leather armchairs.

What I especially like about this Caffe Nero is that it kind of falls into several parts; however the division is only nominal, there are no barriers anywhere. There is a space to the left of the door where you can sit on tall chairs; there is a space to the right, with leather sofas; walk up a couple of steps, and you are in the area that is divided from the other two by the bar. This latter space is often used by businessmen for their meetings.

This Caffe Nero is best visited in the morning when Cross St is not too busy. You will be looking at Eagle House, in particular; and Cross St is one of architecturally impressive streets in Manchester city centre. Towards lunch it gets busier, of course, and the next best time to come hither is after 4pm, especially in the winter season when the night settles earlier.

They always do a good selection of cakes and sandwiches, and their coffee is simply the best. In Cross St they offer you booklets telling more about the history of Caffe Nero, coffee, and different caffeinated drinks they can make for you. This is useful if you wondered how many espresso shots are used to make a latte or a macchiato.

 

Manchester

Tucked between a travel agent and an outlet that keeps changing hands is the entrance to Speakers House. This multistoried building was erected on a bomb site that was used after the war as an equivalent to Hyde Park’s ‘speakers corner’. By 1963, it seems, city authorities decided that freedom of speech needs not to take up too much space, and so Speakers House went up.

Back in the day the building used to house the American Express offices. Nowadays it is occupied by marketing and media companies, and must be a typical example of 1960s architecture. Interestingly enough, the Mancunian population seem to be all but oblivious to its existence. Considering that before the building there used to be a soapbox, can it be that this is how – with indifference – we also treat our rights?

Speakers House is found at the top end of Deansgate. If you are turning from St Mary’s Gate, the glass entrance to the building is currently between Kayoo Travel and Ladbrokes. And if you walking in Deansgate past Moon in the Water, Speakers House is on the opposite side of the road, facing Tesco and Travel Finder.

 

Manchester

Adrift is a 1907 group by the Irish-born sculptor, John Cassidy (1860-1939). The monument used to be in Platt Fields Park (just like Abraham Lincoln statue that is now in Lincoln Square), but has recently been moved to St Peter’s Square. It can be found practically between the Central Library and Town Hall extension.

The original plaque explains the meaning of this moving work:

‘Humanity adrift on the sea of life, depicting sorrows and dangers, hopes and fears and embodying the dependence of human beings upon one another, the response of human sympathy to human needs, and the inevitable dependence upon human aid’ (J. Cassidy).

Being me, I cannot help but make an observation. You see, the entire sculpture faces the metrolink and a bus stop. With all the changes to tram lines in the last few years, as well as the regular liver-venting of other public transport users, it is hard not to notice a certain irony in what monument is being placed, and where. Whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, half of the population of Greater Manchester is found adrift, at the mercy of engines and timetables, withstanding the impossible pressure of not opting in for a taxi, having given up the hope for a bus arriving on time.

I am not at all inviting us to read more into Cassidy’s monument than there is. Trams were more of a dream than reality in 1907, as well as buses. But every time I go past the sculpture on the bus, I realise that it means more to me. I am sure the city authorities will see my point and introduce changes to the public transport service. I hope they don’t decide that the easiest thing to do is to move the monument…

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Restaurants

I studied Tudor History, so to me The Old Wellington has always been THE place. I’ve always loved it, even before I started visiting it quite regularly. I go there now and again on my own, as well as with friends, and am likely to visit this weekend because I’ve not been for a while, and I miss it.

But frankly, one needs not to be an historian to understand how great it is to sit inside the inn that existed already in 1550s. To touch that old timber and wooden nails. To watch the lighted facade of Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and people drinking in the yard between Old Wellington, Sinclair’s, and Mitra. Whether you are drinking wine or beer, the feeling of descending into the depth of history is complete.

I’ve tried different dishes from their menu (mainly traditional English, but they offer a risotto, too), and my favourites are meat platter, risotto, and Shepherd pie. They do good ice-cream, but an apple pie with custard is just the right order to round off the lovely meal.

The very top floor is sometimes closed for visitors, but if you do get the chance to go there, certainly do. There is nothing like sitting under the timber roof that was assembled and reassembled a few times, or having to walk under a low beam, short of accidentally banging your head against it. I love bringing friends there, or just casually talking to people who, like me, enjoy their food and drinks.

The wine list always has good selection, but I often browse their beer list for some seasonal favourites. Sadly, they don’t always stock my choice, but I usually find a good substitute in some form of a silky smooth bitter.

 

Manchester – Shopping – Books – Shopping – Books – Waterstone’s

Upon my word, today I have bought a book at Waterstone’s. And I have bought a plenty of books at different branches over the last 6.5 years. I’ve shopped at Waterstone’s in London, Carmarthen, Llandudno, and Bolton, as well as Manchester Arndale and in Trafford Centre, but it is primarily Waterstone’s in Deansgate that makes my heart beat faster.

Their best selections, as far as I am concerned, are centered on Literature, Cinema, Photography and Art, Business, and Personal Development. The book I bought today is on the latter subject; but in the past I’ve been bringing home the classic novels, books on films, dictionaries and language guides, and a plenty of other stuff that now makes my flat look like a miniature British Library.

The great thing about this particular Waterstone’s is its location. The main entrance and exit is on Deansgate, but you can always sneak through the back door and find yourself in St Ann’s Square. And while you are in the store you can browse shelves and flick through the books at the same time as you observe people and traffic from the window.

Costa Coffee that has long partnered with Waterstone’s is located on the top floor, and makes for a good stop after intensive shelf-browsing. Last but not least, this particular branch regularly hosts meetings with authors and celebrities; last year they greeted Ken Loach and Guillelmo del Toro. Keep your eye on the printed announcements at the counter when you pay for your books.

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Bars

Simple was one of the first Manchester bars I visited, it was in 2006, and it happened thanks to Futuresonic annual festival. Since then I’ve been there quite a few times, and even celebrated their 7th birthday in 2008.

For food they offer a good selection of pizzas, and drinks at the bar never disappoint. They also squeeze fresh orange juice for the healthiest of us.

I’ve always loved Simple’s interior. It is fairly laid-back but stylish, and their outdoor seating may be the symbol of what Northern Quarter is about. You are in the busy street and yet sufficiently above the maddening noise. You are in a trendy place but everyone is chilling out. You can be yourself and enjoy the company and drinks. What more can you wish for?

Better yet, Simple is one of those places in Manchester who cleverly utilise the power of Social Media. They accumulate fans and keep them updated with the help of Facebook, as well as spread the word about special offers, happy hours, and seasonal events.

Located at the bottom end of Tib Street (close to city centre), Simple is easy to find. They have Affleck’s Palace and Hedonist hairdressers for the neighbours, as well as a few adult shops and a Birkama Yoga studio. However you may like to think about it, it is a very well located bar, as Simple as that.

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Restaurants

Piccolino in Didsbury is to be found in a busy street under the lovely name of Lapwing Lane. It is a trendy, if not posh, place to wine and dine in Italian style. I had a Christmas meal there in 2008 with a few friends, we had a huge table, and were served by the real Italian staff. Let’s face it: after traditional English chippies run by Chinese ladies and popular Italian restaurants where waiters and cooks are British one has to make a notice of a place where it all suddenly comes together: Italian food – Italian staff.

They served us olives and ciabattas for a starter, and I personally opted in for a mushroom risotto, which was delicious, especially accompanied by white wine. Thanks to festive time, the restaurant was busy, but the service was impeccable. Oh, and coffee was awesome!

 

Manchester – Eating & Drinking – Pubs & Bars – Bars

The original Kro Bar is located just opposite The University of Manchester Student Union, and is always packed with students and academics alike. Everyone enjoys a pint or cuppa, after all…

I have drunk and eaten on both floors, as well as in beer garden, and the rooms on the top floor have to be my favourite. I love their leather sofas, wooden tables, large windows, and high ceilings. The view from the window may not be the most spectacular one, but on a summer evening, when there are not many students around, there is something lovely about watching the not-so-busy Oxford Road.

They do good coffees, and in the morning and early afternoon there is usually a good selection of cakes. As far as food goes, they offer a mix of traditional English and Italian choices on their menu. I personally love their pasta and mussels, with a glass of crisp white wine.