A blast from the past

Check out Mike Dash’s fascinating blog here. ‘History with all the interesting bits left in,’ indeed.

A T-shirt for every day of the year

Explains itself, really.

After the apocalypse

James Chadderton’s exhibition of imagined post-apocalyptic visions of well-known locations in Manchester is at the Incognito Gallery in the city’s Northern Quarter until the New Year. See the BBC slideshow here.

The Art of Sitting on One’s Hands

A story from David Stedman published at 330 Words: ‘The Art of Sitting on One’s Hands’

The Electric Soft Parade – live review

Returning to the live fold after a three-year absence, any nerves ESP’s Tom and Alex White may have vanish after they blast through ‘Start Again’ and the perfect slice of pop that is ‘Empty at the End’. More:

7 billion people and you: What’s your number?

4,731,503,080… according to the BBC.

Manchester’s Northern Quarter

Artwork at Afflecks (formerly Affleck’s Palace), Northern Quarter, Manchester

A brilliantly eclectic patch where life’s achievers and idlers jostle indiscriminately, the Northern Quarter is a truly special part of Manchester. Think of it as a miniature Amsterdam, albeit without the water. That said, it’s not difficult to picture a barge negotiating an imaginary Thomas Street canal, dominated as the area is by lofty former storehouses and pre-war architecture.

Loosely defined as the area between Shudehill and Piccadilly Basin, the Northern Quarter is renowned for its quirky bars and eateries as well as its vibrant music and fashion outlets. There is plenty here to suit all tastes and enough to keep any visitor busy for hours.

In summer, pavement tables abound, and there’s no finer place to sit and enjoy lunch. Even when the legendary Mancunian rain takes hold, there’s something romantic about being snug inside one of the many local pubs or people-watching in the bars while it’s throwing it down outside.

Find useful Northern Quarter-related links here (opens in new window).