Thanks for 30+ years #Manchester #CityDailyPhoto...

It's two years now since Cornerhouse arthouse cinema and galleries moved down the road to HOME. HOME has become a second home to me, full of great films, theatre, art and many a happy evening spent at the bar and restaurant there too.

This sign at the old Cornerhouse Screen 1 remains in place today and it's appropriate for me in a way as, after 30 years in Manchester, I am about to relocate 445 km (277 miles) to St Leonard's-On-Sea, next to Hastings on the East Sussex coast. St Leonard's-On-Sea is, in my eyes, a little like a coastal version of Manchester's Northern Quarter.

This blog, nearly six years old, will continue to run but only when I'm on my regular return visits to Manchester (my latest idea is to cash in a pension and buy a small caravan in Cheshire or Lancashire, or as close to Manchester as such sites exist- we shall see). Please do join me from March 1st, at my new City Daily Photo blog, Chrissy by the Coast.

Monday Mural: Spear Street Sirens

Impressive artwork on Spear Street. Good enough to share with the Monday Mural.
Plus a nice new one from round the corner on Stevenson Square.

Tripping at St Philips

On Wilton St, just off of Chapel Street in Salford, St. Philip's Church. It was built almost 200 years ago, between 1822 and 1824.  Taking part in Inspired Sundays.

Weekend Reflections: A cuppa at Soup Kitchen

I sat and contemplated the other day at Soup Kitchen, trying to write my latest radio column but distracted by memories of the decades of fun, love, friendship, parenthood, laughs, culture, music, walks, work and political activism that I have enjoyed in my magnificent Manchester. Reflecting for Weekend Reflections.

Gateway to the Northern Quarter to go

David Kemp's Big Horn sculpture of a giant trombone on top of an old mill wall has marked the gateway to the Northern Quarter since 1999 (on Tib St and Church St). It's going to be moved elsewhere to make way for a new development...

Take that to The Bank

A former bank that has been a pub for as long as I can remember. What a good use of a bank! Named, of course, The Bank, it stands on Mosely and Nicholas Street. The wonderful Portico Library is upstairs in this building. 

I took this photo whilst waiting for some friends to help distribute bedding and food to the hundreds of homeless people in Manchester. Homelessness caused by the banks' crash in 2008 and the government's response to it.

Car in the arcade @lunyamcr #moritzcar

I'm not one to want to advertise products but this car in Barton Arcade made for such an interesting photo opp that I couldn't resist. I've even followed instructions re: a hashtag to win stuff at the Catalan deli who put it there. I'd donate food prizes to the many Manchester homeless people. Wish me luck!

Tripping in the city centre

How I often see Manchester :-)

Monday Mural: Strawberry Studios Forever...

 



Yesterday was partially spent at the Strawberry Studios exhibition in Stockport Museum. The legendary recording studio operated from 1967 to the 1990s, set up by the forerunners to 10cc. Mancunian and Stopfordian legends (and smaller artists) recorded here, as did musicians from the wider world of pop and rock. 

I've included some of the panels as photos to give you more information. Good to hear that Blossoms want to reopen the studio- hope it comes off.

One for Monday Mural.

Eric Stewart's Gibson guitar, used on many 10cc classic tracks.

Velbekomme Cafe

Checked out the new Scandinavian café in Chorlton in the week. Simple and stylish in decor. Good food with some nice vegan options.

Weekend Reflections: Here comes the flood

After the deluge comes an inevitable flood in the fields across the lowlands of the Cheshire countryside. Weekend Reflections.

Mr Thomas' Chop House

A city centre watering hole since 1870, Mr Thomas' Chop House retains its 19th Century charm almost 150 years later.  Here's a look around the inside. I must post an outside shot of its cast iron frame and terracotta block displaying Art Nouveau motifs another time.

HiP (Humanities in Public) Beyond Babel multilingual film festival

A really interesting evening at MMU for the HiP (Humanities in Public) Beyond Babel multilingual film festival. It shows the wonderful positivity of multiculturalism.The festival is free and there is another film this evening, I recommend you attend.

Talks and a very moving and inspiring French feature-length documentary (Le Cour du Babel ) set at a northern Paris school, called La Grange aux Belles. It tracked the academic year and the lives and development of the 24 students in the reception class, a term used for non-French speakers and which get their French up to speed so that they can join the main classes and lessons. 

The pupils were aged probably 11-13 and came from all over the world. They included a Jewish Serbian escaping neo-Nazi persecution of his family, girls from Mauritania, Ukraine, Senegal, Egypt and the UK, boys from Belarus, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Northern Ireland.

Demuth style on Hilton Street

A trip to Sacha's...

Gonna miss my lovely Manchester...

Monday Mural: The North amplifys

I've always admired the mural of amplifiers and sound systems on the Northern Pub on Oldham Street, so it's about time I added it to the worldwide Monday Mural collection! Have a good week.

Yesterday afternoon... #Manchester #MakeMayPay #StopTrumpMCR

Another day, another demo. For the fourth time since Trump's inauguration, thousands took to the streets of Manchester to protest about Trump and the special relationship with the UK that the unelected Teresa May is so keen to instil at any price. No to the Muslim ban, No to climate change denial, No to racism, sexism and discrimination against LGBTQI communities.

Next actions include the initial meeting of the Stand up to Trump Manchester group on Thursday 9th Feb, 5.30 Central Hall, Oldham Street, M1 and ongoing publicity for the national Our NHS demo in London on Saturday 4th March. It's great to see so many new and young faces getting involved- together we can make it a better and fairer world.