AllFm

On Saturday, myself and Helen Power will be on Allfm. We shall be on at 11:15am for a few minutes talking about this blog and my attempt to kill myself slowly with kebabs.

You can listen on 96.9fm if you live in South and East Manchester or you can listen live online.

Listen in.

Levy Tweetup #3 - Thursday 14th October 2010

DATE AND VENUE CHANGE: This event is now taking place on Thursday 14th October at The Horseshoe on Chapel St.


In case you didn't already know, Levenshulme has a strong Twitter community (including @lovelevenshulme where we tweet about new stuff on the blog and other nonsense as it pops into our heads - follow us!) and has already hosted two tweetups. I'm pretty sure we were the first area in Manchester to host our own tweetup (meetup/drink and a chat, for the uninitiated) and Twitter is a great place to keep up with what your fellow Levyites are up to.



Anyway, enough Twitter propaganda (Twopaganda?) - Levenshulme Twitter folk will return to The Bluebell on Barlow Road on Tuesday 12th October for Tweetup number 3. Tuesday night is quiz night at The Bluebell and it would be churlish of us not to field a team, right? Right?! For those less ridiculously over-competitive than I, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to chat and meet new people away from the quiz too. Attendees will assemble around 7.30pm and the event will surely be covered on Twitter for anyone who can't make it in person.

Levenshulme, The Movie

Well, not quite, but a really touching video (in HD, no less) from Chris Coleman, a film maker who's lived in the area since 2008. I really like the film (well, I guess I would, right?), the way it captures the buzz and the movement around Stockport Road and the stillness away from it really sums up what I like about living so close to Manchester but yet so far, and the mix of everyday people doing their personal version of everyday things is a nice showcase for the diversity all around us.

Chris managed to speak to a lot of the people in the film too and found them all welcoming which I think speaks volumes about our community. And so much to see, too - as Chris says "there's so much beauty around here, if you take time to look for it". The music, in case you're interested, is Te Busco by Celia Cruz.



You can view the video on YouTube here without the technical issues that you may have noticed above.

Levenshulme Festival Preview - Creative Cityscape

As promised this is the first of our previews of events at the Levenshulme Festival, and since this weekend is Bankley Studio's open weekend I thought it would be a good idea to feature one of their events for those of you who can't make it (or for those of you who do and want to go back for more).

Creative Cityscape is a free children's workshop which can be enjoyed by all ages and it's being held on Saturday 23rd October from 12.00noon to 4.00pm. Participants will help draw and build a city that "surpasses all others through imagination and creativity...to make the most diverse and creative city in the world – in Levenshulme". I'm forever banging on about the wealth of creativity in Levenshulme and this seems like a good chance to show off - with drawing, collage and sculpture budding artists young and old can add to the skyline to create "a floating park of the future, a farmpartment or a museum of pencils..."

Bankley Studios Open and Processed Limitations

Having greatly enjoyed Axel Bottenberg's Duck Shoot Dino Rescue show at the Bankley House Studios Gallery, I vowed to go back and it looks like this weekend is the perfect oppurtunity. The studios are holding their annual open day, giving Levenshulme residents (and those from further afield, we like visitors!) a chance to see the art and exhibition space in the middle of our community. The studios opened in 1992 and became a co-operative in 1998. They have around 30 Artists in residence working in textiles, photography, installation, sculpture and ceramics and all of those studios will be open for the public to look around from 11.00am to 6.00pm on Saturday and 11.00am to 4.00pm on Sunday.

Running concurrently in the main exhibition space is by "Processed Limitations", an exhibition of drawing pieces from recent MA graduates from MMU, Stephen Ashdown, JoMcGonigal and Evangelia Spiliopoulou . The work is described as "visually dissimilar and technically diverse with a highly individual aesthetic outcome". The exhibition runs through the weekend from 12.00noon to 5.00pm and the same times next weekend (2nd/3rd October)

Short notice, I'm afraid, but the lovely folk at POD will be hosting a coffee morning on Friday from 10.00am to 12.00noon with all proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning appeal. I'm not sure what POD have got planned but their yummy range of cakes and coffees are sure to be involved and they'll also have more details of an upcoming Macmillan charity arts auction.

Levenshulme Residents Forum

Levenshulme Community Association and other residents associations in the area are organising a get together for residents to discuss local issues under the banner Levenshulme Residents Forum. The meeting will take place at the Klondyke Club on Burnage Range, just off Albert Road on Saturday 2nd October. The meeting will run between 7.00pm - 9.00pm and food be provided.

This is not a political blog, we're very aware that the Community Association, the Friends of Levenshulme and other groups work very hard to raise the issues that matter to residents and champion their cause and they do a great job. We at LoveLevenshulme like to hope that our attempts to highlight all the good stuff that's happening here adds something to Levenshulme's community, but there's only so far that nice stories about fun stuff can go. Please, if you care about Levenshulme, or even just your smaller area or street do get involved and support these great groups. Levenshulme is a great place to live and it's getting better but that's thanks to the continued hard work of a lot of people behind the scenes. They need your ideas, feedback and support so please do come along to this event and see what you can do.

OK, rant over, I promise not to do it again for a while. This is what comes of saving up things to write about - I get overcome with excitement about what's happening and before you know it I'm impassioned and look where that gets us! It does relate to something I've been meaning to put down on here for a while though, so here goes...

When I took over this blog it was on a bit of a whim, really. I've lived her for a while and never really got to know my neighbours and this seemed like and interesting way to try. What I never expected were the discoveries that I've made about Levenshulme's sense of community and how much that is developing. There really is great stuff happening here on our doorsteps and there is an immense sense of goodwill to these new enterprises. Everywhere I go I meet new people who want to see Levensulme do well and are prepared to invest their time in energy in making things happen. Maybe it's always been about and I've never given myself the chance to notice it before but I am pleased to say how immensely proud I am call Levenshulme home.

Levenshulme Festival - Programme Now Online

The programe for this year's Levenshulme Festival, which runs at various venues throughout Levy from Friday 22nd October to Sunday 7th November 2010 is now online.

We'll be picking out some highlights in the coming weeks and...possibly....potentially...no promises....there might be some exciting developments regarding the festival from LoveLevenshulme. In the mean time I thought it would be a good idea to get the excitement building...Anyone got any highlights they want to tell us about or anything they think deserves a special mention? Comment below or email lovelevenshulme@gmail.com

One of the most notable events on there is the opening of Levenshulme Inspire which we will endeavor to cover. Hop over to their site where they have more details on the plans for the centre and details on their vacancy for a Centre Bookings Co-ordinator

Nawaab Dinner in Aid of Pakistan Flood Victims

The other excitement in what is being called by many "Levenshulme's Night of a Thousand Stars" (no one is calling it that, I get a little overexcited sometimes, you may have noticed) is a charity dinner at the Nawaab being organised by Riverside ECHG in aid of the children displaced by the recent flooding in Pakistan.

The dinner takes place on 23rd September and tickets are £20.00 per head, which buys you a three course dinner, unlimited soft drinks, stalls and entertainment by local children. In case you haven't been to Nawaab this is a great excuse to make your first visit to a Levenshulme institution (and favourite of Manchester Confidential) and help a great cause. And if you've been before...well, you don't need me to tell you why you should go again.

Contact Tracy Atherley or Nazia Zia for tickets.

EDIT: Since I messed up on the date of the Music Hall event at the Kingsway there is even more reason to go to this since they no longer clash. Sadly, it does render the whole "Levenshulme's Nights of a Thousand Stars" thing a bit redundant but I'm leaving it in because I like the idea! Maybe one day we will have so many events here in Levenshulme that I will need a whole army of people to get the dates wrong for me!

Music Hall and Pies at The Kingsway

Saturday 2nd October sees the inaugural outing of Flanagans Celebrated Music Hall at the Kingsway. The billing appears to be something of a secret at the moment, although the poster promises a host of performances from Levenshulme folk (and I've heard a rumour that there will be a performance from one of the team behind POD). Tickets are £5.00 and can be purchased in advance from POD and The Kingsway.

The entertainment starts at 8.00pm and the interval they are also playing host to the fantastically named Great Levenshulme Pie Occasion and anyone who brings a home made pie will get in to the whole evening's entertainment for free. Even if you don't bring a pie there will be opportunities to taste peoples' offerings, so at the very least you can pick up some future pie inspiration. If you'd like to bring a pie you can collect containers from POD and The Kingsway.

All proceeds for the evening go to West Point Residents Association and will be put towards future community events.

doodlelove - Levenshulme Cards, Stationery and Prints

Having briefly mentioned doodlelove in my report on POD I thought I'd get in touch with the folks behind it to check their Levenshulme provenance! It turns out to be the brainchild of the lovely Lela, a designer and illustrator who does indeed live in Levenshulme, not far from POD, and does all her design work from home. The doodlelove range includes wedding stationery, greeting cards and prints which can be bought through her Etsy store or at POD (and other places in Manchester, but why would you want to go to the other places?!). All the doodlelove designs are customisable and there's a Facebook page which showcases new designs and stockists.

So there you go, yet more arty stuff going on in Levenshulme.

One of my personal reasons for loving Levenshulme is that it has always been possible to shop entirely locally for groceries and household goods. With the growth in home-based businesses and the wealth of creative people in Levenshulme that's expanding to include fun stuff too - what with doodlelove, Pink Custard, all the goodies on sale at the craft fairs and the spaces to hire in POD it wouldn't be hard to throw a pretty fine Levy-sourced party...

Vintage Night at The Retreat Cafe

The Retreat Cafe on Stockport Road (just over the road from The Antiques Village) is holding a vintage night on Saturday 11th September.



Vintage clothing is understandably encouraged and there will be community singing of old time music hall songs and traditional food (cottage and steak & kidney pies and stew) will be on offer from 6.00pm for the bargaintastic price of £3.50.

Axel Bottenberg at Bankley House Studios and Gallery

Bankley House Studios and Gallery are opening their doors for the next two weekends to show works from Axel Bottenberg, supported by Imitate Gallery. They describe his work as "a dizzying array of imagery incorporating both classic and contemporary iconography in a technically brilliant visual mashup".

The galleries will be open from 1.00pm to 6.00pm on both weekends with a coffee and cake event on Sunday 12th and a closing down sale on Saturday 18th.

POD, At Last

I finally got a chance to visit POD today. I have actually been in before, but not under a LoveLevenshulme remit and doing so, and feeling emboldened to chat to the staff as a result, paid big dividends. I always knew that when I got round to writing this post it would be a little...gushing. POD have made no secret of their intention to be involved in the community and I'd already heard good things on that front from other visitors so I was prepared to be smitten. And I wasn't disappointed.

First up, the basics for those of you who don't know - POD is sited in the old Post Office Depot (hence the name, Post Office Deli) on Albert Road. They've done a nice restoration job with some fancy-schmancy wallpaper, local art on the walls and a few remnants of the old building dotted around (in particular a lovely wooden pigeon-hole wall and some tin signs denoting local postal destinations, both of which I would kill to own). They serve food from breakfast through to late afternoon, with a good range of breakfasts, sandwiches and hot food (I have my eye on the corn beef hash next time) as well as daily specials using organic produce where possible.

They've done a good job on the local producers front; all their bread is from Barbakan in Chorlton and they've sold cakes and tray bakes made in Levenshulme, both by the owners and local suppliers, including Pink Custard. There was also a notice on the serving counter of the cafe asking patrons to sign to support their licence application, which would allow take-outs of organic wines and beers, so if I haven't persuaded you enough already there's a good reason to get down there and sign it yourself!

The deli operation runs alongside the cafe; a great selection of organic and fair trade produce, including more Barbakan goods and dried chilies from local producer whose name I didn't note down, can anyone enlighten me? You can also pre-order bread - order and pay for your choice of Barbakan bread before midday and you can pick it up from 8.00am til closing time the next day (apart from Sunday). In addition to the food are greetings cards made by Levy residents Doodlelove and crafts from Marie Crook's I Made This For You label. I got the impression that POD like working with local creative types so get in touch if you think you've got something they might like.



They also have a small room upstairs which would be perfect for a book group or other small meeting with more local art on the walls, and they've rented the space downstairs for evening gatherings too. Most excitingly of all, and why I feel very guilty about the tardiness of this post, POD has been shortlisted for Best Food and Drink Retail Outlet in the Manchester Food and Drink Awards, which is a fantastic achievement given the short time they've been open. Go and vote for them now, now, now! And while you're at it you can also nominate for them in the Best Family Friendly Venue.

So that's it - I loved POD just as much as I expected to and they met my high expectations in terms of their community engagement too. There seem to have been plenty of developments in their stock range and menu since I first went in when they'd just opened too, which bodes well for the future.

Nice and Spice

Foolishly I have agreed to eat from every kebab house in Levenshulme. I have already tried Persian Tasty Grill (which was awesome) and today is the turn of Nice and Spice (on Levy High Street).

We had been out to see Rhod Gilbert at the Lowry and decided that we would get a post-comedy curry. We were hoping to try the Red Cherry at the top of the High Street but it was shut so we carried on down until we found Nice and Spice.

We parked up and walked in. The first thing we saw on the menu was "a whole chicken on naan". Boom.

How can you not try that? It is not possible to see that on a menu and not order it. Seriously, I am no longer sure I can eat out in place that doesn't do a "whole chicken on naan". I am ruined.

We brought one and ate it between two of us. The chicken was cooked tikka style so had a whole bunch of flavour and wasn't particularly slimy or fatty.

The salad was OK and not particularly interesting with only one pickled chilli but did a job. Besides, who gets kebab for an exciting salad? 

£5.30 (inc two Naans) provided us with an epic amount of food at a reasonable quality. It doesn't quite top Persian Tasty Grill but the counter at Nice and Spice had a lot of possibilities on offer so I will definitely be going back to check out the rest of the menu.

Love Letter to a Sandwich

Ok, so I went to POD for lunch and I had a Sandwich. I liked this sandwich so much that I thought I would give it a blog post of its very own. This isn't an official LoveLevenshulme review of Pod, this is merely a love letter to a Sandwich (kinda).

The Sandwich in question was a Rare Beef Ciabatta and it was good. None of that thin chewy beef that takes a month to chew and leaves you with jaw the size of Desperate Dan. No, this tasted like beef and feel apart in my mouth. Sweet.

A whole bunch of horse radish sauce and some onions were thrown in my sandwich as well. Happy times.

The plate had a whole bunch of other stuff on which, to be honest, I can't name because I am a pleb (apart from the salad. I know what goes in a freakin' salad!). But, I feel confident enough to say lentils were involved and I enjoyed eating them.

All of that for £4.50. Thank you POD, thank you so very much.