Park Tour

First on our list of ideas for the new year is to work out ways to encourage visitors to come here to Levenshulme and we thought it made sense to play on one of our greatest strengths - Levenshulme's green spaces.

We've already had a visit from our fellow Blog Awards winner Sam at mightaswell and there are rumours of Fat Roland of ...On Electronica fame popping down the A6 to ALL FM for a new show (more news on that when we have it) so we thought it was time to meet up with one of our fellow nominees in the Best City and Neighbourhood blog category.

And so, after a series of complex nominations (seriously, January is supposed to be quiet time - how can we be so busy already?), we're pleased to announce that Kath Horwill of Parklover will be coming to visit us on Sunday 13th February.

If you've not yet checked out Parklover, then do! Its a fantastic look at the parks of Greater Manchester and a brilliant resource. Parks are immensely important to urban communities and that's doubly true in Levenshulme - since we have so many different green spaces. We intend to give Kath the full tour and tell you all how we get on but, as usual, we'd like to get you all involved...

Itinerary/route:
There's a lot of love out there for our parks so we'd like you to tell us exactly where to go on our walk with Kath. Do you have a particular favourite spot or time of day? Is there a special place that's good to stop and crack open a Thermos flask or let the dogs off the lead? Let us know in the comments and we'll put together a plan to get the best of Levenshulme's spaces.

Join Us!
As I said, Kath will be with us on Sunday 13th February – we're yet to iron out the details of time and meeting point but we'll post details here as soon as they're confirmed. Come and tell Kath what you love best about Levy's parks, give us suggestions on what you'd like to see from LoveLevenshulme or just enjoy a leisurely Sunday stroll.

So there you have it. New year, new ideas. The #levytweetup Twitter meet-ups have provided a great opportunity for the tech-savy peeps of Levy to discuss issues around the area and they will continue (more details of the next one will be up here soon) but we'd like to look into new ways to facilitate more lo-fi meetings, maybe this will be one...

Midnight Jazz

Evening events are becoming more common at Inspire which we here declare to be a Good Thing. Aside from the film club and classes there are a growing roster of music events.

Coming up this Friday, 28th January, is an evening of music in the cafe, headlined by the Midnight Jazz Quartet. Tickets are £10.00 (£8.00 for concessions) including a free drink, doors open 7.00pm – 11.30pm and light meals, snacks, wine and beer will be available.

Buy tickets in advance by calling Grantley Vernon on 07747 684984.

Double Yoga

In addition to the yoga sessions being held weekly at Inspire,the Christ Church United Reformed Church is now playing host to Iyengar Yoga sessions. Classes are held on Tuesdays 10.00am - 11.30am and are hosted by qualified yoga teacher Kim Skinner. Kim can be contacted on 07821851912 and classes are suitable for beginners and improvers.

P.S. Did you notice my extremely clever Double Yoga joke? Double Yoga? Double Yolk-a? You know like Doubl-oh, never mind.

Spanish Classes at Inspire

Yet more exciting and, dare we say it, inspiring classes at Inspire – this time in Spanish. Classes started on 18th January but anyone still interested can contact Colyn Alcock who will be leading the classes. Colyn is and English/Spanish translator who lived in Madrid for many years. The classes are suitable for beginners and focus on conversation and everyday Spanish life and interactions. Classes cost £5.00 each (£3.50 for concessions) and must be booked in advance – call 0161 850 5717 for more details.

...And We're Back

Hello! And happy new year from us at LoveLevenshulme. I'm back from my hols now, suitably refreshed and raring to go.

There's lots of updates from POD and Inspire, plus some other news from the Antiques Village and the allotments, all of which we'll get to over the next week or so.

In the mean time, though, and in the spirit of new years and new beginnings we'd like to start being led more by what you want to hear about in Levenshulme. Are there areas we don't cover as well as you'd like? Is there something we've missed completely or something exciting coming up that hasn't yet hit our radar. Get in touch with any ideas, suggestions or things you'd like to see. All gratefully received - email lovelevenshume@gmail.com.

Growing Levenshulme

Levenshulme Community Association NEEDS YOU! Especially if you like gardening and growing stuff. Whenever I walk past something green it dies so I shall keep well away in case I accidently destroy the planet. However, if you are a gardener or grower then why not join in with the plans for Brightening up Levenshulme? They are calling it – big planters and small pots…

Lydia Meryll, the Secretary of Levenshulme Community Association says - If we get the Cash Grant from the Council we will need your involvement, your ideas and your hands on skills.

Please join them THIS EVENING for a planning group meeting on Wednesday 19th Jan at Isis Café between 5.00 and 6.00 (and a bit of guerilla panseying!)

Miramar Chinese Restaurant

Every New Year we all talk about the same thing - food. Or to be more precise, how we need to eat less food and get thin. I say that we, the people of Levenshulme, should fight this crazy puritanical agenda and embrace our love of food. Or to be more precise, our love of take away food.

So to kick of 2011 in a haze of indigestion and saturated fat Let me make a take away suggestion for you. Miramar is a cracking Chinese Takeaway / restaurant  on the A6 in Levenshulme. You probably recognise the yellow sign-age and the vaguely oriental roof they have over the windows.

I am sure many of you have eaten there already but I wanted to say that I too have eaten there food and it was gooooood. So excited was I to get the take away that I forgot to take a photo of Miramar to post on the blog!

The food wasn't too salty, wasn't covered in slime and didn't seem to be floating in MSG. This sets apart from many Chinese restaurants that I have frequented.  Another big plus point was that all the dishes didn't taste exactly the same with mildly different textures to differentiate them.

So, try Miramar.

Any other Levenshulme based Chinese food establishments that you can recommend?