New Reading Group for Levenshulme

For those of you with a literary itch to scratch, Levenshulme Library hosts the Levenshulme Reading Group on the last Wednesday of every month from 6.30pm - 7.45p.m. The group is free to join and keen to be as inclusive as possible and to reflect diverse tastes, so book choices are decided among the members at the meetings and on their Facebook page, so head on over there to find out what's coming up.

the group is for over 16s only, although 12-16-year-olds are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult.

POD is 1!

Now I've never made any secret of the fact that I am a great admirer of the good ship POD and all who sail in her. Not only do they provide us all with a plethora of yummies to eat and take away but they've also worked tirelessly to forge links with community, hosting book groups, literary gatherings, parties and knitting clubs. So I'd like to add LoveLevenshulme's voice to the many wishing them a very happy first birthday. They really have had a fantastic year and I can't wait to hear what they've got planned next.

Unsurprisingly, being the relentless party people they are, there is a little shindig planned to celebrate their anniversary and, sensible as ever, they're holding it off-site at The Klondyke (saves on washing up, I suppose, and ejecting snogging couples from the kitchen at 4.00am). The party will take place on Saturday 4th July and will have a school disco theme. I really can't believe we've managed so long in Levenshulme without a school disco (well, apart from all the actual school discos, I suppose). As ever, they're doing their bit for Levenshulme too and the event will be a fund raiser for ALL FM - with all proceeds from the £5.00 tickets going to the station.

Fancy dress is optional (shouldn't have told you that really, should I?) and tickets can be bought from POD now.

Levenshulme Community Plot Days

Summer's on it's way (no really, I promise, it is, it just doesn't feel like it) and many minds are turning towards the garden. The allotments are busy again and we'll give more details on the upcoming allotment shows soon, but even if you're not fortunate enough (or too lazy, like me) to have an allotment you can still get your fix of community gardening.

The Levenshulme Community Allotment Project, wotking with Levenshulme Children's Centre are appealing for volunteers to work with them on their site. Now, owing to a technology failure (tsk, technology, eh, nothing to do with my inability to take photos at a decent resolution, oh no, no way), I don't have details on exactly which site they're working at. While I'm sure that if you turned up at any of the Levenshulme allotments armed with enthusiasm you will be welcomed with open arms I'm guessing you'd prefer your hard work to go to the community rather than fattening a stranger's marrows - so if anyone more diligent (sensible, professional) than me knows the location it would be great if you could let me know so I can update this post ( and scratch back some dignity).

Wherever it is, I do know that volunteers are asked to be on site from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Saturdays. So that's something, right? Oh dear.

Family Fun Day

And so it begins…well actually it begun a few weeks back but I think we can now declare Levenshulme’s summer of parties in full swing. Huzzah! Because I write these posts often weeks in advance, owing to how prepared/completely forgetful I am I can only dream of the balmy weather you are reading this in and the sunshine frolics you’ve got planned.

One frolic you might wish to incorporate into your frolicy, frolicsome plans is the St Mary’s Parish Family Fun Day being held on Sunday 5th June at St Mary’s Parish Centre on Elbow St. The fun will run from 1.00pm – 5.00pm with a bar open throughout (the cynical amongst you might want to point and laugh at how I list this first amongst the many attractions of the day but it says so in BIG white letters on the flyer so, HA, it’s not just me who’s preoccupied with the booze. For once). ALL FM be broadcasting live from the proceedings which will also feature all manner of fun distractions – a BBQ, bouncy castle, children’s games, live music, ICE CREAM, SWEETS and stalls, plus dancing. Yes, dancing – Irish dancing, Bollywood dancing AND set dancing (which is Irish dancing too, right? I’m so confused).

Admission is free. If you need any more information contact Marion on 07767 497 625.

Craft and design shop for Levenshulme?

Friend of the Blog (I like saying this) Lela Cribbins has been in touch to tell us about an exciting opportunity for creative businesses in Levenshulme. I’ve written about Lela before but in case you weren’t paying attention (and why not?), she runs doodlelove, a stationary and design business, from her home in Levenshulme as well as her own graphic design business, Depomedia and is a stalwart of all things Levenshulme and arty.

For the last few months she’s been looking for an office and studio space in Levenshulme and in the process of her investigations has been speaking with Highland Property Management, who manage the Antiques Village on the A6. They are in the process of turning the police station next door to the centre into…wait for it…a creative business centre. The vision for the centre is that it will provide office and studio space for local people who already run their own art, craft or design business and create a space dedicated to arts/crafts that will really help local creative people to realize their potential and set up a business that will really benefit the area. That business would also entail a shop.

Yep.

A permenant shop in Levenshulme selling locally produced crafted goods. Can you imagine the amount of squeals I did when I heard about that? The cat hasn’t come back in the house since.

So, in short they are looking for people who would like to be involved in running a shop selling arts/crafts or who need office space for their creative businesses. Lela’s seen the business units and says they are a really good size with lots of natural light, are in great condition and are very secure. Prices for the business units start at £50 including all bills and Wifi.

As you can imagine we are SUPER exciting by this idea and we’d really like it to happen. A shop of this kind could really be the turning point for our local retail offering – POD proved (brilliantly, by the way) that Levenshulme can sustain more than takeaways and bookies and the roaring success of the fairs shows there is a real appetite in Levenshulme for local crafts. So if this idea piques your interest or you know anyone in Levenshulme or South Manchester who could use a space or share a space with someone else please please please get in touch with Highland Property Management by emailing r.s@highlanduk.com or phoning 0161 476 6660/6664.

And if you’ve got a sort-of-idea or you’d like take a unit but think it might be financially outside your grasp at the moment then please get in touch with us and we’ll see if we can hook you up with another local crafter (or two) who’s in the same position.

Inspire Wins

Always nice to have a bit of external recognition for the hard work that goes on to make Levenshulme a better place and Inspire is a well-deserved target, so I was pleased to learn that they recently won the prestigious regeneration award at the 2011 RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Suveyors) North West Awards. The scheme was up against a number of much bigger projects such at Liverpool Lime Street Station Gateway, the Chips building in East Manchester and the Northern Quarter’s Smithfield Market and it beat them all to take the prize.

The judges highlighted the fact that Inspire has been “driven from the heart of the community through the sheer will, tenacity and hard work of the people who dreamed of seeing their grand design become a vibrant and inclusive reality”. I’d like to add my own congratulations to the Inspire team and thank them for not only providing such a valuable resource but working as hard as they do to make sure the centre is well used and reflects the needs of our community.

Market Fair – TOMORROW

As some eagle eyed and keen minded readers may have noticed, I have been getting my markets in all of a muddle over the last week but I can now confirm, categorically and without any doubt whatsoever that this Saturday is the monthly outing of Levenshulme Market Fair at Inspire. That’s the indoor one with lots and lots (really lots - I went to the one before Easter and it was huge, a real credit to the hard work of the team behind it) of crafty goodness, right? RIGHT?

Crisis of confidence aside, I am prepared to say that it will be open from 12.00pm – 4.00pm and will feature an assortment of local home made food (cake), jewellery, art, clothing, home wares, soaps and cosmetics, candles, badges and err…sock monkeys (that’s what it says on the flyer – I’m assuming you all know what that means cos I don’t). This months fair takes it’s theme from the upcoming Manchester Neighbours day and will feature workshops and lots of fun activities for kids including Tai Chi, card and jewellery making. Entrance is free as always and if you want any more information you can contact the super-marvellous Emily Pitts.

ALL FM/Levenshulme Salon Summer Fete

ALL FM and the Levenshulme Salon are holding a summer fete on Saturday 28th May 2011 (the first of many this year - I’m thinking of running a “guess how many fetes we can have in a summer” competition). The day will run from 11.00am until 5.00pm at the Klondyke to raise funds for ALL FM and they’re looking for stall holders. Pitches are free and stall holders would be asked to donate a raffle prize up to the value of £5.00. There will also be a Levenshulme Salon stage at the event with live music throughout the day and a live broadcast for part of the day so there will be plenty to entertain stall holders and attendees alike.

In an impressive show of pragmatism, given the bank holiday weekends we’ve got away with lately, the team are also looking for gazebos so that stalls can be held outside but stay protected from wet weather.

If you can help out with gazebos, you’d like a stall at the fair or you have any other questions please get in touch with Annabel Vernon.

Sing-along-a-Levenshulme

Bit late off the mark with this one (what’s new, eh?) – the Levenshulme Community Choir meets every Wednesday at 7.00pm and Saturday at 4.00pm at Inspire. The group is for adults over 16 only but other than that the only qualification for entry is enthusiasm. The meetings are free although there is a suggested donation of £2.00 to help with running costs. If you want to get Involved call Inspire on 0161 850 5717 or contact Samuel on 07943954616.

Levenshulme Market - This Friday

Sigh. As the wily and wise commenter points out below, the market is indeed on the 4th Friday of the month, which is NOT this Friday but next Friday - 27th May. Tune in next week when I will write about a book fair in Asser Levy Place, New York.


A brief reminder that the Levenshulme Street market returns to the green this Friday, from 10.00am to 4.00pm.

I popped down to the last market and found a greater selection of stalls but a slightly diminished attendant crowd. Obviously there was now Dev Off Of Corrie to entice you all but it would be great to keep this event well attended and incentivise more stall holders to visit us. If you want some motivation take a look at some of the photos from the first market - it's a lovely event with a really enjoyable atmosphere and a nice chance to stock up on locally made goodies for the weekend.

Bud

In the spirit of all things spring-time, I took a trip to BUD, the garden centre in Burnage last weekend. Not before time, too as a number of you have pointed it out to me and it really is quite fantastic. Rather typically though I forgot to take my camera with me so you’ll have to content yourself with the photos on their very natty website for now (unless any readers have any photos they’d like us to add?).

The centre itself is in Omer Drive, just off the Kingsway (and more or less opposite a certain national, much-less-friendly DIY and gardening centre), so *technically* it’s in Burnage but it’s an M19 postcode and, more importantly it’s very pretty, so I’m claiming it for Levenshulme. It’s run by Brenda and Severine who met in 2009 while working at a Manchester community garden project and decided to put their interest in the environmental impact of gardening and all things organic into building a business together.

They aim to provide quality plants in a sustainable way, encouraging creative planting and dealing with customers and suppliers fairly. They also source as many of their plants as possible locally and are seeking local gardeners to supply plants grown peat-free. The centre is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays except bank holidays from 10.00am – 5.00pm and they can be contacted on mail@budgarden.co.uk or 07505 403 422.

Art Back at Inspire

After an Easter break almost as long as ours Emily Pitt’s art classes at Inspire have started again.The classes run on Friday mornings from 10.00am and each class lasts around two hours.

The class is for anyone from beginners to experienced artists, using a range of materials to suit your interests.

The class costs £28 for a 4 week slot and includes all materials, so you just have to turn up with clothes that you don't mind getting a bit grubby. For more information take a look at the photos on Emily’s blog where you can see the group in action during recent classes:

If you have any questions or would like to book a place call Emily on 07870 360213.

Levenshulme Salon - This Thursday

The much-anticipated first outing of Levenshulme's meeting of creative and spiritual minds, The Levenshulme Salon, takes place this Thursday at POD from 8.00pm.

Taking its cue from Annabel Vernon's radio show for ALL FM, the first meeting will be a chance to discuss and debate creative issues in Levenshulme - head over to Inside The M60 for more insight into Annabel's plans, and check out the Salon Facebook group for more information on the night.

Midnight Jazz Returns

Midnight Jazz is back at Inspire on Friday 20th May 2011. Doors open at 7.00pm (so not quite midnight then - good job too, some of us have to get up in the morning). Tickets at £10.00 (£8.00 concessions) and can be bought at Inspire and there will be light meals, snack and – wait for it – booze available.

If and when we get more details about the running order and the acts being featured we’ll post them up here.

Poetry Please

ALL FM have teamed up with Manchester Literature Festival for a project celebrating poetry along the A6 Corridor. Earlier this year, they commissioned 5 Levenshulme-based poets to produce new poems set in and around the Stockport Road area of Manchester. They also provided training in radio production for a group of volunteer producers who will be recording the finished works in location and interviewing the poets about their work.

The poems will also be featured at the next Hard Rain poetry evening on Monday 30th May at ISIS.

The schedule of poets for the rest of the week is:

Wednesday drivetime – Martin De Mello
Thursday morning – Shamshad Khan
Thursday drivetime – Helen Clare
Friday morning – Peter Kalu
Friday drivetime - Peter Kalu

You can listen to ALL FM radio by tuning in to 96.9FM on a conventional radio or by listening live from their website and podcasts of the poems and interviews with the poets will be available soon.

Inspire Ideas

Inspire are hosting an ideas meeting tonight at 7.00pm, which aims to give local groups the chance to develop their activities by using Inspire as a resource. Inspire have lots of spaces available for hire and want to meet groups that might want to use the rooms for staging entertainment and events or for running classes.

Inspire is a fantastic space at the heart of our community and as a partly co-operatively owned venue they want to be innovative and encourage and self-development to energise our community to move forward – a fantastic aim and something that we feel really passionate about at LoveLevenshulme.

Groups are invited to bring along proposals to the meeting or just to come along and explore ideas. Inspire have invited Phil Frampton, an advisor at FC United, to facilitate the meeting. FC United have a strong record of active support from their fanbase with fans organising events and music nights to generate funds for the club.If you are planning on attending please contact Phil on 07901 338700.

Back!

It seems the royal wedding rather went to our heads and we’ve been a little lax of late, spending too much time lazing in the sunshine and imagining a future married to Prince Harry (conclusion: even a life of luxury wouldn’t be worth it). Now we’re back, with lots of news and ideas for you over the next couple of months. Summer time means fetes and fairs and allotment shows a plenty in Levy and we’ll do our best to cover them all. As always though, if you see anything you think we might like drop us a line at lovelevensulme@gmail.com.

Yours,

HRH Helen, Duchess of Levenshulme.