Never let it be said that I’m not at the cutting edge of technology when it comes to rooting out Levenshulme’s treasures for your perusal. This week’s edition of the occasional series that I like to call “Levenshulme-Related STUFF From the Information Superhighway” (and that needs a better name) is a collection of photos of lampposts around Levenshulme in 2004.I know, I spoil you right?The photos are the work of a Levenshulme resident who is remaining curiously tight lipped about their provenance and they reside here, on Google+ (cutting edge, see). So there you go – don’t say you don’t get good value out of me (because I’m free).
It’s a bumper summer of art at Inspire, Levenshulme’s community space, kicking off with an exhibition of puppets and sculptures from local artist Theresa Wilson.Tales form the Tower is an installation piece, first shown at the Savage Tower in Macclesfield for the Barnaby Festival in June 2011. Theresa has previously shown her work at POD and this exhibition features haunting textile puppets, “exploring the space between sculpture, history and theatre.”The exhibition is open every day this week from 7.30am until 6.00pm.For more information contact Inspire.
What with there being such a plethora of fun days and fetes in Levenshulme this summer it's not surprising that someone's decided to push things that one bit further and create a two day extravaganza of fun and frolics. And so they have.Supreme Off Licence, in association with PINK are hosting two days of family fun over the weekend of 30th and 31st July at the Arcadia Sports Centre. I've given you plenty of reasons to visit the sports centre already but if you've not had the chance or you'd like to learn more about what activities the centre hosts then this is the perfect excuse.In addition to that there will be a host of fun activities, including demonstrations of dancing and rollerskating, a BBQ, bouncy castle and disco. There will be food and drink for sale and live music throughout.
The team behind Friday Night Disco are breaking new ground on 12th August with a (Friday) night of techno. I'm a (not-so-) secret techno lover and this information excites me greatly so I thought I'd share as soon as I heard.
As usual the night will take place at the Klondyke Club off Albert Road and will feature live sets from SPEAKER (Lubeck, Germany) and DNCN (Manchester) plus DJ sets from the organisers and HenYC. Doors open at 8.00am and the night runs until 1.30am, making it the latest thing ever to happen in Levenshulme. I think.
Tickets are £4.00 on the door and if you need any more info email fridaynightdisco@gmail.com or check the
Facebook page.
Soooo...the evenings are lighter and it's slightly warmer outside - all the signs point towards it being summer here in Levenshulme and what better excuse is there to get outside and get some exercise.Thankfully, the newly formed Levenshulme Running Club means you can do just that and pound the pavements in the safety of a group, with added sociability. The club meets every Thursday at 6.30pm at the point of the Fallowfield loop bicycle path halfway down Crayfield Road.If you need more information drop into Inspire or contact Stephen Corrie, otherwise just show up!
It's been a while since I last covered the Hard Rain Poetry events so I thought they were due a mention. The next session will take place at Isis on Stockport Road on Monday 25th July and will begin with a poetry workshop from 6.00pm. Attendees don't need any experience of writing poetry and will have the chance to try writing their own work, inspired by the poetry of Bengali poet and mystic Rabindranath Tagore.
At 8.00pm there will be a performance from Manchester-based novelist and former North West performance poetry champion Zahid Hussain. New Statesman named Hussain's novel The Curry Mile one of its books of the year and he is currently finishing his second novel and working on a screenplay.
There will also be an open mic poetry session with guest invited to bring their own work or one of Tagore's poems. Both events are free, supported by Isis, and there is no need to book.
Inspire are holding their second ideas night tonight, providing an opportunity to develop the ideas raised at the first meeting in May. The evening meeting starts at 7.00pm and will focus on how groups can use their space to develop their activities and resources. The meeting is open to everyone,especially people who weren't able to make the last meeting or anyone who has innovative suggestions for what the centre can do to continue to thrive. As well as developing ideas suggested at the last meeting, they will be looking for ideas on how Inspire can contribute to the 2011 Levenshulme Festival.The meeting will be facilitated by Phil Frampton and Kate Chappel, director of Inspire will be on hand to answer questions bout Inspire and the vision for its development. The meeting will then split up into working groups to put flesh on ideas ideas raised.No need to book but if you need any more information contact Phil Frampton by email or phoning 07901 338700.
On Saturday 16th July Inspire are hosting their first ever summer fun day, an event that aims to showcase all the great stuff that's happened at Inspire since it opened nearly a year ago (my, how time flies etc). The day kicks off at 11.00am and runs until 4.00pm with lots of activities and stalls for children and adults, including a BBQ, free roller skating workshops, a roller disco, face painting and badge-making. There'll even be a balloon workshop – a balloon workshop! The mind boggles! Also on show will be the now sizeable array of craft stalls found at the regular craft fairs and a record fair to raise funds for ALLfm. If you'd like more information or want to be involved visit www.emilypitts.com or call 07870 360213.
Artist Garth Simmons is currently exhibiting his latest work, Distorted Interior Barriers, at Bankley Studios.Through wide expanses of texture, collage and colour stretched across the walls and floor, Garth aims to create an environment of dislocations and skewed perspectives. He writes about the construction of the work on his blog and the pictures there show a really immersive and very fluid piece that should be really interesting to experience first hand.The show is open to the public from 11.00am to 5.00pm this Saturday and Sunday and again on the 16th and 17th July. There is also a workshop this Saturday from 1.00pm if you'd like to hear more about how Garth has created the exhibition and perhaps have a go at trying something similar – contact Bankley for details on 0161 256 4143.
Zumba® (ooh, look it has a little “r” thingy, how posh!), in case it had some how escaped your notice is a Latin-inspired dance workout that is, wait for it, TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM (cliché I know but it does seem to be rather popular and I seem to be rather uninspired today) and is now available, like all good things, in Levenshulme.Classes are now available at Inspire every Tuesday from 8.00pm til 9.00pm and promise to be “exhilarating, effective and easy to follow”. Not only that but the first class is free with subsequent classes priced at £5.00 per person. If you'd like to book contact Elsie on 07855598329 or just show up and take your (funky) chances.
Alma Park Primary School on Errwood Rd are holding their annual Summer Fair this Saturday from 2.00pm until 4.00pm with a host of entertainments for kids and big kids alike. There will be a bouncy castle, cakes (try to avoid the bouncy castle after too many cakes, eh guys?) and the usual assortment of games and stalls as well as a raffle and an auction. And if any of you are planning a night on the tiles on Saturday you can also prepare with hair plaiting, face-painting and mendhi. I'm thinking a Spider Man face and pigtails will look particularly fetching with my new dress.The event is always popular with parents and friends of the school and all the money raised on the day will go towards new music equipment for pupils.
Jazz Night is back this Friday at Inspire, with doors opening at 8.00pm and, apparently, “lasting throughout the night”, which is good – I do hate an unreliable set of doors.Tickets are £10.00 on the door or £8.00 if purchased in advance from Inspire and drinks and food will be available from the Bubble cafe. The last couple of jazz nights have been very well attended and I gather the nights have a bit of a following among fans of such things so be sure to be there, not least so you can say “jaaaaazz” in authentic surroundings.
Hello!No, I didn't get eaten by sheep at the first ever Levy camp (although I do maintain they looked rather fierce), just rather consumed with all kinds of non-Levenshulme-centric distractions. I'm ever so sorry and I promise it will never ever happen again.*Back now though, and raring to go with a summer of STUFF to tell you about. As always, keep letting me know what I've missed or misreported by emailing lovelevenshulme@gmail.com*It will almost certainly happen again.
