True Order – A Tribute to New Order
Saturday 3rd February
You can always rely on the Ruby Lounge to put on a good night. They’ve made no exception to the rule here with what looks like a cracking night of New Order belters this Saturday as part of their ‘Tribute To’ nights. Of course, every bugger knows the story; Joy Division became New Order after the death of Ian Curtis, they bankrolled the Hacienda as well as pretty much every other Factory endeavour, they released Blue Monday and it became the best-selling 12″ single of all time, they did some rapping with John Barnes in 1990 and they made True Faith – one of the best songs of all time.
Garage Beer Co Tap Takeover @ Port Street Beer House
Saturday 3rd February
Garage Beer Co are from Barcelona and will be heading down to Port Street Beer House to ‘take over’ their taps and flog us a selection of their rather lovely ales and beers. This will be a perfect day for all ale enthusiasts, and the perfect opportunity to stand, chat and try to out-do each other with your knowledge of hops and all that shite. Perhaps you can also spend a few minutes every hour slagging off the likes of Stella, Fosters and Coors Light too. I must admit to thoroughly enjoying one of Garage Beer’s Berliner Weisse numbers once when I was trolleyed once – so I might pop down myself and see if they’ve got a couple of them knocking about and join in the conversations.
Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port St, Manchester M1 2EQ
https://www.portstreetbeerhouse.co.uk/
Bride: The Wedding Show
Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th February
This is a shout out to both fellas and girls. Firstly, because I don’t want to be sexist, and secondly because I know some guys who want to get married just as much as even the most crazed Bridezilla. If your other half is constantly giving you hints about getting hitched, subtly implying that they want to tie the knot, then I’d probably give Tatton Park a massive wide-berth this weekend. In fact, head in the opposite direction. Take them to Blackpool or something. It’s Bride: The Wedding Show, and even though it sounds like hell for us few who can’t stand the idea of a wedding – if you’re planning one – it will be an actual treasure trove of every single thing you’d need; from dresses, flowers and suits, right down to garter belts, placemats and little pineapple and cheese on sticks. You can get yourself half price tickets here too!
Super Bowl 52
Sunday 4th February
The Super Bowl came into my consciousness for the first time a few years ago when Janet Jackson accidentally lobbed a boob out during the half-time show and the whole world went absolutely crazy. It was ridiculous. It was as if she’d personally sacrificed an innocent little puppy on stage and then devoured it – it’s only a boob! Every female (and many blokes I know) have them. The event also entered my consciousness again a few years later when a shark managed to upstage Katy Perry by being the worst dancer in the world. Basically, what I’m saying is that I know nothing about the Super Bowl except for dancing sharks and boobies, and therefore had nothing to type in this bit. If you like a bunch of fat and skinny blokes in padding throwing a pig skin about while another bloke holds a clipboard – this will be your bag. My recommendation; head on over to Black Dog for Unlimited Wings for £10.
Lady Gaga
Tuesday 6th February
That’s right everyone – Lady Gaga is in town this Tuesday at the Manchester Arena so get some studs and diamonds stuck to that leather jacket, grab some fish nets out of your mum’s knicker drawer and slap on an inch-thick coat of tutty before heading on down and dancing the night away. I must admit to being a rather considerable fan of Gags, perhaps not so much recently since she decided to stop making songs that were good, but definitely in the early days. Everyone was. I would also consider (with my head held high) Bad Romance to probably be the best pop song of the 00’s. By far.
Seasonal Supper at Randall & Aubin: February Feasting on Land and Sea
Tuesday 6th February
Here we go again. Not satisfied with plugging our Journey through India at Zouk last week (which was brilliant by the way) I’ve now moved onto our next event this week – our Seasonal Supper at Randall & Aubin. The idea behind the Seasonal Suppers is all about serving up dishes which are at their peak right now, so the juiciest vegetables, the strongest fish and the biggest fruits – basically things that are in season right now. Obviously. It’s a 3-course menu each paired with a wine, and there will be a sommelier there to tell you exactly what you’re drinking and why it goes so well with what you’re eating. Tickets are £40pp and you get them below.
Frank Bruno: Let Me Be Frank
Thursday 8th February
If you’re called Frank I suppose you can use the ‘let me be Frank’ joke all the time. Probably the only benefit really. When I think of the name Frank I immediately think of Frank Butcher, stood on Pat’s doorstep, absolutely bollock-naked except for a spinning dickie bow. In fact, I think I probably think about that a little too often. Another Frank is of course Frank Bruno, legendary boxer and geezer off the telly. He will be recounting many of his life stories during this evening at the Palace Theatre including that time he got his face smashed in by Mike Tyson, that time he got his ears boxed in by Lennox Lewis and that other time he had his ribs smashed to shit by Mike Tyson (again).
NEXT STOP
Thursday 8th February
This is a fun one for anyone who has had to endure the Manchester to Rochdale tram at 8.30pm on a Friday evening. NEXT STOP is a photographic documentary by @elvis_from_hell which aims to capture the “buzz, theatre and chaos of an ever-changing cast of characters on Manchester’s Metrolink network.” So hopefully that won’t include Gary and Paul who decided to set fire to one of the chairs between Pomona and Cornbrook, or Sheila who got so tanked up at a Take That concert that she thought having a cheeky little wee on one of the seats would go unnoticed. Well it won’t Sheila! You’ve ruined my journey and you’ve ruined my trainers!
Leica Store, 9 Police St, Manchester M2 7LQ
