Qype: Lammars in Manchester

Manchester - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Tapas


My friend introduced me to Lammars in 2009, and since then I've been there many times. It is no wonder the place is trendy: the interior dazzles you with its uncanny fusion of different styles and pieces of decor. You will be sitting there, overlooking the bar with unusual if not kitschy candelabra, and from the ceiling the figures from reproductions by the Italian Masters will be looking down upon you. As we would all agree, there is something about sipping on your cocktail or chatting over a pint, while Jesus is watching you - quite literally so.

The whole space is divided into small areas, every one of them in a different style. My favourite comes next after the one that faces the bar. It has rounded seats, mirrors, and a white piano that always brings Elton John to my mind.

They play live music at Lammars and have comedy nights, so the interior ends up being a great backdrop for either form of entertainment. I've only ever been there for a friendly drink, but I was never disappointed. Even on a quite night it is a great place to be at, but when it's busy and buzzing I like it even more. This is when its syncretic design is enlivened by the merry crowd, and Lammars emerges at its most opulent.

Check out my review of Lammars - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: Dimitris Tapas Bar Taverna in Manchester

Manchester - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Tapas


I've known Dimitris for a good few years, but never actually went there before tonight. The restaurant is located very close to the Instituto Cervantes, and is within easy reach from either Castlefield, Salford, or city centre.

You are greeted by friendly and excited staff who dutifully take you to your table. This is a trendy place, and they have an outdoor seating area, so on a summer evening you have every chance to relive the Mediterranean dining experience, complete with earthenware dishes, wooden furniture, and traditional music. The interior is dim but stylish, with huge windows overlooking Deansgate and LalQuila bar across the road. It all seeks to fuse a traditional Greek taverna with a touch of urban Mancunian modernity.

There are a lot of Greek dishes on the menu, as well as some pastas. They have an extensive wine list, but my friend and I opted in for a jug of sangria. Their stuffed wine leaves and Octopodi come highly recommended, as well as mouth watering Hot Camembert and chillli beef. And Greek yogurt and honey will serve as the most beautiful crown on this feast of succulence. But beware: it is very rich and filling and is served in a large glass dish. Don't try it after a full meal... unless you have a good rest between the courses!

Check out my review of Dimitris Tapas Bar Taverna - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: walrus in Manchester

Manchester - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars


If you want a night out in Manchester's Northern Quarter, you really don't need to walk much farther than the crossroad of High St and Thomas St. There are so many bars and clubs that you can safely party the whole night long, popping in and out of different places within a very small urban ground.

Walrus oozes freshness and space, and their lower ground dance pool is always cool, no matter how many people there are. Upstairs they served a very tasty Chinese lunch, complete with stylish black dishes. It is hardly a place for a business meeting (unless your partners have a good sense of humour), but for a friendly crowd Walrus is a great choice for lunch.

Check out my review of walrus - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: James Watt Monument in Manchester

Manchester


This monument to James Watt is not as allegorical as the one in the antechamber of the Manchester Town Hall. The legendary physician is merely seated on his pedestal, and it is not uncommon to see him being decorated during Christmas time.

Check out my review of James Watt Monument - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: Palace Theatre in Manchester

Manchester - Arts & Entertainment - Theatres


Unlike in my home country, I'm not a regular theatre-goer in Britain, for one reason or another. The productions I saw at the Palace Theatre were Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (by the Chisinau Ballet) and Rufus Wainwright's opera flick, Prima Donna. The audience's acoustic is generally good, and the seats are rather comfortable. What is memorable, of course, is the interior building design and decor. It is a what can be called traditional Victorian theatre, so feel free to imagine ladies and gentlemen in elegant frocks enjoying the latest in entertainment.

To this day Palace Theatre attracts the same kind of ladies and gentlemen, although the frocks have changed dramatically since the 19th c. So did the entertainment. The theatre is a regular venue for West End shows, ballets, and rock operas.

Check out my review of Palace Theatre - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: Lancaster House in Manchester

Manchester


Lancaster House is an impressive multistory edifice that occupies the corner of Whitworth St and Princess St. The intricately structured tower is a fine piece of design. Lancaster House dates back to the early 20th c. when it was a warehouse. Since then it was converted into apartments, not unlike many other commercial buildings in Manchester. The ground floor is occupied by O'Sheas Irish pub, and there are a few Eastern eateries around, from Shang Hai to the Grand Buffet. Some beautiful views open on Lancastrian House from Canal Street, especially in summer.

Check out my review of Lancaster House - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: Greggs the Bakers in Manchester

Manchester - Shopping - Food & Drink - Bakeries


The most distinguishing trait of this Greggs must be its location. Unlike many other Greggs shops in Manchester it has the bus stop just in front of its entrance. The lunch hour attracts long queues, and people have to crowd in that tiny space in the street, while the passers-by have to wriggle between those who are trying to buy some lunch. As a result, there regularly assembles a rather unattractive heap of people who are only trying to buy some buns and pies for lunch...

Check out my review of Greggs the Bakers - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

The End of the Line

This is a very personal post. The month of March appears to be rich in dramatic experiences.

I was just told Daniel Jones (13 November, 1981 - 22 March, 2010) has died today at 12 noon in St James's Hospital in Leeds. He was 28, he wanted to be a writer, and he was born with a liver condition that, sadly, could see him struggling through life. And he was my de jure husband.

We met online on 29th of August 2000. We were one of the first couples to have found each other via Internet. A good proof for those who wonder if or not the web is a good place to find your other half. Neither of us was prepared for it, but we both embraced the change. A little over than a year later - in November 2001 - we got married in Moscow. We separated in December 2006, a week after my birthday. In May 2008 I finally moved out of their house. He fell ill in late December 2009; he was taken in to Manchester Royal Infirmary in February 2010. I visited him twice there, and I even considered going to Leeds with him, even though he was no longer my husband. But certain things have changed, including my financial circumstances, and I didn't go. They were planning to give him the liver transplant, but I was told the operation never went through: he was too ill.

It was the first relationship proper for both of us, and it was always difficult to manage. We'd have fantastic times together, and then we'd have really hard, hard times. It wouldn't be wrong to say that living with parents, first mine, then his, didn't help things.

We owe a few important things to each other. I owe Daniel my British degree, living in another country, and all the experience I've gained that made me rethink certain things about how we approach life, people, goals, and relationships. He owes me the desire to be a writer, visiting new places, and the experience of breaking out of the rut. I'm not as strong as a bull when it comes to health. However, my parents always encouraged me to push the envelope. His family was much more cautious, and this would inevitably cause friction between us once we started living in his house. But when we met he did the impossible: he came to visit me in Moscow. He found a girl he'd fallen in love with, and he overturned every obstacle his parents or doctors tried to put in his place.

Truly, when we are in love we do the impossible. Love doesn't mean lust on this occasion, but rather this commitment and dedication to the object of your love (a person, a subject, a project, etc.) that sees you going for it with all ardour and vigour. In these ten years we undoubtedly have discovered a few things about each other that we didn't like, but him going and getting me, against all odds, is likely to remain a benchmark of how much a man can do for a woman. Obviously, there are always other ways of showing love and appreciation, but one of the things I will always remember about Daniel is that first visit.

Tunick Is Looking for Naked Matchstalk Men... and Women

We tend to make much ado about nudity these days. Is it acceptable or not? If yes, to what extent and under which circumstances? The obvious reason for all these questions is that today nudity is inseparable from sex. We certainly fail to perceive the naked human body in the same way as the ancient Greeks or Romans did. Not many of us can appreciate the beauty of the naked body with detachment, i.e. without physically grabbing it. As Kenneth Clark put it correctly in his book Nudity in Art, in antique culture nakedness was received on a philosophical level that made it possible for the Olympic athletes to compete with no clothes on. And maybe today's athlete could also bare it all with no reservations - but would it be accepted by the public?

Spencer Tunick challenges the public with exactly the same question. His installations featuring the naked volunteers have been commissioned worldwide, from Buenos Aires to Vienna. This year, however, Tunick is setting the new record: he will be creating his first multisite installation across Manchester and Salford, and he will be doing so in response to the famous Salford artist, LS Lowry. Lowry was known for painting "matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs", and it is interesting to see how Tunick is going to use and adapt this metaphor.

The project entitled Everyday People will see volunteers taken by heated buses to various locations where the expert Tunick will orchestrate them into artistic shapes. Given the weather that these two sunny cities are famous for, it may take more from a volunteer than just the courage to strip naked. But those who do brave it all will forever enter the book of 21st century art - and the history of Manchester and Salford. As characteristic of his work, Tunick will take photographs and film the human compositions, and the completed work will be on display at The Lowry between 12 June and 26 September this year.

To make this project happen, Tunick and The Lowry need YOU. You can register your details on the website, and filming will take place over two days, 1 and 2 May. As you may remember from my last year's post, 1 of May is celebrated in some countries as the Labour Day. It looks like this year it will be the Art's Labour Day, thanks to the New York-based artist.


Illustrations:

Photo is the courtesy of Spencer Tunick's official website.
LS Lowry, A Village Square.

Qype: The Sherlock Holmes in London

London - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Pubs


As many past visitors correctly noted, the pub is nowhere near Baker Street - but it is close enough to the famous Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square, and a handful of London landmarks. The menu is a repertoire of names that owe their origin to Sherlokian stories, and judging by the food I had there it is a splendid adventure, you will certainly not be disappointed.

Better yet, for all Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson fans worldwide, in the pub there is a room filled with the famous sleuth's memorabilia. I was especially surprised to see a figure of Holmes with a hole in his head. To this day, I've no idea why they decided to place that particular mannequin in the pub.

The walls along the staircase are decorated with some of Conan-Doyle's own drawings; in one of those, made shortly before his death, he depicted himself as a horse who carries an overloaded cart.

Last but not least, the Russian visitors will not be disappointed either: they will find a photograph and a letter presented to the pub by Igor Maslennikov, the director of the Russian TV series based on Conan-Doyle's stories. The series, starring Vassily Livanov as Sherlock Holmes and Vitaly Solomin as Dr Watson, has wowed the audiences in Russia and in the West since its release in 1970s-early 1980s.

The pub is tucked away in a side walk off Charing Cross, and is a short walk away from taxi rank or Bond Street tube station.

Check out my review of The Sherlock Holmes - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

The Raven: From Poe to Wigan

On Monday I went to the Lancashire town of Wigan for the second time in all 6,5 years in the UK. I went for work, and no sooner that I and my colleagues left the train station there was an impressive Raven Hotel just in front of us. The building bears the mark "1904", and the famous bird proudly crowns the top of the hotel. I didn't have the chance to find out anything about the hotel yet, but it seems quite plausible that it was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's masterpiece.

On the Internet there are a few resources that the students and fans of this American poet and writer may find interesting. Better yet, on YouTube is a fantastic video featuring the engravings by Gustave Doré and narration by the Oscar-winning Christopher Walken (he'd won Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role of Nick in The Deer Hunter).



Links: 

The Raven in the first 1845 facsimile edition

Illustrations by Edouarde Manet (translation by Stéphane Mallarmé)
Illustrations by Gustave Doré

The Raven in translations:

French - Le Corbeau (by Charles Baudelaire)
Italian - Il Corvo (by Antonio Bruno)
Russian - Ворон (by Valery Bryusov)
German - Der Rabe
Spanish - El Cuervo

LibriVox: Audio recordings of The Raven in the following languages: English, Finnish, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Yiddish, Swedish, Italian, and Latin.

The full English text:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--
Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;--vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow--sorrow for the lost Lenore--
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore--
Nameless here for evermore. 

The Punch Secret of Debt Management

Update - 17 March 2010

I sent additional information to the benefits office 2 weeks ago. I haven't heard anything since, so I have just called them to find out about the progress. Turns out, the information has still not been processed. The person on the line apologised and told me they'd look into everything in the next couple of days.

Seriously, folks, this is ridiculous. I have the problem, and I want you to be concerned about it.

Original post - 12 March 2010

You know that you need to change something in the way you do and think about things when you realise that what you don't want in your life comes your way a bit too often.

I realised recently that I keep attracting some hardships my way. Don't get me wrong: I don't expect to get through life without any problems at all. But be it unsatisfactory jobs, wrong people to get along with, or the so-called "negative customers", I keep getting them with alarming regularity. 

I think I know what I need to do to change this course; but in the meantime I've been dealing with the consequence of some of the above "negative experiences". I'm not going to tell you how hard it can all be: those who are in the know don't need reminding, and I hope those who haven't got a clue will never get it. However... what has been happening recently was quite astounding. Below are some of the findings I've made. 

International Women's Day - Soviet Postcards

Growing up in the Soviet Union meant that every year we religiously celebrated the International Women's Day. By 1980s the holiday evolved beyond its political importance and has become more of an equivalent to Mothering Sunday in Britain. Except that we continue celebrating it on 8th of March.

Like New Year, this is one of the holidays that you are expected to celebrate; and, fair enough, 8th of March is the day off in Russia. We would usually buy flowers and postcards to women whom we held dear or respected. Incidentally, it is not only women who love this festival; a few men openly said that International Women's Day was their favourite holiday.

International Women's Day annually publishes events and articles commemorating this important date; there are a few free events happening across the world, and it is not too late to attend any of them even if you have only just heard about the website. And from me here are a few Soviet postcards that we either bought on occasion or have received from the family and friends. I send them to all of you who are celebrating and love this holiday, and especially to my grandmother, mother, and a special someone who loves this festival.

Flowers in St Johns Gardens

I know from a comment that some of you wanted to see the flowers at St John's Gardens in Manchester. It's great to know that my review on Qype has sparked some interest. I did actually upload photos of autumnal roses to Qype, but the photos don't get posted to the blog, alas. So, by way of compensating for it, here are the photos taken at St John's Gardens. 

A Flower for You

Bodidris Hall - Flora 1, originally uploaded by loscuadernosdejulia.

As the spring season has finally begun, I want to send this bright message to all readers, friends, and loved ones, wherever you are. I am sure we are in for a wonderful spring, full of energy, love, and miracles!

Qype: Imperial War Museum North in Manchester

Manchester - Arts & Entertainment - Museums


Until the IWM North my impression of a war museum was based entirely on a childhood experience of visiting the Museum of the Armed Forces in Moscow, Russia. Due to the impact of the Second World War and the Nazi invasion on the USSR, the history of war was diligently collected, studied, and taught. There were tanks, planes, and various guns and bazookas, but it was a very different item that remained forever in my memory. It was the flayed skin of a concentration camp prisoner, complete with hairs and fingernails. It was the most outrageous item on display, and as kids we were fascinated, scared, and repulsed by it all at once.

Of course, compared to the above, IWM North is not that exciting. Being an island, Britannia experienced wartime hardships in the way, very different from either France or Russia. This is not to say that the British war efforts and losses in the two world wars were fundamentally different. However, the story of British partaking in wars is often more a story of the armed forces, rather that of civilians, and let's face it, we're forever more interested in people like ourselves.

IWM North hosted several important exhibitions over the last few years. They collaborated with the RIA-Novosti archive in London to bring to Manchester a selection of Soviet photographs; they commemorated the Air Forces in Against All Odds exhibition; they tackled the problem of prisoners of war; and they regularly have photo exhibitions, film screenings, workshops, and themed weekends.

The collection and all the exhibitions you may attend can overwhelm you, and to relax there is a cafe overlooking The Lowry and Salford Quays. They serve very decent food and drinks, including wine.

Check out my review of Imperial War Museum North - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: BBC Manchester in Manchester

Manchester


Did you know that they were making Songs of Praise in Manchester? Now you do. Religion and Ethics department was located, quite pertinently, at the top floor of the building in Oxford Road. Close to heaven, one may say. And just one floor below they were making education programmes and twisting brains over the next great Entertainment and Features venture.

BBC Manchester building in Oxford Road is an amazing place. There is something of a maze about it, especially if you visit it first time. BBC Philharmonics rehearse there, and sometimes they also broadcast their performances from Manchester hall. Those who regularly follow them usually get the chance to attend.

The left side of the building that faces the crossroads of Oxford Road and Charles Street is occupied by the BBC Radio Manchester. The outside decoration has been for a few revamps between 2006 and 2009, and the visitors can now have a peek inside the studio through the glass window by the entrance.

The building houses impressive media library, and sometimes serves as a venue to media courses, workshops, and digital and arts events.

BBC Manchester building is a 2-minute walk from Oxford Road train station.

Check out my review of BBC Manchester - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype

Qype: Cornerhouse in Manchester

Manchester - Nightlife - Cinemas - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Arts & Entertainment - Social Clubs


For one reason or another, over the past two years I've not been to Cornerhouse very often. There was the time, however, when I all but lived there. I could buy discounted tickets with my student card, so I took the chance. I'd been to several retrospectives and film festivals, and watched a plenty of indie, box office, and art house films there. Whereas before 2004 my interest in Cinema was more that of an outsider, since 2004, and thanks to Cornerhouse, I've realised that cinema actually means the world to me.

Patroned by the likes of Danny Boyle, Damien Hirst, and Helen Mirren, Cornerhouse provided me with much inspiration, as well. There are wonderful views of the crossroads of Oxford Street, Whitworth Street, and Whitworth Street West (the latter is tipped to be renames into Anthony Wilson Way). The view is particularly inspiring and romantic at dusk.

As far as the exhibitions go, Cornerhouse keeps doing its best as an arts centre to bring the forward-thinking artists under its roof. The extension that is now being built will allow to do more, particularly as far as various classes are concerned. Cornerhouse has long established great relationship with different universities, and several professors in Film regularly introduce foreign films to the public. They are also sometimes invited to run public courses, but the presently available space is too small for all the people who may want to attend. Hopefully, the extension will extend the possibilities, as well.

Cornerhouse has always been doing good drinks, alcoholic and not, and their cakes have been delicious recently. On the menu they usually have a good choice of pizzas, and if you've been up all Saturday night, you can come in for a breakfast and a movie on a Sunday morning.

Check out my review of Cornerhouse - I am juliedelvaux - on Qype