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Day: 21 September 2013

Ultimate guide to Freshers’ Week 2013.

Written by Patrick Hinton on . Posted in Freshers' Guide, Music.

MONDAY

D TACHED vs Ghosts of Garage – Freshers 2013

South & Avicii White – £3.50/£5

There’s two times the fun at this double venue night. D TACHED take over South, showcasing future garage favourites The Golden Boy and Eton Messy’s Panda. Meanwhile, Ghosts of Garage will air the classics at Avicii White. One ticket gains you access to both.

Murkage x Juicy x Overproof

HMV Ritz – £5

Three of Manchester’s most popular student nights have teamed up to present this huge party at the HMV Ritz. The event billing promises “explosions of confetti, champagne showers and no holds barred whinin’, twerkin’ and bootyshakin’ to a soundtrack of the biggest hip-hop, bass and bashment records of all time”.

Remake Remodel

Soup Kitchen – £3

For those that like to rock, this is the place to be. Expect to hear classic and contemporary rock n roll and alternative bands, from Led Zeppelin and Nirvana to Radiohead and Tame Impala. Free tote bags and posters will also be given out, which will come in handy hiding your breeze blocked accommodation walls.

TUESDAY

Gold Teeth

Deaf Institute – £4

Warm up in the Main Bar with motown and soul, then hit the Music Hall where Gold Teeth DJs will be causing chaos with Hip Hop/Garage/House/Disco/RnB party anthems.  First 100 through the door get treated, Snoop Doggy Dogg style, to a free gin & juice.

NXNW presents A Free Freshers’ Party

Soup Kitchen – FREE on guestlist before 12:30/£2 after

NXNW kick off this year with a free party held in an underground basement featuring their residents and friends, sure to be a fun and sweaty affair. Check the Facebook event for details on how to get on the guestlist.

Student House

South – £2/£3

Quality music and inexpensive drinks are the top two selling points of Student House, what more could you want? Perfect if you enjoy the cheapness of student nights, but not the commercial chart pop. Dancefloor focused house and techno is the flavour of this night.

WEDNESDAY

Chow Down

Mint Lounge – £5

Plastician headlines Chow Down’s freshers’ event at Mint Lounge. Plastician has been very influential to the UK bass scene, and as the man behind hugely popular Rinse FM and Radio 1 slots his DJing class is evident. This appears unmissable.

Fully Loaded

Red Rum – FREE

A night of Drum & Bass and Jungle music in a dingy basement venue in Fallowfield. This is ideal for Fallowfield based students wanting to maximise their alcohol buying capabilities, entry is free and you’ll also be provided with a free shot upon arrival. No need to catch the bus either as Red Rum is a short walk from Owens Park.

Russ Yallop

Gorilla – £4/£6

Russ Yallop comes to Manchester off the back of a Summer residency playing alongside some of the biggest DJs in the world at Ibiza super club DC-10. The Hot Creations and Crosstown Rebels favourite will spin a set of underground house tunes.

THURSDAY

Frontin

Joshua Brooks – £3 before 12/£5 after

Fun vibes will be abound at Frontin’s freshers’ party. They encourage all attendees to let loose and have a ruddy good time by playing a great selection of Dancehall/Garage/RnB/Disco.

Bump & Grind

Sound Control – £4 adv/£5 before 12/£6 after

Freshers’ week sees the launch of Bump & Grind at Sound Control. House/Grime/Hip Hop/RnB will be played across two floors and a double and mixer is only £2.50. I can’t see nothing wrong with that.

Reggae Thursdays

The Deaf Institute – FREE

Providing good times is what Reggae music is all about, so don’t miss Reggae Thursdays if you’re seeking skanking induced fun. It’s in the main bar from 9pm -1.30am and is completely free of charge.

FRIDAY

So Flute

Roadhouse – £8/£10

So Flute present DJ Dez Andrés, the producer of Resident Advisor’s Track of the Year 2012, at The Roadhouse. The man closely associated with Dilla and Moodymann will bring the sound of Detroit amidst flawless mixing to Manchester, this is sure to be a very special night.

iDiOSYNC

Antwerp Mansion – £10

iDiOSYNC presents a stellar lineup including the likes of Wbeeza, Josh Butler and Bareskin at the increasingly popular Antwerp Mansion on Curry Mile. With live and DJ sets being performed there’ll be plenty of musical variety to please all revellers in attendance.

Bohemian Grove 3rd Birthday

Islington Mill – £10

One of Manchester’s most forward thinking and respected promoters celebrate their 3rd birthday at the Islington Mill in Salford on Friday. Headlining the night is Traxx, who’s earliest musical memory is spinning records on his toes as a baby. As an adult he has perfected the art of DJing and will unleash a masterful, vinyl only set.

SATURDAY

Pangaea Festival

University of Manchester’s Students Union – £22/£25

The largest student run festival in Europe returns to Manchester with a massive lineup, featuring the legendary DJ EZ amongst others. Multiple rooms showcasing different music, interactive art installations and the prospect of 6,000 students in fancy dress are just some of what Pangaea has to offer.

DJ Sneak

South – £12

The self-proclaimed ‘house gangster’ hits South on Saturday, bringing 20 years of experience as a mainstay on the house circuit with him. The man who influenced heavyweights such as Daft Punk, Armand Van Helden and Basement Jaxx is providing value for money by playing a 3 hour set.

Drop The Mustard

Gorilla – £8/£10/£12

WHP affiliates Drop The Mustard present a night of American house and disco with a live set from No Regular Play. Residents of New York at Gorilla surely promises a night of King Kong proportions. Selecting on the night are Pillowtalk and DTM residents.

 

 

Stylish but straightforward: Basil Pesto

Written by Ben Walker on . Posted in Food & Drink, Freshers' Guide.

Homemade Basil Pesto with Penne, deconstructed Bruschetta, and Pecorino Romano.

This is a fresh dish that relies on good ingredients, not necessarily high quality cooking skills. The key, as is often the case, is to keep tasting as you go.

 

You will need:

Fresh basil leaves (handful)

Pine nuts- (you can lightly toasted these in a dry frying pan for extra flavour, but be careful, they burn very easily)

A little fresh garlic

Half a red onion

Five cherry tomatoes

Hard Cheese (I chose Pecorino, but there are a lot of others to try)

Good olive oil

Pasta (I used Penne)

Three slices of good bread (i.e. Ciabatta)

Salt and Pepper

1              Make the pesto: If you don’t have a food processor or a pestle and mortar, you can simply chop the ingredients finely with a knife.

For one portion (and multiply as required) finely chop a good handful of fresh basil leaves. Also chop a little nib of garlic and a teaspoon of pine nuts. Add a little salt and pepper with a little grating of the cheese, and when all the ingredients are in the bowl, add decent olive oil until you achieve an oozy consistency- not too thin.

2              Set aside whilst you make the bruschetta topping. Quarter five cherry tomatoes and put into a colander. Add and pinch of salt to the tomatoes and gently move the tomatoes around to try and get some of the water out of them.

Once this is done, add to a bowl, a half a small red onion (finely chopped). Mix the ingredients with a little oil and seasoning. You are essentially looking for a chunky salsa consistency. Set aside.

3              Put the pasta on according the packet instructions. Season the water with a good pinch of salt—adding salt to the pasta water really does make a difference to the taste.

4              Whilst the pasta is boiling (in plenty of water), take three slices of artisan bread, preferably Ciabatta, and toast/grill with a little oil drizzled on them to help achieve a nice golden colour.

When al dente (not too soft, but with a little firmness till there) drain the pasta and tip the pasta back into the pan. Add in the pesto and stir vigorously until the Penne is well covered. There will be a little water still left on the pasta which will be cause the pesto and emulsify into a smooth sauce.

Spoon into a wide bowl and add some of the tomato mix on top and add a good grating of cheese.

Serve with the bread on the side and maybe a fresh, light beer.

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Food and Drink

Written by Ben Walker on . Posted in Food & Drink, Freshers' Guide.

Over the year we will endeavour to help you eat and drink your way around Manchester’s finest establishments, with also recipe ideas and advice to cook up a storm at home too.

In the past five years or so the craft beer and casual dining movement has gone from a niche interest to a becoming the heart and soul of the Manchester food and drink scene, and with two Michel Star Simon Rogan opening The French in March 2013, we are students at a very exciting time in Manchester’s gastronomic evolution. Added to the vibrant Curry Mile, the out laying villages of East and West Didsbury and Chorlton; there is a lot to eat and drink in 2013/14.

The Union Bar, open 11am-midnight 7 days a week (Mancunion)

The first two weeks of any University year, whether it’s your first or even your seventh, it is crazy, hectic, and ultimately fun. Here we have assembled what we think are the best places in the Manchester University bubble for food and drink, keeping around the Oxford Road corridor, whilst we all get into the groove of the new academic year. Also we have come up with a few tips that we thought could be of use to you in these first busy weeks.

There will be a lot of drinking going on, as I’m sure many of you are looking forward to, but remember there is absolutely no pressure for anyone to have to drink either to excess or even at all. Also, we hope that you consider what you’re eating, if you are in catered halls then your diet will be looked after for you, to a great extent. If you are self-catered or living in a house, try strike a balance between wholesome ‘home-cooking’ and quick and convenient meals—but always try and be creative.

Hopefully here we have catered for a broad range of interests and tastes—drinking venues, culinary destinations, and informed advice that will hopefully contribute to a fantastic start to the semester.

 

 

In praise of Red Chilli

Written by Georgia Crichton on . Posted in Food & Drink.

You are welcomed by two bowing red gentlemen, statues that is. Don’t be too surprised if this friendliness does not extent to all the staff, yet we are here, first and foremost, to eat—an experience the Observer noted as ‘joyous’.

The dark interior is a warren of booths, small tables, and banquet spaces, stylishly divided with carved wooden screens.

At £5.50 for the Lunch Menu, there are few places that can compete on delivering this quality and quantity. We had ginger and spring onion chicken, shrimp fired rice, and beef in black pepper sauce. The sauces had subtle flavours, the meat was succulent, and the rice was light and fluffy. However, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, ask for the a la carte menu and a recommendation for something a little quirky and more authentic that you haven’t tried before. The salt and pepper squid are guaranteed to tickle your taste buds, with the Szechuan pepper adding a fiery Oriental note to your classic ‘calamares’.

Though located at the heart of the University campus, this is not just an excellent weekday-lunch time destination. Red Chilli Oxford Road is a haven for Beijing and Sichuan cuisine for all occasion.

Banish those hangovers

Written by Maddy Hubbard on . Posted in Food & Drink, Freshers' Guide.

Gemini (328-330 Oxford Road)

Located at Whitworth Park Halls, Gemini Cafe is a favourite of students who are looking for an enormous plate of food for next to no money. It may not win awards for the quality of its ingredients any time soon, but the eggs are always perfectly fried, the bacon crispy and the service friendly. What more could you want?

 

Coffee House Cafe  (Copson Street)

On a side road in Withington, this greasy spoon is one of my favourite places in Manchester, particularly when hungover. What sets it apart is huge portions, low prices, and most of all the warmth of the welcome of this family run cafe. Regulars, having “the regular”, provide the ideal atmosphere for a bit of people watching while you try to remember the night before.

 

Fallow (once the Fallowfield Trof)

Legendary for its fry ups, continuing to corner the market in providing a better quality of breakfast. No grey tubes of mystery meat here – the sausages are properly herby and actually taste of pork.

WE ASK: Best Freshers’ memories

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Lifestyle.

‘Thinking she was Pout’s version of Lara Croft, my friend jumped off a table onto me, knocking me to the floor and kicking me in the head with her heel. Unsurprisingly, I ended up concussed and was soon being whisked to A and E. The rest of our friends happened to be there too after returning a wheelchair they’d stolen; somehow we all ended up being reunited in Manchester Royal Infirmary!’

Dana, third year, English Literature

 

‘My flatmates and I decided to invest in a flat pet during Freshers’ week. We decided on the low-maintenance option: a goldfish. After the sixth night we returned to the flat to find said fish, Shamoo, missing. It turned out that he hadn’t taken the normal path to the grave, through a drainage system, but instead had travelled through someone’s digestive system: one of my flatmates had eaten him. RIP Shamoo.’

Nicki Savin, second year, Maths with Business & Management

 

‘I moved into halls on the first Saturday, before Freshers’ had officially started. We were told that there was going to be a ‘party’ that night in Squirrels and having never been to Squirrels before, my flatmate and I assumed it was going to be a glamorous affair. We got all dolled up – sparkly dresses, fake eyelashes, seven-inch heels – and walked in to find a load of people in jeans and t-shirts awkwardly sipping their pints.’

Molly, third year, Fashion & Textile Retailing

 

‘My best Freshers’ memory is meeting Tess. We’re in third year now and still together.’

Don, third year, Economics

 

‘A few nights in, I met a guy at a house party and ended up going home with him. I crept out at 7am the next morning and sauntered back up to Oak House, thinking smugly that my housemates would definitely still be in bed and wouldn’t even realise I hadn’t come home that night. As I rounded the corner to my building – still in last night’s clothes, high heels in hand and make-up down my face – I saw my entire block standing outside in their pyjamas, looking at me. There’d been a fire drill. Of course.’

Rosa, third year, English Literature

 

‘I fell asleep in Ritz one night and ended up getting the bus home on my own. I then fell asleep again on the bus and woke up in Didsbury, with absolutely no idea where I was. Not advisable.’

Joe, third year, Economics

 

‘My worst moment of Freshers’ was probably having to go into a ‘very important’ introductory seminar with a moustache and a penis drawn on my face in black marker pen. It was even more embarrassing because it’s such a clichéd thing to happen! My tutor just looked at me and said dryly, ‘Ah, to be young again.’’

Kat, third year, International Relations

 

‘On our first night in halls, loads of us – boys and girls – ended up in my flatmate’s bedroom, drunkenly watching the most bizarre porn ever. I have no idea why. Some of it revolved around a boy trying to seduce his mum, except the ‘boy’ was actually a forty-year-old man wearing a baseball cap. It was a bonding experience, I guess…’

Nick, third year, American Studies

Fighting Freshers’ Flu

Written by Beth Currall on . Posted in Lifestyle.

We’ve all been (or, shortly after reading this, will be) there: after a week of little sleep, a lot of alcohol and even more mingling with strange, sweaty bodies in halls and clubs, Freshers’ Flu has beaten the best of us. Studies reckon over 90% succumb to the second week sniffles, and battle through the first week of lectures armed with man-sized Kleenex and dosed up with paracetamol. However, if you take the right precautions and follow our three simple steps, it is possible to beat this dreaded disease.

1. Eat Properly

The first week of university marks for the majority of us students, the first step into the adult world of living independently- and that includes cooking and buying food for ourselves. Whilst the temptation to live off take-aways and microwave meals is at times too great to resist, try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can, as they will ensure that your immune system is fighting fit despite the late nights and alcohol consumption. At the very least, buy some multivitamins and pop one of those every day for the next couple of weeks.

2. Don’t Stress!

Reports from the BBC indicate that half of the Freshers’ Flu symptoms are actually psychologically based, caused by the stress that comes with settling into a new environment. Therefore, it’s vital that you try to make your first week as stress-free as you can, by getting to know your surroundings, taking the time to interact with new people, and, most importantly, not radically changing yourself to impress your new ‘mates’. Once the euphoria of Freshers’ Week has worn away, you’ll soon realise who your real friends are.

3. Sleep and Exercise

Exercise is a great way to clear your head of last night’s haziness, and can also help you to meet new people along the way-killing two birds with one stone. Go for a jog around Platt Fields or join the gym, as exercise can be integrated into your new lifestyle as part of your daily routine. Also, make sure you catch up on sleep, or drink plenty of water on a night out if you haven’t had a chance to nap.

So there you have it, your (almost) fool-proof guide to beating the bug, and keeping the good times coming! Now nothing can stop you from having the best week of your life, and being able to bounce back and ace this first semester- which  is the main reason why we’re all here, of course.

 

Celebrating the life and work of Seamus Heaney

Written by Elizabeth Mitchell on . Posted in Books.

On August 30th, the world lost the most important Irish poet since WB Yeats. Born in 1939, Seamus Heaney was one of the greatest modern poets. Indeed, at the time of his death, Heaney’s poetry made up two thirds of the sales of living poets’ work in Britain. His output was prolific, beginning with his revered collection, Death Of A Naturalist, published in 1966. The volume is based on a childhood spent on his family’s farm in County Derry. The first poem, ‘Digging’, describes the land worked by his father and grandfather.

Heaney began his career as a schoolteacher. He later became a lecturer, culminating in a 21-year stint at Harvard and his election as Professor of Poetry at the University of Oxford. Heaney also wrote two plays and was a respected translator, with his translation of Beowulf winning the 1999 Whitbread Book of the Year Award. However, he will be best remembered for his poetry, which earned him the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature.

A Catholic and a Republican, Heaney moved to the Republic of Ireland in 1972 and claimed Irish nationality. Writing at the time of the Troubles, his work took on a darker nature. While turning down the British laureateship partly for political reasons, Heaney read ‘Requiem for the Croppies’ to both Catholic and Protestant audiences on the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. His work celebrated those easily forgotten – the ordinary people trying to survive, irrespective of their political allegiances.

Having suffered a stroke in 2006, Heaney was left in a self-proclaimed juvenile state. This served as inspiration for his final volume Human Chain, which charts the process of ageing and comments on mortality in a bleak, confessing manner. It won him the Forward Poetry Prize, the only major poetry prize that Heaney had yet to be awarded. Heaney’s literary genius was even apparent minutes before his death: his last words, “Noli timere” (Latin for ‘Do not be afraid’), were texted to his wife. His genius will live on through his work.

Top five literary nights out in Manchester

Written by Esmé Clifford Astbury on . Posted in Books.

1. The Castle Hotel 66 Oldham Street

A Northern Quarter institution, The Castle Hotel hosts regular spoken word nights, including Tongue in Cheek this Thursday, and serves up a delicious – and potentially dangerous – pint of scrumpy

2. Gorilla 54/56 Whitworth Street West

Gin was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s drink of choice, so don your flapper dress and drink like it’s 1920 at Gorilla’s Gin Parlour

3. The Art of Tea 47 Barlow Moor Road

For a more subdued affair, get off the beaten track and head to The Art of Tea in Didsbury to spend an evening perusing their selection of second-hand books and sipping tea – or something stronger

4. Peveril of the Peak 127 Great Bridgewater Street

Named after Sir Walter Scott’s novel, this cosy traditional pub boasts a good selection of real ales and can be recognised by its distinctive tiled exterior

5. Hardy’s Well 257 Wilmslow Road

If you don’t want to stray too far from Fallowfield, pay a visit to Hardy’s Well, an honest, no-frills pub, with a verse by local poet Lemn Sissay painted on its outside wall

Manchester: a literary city?

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Books.

There is a certain grittiness about Manchester that makes it seem like an unlikely place for writers to flourish. Writing about Paris, Baudelaire said, “You gave me mud and I have turned it to gold”. As any Mancunian could tell you, there is no shortage of mud – or puddles – in Manchester. Indeed, it is its very grittiness that inspires writers.

It is no coincidence that there is a strong preoccupation amongst Manchester-based authors with industry and its social impact. While Baudelaire’s Paris was being rebuilt by Haussmann, Manchester was still in its infancy, the textile boom absorbing surrounding villages into one big, noisy hub of industry. “Manchester,” wrote Jeanette Winterson, “spun riches beyond anybody’s wildest dreams, and wove despair and degradation into the human fabric”.

Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South tells the story of a young woman, Margaret Hale, who leaves her rural southern home for Milton, a northern industrial city based on Manchester. Besides being an unflinching account of the city’s poverty and cruelty, it is a love story. Margaret overcomes her prejudices and falls in love with the North – and with mill owner John Thornton. Gaskell, though critical of the dehumanising aspects of the industrial revolution, writes about the industrial North with affection and a degree of understanding, unlike Charles Dickens, who presents it in a more negative light in Hard Times.

Manchester’s literary heritage is not confined to industry. Although the working class remains a recurrent theme, more recent authors have branched out to explore all aspects of the human experience. Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange is a chilling vision of a futuristic society wrought with violence and governed by a repressive totalitarian state. With the success of the film adaptation by Stanley Kubrick, it became a cult classic.

Jeanette Winterson’s experience of growing up in the North led her to write a rather different novel: Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is about growing up with a highly religious, domineering, adopted mother – and a silent father – in Accrington, a small town outside of Manchester. In it, Winterson plays with the form of the Old Testament, using memory and one-sided storytelling to describe complicated relationships.

While Manchester leaves its mark on many authors, one author has chosen to leave his mark on it: Lemn Sissay’s ‘Poetry as Landmarks’ appears on the walls of pubs, takeaways, and pavements across the city. His collections of poems, such as Rebel Without Applause, are less social and universal, and more about personal identity and suffering.

With the city’s universities offering creative writing courses that attract ambitious new writers and established authors, Manchester’s literary scene is still flourishing. Last year, the University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing appointed Jeanette Winterson as Professor of Creative Writing, following in the footsteps of Martin Amis and, most recently, Colm Toibin. Meanwhile, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy is Creative Director of Manchester Metropolitain University’s Manchester Writing School.

Beyond the ivory towers, Mancunians are attending literary salons, poetry slams and readings. Literary blogs and magazines abound, and every October celebrated authors descend on the city for the Manchester Literature Festival. Students and locals alike are taking an interest in literature, reading the words of their predecessors and contemporaries, and even adding their own voices to the mix.

Ask Izzy

Written by Isabelle Dann on . Posted in Lifestyle.

I’ve just started university, I’ve got to make loads of new friends, and I’m worried that everyone is cooler than me. How can I fit in?

Whether they’re showing off their misspelt Sanskrit tattoos from their gap yah or enlightening others to the enigmatic joys of “deep house” music, chances are most of your fellow students are indeed cooler than you. Fear not, however, as there are plenty of ways you can be quirky and individual just like everybody else. Generally, a good starting point is to grow an embryo of a beard and/or dip-dye your hair a fetching shade of fuchsia. Finally, boycott Tesco then steal your flatmate’s food.

I’m moving into halls soon. Everyone I’ve ever met on the internet says Fallowfield is the place to be but I only got into Victoria Park. Will I be missing out?

This is a highly reasonable anxiety because Fallowfield is literally the only place in Manchester where you can buy both Jägerbombs and cheesy chips. You’ll just have to befriend as many Owens Park residents as possible and find a comfortable piece of their floor to call home, otherwise you will seriously have absolutely no fun at all.

My first social for my course is coming up, causing a severe wardrobe crisis! What can I wear to make a great first impression?

It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed for such affairs. I recall my very first social for English Literature, which had an innovative “Shakespeare” dress code. Consequently, I arrived at Jabezz Clegg sporting a homemade nun costume of the S&M variety (I was Isabella from Measure for Measure, obviously); it was a great excuse to whip out my novelty red fluffy handcuffs and wear a tea towel on my head. Upon arrival, I found that I was the only one in full costume with the exception of a male friend, whose fairy queen attire in the name of Titania was quite exquisite. Needless to say, our names were not quickly forgotten.

 

Fashion goes back to school

Written by Susie Coen on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Lecture theatres are calling, and despite our desire to parade around in floaty dresses and floral headpieces, we must accept that the university year has once again commenced and stop deluding over the idea of a hot September. Nevertheless, why not embrace your studious status by filling your wardrobe with some of these ‘back-to-school’ trends that will have you starting the semester in style, even in the face of rain.

Vintage Renewal Tartan Pinafore Dress, £34.00 urbanoutfitters.com

The pinafore dress is everywhere this autumn/winter. Taint your schoolgirl innocence with a dash of punk in this Vintage Renewal Tartan Pinafore Dress from Urban Outfitters, £38.00. Wear it layered over crisp white shirts for a playful look, or when the winds get colder wear on top of a black roll-neck jumper to ooze edginess.

Blazer with Button £59.00 and Cropped Trousers £29.00 Zara.com

Bring sophistication and class to your seminars this semester with a trouser suit, a look that littered the catwalks in A/W12 and seems to be just as prominent this season. Zara’s pink blazer, £59.99 and matching cropped trousers, £29.99, beautifully fuse sharp tailoring and pastel tones to bring a feminine spin on this androgynous look. Team with silver jewellery and some black brogues for a look that ticks all the boxes for A/W 13.

Vagabond Kenova Buckle Flat Shoes, £80.00, Asos.com

Start the year with a hop skip and jump in these Vagabond Kenova Buckle Flat Shoes, £80.00. These leather shoes are the perfect transitional footwear from summer sun to autumn winds before we embrace our winter boots. Wear with a pinafore dress or pleated skirt to show off your studious style.

Nylon Quilted Backpack, Topshop, £32.00 Topshop.com

Be both practical and trendy this semester by investing in a backpack. Trying to balance piles of books while searching for your bus pass does not exactly scream poise and elegance. This backpack from Topshop is simple yet quirky. The nylon padding embraces 1970s punk while its black colour ensures that there is no outfit it won’t compliment.

‘Oh, so you have a blog?’

Written by Susie Coen on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Finding a good blog these days is like rummaging through a vintage warehouse, there is so much crap to wade through before you get to the good stuff. Everyone is a blogger, which makes the search for decent people to follow a time consuming exercise. So, to help you out, here are selection of blogs I would recommend for that much needed distraction from reading and essays.

Erica Domsek is the genius behind www.psimadethis.com, an inspiring blog encouraging you to be creative and make some of the things you wear. You can spend hours navigating your way through posts that show you a range of DIY ideas, from how to make a clutch out of cork to decorating a beautiful gold cuff.

© Erica Domsek (www.psimadethis.com)

www.chloeting.com is run by 27 financial analyst, Chloe. Her outfit posts are a great example of classic fashion with a twist, and her gorgeous thick hair makes me cry with envy. I caught up with Chloe who revealed that she loves to blog, as it is ‘a great platform’ where she can ‘showcase [her] sense of style and connect with fashionistas around the world.’

© www.chloeting.com

Mexican born Andy Torres oozes sophistication in all of the looks on her blog www.stylescrapbook.com. This blog is detrimental to my bank account; I simply want to buy everything she wears. She exhibits class and elegance to a range of trends that all come effortlessly together – and she is painfully pretty.

© Andy Torres (www.stylescrapbook.com)

There isn’t a day where www.manrepeller.com ceases to make me laugh. The witty captions create a refreshing approach to fashion and avoid the pitfall of taking fashion too seriously – as many bloggers do. So, if you take fashion with a pinch of salt and want to get inspiring ideas, this blog is the one for you.

© www.manrepeller.com

Iviana Carpio’s blog www.love-aesthetics.blogspot.co.uk is a celebration of minimalist , which exemplifies how much of an impact cuts and fabrics have on clothing. The 25-year-old compliments her pale complexion, blue eyes and white blonde hair with a majority of white looks – creating an almost clinical impression that just works.

© Iviana Carpio (www.love-aesthetics.blogspot.co.uk)

Beauty: the picks of summer

Written by Halee Wells on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

The best thing about being an intern this summer was certainly the pay cheques. I couldn’t wait to have funds for the whole year; all of the swanky nights out, Taste The Difference meals, maybe even some shiny new textbooks. But did I manage to save any of my hefty balance? Of course not.

Aside from blowing a lot of it on, well, rather pointless things, I did manage to purchase plenty of new beauty products this summer which are now in my beauty holy grail staples.

So as I look for a new job, here is a list of my top 5 summer beauty picks:

 

OPI Nail Lacquer

Personally, I never understood why anyone would pay £11.50 for a nail varnish. There are plenty of good brands on the market such as Barry M who do a range of colours for as low as £2.99. However on return from Ibiza this summer, I thought and I would treat myself with my spare euros. And boy was it worth it! If you want nail varnish that dries instantly, doesn’t chip and with amazing colour payoff, go for OPI. Definitely worth the splurge girls!

 

Aussie

Believe it or not, this American based hair care brand is sold in Europe, America, and well anywhere but Australia really. However do not fret, their products will certainly give your hair the bounce of an Aussie kangaroo. Plenty of stores such as Boots seem to stock Aussie on a 3 for £10 offer, or 3 for 2, an offer not to be missed. My favourite is their 3 minute miracle conditioner, which leaves hair silky smooth and super shiny.

 

LUSH face masks

“What’s that smell?” We all love walking past a LUSH store to give our nostrils a little treat, but next time give your skin a piece of the action too! LUSH isn’t all about bath bombs and soaps, they have a wide range of face masks and scrubs too. This summer I decided to take the plunge and see what magic was inside those little black pots. Their cupcake facemask smells good enough to eat and at £5.95 for a generous pot, it is amazing for oilier skin.  Don’t forget to pop it in the fridge though, as their preservative free products don’t last forever.

 

Let’s get naked

Urban Decay’s Naked eye shadow palette has been raved about amongst many beauty gurus. I borrowed my friend Stephanie’s palette every night on holiday, and after a week’s worth of compliments about my eyes, I had to buy one for myself. Beautiful metallics and stunning matte’s, these shadows should be in every girl’s handbag. Retailing at £37 in Debenhams it isn’t cheap, but it’ll make you look like the most expensive girl in the room.

 

MAC Strobe Cream

Last and definitely not least, is an innovative product from the most renowned makeup brand around. Strobe cream is a mixture of a highlighter and a moisturiser, with 101 different ways to use it. Once I have done my foundation, I use my finger to blend the cream down my nose, across my cheek bones and onto my cupids bow. If you want that Victoria Secret glow, strobe cream is a makeup bag must.

Venue Guide: Unexpected Art

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Arts.

Imperial War Museum North

The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, M17 1TZ

While not solely an art museum, The Imperial War Museum North has its own collections of photography, looking at art through the lens of history and time. It also hosts a number of interesting visual art exhibitions such as its Big Picture Show, currently screening, an award-winning 360-degree experience where the combination of sound and projected digital moving images and photographs bring to life peoples’ experiences of war.

 

Museum of Science and Industry

Liverpool Road, M3 4FP

The Museum of Science and Industry might sound like an unlikely stop-off in this quest to discover Manchester’s art scene, but nowhere else can you find such an enthusiastic recognition of the harmony between art and science in our ever-advancing modern world. More than anywhere else, MOSI is eager to embrace the new forms of art that develops alongside new scientific advancements and proudly exhibits the aesthetic appeal of technologies old and new. As Manchester celebrates its annual science festival this autumn, we can gear ourselves up for this fusion of art and science to be greater than ever as MOSI hosts an exhibition of contemporary architecture now found in the Antarctic. At the site of the world’s oldest surviving railway station, MOSI is a striking piece of Manchester’s historical and cultural identity.

 

People’s History Museum

Left Bank, M3 3ER

A vast collection of printed material, physical objects and photographs shows the lives of ordinary people at work, rest and play. This museum documents the history of working people in Britain through works of art including 18th and 19th century political cartoons, political posters relating to the Labour, Conservative and Liberal parties, the Spanish Civil War  and the Communist Party of Great Britain. Paintings include depictions of many workers and leading figures of the Labour and communist parties of Great Britain. There is also a large collection of the work of Cliff Rowe, a founding member of the Artists International Association.

 

Venue Guide: Destination Art

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Arts.

Manchester Art Gallery

Mosley Street, M2 3JL 

Since the temporary closure of the Whitworth gallery, The Manchester Art Gallery is the biggest art gallery in the city, best known for its Victorian paintings and, in particular, its collection of famous Pre-Raphaelite art works. Its historic galleries display art and design from the 17th and 18th centuries and it also houses a contemporary exhibit. Currently displaying a number of free small exhibitions such as an exhibit exploring the role of painters, such as Francis Bacon, Lucien Freud and David Hockney, in the reinvention of figurative art in the second half of the 20th century. Alongside this, lies a display featuring English and French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, an exhibition celebrating the art occurring between the two World Wars and a variety of contemporary exhibitions, one of which concentrates on the fairy-tale art of Mancunian artist Alison Erika Forde.

 

Cornerhouse

70 Oxford Street, M1 5NH

Alongside the laid back comfy-seating-adorned appeal of the cinema theatres, providing the best in independent and international cinema, the Cornerhouse welcomes you with a trendy café bar and bookshop and is home to three floors of contemporary and interactive art galleries. Located on Oxford Road, the Cornerhouse embraces artists that have not yet received much recognition in the UK, boasting a keen interest in accessible art that focuses on engagement and participation with its visitors. The Cornerhouse is by far one of the most relaxed and interesting places to view art in Manchester and hopefully with its move to First Street in 2014, it will not lose any of its lively character, down to earth charm and, most importantly, its beloved student-friendly cinema ticket prices.

 

The Lowry

Pier 8 The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ

Named after the beloved Lancashire-born LS Lowry, most famously recognised for his visual documentation of the North West’s industrial era, The Lowry is worth visiting for the building and landscape alone. Located in the redeveloped Salford Quays, the building is built in glass and metal, reflecting the surrounding landscapes that LS Lowry himself once observed. It brings together both performing and visual arts and shows the works of Lowry alongside a vast array of contemporary exhibitions.

 

The Manchester Museum

The Univerity of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PL

This university-owned museum situated directly on campus is home to an impressive collection of archaeology, anthropology and natural history. With its Victorian interior and meandering chambers of history, the museum is a perfect place to withdraw from the hustle and bustle of term-time Oxford road, marvel at the pristine preservation of time and relish in the innate peace and quiet each room brings.

 

Whitworth Art Gallery

Oxford Road,M15 6ER

The Whitworth Gallery, although sadly closed for refurbishment until next summer can still be admired for its impressive Victorian architecture on the Oxford Road bus route.

Venue Guide: Off the Beaten Track

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Arts.

Craft and Design Centre

17 Oak Street, M4 5JD

In the heart of Manchester’s creative Northern Quarter, Manchester Craft & Design Centre is housed in a former Victorian fish and poultry market building. It’s home to 19 working studio boutiques where 35 artists, designers and craftspeople produce and sell work to the public six days a week. 

 

Artzu

Quay House, Quay St, M3 3JE

An independent gallery space is set in the heart of Spinningfields. Currently showing paintings by the artist Andrew Hunt who was twice selected for The BP National Portrait Award.

 

Castlefield Gallery

2 Hewitt Street, M15 4GB

An organisation for developing and emerging contemporary artists and practice, this gallery responds to national and international trends, promoting artists at key stages of their careers.

 

Islington Mill

James Street, Salford, M3 5HW

Based in Salford and housed in the buildings and courtyard of a former Victorian mill Islington Mill runs innovative inter-disciplinary arts programmes forged in the spirit of D-I-Y.

 

Chinese Arts Centre

Market Buildings, Thomas Street, M4 1EU

The Centre houses a number of permanent art installations by contemporary Chinese artists and interesting design features that reference Chinese culture as well as temporary art exhibitions.

 

Antwerp Mansion

Kent Road West, M14 5RF

A derelict Victorian mansion that has been turned into a haven for music, art and photography.

 

The Veggie Café

The Univerity of Manchester

The sad news of the potential closing of the much-beloved veggie café doesn’t just taunt us with the possible loss of lecture-sustaining flapjacks and 60p tea, it also leads us to reflect on its variety of roles in daily university life, especially its place, albeit its modest place, in Manchester’s art scene. In its own right, the cafe deserves a degree of recognition as a platform for local artists to exhibit and sell their work but also purely as a place where you can view art – whatever you think of it. Combined with the greasy-spoon type charm of the cafe’s layout and the scattering of mismatching canvasses, The Veggie Cafe is homely, welcoming and we’ll miss it. So before we have to say goodbye, go and take a visit, buy a flapjack and a tea, but most importantly, marvel, grumble or wince at the walls.

 

 

 

 

 

Dos and Don’ts: Surviving your first year

Written by Lauren Arthur on . Posted in Lifestyle.

DO:

  1. Grab the free stuff. Whether it’s taking the tea and toast offered to you as you stagger through OP at 3am or dragging yourself out of bed before 3pm and trudging along to Freshers’ fair. You’ll soon be poor; free stuff is good.
  2. Make the most of halls. No, they’re not the most luxurious of places to live but you’re surrounded by friends (hopefully), have your kitchen cleaned for you and most importantly can use as much gas and electricity as you please. (Second/third/fourth year problem: hypothermia vs. diminishing overdraft).
  3. Find your nearest Domino’s. The beautiful offer of free pizza only comes around twice a year so source as many vouchers as you can and get queuing.
  4. Sign up for UNiDAYS/studentbeans.com. Your inbox is probably full enough but they keep you up to date with student offers and discounts.
  5. Embrace your flat mates. They might not be your sort of people but unless you plan on moving halls, you’re stuck with them for a year so suck it up and try your best. (N.B. No romantic relationships until you’re out of halls. Awkwardness for the two involved and the rest of the flat is not pleasant.)

 

DON’T:

  1. Tarnish your clean rep. Go out and have fun, of course. But be wary. No one wants to bump into last night’s conquest as you creep out of a flat humming The Great Escape.
  2. Blurt out all of your secrets in I Have Never. Unless you’re lucky, most people you spend Freshers’ Week with won’t turn out to be your closest friends so stay safe and keep schtum.
  3. Sleep with people from home. As if everyone at uni knowing your business isn’t bad enough, the whole of your home town will soon find out too. The individual involved will also be there every Christmas, Easter and summer holiday. Steer clear: it’s really not worth it.
  4. End up in your overdraft after seven days. It’s going to be an expensive week, granted, but there’s no need to start buying all your new ‘bffls’ vodka redbulls and Sambuca shots.
  5. Neglect ma and pa. Their levels of worrying will be at an all time high so a quick call or Skype should keep them happy (and sweet if financial issues should arise later in the year).