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- After Hours Culture with The Late Shows
- NE1′s Newcastle Fashion Week is Back!
- High Bridge Festival
- Happy 10th Birthday Jurys Inn Newcastle!
- Gateshead International Jazz Festival
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May 19thAfter Hours Culture with The Late Shows
If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my decade as an honorary Geordie it’s that the North East is an absolute hot bed of creative talent! Over the last two days, you couldn’t fail to notice the talents of our inspiring artistic community as The Late Shows took place across NewcasleGateshead.
A record number of museums and galleries opened their doors after hours to give us a cultural experience like no other. There was Bollywood glamour at the Great North Museum, a ‘human library’ at Gateshead Central Library, giant installations at the Discovery Museum and quirky arcade games at Ouse Street Arts Club.
I’m barely scratching the surface of the amazing line-up of events that enthralled and impressed visitors over the last couple of days!
Bill Griffiths, project manager for The Late Shows, said:
“The Late Shows is now into its seventh year, and still the programme is as original and imaginative as when we first started, if not more so – the creativity and diversity of the events created by the cultural community on our doorstep is mind-blowing!
Where else in the UK can you take tea in the oldest dining room in Britain, see a fire show and puppet makers, play an Enid Blyton quiz and traverse the old coal transport tunnels beneath Newcastle – all in the space of an evening?”
Did you venture out on after hours culture crawl this weekend? If so I’d love to know what you got up to, please share your experiences of the Late Shows below.
by Rachel Kershaw
May 12thNE1′s Newcastle Fashion Week is Back!
There’s one week of the year when I feel suddenly quite fashion-conscious, I spend a little longer than usual choosing my outfits in the morning and question whether my spring/summer wardrobe is really up to scratch… It is of course NE1′s Newcastle Fashion Week!
From the 11th till the 18th May, fashionistas from far and wide descend up on the fashion capital of the North for a jam packed week of stylish shenanigans! There are events taking place all over Newcastle city centre including catwalks, workshops, exhibitions and of course, plenty of special shopping events!
I’m really starting to wish I’d checked out the events calendar sooner and cleared my diary to make the most of this monumental week. I may not be at every single bash (definitely booking the week off work next year!) but there is absolutely no way I would miss Fashion Front Row! It’s one of the main highlights of the week long programme and is a chance to check out the next big trends from hotly tipped designers including Francesca Air (Wor Donna’s little sister). She’ll be joined by a shed load of other big names from fashion and beauty for the shindig at As You like It on the 15th of May.
I love people watching so I can’t wait to check out what everyone’s wearing and do a bit of celeb spotting. The only trouble is… what the heck do I wear?? If all else fails I’ll just throw on my limited edition NFW T-shirt, designed by Electrik Sheep. To get your hands on this season’s must have get yourself along to Fenwick and pick one up for the bargain price of just a tenner. All profits from the cool printed tees go straight to Metro Radio’s Cash for Kids so not only will you look bang on trend, you’ll be giving a helping hand to local kids too!
NFW Essential Info:
http://www.getintonewcastle.co.uk/nfw/
#NFW
by Rachel KershawApr 30thHigh Bridge Festival
Festival Fun on High Bridge Street
I’ve always been a big fan of High Bridge and it’s abundance of independent retailers but on Saturday the 20th of April I was among over 12,000 people who descended upon the cobbles between the Bigg Market and Grey Street to enjoy a special event that celebrated the best that this special area has to offer.
The poster promised live music and street food and I was pleased to discover that both were in strong supply! The sun even made appearance to create the perfect excuse for food lovers and culture vultures to come down and soak up the atmosphere!
Piggin Lush!
I was in my element rummaging for vintage bargains in Retro and Attica and I couldn’t resist a hot pork sandwich from Piggin Lush, although there were plenty of other tempting eateries to choose from too. It really was a lovely afternoon!
High Bridge Buskers
I’m not sure if the High Bridge traders are planning on repeating the event but this was the third time they’d organised it so fingers crossed we can persuade them to plan a fourth festival soon! To be among the first to find out, be sure to follow High Bridge Quarter on Facebook
by Rachel KershawApr 24thHappy 10th Birthday Jurys Inn Newcastle!
Jurys Inn Newcastle has recently been given a complete make-over worth a mammoth £1.5 million! The refurbishment was finished just in time for the hotel’s 10th birthday, so what better way to celebrate than with a prestigious party?
Helping myself to the pick and mix!
On Thursday 18th April I made my way down to Scotswood Road and was greeted with cocktails and canapés on arrival. Much better than the jelly and ice-cream I had at my 10th birthday party! But with VIP’s on the guest list including Emmerdale star Tom Lister and local rugby hero, Newcastle Falcons’ Matt Thompson, I should have known this was going to be a sophisticated affair!
The entertainment included a presentation from Noel Jackson on the ‘Science of Booze’ where I was given the chance to sample even more cocktails including the delicious ‘Jurys Red’, a fabulous concoction that tasted like a cross between a Cosmopolitan and a Strawberry Daiquiri, be sure to try it if you get the chance! I also got to decorate my own donut thanks to the guys at Krispy Kreme Gateshead and I gorged on traditional sweets from the complimentary sweetie cart too!
The Birthday Cake!
Just like the cake, the party games were designed to impress with guests invited to play indoor bowling, get dressed up for the photo booth and pop balloons for the chance to win exciting prizes including city breaks! I may not have walked away with a prize but I loved my goody bag full of Jurys Inn branded products and my stash of sweeties and donuts went down a treat with family back at home!
Some of the balloons contained prizes
With 274 bedrooms, nine meeting rooms and a sumptuous restaurant and Costa coffee bar, Jurys Inn Newcastle is ideal for everything from a quick cuppa to a stylish city break. The location is perfect for anyone visiting the Metro Radio Arena as it’s literally just a two minute walk so I’ll be back for a drink in the hotel bar when I go see Mark Knopfler in May.
by Rachel KershawApr 13thGateshead International Jazz Festival
The fabulous Ruby Turner
I’m not going to claim to be some kind of jazz aficionado but I did get a little but giddy when I saw the line up for this year’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival. Mainly because the name Ruby Turner was at the top of the list and after seeing her perform with Jools Holland at the City Hall in December I jumped at the chance to see her again. When I logged on to buy tickets and realised the gig was a double header with The Brand New Heavies I couldn’t type my card details in quick enough!
The Sage Gateshead
The Sunday night concert was the epic finale of the three day festival which brought other big names to the Sage Gateshead including Soweto Kinch, Phronesis and Christine Tobin plus, for the first time ever, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Thrifty jazz lovers were able to save money on tickets for two or more events with a ‘Jazz Pass’ but even without a discount, I thought £25 for the Ruby Turner and Brand New Heavies gig was superb value.
I managed to get seats on the second row but even if I’d have been sat at the back of Hall Two in the Sage I could not fail to be moved by Ruby Turner’s emotional performance. With the amazing tone of her big soul voice and her infectious bubbly character, Ruby was able to make me laugh, dance, sing and cry all in the space of 40 minutes.
The Brand New Heavies
Then after a short interval the Brand New Heavies blew me away with a load of 90′s anthems that I’d almost forgotten all about! The material from the new album was also just as good and I can’t wait to buy a copy when it comes out in May. My feet were aching from all the dancing by the end of their set but I couldn’t resist hoping on the Quaylink bus and heading over the river for the after party at Hoochie Coochie. It’s one of my favourite bars in the city because the music is always soulful and you’re guaranteed a party atmosphere every time. Sunday night was no exception, especially when Jan Kincaid, drummer and founding member of the BNH turned up to perform a DJ set with the rest of the band hitting the dance floor. Needless to say my head was a little bit sore the next morning!
Next year will the 10th Gateshead International Jazz Festival and it’s got a huge reputation to live up to but something tells me it’s going to be even bigger and better!
Did you see any of the events in this year’s festival? If so, I’d love to hear what you thought!
by Rachel KershawApr 12thSunday Brunch at Hotel du Vin
Good food and great mates are the perfect ingredients for a lazy Sunday afternoon so last weekend I was in my element as one of my best friends made the journey up from Rochdale to join me for Sunday Brunch at Hotel du Vin, Newcastle.
I’d heard that the lavish four course menu was enough to satisfy even the biggest appetites and as my eyes are often bigger than belly, I decided to wear jeans with a stretchy waist – definitely a wise move!
Cocktails? Don’t mind if I do!
We kick started the afternoon with cocktails in the Bubble Bar where Ross, our bartender, recommended a light and refreshing Gin based drink called Garden of Eden for my mate Gemma and mixed up a classic mojito for me. There’s a nice relaxed atmosphere in the bar and despite Hotel du Vin being the favourite of many high profile celebs (One Direction were checking in later that day!) it certainly doesn’t feel pretentious and the staff are really chatty and down to earth.
Head chef Stuart Donaldson at the French market table
So let me tell you about the food… quite honestly I didn’t know where to begin but that didn’t matter because the four courses of Sunday Brunch can be enjoyed in order! After a bowl of hearty vegetable soup I headed to the French Market Table where I was spoilt for choice with an array of freshly baked breads, a selection of seafood including mussels, mackerel and salmon plus cured meats, pâtés, and loads of fresh salad. This style of grazing is absolutely my cup of tea and I loved chatting to head chef, Stuart Donaldson about the preparation for the feast.
Trying my first ever oyster!
It was Stuart who persuaded me try an oyster and after the all the effort he put in to shucking it (that’s the proper word for opening an oyster don’t you know!) it seemed rude not too. My verdict? A big thumbs up! Although to be honest, one or two would be enough. Besides, I had to save room for the star of the show… a proper Sunday roast!
Check out the size of the Yorkshire pud!
There are plenty of other dishes to choose from for your main course at Sunday Brunch including a Bistro Burger (not for those with a small appetite!), Salmon Hollandaise and Steak and Chips to name a few. For me though, Sundays are just not complete without a roast dinner and as soon as I saw rib of beef was on offer my mind was made up. I’m a bit of connoisseur when it comes to Yorkshire puds and Hotel du Vin did not let me down, they were light and crispy and almost the size of my head!
Despite being full to bursting I managed to find room for a traditional trifle too, it was boozy, fruity and oh so moorish! Told you my eyes were bigger than my belly! I think it’s fair to say I’ll be returning to Hotel du Vin and for family occasions, the intimate dining room just off the main bistro is perfect, mainly because it’s located right next to that brilliant market table.
What would you choose from the tempting menu at Hotel du Vin?
by Rachel KershawMar 28thEvolution Line Up Announced!
Exciting times… Evolution Festival returns to NewcastleGateshead Quayside for the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend 2013 and I reckon this year’s line up is the best yet!
The Vaccines, Paloma Faith, Jake Bugg (LOVE HIM), Ellie Goulding, Rudimental, Sub Focus Live, Modestep, Bastille, Aluna George plus many more will grace the stage at either Spillers Wharf or Ballast Hills over two glorious days.
We’ve got the acts, we’ve got the amazing setting now let’s just pray for the sun to shine!
Tickets are just £29.50 for one day or £39.50 for the weekend, which is a bargain considering how many fantastic live artists you get to see for that! However, if you’re a bit strapped for cash you could always consider volunteering at Evolution and in return for an eight hour shift you’ll get a weekend ticket.
Sadly I’m away on the Sunday but I’ll be dancing my socks off down at the front on Bank Holiday Monday, hope to see you there!
So tell me, who are you most looking forward to seeing at Evolution Festival?
by Rachel Kershaw