SleuthSleuth is a sideways glance at the city every week, it's the truth, but Sleuth's truth. He's several people all at once. We give £25 for every story/rumour and piece of absurdity you find for us to publish. Sleuth sometimes even gets serious. We ask for the money back if any legal action follows. Follow Sleuth on twitter @mcrsleuth
Sleuth And An Ancient Fund-raising Controversy Awakens
Sleuth understands how St Ann's Church needs to raise money for restoration. But don't they have any say on the content of the ads? The present one is for Halo 4, a fantasy computer game, with lots of fighting and death. If you've seen the advert on TV, the strapline is, 'An Ancient Evil Awakens'. Perhaps Sleuth is being too sensitive but given the trouble religion finds itself in, is Halo 4 an appropriate vehicle for fundraising? Although, Sleuth reckons Prof Richard Dawkins, the atheist scientist, would think the line 'An Ancient Evil Awakens' very apt.
An ancient evil awakens
Sleuth And The Cathedral Aliens
With reference to the story above, Sleuth recalls the reaction of fellow Church of England institution, Manchester Cathedral, to gaming a few years ago. In 2007 Sony sneakily videoed the interior of the church for a backdrop setting in the bloody Resistance: The Fall of Man. Big row as Sleuth described here.
Sleuth's Average Commuter Leaves Tram
Sleuth is pretty sure this is what the average commuter looks like after having engaged with Manchester's public transport system on bad days. Or this could possibly have been a promotion for the Black Dog Ballroom's Halloween events.
Delayed services can be traumatic
Sleuth Hit By Avalanche - A New Restaurant
Anybody remember the old Lime Bar on Booth Street in the city centre? Sleuth's had an invite for the opening in a couple of weeks of a new restaurant that's taking over the large site. It's called Avalanche. The cuisine type will be Italian. Er...right. It should be easy to make a name for itself then. After all there isn't much competition in a five minute walk aside from Piccolino, Croma, Rosso, Jamie's, San Carlo, Cicchetti, San Rocco and Pizza Express. Avalanche wants to specialise in fish. Good luck, it will definitely need a specialism.
Fish Specialisation
Sleuth Collects Another Vodka Martini
Vodka Martini in CloudWith Cloud 23 open again, Sleuth went and availed himself of another vodka martini - he's touring the city for a Best of VM's, similar to Gordo's Best of Breakfasts this week. Sleuth had read that with the refurbishment the various parts of Cloud 23 have been named after Greek Gods - up on Mount Olympus, geddit, oh, and apparently the owner is Greek Cypriot?
Sleuth's knows a thing or two about mythology, so areas dedicated to Zeus, Apollo and Eros were to be expected. But one dedicated to Iris? Who is that?
Iris sounds like an older lady running a bunion removal business. It's sort of fitting that the Iris area looks down on the Coronation Street set. In the end manager David Race, revealed that Iris is a little-known goddess of rainbows, so fair enough.
Inspired by all this Sleuth turned up dressed like Zeus in Battle of the Titans and was refused entry. Apparently thunderbolts are deemed offensive weapons. Ridiculous.
View down to Corrie
Sleuth's Steak Of The Week
This is the ever so perfectly cooked slab of meaty loveliness on the Terrace at a re-invigorated Restaurant Bar and Grill on John Dalton Street. The steak welcomed Sleuth's knife with, almost, an audible sigh of acceptance. The medium rare flesh was simply delicious. This was the monster 14oz bone-in rib of steak by the way. £27 but 10/10.
Soft, moist, lush
Sleuth's Most Surprising Shop Sign Of The Year
This comes from a regular reader and is from the B&Q in Burnage. Apparently it's the BNP's favourite DIY section.
White Power Accessories
Sleuth's Most Inaccurate Journalist Of The Week
This goes to Alison Shepherd in the Independent on Sunday for this story. It involves the proposals to turn the redundant viaduct in Castlefield into a garden - an idea first mooted by Manchester Confidential, for example here, amongst many stories. First off she doesn't credit Confidential for this, but then she might not have been told, and secondly she says 'the British Railways Board, has estimated that it costs £30m a year just to keep the viaduct from falling down'. This is a fantasy figure - mostly the British Railways Board spends 17p annually per year to ensure the Grade II listed structure's survival. Lord alone knows where Ms Shepherd got that figure from.
Gardens in the air
Sleuth's Best Songs For Manchester Funerals
Confidential received a press release this week from App provider iFuneral about the top ten songs people want played at their funeral. Sleuth decided to put together a list of Greater Manchester songs that might work. Sleuth will probably have the last one on his Manchester list played at his funeral.
Staying Alive – Bee Gees
Relight My Fire – Take That, for crematorium services
Live Forever – Oasis
Blue Monday – New Order, for early week burials
The Last Broadcast - Doves
Hallelujah – Happy Mondays
Someday I’m Coming Back – Lisa Stansfield
I Am The Resurrection – Stone Roses
Something New – Mint Royale
What Difference Does It Make? - The Smiths
For the record, the top ten nationally were:
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Eric Idle
Who Wants to Live Forever - Queen
Jerusalem - William Blake
Time to Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
Imagine - John Lennon
Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
I’ve Had the Time of My Life - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
You Raise Me Up - Westlife
You’ll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers
Abide With Me - Henry Francis Lyte
Sleuth's Rant Of The Week
This following the story about the unexploded bomb found in West Didsbury. Jeremy Smith ranted asking: 'Was it an Artisan bomb?'
