Things To Do This Weekend: 1-3 March

Charity/Music: Vini Reilly in conversation with Dave Haslam, Town Hall: 3 March
Vini Reilly made his name with post-punk outfit Durutti Column after being Tony Wilson’s first signing to Factory Records in 1978. In this special event in the historic surroundings of Manchester Town Hall he will be in conversation with former-Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam on behalf of charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). The event is to raise money and awareness for CALM which reaches out to suicidal young people. Reilly has suffered several minor strokes in recent years and has been unable to perform, the emotional finale to this event will see his first public performance for eighteen months of a song that has never been recorded or released. The night will also feature music from John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) and JP Cooper. Tickets are £7 and are available with further information from here.

Vini over Manchester

Tour: Valette’s Manchester, Albert Square: 3 March
‘If any citizen desires to realise how really beautiful parts of Manchester may appear under certain lights he should inspect the canvases of Adolphe Valette’. Art Critic, 1912.
Adolphe Valette was Manchester’s own French Impressionist painter.  Arriving in Manchester early in the 20 Century, his paintings captured a city of activity and movement, of industry and water, and would encourage his students, such as LS Lowry at Manchester’s School of Art.
This tour, inspired by Valette’s ‘Manchesterscapes’, visits places he painted. The tour will involve stories, not only of the man himself, but of the buildings, streets and the people who inhabited these areas before, during, and after Valette’s time. To join participants are asked to meet at the Town Hall steps in Albert Square for 1pm, tickets are priced at £7 each. For further information see here.

India House

Food (to last a week): San Carlo's T-bone steak (main picture above and below)
This is theatre and food melded into one with a two kilogram punch. The five week aged T-bone steak at San Carlo is a meat lover's vision of foodie paradise. This monster is beautifully cooked so despite its size medium rare can still be achieved. With the trimmings the monster costs £60. Sixty pounds I hear you cry, but never fear, it will feed three or four easily. Given many restaurants in Manchester feature steak cuts over £20 then in some respects this vast glory is a bargain. To ensure you aren't disappointed book T-boneosaurus Rex ahead of your visit.

Carved T-bone partially devoured by the editor

Theatre: Mother Courage And Her Children, The Lowry: 1-9 March
The brutal Thirty Years’ War of the 17^th Century provides the backdrop for Berthold Brecht’s potent story of a haggard battlefield entrepreneur – Mother Courage. Considered by many to be one of the most powerful stage creations of the last century, documents Mother Courage’s unswerving determination to make a profit from the dirty business of war even as her children are threatened by it. This new production taking to the Library Theatre stage is a translation by Oscar and BAFTA nominated playwright Tony Kushner, responsible for the screenplay to Spielberg’s recent Lincoln. Ticket prices range from £9-£19.50 and can be purchased from here. 

Eve Polycarpou in Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Chris Honer, presented by the Library Theatre Company at The Lowry (Friday 22 February - Saturday 9 March 2013). Photo by Jonathan Keenan

Art: Being Lucy Parker, Cube Gallery: 1-9 March
‘Lucy Parker’ is the joint moniker for artists Kate Lucy and Andrew Parker, who met as mature students studying contemporary fine art at Salford University. The pair’s first joint exhibition is an ‘ongoing quest to capture a feeling of what they define as human-ness’. Interestingly the pieces on display are in a constant state of change as works in progress. Parker in particular works over the top of previous paintings re-working as much as 90% of it. The intended result is a sense of ‘dynamism’ and a fleeting glimpse of a moment in time. So expect to not necessarily see the same exhibition as others before you for this short run at the Cube Gallery. More information can be found here.

Being Lucy Parker

Classical: The Grand Duke, RNCM: 1-2 March
This is the last weekend to catch Manchester’s Gilbert and Sullivan Society production of The Grand Duke at the Royal Northern College Of Music. The production is a vibrant musical tale of treason, deceit, love, heartbreak and …sausage rolls. Set in the mid 1700’s and the German town of Pfennig Halbpfennig where revolution is in the air, the town’s theatrical troupe plan to overthrow the corrupt ruler – the eponymous Grand Duke. Tickets for the performances are priced £5-£12 and are available from here.

RNCM

Quiz: The Castlefield Quiz. 7.30pm - vasty prizes
With prizes including a tunnel tour of Manchester, a meal for two at The Wharf and a meal for two at Alberts Shed there’s every reason to be at The Wharf for 7.30pm on Sunday 3 March. Questions will be fun, challenging occasionally, but not exhausting. There will be no geometry tests. Jonathan Schofield, the Confidential editor, will be the quizmaster with help from Castlefield chums.

Through the arched window at The Wharf

Music: Hip Hop Karaoke, Deaf Institute: 2 March
De La Soul, Drake, Dre, Jay Z, Kanye, Lil Kim and err’body else are scheduled to appear live at the Deaf Institute this Saturday…sort of. Last year we had 2pac reappear as a hologram, this year everyone’s favourite rappers are actually possessing people one stage. All you need to do is turn up to the Hip Hop Karaoke, pick a tune and let the spirit of Snoop flow through you – nothing can possibly go wrong. Doors are at 10pm till 4am with tickets priced at £5, more information available here.

Hip Hop Karaoke

Breakfast: Big Breakfast, Electrik Bar: 2 March
Electrik Bar in Chorlton turns four this Thursday (28) with the usual birthday hoedown involving beer, food and music in a combination which has helped the bar become a South Manchester staple. Now in its fourth year Electrik has also just launched its Saturday Big Breakfasts menu to help start the weekend with an epically portioned feast. The extended menu includes every item you could consider when thinking of breakfast, brunch and even elevenses. Confidential isn’t always a morning person but would certainly be bright eyed and bushy tailed to sample some of Electrik’s hearty Big Breakfast treats. The Big Breakfast commences 10am every Saturday with more information and a full menu available here.

Sample brekkie, Electrik's won't necessarily look like this