Sport – Paralympics at Hope and Glory Bar
After a short break to take a collective national breath and a moment of calm, the Paralympians are ready to put us through it all again. Once again Exchange Square continues the London 2012 coverage on the big screen as ParalympicsGB chase the medals. The pop up Hope and Glory bar will be open daily from 11am to 11pm and events will be screened right up until the London 2012 flame is finally extinguished on Sunday 9 September. Find out more info here.
Hope And Glory Bar
Cinema - Fatboy Slim at The Odeon, Printworks
Before getting overly excited, no, Mr Slim is not appearing in the flesh at The Odeon but you can catch his latest and most spectacular Big Beach Party on the big screen. For a decade the multi-platinum selling DJ has hosted increasingly extravagant annual shows on the beach for thousands of people in his native Brighton. This June he upped the stakes and moved into his beloved Brighton & Hove Albion’s football stadium to host his biggest event to date. The event featured LED video screens that spanned the length of the pitch, pyrotechnics and lasers to rival the Olympics opening ceremony plus a crowd of 40,000, all set to a soundtrack Norman Cook’s crowd-pleasing classics. For one night only on Friday 31 August the event can be relived as it is screened at cinemas around the world to create the ‘world’s largest cinema dance party’. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Fatboy Slim
Culture - West Fest – West Didsbury
This Saturday and Sunday (1 – 2 September) sees the fourth annual West Fest return to South Manchester to celebrate everything that West Didsbury village has to offer. The idea behind the two-day event is to showcase the independent and unique businesses and spirit of West Didsbury to visitors and locals alike. Based on past incarnations you can expect to see BBQs, farmers market, wandering poets, Punch and Judy, wine tasting and craft stalls. All the locals will be getting in on the festivities with And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon undertaking a 48-hour bake-a-thon while Thyme Out Delicatessen will be offering the latest in their breakfast specials – a breakfast THREE times the size of a traditional Full English. Plus anyone who’s ever been to Crazy Wendy’s can expect to see Wendy atop a table belting out the karaoke hits as usual. More information can be found here.
West Fest
Arts and Culture - Abandon Normal Devices Festival
The current Manchester leg of the annual AND festival is underway until Sunday 2 September. The festival of new cinema, digital culture and art has dozens of events and exhibitions across the weekend. A post-apocalyptic cinema has sprung up near First Street and YouTube phenomenon the TechnoViking will be dropping in to the Cornerhouse to talk about what it means to ‘go viral’. Another intriguing concept has been created by guerrilla art duo HeHe. They have created the M:blem project to celebrate the Liverpool and Manchester railway to celebrate the two city’s connection to the AND festival. The project involves a specially created autonomous vehicle to run on the original tracks at MOSI and will be welcomed through the historic L&MR Railway entrance on Liverpool road each evening during the festival. Information for all festival events and tickets can be found here.
Mblem At And Festival
Music - Mr Scruff – Band On The Wall
Saturday sees the return of monthly Manchester musical melting-pot mogul Mr Scruff’s Keep It Unreal clubnight at Band On The Wall. Scruff mans the decks for six hours straight playing everything and anything from jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, house, reggae, dubstep and beyond. And of course no mention of Scruff could go without mentioning his favourite hot beverage of choice, throughout the night there will be a dedicated tea stand brewing up his own special blend. The night is a guaranteed sell out each month so get a move on if you want to catch one of the consistently best nights in Manchester. Doors at 9.30 with tickets priced £11 available from Teacup on Thomas Street and online here.
Mr Scruff
Food - Mr Simms
For those with a disposition towards to sweeter side of life a stroll to St Ann’s Square could offer you something to get stuck in to. For new candy man extraordinaire Mr Simm has just moved in and a visit to his new residence will make you feel like a kid in... well, you get it. The nostalgia and diabetes inducing shop offers all kind of sugar spun goodness from jars of old forgotten classics to neon packaged American imports. Out of popular favour and hard to get hold of cans of fizzy pop are also available with the likes of Tab, Root Beer and Vanilla Coca Cola all finding a home here. Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe is at St Ann’s Square, City. M2 7EF.
Mr Simms
Entertainment - Rochdale Feel Good Festival
Do you fancy visiting Rochdale and feeling good at a festival? Luckily enough Rochdale’s fifth annual Feel Good Festival takes place this weekend. Over two days this Friday (31 August) and Saturday (1 September) this free to the public festival takes place in Rochdale town centre. Live music, food stalls and celebrity chefs will provide entertainment for the festival with a market also offering various knick-knacks and curios. Aural delights for the weekend will be supplied by Martha And The Vandellas, The Beat, Jessica Hoop, The Heartbreaks among others and special mention to Shinies. More information can be found here.
Rochdale Feel Good Festival
