February Update

Sorry I haven't been around for a little while but not had a great start to the year, my grandmother died at the end of January and now one of my cats (the actual bonglecat) is very seriously ill, so as you can imagine not much time for blogging.

I'll try and catch up now. Okay things that have been happening out and about in Brum, firstly National Theatre live broadcast of Les Liaisons Dangereuses was on 28th January, technically not just Birmingham but I was there at the Odeon at Broadway Plaza, watching Dominic West seducing Elaine Cassidy's brilliant Madame de Tourvel (remember her as Moray's jilted love interest in The Paradise?). It was also being shown at Electric Cinema which I love but since I work close to Five Ways the Odeon is easier to get to.

Old frontage

The Electric Cinema is another of Birmingham's hidden jewels, it is a cinema and sound recording facility on Station Street, it opened in 1909, showing its first silent film on 27 December of that year, and is now the oldest working cinema in the country. At one point is ended up showing porn films, but 80s and 90s it was more art house films and it was most noticeable for the contemporary art work which dominated the front. It was apparently called Thatchers Children and consisted of mannequins in the upper floor windows in bizarre costumes and attitudes.  

Refurbished 1930s style

It closed in 2003 and was refurbished back to it's 1930s Art Deco frontage and reopened in 2004, as a Luxury independent cinema, both screens seat around 100 people complete with luxury sofas and waiter service.  They have regular special events including themed meals in conjunction with various local restaurants, For example Valentines Day see's a special showing of Gone With the Wind including an introduction by Helen Laville lecturer in American Studies at Birmingham University.

So that's enough cinema what else has been happening, on Friday the 29th January was the re-opening of the Digbeth Dining Club (they have a little break over the Christmas period) to celebrate the re-opening the club spilled out from it's usual location and shut down the street for a full on Street Food Party.  They are located at Lower Trinity Street in the urban fashionable Digbeth area.  So following the reopening they can be found every Friday night from 5:30pm until late.  Check out their facebook page and instagram.

This week of course no one could fail to notice it is Chinese New Year, so Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone!  As usual there was a massive celebration today down at the Arcadian centre in the Middle of Birmingham's China Town.  This included various displays of song, dancing and martial arts from the various Chinese and Korean communities in Birmingham and of course various stalls selling amazing food.  Always a highlight for us Brummies. Celebrations continue tomorrow at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston.

Coming up:

Check out the new Bowie mural in Dudley Street Southside.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at the Crescent Theatre Sat 13th February

Spring Fair at the NEC on until Thursday

Noel Coward's Private Lives starts a run at the New Alexandra Theatre tomorrow.

Matthew Bourne's vampire inspired Sleeping Beauty is on at the Hippodrome from Tuesday until Saturday, no sure if their will be any tickets on that one.