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NOT ALL FIVERS ARE CREATED EQUAL
When £5 falls out of a card, it's a good feeling. Probably not euphoria inducing but appreciated nonetheless. If you notice a micro-engraving on said bank note, somewhere between Big Ben and Winston Churchill's bonce, it's time to make excited noises that only dogs can hear. The second of four polymer fivers engraved by Brum's micro miracle worker, Graham Short, has been found in the Scottish Borders this gifting season. Estimated to have a value of £20,000, you've now got two opportunities left to snag one of the notes for keepsies, which have Jane Austen's face etched on, surrounded by a microscopic quote. Check your wallet at your earliest convenience.
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MOVIE OF THE WEEK:
LA LA LAND
If the thought of a musical about two good-looking people belting out show tunes on how they want to make it in Hollywood makes you want to torch every performing arts school in the UK, La La Land might just offer a corrective. In truth, it’s been a wee bit overpraised – American critics are suckers for movies about the transcendent power of movies, for some reason – but Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are both great (of course), lending an endearing amateurism to songs that deftly avoid the trap of being too X-Factor-ey. Walk in expecting a superb date movie, not the solution to all the world’s problems. That's in next week's issue.
Times & trailer
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DINNER AND DISSECTION
It's been almost eight years since the last episode of E.R. aired, which means your anatomical education is in a state of dramatic decline. Remedy that, or win at supper party Top Trumps by booking a table at Dissection & Dinner (our name). Take in the live dissection of VIVIT — a semi-synthetic human cadaver that houses freshly harvested real organs of swine origin, due to the similarity in size and structure to human anatomy. To commence the procedure, anatomist and teacher, Samuel Piri, will dissect the inside of the head and jaw revealing the brain and spinal cord, before working through the thoracic cavity, explaining what keeps us alive, as well as what happens during death and disease. Samples will be prepped for (thankfully optional) handling by the audience, before small group discussions. You'll also get two courses before the dissection, though that's probably a little besides the point. The first date has sold out but you can get a spot at the February 19 edition.
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RICK'S CAFE
(HOCKLEY BRANCH)
We won't be making it to Casblanca this month either. Sad face. We will however be hitting up Rick's Cafe, which — taking its name from an Academy Award winner we pretty much watch monthly — is popping up at 1,000 Trades. And the menu looks flippin fandango worthy. From the clever cats behind Otto (particularly their Moroccan chef Nassine) North African is what's happening, in the form of intense marinades, slow-cooked meats and plenty of herb-laden veg combos. The rotisserie lamb shoulder, pomegranate onions and Za’atar crisp fattoush salad (£9) is our order. Menu
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NEW AND IMPORTANT THEATRE
A middle-aged man and his elderly mum, a young family that is expecting, and a recently arrived Sudanese woman. Direct from an extolled run at The National, Alexander Zeldin's new play Love is an important, intimate story about strangers, forced together in the confines and realities of the temporary accommodation we hear so much about. Though often amusing, expect seriously big thinking theatre that, "will eat into your bones" (Telegraph). At The Rep from January 26, tickets start at £10 for previews and £15 for the rest of the run.
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Venue: The Loft, 143 Bromsgrove Street, B5 6RD; website
Choice: Loft chicken burger (£8.50) Chooser: Front of house team
Chances are beer and being outside don't occupy the top two slots on your January agenda, which makes what we're about to say characteristically terrible timing. Following a major refurb The Loft's beer garden has gone from good, to one of the very best in the city. Fortunately that slick fit-out has continued indoors making The Loft our new fave Gay Quarter bar, news which is jollified further by staff that are as warm as the glowing new decor. Food-wise we bit our thumb in the direction of a healthy start to 2017, by ordering no fewer than seven dishes, placing us in a position of authority to declare their buttermilk fried chicken burger with bacon jam and ranch mayo the crown prince of the spruced menu. Cocktails are a big deal and the Suck & Swallow (*Julian Clary look to camera*) is where ginthusiasts should be setting up shop, while a rum punch that they say is made to Rihanna's own recipe is a walloping great crowd-pleaser. Food menu / drinks menu
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