|
|
|
|
|
FILM OF THE WEEK: IT
Like taxes and Arsenal underperforming, clowns being terrifying is one of life's few constants. That said, our editor is a big brave boy, and he loves it when you tweet him pictures of them. This new adaptation of Stephen King’s horror classic isn’t as faithful as the 1990 miniseries, and its version of Pennywise isn’t quite as impactful as Tim Curry’s malevolently scathing version of the demon clown-thing, but what it is is scary. We’re not talking the kind of dread you get in The Ring, but instead a metronomically precise engine for delivering jump scares. This means it can be a little in one eye and out the other – much of the richness of the book is jettisoned for time – but take a date along, and you’ll both enjoy(ish). Times
|
|
BOTANICAL BUBBLES
Little known fact: Calthorpe Estates is 1213 in dog years, equating to 300 human years. Edgbaston Tricentenary Festival is the relevant birthday party to which you're cordially invited — whether you were that lovely kid, or that really horrible one, at school. The afternooner is set around the Botanical Gardens and includes vintage rides, beekeeping demos and plenty of activities to keep any mini humans entertained, while you give your full and undivided to The Prosecco Van (pictured). Picnics are totally permitted, or put yourself in the hands of pop-ups from local restaurants like The High Field and some familiar street food visages like Holy Moly Macaroni. From 12pm until 5pm on September 17, it's free but do book your spot. More
|
|
|
GO HEAVY ON THE HERITAGE
Birmingham Heritage Week starts today and basically gets you into the nooks and the crannies of the city that are usually closed to the public, or you'd probably never think to visit. Awkwardly we hadn't even heard of the exquisite looking Lazarica Church (pictured) until researching this feature, and it's less than a mile from our front door. The first purpose-built Serbian orthodox church in the UK, it was incepted by exiled Serbs with the support of the Cadbury family. On September 9, get inside its beauteous Bournville walls to learn more about the church, and take in some traditional Serbian dancing, culture and food. Or help keep Moseley Baths open. Or join Flatpack for some floating cinema shorts. Or learn about letterboxes at 1,000 Trades. Or tour a cemetery. Or enter Middle-earth at Sarehole Mill. And that's just one day.
|
|
|
Venue: Dezhou Style Braised Chicken (that's the actual name of the restaurant), B109, Arcadian Centre; Facebook Choice: Dezhou Style Braised Chicken, obviously Chooser: Whoever named the restaurant
The first time we heard banging coming from the kitchen, we assumed it had everything to do with the quantity of chickens on order. But after opting for noodles, we heard it again — lip smacking levels of noise — the kind that makes you know every decision you've taken in your life to get you to this point has been right. Get the Dezhou style chicken with noodles in soup (£8.80), and shovel chilli on top. The birds are braised overnight, while the noodles are literally made after you've placed your order, which still arrives in about ten minutes. The slurpy, salty, sating bowl is big time yum town, and reassuringly hard to eat — all the remaining napkins were gifted to us when we essentially started dropping food on the floor. Tucked away on the same pedestrian passage as the original Cafe Soya, the neatly named Dezhou Style Braised Chicken is unlicensed, but you can totally bring your own. The service is completely lovely. Just like YOU! Menu
|
|
FULLY LOADED
At our best friend's wedding, the groom gave over half his speech to explaining gravity. Thanks, David. But as he'll only be getting married the once, you've missed that chance. Don't miss your other chance. A combo of dance, theatre and science, Loaded is coming to The Old Rep. Its performers use everything from pulleys to planks to explore how bodies and structures learn to bear loads — or fall apart. Expect demonstrations and facts, but plenty of creativity too. Directed by Olivier-nominated Sinéad Rushe, it's on Oct 5 and 6. Tickets are £12.
|
|
|
WEAR THE CITY'S GREATEST INSULT
Cards on the table, Birmingham hasn't always been ace. For those of us who grew up here in the 80s and 90s it wasn't the prettiest of sights. Still, at least the bins got collected. Anyway, back then there was one particularly wonderful put-down that made tolerating the grimness much easier. If a school pal were to ask you for your phone number you'd get started with "Sure, it's 0121..." and they'd jot that down, before you casually drop in "do one" and walk off chuckling. Buy the t-shirt. It's niche, but very real.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
