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STAND UP DAD, TAKE A BOW

One of the best things about dads is that they invariably have no idea when Father's Day is. It's that total absence of self-glorification that makes them who they are. And a nice way to let your old man know that the one day of the year that's about him is June 21, is by handing him something entirely excellent from our gift guide. 
NOSE TO TAIL LAMB
Cleavers at the ready, on July 22, Loaf's cookery school is joined by butcher, Steve Rossiter, and an organic lamb. Roll it, bone it, stuff it and eat it, then take an oven ready rolled and boned joint home to roast. Vouchers are available, but don't delay, it's a popular course (£80).
THE WET SHAVE
Get your Dad what grooming gods - the Barber House - call an "impossibly close" shave. At £28, expect steam preparation, hot towels, luxuriant aftershave balms of a dizzying variety and a cut throat shave that'll inject a decent dollop of testosterone. Vouchers in-store.
BRUM LEATHER
One hundred percent dyed conker leather, handmade in Birmingham, treat your Dad to to P&Co's vintage hazelnut, classic card holder. Available online for £48 they have a raft of suitably stylish leather products right here, if this one isn't quite sounding your sartorial siren.
OFF-ROADING
On the site of Land Rover's Solihull manufacturing site, pay for the pleasure of your Dad blasting his way round 14 miles of rough terrain, side slopes, inclines and a river or two. From £225 for a half day experience, if the price tag is less than tempting, consider an all access tour of the plant (£45).
OBLIGATORY SOCK OPTION
Embrace your Dad's penchant for practical present-giving and ridiculous socks. Available exclusively from Selfridges, Paul Smith's *understated* creation will set you back £17 and potentially gain you fatherly credit throughout the year. Buy online or
in-store.
WHISKY TUTORIAL
Hard to Find Whisky offers 14 masterclasses, ranging from a beginners' course (£20), to a premier look at five of the world's rarest whiskies (*gulp* £1,000). The courses can be taken at any time during normal opening hours and vouchers are available here.
THE TIE TO END ALL TIES
The almost insultingly dapper chaps at Clement & Church have cherry-picked this tie (£89.95) from their stunning collection as the stand out choice for dads. In the unlikely event that they're horribly wrong, your old man can return it and pick out one for himself.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: JURASSIC WORLD


Two terrible sequels later, is it a good idea to clone Jurassic Park once again? Yes and no – Jurassic World gets enough right to justify going back to the well, but wears heavily the problems of the CGI-laden modern blockbuster. The park from the original film is up and running now under new management, who create a super-dino to boost visitor numbers. The beast escapes, of course, and runs amok on an island with 20,000 visitors, and it’s down to man-of-the-moment Chris Pratt to sort things out. In the summer of Fury Road, it can feel at times like Pratt is being chased through a Nintendo 64 computer game, but director Colin Trevorrow does stage some memorable action – including one death that, with most others just off-screen, is brutal enough to actually disturb. However, once the theme kicks in, and you see the park in working order, your inner eight-year-old will be more than sated. That said, there’s no Jeff Goldblum cameo – sad emoji. Showing at The Everyman
Venue: Circle Restaurant, Hippodrome, Hurst Street, B5 4TB; Website
Choice: Pollock fillet, chilli and garlic squid, red lentils Chooser: Sous chef

Six years, five months and eleven days. That's how long its been since we last graced the resolutely purple carpets of the Hippodrome's Circle Restaurant, or indeed any eatery attached to a theatre. It's smile-making, then, that we could comfortably bore you about any of the savoury plates that came out of the kitchen. For its triumphantly light battered chilli garlic squid and crispy, meaty, generous pollock fillet - though - our fish main won out. With eye-poppingly pickled cauliflower and a subtle heat to the lentils, every element of the dish served a purpose. And taken together, we enjoyed a thoughtful and satingly salty plate of food. The pan-fried scallops starter was also excellent and demonstrated the accomplished thwack of skills added to the kitchen since our previous visit. Time to forgive the Circle for any past shortcomings? Hell, yes. Menu here.

LEARN NEW THINGS.
CLAIM OUR DISCOUNT


It's been longer than we can quite comprehend since we Old Lang Syne-d, and if like us, you're yet to follow through on the obligatory "try something new" limb of your resolutions for 2015, the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University has a veritable treasure trove of summer courses and taster sessions, starting late June. Pick anything from silversmithing, to computer-aided design, to cuttlefish casting (which - bizarrely - does involve budgie food). Courses start from £175 and if you have no idea what to choose, find an artist to emulate at the School's grad show (June 15 to 19) or derive some inspiration from Emily Richard's intriguing pendant and brooch (pictured). Take a gander at the full summer programme here, then mention us for a 10% discount. We're just nice like that.

STREET FOOD:
NOW WITH ADDED SEATING


Maybe we're getting old, but as a general rule these days we do prefer to sit down when we eat - even at street food events. That's why we're eyeing up the 200 seats available at this Saturday's Street Banquet, at Lab 11, Digbeth. And if seating doesn't weirdly float your boat like it does us, maybe The Crumble Shack will. The street food dessert doyens are, for the first time, bringing their five crumble options to Brum (put us down for Apple and Cinnamon) as well as their five extra topping options (we'll have chocolate chip) and two toppings on top of toppings options (ours is the salted caramel). The Big Papa's boys will also be in attendance with their deep south soul food, while OMG Hot Dogs are doing British style snags in brioche buns. And did we mention that there'll be more gin than you can shake a juniper tree at? Details
  • Hidden Spaces is championing all things cinema care of a photographic exhibition in the cool surrounds of Brum’s former Picture House. Until Sunday; entry is via Stephenson Street
  • Tied bouquets are out and tea cup arrangements are in. As part of British Flower Week, Tuckshop Flowers will be popping up at More by Design in the Custard Factory. Catch them from June 15 until 19
  • Birmingham darling, the Botanist, has only gone and launched two of its very own ales. You can sign up for one of its ale tasting masterclasses by way of celebration. More here
  • New images by Vanley Burke will be appearing on buildings on the Stratford Road from June 13. Telling the people's history of the road the works are part of the My Route exhibition trail
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"When my father didn’t have my hand, he had my back."
- Linda Poindexter
WORDS: Katy Drohan, Andrew LowryTom Cullen
I CHOOSE Birmingham, Unit 317, Zellig, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA

Copyright © 2015 Birmingham Publishing Group Ltd, All rights reserved.


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