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PRIDE: SMART CASUAL
Round numbers make events infinitely superior to the versions that precede them. And Birmingham Pride was proper right brilliant last year, so its twentieth edition, over bank holiday weekend, is basically destined to be ridonc on the dazzle scale. Amongst many, many things, Basement Jaxx are looking after Saturday, while Sophie Ellis-Bextor is paying a Sunday trip to Brum. There's a marquee dedicated to cabaret and an arena all about dance, plus the small matter of the carnival parade. You don't need a ticket for that — for everything else, go here.
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AWARD-MAGNET GIN. NOW WITH FOOD.
Martin Miller’s gin has won more gold and platinum medals than any other in the last ten years, including at the four most respected global competitions. Suspecting this to be something more than a coincidence, Hotel du Vin's doing dinns based around the stuff, starting out with a classic gin and tonic to keep the canapés company, followed by a four-course meal paired with a darn scintillating selection of Martin Miller's junipery wares. A one-off event taking place on our affable ad's guy's birthday (in common parlance, that's June 8), it's £79. Tickets
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FILM OF THE WEEK — ALIEN: COVENANT
The sixth film in the Alien series – eighth if you count the dodgy vs Predator spinoffs – is, like the beasties it concerns, an odd beast. Half the film is a spirited, if at times overfamiliar, trip through the franchise’s signature tropes: Distress signals unwisely followed, body horror, running full-pelt down corridors. The other half is a slightly clunky meditation on hefty themes — a long way from the original film's straightforward goal of scaring you silly. Director Ridley Scott nails several deeply uncomfortable set pieces, but their thrills sit oddly distinct from the more cerebral stuff. Still, seeing the intergalactic menaces of the title on screen again is like seeing an old friend, Michael Fassbender excels in a dual role as two generations of the same model of android, and there’s plenty of gore, if that’s your kind of thing. Also: who would have thought that the standout performance in an Alien movie would come from, of all people, Danny McBride? Times & trailer
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Venue: The Balcony, Selfridges on 4, The Bullring, B5 4BP; website
Choice: Salmon fish cakes (as part of three courses, £22) Chooser: Waitress
Everyone thinks we're all about food, but we're bang up in to lighting (lamps rather than one big bulb every time). So, it turns out, is The Balcony, with more than 30 fixtures and shades, plus a new menu, which tells you a lot more about why we were there than this weird wattage chat. A Champagne bar as much as restaurant, they've got plenty of light dishes to sate and refresh you through a shopping day, but not put an end to it. The salmon fish cakes are a top example of this — served with a tartar sauce which is exactly the right amount pickley, and a peppery rocket salad — this is tasty, summery stuff. The Sicilian Cosmo (£9), with Salerno blood orange is a pretty looking hello to events, but with ever so decent house Champagne by the glass, we know where our loyalties lie. Subscribe to Bell & Smokey, our sister e-mag by 3pm today (Thursday) to be in with a chance of snaffling a meal for two at The Balcony, with a drink thrown in.
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