Posts Tagged ‘ fun ’

Brum’s Worst Band Name

Note, not worst band. We like some of the bands listed. You can be a great band and have an appalling name, or at least you can have hit records and have a shite name (Audio Bullys — sort the grammar out thickos) or have a good frontman and a guitar genius and have a shite name (The Tears — as it eye water leakage or ripping? sort it out). You can certainly come from New York and have a shite name, and that’s where we’ll be shamelessly half-inching this idea from. “band names have only gotten more loathsome ever since we ran out of words back in 1993.” Annually* BiNS in association with the The Big Paws will be launching the hunt to find the worst band name in Brum. The rule: 1. The band must actually play shows in the city. Anyone can name a bedroom project Private Lynndie England & The Ball-Pointer-Atters but it takes real nerve to actually book a show and put it on a flyer. Here are some to think about: Rase — decent indie pop, but can’t work out how to pronounce it, doesn’t mean anything… don’t think you’re allowed to make...

Part of the build up to Brum’s City of Culture bid is the Canvas Birmingham site, where people can either say what culture they enjoy in the city or suggest odd ideas that they’d like to see. No idea is odder than the concept of a week long play version of a Cliff Richards film, but that’s what I wanted. Fierce have produced a ‘fantasy’ festival programme — which features some of the best ideas, including a giant sculpture of Spaghetti made out of spaghetti and art on the buses (go see it all here). And the Cliff Richards play: By the way, if you still haven’t seen the film it’s online here. It did amuse me a lot to see how the Mail couldn’t really cope with the idea of a ‘fantasy’ brochure and think that the ideas are going to happen.

Love at the Frankfurt market….. If you are looking for love in Birmingham, there are many ways for you to meet that special someone in time for Christmas at the Frankfurt market! At the bandstand: Once the band is playing a catchy tune, offer your hand to whoever has caught your eye and let your hair down! At the Gluhwein stall: Break the ice over a mug of hot wine. At the German sausage stand: Offer to share your sausage with a stranger. Have fun and good luck! ;)

As part of the Frankfurt Market in the city centre, Bob Wilson has brought along his traditional wooden carousel. Last year I tried to persuade several friends to have a turn on it with me, but for some reason, they were reluctant. Finally my good old mum agreed. It’s actually a bit of a bumpy ride, but we had fun waving at people as we whizzed by! It might help to have some Gluwein first ;)

Roll up! Roll up! Get your hot German sausages here! The Frankfurt Christmas Market has arrived in town! Not only can you snack on a tasty sausage, but there are other deliciously delectable treats to be had; German bread and cakes and sweets, more hot food in the form of pretzels, fried potatoes with garlic, schnitzels, all best accompanied by German beer and heart warming mulled wine. If you are looking for gifts, then you will be spoilt for choice for something a little bit different in the craft fair and if you are feeling a bit adventurous have a twhirl on the traditional wood carousel or slide down the helter skelter! And not forgetting, there are tons of great photo opportunities there and it’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the coloured lights…… Have a great weekend! See you next Friday :)

Remember, remember the 5th of November! If you fancy a party of light and fire this Bonfire night, head over to Pype Hayes Park in Erdington. You are promised a firework spectacular, a magnificent bonfire and a huge fun fair. It’s a great autumnal night out. And it’s all FREE! (Well, you have to pay for the funfair rides) Parking isn’t that great around the area, though you may be lucky and get a space nearby if you get there early enough but there is free parking at The Fort shopping centre with a shuttle bus leaving from outside WHSmith. Buses 28 and 67 will also get you there. 5pm – Gates/funfair open 7pm – Bonfire lighting 8pm – Fireworks and music 10pm – Event ends On another note, I’m pleased to announce my new website! Have a look, save it in your favourites, subscribe to updates with RSS and say hello! :) Have a great weekend!

Who wouldn’t want to meet this handsome fella? Pop along to Birmingham Nature Centre and you can meet all his friends too! It’s a great family day out and there are lots of wonderful photo opportunities there, but good luck trying to get a glimpse of the elusive red pandas. The meerkats are particularly entertaining, especially around feeding time. It’s open every day of the year and there is a small admission charge, but if you are a senior citizen, student or Passport to Leisure holders you get a discount and children under 5 enter free. The Nature Center is just two miles from Birmingham City Centre. Buses 45 & 47 run past it, and there is car parking too (via the Midlands Arts Centre). Grab your coat and scarf and friends and family and enjoy an afternoon with some wonderful furry, and not so furry creatures. Have a great weekend :)

Birmingham’s always been a place for stirring up a bit of trouble, a bit of controversy, enjoying a frisson of something a little bit special from Joseph Priestley defending the revolutionaries in France and having to flee the city to The Winterval Debacle to the decision to take away our HP sauce and make it somewhere else. I love how Birmingham opens it’s heart to everyone who visits the city and gives them a warm welcome. I love it’s arts scene, it’s creative community and the city has (another) long tradition of innovation in the arts. I’m quite excited about a new Arts festival that’s about to spread out over the whole city & take over. SHOUT is a festival of LGBT art, music, dance, theatre and sport. It also has a dollop of political and community activity. (There is literally something for everyone and if you can’t see something that doesn’t stir an emotion you need to check your pulse) The festival has come about through a number of key partnerships between the LGBT community, arts organisations and lots of dedicated volunteers and they’ve pulled together a really diverse and exciting programme. For full listings of events you...

This week I thought I would have a little play around with tilt shift photography. Tilt shift photography makes regular scenes look like they are miniature scaled models. I took a photo of the canals along Broad Street and added a little digital magic to get the above result. I followed the step by step instructions on this website. Here is the ‘before’ photo for comparison. It’s possible to create tilt shift effects within the camera when taking photos, but it’s also very easy to do digitally with some photo editing software such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. If you haven’t got any photo editing software, I can recommend something like Sumo. It free and has tons of features too! Photography is about experimenting and getting creative, and it’s great to have fun trying out new techniques such as tilt shift. Have a great weekend! :)

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Posts Tagged ‘ fun ’

Brum’s Worst Band Name

Making it up as we go along

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

Get ready to shout!- some highlights.

Friday Photo by Karen Strunks

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