Manchester Christmas Markets

The Manchester Christmas Markets will be open from 15th Nov 07 - 19th December, every day from 10am-8pm. These popular markets are based in Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, and Brazennose Street, and attract vendors from many parts of Europe.

The markets seem to become more popular with every year. It's an ideal place to pick up Christmas presents, featuring everything from decorative pottery and ceraminds to hand-crafted toys and traditional Christmas decorations, as well as Xmas trees and plants. The delicious food and mugs of hot 'Glühwein will keep you warm as you wander around and put you in the festive spirit. Food on offer includes sausages, roasted almonds, crêpes as well as Bavarian beer. The markets are especially lively on a Friday night and attract Manchester's office workers who head for the beer tents for an after-work drink and chat.

For further information about the markets and Manchester's other Christmas events visit the Manchester City Council website here.

The Greatest Day on Earth

Manchester Art Gallery is holding a 'fun-filled afternoon of all things Victorian' on Sunday 18 November, from 1-4pm. Children will be able to make traditional Victorian games to take home and join in with parlour games.

The festivities begin with a procession from Piccadilly to Manchester Art Gallery led by a Victorian temperance campaigner and a navvy from the gallery’s 19th century painting Work by Ford Madox Brown, brought to life by actors.

Inside the gallery enjoy Victorian parlour games like Pass the slipper or Keep the feather up, make colourful fabric corsages to wear and a traditional cup and ball game to take home. Visitors can also make a silhouette puppet and create their own shadow puppet show before cooling off from all the excitement by making a Manchester inspired paper fan and relaxing while listening to the Hallé Youth Choir. You can then round off your visit with special Victorian inspired refreshments in the cafe with children's options.

The gallery is currently hosting an 'Art Treasures in Manchester: 150 years on', exhibition that’s inspired the Victorian theme of this event. Here you can dress up in 19th century style clothes, visit a recreation of a Victorian train station to stamp your own ticket, search the lost property area (full of 19th century objects such as pocket watches and parasols), and draw a Victorian doll to be a passenger on the train that’s about to depart.

It's a free family event and there is no need to book. Further information on the Manchester Art Gallery website.

Chorlton Book Festival

Like books and enjoy eating hummus/pushing a fashionable pram to a trendy bar for brunch? Chorlton Book Festival during November is for you! Only joking, we love Chorlton really. Chorlton Book Festival has some great events, mostly taking place at the Library, and best of all entry to most events is free.

Highlights include children's author Liz Kessler, who has been published in 20 countries, talking about writing and getting published, how to improve your own work and your chances of being published, on Tuesday 13 November, 7.30pm

Ed Glinert, a co-founder of City Life, who has since worked for Radio Times, Private Eye and Mojo, is also giving a talk about his next book: The Manchester Compendium, A Street-by-Street Guide to England's Greatest Industrial City. It takes place on Tuesday 20 November, at 6pm. There also an open mic poetry event and Ghost Stories at The Spreadeagle Pub. For further details click this link.

Levenhsulme Festival launches

The Levenshulme Festival 2007 launched on Saturday and is underway until Sunday, November 4th. There's a host of events for kids, community activities, live performance and music and arts and culture activities at venues around Levenshulme.

This Wednesday the Levenshulme Festival Folk Train travels from Levenshulme to Goostrey on Cheshire at 7.03pm, with folk band the Shamrock Ramblers on board. There will be free entertainment on the train and at the Red Lion Inn, Goostrey, before the train heads back for 10.14pm. On Friday, Levenshulme's art co-operative Bankely Studios launches its annual 'Open Studios' weekend featuring the work of its 30 resident artists. Work includes paintings, drawings, sculpture and multi media exhibits. The studio is open from 12pm-5pm on Saturday and Sunday with a preview from 6.30-9.30pm on the Friday.

Other events during the festival include a live broadcast by BBC Radio Manchester from M19 bar on Monday, October 29, and the first anniversary of the bar's 'Open Mic' night tomorrow from 5pm. Visit www.levenshulmefestival.co.uk for further information.

Break In the City...

Two events announcements as part of In the City, mentioned below. This Saturday (20th) 'Break In The City’ launches at the Bridgewater Hall from 11am-6pm. It's a chance for artists, aspiring managers, & creative entrepreneurs to...get their break, in the city I guess! It's in its sixth year and will feature educational seminars, one to one mentoring, industry musical chairs, demo in a limo sessions and an open mic stage.The event is a collaboration and partnership with, The BPI, AIM, MCPS / PRS Alliance, City College Manchester, Armstrong Learning, Women In Music - Creative Women, Go Events (Highlands and Islands Enterprise), Creative Entrepreneurs, Tannoy speakers (Abbey Road) and hosts The Band Agency.

It will feature leading music industry professionals from the recording, media and publishing sector, to help make the ‘Artist Academy’ a real success for those who are setting up a business in the music and creative industries, or simply writing songs or playing in a band. It will be followed by a 360 Degrees reception party for delegates, with live music and DJ. Hosted by the RF Records group (WMCW, Creative Entrepreneurs, D6), Armstrong Learning and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. It takes place at 6pm at M Two Bar and Club in Peter Street.

Then on Monday (22nd), the second part of Break in the City takes place at student favourite Jabex Clegg on Oxford Road. The event, from 5pm-midnight, features two rooms, 11 bands, and demo listening sessions. Further information about Break In the City here.

Best 'In the City' ever..?

The 'In the City' music festival is back from 20th-22nd October. The festival was founded by the late great Tony Wilson and promises to be a fitting tribute this year. ITC 2007 takes place at the Midland Hotel (talks about the music industry during the day) with the main evening events happening at venues in the Peter Street area. Venues like Night and Day in the Northern Quarter also have gigs and events during the weekend - on Friday night XFM Manchester will be at Night & Day hosting XFM Exposure featuring The Teenagers, Pete & The Pirates and The Headlines. Click here for more.

Harry and the Halle - well sort of...

Any Harry Potter/Halle orchestra fans out there? Actors James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) are joining the Hallé symphony orchestra and conductor John Wilson for a family concert at Bridgewater Hall on October 21st. They will 'combine the past-times of story-telling and music-making' and people are being encouraged to dress up as their favourite story book character. Details on this site about all things twin-related http://www.gotyourhandsfull.com/2007/10/harry-potter-tw.html