Started makin' trouble in my Neighbourhood - bringing New York to Manchester.

Whilst over in Manchester for the Jessie Ware gig, I took the opportunity to have lunch with my very good friend. We've been to cute and kitsch cafe come restaurants like Home Sweet Home/Jack Spratts/Common and loved them, but wanted to check out somewhere different.

My friend recommended Oast House or Neighbourhood in Spinningfields. It was a toughy when I'd checked out both of the menus but we went for Neighbourhood, mainly because I saw Lobster on the menu! (Next time Oast House!)

Fresh Lobsters at Neighbourhood

Im taking water for you...

A couple of weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of going to see Jessie Ware at the HMV Ritz in Manchester.

Jessie Ware

The HMV Ritz is an old music theatre venue located near Oxford Road train station, and as Jessie put it "looks beautiful, stinks of ****." You could see and smell what she meant but I really prefer smaller venues (sign of age) they give a more intimate feel, I can see without my glasses and you feel a certain bond with the crowd all huddled in together. The Ritz had an upper balcony and we were stood on the lower growd near the stage with the smallest (height wise) crowd I've ever seen, brilliant for us as its a real bug bear sometimes when watching bands.

Happy New Year!

It's 2013! Crazy stuff, I feel like the past year has passed me by in the blink of an eye and yet, when I've been choosing my "Year of instagrams" I was spoilt for choice having crammed in a ridiculous amount of things.

So look back over 2012 then, firstly Happy New Year is in French because I started learning French again last year and went to Paris for the first time in January, hence January instragram, Tour de Eiffel! 

February - Birthday season, we hit Whitby in a cottage in the snow, had cocktails and meals. Then my sis and I went to Liverpool to see The Drums (02 academy - great venue).

Added Sugar at Sugar Junction

With my day off I decided to take the opportunity to have a potter around Manchester and visit one of my secret (maybe not so now) hidden vintage gems and take a peak in Retro Rehab. I absolutely love it there, I feel like they carefully select their vintage dresses, bags, shirts, skirts you name it and re-work items that may not be worth selling. As I'm being good I resisted the urge to buy something, maybe next time..

Carrot Cake, Chandelier, Chai Latte, Decor - Sugar Junction, Manchester

Bat for Eyelashes

This week I've been across the pennines in the thick mist and fog (pretty sh*t scarey I might add) to Manchester fo a Bat for Lashes gig at Manchester Cathedral.

Natasha Khan - Bat for Lashes - Manchester Cathedral

Having been to see them a couple of years ago in Sheffield, I didnt know how fussed I would be to see them again, but the fact they were playing in Manchester Cathedral sold it for me. I don't know many of their songs, but absolutely love their most recent release "Laura" and ever since watching Elbow live in the cathedral I've really wanted to see something there.