THE PROBLEM IS NOT WHAT TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON BUT WHEN TO STOP SPENDING
Sat 8pm Shopped out and having grabbed a snack en route. we head to our gig at the Manchester livening News Arena. There‘s nothing pretty about the venue ~~ think (ilasgow's Sli(‘(' with the same acoustic
difficulties. But it does the job and headlines some of
the finest talent doing the rounds. Sat 10.30pm The Old Wellington Inn and Restaurant has caught our attention as the oldest pub in
Manchester. dating back to l552. so we head there for
some much needed replenishment.
Sat midnight Saturday is house night and Mining from one club to the next it soon becomes clear that the hig guns (like Hanger. (‘luh V et all are lighting it out to he daddy of them all. Redlight at Sankeys is paving the way though. as one of the first clubs to he permitted a 24 hour license. lt‘s clearly a work in progress as the owner and promoters decide what to do
with their new-l'ound t'reedom. Tonight at least the gall
is only open till 4am. which suits our weary limhs just fine. l-‘or hardcore party animals lilemental at the aforementioned (‘luh V runs from 3—8am.
Sun 11am Re-opened alter a £35m renovation. Manchester Art (iallery is a pleasant place to while away a morning. Since opening again in May. the gallery space has doubled and the permanent
collections. including Henry Moore's '.\lothcr and (‘hild'. as well as works by Dante (iahriel Rossetti. (iainshorough. Lucien lireud and 'l‘urner. make it more than worth a dalliance. Better still. it‘s free.
Sun noon The shops open and the credit card is burning a very hig hole. Again. :\s the shopping capital of the north west. the streets are laden with a good mix of chains. fashion stores and independent retailers. The problem is not what to spend your money on htit when to stop spending.
Sun 2.30pm The piece de resistance. Situated in the (‘athedral (iardens. the l'rhis is really pretty special. This is undoubtedly a museum for the noughties and a demonstration of the city's wish to he taken seriously
in a liuropean context. On arrival we're invited to enter
a one-minute sky glide in the glass elevator. Inside. state-ol—the-art interactive displays and exhibits lead us through a journey exploring life in different cities throughout the world. Manchester. Sao Paolo. Tokyo,
Paris. l.os Angeles and Singapore are showcased over
an extraordinary l'our floors. The pleasant cafe provides beautiful views of the (iardens. Manchester‘s first new public park in 7() years. 11‘ you fancy something more decadent. the award-winning l.e Mont restaurant offers a tasty l‘rench menu.
FactFile
full details, Where to eat
www. malmaison .com
manchester for
Where to stay
The Malmaison ipietured. above: as a good call and is centrally located in a landmark building that was formerly a Joshua Hoyle warehOLise. Beautiful rooms. a gym and spa contribute. to a nice all-rOund package fOr a break. Rooms go for around $99 but keep an eye out as they often run special seasonal deals. Log on to
Chinatown has a great atmosphere and a variety of restaurants depending on yOur budget. Based on the ornate Chinese Arch. the area dates from the niidJOs. when the warehouses in the area became redundant and the restaurants moved in. As one of the UK's curry capitals. the cheapest Eastern food can he found around the Northern Quarter. The High Street and Church Street have several Pakistani cafes. which Di'O‘.’:Cl(E good vegetarian options.
Must-see
The Urbis ipictured. rightl is a tasCinating exploration of urban living. Check Out urhrSOrguk for a full round up of the latest events. The Lowry is a stalwart when it comes to multi- tasking. lt you're not big on art. this is still a great venue for comed~y gigs. theatre and dance. See thelowrycoln fer up-to-date listings. The Museum of Science and Industry is housed in
Castlefield arid affords a good ra'igr- of
permanent galleries ar‘rl l)!§}fi(:' tearing; exhihitio'is, Gale", spaces u'l’;!t."l'(; the Power Hall. Air and" Space Ha“! amt Undergrowid Manchester See 'iistiii.<)';)...k. Watering holes Too man. too choose fro”; ream. Bookbinders on l/lirisnu‘ Street 8 open Thu-Sat and -s a " ce {Jane to chill out. filLiSifi .s payed here at“: the acts '.arj. fro"? Ila/z a":i Lats" tr: 60s 7 s rock and sea: There's. not a teen, topper iii Sign: as its strict, ‘o' s, If a Lain" Ari‘erzoarf restaurant clue s more to (your .vking. Copacabana on Seierdae
Street 's a good
Travel
Fl which. l(J\T\\t\\ t int? u'ih
I As Autumn tugs at our sleeves. keep your eyes peeled for some of the finest winter holiday packages on the market. Pick of the fortnight has to be Trailfinders. which has teamed up with American Airlines to put together a variety of Christmas shopping city breaks. With prices from £279 for a three night break in Boston, or £399 for three nights in the Big Apple, it's definitely worth checking out www.trailfinders.com. Alternatively, call 0845 050 5894 and order a brochure. I Closer to home. the Annual Highland Food and Drink festival has been revaiiiptxi this year and is now the Highland Feast. Running from 30 Sep~3 Oct this is a great opportunity to see the Highlands. experience its produce and take advantage of the great package deals of offer. The GOurmet Breaks at the AViemOre Highland Resort lwwwawenlorehighlaiid resortcom) look like good options. But check out wwwhighland feastcouk for the full range of posshilities.
I The Line-up for the 42nd Belfast Festival at Queen’s (22 Oct-7 Nov) has been announced. This year’s theme will be ‘Journeys and Migrations’. Events range from American jazz to Canadian theatre to dance offerings from Argentina and hip hop from the Middle East. Fans of the Divine Comedy can look forward to seeing them perform with the Ulster Orchestra at the opening concert (22 Oct) as they punt their new album, Absent Friends. Check out the accommodation possibilities at www.belfast. dealsonhotels.com. For cheap deals on flights see www.ryanair.com.
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