in the field - potterings around the north west

damnation.

this month has simply flown by in a swarm of events, flaneuries and mini expeditions. i have been out in the field as we antiquarians would call it, rather than chained to my writing desk and you dear journal have suffered as a result...

to my chagrin then, i find my field notebook is filled with tantalising scribbles which have not quite made it to the laptop alongside photos of days out that have not been properly cropped and uploaded. so to start the ball rolling for an forthcoming series of portraits from my travels, here's a sneak preview of what's to come...

friday 6 sept - the brunswick bluestockings convened an midnight walk of the mancunian way during its brief closure at the weekend. strolling along the silent and deserted flyover was a revelation and somewhat surreal - a new way of looking at the city and its familiar landmarks. a test of nerve too at first - we did half expect to get run over!

also watch out for an invitation to a bluestocking and boffin soire on the sleeping dragon next closure! picnic baskets, folding chairs and pimms for everyone...

12 - 14 sept - heritage open weekend is always a great opportunity to visit buildings or spaces normally closed to the casual observer or to investigate a section of the city or region that has generally escaped your attention. this year i joined the cheetham festival trail and went on a most informative walk into the areas jewish past and a visit to the gorgeous jewish museum.

...plus watch out for a rant sometime soon about the fate of the neglected manchester ice palace, for many years the only ice rink in the country. widely regarded as the world's finest rink when it opened, it hosted the World Ice Skating Championship in 1911. languishing unnoticed and unoccupied for many years after its closure in the 1960s, its listed status scuppered several plans for redevelopment, inadvertently saving this unique sporting and social treasure! what a scandal then to find that only 18 months ago it was somehow handily stripped of its listed status and this vernacular icon sold on to an import/ export emporium.

shame on you manchester city council...

19 - 21 sept - liverpool biennale opening weekend. the sun shone on the unveiling of miles of artworks and shows taking place in galleries, public spaces and pavilions across the city. the glorious weather made mooching along the official art trail a joy and of course wandering off the beaten track a must! i heartily recommend nancy davenport at the open eye gallery, the opertus lunula in the cafe / hallway at FACT, the newspaper house at black-e arts centre, largely for the setting and location, but remained sadly unmoved by the pink neon tracey emin at the anglican cathedral. perhaps i have been too spoiled by the drama of the french gothic cathedral and the scents, sounds and candle glow that simply doesnt require a signpost to feel awed and in the presence of greatness, be it human or godly...

sunday 25 sept - new islington via rochdale & ashton canal. ive neglected this old haunt of late and as i know only too well, take your eye off the ball for a second and whole cityscapes have disappeared! new islington still looks like a building site but the new basins and canal routes are certainly showing signs of revamp whilst some sections of the canal way towards miles platting are unrecognisable. however everyday life is lurking underneath and i made some new acquaintances this week with plenty to say about life, fishing, housing stock and reports of roe deer by sports city!

ps. some of you might be interested to note that an article based on some recent postings here on the Tinsley Towers has been selected for a one day newspaper for the liverpool biennial - details to follow. so my visit to liverpool killed two liver birds (oh dear, sorry about that dismal pun!) with one stone - art plus research for my piece. deadline is 2 october so im quite focused on getting it honed and edited.

dont want to let the towers and all the other at risk treasures down now, do i...??

pps. what on earth is happening to the old midland bank on upper king street? this grade 2 listed lutycens building is standing empty since hsbc moved to frankly less than impressive premises in st anne's square and for sale signs plus demolition hoardings are plastered across this irreplacable deco ziggurat...

all and any information much appreciated.