What are some interesting activities to do on a trip to Manchester?
I'd take a walking tour of the city centre so you could get a feel for the city's atmosphere.Key places I would take a visitor to in the city:- Ancoats, to see our 'satanic mills', canal network and view the Ancoats Peeps. If you're interested in Manchester's huge role in the Industrial Revolution there's some good content at the MOSI.- Canal Street, our 'gay village' is worth a look.- Chinatown, our gate is bigger and better than San Francisco's!- The Cornerhouse, our independent cinema which often houses art installations and shows. It also has a lovely coffee shop.- Manchester Art Gallery- Manchester Museum (quite a walk down Oxford Road - location of Europe's busiest bus route! - but worth it)- Albert's Square, you can go into the town hall which is a really impressive space.- The Shambles, to see the Oyster Bar & neighbouring pub which were physically relocated. Plus take a picture with the post box that survived the '95 bomb & have a quick nosy at the Printworks and URBIS football museum plus Manchester Cathedral. - Royal Exchange, to see the theatre erected in the middle of this awesome space.- Affleck's Palace in the NQ, for the quirkiest shopping experience in Manchester.Food wise I'd suggest the Koffee Pot in the Northern Quarter for a full English.Lunchtime I'd check out the Manchester Markets (if they're on) or go to Pancho's at the Arndale Market for Mexican food! Or head to Bakerie in the NQ for homemade breads. There are also some good options down by Castlefield which is a nice place to walk around too.Afternoon tea suggestions would be the beautiful The Midland hotel or The Lowry hotel. For dinner, Albert's Square Chophouse produces delicious, locally sourced food. Or try the Armenian Tavern for a truly odd but delicious experience.Late night eating has to be a visit to Rusholme's Curry Mile; better curry can be found elsewhere (eg Bollywood Masala) but it's worth a visit - try Kobeda Place for an unbelievable kebab! For evening entertainment, head to Spinningfield for more formal bars or the NQ for something more casual - Soup Kitchen & Kosmonaut are a good start. Then Mojo's or Liar's Club for a late night dance.We've some awesome music venues: Albert Hall, Gorilla and Bridgewater Hall if there's someone you'd like to see. Plus we've several theatres, like the Palace. Liverpool and Chester are both worth a day's visit and can be reached by train from Manchester Piccadilly.
10 points to the one with the longest list of horror movies...?
whoever has the longest list of horrors get the 10 points. saw 1, 2 or 3, jeepers creepers 1 and 2 the ring 1 and 2 the hills have eyes old or new version 1 and 2 chuck freddy jason micheal myers house of 1000 corpses haunted boat ghost ship darkness falls wolf creek creep silence of the lambs gothica pulse alone in the dark exorcist hannible/cannible holocaust chronicles of riddick NONE OF THOSE CAN BE ON THE LIST if i see one of those on the list it wont count as an answer. i am curious to find out who out there knows the most horror movies.
What are some good songs to listen to while you're feeling depressed?
Incredibly good question Jerald..Two ways to view the question..are you at the introspective end of a run of depression..?Or are you at the “devastating public flogging” end of a run of depression?“Being Depressed” is a funny thing…many take the idea of depressing personal moments as primarily of a romantic question..and a more “daily” depression being more benign and frankly, of a nature that could be construed as “less consequential” in society..LOL.So I’m thinking I’m going to not worry about the “romantic/platonic” question and simply say..The clip below is something I have listened to many times over the past twenty three years..because I’m wallowing and I know I am going to continue to be depressed for hours to come..”introspective”. ..The usual funk/disco sorta’ thing to get myself out of a depressed state is something I will leave for another time.The tune is called “Damage”..it’s about a tragic break-up I suppose..however,the tune has never been that sort of tune for me..it’s just a sad tune that I love ..and indeed I listen to it at these times as I mentioned earlier..the tune is written by the vocalist, David Sylvian.Some may remember his (if you will) New Wave group from the late 70’s/early 80’s..they were called “Japan”.Sylvian is one of the greatest songwriters I have ever heard..and here he is joined by the incomparable Robert Fripp-the mastermind of (arguably) the greatest prog band of all time, King Crimson..along with the great Trey Gunn on Chapman Stick..This song could indeed be called depressed in nature..but brilliant?Absolutely.Incidentally, I also love listening to “The Days Of Wine & Roses” ..an old standard that originated in Hollywood..Many jazz musicians have performed it over the years....and Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony..especially the second movement..and if you can hear it conducted by Karajan that’s gonna’ be a plus.Best to you..
What are some mind-blowing facts about Istanbul?
A lot of these came from the trivia app, Trivia Tapper.Istanbul has a vending machine that releases food and water for the city's stray dogs in exchange for recycled plastic bottles.Constantinople became Istanbul because people started referring to it as “The City” and the Greek phrase for “In The City” is pronounced “Is Tin Poli.”; Over time, this became Istanbul.During the 9th century AD, two Vikings graffitied their names in the runes of Hagia Sophia. These carvings have survived since the Byzantium era, and are still viewable in modern-day Istanbul.The cymbal manufacturer Zildjian was founded in Istanbul nearly 400 years agoEvery Saturday in Istanbul, a group of women gathers for a half-hour's public silence to protest Turkey's forced disappearances and political murders. Considered a 'model of civil disobedience', they are The Saturday Mothers.During the 17th century in Turkey, drinking coffee was illegal and the punishment for doing so was death. The Sultan was so obsessed with enforcing this that he'd dress as a commoner, roam the streets of Istanbul with a sword, and chop off the heads of anyone he caught drinking itEarthquakes have been moving so consistently along the North Anatolian Fault that Seismologists were able to predict the 1999 Izmit earthquake. The next earthquake it expected to hit near the city of Istanbul.The beautiful Blue Mosque in Istanbul smells like feet because of the tourists who must remove their shoes, not the local worshipers who practice ablution that includes washing their feet before they prayIn various neighborhoods throughout Istanbul, recycling boxes were installed that dispense dog food every time someone deposits a plastic bottle for recycling. Over 150,000 stray dogs are said to roam the streets of the city.60 years ago there was a series of riots organized by the Turkish authorities against Greeks living in Istanbul, similar to Kristallnacht.