Felix Dennis:
Poetry Evening & Wine

Critically acclaimed poet Felix Dennis brings his poetry tour to Discovery Museum Newcastle.

Felix Dennis: Did I Mention The Free Wine?

The evening will include poetry performed by the author, as well as free fine French wines and canapés served throughout the evening.

Felix will be reading a selection of poems from his popular collections:
Homeless in My Heart
A Glass Half Full
Lone Wolf
Nursery Rhymes for Modern Times
Island of Dreams
all of which were sell-out books of original poetry.

He will also be introducing his new collection Tales From The Woods, in an exclusive preview ahead of the book’s launch in October.

Tickets: £10 pre-booked online, £12 on the door, £5 concessions

To book online go to www.felixdennis.com

Times:
7.00pm
Date:
Wednesday 6th October 2010

Opening Hours:
Monday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Tuesday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Thursday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Admission is FREE.

Address:

Discovery Museum

Blandford Square

Newcastle upon Tyne

Tyne and Wear

NE1 4JA

Tel: 0191 232 6789
Discovery Museum Website

The Newcastle Mela 2010, the Newcastle Asian Arts and Music Festival is on Saturday 31st July 2010 and Sunday 1st August 2010

Newcastle Mela 2010
Exhibition Park
Town Moor
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2

Festival Times: 12noon to 7.00pm both days, entry is FREE to this Newcastle event, and perfect for the whole family!

About the N.A.A.M.

Newcastle Asian Arts and Music is a voluntary organisation that was formed in April 1993. Its main aim is to promote Asian arts, music and culture within Newcastle and the North East region.

The main emphasis in N.A.A.M activities is upon the provision of a safe and supportive environment, therefore allowing the opportunities for all the community members to fully participate in events such as the Mela.

What is Mela?

‘Mela’ originate from the Indian sub continent: the word Mela comes from the Sanskrit “to meet” and is related to the word  “milana”. It is commonly used to describe a large gathering of people celebrating artistic, religious or political events – a fair or a festival.

In the same way that many fairs or holidays in Europe would begin on the feast days of saints, Melas in south Asia have their origins in religious gatherings such as Eid Vaisakhi or Diwali.

Celebrations form an immeasurably important part of the sub-continent’s fabric. Melas are feasts of sights, smells, sounds and tastes and will often feature bazaars, folk troupes, traditional and contemporary and modern music and dance.

Newcastle Mela attracts 30,000 people every year.

The Mela is a free event based around Punjabi, Pakistani, Bengali, Hindi and other South Asian cultures, and is open to anyone who wants to learn more, be entertained and meet new people as well as enjoy different music, art and food in the heart of Newcastle.

With a line up including the hottest contemporary Asian acts as well as traditional displays of music and dance it’s an event likely to appeal to all ages and races.

Taking place in Exhibition Park, the Mela promises to be weekend full of fun with music, games, stalls and exhibitions to help everyone have a great weekend! With a stage playing host to musicians and dancers, hundreds of stalls selling arts and crafts and food and drink and a children’s programme to help the kids learn, make friends and have fun; there’s plenty to do whatever your tastes.

Further details as soon as they become available!

Newcastle Mela Website

The Cluny’s Sausage & Ale Festival

St George’s Weekend

Stewart & Co’s award-winning butchers combine the finest meat with the pick of The Cluny’s real ales to offer you a unique selection of mouth-watering sausages!

Thursday 22nd April – Sunday 25th April

Join the Cluny Newcastle on Facebook

The Cluny
www.theheadofsteam.co.uk
Ouseburn Warehouse Workshops
36 Lime Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tyne And Wear
NE1 2PN
United Kingdom
0191 230 4474

 Chester St George’s Day | Liverpool St George’s Day | York St George’s Day | Leeds St George’s Day | Newcastle St George’s Day

This year the Tynedale Beer Festival is being run on the 17 June to 19 June 2010

Tickets are available through the Festival website, see link below.

Tynedale Beer Festival 2010
Tynedale Rugby Club
Tynedale Park
Station Road
Corbridge
Northumberland
NE45 5AY

Tynedale Beer Festival 2010

In 2009, the Tynedale Beer Festival had a record year for attendance and donations to charities, and the organisers and sponsors are aiming to better in 2010!

Festival Opening Times:

Thursday 17 June 2010, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Friday 18 June 2010, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Saturday 19 June2010, 1.00pm – 11.00pm

Entertainment @ Tynedale Beer Festival 2010:

Thursday night: Jazz with the Tyne Valley Stompers and hot folk with Northumbrian Fayre
Friday night: Do the funky gibbon with Johnny Baboon and his band
Saturday Afternoon: Jumping to the Vieux Carré Jazzmen
Saturday night: Let your hair down with Northumbrian Fayre and The Proper Boys

Further details as soon as they become available!

The Beers – 105 in 2010!

For the real ale and cider lovers you can see in the beer list what will be on offer at the 2010 festival.

There will be 105 beers this year and at least ten ciders, as well as wines and soft drinks.

The list is a “work in progress” – it is bound to change!

And there’s no excuse for going hungry at the Tynedale Beer Festival: there’s always plenty of grub to soak up the drink. The best beef burgers from the barbecue, a wide range of sandwiches and loads of chips – all freshly prepared and cooked.

Tynedale Beer Festival Website
Tynedale Beer Festival 2010 Beer List

Here we present our highlights of the second week of the Easter School Holidays from Directory of Newcastle.

From 12 April 2010 onwards, there are many things to see and do for the children:

from Easter adventures to Easter Egg Hunts,

places to visit and great days out for the kids…

Enjoy a great Easter Break out and around Tyne and Wear and the North East!

 

Chester Easter | Liverpool Easter | York Easter | Leeds Easter | Newcastle Easter

Here is Directory of Newcastle’s selection of Family Activities for Easter Bank Holiday weekend.From Good Friday to Easter Bank Holiday Monday, there are many things to see and do:from Easter Egg Hunts to family meals,

places to visit to great days out for the kids…

Enjoy a great weekend out and around Tyne and Wear and the North East!

 

Chester Easter | Liverpool Easter | York Easter | Leeds Easter | Newcastle Easter

The Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Theatre Royal is one of the most famous and well known theatres in Newcastle and the Tyne and Wear area, owing to its rich history and amazing shows.

The Theatre Royal in Newcastle stands as a proud and dominating feature in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne’s Grainger Town; it is a Grade 1 listed building in a neo classical design that stands out even among its Georgian neighbours on Grey Street.

Grey Street itself has been voted by Radio 4 listeners (on more than one occasion) as the most beautiful street in the UK, and even amongst this strong competition the Theatre Royal catches the eye, being regarded widely as having one of the most beautiful theatre facades in the country.
 

History of Theatre Royal Newcastle

The Theatre Royal is based in a Grade I listed building and opened its doors on the 29th February 1837, with a wonderful performance of The Merchant of Venice.

Unfortunately in 1899 a huge fire tore through the theatre damaging the building greatly, but this damage did not stop the Theatre Royal as it was redesigned inside and reopened on New Years Eve of 1901.

In the late 1980’s the theatre went under refurbishment and restoration to bring the theatre back to the glory of when it was first opened.

There is a story that the Theatre Royal is frequented by a ghost of a nineteenth century lady called “The Grey Lady” who reportedly committed suicide: although the ghost has not been seen recently and information of the ladies suicide seems difficult to find, many people are interested in the paranormal activities of this grand theatre.
 
Since it’s opening more than 170 years ago some of the finest actors, plays and shows have graced its stage: it is reportedly Ian Mckellen’s favourite theatre, and is also the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company alongside London and Stratford upon Avon.

The Theatre Royal doesn’t just stick to classic plays however, and puts on a variety of shows including opera, musicals, dance and contemporary productions.

Theatre workshops are run for adults and children at the theatre, covering all aspects of theatre productions from drama to makeup, movement, lighting and props. The spring term runs from January to March and is £40 per term – these are very popular and places tend to get filled up fast!

There are also Shakespeare drama classes for 14 to 18 year olds at the same price per term; these classes are focused exclusively on the drama and acting side of stage craft, and there are further classes aimed at school groups as well as classes training people on the purely technical side of the theatre.

The Theatre Royal offers a huge amount to Newcastle in its productions and education and has done so for many, many years. 

How To Find The Theatre Royal Newcastle

By Car: the theatre is within a gentle ten to fifteen minute walk from any of the car parks found around the city.

By Public Transport: the theatre is in easy walking distance from both the Newcastle Railway Station and the Manors Railway Station.

From the Newcastle Railway Station: turn right out of the station and walking up Neville Street, continuing as it turns into Collingwood Street then Mosley Street. Take the fourth exit on the left as you walk up the road and this will be Grey Street. The Theatre Royal is located a short distance up on the right hand side.

From Manors Railway Station: turn right onto Pandon Bank before turning right onto Melbourne Street and continuing as it turns to City Road. You will come to a large roundabout, take the second exit straight ahead on to Mosley Street and then take your first right onto Grey Street. The Theatre Royal is a short walk up Grey Street.

Address:
Theatre Royal
100 Grey Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6BR

Tel: 0191 244 2500
Box Office: 0844 811 2121
Website: Theatre Royal Newcastle

It’s St Patrick’s Day party time again!

Wednesday, March 17th, will see people from all over the UK heading down to pubs and bars for a mid week party to raise a pint of the beloved black stuff in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. Thousands of pub owners will be decorating their interiors with those famous black, white & green decorations and gearing up for the ultimate St Patrick’s Day party of the new decade.

Celebrate the first St Patrick’s Day of the new decade in style by trying a Guinness Black Velvet cocktail or impress your mates down the pub with some St Patrick’s Day facts & stats, plus tips on how to enjoy the perfect pint of Guinness!

Anna Brown’s Beef, Onion & Guinness Pie

For this recipe be sure to use shin beef as it is well suited to the long slow cooking process. Stewing steak tends to disintegrate, as opposed to shin beef which has gelatinous fibres running through it.

1.5Kg Shin Beef cut into 2″ cubes
2 medium onions peeled and sliced onions
1 tablespoon flour seasoned with salt and pepper
1 pt Guinness
1 pt beef stock
1 pack ready roll puff pastry

Method
Place the cubed shin beef and the onion in a casserole dish and coat with the seasoned flour. Pour in the Guinness and the stock and bring to simmer gently on the hob. Cover with a tightly fitting lid and place in an oven preheated to 140 Celsius for at least 2 to 3 hours until beef is tender.

Cook pastry as per the pack instructions, cut into individual portions about 5″ by 5″ square. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes and spring greens.

How to drink the perfect pint of GUINNESS

This St. Patrick’s Day, when you are raising a pint of GUINNESS with friends to say cheers to the Irish, be sure to follow Master Brewer, Fergal Murray’s guide to the perfect way to enjoy a pint of the ‘black stuff’:

*Hold the glass with the Guinness harp facing you and your thumb over the harp
*Never look down. Look at the horizon and bring the glass to your mouth, not your mouth to the glass
*Take a sip, breaking the seal of the head of your pint
*Enjoy the Guinness cream moustache left on the top of your lip
*Each time you take a drink from the pint, hold the glass in the same position and repeat above, letting the liquid flow underneath the head of the pint
*Expect to experience the malty sweetness at the front of your mouth, the roasted flavour at the side and the distinctive Guinness bitterness at the back

With over 5 million pints of the black stuff to be sold this year….

GUINNESS Brings St Patrick’s Day to Life

Join St Patrick’s Day celebrations at your local

With party celebrations set to last well into the weekend, the makers of Guinness are set to join in one of the liveliest parties of the year by sending out St Patrick Day party kits to thousands of pubs across the UK. Each kit will be filled with iconic black, white & green white hats & props, limited edition glassware & cash prize competitions that will help bring the party to life. Guinness has been marking St. Patrick’s Day for over 15 years and this year is no different with over 5 million pints of Guinness expected to be sold in the UK.

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with GUINNESS

St Pat’s facts

*Over 5 million pints of Guinness are sold in the UK each year on St. Patrick’s Day
*Over 13 million pints of Guinness are raised on St. Patrick’s Day across the globe, which brings more than 150 pints to life every second
*Guinness has been marking St. Patrick’s Day, one of the liveliest calendar celebrations for over 15 years
*Last year, Guinness celebrated 250 years since the signing of the 9,000 year lease at St. James’s Gate brewery in Dublin
*The St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin produces 4 million pints of Guinness every day
*Today, Guinness is popular around the world and sold in more than 150 countries
*Gas bubbles travel downwards, instead of upwards, bringing a pint of Guinness to life with its famous surge and settle motion

Black Velvet Recipe and History

Ingredients:
Flute of Champagne
Flute of GUINNESS Extra Stout
Serves 1 (1.3 units)

GUINNESS mixed fifty fifty with Champagne. Legend has it that this famous drink was invented in 1861 at Brook’s Club in London. Prince Albert had died, everyone was in mourning, and the story goes that the steward at the club, overcome with the emotion of the occasion, ordered that even the champagne should be put into mourning, and proceeded to mix it with GUINNESS. The taste was so delicious, Black Velvet became extremely popular.

Easter: 2 April – 5 April 2010

For many people living in the UK, Easter is a double bank holiday during which it’s possible to scoff loads of chocolate eggs.

In some parts of the country, people roll hard-boiled eggs down a hill or indulge in a bit of Egg Jarping, a contest that involves smashing an opponent’s egg to smithereens.

Strange though it may seem, these rather eccentric traditions, including the egg-laying bunny, are inextricably linked with pagan tradition and the Christian Church.

Easter Traditions and History

The Romans, Gauls, Chinese, Egyptians and Persians celebrated the egg as a symbol of the universe.

In Anglo Saxon legend, the goddess Eostre was said to have changed a wounded bird into a hare so it could survive the winter; when the “hare” discovered its amazing egg-laying powers, it not only left them as an offering to the goddess every spring, but also decorated them in bright colours to symbolize the rebirth of the world.

The time of year became known as Eostre-monath, named after the goddess.

When early Christians began to commemorate Christ’s resurrection from the dead, the celebration was known as Pascha, relating to the Jewish festival of the Passover.

Because this usually took place in Eostre-monath, the name evolved into Easter.

Easter: A Christian Festival

Forming the foundation of the Christian Church, Easter is the most important time in the liturgical calendar and refers to the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus, who was crucified on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

As a moveable feast, Easter can fall any time between March 22nd and April 25th: the actual date is linked to the Passover and falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon which, being an ecclesiastical full moon, varies slightly from the astronomical one.

Also marking the end of Lent, a time of fasting and abstinence, Easter Sunday signalled a return to a more indulgent diet when eggs could be enjoyed once more.

Easter Eggs and Pace Egging

Traditionally, boiled eggs were eaten on Easter Sunday and people used to wrap their eggs in onion skins, before boiling them and decorating them with flowers and leaves to give as gifts.

Traditions of Pace Egging, Egg Rolling and Egg Jarping evolved in villages, especially in the north of England: these sports and entertainments usually took place on Easter Monday.

Egg rolling still takes place in many villages in the UK especially in Lancashire and Cumbria, with Avenham Park in Preston being a popular event.

An even more famous venue further afield is the lawn of the White House in Washington DC, when competitors roll an egg along using a spoon in a desperate race to the finishing line.

The old custom of Pace Egging was related to the mumming tradition, and comprised a procession through the streets to the accompaniment of the Pace Egging song, culminating in an entertainment acted out by a group of local yokels known as Jolly Boys wearing elaborate costumes of animal skins and coloured ribbons and streamers.

Egg Jarping or tapping – a kind of conker fight played with eggs – is popular in County Durham and contests are held in pubs and houses. A player is known as a “jarper” and a particularly good hit is known as a “dunch”.

In Victorian times, with the advent of chocolate factories, larger chocolate eggs began to be all the rage. Easter egg hunts became popular, and sometimes Easter baskets were given containing candy.

Printed cards started to be sent as the holiday celebrations became more widespread.

Today, families wishing to celebrate Easter Sunday in a traditional manner will usually eat a dinner of roast lamb, followed by custard tarts and Easter biscuits, all rounded off with a piece of Simnel cake.

 

Chester Easter | Liverpool Easter | York Easter | Leeds Easter | Newcastle Easter

]]> http://directoryofnewcastleupontyne.com/blog/2010/03/02/easter-2010-newcastle-easter-events/feed/ 0 http://directoryofnewcastleupontyne.com/blog/2010/03/01/mothers-day-2010-mothering-sunday-14-march-newcastle-tyneside-uk/ http://directoryofnewcastleupontyne.com/blog/2010/03/01/mothers-day-2010-mothering-sunday-14-march-newcastle-tyneside-uk/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:50:15 +0000 http://directoryofnewcastleupontyne.com/blog/?p=2382 Continue reading...

]]> Make March 14th 2010 a memorable one, with a chance to say “Thank You” to our Mums!

Treat the One you love this Mothers’ Day, with a wonderful Mothers’ Day menu at one of the following restaurants, or make a unique card she’ll treasure, or give her the gift of a wonderful Day Out on Mothering Sunday.

Event	Date	Venu / Link	What's On	Town / City	Venue
Little Discoverers: Make a Mothers' Day Card	Tuesday 9th March 2010	Discovery Museum	A children's workshop to design a Mothers' day card for under fives.	Newcastle	Discovery Museum
Mothers Day	Sunday 14th March 2010	Tanfield Railway	All mothers accompanied by children travel at childrens rate today!	Marley Hill	Tanfield Railway
Mothers' Day lunch	Sunday 14th March 2010	Kirkley Hall	Delicious three course carvery lunch, with coffee and mints and a special Mothers' Day treat from 12noon until 2.00pm	Ponteland	Kirkley Hall
Mothers' Day	Sunday 14th March 2010	Souter Lighthouse	Mothers get into the Lighthouse for free today	Sunderland	Souter Lighthouse
Mothers' Day Set Menu	Sunday 14th March 2010	Cafe Rouge	Mothers' Day Menu	Durham	Cafe Rouge
Mothers' Day Set Menu	Sunday 14th March 2010	Cafe Rouge Metro Centre	Mothers' Day Menu	Gateshead	Cafe Rouge Metro Centre

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