Moving to Manchester

i'd go for house sharing to be honest. i think manchester is big enough that there will be some decent houseshares. its difficult to know (ive never lived there but know a lot of people there - actually man, i'll put out the feelers for you, see whats about), because its not london where its houseshare driven

first port of call is always going to be chorlton i guess, that seems to be where people choose first. but as a secondary perhaps cheaper option what about urmston? i know its a bit further out but it seems pretty nice if yu wanted somewhere that might be a bit cheaper, im not sure.

hey man, look ill get back to you on this, i might be able to help a bit more specifically

I suppose housesharing might be the best option though I fear ending up with a bunch of neurotic teabag counters/bawdy bodybuilding FHM readers.

Let me know if you find out anything of interest. I should say that I'm only going to move out around summertime (prob July) so there's no real rush, I'm just into seeing what options there are.

Hated Fallowfield because I got robbed and spat at and glared at. Not beaten though, so I shouldn't really complain.

Withington's probably cheaper than Chorlton and definitely cheaper than Didsbury and is OK. Whalley Range isn't perfect (burglaries of occasional muggings) but bits of it are OK and flats are probably cheap. Hulme's still a bit dodgy, same with Rusholme. Gorton, Ardwick and Longsight are a no-no, Levenshulme is borderline.

Gareth might well be right about Urmston, although it strikes me as a bit suburban. Bits of Salford are OK, but you need to explore a bit to find which ones - avoid Lower (and upper) Broughton and most of Cheetham Hill and do not even *think* about Ordsall. Prestwich has its moments, as does Monton.

Best bet is scouring the Evening News. Some agencies are OK but some are pure fuckers.

I lived in Manchester for four years and never got robbed or spat at, even in Rusholme shock horror. Maybe people were glaring but I didn't notice.

Unfortunately I got spat at and glared at by the same person in Fallowfield. Some snotty little scally who lived round the corner from me and decided I was a student wanker. I was neither.

To be honest, you could spend your whole time in most places and never get any grief. On the other hand, you could be mugged in Didsbury.

Ian, can you drive? Presumably, Ashton-in-Makerfield would be a bugger to get to if you can't.

Are there night buses from these places into Manchester? In my dreams I'd like to just stroll out of my flat and be on Oxford rd in seconds but that ain't gonna happen so I'd like to be able to get into town with the minimum of fuss.

and on a different note, Tag, have you got any plans for another Girl Group night or anything similar? I remember you saying you were gonna sort it out for February, is this going to plan?
I've been enjoying the Star & Garter the past few Saturdays. The venue still stinks and the music could be better but the people there are generally quite likeable. It's nice to be around people in sharp suits too.
There's an electro night called Wrong which sounds fab, I'll be heading down to the next one. They've got Tigerbeat6 acts on and had Cartel Communique djing last time which is no bad thing (ignoring their involvement with the deplorable Born Sloppy).
I'm still waiting for a night where I can dance to Walter Steding/Orange Juice/Flipper/Robert Palmer/Sparks/Grace Jones/Cristina though.

Girl group night, lord only knows. We're both really skint. Sorry.

Enjoying the Star and Garter? Lordy. Maybe it's a rennaissance. But the people were always quite likable, for the most part.

"Wrong" is a good name for a club. Where's that then? Look up "wrong" and "club" on Manchester online and it throws up loads of Man United links. Funny that.

Well I don't think that's so hard. Minutes, maybe. Though I am probably thinking of the Oxford Rd as one long thing that goes all the way through to Didsbury and beyond whereas I know it actually changes name. Withington has a train station that goes to Oxford Rd station. Or was that called Burnage? Oh, it's all so hazy now.

Wrong is at The Tube on Harter St. The flyer gives www.zerolabel.net as the link. The next one is on Valentines night and has Atomizer, Johnny Slut, Fil Ok and other names that also mean nothing to me. But The Numbers are playing the one in March and Knifehandchop in April which should be decent.

Looked at that link, Ian. Call me old-fashioned but I like playlists. Otherwise it's "who the fuck are these people?"

Yes, poverty has prevented me from sorting out another gg night yet. I did a post new-years party as well as some recording - but all in London.

There *will* be another one, it's just sorting it all out. I keep meaning to go check out that new venue which used to be the Ginnels antique gallery - I've been told it's rather lovely and not too tricky to book. And seeing as it's tucked away on a side street off Albert Square, I think it's promising as a location.

Urmston is a bit dull, but nice enough. I think you might get bored being there. There's just not a lot happening and it's verging on Sale which is the burbs.

You can definitely get a houseshare for less than £300 a month in West Didsbury etc.

have heard it said that
withington is a new 'up n coming' area
but they said that about whalley range/chorlton 5 yrs ago
and somebody somewhere seems to have left us
(the whalley bit) out of that reckoning at the last minute.

withington is a good bet :
ace breakfasts at solomon g's
ace (so i'm told, haven't been) new bar
opposite the old kinema,
big sainsbury's down the road,
buses practically every 30 *seconds* to town,
easy access late night buses home from town,
(the oxf. road night bus goes right thru central wthngtn)
and cheap flats etc.

withington must have loads of
decent places you could pay a fortune for elsewhere.

question u really have to ask yourself is -
how far away will you be from the nearest Abdul's ?

Is Abdul's still persevering with the McDonaldsisation of their outlets?

Sadly a McDonalds has opened on Oxford Road, practically right across from Abdul's (the one near Big Hands/Contact theatre) - snaring a lot of the daytime lunch students. I actually saw a queue out the door there the other day.

Oh and Mauldeth Road rang a bell cause that was the road my sister's student hovel was on. You confused me. That was definitely not the name of the train station. I think it was Burnage. It was certainly on the way to Burnage anyway. I lived on that side of Withington. Oh my, I can't remember the name of the street I lived on at this makes me sad.

I hung out in Dutch bars, mainly.

As for the move to Manc, does anyone know what the absolute minimum is that I'd have to pay for a flat real near the centre of town?

Pisces, have you checked out that Wrong night? It seems like something you'd know about, how is it? Also, could I be an annoying tit and ask you to scan me that pic of Madonna dancing at the Hacienda that you mentioned? Or if you've not got it do you know where I can find it? (it ain't anywhere online as far as I can tell)

Gareth, thanks for the help, bud. I owe you one.

And I've not got a clue what an Abduls is.

that 'wrong' night rings a bell. not been.

My recordings were done as a 6-song souvenir/promo item for the Spectropop party in January, and I'm happy to get them out there. I don't have enough space on my web account to have all the mp3s for downloading, but if you drop me an email we can sort out a cdr.

A flat on your own in the city centre? Ouch. Probably £600 - £800 easy, but I suppose there are studio bargains to be had. Up My Street will probably give you some good leads. One idea is to get somewhere that is sort of Northern Quarter/Ancoats as there are plenty of redevelopments and tucked away buildings etc. Cosmetically, not the greatest but really handy and you will be near the best coffee in town, Love Saves the Day.

Julie Twist is one of the main rental agencies for the centre. Remember that your council tax by living in the centre will also be sky-high, although I think you can get a 25% single person discount...

I don't know the Gramby, but I'll check it out next time I'm in the area. I'll probably try and sort something out for spring. The main hassle for me is running the door. This time, maybe I can find someone to run it for me. (a girl can dream!)

Tag - I doubt we crossed paths. I had a bit of a crappy time in Manchester (not the city's intrinsic fault - just not right for me at the time) and can't really think of places we might have both been at except obvious places occasionally. There was a Dutch bar. I can't remember where it was. I think we walked West down Whitworth St to get to it.

Thinking about it now, I'm not sure if it was actually Dutch. I think my lovely, hilarious and sadly lost touch with workmate David just used to call it the Dutch Bar cause they served Oranjeboom or something and it was a bit poncey for his tastes. So he'd put up a fuss and say "What, we're going to the Dutch Bar?" and look frightened. It was funny the way he stressed 'Dutch' in his Stoke accent so we all called it the Dutch Bar.

felix da housecat . le tigre. human league. lcd soundsystem. b-52s.
chicks on speed. cabaret voltaire. playgroup. miss kittin. the slits.
peaches. throbbing gristle can. stereolab...

... now you can see the kind of vibe they're after here,
so hats very much off to them for that.

rockinghams, harter st (off princess st.) 10-2
friday 21st february free entry before 11.

does look ok though!

this is what i'm after in London - Nag Nag Nag i presume? but i'm not gonna queue 2 hours for it for fecks sake...

anyway, it's the combo of records/bands i thought looked
interesting. context an that.

course the thought occurs that maybe
no-one will go/does go to these nights anyway,
thus making it about as popular as romo was.

ye get me ?

As it's free before 11 pm and a Friday night (*and* very near a relatively painless bus route, should we decided to pleb it home), I think this might be something to at least check out.

Where's Ian gone? I don't know if he wants to move to Manchester - the skies here have just gone pitch black and it's hailing ferociously. Ugh.

TVOD sounds decent, I'll do my best to go down to that. Bit piqued as the playlist looks a bit similar to what I was planning for my future North-conquering clubnight but fair play to em (I'd play Cristina instead of Peaches, Machine instead of Le Tigre, Flipper instead of Cabaret Voltaire and I'd not even consider the B-fucking-52s). I'm gonna check out that WRONG night this w/e too. If you see a long-haired excitable guy outside WRONG throwing flyers for NOTMUSIC and persuading you to the Gramby instead then that's my mate Gaz and while he's ace, the NOTMUSIC night isn't so don't go.

What's the night called on fridays once a month at the Star and Garter? That's got a similar playlist to that TVOD but I heard that no one goes down to it so maybe Manc just ain't ready to shake off its floppy mullets and guitars just yet.

Elisabeth, my mates at the Gramby get to use the venue for free providing they bring a fair few people down (which they rarely do) so it could prove a cheapy option for yer night.

I think I'm gonna give up on the idea of living in the Northern Quarter, even though it'd be fucking ace, because the council tax would slay me. But if anyone hears of a stinky rundown flat down some seedy alley around there that's going for £300 a month do let me know. I'm reckoning on Withington or Urmston, whichever is best for me getting to work/town.

And what's Minipop too?

Has anyone checked out Chips With Everything yet? A few mates went down at the weekend and said it's full of Hoxton fishfin pointy haircuts and swathes of irony and nu-denim. Sounds fucking shite.

Any news on the future of the Dancehouse soul nights? I hardly went to any of them but I'd like to have. And the Northern soul Mod night at Sofa is meant to be moving somewhere soon, not sure yet but it's worth checking out - much better than the authentic original we-did-it-first-and-better rrrrreal N.Soul nights in shitty labour clubs in dirty little towns like Lowton.

I'm loving the Star and Garter more and more. But only when the little bald Penfold DJ is on - he played 'you dont own me' by Lesley Gore at the end of the night on Saturdayso he's won me over forever - the Billy Idol DJ needs shooting, I mean Smashing Pumpkins, come on.

So yeah lets have a 'FAP' at TVOD and sit around quaffing wine and making glib comments about George Bush, rah rah. Or we could just go down and get pissed up an have a laff

I can do one a day maybe, like a sort of 60s girlgroup advent calendar...

Yeah, FAP at TVOD sounds really good actually - we've been a bit hermit-esque! It's in the diary.

Minipop was amazing. I guess it stopped about two years ago - for a while, it was the only thing I loved to go out to in Manchester. They'd play tasteful selections of chart pop mixed with up and coming dance records both chart-y and underground (it was the first place I heard Black Legend), older Human League, Hall & Oates, early Madonna... and of course, it's my claim to fame as I appeared in City Life with a nice photo but rather daft quote when they did a mini feature on it.

http://www.btinternet.com/~edsyder/chips/frameset.html

the playlist included, from what i can recall,
'steppin out' - joe jackson
'shake your rump' - beastie boys
'let's go crazy' - prince
'don't stop me now' - queen
'last night' - the strokes

I know I sound bitchy, but c'mon people...set yourselves some standards!

ian, im having no luck with house info for you so far. doesnt seem to be that much about at the minute. ill give you a shout if anything does turn up though

(I also noticed they link to the Azad Manzil, my least favourite curry house in Chorlton. Pffft.)

We were talking last night about how we're looking forward to TVOD though...

Back to houses - Ian, if you're open to houseshare or sharing with one person I can always ask my friends at Granada to put your contact details on the internal electronic staff noticeboard. I have found my friends flats as well as lodgers that way in the past. There's always someone with a nice house in Didsbury desperate for someone to take a room.

Apparently:

"Manchester's rated/ most-hated night of electro-punk-pop alcohol-soaked uproar returns to the fray on February 28th. With the previous gaff, JWLee's Cabaret Bar, bought out and shut down to facilitate yet more new, shiny redevelopment of the city-centre, Suicide has relocated to Rockinghams – a venue that's just as idiosyncratic, if altogether more opulent. Where John Willie Lee's was Phoenix Nights, our new venue is pure gilt-edged Joan Collins-in-The Bitch. Playing live are hotly-tipped synth nymphs Bynatone and putting some records on are Tony and Ryan."

I'm definitely gonna get down to a future Chips even if Elisabeth and Tag have managed to make it sound like the shittest thing ever. I can imagine curling up in a ball of rage at being around some pointy haired winking boyband types, but hey, know yer enemy and all. Judging by Pisces' playlist I should like about 10% of the songs (half of the prince one).

TVOD is an almost definite for me so long as I can drag a few reluctant chums down, but I refuse to call it a FAP. Next thing you know, we'll be saying "That's grebt!" to each other and punctuating our wisecracks with a cheeky wink. And that really wouldn't do. Lets just meet up and have a jolly wheeze.

I'm prob at WRONG this Friday an all if anyone fancies being there too. Kevin Blechdom doing 'Private Dancer', must be worth seeing.

Gareth, no worries mate. It's a few months til I get anything sorted proeprly. Cheers for trying though.

Elisabeth, that Granada board thing sounds good but I'm real wary about housesharing with someone who isn't nuts - these Didsbury people are desperate for a housemate for a reason surely?! It does sound tempting though, thanks for the offer.
I checked out yer song too, it's ace. I checked out the original as well and I'd say I prefer your version by about 8%. Stick another up when you can.

Pisces, cheers about the Madonna pic, let me know when you've got it sorted but there's no rush.

I reckon I'll try to get to that Club Suicide night as well even though that blurb makes me wince a bit: 'hotly-tipped synth nymphs', ugh.

I'm not too sure where this Rockinghams is. Is it in walking distance from Picadilly bus stn?

Then our work here is done. Glad you've got the idea of Minipop anyway, a lot of people look at us in bewildered disgust. I fear it is no more though.

I'm not sure exactly where Rockingham's is but I know it's walkable from the bus station.

We're both up for a jolly wheeze, and you have my full permission to shoot me if I say "this suxors" or "zany student OWNS this thread".

8% - wow, that's the most unique compliment I've had yet. :-) I'll post another tonight maybe, but never fear, a cdr will be yours when we see you next. Which will probably be on 21st Feb?

Minipop is sadly missed. I forgot to say they also played stuff like S'Express which was brilliant. Perhaps the naffer side of CWE was just on that night when the pics were taken, but I think there's a bit too much faux porn-sleeeeze irony going on there for me.

Club Suicide ought to be much better than CWE, although I think it's a bit hit and miss depending on the guest DJs. When it was at John Willie Lees, we had the best night ever (despite the tepid "performance" by the Alpine Stars) because they were playing a similar mix to Minipop, but when we went at Night & Day some months later, it was absolute crud - all bad heavy metal and no pop.

I could really go with a club that's consistent. Sigh.

Rockinghams is very close to the bus station - 2 Harter Street, off of Princess Street (between Portland St. and Whitworth St.)

I understand things did get better later on. The funny thing is that the Rapture were on that night and everyone (including people whose tastes normally coincide with mine) had been raving about them. So naturally, I hated them.

A 3-6 month contract sounds really good, I could flit around Manchester in time with the seasons. Elisabeth, I'll probably mail you about this closer the time in June or so. And quick, stick another song online for me.

I asked a mate who writes for the live bit of the MEN about these clubs and he said TVOD was a bit dead last time, no one dancing. Im gonna head along to both nights though. Apparently there's a(nother) new electro night at Retro this Friday, the aforementioned 'synth-nymphs' are playing too. It's called Cabaret ESP, anyone got any words about it?

Tag, when we next meet I'm gonna spend all night repeating what you say but changing a word to something saucy/nonsensical for COMEDY VALUE and I'll SHOUT to make it even FUNNIER. HAH.

Another electro night? Have these people done their market research?

And ask your mate at the MEN why he didn't plug Slow Fizz, if he covers small nights! I sent all of them press releases with plenty of notice. Bah. At least the lovely club editor at City Life called me to say he didn't have enough room, but that he'd made sure I got a good listing and he'd definitely try to do a feature if we had another one.

Checked out the Vertigo 60s Soul night at Sofa on Friday. Not bad, but not great either. Just standard soul and not too packed out either. Lovely looking place though. If only Smile could get moved to there instead of that shed it's currently in.

Any thoughts on living in Fallowfield? I've heard about two-bedroom flats going there that work out around £55 per week each, sounds good to me but is the area any good?

Fallowfield...well, cheap 'n cheerful student land really. Certainly lots of accommodation going. You've got the big Sainsburys and Something Blue, which is a quite nice bar/food place if a bit pricey. Lots of buses into town but traffic gets pretty snarled up in Rusholme so that can be a downer. However I will leave Tag to comment further since he actually lived there for a while during his student days, I think.

(he just walked in the room and said he hated it. Hmmm.)

I admire your stance.

So, anyone fancy coming to WRONG on Friday? I might go and I might be on happy drugs.

Piscesboy, I'll buy you a drug/pint in exchange for a scan of this Madonna pic. Or I'll give you a cig for a photocopy. Or a chewing gum if you trace it.

This has probably been quammed on about before but can someone tell me what this Funkademia thing at the Attic is all about? How does the Friday night differ to the Saturday?

I checked out that Cord bar the other week. Nice seats but what's with the awful late70s soul piss being played all night? Is this shit HIP in Manc these days?

Umm, Friday is valentine's day and although I am not exactly celebrating it Hallmark style, I think we're staying in to enjoy a nice meal including my jaffa cake ice cream. Also, Tag will have just got back from London on a work-related trip and I think he'll be knackered.

We're still planning on coming to TVOD or Club Suicide though.

I have never been to Funkademia, but if it's still the same, I think Les from Kingbee Records (in Chorlton) is one of the DJs. From what I gather it's *very* funky soul which isn't my thing. I am a pure pop northern soul kinda gal and especially love all the pop records that infiltrated the dance floors in the 70s but wouldn't get played today (Samantha Jones etc.)

The location makes me edgy too - right in the heart of Oxford Road student hell and next to the Thirsty Scholar. *shiver*

I'd much rather sit in Night & Day - at least the people behind the bar know what to make for me without asking, and the music is usually an inoffensive mix of indie and pop. We're there most Saturdays for lunch as the food is very good.

i can give you the original of
that madonna pic no problem at this 'wrong' night caper
(it's a 'nag nag nag' thing isn't it ?)
but it's a work day the next day so staying long
won't be an option unless it's *ace*.

How was Wrong then, Ian and Pisces? Saw one of their flyers today - not inspired, sub-Grateful Dead artwork and "look mummy I can swear" spiel on the back.

Still on for TVOD - playlist looks halfway decent if only for Gonzales and LCD Soundsystem. Might go for Club Suicide too - I heard the Bynatone single and it's not bad at all. Like the first couple of Alpinestars singles (before they lost their dignity and collaborated with Brian Molko), only dirtier.

I agree with you on the flyers, Tag. That artwork is laaaaaaaaame. It's a decent night though, it's worth checking out the next one.

There was a french pop theme at Cord bar last night, was good because you never hear Serge anywhere but that's all it was: wads and wads of Serge, a bit of Brel and some Hardy and Polnaroff wouldn't a gone amiss, like.

Nag Nag Nag? It's a London thing, we wouldn't understand. Colourful website though and it plays Cabaret Voltaire while you view, which is nice.

Is it still on for TVOD this Fri? I'm trying to blag my mates down so a more detailed description of it would be lovely.

and the more I think about WRONG the more I like it - it's hipster territory but because it's in Manc no one's any good at pulling it off, and I'm into that. Oh yeah, and Kevin Blechtum wasn't on - I dunno why I thought she was, unless someone on the site has been pissing about - and the band that did play were awful, anyone know who these Atomizer jokers are?
Piscesboy, what did you reckon of it? Were you the guy with big big eyes with the 'electric' t shirt on? or were you the one of the mullets? or were you the DICK in the suit with the big stupid collar (nope, that'd've been me)

and what's with this Johnny Slut guy? my mate was saying how he was a local ICON in the 80s and she was too in awe to talk to him but I saw him and he looked like Moby, and that ain't no good

Elisabeth, I just checked out that Lisa Mychols song, it's decent but my favourite is the 'It may be winter outside' one. What are your reasons for doing these songs? Is it just girl group songs you like or is there a sneaky theme going on (aside from the cold weather thing)? and have you got any more to upload for me?

LWD was originally done by a girl called Lisa in the early 90s and produced by the Wondermints (the guys who backed Brian Wilson on his recent tour) - a kind of tribute to the Phil Spector christmas album. Funny that you're not so keen, as it's some people's favourite - you never know how these things will go.

Song selection was purely down to what I've been doing at the Spectropop parties, Slow Fizz & Sophisticated Boom Boom. I've always wanted to do my own versions of girl group stuff using the original backing tracks as GG stuff is my first love. That and I still haven't found anyone to work with doing new stuff, so this is a nice way to keep busy. I'm doing a few more songs in March.

I'm not into Twisted Nerve as a scene at all. I think Andy Votel comes across as a wanker. One of our friends nearly got into a big scrap with him when he went around wearing an "I hate Andy Votel" badge (or something to that effect) around Oldham Street. I like that story.

TVOD is still go for us. We know about as much as you do - looked like your standard kind of electroclashy playlist with plenty of kitty-yo and Felix/Miss Kittin but as it's free before 11 pm and quite central, it definitely can't hurt to check it out as somewhere to have drinks with decent records on. Is that your real email? If not drop me a line for our numbers and stuff to liaise. Maybe we can meet at that fantastic green tiled pub (Pevril of the Peak?) and then walk over.

Most of the Twisted Nerve stuff has kind of passed me by, but I haven't ruled them out entirely. Part of me thinks that someone who likes Serge can't be all bad, then I remember Momus.

For someone with so much product and such good taste in music and a dapper brain (judging by his thoughts on this here board) I'm hugely disappointed by the Momus oeuvre. He just scrapes by on the basis of 'I want you but I don't need you' though. I like that one.

I'm still none the wiser as to what this Nag Nag Nag thingy is. Is it just some club in London?

theres some amazingly dressed people (although the ruud van nistelrooy lookalike in a cyan and turquioise shesllsuit and porkpie hat was pushing it i think)

Our friend was actually wearing a sticker which said "I love Andy Votel and all his cool friends", although I'm not sure he was wearing it when the incident took place. Did he deserve it? I'm saying nothing. Perhaps I'll tell you more on Friday.

and ian if you haven't heard 'timelord' 'voyager'
and 'monsters of love' you haven't heard momus at all.
'voyager' is one of the 10 best records of all time.

will bring that madge at hac pic with me.

(yes, I know a lot of people are like that. But when you're in a smaller city, they stick out more)

And y'know, I really can't be doing with that sort of crap. And I don't think our badge-wearing friend does either, but he tends to go one step further and choose direct provocation. He would have seen a lot of AV because of his (then) situation, so it wasn't a cheap shot out of nowhere.

Oh, and that publicity shot of him & some fellow TN person dressed as pimps and smoking cigars was just mind-numbingly embarassing.

Back to TVOD, Ian - let us know if you're def. going to make it, and what sort of time you are aiming for. I would think we'd get there for about 10:00 or so.

I'll check out that Voyager album, what's the big pop single on it?

Thinking about Twisted Nerve it is a bit depressing how that rosta of weepy troubadours and quietly polite Norwegians with Cubase (honourably excepting aidan o'course) defines Manc's music scene around now. But still, I wouldn't say no to a job at that place so I'll be sure to brown-tongue little Andy whenever poss. ("you like krautrock? me too! Neu! eh? love em.") And if I could get away with dressing like a pimp and smoking cigars then I'd do it. all. the. time.

Elisabeth, I'll only be sure about TVOD at the very last minute but it's looking likely and I'll aim for gettin in there about 10ish too.

Quietly polite Norwegians with Cubase? I simply can't imagine who you could possibly mean.

Shame you can't make it BlouseBoy.

See you tomorrow - will you recognise us?

Must remember to make you a cdr today...

Best bits: Tag talking to Robot Man, LCD Soundsystem, Donna Summer, chatting to people in the toilets.

(I can't get a verdict off Tag yet, as he is still asleep and more hungover than me, I think...)

Now must make some cappuccinos and get ready for a hangover cure (lunch at Night & Day...)

Yes, it was a good night, friendly enough, good music. And of course, a pleasure to see you again, Ian.

Felt a bit rough this morning.

That robot man was freaking out my mate Natalie too, I didn't like his face at all.

I'm trying to remember songs that were mentioned last night - what was the Simple Minds one again? I'm getting 'little 15' and 'sexy northerner' as I type, was there owt else that I should grab?

I'm going Star and Garter tonight if you fancy a doublefun weekend but seeing as you're SNOOTY Chorlton types I doubt it (y'should do though).

My throat is really rough today - more smoke than usual. Ack! I don't think we're in any shape to go out again tonight, but I promise we'll try to check it out sometime. I'll just remember to bring my own loo roll, as I assume the toilets are still the same.

The Simple Minds song is "I travel". I can't remember talking about other songs with you last night so not sure what else you'd like. Oh, the Felix DHC remix of Dot Allison's "substance" is fab if you haven't got that.

How d'you like the cd?

The place was in Salford. Old houses, inside the ceilings were really high (maybe 15 feet), with very high windows too. Changing bulbs was perilous and troublesome. Lots of broken glass in the living room and a couple of new cracks on the presumably quite new windows.

I had a break-in after I'd been there about four weeks. Some bastard just burst in one night, about 8pm. Lights on, I was sitting there doing something or other. He runs in, notices me, shouts something threatening and runs off. (What gave him the idea I was out, I'm not really sure.) The police were sympathetic but couldn't do anything, really. I also had a lot of trouble with kids throwing stones at the windows and banging on them, etc.

I didn't like Manchester at all. I felt I'd needed a change of scene and I couldn't afford anywhere else... it was a big mistake. I haven't been in a hurry to even visit the place since. So I haven't got any nice things to say about it, but my bad luck biases me.

Ian, how was "Manchester's premier indie night"? Us "Snooty Chorlton types" spent the evening making the servants dance for small change.

It was a top night though yeah. I went to this party first, at the home of the people who are organising the Ladyfest thing in Manc this year, loads of 'Fight the power' t-shirts milling about and anti-war dogma being shoved in my ears but do not fear - they were roundly skitted and I convinced them to listen to disco and enjoy it goddamnit. S+G is just about my second home these days - I mainly go because I'm madly attracted to 5 midget girls who dance there. And also to slouch about on the stairs being rude to people and to dance to ELO and 'Jackie'. Ended up on the bus home covered in my own sick though, which kinda devastated me for the whole of Sunday.

Elisabeth, I've checked out your cd a few times and I really like it. Best ones are 'Bubble broke' and 'It may be winter outside'. I'll rip them to mp3 and stick them on some stiggy Geocites place somewhere and blag people to get a hold of em, if you don't mind of course. You should've thrust them on me a couple of months back when I was big into girl group though, I don't suppose you and Tag have some illicit No Wavey Disco project goin on do you?

Speaking of girl group stuff, have you heard 'Dumb head' by Ginny Arnell? It's a corker. (if you have heard it, have you got anything else by her that you can copy me?) Also, that Ultra Chicks 6cd compilation has some superb 60s french girly pop shit on it, if you want a copy let me know and I'll bring you a cd-r out on friday.

I totally love 'Sexy Northerner' and I'm a bit fond of that Simple Minds stuff but I'm not sure if early Depeche Mode is for me - cute synth sound but his doomy voice brings back cringey memories of ketamine parties at 17 and listening to Violator 8 times in one night and thinking it MEANT something.

Going waaay back to the core of the thread I think I'm gonna have to do housesharing if I want to live in Manchester and not live like a pauper. I think that rapid-turnover Granada housesharing thing sounds best, so I'm gonna aim to do that in summer. (Tag, you didn't help by soundly dissing me with a "What are you doing now, Ian? What ARE you doing?" Me: "I'm... living at home with my parents... sob" You: "Exactly. Loser.")

Christine, you should've shouted back at the burglar and then made him a nice pot of tea and talked to him and took him under your wing and made him into a decent citizen who works in a paper shop. Like in Coronation Street.

I'm sure those 5 midget girls used to go to Smile back in the day, although maybe it was their older sisters, or possibly their mothers.

We did watch about 10 minutes of Ant and Dec as it happens. Not a patch on SMTV.

Elisabeth will no doubt tell you about her teenage love for Depeche Mode, Japanese versions of "Dumb Head" and just how much she hated the guy in Montreal who puts out those Ultra Chicks comps. They are great compilations though. I used to play some of that when I DJ'd at MANCHESTER'S PREMIER INDIE NIGHT, even if the "Got any Small Faces, mate" types didn't like all that stuff where they sing in foreign.

Yes, the Ultra Chicks man was a snotty collector type who was very rude to me when I found his shop. Unfortunately it happens a lot - I had the exact same problem with Juke Box in Brussels. Grrrr. I like all the UC comps a lot, but I don't listen to them as often as other series, like Dream Babes (Vol. 1 & 3 are particularly brilliant) and the new Where the Girls Are 5 is great as well. Oh, and Girls Scene! Plus the quality is better, since most of the time they get permission to dig out the master tapes.

Well, maybe Depeche Mode appeal more to girls. All I know is that the Violator tour was one of the highlights of my teenage years. Oddly enough, the Jesus & Mary Chain opened for them.

I am holed up with a throat infection/bug again (2 in 2003 so far, not fair!) so I'll have to play Friday by ear, but I'm hoping the worst will have passed by then.

And I'll help you sort out a Granada listing whenever you're ready.

Tag, you didn't call me a loser but I saw it in your eyes..

hope you're better for Friday, Elisabeth. If not, I'm calling you umm, blousegirl.

Speaking of 'im, you gonna come down to Club Suicide on Friday, Piscesboy?

Oh and as if by magic there's a pic on the S+G photo gallery of me lounging about on the stairs being rude to people from this Saturday.

as was their songs of faith tour.

I'm pepped up on Sinutab and I have to be better for Friday for a dentist appointment (*eeek*) so hopefully you won't have to call me a girlblouse.

I think I found the Star & Garter photo gallery, only you can get to it thru a search engine only - when I tried to look at the homepage, it didn't exist! Strange.

Best songs on Dreambabes - well, Jackie Lee "the town I live in", any of the McKinleys tracks, Sylvan "we don't belong", Glenda Collins "you're going to get your way", Satin Bells "da-di-da-da", Cindy Williams "they talk about us"...does ssk really get results on obscure stuff? If I can't be arsed then who is??

Hey, just found out that my show with the Actionettes in London is also going to have that Emma Wilkinson singing - she was a Stars in Their Eyes finalist as Dusty Springfield, and I hear she's ace! She certainly looks the part, unlike a lot of the SITE types.

this month's flyer :

www.btinternet.com/~edsyder/files/chix.html

altogether now :
"i'm losing my edge-uh..."

you feeling any better elisabeth? that sharades version of 'dumb head' is pure shit, i ain't into joe meek one bit. jap version of it is worth hearing once though. got some of them girl group songs you said but some are proving elusive

www.starandgarter.co.uk and here i am looking rapacious:

http://www.socialguide.co.uk/uploads/bands/gallery/161

tag+elisabeth, what time you in tomorrow? does it open at 10? im gonna try get in a bit earlier to get a seat to mong on. not mad arsed about this nymphy synth band though. what do you reckon my chances are of getting the mulletted shades-wearing buck-toothed deej to play Chic for me?

That's the picture I found! But the web address said www.socialguide.co.uk - hmmm. Is that Jessica there? (was that her name? I am terrible with names)

I can't believe you don't like the Sharades! I think it's genius. I'm not a huge Joe Meek fan either, but do check out Glenda Collins. The stuff he did with her was amazing.

Ian, you should really sign up to Spectropop - if you prefer to just peruse posts on the website like me, that's fine because it's a Yahoo group. The bonus is that you get access to the musica files with obscure tracks available for download for very limited periods of time. There are some amazing things on there right now to celebrate the 10,000th post including a beautiful Nino Tempo song and the Breakways song from the movie Darling, which was never released.

Elisabeth, Club Suicide wasn't as good as TVOD anyway. Bynatone only came on at midnight, meaning a long long wait with no dancefloor and they sounded shite anyhow - all avon gard messy noize. and the music wasn't so hot either. Saw your mate Joe there too.

Will more than likely be at S+G next Saturday if you're into coming down. Is anything decent on on friday night?

mc pitman, live at friends and family
(the roadhouse) saturday 8th of march.

ye get me ?

Ian, this will have to take precedence over s&g but I spose it's possible to do both if Pitman doesn't finish that late. Do you like him?

Spoke to Joe just now and he said Club Suicide was good! Compared to previous Club Suicides anyhow. But yes, waiting that long for a dance floor would have been a bit crap. I'll probably still go once to check it out at its new home, but seeing as we know TVOD is good *and* free before 11 then there's not a lot of competition is there?

Anyhow have fun tonight! We are staying in with some anime and a Nepalese curry now that Tag has been struck with the same cold that I had.

Yeah TVOD is well better than C.S. - I'm def at the next one of them.

Gross story of Friday night:
Took couple of CKs, were v good, but didn't have any chewing gum so I was chewing my cheeks and lips all night. Night ended so got 50 bus to mates house. 50 goes through Longsight and was full of cider-drinking scally skinheads who kept turning round and glaring at me with real vicious intent. Kinda freaked me out a bit so avoided eye contact, got to Jessica's house ok and went in. Looked in the mirror and saw that my mouth was covered with dark brown scabs which looked like stupidly thick lipstick - from where my lips had bled from me chewing them. Thus explaining angry Longsightians wanting to smash my face. I looked like the Joker, it well fucked my head up. Lips seem ok and non-scabby today though, so hurrah.

There's also this Har Mar Superstars with Rogers Sisters gig on next Sat at the Night and Day which my MEN mate is raving about. But I reckon Pitman and S+G is what I'll be doin.

How was Chips, Piscy?

Sorry about our non-appearance on Friday. If it's any consolation, I've now got Elisabeth's cold and feel crappy.

No idea when Pitman finishes at all. I'm guessing he'll be on around midnight but that really is a guess.

We'll probably go to the next Chips - Earl Brutus are on and they're funny. Even though I got one of those free Chips zines on Saturday and it confirmed all my worst fears about cliquedom and in-jokery.

hi-lites from the playlist :
'it takes tea' - mc pitman
'a little respect' - erasure (roof off the place)
'u got the look' - prince
'move your feet' - jnr snr
addicted to love' - sonic youth
'emerge' - fischerspooner

plus all sorts of other assorted bootlegs,
electro stuff, 80's weirdness etc.

We still might come to the next one though, just so we can make our minds up ourselves...I don't think we are away that weekend.

Ian, that was one of the strangest stories I've ever heard! Glad you made it home safely.

I HATE my job and want to go home NOW. Bah.

id recommend withington or the southern part of fallowfield (the northern part being full of annoying students). chorlton if youve got a strong spirit / a bike. avoid levenshulme (depressing), rusholme (unsafe) and longsight (obviously). i only know about south manchester...

star+garter was good on saturday - ive never heard string bean jean played anywhere other than on my hifi. and the pub owner is a great guy. have a look at fab cafe if you havent already, they have ken baldwin's daughter (in corrie) djing every monday til 2!

Cheers for the advice, Chris. I'm not planning on moving to Manc until I own my very own smughipstertwat scooter to zip about on so I should be able to ignore publc transport once and for all, huzzah. Actually, anyone know where I can get a reasonably priced good-looking scooter from around the North-West? And I am stupid to want one - will it get smashed up/robbed in no time at all?

Gareth, let us know when you're thinking of coming up so I can sort out hooking up with you. Fridays are usually yer best night for electro cliquerdom - Chips, Wrong, TVOD are the ones to watch out for (as you prob already know).

Is anything good on in town this Friday? I'm getting twitchy as it's Wednesday and I've not got plans for Fri neet yet.

Chris, Fab Cafe is dogdiiiiiirt. I ain't nevah gonna give dues to a place which has signed photos of various Dr Whos on the wall, no chance. S+G is fine though. Elisabeth, I'm ever so surprised to discover you hate YET ANOTHER scenester Manc - go on, why's this Charlie such a prrick? That Jackie Lee song is ace btw, more songs should end going 'etcetera etcetera!' like her.

doctor who scared me. still does. they have a noddy and superted though... does that not even it up a bit?

I love that Jackie Lee song.

My mother always told me that if I can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all, so I'm not going to say anything abut Charlie.

I wouldn't call him a scenester though, he's a bit ancient for that!

Anytime I've been to Fab Cafe, it was awful. I took two visiting Japanese friends there and they were instantly surrounded by lecherous indie guys who wouldn't take no for an answer. I've been back since but it was just as cheesy.

Glad you love the Jackie Lee song, Ian. It's one of the best! Everyone loves the etc. etc. etc. bit at the end. I wanted to add it to my gg project but it's in mono so you can't remove the vocal.

it might sound elitist/snobby but i don't care.

reason for decline : placing of yates' 'wine' 'lodge' at one end of road, closely followed by a sports bar (2001) at the other end.

is smile no longer smile then? it was full of 'scenesters' last time i went, didnt enjoy it one bit.

are any of these dozens of nights around manchester particularly good? yknow, the ones you pick the flyer up of and think 'those are some good bands!' but then forget about it til after its happened.

The only nights I have been to around town are the electro ones we're discussing here. Minipop, Club Suicide, TVOD. Judging by reviews of nights like Tiger Lounge, most of the indie clubs are pretty lame.

Ian, I got tickets for Pitman today. Hoooray! Are you coming along? It says 10 pm in the details.

Fab Cafe, on the other hand, is beyond redemption.

Is F&F at the Roadhouse or Music Box, Pisces? Elisabeth seems to think it's the latter.

Elisabeth, the Jackie Lee song is in mono so you can't cover it? eh? what do you mean?

Hris, yer bogstandard Manc indie club (5th, 42nd) is the social equivalent of vomitting shit. South was fair decent, full of stupid Ian Brownapeists though. S+G - just about every single guy I've spoken to in there has been a tosser/gimp/student, but almost all the girls have nous and dress well. Maybe I'm just being blokey though. The electro clubs all seem pretty decent, point and laugh at the mullets and sneak your own beer in because the queues at the bar take the piss. TVOD and WRONG are the good uns, I'd say come along and say hello but I'll most likely be sat in a corner trying to ingest my face. Voodoo at retro bar is good if yer big into old guitars and guitars that sound old.

That Smile story makes me a bit sad, we should plot to usurp evil Charlie. Elisabeth, that neurotic Stringfellow guy who runs Voodoo and Tiger Lounge is as old as the hills but he's the hippest scenester around! What scandalous tales do you two have about him?

We got Pitman tickets from ticketline, just to be on the safe side.

I'm not telling you any more scandalous tales on line in case my sins find me out, you'll have to ask me in person.

i heard the new track on 'london x-press'
(XFM) thru the sky dish dontcha know.

the suicide thing seemed nice, especially in john willie lees. anyone know why it closed? or is it so obvious no one needs to explain?

is anything at the attic any good?

I know nothing of this Attic of which you speak.

Ian, if a song is in mono then I can't remove the vocals so I can place mine over top. If it's in stereo and recorded in the right way, you can merge the left & right channels just enough to zap out the vocals. Of course, sometimes it takes other things as well. Some songs work really well, some just become too bare.

I know nothing about Tiger Lounge except that I've promised myself never to set foot in it. I hear they play the theme from Batman which was enough for me. And there was a review in City Life which confirmed that it's essentially crap studenty night disguised as retro, but aiming for retro in some god awful Austin Poooers way.

You must think I hate everybody! I'm honestly not that bitchy - just don't have time for scenester crap and I don't believe in keeping my mouth shut. But there are plenty of people that I love.

Is anyone else coming along tonight? Really shit weather for going out but oh well. We'll be there at around 10 ish.

What happened at the S&G? Did you seduce some hapless little mod girl or something?

Youse two ain't out next weekend are you? I think I'll be going to Wrong so Piscs, if yer gonna be there let me know so I can come and hassle you for that Madonna pic.

"Club Suicide have asked us to mention the following.
Unfortunately, due to the sale of Rockinghams to new owners, Club
Suicide has had to cancel Friday's (March 28th) event with Patrick
Wolf. If you could spread the word, it would be much appreciated."

I wonder what will happen to Rockingham's now. It was a pretty good place so I hope it'll stay that way.

Off to see Ladyton tomorrow. Anyone else?

I'm pretty much up for Chips on April 5th too, put it in yer diaries.

hey mancs - party til the bomb drops !!

I think we're actually going to Chips next week. Earl Brutus are one and they're um...interesting live.

The 'tron were great, even if their audience wasn't...no, I've said too much. And it was my birthday, so I got nicely toasted. Mmmm.

oh and ian spack i looked 4 u couldn't see anyone resmbling yr pics
- there i was with my madonna pic in my back pocket.

Still, I feel less bad knowing it was an off one. There's always a next time.

yea always a next time. seems like
every decent club i've
ever been to in manchester
has it's off nights, but what
rankles is that unabombers
were doing a large one at
friendsandfamily and looking back
we would rather have gone there.

the guardian guide had 'chips...'
listed for the 1st time
on saturday to wit :
'manchester's electroclash night'
well...no not on saturday mate.
they played 'girls + boys' by blur among other horrors.

Anyone know what this night at Retro is on Friday? I've been there too much lately but there's jackshit else on I think. Come that, all y'all. It seems that WRONG has died too, because of the Tube management fucking them around. Manc's brief fling with the nu-electros has been relegated to mid-week stude specials, sob.

Ian, I wouldn't know Aidan Smith if I fell over him, so I'm not going to diss him. But I saw the Rapture once and they were hideous.

What night at Retro is this?

Seems like it was a good Chips WE to miss. Earl Brutus was the real draw to be honest, so we would have been mightily pissed off to turn up and find out they'd been replaced.

Indeed, what is this Friday night at Retro you speak of? Music?

We exist, we just don't make ourselves that known I guess... and we definitely go to more gigs than clubs. But we are in Night & Day every Saturday for lunch if you want proof!

And Tag, when we next meet I expect - nay, DEMAND a tape of your old 'glacial electro' schmindie band thing (you sly ol' goat for not mentioning this).

Saw this v good 80s synth band at Cabaret ESP at Retro last week actually. Probably the only good act I've ever seen in there. Was all chunky synths and deadpan vocals 'show me the way, to the DISCO' etc etc. Might not sound that ace but it was a nice change from the usual grunting scrotes on in there. I think they were called Performance and all the members (two girls, two boys) were annoyingly, smarmily good looking (esp the boys, twats) with haircuts that cost 46 pounds. Know of em?

The idea of E and me being a pair of cantankerous and cynical hermits appeals to me enormously and I'll be doing my level best to live up to this image.

I've heard of Performance. Are they Northern Barleys?

the new city art gallery is worth a look. i think its on the oxford rd.

the shop next door (in the same complex) is lovely.

i used to judge all shops in london by 'why cant they be more like pelicanneck'...seems like they got it the wrong way round.

Club Suicide at Rockinghams
Chips With Everything (I went and lo, it was ace - anyone else see Stazi there?) at Night and Day
Music Is Better at The Attic
Cornerhouse Bar
TVOD at Sofa
Cabaret ESP at Retro Bar
Smile at Star and Garter (for an easy Saturday night)
That shop with the hats and suits and 40s briefcases on the top floor of Afflecks

and in that order.

No doubt Tag and Lis will come along and spit all over my choices, the punks. How comes you two haven't been out in ages?

Mary, when are you coming to Manchester? Just knowing you're an NYC girl doesn't give much away, unless you just want to know where you can get good bagels. I need more to go on than that! Anyway, I dare say I can show you round a few places if you want.

Ian. We haven't been out lately. It's a long story, but not one for ILeyes.

Of course you get the occassional Nathan turning up and loitering at the counter, nodding with studied nonchalance but it's not nearly as bad as Eastern Bloc.

It's on the corner of Mosley Street and Princess Street. I've only been once since they tarted up but I liked what they'd done.

I seem to remember Tim H being quite taken with a wallpaper exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery last time I saw him.

Keep us all posted anyway.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1901746283/ref%3Dbr%5Fac%5Ftop5%5F1%5F4/qid%3D1053585082/sr%3D1-4/202-5257590-9931821

Tag, you missed Hiem at Club Suicide on Friday - they were fantastic. Up for Club Suicide this Saturday? You gonna be there Piscesboy? It's Pink Grease who stink a bit to me but last month was great so I'm definitely going.

Mary, this is just my personal opionion, but I recommend you avoid any night which continues to make reference to "Madchester" in the year 2003. There's also something faintly tragic about Andy Rourke going to a Smiths night. Particularly one at the Star and Garter.

Ned, what dark recess of your soul did the memory of Molly Halfhead come from??

dave haslam's tale of the 'star + garter'
smiths nights (as documented in '...wheels of steel')
is fantastic

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4261005,00.html

if only for the semi-legendary passage where he
compares himself to the smiths-playing moz-dj
at 'star...' that runs :

"if i were behind the decks, i'd be looking to build the atmosphere,
peak it, hold it there, take it down again, bring it up,
climax, encore. but dave's set isn't like that at all, it seems he's
just throwing records on one after another."

Some atavistic reptilian reaction.

Pisc, you don't like Club Suicide? But it's grrreat, and I can't stop loving how ace Hiem were, and Patrick Wolf the month before. Affect is dead and SPACK is pissing on the ashes.

I seem to recall they were big fans of Drive.

And is anyone going to Cabaret ESP tonight / Chips tmrw?

Not going to Chips, I have to avoid the Northern Quarter in the evenings for certain reasons. But Mary and Gareth are around this weekend and are getting the Tag guided tour, if you fancy meeting up for a drink at some point. They want to go to South tomorrow night, I may or may not join them.

Scally outside cubicle: Why are you taking so long? Have you got a fucking bird in there?
Scally inside cubicle: I tell you what mate, I've got a fucking shit in here.

For some reason, this only made me love Manchester more.

Ian, South nearly did end in tears. Never again. But the company was a pleasure.

Whalley Range is full of my mate Adam, so yeah.

I'm moving to Manchester next month - things might've changed since people answered this thread as it's a bit old - so where area should I live in? I'm studying for my masters so I'll need to get into the city easily, probably by bike and I don't know I can probably stretch to about £400 a month on rent but would fancy a bit less if possible - any ideas? I really don't know anything about Manchester, totally new to me, help.

i like whalley range a lot. sort of like chorlton but without the baggage of living in chorlton.

Whalley range is like chorlton without to culture or fun.

ha i am okay with calling that baggage?, i guess that says something about what i am looking for in a neighbourhood. idk, i just mean b/c it is like a nice place to live & that you can stroll over to chorlton if you want to go for the simultaneously fun + cultural experience of going to morrison's. or w/e, i know there are things to do there. i guess by 'baggage' i just mean that it feels like such a place & you see the same people every day & there's a lot of stuff going on that's going to impinge upon your consciousness somehow rather than just be around the corner where you're unaffected by it. i don't know what i'm talking about really, it is some years since i lived there.

If yr at uni then I would say yr options are:

-anywhere w/in short distance of oxford/wilmslow road, i.e. rusholme (cheap, great food shopping, shisha bars), victoria park (leafy, big victorian houses, venus foods), fallowfield (student ground zero, but convenient and alright really), withington (somewhat more bohemian than fallowfield, anyway), and possibly didsbury (pricier, cheese shops, occasional whiff of alderley edge). from any of these you'd have easy access to the other places, numerous big parks &c.

-chorlton: a self-sufficient bubble & enough of a thing to attract hate/"baggage", but prob yr best bet.

~leftfield options~ longsight (markets, crime), hulme (never sure about hulme, seems like a rough area that's rapidly gentrifying), centre/ancoats/northern quarter (pricey, somewhat swish)

most other places are prob too inconvenient. if you're going for a flatshare you should be able to get one for less than £400 w/out too much difficulty.

to backtrack on my slandering above & just jump in on the above, all this is v good advice i think. i think i'm more enthusiastic than ogmor about hulme - just because it's an interesting area historically & currently, as well as being well located &c - and would bring my 'baggage' claim back with a vengeance at didsbury, just b/c i think you'll be too out, living in didsbury rather than in manchester, which you might as well be particularly if you're getting to know the place. withington > fallowfield, also.

yeah hulme is definitely ok. west didsbury is pleasant; decent pubs, crazy wendy's & the great kathmandu (which is not that secretly the best curry house in mcr I think), close to chorlton in both senses. whoever described levenshulme as "borderline" upthread is very otm, it can be depressing, but had a v decent little house gig scene a while back (but i think this has migrated now?).

i'd advise looking at at least one or two places somewhere near the wilmslow road vicinity (which has good 24 hr buses & is fine for cycling) and in chorlton and wherever else sounds/looks appealing.

you'll p much be fine anyway, alain delon, just live somewhere without like ten other people & you'll be out investigating the city a bunch anyway. there's lots to do i think.

thank you ogmor and schlump for your help - I got a place in the centre :) :) :)

aww good going. let us know how you're getting on there; i was just there & felt v fondly towards the place. have you ventured out much?, found anywhere interesting?

My number one recommendation in the city centre is Habesha Ethiopian restaurant - upstairs from a kebab shop on Sackville Street.

It's very nice and remarkably cheap.

glad yr newly installed, hopefully there'll be less riots this month

of course i meant fewer........

my favourite place so far is the canal that runs through the centre, acts as a strange counterpoint to the street level. haven't been out to many night spots, walked into Kraak and then walked out again (but it did seem ok) and then went to see what Common was like - nice place i guess, but how are you going to play disco/boogie stuff and then no one is dancing to it / have no dance area...A sad state of affairs...WTF why are all these people sitting in chairs and not dancing when they're playing Kashif and D Train?

People dance there sometimes, but it's always pretty cramped

i keep thinking about moving to manchester but i don't know if i'll ever do it.

That is the general problem with a lot of Manchester's Vibrant And Bohemian Northern Quarter venues ime. I've never found common to be a likeable place for evenings.

Canal luv is otm. Proper atmospheric down there.

what would be a good neighborhood if you had kids?

Chorlton/ Didsbury is the go-to place for young families, I think.

from this thread chorlton sounds a bit pricey

Well Chorlton and Didsbury are the traditional 'nice' parts of town. Chorlton is especially family friendly by reputation, but yeah it's pricey cmopared to surrounding areas. I will rep for Levenshulme all day, despite a continuing dodgy reputation and the fact it has been 'up and coming' without actually improving much for the 8 years I've lived in the city. But until recently I lived in a v nice corner of Levenshulme with lots of v nice families around. There are lots of nice victorian/edwardian houses, just not much in the way of cafes, shops etc.

I like lots of Salford but can't ever identify what are the good and bad neighbourhoods.

salford appears to have been bamboozling mancunians for 9 years on this thread!

It's the tower blocks, Northern terraces, crap regeneration, uni scene, good and shit pubs, all piled on top of each other. Completely bewildering. It doesn't seem to have 'areas'. It's just chaos.

Feel like I should put in an honourable mention for north Manchester too. I was raised in sth m/cr and lived in Levenshulme for a couple of years and Chorlton for more than five, but when my wife and I wanted to buy somewhere Chorlton was just too expensive. We cast the net a bit wider, with a particular eye on Prestwich and Whitefield. Bought our first place in Prestwich in 2004 and moved last year to a bigger gaff in the same area. Both these houses cost approx 1/2 what their Chorlton/Didsbury equivalent would be, and I've never regretted the move once.

Prestwich can't lay claim to an equivalent bar/restaurant scene to sth m/cr, but there's plenty of good pubs, some excellent places to eat, decent amenities and a nice enough "village" feel in parts. The other big plus is that the enormous Heaton Park (with playgrounds, walking, animal centre, golf etc) is a stone's throw away and transport links (tram, motorway, buses) are excellent in all directions. We don't have children, but there's loads of young families in the area and plenty of other playgrounds, open spaces etc.

So yeah, have a mooch around this side of town too, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Friends with kids seem to like Bolton.

And there's always Altrincham, if schools are an issue.

common is not optimal dancing turf. i've only ever had a mediocre time at kraak but I don't think it's the fault of the venue as such. more likely to have a good time, on the right evening, at islington mill, mint lounge, homo electric @ legends, deaf institute mb.

the concept of buying a house is so alien to me I can't even begin to get my neurons in gear, but plenty of cheap rents in chorlton, less in didsbury. speaking in my new capacity as a chorltonite, I have to admit it's actually really good. we even had an intense midnight 60mph+ car chase through wilbraham road last week w/ police and burst tires and sparks and helicopters, what more could you ask for in a bohemian urban village environment?

i live in an ex-lingerie factory in the NQ. best place i've ever lived (done chorlton, didsbury, whalley range, the hacienda). common is great at the right time/event. you should avoid black dog like the plague on fridays/saturdays but all other nights you get local bar workers and other non-9-5ers and it's much less alpha/prowly. it all depends on your age/family situation but i don't see the point in living anywhere except as close to the centre as possible. the star & garter deserves a mention on this thread too.