Custard Factory

When people visit Birmingham for a spot of retail therapy, they are unlikely to visit the old Custard factory. However it is a hidden treasure surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. It is currently under further development however it is set to become the home to an eclectic mix of young creative work in all fields of the arts. The key aspect to the success of this project is whether the council can keep the rent costs low enough for up and coming artists to house their work and retail outlets. At the moment the Custard factory is a place of retro beauty, you can find anything from old Vespas to quirky crockery, its a stylish place for all those who are intersted in current and past trends. Well worth a visit, as it makes a change from looking at shops that are all the same with similar layouts etc, the public art on show such as the 40ft high Green Man sculpture makes shopping a memorable cultural experience.

Irreversible

Dir: Gasper Noe

This is a 2002 French film that shows the violent abuse of Marcus' (the main character) girlfriend. Although at times it is incredibly difficult to watch, each scene is very cleverly put together and all components are necessary to grasp the shocking nature of each scene. The film is filmed in reverse (hence the title) thus the viewer is slow to grasp what is happening, this reflects the nature of what is happening. The filming is some what deliberately erratic, cleverly and carefully representing the characters states of mind. The rape scene itself is horrifyingly graphic, and unbearably difficult to watch, however it seems infinitely important in the context of the film, without it the film would be pointless. For the cinematography this is an inspiring film, the use of sound is used to startling effect. However some scenes are so difficult to watch, maybe because they appear to be so close to what could be an unthinkable reality, and incidences are portrayed so graphically. However it is a film that makes you think, and in a strange way celebrates life.

thesartorialist.com

http://www.thesartorialist.com/ is a blog for those who obsess with style, this blog doesn't just look at what someone is wearing they scrutinise every single element of a persons carefully constructed outfit, its both intriguing but a little disturbing that people can be so enthousiastic about the details of what other people are wearing - even to how the wind has swept someones hair! (see the post named 'At Hermes')

Secret Garden in the Sky

When the freight trains stopped going into Manhatten in 1980's, the tracks began to decay. There were plans to demolish them and build tower blocks however officials decided that an idea bought to them by Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio and James Corner was a much more inventive idea. A park in the sky. The idea is that visitors will be able to read the historical layers of the piece of land as there will be elements of the railway tracks encorporated into the unusual landscape. The team have created many inspirational pieces of architecture including buildings based on ribbon and ones that seem to breathe steam! Their website is worth a visit: http://www.dillerscofidio.com/

Up and coming music artists websites

There are some really interesting official websites linked to artists such as Soulwax and Amy Winehouse, there seems to be more and more pressure for muscians to have elaborate sites not only to showcase their music but also to encourage people to take an interest in the artists themselves, thus building up a residual fanbase who are unlikely to turn to less reputable sources to download music.

http://www.soulwax.com/

Zandra Rhodes

I have been intrigued by Zandra Rhodes since visiting her exhibition in London three years ago, she combines soft floaty fabrics with bold prints to create feminine yet eye catching designs that have influenced many other fashion designers. The timelessness of her designs inspire me to think about creating designs that have impact but will also not date too quickly. She has been at the forefront of British fashion design since the 1970's and continues to have a cult following whilst knowledgeably inspiring creative students in her academy.

For more information on Zandra Rhodes: http://www.zandrarhodes.com/

Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners

The Debrett's indispensable guide to etiquette and modern manners is a book that has been in my house for years, and is occasionally bought out by my mother to correct mistakes made at supper or to satisfy particularly snobbish guests. However I had never considered reading it all the way through until yesterday, it offers some very intriguing advice about marriage, children, parties, and general household activity. The chapter on 'social kissing' was of particular interest as it seems to be the 'in' thing to do when greeting someone- to kiss on both cheeks. 'Some people - skilled practitioners of the air kiss - manage to do without any physical contact whatsoever, but making the stagey mwah mwah sounds social lift-off. Others gently bump cheeks like dainty dolphins.' (pg 216) So other than how to socially kiss someone, the book illustrates how to conduct oneself when others are present. This book is a fascinating and humerous read, although the ideas in some cases are very traditional, it would benefit many people to take heed from what this book suggests.

Bullring Beach

65 tonnes of sand have recently been put in the centre of Birmingham to create a Birmingham beach! Mad yes! However it is certainly attracting the crowds, as we are the city furthest from the sea, now with our own beach. At first I thought it was ridiculous, however it is not purely a pile of sand, events throughout the summer will be hosted here such as Brazilian dancing, volleyball tournaments and musical events. The sandy beach was finished at the start of June, however I am guessing after all of the rain its probably been washed away like the rest of town! Next time I venture into the centre i'll go to see whether we still have our own beach, but I expect that it has been a washout and a waste of money rather than a sunny entertainment venue.

Krispy Kreams

I recently went to Selfridges in Birmingham with a friend. She insisted that we got some Krispy Kream doughnuts. Im not a big fan of doughnuts, however when we got there it was like a doughnut museum. The little rings of dough are travelling along a conveyer belt of activity until they arrive in a box ready for you to eat, although this is obviously how all doughnuts are made it was fascinating to see it in action. Before I new it I was buying 12! It just shows how good basic advertising and marketing can draw in origonally untempted consumers! The image also reminded me of the recent skoda advert.