Mancs will get a glimpse of the Northern Lights as part of a “mesmerising” science show happening in our city this winter.
As the nights draw in, the air gets colder by the day, and the festive season nears closer and closer, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum is an ideal place shelter from the harsh winter conditions outside.
And luckily, there’s a packed lineup of events for everyone to get stuck into over the next few weeks.
The massively-popular cultural destination – which has recently celebrated 40 years since opening on its original site in the heart of the city centre – is inviting families to head on down and discover “the secrets of light and colour” through a series of illuminating activities, special shows, and immersive experiences.
Opening on Saturday 16 December, and running for a limited time only, ‘Light Lab’ promises to “brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour”.
Visitors will get the chance to make light perform jaw-dropping tricks, create colours, and spark creativity as they experiment with reflections, before getting to “journey from the Sun back to the Earth” during a series of special science shows led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers.
They’ll also be able to discover how light travels through our atmosphere, find out why the sky is blue, and explore the science of solar flares too.
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During the special science shows, you’ll even get to “marvel at a mesmerising display” of the Northern Lights too – with real NASA footage of the Aurora Borealis to be shown up close.
You can see the Northern Lights as part of a ‘mesmerising’ science show in Manchester this winter / Credit: Science Museum Group | Pexels
For those after something a little different, and fancy learning a thing or two this festive season, then on Tuesday 12 December, visitors can take a front row seat for the live recording of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES from the Royal Institution ahead of its broadcast on the BBC.
Aside from that, the Museum’s currently-ongoing resident and guest exhibitions are remaining open to visit throughout the winter too.
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This means visitors can also discover the inner workings of the digestive system in world-premiere exhibition, Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, be whisked away to new worlds with ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, or see science and “mighty machines” in action in the Museum’s interactive gallery, Experiment, and in the Textiles Gallery too.
The Museum’s currently-ongoing exhibitions are remaining open to visit throughout the winter too / Credit: Drew Forsyth (via Science Museum Group)
On top of that, they can also “discover world changing ideas” in Revolution Manchester, and get up close and personal with incredible objects from Professor Stephen Hawking’s office, which are also on display.
Find out more about everything happening down at the Science and Industry Museum this winter up until Sunday 7 January, and grab tickets to any events here.
Featured Image – Science and Industry Museum
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A dedicated anime, movie and gaming concert with a live orchestra is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Calling all self-proclaimed otakus, cinephiles and gamers: a huge concert experience will see dozens of musicians bring classic anime, film and gaming soundtracks and scores to life later this year, right here in Manchester.
The city is no stranger to events celebrating these beloved kinds of media, but you’ll struggle to find another bringing all of them together in one place.
Brought to us Mancs by KIN Music Entertainment, a locally founded arts, events and music label, this celebration of all things pop culture – and specifically, the music tied to it.
Entitled ‘The Kin & Fushigi Anime, Film & Videogame Orchestra’, this passionate collective serves as not only a platform for rising artists but also to hear some iconic sonic moments like never before.
KIN have created a large-scale live concert experience which will bring together a 25-piece pop orchestra made up of emerging professional performers and conservatoire graduates.
Aside from the impressive total of people behind this production to begin with, they also form an immersive hybrid orchestral and live band capable of bringing.
Speaking on the upcoming date, KIN Entertainment said in a statement: “We wanted to create the kind of live experience that many anime and videogame fans in Manchester have been waiting for — something cinematic, emotional and community-driven that brings these sound worlds to life with the energy of both an orchestra and a live band.”
Kin was founded by bassist, composer and ensemble performer Alejandro Urbina Diaz, who first brought his talents and wider interests over from Mexico to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) here in the city centre at the age of 23.
Citing Manchester’s multiculturalism and cosmopolitan cultural fabric as a big part of his inspiration, he and his team have ended up carving out this niche for themselves, and now they’ll be playing this beloved music to Mancs at none other than the O2 Ritz.
Credit: KIN Music Entertainment (supplied via Academy Music Group Digital)
With new arrangements inspired by anime, cinematic and videogame culture, not to mention orchestral and even rock crossover twists – including both vocalist and rhythm sections, by the way – it’s set to be a highly unique experience that most will have never come across before.
This event itself is suitable for audiences aged 14+, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s taking place at the Ritz on Sunday, 26 July.
We’re not going to spoil any more details about the show for you, so which particular pieces of pop culture they reference will just have to be a surprise…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AMG Digital)
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You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Manchester’s Deansgate
Daisy Jackson
There’s a brand-new menu of smokehouse-style BBQ dishes being served up on a sunny terrace on Deansgate.
Motley, the neighbourhood bar and restaurant on the corner of John Dalton Street, has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen.
That means they’ve got a whole load of new dishes, slow-cooked over hickory wood, that are bringing a taste of a Deep South BBQ to Manchester city centre.
The smokehouse-style meats are all seasoned in-house and cooked for hours, for a perfect fall-off-the-bone experience.
It might be an authentic American smokehouse menu, but it’s firmly British too, with most products locally sourced.
You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Deansgate / Credit: The Manc Group
Motley are calling on local suppliers like Althams Butchers (established since 1856) for their meat, plus greengrocers R Noone and Son, and Cheshire Farm for their real dairy ice cream.
Signature dishes on the new menu at Motley include slow smoked brisket, seasoned in Motley’s signature rub before being slow-smoked for more than eight hours.
There’s also a beef short rib with a chimichurri sauce, and a pork belly strip that’s seasoned with sage and onion and finished with a panko breadcrumb crust.
And for the veggies, there’s a vegan smoked veg kebab with courgette, mushrooms, bell pepper, sweet corn and red onion drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce.
Motley has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen / Credit: The Manc Group
Prices across the board start from just £16, served with beef dripping fries, rainbow slaw, pickles and homemade beef gravy.
As for small plates, you can expect short rib bonbons, homemade corn bread, spicy chicken wings, bang bang cauliflower, mac and cheese, and frickles.
House favourites like steak, vegetable hash, salads, and burgers will remain on the Motley menu.
Victor Gonzalez, food and beverage manager at Motley, said: “Our new signature smoked dishes are all crafted and seasoned in-house then slow cooked for hours over hickory wood to create rich and smoky melt-in-your mouth flavours.
“From our slow-smoked brisket to our home-made sides, everything has been carefully crafted to bring an authentic taste of the deep south to Manchester and we can’t wait for guests to try it.”
Motley can be found at 2 John Dalton Street on the corner of Deansgate in the city centre.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd November 2023 
