THING OF THE WEEK

HEART-FOOD… Manchester favourite The Alchemist is teaming up with charity Mustard Tree to offer cocktails in return for donations of non-perishable food items on 29 August. The mutually-beneficial system is to help raise awareness of the growing nationwide issue of food poverty. THING can’t wait to go and and support this venture, and it’s one of the rare times when facing a queue will actually bring a smile to its face. The Alchemist will accept any tinned, dried and packaged foods throughout the day, as long as they are in date, and unopened.

NUDITY… For those of us who use the Metrolink in Greater Manchester, we’re pretty accustomed to delays. This week however, it wasn’t the heat or signal failures that delayed commuters at 7am, but a naked man on the tracks at Trafford Bar. THING hopes all people involved, including the naked chap, are okay- no ifs or butts about it.

SPACE GALLERY… Geo-mapping wizards at Ordnance Survey have put together a free online virtual art gallery of its most interesting maps. From the comfort of your own bathtub, you can explore Mars and the Moon to soothing compositions by Ewan Campbell.  If you’re feeling culturally engaged, but physically tired this week, then this is the perfect melding of the two. Take the tour here.

BRICKING IT… If you’re an animal lover, but would prefer them still, quiet, and hypo-allergenic, then Knowsley Safari Park’s newest addition may be for you. The Ultimate LEGO Brick Safari is open throughout the summer holidays until the beginning of September, and features 82 life-size animals from Earl Grey the elephant, to gorillas, lions, tigers, and bears (Oh why, THING, why?)

HERITAGE… While last week saw THING highlight how a tour of a rare LS Lowry painting was driving footfall to the Imperial War Museum, this week has seen a Lowry landmark come under threat due to a potential development. A campaign has been started by The Friends of Angel Meadow who fear for the future of steps immortalised in Lowry’s 1928 painting ‘Steps at Irk Place’. The steps are on a site set to be demolished as part of FEC’s £1bn Northern Gateway development. We’ll have to wait and see if Lowry’s steps are to be downtrodden or saved when works begin next year.