THING OF THE WEEK

DIPPY… The UK’s most famous diplodocus is on tour and is set for Rochdale in February 2020 as its only North West stop. Over 36,000 tickets have already been snapped up to see Dippy at Rochdale’s Number One Riverside between 10 February and 28 June, but can you face up to the Natural History Museum’s most famous herbivore? Or too scared he’ll steal your salad? Book tickets: https://www.visitrochdale.com/dippy-on-tour

Excited to release Glenbrook podcast episode 3 featuring ⁦@paulunger⁩ from ⁦@PlaceNorthWest⁩ discussing property media and prop tech . #podcast #realestateinvesting #media #journalists https://t.co/htD1EESOQY

— Glenbrook (@Glenbrookprop) October 25, 2019

Image via @LiverpoolParks

UNBELEAFABLE… The North isn’t known for its trees, especially in its major cities, but this year the Allerton Oak in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park was crowned England’s tree of the year. According to myth, the tree was a meeting place for a medieval court, and contains a splendid crack running through its middle after a gunpowder ship exploded at the nearby dock in the 19^th century. The tree has outlived and outlasted all of that, which should at least provide you with the motivation you need to get through your Friday afternoon.

SPOOKY… If you haven’t realised, the first of October brought with it the honorary spooky season of Halloween and Manchester’s got into the spirits with an invasion of monsters across the city centre. The inflatable creatures and crawlers are positioned throughout the city, but most notably on the Arndale Centre and House of Fraser. Let’s hope they don’t bite…

Photo via Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty images

GAIA… Celestial bodies have fascinated humanity since before recorded history, so it makes sense that even in the 21^st century we still look to the bigger picture. Luke Jerram’s Gaia, a replica Earth, has been installed in Blackpool’s Tower ballroom as part of the town’s festival of visual arts; Lightpool. You’d best be quick to see our planet suspended from the ceiling however as the festival runs until 26 October, but THING has a feeling we’ll be seeing her again soon.

SCRATCH… Vinyl’s resurgence hasn’t gone unnoticed, and now Liverpool’s Dig Vinyl is launching a six-month pop-up at Royal Albert Dock to the delight of retro-music fans in the North West and beyond. The second-hand record shop will fit in with the mix of independent retailers at the dock such as Maray, The Nest and Lost Soles.