THING OF THE WEEK
TOUR DE MIPIM… And they’re off! More than 80 property professionals have exchanged their suits for lycra and have embarked on a six-day journey from London to Cannes for the start of the international property conference. Included in Club Peloton’s Ride to MIPIM roster of over-ambitious cyclists are the North West’s own Judi Greenwood of Regeneration Brainery, James Bruce of Civic Engineers and Simon Branson of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.
Credit: Place North West
CAN CAN… Castlefield Viaduct has been closed since 1969. A fossilised Panda Cola can is one of few artefacts that had survived years of harsh Manchester winters. It was spotted during a recent site visit to mark the beginning of the viaduct’s conversion into an urban sky park. Our in-house archaeologists predict this can is at least 30 years old, which means it probably belonged to a thirsty graffiti artist.
HAUNTED... In other viaduct related news, an eagle-eyed reader claims to have spotted something spooky on the rusted ironwork. THING has analysed the video (above) for hours but can’t see anything untoward, but the reader in question is insistent that there is a creepy face etched into the 125-year-old viaduct. Skip along to 44 seconds and have a look at the rusty part of the bridge. Let us know in the comments below if you spot anything suspicious.
The World Gymnastics Championships will be held at the M&S Bank Arena. Credit: David Munn
FREE ADVICE… Liverpool hosted the Netball World Cup in 2019, the BISFED Boccia World Championships in 2018 and later this year is the host city for the World Gymnastics Championships. But the city council wants more. The authority is looking to appoint a team of experts that can play a pivotal role in bringing major sporting events to the city. Candidates would form part of the Sport Liverpool board, charged with attracting the biggest and best events to the city. There is a catch though, while the city wants to enhance its sporting credentials, it is not offering remuneration to the experts who could help it achieve its goals. If the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ rings true, the European Tiddlywinks Championships might be the best the experts can do.
Credit: via Redwood Consulting
FLYING TIGER… Manchester Arndale has gone some way to redeeming itself for the perplexing faux pas that still plagues Halle Place – doesn’t a flight of steps leading up to an escalator kind of defeat the point – by securing Flying Tiger Copenhagen as a tenant. The quirky Danish retailer sells a weird and wonderful array of products ranging from stroopwafels to foam swords and much more in between. The sheer quantity and diversity of what is on offer is simultaneously comforting and overwhelming. There are a fair few Flying Tigers elsewhere in the UK but the retailer’s store at Manchester Arndale is the first time the big cat has landed in the North West.
