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Get your skates on!
by Angela Kelly24/11/2006
ALL the fun of ice-skating is on offer in city centre Manchester
with On Ice at Piccadilly. The open air ice rink in Piccadilly
Gardens gives all the family a unique chance to enjoy the
excitement of this winter sport.
Go as part of a festive shopping trip, or just the highlight of an
enjoyable day out to see the Christmas lights and visit the city's
famous seasonal markets.
There's a canopy of twinkling lights to add to this different
"moving" experience - just wrap up warmly and get your skates
on!
The ice rink is suitable for children aged five and over, and it's
best if children aged 12 and under are accompanied on the ice by an
adult.
The cost is £7.50 for adults and £5 for children, or buy a family
ticket (one adult and three children, or two adults and two
children) for £20.
Skate hire is included in the ticket price.
The rink, organised by the city council and private sector
developers, is open from 11am to 9.30pm on Sundays to Thursdays and
from 10am until 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays until December 10,
when times changes slightly.
But the rink will be operating until January 7.
You can buy tickets online beforehand at www.quaytickets.com or
ring 0870 066 6842.
REALLY get into the Christmas spirit in Platt Fields Park in
Fallowfield tomorrow (Saturday)!
The Friends of Platt Fields will be holding their annual Christmas
Tree-Dressing Fair. All are welcome.
It runs from 1pm to 4pm, at the Lakeside Centre - the entrance is
via Langley Road, off Wilmslow Road and opposite Owens Park - and
throughout the afternoon there will be games, festive activities,
Father Christmas in his grotto, carols from a local choir and mince
pies.
The tree will be decorated and Pow Wow will be running arts
workshops helping children and adults make stocking-fillers to take
home - all using leaves, ferns and other material found in the
park.
GET out and about in the fresh air this weekend to enjoy rural
spots in the Greater Manchester area.
You can celebrate National Tree Week with two free events on
Tameside on Sunday.
Haughton Green is the starting point for a 10-mile ramble,
conducted by John and Margaret Morrison, through the wooded valleys
of the Tame and Goyt rivers.
A comfortable pace with little climbing is promised, with a return
route via the Peak Forest canal. The Two Rivers Ramble runs from
10am to 4pm. Meet at the bottom of Meadow Lane.
Sunday is also Tree Day at Stalybridge Country Park when you can
enjoy a day devoted to the world of trees and wood. There are tree
sales, tree dressing with a difference and quizzes and competitions
for all the family.
Ring 0161 330 9613 for more information about both events.
And at Etherow Country Park in Stockport on Sunday, there is a
Guided Tree and Bird Walk when you will be able to identify trees
in winter and see the wealth of birds living in the area. This
starts at 10.30am. Meet at the visitor centre.
ENJOY the seasonal atmosphere in Sale tomorrow (Saturday) at the
town centre Christmas lights switch-on.
There will be a terrific mix of dance, music, singing and street
entertainment on offer from noon leading up to the big switch-on at
4pm.
Dance schools Stalder Dance Co, Cadmans and Prime Danceworks will
join Plain Truth Music and performing arts students from South
Trafford College to entertain the crowds. And Sale Nomads will
stage a specially written mini-pantomime to add to the free
fun.
AMATEUR film-makers can enjoy a special "day out" at Imperial War
Museum North on Tuesday.
The museum, in collaboration with the North West Film Archive, is
hosting its inaugural Documentary Master Class when professionals
from film and TV will advise on the producing of
documentaries.
Lunch is included in the ticket price of £25. Ring 0161 836 4007 to
book.
POETRY fans should head for Manchester Central Library today
(Friday) for a special event of interest.
From 1pm to 2pm, enthusiasts will be marking the recent publication
of Edgar Allan Poe And The Juke-Box: Uncollected Poems, Drafts, and
Fragments, taking the form of a celebration of Elizabeth Bishop's
work.
This informal event features a talk by Professor Michael Schmidt,
audio recordings of the poet performing her work, and readings of
her poems by local writers, students and admirers.
The event takes place in the Committee Room on the second Floor of
the library in St Peter's Square.
THERE is an opportunity to see the next generation of upcoming
creative talent at Urbis in Cathedral Gardens in the city centre
from Wednesday.
A Celebration Of Talent! highlights the work of recent graduates
from the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan
University.
It features more than 30 works, including Suburbia: The Musical by
film-maker Aaron O'Sullivan which is a satirical take on the
synonymous characters of Manchester, and World Frame - a backpacker
tracking device by designer Richard Wells which allows parents to
monitor the whereabouts of globe-trotting children.
The free exhibition on Level 3 is part of a project at Urbis to act
as a springboard for talent in Manchester. It runs until February
18. To find out more ring Urbis on 0161 605 8200.
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