Wine tasting with Ronnie

Hello we are back. We sloped off for half term and neglected the loop I am afraid. Apologies! We have enjoyed various corners of the country from various vantage points One loop Jane got rather over excited on a back road in the borders when she came across this unloved sixties structure. Have since found out it was once Bernat Klein's studio designed by Peter Womersle.Why is it in such a neglected state? Apart from the condensation it would be a great spot to live. But we digress...

A word from Ronnie's bar: "When you last had your gathering here (Loop social January) you will have noticed that we now have a new wine list. Next Wednesday (24 Feb) we are officially launching said list with a special wine tasting evening. For a mere £10 you can have a glass of each of the new wines on the list, that’s 4 white and 3 red. There will be one or two accompanying nibbles as well. Then after all of that we have the magnificent Virginmarys playing live. The wine tasting will run from about 6.30 to 8.30 then the band will be on from about 9pm. We will have a wine expert hosting the evening too so any questions, help, tasting notes, etc will all be at hand. All in all it will be a great night topped off with a truly great Macclesfield band that is on the cusp of great things I feel. However, the wine tasting numbers have to be limited to no more than 30 people. Would you be interested in coming? If anybody does wish to come please could they RSVP to me ronnie@ronnies-bar.co.uk"

Thanks Ronnie. Loop readers have show they are partial to the odd glass of good wine when we have been enjoying Ronnie's hospitality. And the Virgin Marys too!

Get your hands on: Victoria Mill

Free workshops!

We mentioned in the last issue of the loop the wonderful new Art facility at Victoria Mill in Congleton. Now is the time to explore this great place and learn some new skills, Have a look at the workshops below:

Saturday 20th Environmental/Recycling Outdoor Art Workshop

1.30-4.30pm with Jacki Clark - appropriate for all the family

7pm Official VIP Launch

Monday 22nd Print Making Workshops with Jacki Clark

9.30-12.30pm Mono print

1.30-4.30pm Etching

Tuesday 23rd Pass the Painting

9.30-12.30pm Watercolours

1.30-4.30pm with Estella Scoles

Wednesday 24th Encaustic Art Workshops with Stella Rowley

2-4pm or 7-9pm

Thursday 25th ‘Manipulate, Stain and Stitch’ with Bridget Bowie

9.30-12.30pm ‘Paper, Layers, Landscape’ with Bridget Bowie

1.30-4.30pm

All day event Poetry Writing Day with former Cheshire Poet

Laureate, John Lindley.

Saturday 27th Creative Industries Forum event – including

10am – 4pm open forum discussions, expert business advice,

performances and breakout sessions

*Artists wishing to exhibit work will need to prebook

space through Stella Rowley on 01260 277211.

All artwork is exhibited at artists own risk.

All workshops require a refundable deposit of £5 to secure a place.

Please be advised that spaces are limited and are on a first come first served

basis.

For more information or to book a workshop place please call Stella Rowley

on 01260 277211 or e-mail seahorse060259@aol.com

For more information on the Creative Industries Forum event please contact

Jocelyn McMillan, Cheshire East Council on 01270 537234 or e-mail jocelyn.

mcmillan@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Further details of the full programme can be found on the leisure, culture

and tourism pages on the Cheshire East Council website

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

VMA

Victoria Mill Arts Centre

Foundry Bank, Congleton

(near the Leisure Centre)

Nicol and Cool

We don't mention events too far from Macc as a rule, but here is a very deserving exception.

A Charity Musical Evening in Aid of East Cheshire Hospice and LCCC Development Association

A very special Concert by the renowned Steeleye Span guitarist Ken Nicol and Phil Cool, famous Comedian and folk singer.Should be a great evening.

1st April

7 for 7.30 PM

Tickets £25 pp including fabulous two course dinner

The Gold Marquee Lancashire County Cricket Club, Talbot Rd Old Trafford

Booking Office 0161-282-4053

Website www.nicolandcool.com

.

3D Football available in Macclesfield

The loop is bewildered by all the recent fuss about 3D football ‘live’ on TV. No doubt sofa-dwelling virtual football ‘supporters’ will thrill to the enhanced visual experience. More fools them when the real thing is live and kicking at Macclesfield’s own theatre of dreams – the Moss Rose.

Take a look at this rare and welcome spotlight on Macclesfield Town on last night’s Football League Show on BBC1 (go here 59 minutes in on iplayer) Despite an influx of young attacking talent, the valiant efforts of the club’s tiny marketing team and the work of many volunteers, the gates remain resolutely low. But the matchday experience is warm and welcoming – and great value. £14 gets you either standing room at the London Road side of the pitch or a choice of seat or standing in the rowdy and friendly Star Lane End. For £18 you can eat prawn sandwiches bang on the centreline, pitchside in the McAlpine stand. Everywhere, kids under 12 are free. For 12-15s it’s a fiver. You can then go online and argue about it on Wraggs to Riches, the high volume football bulletin board.

On 27 February the high-rolling league-leaders Rochdale come to town. What the club really needs on that day and the rest of the season is a show of strength from the townsfolk. So ... put your fantasy football and 3D glasses to one side and get into real football with the Silkmen.

Thankyou to everyone who made it to Fresh on Friday night for a night of fantastic music and valuable fundraising for the Barnaby Festival.Thanks Garry for organising it. You looked like you were enjoying yourself!

Thanks to loop reader Fiona for her recommendation:
'Many of you will know the beautiful felt work of claire de ruiter - a local artist who has shown many of her pieces here at the gallery.

Claire is running 3 felt scarf workshops (where you will be able to make your own scarf) and there are limited places still available on the following dates:

SATURDAY MARCH 6

SATURDAY MARCH 20

SUNDAY APRIL 25

10AM - 4PM IN RAINOW.

if you are interested in finding out more, please call Deborah Roberts on 01625 572 052.

A wonderful opportunity to learn a new skill, create something beautiful and have loads of fun too - i can vouch that everyone involved is lovely!

to find out more about claire, visit www.clairederuiter.co.uk

thanks and get felting! '

Vagina Monologues

Thanks to loop reader Yvonne for this

'just a quick post to say the vagina monologues was fantastic last night!

Moving, funny and well worth a look at this evening or tomorrow evening 7.30 for 8pm..

It felt like there was no division between the audience and the 'actors'. For these girls to have the courage to stand up there was wonderfully moving, I thank them for that.

If you get a chance, or time maybe you could post this on the blogspot, so others may see it is worth a visit.'

Big Barnaby launch

Its been a big day at loop towers. Couldn't find my specs first thing, then the youngest stood in a dog poo on the way to school. These were mere distractions though, the biggie was the launch of the Barnaby Festival. At The Bate Hall this morning, the great and the good were treated to a 'playing Hooky' from Butterfly Jam, a Macclesfield poem by Joy Winkler and a specially written aria with key board accompanyment. Plus words about the high hopes and expectations of the Barnaby Festival this June. The Mayor cut the beautiful Barnaby cake (tasted great) and Cllr Andrew Knowles said some very kind things about the loop and Barnaby. He announced that CEC are giving the Festival £5000! We are terribly grateful for this and for the council's endorsememt of our plans. But we need more support too:

With that in mind, the only place to be tonight is Fresh (formerly Mezzaluna) for a fundraising Barnaby gig. See previous posting. Theres loads of us going down the see the wonderful hybrid super group playing. We know Mel and Joe (Butterfly Jam) are in there so its bound to be brilliant. You can catch Melanie Williams and Joe Roberts tomorrow night at the Baths Hotel too for an accoustic night with friends. If we have an ounce of energy left we'll be there from 8pm. Another must see is the Vagina Monologues at the Town Hall tonight, Saturday and Sunday.

Fresh, Wood St. Big Barnaby Blues Band Fri 12 Feb 8pm £5
Joe and Mel and friends at The Baths Hotel, Sat 13 Feb from 8pm
The Vagina Monologues see previous postings

Big thanks to Sweetie Pie bakery in Chestergate for the glorious barnaby cake, The Bate Hall for their hospitality, and all the performers, artists and volunteers who made the Barnaby launch the great success it was!