Velo Couture Cycling Caps

Josie Young is a local designer who makes her own custom cycling caps. Velo Couture has a nice variety of caps in cotton and wool for winter and summer alike. Nice unique designs with hand tailored finishes to match. Roll over to her shop at www.etsy.com/shop/baroquemyworld

100 disposable cameras, 100 people, 1 exhibition

Culture Flash was the idea of Rich McEachran, who after graduating in Theology last summer, was empowered to change the social attitude towards young people, through the power of art. He believed that through forming a collective of young people, who share in common a passion to be creative and to express themselves, it was possible to achieve the goal of social enlightenment, that fought back against the mass media and negative stereotypes, that constantly cloud the public’s perceptions.

He applied for funding with the idea not yet formulated properly, in a competition run by a social enterprise, UnLtd, in late 2009. He ending up being on the shortlist of 31, from an initial 150 or so entries, and then went on to be one of the 15 winners in the public vote, being granted £3000.

The project itself wants to get as many young people involved as possible, through a variety of ways, and the team is currently growing and growing. It sets no restrictions and so is open to new ideas you may have and want to share with them. It does not charge you to get involved, and the idea is to take the project to the young people, rather than sitting around waiting for the young people to come to it.

Starting from early February we will be handing out 100 disposable cameras to 100 young people, and then exhibiting the results. The idea is to focus on an element of your life that is individual, or important, to you. So if you’re 16-25 and want to get your hands on one of the cameras, (or have some photos to submit for our online gallery), then drop us an email at info@thecultureflashgallery.com, and whilst you’re at it visit the website www.thecultureflashgallery.com

Cheers, Rich

This project is funded by the Big Challenge. The Big Challenge, a competition for young people who want to change the world, is a partnership between UnLtd and Changemakers, and is funded by Vodafone and v-inspired.

Dom Powling for Bored of Southsea

Really nice ‘lomoesq’ edit from Sam Bailey focusing on recently recruited Bored shop rider Dom Powling. Backtail bigs like butter on a muffin.

Bored – Dom Powling from Sam Bailey on Vimeo.

Vis : blog.boredofsouthsea.co.uk

After skating…

…the boys enjoy a sit down at the seafront on a Sunday. Photo courtesy of the ever busy Quiet Corners lensman Paul Gonella. Perfect days, albeit still cold.

The Hope Street Hopefuls

This Saturday and Sunday saw the Portsmouth Creative Movement and associated friends get busy on the derelict land hoarding at Hope Street. The PCM group and Sifer Design gained clearance from Portsmouth Council (who also donated £1000 worth of paint) to paint the whole thing, and believe me, it’s not only freaking huge, but very impressive. Seriously, go check it out.

Anything but your normal ’street artists’ the PCM are really making a name for themselves in and around city with work going up everywhere. Look out for future events including a collaboration piece with myself and a few members down at Southsea Skatepark.

Photos : Claire Sambrook & My Dog Sighs

Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser – Proceeds to ActionAid

SOUTHSEA DIY and REVOLVER presents You Me and the Atom Bomb, The Good Time Charlies, Livers and Lungs this Wednesday 10th Feb.

A very last minute music and fun times event for a really good cause. Following the success of our Medical Aid for Palestine gig last year, we’ve decided to try it again. All tickets can be got for a donation from The Wedgewood Rooms box office. Even if you can’t make it, give a fat donation or at least invite everyone you know to the event.

All ages welcome. Beer, coffee or hot chocolate to ease those February winter blues. liqueur hot chocolate for the grown ups.

All proceeds will be going to actionaid.org.uk. Check Facebook for info.

Attack! Vipers!, Betty Pariso, Kerouac & The Kursk @ The Edge of The Wedge

Sorry, a bit late on this one as it’s tonight, Sunday 7th. I’ve not seen the other guys before but I can highly recommend Attack! Vipers! It’s donation on the door down from 7.30pm at The Edge so why not finish your weekend with a bang, literally.

ATTACK! VIPERS!
This band need no introduction. On their way to London to slay with The Hope Conspiracy as I type, Vipers have been gigging relentlessly through the UK and Europe over the last few years and rightly earning themselves the reputation as one of the best hardcore bands around.

BETTY PARISO
No holes barred brutality from the head honcho of Holy Roar Records new band. Featuring members of Cutting Pink With Knives.

KEROUAC
Ex-members of Venice Ahoy & Mess Of Mine channeling all their negativity into one almightily savage dischordant beast!

Portsmouth Cycle Forum – Vote for a Logo

The guys over at the PCM really do a lot more for cycling in this city than most people would generally know. Always campaigning and keeping people up to date on all things cycling and the city, they always have their ears to the cycle lane. If you haven’t checked their website yet head over and be sure to save the RSS feed. Always updated.

For a fresh face in 2010 they want to update their logo and help make it more appealing to all audiences, including younger riders around the city. Voting is now open for the new Pompey Bug logo and closes February 11th.

Check out the logos HERE and then vote HERE.

Old Ships and The Point

Continuing from the HMS Vanguard photos from earlier this week, this one shot from above shows the scale of the ship and her guns, which are as big as the pubs! The second photo is of HMS Victorious passing out in the 50s, with the old power station in the background. Hard to believe such a huge, dominating landmark like that is now just a memory.

Click on the images to see larger versions. Photos are taken from the wonderful Portsmouth From The Air book by Anthony Triggs.

Skatepark Mini-Ramp News

Good news concerning the mini ramp at the skatepark, all the money raised over the last year or so has been matched by the Council and the ramp is due to be built and completed by the end of March. The ramp will be about 4 feet high and perfect for beginners and old souls alike.

All involved in getting the mini-ramp offer their thanks to everyone that supported and donated to the fund-raising events. If you think you can offer any help, fund-raising ideas or sponsorship please get in contact with Chris Richards at chris.richards@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

YOSHI! & DJ ZINC at The One Eyed Dog

YOSHI! returns with DJ ZINC at the One Eyed Dog on Friday 12th February. Jungle and Drum and Bass legend turned purveyor of all things house brings his own brand of bass music self titled as crack house to the One Eyed Dog. Pickles, Krywolf and the resident YOSHI! DJs will also be hard at work too. £3 before 9/£4 before 10/£5 after. Knowing how good the Yoshi! nights are, this is sure to be going off. Find out more over at the Facebook event.

For a warm up you can download DJ Zinc’s Radio 1 Essential Mix recorded last November for free, click here.

Badger Press

A little off of the Island but sure to be of interest, Badger Press got in contact the other day about changes and new course plus an open evening tonight:

“A new team is taking over management of The Badger Press, an open-access printmaking studio in Bishops Waltham. We’re having an open evening next Friday 5th February between 4 – 9pm and inviting people to join us for a cup of tea and a slice of cake, visit the studio and find out about the courses we’re running.

The studio itself was founded in 1982 and covers screenprinting, collagraph, monoprint and Intaglio processes. The new team will continue to provide facilities and courses, and will work to support artists in Hampshire with exhibitions, guest speakers, trips and arts events. We’re keen to establish ourselves as a creative voice in the region and talk about printmaking, which we love and cherish, with everyone we meet.”

You can find out more about Badger Press at www.badgerpress.org and directions for the open evening here. Badger Press also have a Facebook page and are on Flickr.

Best of luck to Badger Press from us at Strong Island.

King Gong

Black Cat Comedy Club in association with the World Famous Gong Show are hosting the KING GONG ~ the GRAND FINAL of the PORTSMOUTH GONG SHOW™ at The Fat Fox on Sunday 7th. Heats ran throughout the summer of 2009 with nine comedians battling it out for £100 cash prize and the chance of reaching the KING GONG GRAND FINAL™, with £250 Grand Prize as well as a prestigious gig at a future Black Cat Comedy Club.

The format is three series of three acts, hosted by compére RICHARD BROPHY. Each act gets a maximum of seven minutes to impress the audience. Three “red cards” will be amongst the audience, if, after a two-minute ‘grace period’, all red cards are held they are off. If they last the seven minutes they go through to the public vote. At least one act from each section must be allowed to go through for the public vote at the end…when the next Portsmouth Gong Show KING GONG winner will be announced.

Tickets are only £5 and available from the Fox direct. To find out about all of the comedians performing check the Facebook event for full details.

Oliver!

“Please sir, I want some more.” Oliver’s innocent request lands him in trouble with the workhouse Matron and the Beadle and sets him on his famous adventure. Consider Yourself one of us, and go see this production of Lionel Bart’s lively musical based on Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist at the Kings Theatre on from Tuesday 9th to the 13th.

Tickets £14.50–£7.00 adult, £ 10.00– £6.00 child, concessions available.

Southsea Rock Gardens circa 1985

More random finds. It’s a shame to say I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Rock gardens looking this nice. Not sure how often upkeep fits into the Council agenda these days. Back in 1985 however it looks amazing. Click the photo for a bigger view.

Photo : Dom Walton

Vintage Portsmouth & Southsea poster

You know we love a bit of Vintage Portsmouth & Southsea here at Strong Island. Not too much info on this one, perfect for holidays though. The flickr link states the photo of the poster was taken in Eastney, but I’m not sure where.

Via : Bob Franklin

HMS Vanguard (1960)

Man, these photos are pretty damn epic. Both show the HMS Vangaurd that went aground just feet away from alongside the Still & West and Spice Island in 1960.

“On 4 August 1960, when she was to be towed from Portsmouth to the breakers yard at Faslane, Scotland, the whole of the Southsea sea front was packed with people to see her off. As she was being towed towards the harbour entrance, she slewed across the harbour to the Still & West public house and went aground. She was eventually pulled off by tugs and finally made her exit from Portsmouth. Five days later she arrived at Faslane and by the spring of 1962 Vanguard ceased to exist, never having fired her guns in anger.” (from Wikipedia)

It’s also great to see that area of Old Portsmouth in detail from 50 years ago. There is no sea wall in place, some kind of out building on the corner of Spice Island, what looks like early dry dock developments and I love the way Broad Street goes straight in to the drink. See what you can see. Click the images for a much closer look.

Via : Jainbow

There’s Snow Day like a Snow Day

Tom Time Waster © just put a few more photos from last months snow day in Portsmouth. Cool photos as always, but I focused on the spills and slams. We saw some kids take proper slams that day. Lots of broken tailbones for sure. Good times.

Science at The Loft

“After our sell out New Years Eve Party Science re-opens its doors on Saturday 6th Febuary for another evening of purist underground music at our much loved home the Loft! This month we have invited the well respected dj and producer.. Aubrey, to join our residents for a pure tripped out housey techno session! Being no stranger to Portsmouth, Aubrey has held residencies at both Central Park and the Stern’s Parties, with appearances alongside Carl Cox, Mr C and Colin Dale, not forgetting releases on key lables such as Intec, Sublime, Solid Groove and Crayon, all of which fit our typical mood and groove! As always were be topping and tailing the Loft with the usual Science decor and lighting that bring together the ingredients for a great underground shindig!”

Keep up to date with Facebreaker. 8pm/1pm, £4 entry. Boom.

Old Portsmouth

I found this photo of Old Portsmouth shot form The Spinnaker last night. I don’t think I’ve seen it shot from this angle before. It almost looks like another town at first glance. Some great details. Cricket in full swing, all the catchers traps on the roof of the fish market, enjoying a beer at The A Bar, Lawn Bowls, all on a cracking sunny day. Click on the image for full size.

Photo – eNil