Local Photographer – Duncan Allan

We recently mentioned local photographer Duncan Allan’s framing skills but we also want to profile Duncan’s creative photography too. With a wealth of knowledge in different cameras and experimentation in many different techniques (both with film and with Photoshop and Lightroom), Duncan has a strong collection of images from the local area and all around the world. Here are a few of our favourites but they are just the tip of the iceberg, to see more check Duncan’s Flickr.

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Skate Pub Quiz

If you like your skate trivia and your pub quizes then keep your diary free on Wednesday 4th February where Little Johnny Russells will be hosting the first Southsea Skate Pub Quiz presented by Bored and Strong Island! There will be general knowledge, photo, board graphics and video part music rounds with prizes from lovely people like Bored, Lovenskate, Pointer Footwear, Carhartt, Adidas, etc.

The quiz kicks off at 6pm and entry is £1 per person for teams of two plus all money goes to the Skatepark User Group towards the new mini ramp fund. Over 18s only.

For more info hit up the Quiz’s Facebook event, Bored, Bored Blog and here on Strong Island.

Flyer artwork by Southsea’s own LDM.

Kiss My Bass 8

The 8th Kiss My Bass event hits Southsea on Saturday 31st in Havana. This regular Southsea favourite gets better and better, this night will feature Jung (muujun.co.uk / NSB Radio) and IITone (Standard Audio / Brighton Breaks / Dusted Breaks) along with the resident DJs.

Southsea Skatepark Jam & Butter

Gorm came to town this weekend and hooked up a little session down the skatepark. Pullman was in town and local talent Kev Kirkham shut it down.

Check the rest of the set over at Gorms Flickr.

Neeta Madahar Artist’s talk

Following on from our previous post about the Solstice installation at Aspex Gallery in Gunwharf, Neeta will be speaking about her technical and artistic processes. Neeta’s current exhibition at Aspex gallery, shows two high definition videos which were filmed during the summer and winter solstices in rural England, creating the appearance of stars circling around the North Star. This should be a really good opportunity to hear Neeta explain this work and her wider artistic practice.

More info at the Facebook Group here.

Enochian Theory

Enochian Theory are a local, self financed band and with their 1st full length album officially finished and entitled, Evolution: Creatio Ex Nihilio (Release TBC), Enochian Theory are one band that have a strong work ethic and a creative vision that transcends many mere ‘rock bands’…

Critical Mass

Critical Mass achieved its international name following the first ever ride in San Francisco back in 1992, where it was christened ‘Commute Clot’. It was then “noted that, in China both motorists and bicyclists had an understood method of negotiating intersections without signals. Traffic would “bunch up” at these intersections until the back log reached a “critical mass” at which point that mass would move through the intersection”.

last Friday of every month meet 5.30pm outside guildhall. ride for 1h and then a quick pint somewhere. Check the Facebook Group for more details.

Peanut Bowl & Tweaker Zine

The Tweaker Zine contingent came down from London and over from Hastings to skate Southsea Skatepark’s famous Peanut Bowl this weekend and Gorm put together an edit:

Southsea Haunts Tee

I designed this ages ago and totally forgot until I was riding past the Clarence Arcade today. A pint to the first person to guess all the ‘haunts’ involved.

Sunny Southsea

I went for bike ride today to take advantage of the nice, albeit cold, weather and take a few photos. Check them out over on my Flickr photostream.

The 2nd Strong Island Ale – Dry Dock No. 1

As you may know each year we run a home brew competition in February where the winning brew has the opportunity to be brewed by Irving & Co Brewing Co. and sold around the city in the summer. Last year’s brew, the Strong Island Hopper Ale, was hugely successful being one of Inving’s best selling ales and selling out so quickly it went through a second brew run. This year’s winning ale is Dry Dock No. 1, originally brewed by Lee Immins, went on sale in some of Portsmouth and Southsea’s pubs over the weekend.

We spoke to The Hole in The Wall in Southsea who said the new ale went down a storm with it being their best seller on Sunday and with almost two barrels empty by the end of the Bank Holiday weekend. Those guys at the Hole in The Wall and their regular ale drinkers know their stuff so for us this was amazing early news with the ale.

To officially launch Dry Dock No. 1 we are having a launch party with the lovely souls at The Belle Isle on Thursday evening. The ale will be on full flow, come down and try a pint or two. As well as being on sale all around the city the ale will also be available in Chichester’s Belle Isle too, so you can drink it away from home for the first time too.

The Isle Of Wight Randonnee 2012 – Team Strong Island

Just over a year ago, a group of Strong Islanders were sat on the Isle of Wight ferry on our way to the yearly Randonnee cycling event; 60 miles around the island spread across 5 checkpoints. Whilst on the crossing we couldn’t help but admire various enthusiasts and their custom team jerseys. Fast forward a year and it is my great pleasure to unveil the Strong Island cycling jersey. Made as a one off for the event, the jersey is our way of representing this city and all the values that come with it. Thanks to the combined designing efforts of Chris Ballingall and Tristan Savage, we were able to produce this clean, retro looking jersey that 11 of Southsea’s finest could wear to conquer the island’s endless hills. Well done chaps.