The Portsmouth Autism Support Network have a family picnic on 8th of August and they desperately need a band or artist to play. The band need to play for free to support the charity as the picnic is ticket only. The band just need to be able to bring there own kit, travel cost and food and drink and the PA are provided. They do need to have ‘family friendly’ lyrics though! This event is a great chance to give something back to a vital charity based in Southsea that supports hundreds of families. Please contact us via the comments or email and we will put you in touch with the charity.
Sophie’s Cakery is a little Southsea based cupcake factory making amazing cakes to order. Sophie’s uses free range eggs, all butter icing and cakes, and fair-trade cocoa powder and can also cater for special dietry cupcakes (for example: gluten free or vegan). Be sure to check the gallery for more photos, love the Cookie Monster cake!
After their first public showing, Anna Mathewson’s chillingly beautiful drawings and Steve Bomford’s dramatic photographs are coming to Portsmouth as the next step on their tour. After dropping jaws and enchanting the crowds at the Chichester Summer Art show in the Oxmarket Arts Centre last month, the hit exhibition Nightmares & Fairytales is open for one day only (Friday 30th July from 2pm), the show will be on display at the gallery in Art Space (Brougham Road, Southsea).
Working with curators Daniel O’Neill and Jan Williams, the artists will transform the Art Space gallery into a dark fairyland peopled by twisted sprites and the ghosts of innocence. Delicate, feminine and startling, Anna’s work is taken from a treasure trove of drawings, collages, stories and poems. Steve’s photographs are an exploration of the creative world of Anna’s imagination.
Join the artists and curators on the day to see the drawings, photographs and installations, and enjoy a drink with friends.
Last week we featured a short post about Miki Organic. Claire bounced an email back asking if it would be okay to mention something they are currently working on. Of course…
“Miki Organic is an online boutique featuring carefully picked sustainable fashion and accessories from throughout the UK. We’d now like to showcase talent closer to home with a collection on our site that shows off the best of what Southsea has to offer. We’re on the lookout for local artisans and craftspeople to contribute, it can be anything, new or vintage, clothes to furniture as long as it stays true to our core values of being sustainable and stylish. We are also keen to work with local illustrators to create a range of accessories using their designs.
If you think this would be something of interest please contact me at claire@miki.uk.com or through our Facebook page. More info available on our blog.
Images are courtesy of Jenny from ‘The Custards’, a great example of talent in Southsea. Jenny has a blog and flicker page and she makes beautiful bags, bunting and more using vintage fabrics.”
Was lucky enough to get to go on a flight around Chichester Harbour in a small plane the other day, giving great views of not just the harbour but also Portsmouth too. Something special seeing familiar sights from very unfamiliar perspectives.
Sadly I was working and couldn’t take many photos, here are a few and there are lots more over at (the aptly named) Forever Circling.
A documentary film about the decline of Portsmouth as a traditional seaside resort has won first prize for three student film-makers who graduate this week.
The University of Portsmouth students won the award for ‘best documentary’ at the Inspire Film Festival for their graduate film ‘The Last Resort’ which received critical acclaim from the judging panel including legendary film critic, Barry Norman. The film explores the decline of the Southsea as a traditional seaside resort told from the perspective of an elderly sea-swimmers group, a sea-front cafe manager and the owner of a model village.
The 16 minute film made by Russell Oastler, David Kinnaird and Lucas Way has since been picked up by the Sunday Times Short Film Community, an online showcase for the work of new film-makers which goes live in August.
The film explores the declining fortunes of The Big Wheel Cafe at Clarence Pier and Southsea’s model village, run by Mike Armet, who owns the attraction on Southsea Esplanade.
The film also introduces a group of Southsea die-hard swimmers who take a dip in the Solent’s chilly water 365 days a year. Some have been swimming there for over 30 years and even swim on Christmas Day. Sadly one of their group, 86 year old Dorothy Browning, passed away during the making of the documentary and the film has been dedicated to her memory.
Russell, who has just returned from work-experience on a professional short film, said it was never his plan to be a documentary film-maker but enjoys the unplanned nature of the medium.
“I like the idea that you don’t really know what might happen in a documentary – it could be something totally unexpected,” he said.
Josie and her band of Southsea Pirates are getting all set to shiver our timbers once again this September 18th with Southsea Fest, One Day, One City, One Street!
Southsea Fest is an independent music festival, which came about to help a young artist (The Unknown Soldiers) with lymphoma to produce and record a studio album, as well as raising treasure for the Ellen McArthur Trust, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with cancer. Formed in 2007 (originally as a two venue event) Southsea Fest has transformed into a project encompassing Albert Road, showcasing unsigned and newly established musical talent (both local and regional), with poets, DJs and artists.
The good ship Southsea Fest is now sailed by a scurvy crew of enthusiastic individuals incorporating promoters from across the south coast including Josie Curtis / David Ball / Chris Whitear / Kate Griffiths / Lora Kirk / Sarah Parham / Ally Wolf / Nick Courtney / Abby Walker / Gentle Bren / Abbie Eales / Simon Pykett / El Morgan / Lara Lovatt & Vicky Halliday.
Tickets are available now from The Wedgewood Rooms Box Office, Albert Road : 02392 293301 and www.wegottickets.com at £15 adult, £8 child and under 12′s go free (entry subject to individual venue rules).
A little reminder in case you missed our last post. After a seven year absence Southsea is to see a return of the once annual carnival taking place from July 24th to 25th and will kick off with a huge parade, and about 20 colourful floats that will meet at the Royal Marines Museum and go along the seafront, finishing at Southsea common.
From 11am until 7pm on both days activities will be taking place on two stages run by Nick Courtney, as well as an arena and stalls on Southsea Common. The event is being run as a joint venture between Portsmouth Lions, Portsmouth’s Caribbean Association and Portsmouth City Council’s seafront management team.
There is also a Facebook page up and running now which has all the current listings and acts as well information on stalls, food, prize, raffles, funfair and much more. You’re also reminded to dress colourful. Red, Blue, Yellow and Green are key…
Bored have updated their look book with their new Mizzenmast tee designed by our very own Tristan Savage. The tee is now available in store and online.
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.
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.
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