Sleuth 05/08/2011

Sleuth is a sideways glance at the city every week, it's the truth, but Sleuth's truth. We give £25 for every story/rumour and piece of absurdity you find for us to print. We ask for the money back if any legal action follows. Follow Sleuth on twitter @Sleuth

Sleuth's Mystery Picture Of The Week or Maybe New Security For University

Sleuth was sent this picture of Oxford Road by Stacey Berry, oft-time reader, sometime writer, for Confidential - this is her blog from high up in Beetham Tower (click here). The picture below is Sleuth's favourite picture of the week. Now folks, look beyond the charming picture of mother and child off to a 'do' and spot in the background how it appears the University is employing George Lucas as a security advisor.

Oxford Road - who are they in the distance?

Sleuth's Favourite Sign Of The Month

There's one of these on Portland Street and one around the corner on Princess Street. Sleuth knows it refers to the nearby Goth club, presently hemmed in by roadworks. So will lots of readers. But it isn't so obvious for overseas guests. One German visitor Sleuth was escorting around this week pointed at the sign and asked, "Does Manchester have a very diverse religious community?"  

Reassuring words on Portland Street

Graphic Novel Community Gets Graphic

After the editor, Jonathan Schofield, showed his frustration with Superhero movies this week in his review of Captain America (click here) and took a pop at graphic novels and comics, he was attacked in the rants and by direct emails and tweets. Sleuth's favourite via a red herring of a Hotmail address simply stated: 'Fuck off Schofield, you narrow minded (insert c-word here), you're a bastard'.

Meanwhile annother bemoaned his 'lack of respect for the graphic novel community'. Sleuth wonders where that graphic novel community is located. Is it maybe up a valley near Hebden Bridge, does it have a lot of comic book shops? 

Graphic Novel Community Bookshop, somewhere in the hills near Hebden

Confidential's Graphic Novels

We do our own graphic novels in photographs of course. Here was our best recent one - click here for a revealing and dramatic episode of Red Hot World Buffet Saves The World For Bargain Eating. In the picture below Snoop Dogg is investigating.

Superhero Snoop Fights Against The Evil Croquettes

Salutation Saved For The Nation

Sleuth met Dr Wang Chill at the Salutation behind All Saints on Higher Chatham Street for a pint this week. Chill had recently been sex-tourisming in France and was looking polished. The Salutation is a good pub that seemed, until recently, to be a target for the demolition boys with the site to be re-developed as student accommodation (or maybe a Home for Retired Members of the Graphic Novel Community). That fate has now been averted. The prolific Manchester bar empire, Trof (Trof, The Deaf School and other outlets) has taken over and is refurbing. Indeed as Sleuth was drinking the barmen kept nipping away to re-paint a wall. 

Salutation saved at the Metropolitan University

Fabio Cannavaro In The Flesh Almost

Sleuth was in San Carlo on Thursday night. He walked through a scrum of paparazzi at the door, "Not tonight lads," said Sleuth, "I'm after a quiet night." The snappers looked confused. On the way through the restaurant Sleuth's way was blocked by a small chap surrounded by excited gents. The chap looked familiar. Then it struck Sleuth, it was the World Cup Winning ex-captain of Italy, Fabio Cannavaro. Sleuth thought he'd best get a picture as well - as a member of the media and all that. It's all in the timing of course, so this is Sleuth's picture below. Rushed things you see. Cannavaro, in town for Paul Scholes' testimonial, was off before Sleuth could re-adjust.

Pablo Cannavaro enjoys a visit to San Carlo

Sleuth's Pat On the Back Of The Week

We ran this story about seeking volunteers for planting apple trees in the city centre. We ran it on the Wednesday and by the Thursday all the volunteer slots had been filled. Well done readers, you green fingered, beautifying bunch of opinionated sods. 

Sleuth Compliments The 'Pool

Sleuth went to Liverpool last weekend. The son shone, and Chevasse Park in the Liverpool One development was a model of how families should be catered for. Check out this You Tube clip of Sleuth and Young Sleuth. The editor's writing an article comparing how the two cities measure up for visitors.

Sleuth And The Rooftop Party

One of the week's more delightful events of the summer took place on Wednesday. This was the launch of Barton Arcade's rooftop terrace garden. The hosts were owner Morgan and Nadine.

There were lots of lovely people there including Craig from the Circle Club plus his charming book-keeper who believes in a Barton Arcade ghost called 'Derek'; Alex about to set up her own model shoot place on Cheetham Hill Road; a couple of Helens (including Confidential's own party beast, Helen Ramsbottom); Joanna Simpson a well-known city bon viveur who does more than PR; Chris Grimes also of Confidential who enjoyed the company so much he missed a flight to France the following day.

Howard Sharrock and wife Judith were also present, naturellement, as well as a couple of Irish friends of Morgan's from Limerick who were on a personal mission to drink all the grog as quickly as possible.

Chefs for the barbecue were the aforementioned Sharrock and, of course, Gordo, the only man to arrive in shorts. Shamelessly so. Gordo had brought so much meat it looked like there'd been some dreadful slaughter on a roof in Manchester. Sweeney Todd on high.

Despite Sleuth having to slope off around 8.15pm it was a fabulous occasion on a lovely night, where Manchester's buildings sprang to life in the late evening sun, and the conversation flowed as freely as the beer, wine, champagne and spirit down the throats of Morgan's Irish mates and Chris Grimes. 

The chefs, Sharrock is about to swat Gordo for wearing those shorts

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Much meat in skyline meat fest

Up on the roof

Up on the roof

Up on the roof