What's On
Mysterious coins have been appearing all around Manchester and here’s why
Have you come across any of these coins?
Mancunians may have come across some unusual coins placed on benches, bus stops and ledges across the city and here’s why.
Artist Ryan Gander has placed 200,000 coins across the city for his latest art project called The Find as part of Manchester International Arts Festival running from June 29th – July 16th.
“My mum has this saying, ‘there’s no pockets in the shroud’,” Gander told the Manchester Evening News.
“She’s like some middle class suburban Buddhist, and means I’m not going to get any inheritance, probably — but she’s got a point.”
He continued: “We understand the world by stuff. Things, articles, objects and we always want more, more, more.
“Actually, we should be understanding the world by events and conversations and moments — things that we can take with us.”
The strange coins are valueless in monetary terms and can not be spent but contain a lot of value in the sense that they provoke thought. Finders can be keepers of the coins if they wish, or they can put them back for someone else to find.
They display messages which offer a choice on either side of each coin; together or solo, action or pause, and speak or listen.
Around 100 volunteers have been out around the city placing the coins in places for people to find them including benches, at bus stops, and on window ledges.
But some honest Mancunians have been handing the coins back to community support officers and at Central Library. Gander says: “People are so honest.
“Very honest Mancunians. It’s quite weird. There are very few things in the world that are a gift, so to give a gift to a third of the population of a city, it’s a remarkable thing.
“People take different things from it. I’ve met people already who carry all three in their pockets and say they’re going to carry them for life and use them.”
He added: “There are two audiences really, there is the audience that know about the festival, and about my work on the hunt to get collectable art works, but then theres’ the 99% who are people who don’t know they are engaging with contemporary art.”
Gander, who is originally from Chester was awarded an OBE for his services to contemporary art back in 2017.
He says he’s quite aware that contemporary art can still be quite an ‘incredibly elitist’ space and so that’s where his work comes in.
He said: “People engage with the coins, by chance, outside of the institution of art, and by the time that they’re engaged and they’re doing it, it’s only then that they realise it’s contemporary art, and the stigma disappears. It’s accessible, and it’s a good way in. People have their guard down.”
Gander is hoping his display of public contemporary art will help people make changes in their lives rather than make a habit of repetition, saying: “We automatically make decisions, but based on habit.
“We should be asking ourselves questions every day, even if we know the answers, because the world changes all around us, and the answers change. So most of our answers are wrong.
“The coins are a reminder that we can learn and explore and live a little bit differently, but mostly just break the repetition that we all live by.
“Walk the long way to work, eat something different for lunch, talk to someone you’ve never spoken to. I’m at fault with all those things too.”
Adding: “But I know when I make decisions which are out of habit and out of character, it mega mega mega enriches my life.”
The Find is currently taking place across the city as part of Manchester International Arts Festival. Have you found any of Ryan Gander’s coins?
What's On
Sample the world’s ‘most unusual’ wines and spirits at special tasting event
Sounds like my kind of ‘spirit journey’
Tipples invites you to grab a glass and sip away on a variety of wines and spirits at its celebratory event in Manchester.
Tipples are hosting a celebration of the ‘world of drinks’ at Albert Hall on Saturday, November 4th.
The winter showcase will see a wide variety of the ‘most unusual’ and ‘interesting’ wines and spirits across the globe, as well as being the perfect opportunity to purchase Christmas presents for loved ones in the run up to the big day.
The event will be split into two sessions, kicking off at 12.00pm and 5.00pm, featuring some of the newest wines and spirits, along with some of Tipples’ long-time favourites.
Upon arrival guests will be given a tasting glass, a bottle of water, and a floorplan as they go on a ‘spirit journey’.
They can then make their way around the space and approach any of the stands they like the look of and ask for a sample. It will be a great opportunity to learn a little more about the brands, and the brand reps will take care of the rest.
Guests will join the owners of Tipples, Greg and Tom, at their very first showcase to explore their range of some of the finest sips from over 40 brands covering over 300 products from here, there and everywhere.
Local Manchester based brands will also feature at the event including the likes of Manchester Gin and Pod Pea vodka.
And with all that sipping, guests are likely to get a little peckish. You’ll be delighted to know that a hot dog stand provided by Albert’s Schloss will be available for anyone who gets the munchies.
Bottles of fine wines and spirits will be available to purchase at the event, and will make an excellent Christmas present for the wine or spirit connoisseurs in your life.
Tipples is an independent city centre spirits shop and gin specialist stocking a wide range of spirits and liqueurs, including over 75 gins, which they pride themselves on.
They have a wide range of suppliers to ensure that their selection is as broad and comprehensive as possible, with over 500 products for customers to choose from.
Tickets for Tipples of Manchester’s ‘world of drinks’ showcase are £27.07. To find out more or purchase tickets, click HERE.
What's On
Chester Zoo launches new ‘mystical’ Halloween trail with ‘enchanted river boat ride’
Mind the hanging bats!
Chester Zoo has announced it is launching a new ‘mystical’ Halloween trail which features an ‘enchanted river boat ride’, just in time for October half term.
Luna’s Legendary Creature Halloween Trail will run throughout the whole of October, including half term and Halloween.
Event organisers say the ‘spellbinding route will see visitors encounter five magical species’ such as the majestic crowned pigeon, the super agile Sulawesi macaque and the strong Sunda gharial crocodile.
The ‘spooktastic’ journey will highlight deforestation and the importance of protecting the rainforest.
Visitors to the trail will go on a quest to collect key words about the unique qualities of each animal before helping Luna the witch discover a legendary creature living deep inside the charity zoo’s Monsoon Forest habitat – the UK’s biggest indoor zoological building.
Guests who unlock the secrets of the rainforest will receive a spooky Halloween treat – no tricks!
Newly added to the trail this year, will see guests able to hop onto Halloween-themed boats and take a ride on the Lazy River Boats where they can see hanging bats, skeletons and pumpkins along the way.
Ellie Trigg, Chester Zoo’s customer development manager, said: “There’s a special mystical quest across South East Asia to discover at the zoo this October. We need visitors to help us find ‘Luna’s Legendary Creature’ which holds the secret to protecting the rainforest.
“This new trail will take guests through our huge Monsoon Forest habitat, where visitors will be challenged with collecting a number of key words from five locations to complete their log book and help us discover Luna’s Legendary Creature.”
She added: “Halloween provides us with a great opportunity to highlight some of the world’s rarest animals, especially those that can sometimes be a little misunderstood or which often fly under the radar.
“This new trail will also show visitors how small actions, such as swapping a few items in their weekly shop to sustainable alternatives, can help the species found on the trail to thrive in the wild.”
The trail is free to all zoo visitors who purchase normal zoo tickets and no time slot booking needed. Visitors of the zoo can go on the trail at any time throughout the day – which takes around 90 minutes to complete.
To book tickets, costing from £22.72 for children and from £29.99 for adults, visit the website by clicking HERE. Children aged two and under go free.
Freight Island will be hosting an Oktoberfest event later this week to celebrate the Bavarian tradition.
The inside of Freight Island will be transformed into an all singing, all dancing Bavarian beer hall complete with long wooden tables and traditional bunting, so put your best dirndls and lederhosen on and head over to Manchester’s outdoor festival hub.
The two-day event will be held over Friday September 29th and Saturday, September 30th and will feature entertainment including comedy comperes, a live Oompah band, a selection of Bavarian beers and a special Bratwurst menu.
The traditional Bavarian beers will be available, including Paulaner, Paulaner Weissbier, Lowenbrau, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, Flotzinger Wies’n, Marzen, Spaten Oktoberfest, Hofbräu Oktoberfest, Braybrooke Harvest Festbier, Cloudwater Oktoberfest, Newbarns Festbier, Donzoko Festbier.
Tickets cost £12.50 and include entry to the full session, plus two pints of Bavarian beer, access to all exclusive beers, and a traditional German bier stein to take home.
Free tickets include entry to the full session and access to all exclusive beers. for more information and tickets, click HERE.
Find something to do in Manchester
Powered by 
Sample the world’s ‘most unusual’ wines and spirits at special tasting event
Tributes pour in after body of ‘lovely’ missing man found by police
Three Wilko stores in Greater Manchester reopening as Poundland this weekend
Lee Rigby’s son raises five times his target for children’s bereavement charity
Chester Zoo launches new ‘mystical’ Halloween trail with ‘enchanted river boat ride’
