Let the Right One In - Leeds Vue (The Lights Headrow)

Well a few of us went to see 'Let the Right One In' at Leeds Vue at the Lights last night' - and I'm just not sure a vampire movie is meant to traumatise you in quite that way. I'm going to be having nightmares about 1970s knitwear, woolly Jerseys, rollnecks and the like for months. It took us all about 40 minutes to guess whether the film was set in the 70s or whether there were just some particularly badly dressed Swede's having their blood drained to feed the appetite of that archetypally liminal and borderline menstrual twelve year old vampire girl. You could spend hours mulling over the symbolism, and at least from that point of view its not you're average salacious slashing, biting and shagging vampire fayre.

Anyway, the girl's henchman (father/ brother figure) is getting on a bit and keeps botching it when hunting for her dinner so she finds herself a substitute to groom in the form of a wet twelve year old boy who lives next door, and wins his affection by helping him to stand up to some bullies who have obviously seen Deliverance about a 1000 times - the opening words of the film are 'Squeal like a pig' according to the subtitles at least.

I suppose the demographic of the theatre was probably Swedish folk, knitwear fetishists, vampire movie lovers and the odd person who should probably be on the sex offenders register. If you think this is you, then go and see it and find out how it all pans out.

Valentines Day Leeds

If you're struggling for ideas where to take your loved one for Valentines Day in Leeds this year or what to do on Valentines day, then we have a few ideas for you here that might help.

Leeds Meals out on Valentines Day

Finding a Leeds restaurant with the right atmosphere for a romantic meal can be harder than it seems. Salvos in Headingley might be a good place to think about for dinner but it will be packed as usual; although the Salvos Valentines day menu does look mouthwatering. Maybe also look into Little Tokyo for a Valentines Day meal in Leeds. Reviews suggest the place is not what it once was, but its definitely still an excellent place to go on for a romantic date. If you're into your Japanese and have a bigger budget then Teppanyaki is probably a better option. Possibly also consider the Cafe Rouge down by the Corn Exchange, but not the one in the Lights or any other restaurant in there as they will all be packed, and queuing to be served is a real passion killer.

Valentines Presents and Gifts

If you are looking to buy your loved one something more adventurous than flowers, chocolates or underwear, then check out some of the experience days available from Gizoo which include makeovers, massages, pamper days and so forth as 'gifts for her' and microlighting, powerboating and rally driving as 'gifts for him'. There's even plenty that you can both enjoy including cruises, his and hers massages, hot air ballooning and London day trips. Find out more here: http://www.gizoo.co.uk/Products/ExperienceDays/

Or, if you just want to keep it simple, say it with flowers:

Sham 69 playing in Leeds

Veteran punk legends, Sham 69 will be playing at Carpe Diem in Leeds on the 1st of March 2009. Tickets cost £6.00 and are available from the bar.

I love the Sham and I can't wait for this one! I wonder if they'd be interested in my Borstall Breakout parody? It starts off in Chester Zoo, and has UN zoo keepers involved in a high speed chase all the way to Betty's Tea Rooms, with the refrain: Can I get a bagel takeout? Its nearly as good as my parody 'God feed the Queen - the fascist baked bean'.

Unfortunately, I have it on good good authority that none of the original band members are in the lineup - shucks!

Anyway get your tickets for Sham 69, and I'll see you in the pit. Let's hope for some classics, like 'Angels with Dirty Face', 'Hurry up Harry', 'Hersham Boys', 'If the Kids are United' e.t.c. e.t.c. It would even be nice to get the sombre and ever so sinister 'Dead Nazi March'. Bring it on (Watch Sham 69 live at the Reading festival in 1978 below)

Leeds Indian Restaurants - Sheesh Mahal Kirkstall Road

If you are looking for a great Indian Restaurant in Leeds, you could do a lot worse than visiting the Sheesh Mahal on Kirkstall Road. I am a great curry lover, and luckily Leeds has some fabulous curry houses to satisfy my passion for spicy food. The Sheesh Mahal really stands out among these as somewhere where the traditional curry dishes have real flavour, and the staff really go the extra mile to ensure you have a positive dining experience, from giving you good information about the dishes and making recommendation right through to packing up anything you can't eat to take home and even calling a cab for you. The guys at the Sheesh Mahal manage to do this, moreover, without being intrusive. Fabulous!

For other great curries in Leeds, the following also come highly recommended: Curry Corner, Hansas, Nawaab and Akbars Restaurant

The Wardrobe Leeds - Dining Out in Leeds

It's really hard to get a bad meal out in Leeds, but if you want to be disappointed the Wardrobe seems to have all bases covered. On a recent dinner date, everything started off okay, with a very welcome brandy, but then the menu came. As menus go it was short and to the point, lacklustre and not something that gives much scope for regret over what you didn't order. I plumped for the rib-eyed steak and my date went for the liver and mashed potato. I'm willing to admit that it tasted okay, and the pepper sauce was ok as pepper sauces go, but with a choice of just a garlic sauce or a pepper sauce, this wasn't really much more than £4.99 Brewers Fayre pub grub at three times the price. The portions were tiny - I went through my meal in two minutes flat, and the rib-eyed steak tasted almost exactly the same as the burger meat served at Burger King, and the fries did nothing but compound the similarity.

To top it all off, around five minutes after finishing this god-awful excuse for a dining experience, a bouncer asked us to leave, because we were, eh hem, kissing. Well so sorry to have offended your sensibilities, and you know, well, after having spent more than £70.00 in the Wardrobe in about 45 minutes, I was expecting a little more tolerance. I will evacuate what I ate at your establishment with about as much pleasure as I evacuated the establishment itself. The sense of humour I had when I walked into the Wardrobe was possibly the only positive thing that I took out with me.

I eat out in Leeds at least twice a week and Leeds city centre boasts some excellent restaurants, and I'm barely ever disappointed, but this was just a joke.

I suppose at the end of the day the lesson is that if you want a romantic meal out in Leeds, or even just a decent meal out in Leeds, then stick with what you know and places that are reliably good such as Restaurant Bar and Grill, The Reliance, Hansas, Teppanyaki, Little Tokyo, Salvos, La Tasca, The Millrace or Dos Amigos or even the Slug and Lettuce, Cafe Rouge or Ha Has at a push, and many many more.

Steve Coogan at Grand Theatre Leeds

Steve Coogan will be bringing his 'Steve Coogan is Alan Partridge and Other Less Successful Characters' comedy tour to the Grand Theatre in Leeds on the 13th and 14th of December

Tickets cost £36.00

The Grand Theatre

46 New Briggate

Leeds

LS1 6NZ

tel.: 01132226222

Christmas Events in Leeds

Whether you are looking to book an office Christmas party in Leeds, or looking for Christmas events in Leeds now is the time to think about making your bookings and finding the best Christmas venues for some festive fun in Leeds this year.

Office Christmas.co.uk has a great list of venues where you can book office parties in Leeds: http://www.officechristmas.co.uk/shared-christmas-parties-leeds
, or you could try looking around the Festive Leeds website (www.festiveleeds.com) for events, shows, pantomines, Santas grottoes, Christmas meals out and much more in Leeds this Christmas. You can also find more Christmas venues on the Skiddle website (http://www.skiddle.com/christmas-events/Leeds/)

See the links below for a few online Christmas shopping ideas.

German Christmas Market Leeds | Christkindelmarkt Leeds

The German Christmas market in Leeds (Christkindelmarkt) is now well underway. The Christmas market is now a well-established and popular Christmas venue in Leeds where you can buy traditional German food such as bratwurst, soups and stollen as well as warm yourself up with a lovely gluhwein or try authentic German beers in one of the many bier kellers. German Xmas decorations, ornaments and nicknacks are also to be found. The Christmas market has a real festive feel to it so why not break off from your Christmas shopping in Leeds city centre and head off for the Christkindelmarkt in Millenium Square for a little taste of a German Christmas.

Leeds Live Music Guide and Leeds Gig Guide

If you're wondering where to find up-to-date information about live music and gigs in Leeds, you could do a lot worse than checking out the Leeds Gig Guide - you can get email, rss, and text message updates about Live music in Leeds, as well as checking back on the website to find out what gigs are coming up.

Speed dating Leeds

Leeds Speed Dating Events

Find Love with 18-30s speed dating at Oceana in Leeds on Friday the 7th November

Speeddating is one of the best ways for singles to find love, so what are you waiting for - sign up today and meet other singles in your area. make friends, meet new people and find that someone special in your life.

this speed dating event runs from 7.30 PM to 10.30 PM.

Find out how to book your tickets here: http://www.whenthemusicstops.com/speeddating-Yorkshire.htm

Free advertising for Leeds events

If you are running an event in Leeds that you are looking to promote, we are happy to post details of your event on this blog.

Whether you are advertising a live music event or gig, an open mike or comedy night, a fundraising or charity event, theatre, film or even a dating night you can email info@foursquareinnovations.co.uk with details, dates, prices and images, that we can use to market your venue on line.

Leeds 22nd International Film Festival 2008Guide

The full guide to Leeds' 22nd Internation Film Festival in 2008 for what is showing and where will be available from 4pm tomorrow at any of the following locations:

The Carriageworks Box Office, Town Hall, Art Gallery, Tourist Information Centre at the train station, and the Film Festival Centre in The Light, and from 5pm at the Hyde Park Picture House

Tickets for individual films will also go on sale tomorrow. Full passes are already available.

For more information, see the Leeds Film website: http://www.leedsfilm.com/

Ladyboys of Bangkok - Millenium Square Leeds

The Ladyboys of Bangkok will be performing at Millenium Square in Leeds from Saturday 11th October to Saturday 25th October at The Sabai Pavilion.

Tickets for the show cost £22.00/ £19.00 - concessions £19.00 and £17.00 (£10 students). To book tickets phone 0871 882 9558

Numbers will include tributes to the Spice Girls, Grease and Moulin Rouge

Mik Artistik at the Owl cancelled

Unfortunately, Mik Artistik's appearance at the the Owl in Rodley last weekend was cancelled. I haven't seen the comedic gurning loon since the penultimate Caberet Heaven and I was really looking forward to emmersing myself in some of the best silliness to come out of Yorkshire ever - For those who missed it there's a taste of Mik's unique talent from YouTube here showing him at Glastonbury in the CroissantNeuf Field this year.

Kaiser Chiefs in Leeds

The Kaiser Chiefs are in Leeds tonight to launch the all new Leeds Academy. This place used to be the Town and Country club, one of Leeds' best venues for live music and events. Let's hope the Academy lives up to the old T&Cs reputation, as we lost an important part of the Leeds event scene and Leeds student life when the Town and Country went.

The address is New Leeds Academy, 55 Cookridge Street, Leeds, LS2 3AW and tickets are £25.00 if you are lucky enough still to be able to find them.