Independents day

by Editor

Strolling down Bold Street the other day I couldn't help but smile at the diversity of the retail offer – a refreshing tonic after the cloned high streets. But just like our indigenous arts and cultural types, these retailers need our support – because they're certainly not getting much help from the establishment.

In for a treat

by Editor

Among the latest entries on the Art in Liverpool blog today was a piece with some details of forthcoming events and festivals planned for the year, which will help keep the 08 momentum trundling along.

Click to check out details of some of the planned events.

Street View shows up the other side to the city

by Guest

We've all been to New York and wandered down Broadway, travelled across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and stood beside the Eiffel Tower. Virtually, that is.

And now, web browsers from around the world can visit Liverpool, which last week was among the addition of cities to Google's Street View.

08 Place

by Editor

We're all looking forward to the 08 place being re-launched as the Liverpool Visitor Centre. And it can't happen soon enough!

Safe

by Editor

Whilst out on Church Street earlier this week, I bumped into a client from Shrewsbury who was in Liverpool for a meeting. He had heard great things about the city and wanted to see the transformation for himself.

What's more he had taken the green option and travelled by train! However, his reason for choosing that mode of transport was not in full-blown support of our year of the environment but because he didn't think he could safely park his car in Liverpool.

Prime Opportunity

by Editor

There's nothing more depressing than the sight of an empty shop on the high street with one of those little notes from the receiver taped to the front door.

What makes you happy?

by Editor

It was like the first night of the Biennial again – well almost. FACT, Open Eye Gallery and the Liverpool Art Prize all launched fabulous new exhibitions last night.

Time to redecorate

by Editor

I'm getting more and more irritated by the acres of fading and tatty banners all over the city centre telling us what a fab time we're going to have in 2008. Many of these banner sites were clearly chosen to shroud crumbling buildings in high profile locations from public view. That trick worked. But here we are in 2009 and those enormous sheets of vinyl are fading.

Something for nothing

by Editor

Organised by our friends at Art In Liverpool.com 39 Art Week was initiated by the Japanese artist Yoshiaki Kaihatsu in 2000 to foster the appreciation of contemporary art in Japan. And now, here in Liverpool. There’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved with the arts. Oh, and apparently there’s lots of offers too!

One or Two?

by Editor

Good to see a tasty looking promotional advert for Liverpool in one of the broadsheet supplements at the weekend. Really quite enticing. And more to the point, the ad carries a link to www.visitliverpool.com which is an effective all-singing resource for anyone looking to spend some time in the city.

We all live...

by Editor

Just a thought. It's ok for Banksy to doodle, but where do you draw the line between criminal damage and cheeky street art?

Sea Shanties

We're still awaiting details of whether or not this year's River Festival is to go ahead. In the meantime, we've been sent a video featuring footage from last year's Shanty festival, which was part of a successful 08 River Festival. Click here for more.

Slumdog

by Editor

Sunday morning in Wolstenholme Square. A scene of absolute squalor. Again. As usual. And just like every other street in Ropewalks. Ankle deep in litter and filth. Had Liverpool City Council's Film Unit been quicker off the mark they probably could have saved Danny Boyle the expense of taking his cast to Mombai.