Mulled wine: the drink served in a mug

The first contact I've ever had with the mulled wine happened last year, around this time. The German Christmas Market (here) was all set up and after having the time of our lives skating in the ring in Broadmead, we warmed up with a glass of mulled wine. Or shall I say a "mug" of mulled wine? For those who don't know what I am talking about, mulled wine is n alcoholic beverage made with red wine and various other sweet ingredients, which is...

German Christmas Market

For the 5th time, the German Christmas Market set up in the shopping quarter in Bristol. Why go to Germany or Austria, when a the market itself comes to your town?  The market opened its doors the 8th November in Broadmead and they will stay open until few days before Christmas day (22nd December). The 38 festive stalls will be selling food, drinks and all kind of gifts.  Home Christmas decoration, traditional handmade wooden games,...

Congrats musicians: today, it's your day!

Music defines us, it makes us feel we are not alone, we are understood... and we understand each other. Music is art, virtue, passion, love, sadness,... and many other things we cannot define. It is a hobby for some of us, a profession for others. Today, 22nd November, it's St Cecilia day, the patroness of musicians. I am not sure it is celebrated in the UK, but many people back in Spain they don't even know this day exists... unless they have...

North Bristol Art Trail

As the West of Bristol, the North also is also exhibiting its art works this weekend in North Bristol Art Trail 2013. It is a free event were galleries and private houses will be open for you from 10am to 6pm this coming 23rd and 24th November. In addition, some of the venues will be opening also on Friday for a preview night from 7pm to 9ish. Venues will be located in Montpelier, Westbury, Redland Bishopston, St Andrews and even Golden Hill and...

Lebanese bites for dinner

I just discovered a very nice Lebanese restaurant in 13a Small Street, Bristol, called Mezze Palace. Although our intention was to have some Chinese food, we found ourselves going down the stairs to the rythm of some background Lebanese music. The restaurant, located at the basement, has a cavernous layout with curved ceilling and no windows. It was possibly a wine cellar before and even though the description could suggest it was a cold...

Another day at the museum

The fact that I like of Bristol the most is that most museum are free. Every time I don't have special plans for the day I visit one museum. Today, it was the turn of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery at the top of Park Street. Situated in Clifton next door to the impressive Wills Memorial Building, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery holds sections on natural history, national and international archaeology, french and eastern art, pottery and wildlife,...

A little bit of fashion, beauty... and loads of christmas decoration

I went to the Christmas Press Show today. House of Fraser in Cabot Circus invited me and many other fashion and design bloggers to their annual Christmas Press Show today. It took place at Zest Bistro and it was "by invitation only" event (it feels so cool to say it!). The show was already ready by the time I got there, sharp 6pm. Some of the guests were there but most were not there yet. I had been offered a mulled wine and I went to browse...

Blaise Castle in Autumn colours

There are some days you know you want to spend them outdoors. Last Sunday, we woke up relativelly early, took the First Bus number 76 at Bristol city centre and we set our feet in Blaise Castle Estate around 45 minutes later. The weather was excellent; sunny, blue sky... Lovely! Oh, and Autumn colours are so beautiful! ("Fiery woods and golden trees"...) Especially when we have such good days to enjoy the views as we had last Sunday.  Blaise...

TEDxBristol has NOT been a failure!

At last, I have been in a TEDx event, something I can already cross from my bucket list. Two months after purchasing my ticket for the event, the day finally arrived. And it happened to be a success: very inspiring people with "ideas worth spreading". The day started at 9.20am, when I arrived to Colston Hall for the registration. I got my very own blue wristband which would give me access (and also discounts) and the official programme which...

Donate a Christmas meal

Last week, I received a letter from an organisation called Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people. In the "Crisis at Christmas" appeal, they are searching for people who feel generous enough to make a donation to reserve a seat at a multitudinous Christmas dinner for someone who is homeless. It automatically reminded me of the couple from Atlanta who, after cancelling their wedding, they decided to donate their four-course wedding...

Christmas lights switch on

8th Noveber: Christmas officially starts tomorrow in Bristol. Cabot Circus will switch on its Christmas lights. I was there last years "switch on" event and I can tell you Cabot Circus gets very busy. There will be people hours before the procession starts, standing on the balconies, intending to see the whole performance from the best perspective possible.  As far as I can see, Cabot Circus Christmas event organisers love Disney,...

Quiz night and free food @ Mothers Ruin

'Drunk for 1 penny, Dead drunk for tuppence, Straw for nothing' This is the notice which would be seen in London in the 1930s. Gin started out as a cheap medicine, becoming also poor men's drink, with 10 million gallons of gin were being distillated just in the capital. It rendered men impotent and women sterile, and when the government decided to raise the taxes on gin, its sales went underground. Much of the gin was drunk by women, whose children...

Walking trail: Missorts

There is an app for Android that I accidentally discovered when I was in the Central Library. I tried to download the app into my phone more than once but every time, there was an error before the installation was complete. I finally succeeded when I installed in my tablet and last weekend, I did the trail. Missorts, "an urban soundwork delivered directly to your smartphone", is an app created by Tony White in 2012 which you...