Manchester Sky Ride: August 2nd

Manchester's streets will be filled with cyclists this Sunday August 2nd with the Manchester Sky Ride. It's a fun event set up to get people back in the saddle again. The streets will be closed to motorised traffic route map so it's a safe environment for nervous new cyclists or those who are thinking about dusting off the old bike in the garage.

Obviously, this will mean road closures so check the www.manchester.gov.uk for the latest information on disruption for residents and local businesses.

If you'd like to join in the fun, visit www.britishcycling.org.uk

Creative Tourist

There's a new website made specifically for visitors to Manchester interested in the creative offering. It's put together by the Manchester Museums Consortium who are, in their own words, "a group of nine museums and galleries in Manchester, separate venues that have a single vision: the desire to stage intelligent, thought-provoking exhibitions and events. Oh, and to celebrate the city in which we live, work and play."

We're now feeding their twitter feed into this blog, joining Manchester Jazz Festival (for the duration of the festival) and MyManchester, the Manchester Concierge Network twitter feed.

Visit Creative Tourist at www.creativetourist.com

We'll meet again. We know where. We know when

The next Manchester Made it Easy gathering will be at the Midland Hotel on September 10th 2009. More information will follow in late August but that's the date for your diary. We've moved back to a half day event, starting at 14.00.

Los Angeles twinned with Manchester

LA has approached Manchester to develop links in business, art, culture, science and education. The City of Angels, home to former Manchester United player David Beckham, joins Wuhan, St Petersburg, Chemnitz and Faisalabad as Manchester's twins.

Richard Leese told the MEN, "I am delighted to welcome our counterparts from Los Angeles council to Manchester in what will be the start of a mutually beneficial partnership.

"The synergies and strengths of both cities, particularly in terms of our sport, creative and media sectors present huge opportunities for promoting cultural and economic exchanges between LA and Manchester."

For more, visit www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Manchester Food and Drink Festival

The nominees for the 2009 awards are:

Best Food and Drink Retail Outlet

Macro Bar
Noel Chadwick
Barbakan
Unicorn
Ashton Markets
Reserve Wines

Best Wine List

Gaucho
Damson
Sam's Chop House
Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode
Ramsons
Harvey Nichols

Best Coffee Bar and Casual Dining

The Deli
Folk Cafe Bar
Sweet Tooth Cupcakery
Cafe at the Rylands
Kabana
Parched Tea Bar

Healthy and Sustainable Eating

Loch Fyne
Soup Kitchen
Cup
Red House Farm Tea Rooms
Dough
Gabriel's Kitchen

Best Pub

The Britons Protection
The Crown
The Lass O Gowrie
Bar Fringe
The Marble
The New Oxford

Best Bar

Corridor
Apotheca
Common
Electrik
Walrus
Silver Apples

Best Newcomer

Damson
Sanmini
Gabriel's Kitchen
Macaroon
Ostara
Zouk

Restaurant of the Year

The French at The Midland Hotel
The Modern
Grill On The Alley
Isinglass
Ramsons
Chaophraya Ning

Chef of the Year

David Gale
Robert Owen Brown
Ian Matfin
Paul Day
Norman Musa
John Benson-Smith

For more information and to vote, visit www.foodanddrinkfestival.com

Made It Easy host hotel celebrated

The Midland Hotel have been hosting the Manchester Made it Easy events in 2009 and it is no surprise that Qhotels have been recognised for their continued good work.
For the second time in three years QHotels has been named the 'Most Improved Brand' by the BDRC UK Meetings Market Survey.

Over 200 corporate organisers, 150 agents and 150 associations take part in the BDRC UK Meetings Market Survey.

For more information visit www.worldclassservice.co.uk

Manchester Festivals continue

As the brilliant Manchester International Festival comes to an end (Everyone Loves a Winner continues until August 1st), Manchester Jazz Festival and 247 Theatre Festival are stepping into the breach.

The 247 Theatre Festival starts today and continues until July 26th. Manchester Jazz Festival runs Friday 24th July to August 1st

You can keep with both on their websites or via twitter twitter.com/ManJazzFest and twitter.com/247theatre

Manchester City Council have also announced that the festival pavilion will remain in Albert Square until August 2nd with Manchester Jazz Festival and Rioja presents Tapas Fantasticas (25th - 26th July).

Why the 2018 bid makes sense for Manchester

The FIFA World Cup is the largest event in the world. 3.36 million fans attended the matches during last world cup (held in Germany) with a further 18.4 million making their way to Germany for the fan parks, watching the games on big screens.

The 2006 World Cup generated billions of euros for the German economy. It's a once in a lifetime experience and if that weren't reason enough, the last time the World Cup was on English soil, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters combined to lift the greatest trophy in world football.

We've pledged our support. You can do the same here http://www.manchesterworldsport.com/site/pledge-gallery

We're now on Facebook

We've now got a profile on Facebook. If you have one too, become our friend at www.facebook.com

Black cab numbers to increase?

More black cabs may soon be coming to Manchester's streets as the city council decide to review the number of licences it issues.

30 were added in 2008. The city council is due to issue 30 new Hackney again plates this year but the Liberal Democrats are calling for 200 to be added in 2 years.

The Lib Dems feel there are not enough taxis in the city at night and that extra ones would help cut anti-social behaviour at weekends.

Archived presentation: June 2009

The Manchester Made It Easy group gathered at the Midland Hotel on June 12th 2009 to discuss ways to improve the experience vistors to the city get.

The presentation is available at www.worldclassservice.co.uk

Archived presentation: March 2009

Manchester continued to Make it Easy as around 70 people from organisations and agencies across Manchester gathered at the Midland Hotel again in March to further the Manchester Made It Easy movement.

The powerpoint presentation is available at www.worldclassservice.co.uk

Archived presentation: January 2009

On January 6th 2009, 53 people from lifestyle organisations gathered at the Midland Hotel to discuss how to make Manchester an easier place to share information and an easier place for people to find out about, and to make bookings for, before their visit.

The spirit of collaboration was clear for all to see with hotels, ticket agencies, venues, festivals, museums, galleries etc. all chipping in with ideas and practical solutions.

The presentation is available at www.worldclassservice.co.uk

Moorfield Media to run the Great Days Out Fair

Marketing Manchester have announced that Moorfield Media has secured the rights to run the Great Days Out Fair.

The Fair is an exhibition for group bookers and had been run by Marketing Manchester until their decision to contract out this year's show.

The Great Days Out Fair will be held in February 2010 at the Bolton Arena

Thomas Hetherington of Moorfield Media told Crain's “It's not a core activity for Marketing Manchester, but it's a good solid show which we like to think we could push on further because it dovetails quite nicely with RSVP North".

For more information visit www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.com

We're now on twitter

You can follow us at twitter.com/mcrmadeiteasy