2001: A Birmingham Odyssey

Another day, another day out and, as I didn't mark my 2000th blog post with a special title, I thought I'd reference my 2001st instead.

On Thursday, I met up with my friend Nikki in Birmingham. 

After meeting up at our usual spot at New Street Station we headed to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for a pot of Moroccan Mint tea in their legendary Edwardian Tea Rooms. In there I bumped into a fellow vintage trader friend, Sue, who I met in a jumble sale queue a couple of decades ago and Nikki & I were asked if we'd pose for a photo by a amateur photographer somewhat enamoured with our fedoras and vintage outfits.

I couldn't leave the museum without capturing Jacob Epstein's drop-dead gorgeous Lucifer (1945). This time I thought I'd treat you to his rear view, just as mesmerising as the front.

After stocking up with a few bits in Superdrug and trying on a fabulous camel fedora in the House of Tweed, we continued on our way, passing the former parish church of St Martin in the Bull Ring, built in the Gothic Revival style by JA Chatwin in 1855.

The now iconic Selfridges building, designed by architects Future Systems and completed in 2003 at a cost of £60 million. 

Built in 1908 and once part of the Carrs Lane Congregational Church, The Digbeth Institute has been one of Birmingham's leading music venues since the late 1950s. During the 1990s it was known as The Sanctuary and was the original home of the superclub, Godskitchen. I've seen many amazing gigs here over the years, the standout being Primal Scream in 2006 when they played an intimate set for 99 invited guests including me, Jon & DJ Janice Long (RIP).

Our destination was Digbeth, Birmingham's former Industrial heartland. Companies including Typhoo Tea and Birds Custard had factories here. Many of the buildings in this area are adorned with some of the best Street Art in the UK. 

 

After a wander around Cow Vintage we headed to Red Brick Market, a former industrial unit now home to an indoor market crammed with independent units selling all manner of interesting and quirky gear, a bit like Oasis market back in its heyday (a mecca for us Midland alternative kids). 

We had a brilliant time looking at all the weird and wonderful stuff on offer. 

What girls' day out is complete without a mirror selfie? 

As we're on the same wavelength, we both wore vintage velvet, fedoras and Clarks' boots. It wasn't planned, honest! 

If I didn't already have about a billion tote bags I'd have tempted with this! 

Fortunatley the stalls are unmanned or I'm sure the proprietors would have been rolling their eyes at us naming the Pippa dolls - Tammie, Britt, Yasmine, Marie, Mandy - and going on about having them as kids (this used to drive us mad at vintage fairs!)

The only trouble with these old industrial units are how cold they can be, we were dithering after an hour. It was definitely warmer outside than in.

Isn't the exit to the former Birds Custard Factory stunning? The premises is now an independent arts space known as The Custard Factory. Artwork by Philth, Victorian tiles by Minton.

In need of sustenance we headed to The Old Crown in Deritend, said to be one of the oldest existing secular buildings in Birmingham. It is Grade II listed and claims to date back to 1368, retaining its black and white timber frame, although almost all of the present building dates from the early 16th century.

I'd not been in The Old Crown since the days BC (before Corona) but it was as charming and cosy as always. The group studying conversational Italian in the Wolverhampton Art Gallery cafe on Monday would have been in their element, there was a huge party of Italians enjoying this traditional British boozer.

Normally neither of us are into fried food but couldn't resist the ordering the Vegetarian Share Plate. Consisting of nachos with cheese and jalapenos, salt and chilli cauli wings, piri piri haloumi, panko goats cheese, hummus, flat bread and marinated olives everything was delicious and not at all greasy and there was so much we struggled to finish. We toasted our birthdays (Nikki's on 11th November, mine next week) with a pint of Neck Oil.

 Although tempted with another beer, we were mindful of the touristy chaos that is Birmingham's Frankfurt Xmas Market so did the sensible thing and made our way back to the station before getting caught up with the hoards.

As always, we were constantly stopped by strangers, both male and female, and complimented on the way we were dressed. Who says you become invisible in your 50s? Not us! 

Have a fantastic weekend, one and all and I hope my US readers had a bostin' Thanksgiving. Pop back on Monday where I'll be revealing a rather amazing charity shop find as well as my birthday plans!!