Interactive art installations to light up Brum
Pulse and, top, Neon Angel Wings are two of the five light installations
A DAZZLING Festival of Light attraction is returning to Bullring and Grand Central later this month.
The free event will transform outdoor spaces including Rotunda Square, St Martin’s Walk and St Martin’s Square with five ‘‘spectacular installations’’ as part of Birmingham’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
Here’s what to expect according to organisers:
Birds Fly Around With You, Rotunda Square – “An interactive light sculpture which will enchant young and old. Enter the circle to activate the magical machine and watch the birds illuminate around you.”
Neon Angel Wings, Rotunda Square – “Created by renowned neon light artist Carla O’Brien, this installation has been incredibly popular around the world, providing a must-have photo opportunity.”
Pulse, St Martin’s Walk – “Walk through the series of loop structures as you journey towards St Martin’s Church for a fully immersive experience complete with light and sound.”
With Love, St Martin’s Balcony – “This bright red inflatable heart beats in line with its environment by sensing the light, the temperature and the atmospheric pressure, and translates it into flashing lights and heartbeat sounds.”
Talk to the Skies, St Martin’s Square – “See your voice converted into light and sound pulses that rocket across the ground and up into space.” The lights will be switched on from 5pm between Friday, January 24 and Sunday, February 2.
Additional Chinese New Year events will take place on Saturday, January 25. Shoppers can follow a lion and dragon procession through the Bullring and watch pop-up performances including traditional fan and umbrella dances.
There will also be a special Wish Tree in Grand Central for shoppers to
past few weeks is
Tullamore D.E.W. XO Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
(RRP £26, Master of Malt and independents). It’s based on Tullamore’s traditional triple distilled, triple blend, triple wood matured Irish whiskey which is then given a flavour twist with a short amount of maturation in Caribbean rum casks. It has fascinating aromas of soft and ripe banana, with caramel and spice. I love the flavours of raisins, caramel and spice. Ah, the festive season may be over but think of the band who brought us the classic song Fairytale of New York every time you sip
The Pogues
(RRP £25 at Next online, Amazon and Ocado). The whiskey is distilled in Cork in small batches, using copper stills and is then matured in bourbon oak barrels. The whiskey has notes of woody spice, caramel and cinnamon.
The past few days I’ve enjoyed sipping a light, refreshing glass or two of white wine. They’ve provided light relief from the richness of the last few festive weeks.
Here’s a moment in my life. I flash-fried strips of chicken with green peppers, onions and added a shake of chilli flakes (I can’t help myself). I poured a glass of zesty sauvignon blanc alongside my culinary activities.
I stirred through lots of fresh parsley into rice and squeezed
Single Malt Irish Whiskey Also in my glass…
over a zizzle of lemon. I’ll never succeed on MasterChef, but give me a concoction of things lying on fridge shelves and I’ll be happy. My chosen tipple was
Tempus Two Quartz Sauvignon Blanc
(RRP £9, Sainsbury, below) from South Australia. The parsley, the peppers and sauvignon blanc created a fresh, herbal brotherhood.
The wine speaks of grapefruit, gooseberry, grass and citrus. I was very happy.