Birmingham’s Southside gets spiritual with Tai Chi

This summer Birmingham’s Southside district will be getting in touch with its inner Chi with a programme of uplifting Tai Chi classes in the Arcadian.

Girls answer 40th anniversary reunion call

Scores of ‘Old Girls’ are planning to return to Solihull School on 22 June for a gala reunion to celebrate the arrival of the first female students 40 years ago.

Brum Yum Yum Streetfood Market in Kings Heath

Once again Tammy Facey, our intrepid gastro-gnome, has been out in the field doing what she likes best. Here’s her report.

Uni graduates’ short film up for top US festival award

A short film created by recent graduates of Coventry University’s media production course has been shortlisted for an award at one of America’s leading lifestyle film festivals.

On the beach

Terry Wills wonders whether the Albion are on holiday yet.

That nice Mr Gove

Laurence Inman is in love, but it’s a very weird kind of thing.

Ultima Censura: Ten dome tents, three live performers

… and some difficult choices to be made. Spend forty intimate moments and seek to discover where your principles lie and what your fundamentals of life and law really are.

Art Bus – Free Galleries Night, Thursday 16 May

This year sees the tenth anniversary of Birmingham’s free Galleries Night and Art Bus.

Manufacturer praises students after university challenge

Six college students will be presenting their ideas to managers at a manufacturing firm following their success at ‘The Pitch’ competition hosted by the University of Wolverhampton.

BOA students bring the West End to Birmingham

Students from the city’s top performing arts, digital and creative academy are set to take to the stage with performances of musical classics at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham’s Southside district.

Eat! Feasting, fasting, famine and food for thought

Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Black Country Touring bring their intimate, unique and tasty play to Wolverhampton in May.

Celebrity chef recipe study highlights healthy eating concerns

Meal recipes promoted by celebrity chefs in Britain could be a hidden contributing factor to the country’s obesity epidemic and associated public health concerns, according to new research.

Birmingham vies with Rio as world carnival champs

Media and creative professionals from across the West Midlands helped put Birmingham on the map as the new Carnival Capital last week, at a special event organised by the Birmingham Publicity Association (BPA).

There’s no such thing as a free smartphone

Samsung Electronics has admitted for the first time that it uses tin in its products that’s destroying tropical forests, killing coral and wrecking the lives of communities

Calling all bakers… Get your pinnies on!

Birmingham City Mission asks supporters to hold ‘100 cake sales in June’

Ain’t nobody but Jaki at The Jam House

On Thursday 2 May, Wolverhampton born singing sensation Jaki Graham will take to the stage at The Jam House

GoCardless launches Direct Debit solution to Birmingham SMEs

Thousands of small businesses are in line to benefit from more efficient payments after GoCardless announced its official launch in Birmingham yesterday.

‘Exciting times for Walsall’ companies

The latest Duport Business Confidence Report reveals a sharp rise in net company growth last year in Walsall, suggesting a recovering local economy.

Kipling centenary production

Audiences are invited to a gritty fly-on-the-wall World War I drama when the Lichfield Players present ‘My Boy Jack’ in the Garrick Studio next month.

Uni academic’s artwork in running for major award

An academic from Coventry University’s School of Art and Design is up for an illustrious award after his painting was selected for a top exhibition in London’s National Portrait Gallery.

Labour claim residents paying for Business Rate collection failures

Companies in Walsall owe over £2 million in unpaid business rates while the council makes cuts in public services and care for vulnerable people, claim Walsall’s Labour Group.

The Busby Babes return to The Public for free gig

A free evening of live entertainment will be taking place at The Public on Saturday 27 April, as covers band, The Busby Babes, take to the stage.

This Week at the Robin 2

New acts, old acts and some in between

Pine would

Dave Woodhall talks to Courtney Pine ahead of the jazz legend’s Birmingham show at the weekend.

Narrow boats, wide eyes, open minds…

A couple from the Midlands are launching a unique venture on Warwickshire’s waterways, called Float by Boat

Apprenticeship event nets gadgets for teens

Three teenagers got more than expert advice when they visited a Black Country Apprenticeship showcase

Martin Longley’s New York Sounds: Space Rock To Out-There Jazz

Martin Longley sees Spiritualized compress their cosmic selves into a tiny Brooklyn DIY venue…

Yorkshire Puddings

Andy Munro was at St Andrews to watch Blues take another step closer to safety.

Simmer down

Terry Wills on the Albion and some unsavoury happenings elsewhere.

‘Boycie’ to visit The Public

John Challis, best known for playing ‘Boycie’ in hit BBC show, Only Fools and Horses, was at The Public in West Bromwich promoting his forthcoming show, ‘Only Fools and…Boycie’.