Tortilla Launch

Last night saw the launch of the Manchester branch of Tortilla, a Mexican fast food joint on Oxford Rd. 

Housed in the old Jilango unit, (the branch bought out all 10 of these spaces) Tortilla serves up a large range of meats, veg, spices and sauces. These come in taco, quesadilla, burrito and ‘naked burrito: the meal without the wrap, tray-served.

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The area manager oversaw the launch, where delicious free food flowed, as did funk music from the speakers. ‘Burrito state of mind,’ states the wall design, next to traditional-style Mexican artwork, woodwork, neon and LCDs. 

If you’re in the Oxford Rd / Peter St area, it’s worth a drop-in if you’re feeling peckish. You won’t be disappointed.

Mexican / American Happenings

On the blog this week: a fajita recipe review and launch of a Mexican food outlet in Manchester. 

Separately, I corrected Angel Youngs’ grammar and annoyed her hugely. I’ll be single forever.

What kind of pest would leave such a message for such an esteemed individual as Angel Youngs?! pic.twitter.com/MqkWIKsx2C

— Matt Tuckey 🇬🇧 (@matthewtuckey) September 24, 2022

Vision Club Soft Launch

Last night I dropped into the soft launch of Vision, a new club in Manchester’s Whitworth St- formerly Playground, and before that I think an exhibition space called The Green Room (where I’m sure I at least saw one poetry slam). 

Manager Charles took me on a tour of the space, a 2-floor, 3-room experience, playing hip hop, afrobeat, RnB and dance (the latter in it’s own room). The club is complete with bookable booths, bottle service, digital displays, lasers, lights and even gold-effect toilets. The ladies’ room is adorned with a chatting sofa. 

There’s a possibility, Charles says, one of these rooms will be playing house music soon. Think Chinawhite with more variety.

 

The unit itself has always had an issue with phone reception towards the back, which can’t be helped, but unique décor and friendly staff make for a potentially different experience to a weekend night out.

Why I got a Dopamine and Serotonin Tattoo

Before the pandemic I noticed a growing trend of people getting dopamine and serotonin tattoos. Serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters, are the building blocks of anything we have ever liked. These chemicals enter the bloodstream when we experience pleasure, and are received by the nucleus accumbens, the pleasure centre found in the lower region of the brain, the basal forebrain. 

Immediately I knew I wanted that chemical structure tattoo, on the right wrist. 

It has taken me until yesterday to action that. I dropped into Inkin in Oldham, a studio I’ve been following on socials for a while. Among their clients are cyclist Bradley Wiggins, Tom Powell from Love Island, Maisie Gillespie from TOWIE and Chet Johnson from Ex on the Beach. Their artwork is top-notch. See their Youtube for celeb footage. 

I’m 40. I’ve spent much of my life battling cognitive issues like memory difficulties, depression, anxiety and a misdiagnosis of dyslexia. I’m not perfect, but thanks to NHS treatment and time spent in support group Andy’s Man Club, I’m a lot more in control (and happy) than I was. That’s what drew me to this particular design: a reminder that I can be happy too. I had a good chat with Amanda, who performed the tattooing, and Mike, the Managing Director, about their studio, their clients and about mental health in general. A rewarding experience all round!

Eric Prydz in The Warehouse Project

Friday night: I dropped into Warehouse Project at Depot Mayfield (my first visit to this venue) to see Eric Prydz, whose 2004 track Call on Me sampled Steve Winwood’s Valerie and came with this aerobics-based music video.

Pjanoo is another track a lot of people would recognise. 

Depot Mayfield is a huge, down-and-dirty, former railway station, then a parcel depot, and is now perfect for a contemporary rave. Imagine their former owners’ bewilderment at finding their venue still standing, 122 years later, a bar in the corner and a couple of huge sound systems installed blaring out what they would be later told was tech house? The owners themselves would also be standing, in bewilderment and possibly amazement. 

Anyway, I’ve been clubbing since around 2000, and I’ve done a lot of dancing in these clubs. Sadly, there’s a lot of standing around happening these days. As much as the music and visuals were great, the younger generations have no footwork. Great music though. No mainstream dance, as you might expect from a pop chart name like Prydz, as evidenced here in these high-quality professional videos I shot on my phone. Cough.

 

 

 

 

See also the Insta story highlights.

Not Clubbing with Nostradamus

Last Friday I blogged about Nostradamus - 14th Century refuted seer – predicting Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. 4 days later, Social Media company It’s Gone Viral reported pretty much the same thing. 

It’s Gone Viral, from KOMI Group, are based in Rochdale. I had a meeting at their office them some time before the pandemic, just to learn a little about their company. I’m wondering if they’ve kept an eye on my blog. Or whether a host of other places are keeping track of Nostradamus’ prophecies, and It’s Gone Viral is one of them. I still beat them to it. I’ve been on leave this week. 

Tuesday night I decided to check out Twosday at History Club in Manchester. I’ve been in at the weekend a few times and couldn’t stand the place, but I’m aware that different nights in the same venue can have different vibes, so I took a look. 

It’s a student night, but photo ID was enough. Tickets online would have been £6, but they stung me a tenner. Saw me coming. I got in at midnight and the club was heaving already, with the only standing space being next to the toilets. Clientele were mostly white girls and black guys, aside from some Ron Weasley lookalike skanking out to songs that were overplayed before the pandemic, never mind by now. I got ticked off for leaving my drink on the back of someone’s seat, a booth for which they’d no doubt paid an extortionate amount. The DJ / MC character babbled about TikTok over the mic, and called women ‘bitches’ to their face, in front of the whole club. I lasted 2 hours. 

See the Facebook album for more. 

Thursday night I tried Thursday Club at Club LIV, somewhere I used to go to a lot before the pandemic. They claimed it was reservations only (bullshit), so I strolled over to Ark on the Locks for their Don’t @ Me launch. Students only, but one doorman checked my driver’s licence and was fine with it. The other knocked me back. Oh well. 

Friday night I saw the incredible Eric Prydz in The Warehouse Project. More on that later. Saturday, my legs were killing me. I stayed in. Is this my 40s now? Boo to that. It’s now a bank holiday but I have no plans for tonight.

Blue Badge Came Through

After several back-and-forths between myself and the Blue Badge scheme, I’ve managed to get mine renewed. It’s a massive relief as being allowed more places to park massively reduces the chance I’ll forget where my car is, something that has happened numerous times over the years. That’s me sorted until the latter half of 2025. 

Parking close to where I’m visiting reduces the chances of me losing my car, which has happened. 

Other psychology info to come next week.