There will be many of you who have cleared out the fridge from Christmas and are looking at the shelves with some thought of what food to eat now instead of cheese and crackers and leftover stuffing. Then some of you will already have a health routine for the next 3 months, have just unboxed your healthy food plan, and are ready to go.
Two camps across town. Which one do you reside in though? Well, it doesn’t really matter as long as you are happy. What does matter is that you don’t let January beat you. We all know that January is in the heart of Winter. What with more rain and dreary weather, it is easy to get bogged down in what has been named in the past as a month for feeling blue.
Look at some cool things happening this month and enjoy January for what it is, another month for you to embrace.
Scrapper Film – 6th January 6pm – Southsea Cinema – Palmerston Road
Southsea Cinema is a great little cinema that shows lots of cool films. The film being shown there, Scrapper, won The Sundance Festival award.
Living alone since her beloved mum died, 12-year-old Georgie fills the flat they shared with her own special magic. But when her absent father Jason turns up out of the blue, she’s forced to confront reality. Tickets are only £7.50 and £5.50 if a member.
Pop Up Spray Session – Saturday 7th January – Pitt St Skate Park Portsmouth
This Saturday sees Pop-up Spray Studios hit the cool skatepark. It is a family-run business that hosts pop-up spray painting sessions for all ages and abilities to enjoy and is only £10 a session.
There will be a team that will guide you through the process of creating stunning designs on A2 cards, which you can proudly take home.
The Mama Hub – 10th January – Six Highland Road Cafe
The Mama Hub is a brand new social group based in Southsea, to connect expectant and new mum’s from around the area.
Six Highland Road in Southsea will be hosting a weekly coffee morning. It’s pram-accessible and they have baby-changing facilities; so you are all covered!
There are plenty of drink options available, plus yummy cakes and a new sandwich menu if you want to stay on for something more substantial.
This will be a super relaxed event to have a casual natter with other Mums from around Southsea, introduce children, and enjoy a cheeky slice of cake. It will also be an opportunity for Mama Hub to understand what events you would like to see available throughout the year!
All mama’s are welcome.
Desi Cafe – EAT OUT Campaign – 10th January Desi Cafe on Elm Grove
To welcome in the new year, The Desi Cafe team are offering an exclusive deal with 50% off your whole dining in experience for one day only.
If you haven’t eaten here before, all I can say is the food is exquisite and getting such a huge discount will be a real treat! Read more about the restaurant here.
Please check Desi Cafe socials for all the details on this deal including how to use the voucher for your meal, and how to pre-book which is essential.
The Temperament Index – 18th January onwards – Aspex Portsmouth
The Temperament Index lands at the gallery in Gunwharf Quays mid-way through the month and is Melanie Jackson’s latest travelling project.
In her installation, the viewer is invited to wander amongst projected animations, cut-out figures and body bits, handmade clay objects, drawings and more. Jackson has rallied together a procession, a carnival of conceptual nomads that jostle and jive, pleasure, fight and take flight across a trans-historical plane of existence, in which we are as much participants as voyeurs.
As usual, the tickets are free but you have to prebook a ticket via the website before you arrive.
Eileen Film – Saturday the 20th January 7pm – Number 6 Cinema – Historic Dockyard
Set during a bitter 1964 Massachusetts winter, young secretary Eileen becomes enchanted by Rebecca, the glamorous new counsellor at the prison where she works. Their budding friendship takes a twisted turn when Rebecca reveals a dark secret — throwing Eileen onto a sinister path. Tickets are £9.00 in a fantastic setting and a cool bar to hang around in beforehand.
Fragments Flotsam and Jetsam – Now until the 25th of January – Jack House Gallery – Old Portsmouth
If Christmas got in the way of seeing this fab exhibition, then January allows you time to go and see it. On the plus side, the amazing Italian Florio’s is next door and you could pop there too although it doesn’t reopen until the 16th of January so bear this in mind when planning your trip.
The King & Queen of Darktown, Jonny & Sharon Hannah are back in the building with their best show yet. Everything will be put into the online gallery shop. Particularly exciting is the FAMOUS DARKTOWN BOTTLE PANTRY which is now open and has its own category in the online shop
You can also head on over to Six Highland Road for a free coffee on the 15th of January which is the day most people feel the lowest of the year. Across town will be the usual meet-ups for creatives like the paint and draw nights. Have a look across socials to see more.
If you feel you want to take on a new hobby then look at my post from last year for ideas that you can do locally. Read here.
