Ikea Is Having a Sleepover Spa Event, Will I See You There?

Swedish home furnishing retailer IKEA has announced the opening of its first overnight spa experience – the IKEA Retreat – a pop-up sanctuary designed to make people think twice about the healing power of the bedroom and the bathroom.

On Sunday 7th September, 30 local IKEA FAMILY members will spend the night in the Belfast store indulging in an array of spa treatments and holistic therapies that will show them just how easy it is to have a wonderful start and end to everyday.

Myriam Ruffo, head of bedroom and bathroom at IKEA, explained: “Our recent Life at Home study revealed the toll that our busy lives are taking on us, with Northern Ireland residents experiencing 13 bouts of stress a day. What’s more worrying is that two thirds of us feel stressed before we even get out of bed.

“It’s vital that people create a space where they can completely escape and find ways to organise their lives to combat stress before it has even begun. Luckily, just a few small changes can make a big difference. This event will show people that you really don’t have to go to a retreat to have a treat; there are lots of simple ways to unlock the healing power of the bedroom and the bathroom so you can start and end each day better.”

The IKEA Retreat is just one in a series of in-store events at IKEA. On the 13th and 14thSeptember, the Ideas Festival will provide customers with even more inspiration with interactive workshops, fun activities and fantastic IKEA FAMILY offers – all demonstrating how one small change in the bedroom and bathroom can make a big difference.

The IKEA Retreat is open to IKEA FAMILY members and will take place at IKEA Glasgow, IKEA Belfast, IKEA Warrington, IKEA Lakeside and IKEA Manchester. To apply to attend, or for more information on the Ideas Festival, simply visit the participating store’s website https://events.myikeafamily.com/

Find 26 tips to help you start and end your day better at http://www.ikea.co.uk/wonderfuleveryday

Bricks 4 Kidz- Learning Through Lego

Just a quick blog if your child loves Lego and you're looking for an activity this summer. The Belfast Bricks 4 Kidz Facebook has details of workshop days as well as weekly themed classes in their creative workshop.

We went to a space themed class today which my son totally loved. 

Bricks 4 Kidz is a franchise, so if you aren't from Northern Ireland, have a Google for a local branch near you. 

Car Lifting at the Belfast Motor Show

Ultimate Strongman Jonathan Kelly from Newtownabbey holds the title of 2 x Ireland’s Strongest Man and is the current record holder for the ‘Irish Deadlift Hold Record’ which saw him lift a 1 tonne car, engine side, for 41.07 seconds. 

Jonathan will be hoping to hold on to this record as he challenges two other strongmen to take the title ahead of the Belfast Ultimate Strongman Giant Weekend.

Both Sean O’Hagan, Ulster’s Strongest man and Clarke Beck, Ireland’s Strongest man 2014 will attempt to beat this at the Belfast Motor Show which takes place this weekend at the King’s Hall. Visitors on Saturday will be able to watch the competition between these two men at 1pm.

Pictured are Glenn Ross, 5 times UK Strongest Man and organiser of the Belfast Ultimate Strongman Giant Weekend 2014, with current ‘Irish deadlift hold’ record holder and 2 x Ireland’s Strongest Man Jonathan Kelly from Newtownabbey along with Kerrie Mann, organiser of the Belfast Motor Show.

For further information on the Belfast Motor Show please visit www.belfastmotorshow.co.uk, to find out more about the Belfast Ultimate Strongman Giant weekend which comes to Belfast on the 21st - 25th August please visit www.ultimatestrongestman.com

Summer at The MAC, Belfast

​Al Fresco dining, Chilean wine tasting, afternoon tea with strawberries and cream and a tapas menu that the Spanish themselves would be proud of.

Set the MAC, Belfast’s award-winning  arts venue in the heart of Saint Anne’s Square in the Cathedral Quarter, Canteen at the MAC offers  Belfast’s premiere, must-visit café culture experience. 

The popular outdoor areas, which spill onto Saint Anne’s Square, will once again invite diners and drinkers to enjoy the sights and sounds of summer time in Belfast.

Sharon Wright, director of Canteen at the MAC said: “We are very excited about the months ahead and are gearing up for a real café-culture vibe in our outdoor dining areas. 

“Not only has the MAC got a brilliant summer line-up scheduled, including the rock and dance summer schools for little ones, there’s also live World Cup  streaming which sees key matches shown in the new indoor garden on large plasma screens, but St Anne’s Square is also playing host to some very exciting outdoor events, including the Taste of Summer Food Festival which will include street food, arts and craft stalls, Canteen’s wine tasting and our famous coffee masterclass.  

“In addition, we have developed a bespoke Canteen Tapas menu and a fantastic range of drinks promotions which will complement the sporting schedule perfectly.  

“We have our limited edition Bud beer buckets, as well as our Lanson Champagne offer where customers will receive a free Wimbledon Neoprene with each purchase, and our special Bella View Rocks cocktails – perfect for those wanting soak up the buzz of Belfast.

“Whether it’s a special occasion such as graduation celebrations or simply a leisurely afternoon or evening out, we look forward to welcoming visitors new and old to our new outdoor areas and are ever hopeful that the weather will remain kind to us.”

For further information on Canteen at the MAC, including menus and photo gallery please visit themaclive.com or call 028 9023 5053 to make a booking or enquiry.

"Big Yellow Cranes Hold Up the Clouds"

One of the landmarks of Belfast, Northern Ireland are Samson & Goliath. The two huge cranes used for ship building dominate the sky line.

Today on Twitter I spotted a RT of this comical planting box, found for sale on the Newtownards Road, in East Belfast. 

There also exists a Tee & Toast, Belfast Heavy Metal tshirt based on the cranes.

And then there's this funky pop art print from Belfast Times.

Completely Free Hot Wheels Zoom & Boom Roadshow hits the UK, including Belfast.

Keep the kids entertained this summer and visit your free ZOOM N BOOM event!  See them become the ultimate TRACK MASTERS with an adrenaline-fuelled HOT WHEELS experience at five leading shopping centres.

Kids can get in the driver’s seat and RACE cars on awesome Hot Wheels TRACK BUILDER SYSTEMS with daring stunts to challenge friends with and become the masters of track design! 

Other fun-filled activities include a PHOTO GREEN SCREEN where kids can try on fun props and have their photo taken with family and friends against themed backdrops! 

Kids can also HAVE A BLAST with BOOMco and test out their BLASTING skills with the cool new AIR-POWERED BOOMco blasters!  With colourful Smart Stick darts and targets, kids can see exactly where they nailed it as the tip of every plastic dart sticks like crazy to the targets! 

See you at the Belfast event!

Dates & Locations:

• 30July-3 thAugust  – Lakeside, Essex
• 6-10thAugust  – Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes
• 13-17thAugust – Arndale, Manchester
• 20-24thAugust – Castle Court, Belfast
• 27-31thAugust  – Braehead, Glasgow

Bollywood Fever Hits Belfast's MAC

Take the hottest arts venue in Northern Ireland, the finest Indian street food, an amazing spectacle of Bollywood dancers, accompanied the sounds of a top Belfast DJ, all washed down with bespoke Havana cocktails and Cobra Beers and what do you get?

The most dazzling event to hit Belfast this summer….Boobie Bollywood in aid of Marie Curie, NICFC and Arts Ekta.

Organised by the infamous Boobie Nights committee, and held in the urban and modern surroundings of the MAC, the event will welcome over 300 revellers donned in their finest Indian garb who will party Bollywood-style over three floors as well as outside the building in the stunning Saint Anne’s Square.

Holly Payne, Boobie Nights committee member is pictured with Sharon Wright, from Canteen at the MAC who will serve an array of delicious dishes and drinks throughout the evening. For tickets visit .themaclive.com or call 028 9023 5053.

Proper Pizza All Round at Little Wing's New Holywood Restaurant

We Smyths are huge Little Wing fans, so when their newest location opened in Holywood a few weeks back, it was as good an excuse as any to 'wing it'.

Little Wing has restaurants in Bangor, Ballyhackamore, Ann Street in the city and on the Lisburn Road. Bangor is our usual, but Holywood previously being a bank building makes for a large, bright dining experience, and I think we will be locals there instead. The food was fabulous too, no teething problems with being a new restaurant to speak of, everything was beyond delicious.

Starters include olives, garlic bread or dough sticks. As in similar family friendly Pizza places, there's a three course children's menu. They choose between dough sticks or soup for first course, with pizzas or pastas as their main meal. The dessert cone and mini-hot chocolate is all included in the set price.

The pizzas at Little Wing are PROPER Italian pizzas. Thin, crispy, with traditional toppings. I always get frustrated when getting Do******s Pizza due to the complete lack of anchovies or olives on the menu in the Bangor branch. In Little Wing you can have both, you can even have calamari (squid).

Shape and size wise the choices are  

1) a regular size pizza  

2) Ireland's BIGGEST pizza, 24", by the slice with side salad, or tackle the beast yourself

3) Skinny Pizza. I'm not sure it means it's a healthy option rather than the regular (although thin crispy dough is definitely healthier than big, thick bases other chain stores sell). These cost £2 more as they include more toppings, and are served on a rustic, wooden board. My husband went for the spiciest on the menu, and I got the anchovie pizza with black olives as an extra. Perfect.

4) a Calzone pizza, a folded, tasty wonder.

The skinny pizza truly defeated me, but boxes are on stand-by to bring your left overs home.

Now I may have been full, but my dessert stomach had room, and as our son got an ice cream with his anyway, we both perused the desserts and coffee menu.

I got the Nutella Pizza and my husband got, as he said, 'the best chocolate cake I've tasted'.

We were very happy with all concerned. Setting  friendliness, value for money, all spot on. They are even in the process of setting up a children's play area in the back, and kids get a spot-the-item colouring page on the back of their menu to keep them busy whilst the pizza is cooking.

You can also order pizza to take away. The Holywood restaurant also has a mini Patisserie Mimi, selling macaroons & treats. So you can pop in for a nosy even if you aren't sitting to eat.

Tweet me @rudedoodle if you get a chance to pop along over the long weekend ahead, your family will love Little Wing.