The Stokes Croft K Cafe Triangle
Coffee shops are dominated by the chains sporting the same decor and menu. Bristol boasts plenty of Starbucks and Costa Coffees but the flourishing of a smaller unique cafes in the Stokes Croft area is a welcome change.
Kukus Coffee Shop
Kukus on Jamaica Street looks on to the famous Banksy Graffiti on Gloucester Road. It has very airy feel with big windows facing the road and a light colour scheme. Freshly baked basked of bread are placed at strategic points either for enjoyment inside or to be bought takeaway.
They have a daily changing menu of specials which usually includes a vergetarian and non-vegetarian option. When I went this week it was toad in the hole and pasta bake. The toad in the hole came with a large varied side salad. They also have a nice range of soup. Service is always friendly and the place is generally busy without being too crowded. You’ll often see people tapping away on laptops using the free wireless.
Kuvuku Coffee Shop
Cafe Kuvuku is just up the way from Kuku’s on Cheltenham Road. It is a small cafe with an african theme. They have a couple of nice big leather sofas and a selection of books to browse from. Notably they have some nice large picture books with African themes.
The menu is pretty standard with a range of fair trade coffees, paninis and salads. One thing that really strikes the eye is collection of Stokes Croft postcards on display on the counter.
Kino is a vegan cafe perched on a slight hill off Cheltenham Road. The slightly hidden location is worth checking out if only for the super friendly, slightly DIY feel of the place.
Upstairs there is a small seating area with enough space to perch with a coffee and watch the world go by through the large windows. Downstairs there is plenty of seating with tables although it can feel a little cramped. The games and books lining the walls, and the general cheery feel, more than make up for this though.
Bristol is Named UK’s First Cycling City
Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen are famous for their cycles. Everywhere cyclists fly by on black bikes.
The UK department of transport has recently launched a bid to encourage cycling and Bristol has beaten off competition from other major cities to become the first “cycling city”. A grant of 11.4 million pounds will be used to provide free bikes to poorer communities, excellent locker and storage facilities in the city centre and dedicated cycle paths linking the suburbs and the city centre.
Rent Out Your Property as a Film Set in Bristol
Would like to earn extra money in Bristol by renting out your property? Film Bristol is a local Bristol website with holds a registration database of properties in Bristol. You can register there and prospective film makers can approach you about hiring out your property.
Any type of property that could be used on TV or in a film is required. So that could be a stately home, a 3-bed semi or a scruffy student place. If you are willing to put with a few smelly cameramen traipising round this could be a fun and interestig way to earn some extra money.
Volunteer in Bristol
Volunteering is a great way to do something positive for the world, gain experience and hopefully have some fun. So where can you volunteer in Bristol?
The BristolVolunteers website is the first place to look. It contain a comprehensive list of places to volunteer, grouped by sector, and includes a useful urgent vacancies list.
Nationwide Organisations
If you are a good listener maybe you would be interested in becoming a Samaritan. Information sessions are held the first evening of every month in central Bristol on St Nicholas Street.
Arts Organisations
The Cube cinema is a local independent cinema. It is not for profit and entirely volunteer run. It exists as a community social space hwoing films, events and music that would not be shown elsewhere. They do a volunteer induction once a month.
Speed dating in Bristol This Friday the 18th. Tomorrow!
Grapevine social are running a wine tasting/speed dating event this Friday the 18th of April in Central Bristol at Po Na Na’s nightclub.
The age range is going to be 26-38, although this is leeway either side of that. If you are a 40 year woman with a taste for younger men then you should be ok. The night kicks off at 7:30 and includes free entry to the club later that evening.
For booking details follow this link.
Festival of Art - Pierian Centre Bristol
The Pierian Centre Bristol is hosting a festival of art this weekend the 14th, 15th and 16th of March. The centre is located in a lovely building in St Pauls just a few minutes walk away from broadmead and the city centre. The building itself has lots of beautiful artwork and there is a nice leafy park outside if you want to bring along a packed lunch.
The programme is as follows:
Friday 14th March
6.30pm Grand opening of Art ExhibitionTasters of the delights in store! Music - refreshments! Stanfords book launch.
7.30pm“Unforgettable Walks to Take before You Die” by Steve Watkins & Clare Jones (BBC Books)
Saturday 15th March
11am-5pm Art Exhibition
10.30am Shadow puppet workshop & animated film “The Pilgrimage” for families with kids 7–11(Jonathan Hayter - Figure of Speech)
2.30pm Summiting Ama Dablam:Nikki Skinner’s journey from Kendal to Khumbu
7.30pmThrough the Giant Caves of Borneo : illustrated talk by cave explorer Dick Willis
Sunday 16th March
11am-5pm Art Exhibition
11.00amBooks & Buns Morning -coffee, croissants, books & authors
1.30pm“A Message to the Sea” - performance around the Atlantic Slave Triangle
4pm Iraq War: Diana Warner’s experiences on her Bristol to London peace walk
Cabot Circus Cantata: screening & discussion of Neville Gabie
7pm& David Ogden’s musical film Travels with a Trumpet: David Mowat’s story