Comfort food at Rosa’s
By Erica Crompton Hungry and in a hurry? Thai cuisine café Rosa’s is unlikely to disappoint as the sun sets over Birmingham’s former Paradise Parade site. Set atop the high and mighty Hill Street, it’s quite the journey to arrive here in a wheelchair, but the Panang curry, Pad Thai noodles and cocktails are worth […]
Accessible Staffordshire by Caroline Butterwick
By Caroline Butterwick North Staffordshire has been my home for over a decade. I love exploring where I live, and I’m still discovering places to visit for a great day out. Being partially sighted and experiencing tiredness from medication I take for my mental health, accessibility is key when planning a trip. Luckily there are […]
Quail birds at Edo restaurant
By Erica Crompton “Is this the Quail or the egg?” It’s only after sampling the vast array of local Belfast beers and whiskeys that I ask this, but the friendly staff take it in their stride: “It’s the bird,” offers the understanding waitress all pristine black shirt, matching apron and compassionate smile. EDŌ, prounouned “aye-doh” […]
Belfast’s Blue Badge Billy
By Erica Crompton Opening a conversation with local residents is how you really get a feel for the charm and elegance of Belfast and a sense of how this UK city has emerged from conflict to become a safe, popular short-break city. Today it stands as one of the world’s top tourist destinations thanks to […]
One way to New York Cheugy
By Erica Crompton In 2002 I booked a one-way ticket to New York City with no plans to return. I took a job at the late Santa D’Orazio’s photographic agency and spent my time eating Burritos in Brooklyn by night, while chugging photographic portfolios around magazines based in Lower Manhattan in the day. With my […]
Guest Post by The Last Skeptik
Memories of the Rave By The Last Skeptik I love performing anywhere in California. The vibe of being in the sunshine, playing music in LA – the city which birthed so many of my favourite records is a mad concept, and there is no better feeling. Everything feels like you’re in a movie. Even just […]
Online dating by Joe Tuesday
By Joe Tuesday Having recently come out of a relationship and feeling sorry for myself I decided it would be a good idea to see if the stuff I’m made out of is still somewhat sought after by the opposite sex. I’ve never been great at dating and forming relationships, my last relationship was the […]
Flames of the furnace, a poem by DARREN HOBSON
The writing community on Twitter is a place where you can read beautiful words, showcase your work and meet lovely people. Just last week, while promoting my zine on twitter, I checked all three when I stumbled across poet Darren Hobson. The below poem, Flames of the Furnace chimes with me, and with Darren’s permission […]
A splendid isolation: why I’m enjoying lockdown and how you can too
The Easter prior to lockdown was a long sunny weekend. Families got together, couples went for romantic meals – I had nothing planned. I was just lay on my bed in my room listening to the parties outside and feeling a deep sense of regret that I not only didn’t have a family of my […]
Buy a Hopezine today
Dear friends, family and colleagues, Hello from a sparklingly frosty Staffordshire. I’m delighted to present issue 4 of Hopezine today, attached, which is hot off the press. You can buy yours today. And past issues as well as paintings can be brought here. In this special winter 2020 edition of Hopezine, there’s a spiritual theme, […]