50 things that make me smile in Birmingham

In no particular order, just how they spilled out from my thoughts...The building of the new libraryTown Hall – From Robert Plant to the BBC Big BandSymphony Hall – Chandeliers, acoustics and an organAlpha Tower (or is that just me? – my favourite building)Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – because it’s majestic on the outside, magnificent on the inside and it’s all free.Theatre Land – to be able to just walk to the theatre, no subway for us.The Jewellery QuarterCustard Factory – if the name isn’t enough there’s the vintage fairsSt Pauls Square – 1 min from Colmore Business District and all is quiet24 Carrots – an excellent reason to go to the JQT, if you needed oneUrban Coffee Co – the best in Birmingham (although I have said that many times)Kiss Me Cupcakes - dittoThe canal –a scenic walk to somewhere fabulousNIA – knowing people from all over the world come to perform thereBirmingham Airport – oceans ahead (pun intended) from the big London airportsThe Evening Mail sellers in their kiosks “Maaaeeeil”Cadburys (thanks to @blondepinky3)That I can walk everywhereThat Digbeth is now apparently called the Irish QuarterThe new National Express coach station – like they said, just like a (tiny) airport and it was opened by Fabio Capello.That Helena Bonham Carter pops into Urban Coffee Co for breakfastThe Jazz (and blues) FestivalThe arts festivalThe film festivalThe book festivalGay Pride & the gay villageSt Patricks Day parade – I was at the New York version when I learnt Birmingham’s huge Irish community make this the 3rd largest in the world, after NYC and DublinSelfridges, House of Fraser and Harvey Nicks – strategically placed 10 minutes from each other. House of Fraser will forever be known as my 7 floors of heaven.The old school musical heritage (Ozzy Osborne, Roy Wood, ELO, Robert Plant, Slade)The new school musical heritage (Duran Duran, UB40, Ocean Colour Scene, The Editors)The comic heritage (Lenny Henry, Frank Skinner)The acting heritage (Julie Walters, Martin Shaw)The multitude of live music venues, huge and tiny including Yardbird Jazz Club,  The Jam House and of course the O2 right in the city centreThe ICC – because it houses so much, it brings revenue & jobs and at night at any case, it’s stunning (not so much in the day but I’m being positive)The student population – or to be honest, the fact they are being educated at any number of our fine educational establishments3 Michelin star restaurants, the now famous Lasan and the huge variety of gorgeous restaurants. Birmingham will never go hungryThe Balti TriangleBull Ring - not The Bull RingThe Electric – the oldest working cinema in the country and one of four in the central areaThe Broad Street ‘Walk of Stars’JR TolkienSt Pauls Gallery with the album covers exhibition that quite frankly, I want to move into.Brindleyplace – it’s just one word you knowJekyll & Hyde (via @blondepinky3)The Actress & Bishop (via @blondepinky3)The Lord Clifden – music, BBQs, glitter balls and Banksy. We are truly spoilt.Birmingham Cathedral@likemind – my favourite start to any day, never mind a FridayThe thing I love most about Birmingham – the warmth of the people. It’s not just me; all the outsiders say the same thing.One more ???Give me a minute, I’ll think of lots more as soon as I hit ‘publish’.