And then I learn that Mr Ralph has lost his early lead in BiNS Brummie of the Year and been overtaken by UB40’s Brian Travers, which is well deserved, especially for his sterling support for The Rainbow, but a little saddening all the same. I think I need some chocolate to cheer me up.
Written by Nicky Getgood on Sunday, October 19th, 2008 ( 5 responses )
Tags: mr ralph
Mr Ralph is a true Digbeth institution. A charming older Irish gentleman who’s invariably found in one of the many Digbeth pubs, peddling goods from his battered old suitcases, which have been specially customised with his own Mr Ralph brand.
Watch out for him in the run up to Christmas, for which he’ll be stuffing his suitcases full of festive goodies.
Flickr: Brett Wilde’s stuff tagged with digbeth – This guy has some truly beautiful images of Digbeth. When I read his incredibly honest Flickr profile I found his photography is not just artistic but therapeutic. It’s amazing stuff, I hope I get to meet him someday. Me and Melinda Scwakhofer tried to take a look in the Digbeth Car Wash building pictured above, but the place is so full of tyres not even the workers can get in. Their office seemed to be an old black cab with no wheels stranded in the courtyard.
Digbeth is Good now has a calendar! Let me know if there’s anything you think should be on there.
Rosa’s Cafe Blog – Unfortunately this lovely cafe blog featuring eggs, sausage, beans, chips and a lycra-clad Elvis who looks like he’s eaten the lot, closed when the cafe did. But Rosa Herzberg’s short film about the now boarded-up place can be seen at The Library Theatre at 7pm this Friday as part of ArtsFest. When searching for info about this I found this utterly pointless and bizarre film of a man running towards it along to the Baywatch theme tune. Only on Youtube.
Left Luggage – Visiting artist Melinda Schwakhofer finds some discarded suitcases on River Street. The brown leather one looks suspiciously like Mr Ralph’s, who we spent half of Sunday trawling the local pubs for. Well, that was our excuse.
Longhouse Action Research: Beginning at the Beginning – Anna Francis’ writing about her research project in Stoke-on-Trent actually gives a good insight into the thinking behind the work of Friction Arts, who are doing some very interesting projects around their base of Digbeth and the nearby areas.
Created in Birmingham » VIVID’s Pioneers Series – Meant to post this myself but Chris Unitt beat me to it, rounding things up very nicely indeed. VIVID’s three unmissable film programmes from ICO Essentials: The Secret Masterpieces of Cinema, concentrating on Play, Pop and Modernity. Is it me or are film screenings becoming a thing of Digbeth galleries? Outersight at The Edge, Len Lye and Warhol films at Ikon Eastside, and VIVID continuing their Pioneer Series.
