September 9th, 2009 Oh What a Fright!

The Cafe Quarter would like to extend huge thanks to everyone that came along to our Michael Jackson tribute – ‘Thriller in the Lane’ – it was an amazing spectacle that brought Mill Lane to a standstill!

The evening – a recreation of the star’s iconic ‘Thriller’ dance routine – saw fans of all ages from Cardiff and beyond embracing zombie personas and showing off their smooth MJ moves. Everyone was fantastic – see for yourself with the YouTube footage captured on the night.

A special mention goes to our ghoulish zombies and resident-MJs – see if you can spot them in the video! Frighteningly good!

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August 17th, 2009 Thriller in The Lane Announced!

Michael Jacson Thriller in the LaneOn Saturday 29th August, on what would have been his 51st birthday and as our own tribute to Michael Jackson, the Cafe Quarter is planning to host ‘Thriller in the Lane’ an opportunity for Jackson fans everywhere to come down and dance to Thriller! 

All you need to do is come down to the Mill Lane and join in as we all take to the street for a dance to this classic record at 9pm.  We will have a PA on hand to strike up the tune for everyone to dance to.  Obviously people going the whole hog and donning the full zombie garb will stand out from the rest and we are hoping that  Thriller dance ‘experts’ will join us on the night to lead the way.

We have already heard from a group of You Tube stars who re-created the dance at a friends hen party in Cardiff, and have confirmed that their party will be joining us at Thriller in the Lane.  If you are interested in taking part please come along, you can learn the dance moves by clicking here.  If you have any other special ideas you have then e-mail us at letstalk@blanketcommunications.com

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July 3rd, 2009 Art Comes to Chill Lane!

Our friends from Childrens Charity Tros Gynnal stepped into the Lane this week to talk all things art with the Café Quarter Association.

 

Exciting initiatives could result from the meeting with the charity which holds a hugely important annual at auction celebrating Welsh artists, this year taking place In Swansea Old Museum on October

Painter Marc Monroe in Mill Lane with his famous work

Painter Marc Monroe in Mill Lane with his famous work

20th.

 

We hope to develop close working links with Tros Gynnal and will report more news as soon as we have it.

 

Joining the get together was artist Marc Monroe, who brought with him one of his celebrated works – Marilyn Monroe, depicted frozen in time literally on film. 

 

Marc generously offered to loan the work to the Café Quarter for exhibit, and again we will bring more news of this soon.

 

For now let’s celebrate art!

 

www.trosgynnal.org.uk

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June 17th, 2009 Take That and Party in Mill Lane!

Take That whose fans flocked to the Cafe Quarter

Take That whose fans flocked to the Cafe Quarter

Thousands of Take That fans clearly adore the Cafe Quarter nearly as much as they love the fab four songsters!  Mill Lane has been packed over the past two days as Millennium Stadium concert goers chose it as the centre for dining before and after the top popsters gig over the road at the hallowed ground of Welsh rugby.

Mark Seaton, Manager of Retro in Mill Lane was more than happy about the magnetic effect the all-new Cafe Quarter is having in attracting visitors.  He said: “As a venue we pride ourselves on playing classic tracks from the past three decades, and who better than Take That to give the street a real buzz. I think the lads have had an amazing comeback, I have always admired their work both as artists and dancers and I was thrilled when they announced their Cardiff gigs.  We look forward to Mill Lane attracting the best supporters of big name acts in Cardiff this Summer.”

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June 4th, 2009 Sitar Music Comes to the Lane!

Thanks to the Juboraj Indian restaurant in Mill Lane (or ‘Chill Lane’ as people are now calling the Cafe Quarter) the sweet and exotic sounds of the sitar will be drifing over our al fresco diners on Friday!

Indian musicians playing the Sitar and Tabla will be based outside the Juboraj to charm customers and Cafe Quarter visitors alike.

Restaurant owner Babru Miah said: “The Cafe Quarter is really beginning to come to life, specially with the great weather and following the success of the Coffee Festival is carving out a name for itself as somewhere to and chill in Cardiff.  We are keen to play our part in the areas re-vitalisation and putting on beautiful live music is one of the many initiatives Juboraj will be involved in to establish Chill Lane as the place to go for great food and fun.”

Babru revealed that the plan is to run the live Indian music sessions every Friday.  We will report with news on this.

Indian Musicians coming to the Cafe Quarter on Friday 5th June

Indian Musicians coming to the Cafe Quarter on Friday 5th June

 

babru miah-

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May 22nd, 2009 Joe Pops in to Launch Cafe Quarter Coffee!

Joe with Gareth Wainwright of Cardiff Institute for the Blind

Joe with Gareth Wainwright of Cardiff Institute for the Blind

Welsh boxing legend Joe Calzaghe was a welcome visitor to Mill Lane today, popping in to Gios to launch the Cafe Quarter’s coffee blend created to honour the World Champion. The ‘Calzaghe’ blend of finest Columbian coffee will go on official sale tomorrow as a star feature of the Cardiff Coffee Festival (Saturday 23rd May).

Come down and try out the blend which will be sold to raise funds for Cardiff Institute for the Blind. You can also enjoy great coffee for the lowest ever price with our member venues selling it for £1 a cup all day! See you there and many thanks Joe for helping the Cafe Quarters first event.

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May 20th, 2009 Cardiff Post Starts Our History

The Glamorgan Canal that used to run through Mill Lane

The Glamorgan Canal that used to run through Mill Lane

Today, the mass circulation free newspaper has asked its readers to help us to create an exhibition of the history of Mill Lane.

We are indebted to Cardiff historian Brian Lee who wrote the feature following a meeting with our President, Michael Eddershaw and our Chairman, Giovanni Malacrino. Featuring a brief history of Mill Lane, the piece goes on to ask readers to send in their photos and recollections of Mill Lane so that we can mount an exhibibition in the near future.  It is great that the media is picking up on the growing excitement surrounding the re-birth of the Cafe Quarter.  If anyone has an items or phoots which we could use in the exhibition, or any teachers would like to get in touch with class project ideas to help us, please email us at info@thecardiffcafequarter.co.uk

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May 19th, 2009 Coffee Festival Announced

We are hosting the inaugural Cardiff Coffee Festival – taking place in Mill Lane on Saturday 23rd May.

The event will feature coffee making master classes and the launch of The Calzaghe, the Café Quarter’s own coffee blend in honour of legendary Welsh boxing World Champion Joe Calzaghe.  Proceeds from sales will go to Cardiff Institute for the Blind.

For a lucky few, there will also be the opportunity to taste the World’s rarest and most expensive coffee – a blend of Kopi Luwak (Indonesian Civet Cat coffee) and Blue Mountain from Jamaica.  In London the blend costs £50 a cup. There will also be a ‘guess the number of coffee beans in a jar competition’ to win a year’s supply of ground coffee. 

Come along and enjoy a fun and informative day, and don’t forget coffee at the following venues is only £1 a cup!

£1 a cup venues – Las Iguanas, Gios, Juboraj, Mocka Lounge, Retro Lounge, Giovanni’s, Zync Bar

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