A quirky spot to find art and comedy…read more Drink and Draw is on once a month - A great event to unleash the artist within you, just bring along your sketching materials and your favourite tipple for a night of creative fun. A donated piece of art is awarded to the best drawing of the evening. Full review here: ;-) http://nilights.info/event-46-drink-draw/ Voicebox comedy runs on the last Friday of every month. A bring your own comedy club where you'll find great local comedic talent trying out new material. Expect a night of various comedy acts including improv, performance poetry and musical comedy. A bargain giggle.

Loft Studios reverberate with creativity. Stressed wooden staircases, exposed attic beams and huge…read moresouth facing windows contribute to a light flooded space that hums with an atmosphere of expectation. As soon as you walk in you can immediately tell that great things happen here. This collective of bright young Artists currently includes Brian Kelt, Louise Younger, Jan Gorman, Christina Ellen Maher, David-Lee Badger, Mike Harvey, Gemma Gallagher, Eoin McGinn (aka Emic), Chris Loughlin and Erin Hagan. A real melting pot of talented painters, illustrators, photographers and installation artists. On a recent visit to Loft it was a delight to view paintings by Eoin McGinn and Brian Kelt as I've long been a fan of their work. I also heard from David-Lee Badger about Deadbeat, which is an online platform for the arts, filled with music, design and arts related interviews and reviews. You can check out and follow Deadbeat's Twitter account @deadbeatweets. The Loft Collective run monthly Drink and Draw events, which are informal drawing sessions. It's BYOB and some art materials are supplied by Inkmonkey art shop. They also host comedy nights. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more event information: https://www.facebook.com/loftbelfast.

The (Warzone) Centre has a subterranean feel despite being located up a flight of stairs in Little…read moreVictoria Street. It's not well signposted, so could easily be missed. I would describe this place as being like marmite, you'll either love it or hate it. To really appreciate The Centre you need to fully understand it's history, ethics and reason for existence. It was created in 1986 and has opened and closed over the years, changing location a few times. Born out of a need to serve 'alternative culture' in Belfast, it's home to music gigs, art workshops, Giros Vegetarian Cafe, talks, lectures, meetings, gatherings and art exhibitions. It fills a space and need in Belfast which just isn't being met anywhere else and is run by volunteers. Atmosphere is grungy and dark with mural painted walls and twinkly fairy lights strung across the ceiling. To visualise the appearance and vibe of this place think - punk, gothic, rock, band posters, creative, different, alternative and absolutely not mainstream - and you'll be someway there. I've attended a couple of Vegan Event talks here which were excellent and sampled some delicious spicy vegetarian stew from Giros - thanks to the generous Colin W for sharing it with me! There's a stage, Giros Cafe kitchen and counter, tables, chairs and plenty of floor space. Anyone can book this Centre for an event, to do so you just email: warzonegigcollective@riseup.net For information on upcoming events visit the Warzone website or Facebook page at: http://www.warzonecollective.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Warzone-gig-collective/156649134364054 I would also recommend keeping an eye on the Plant Based Living Facebook page for event information: https://www.facebook.com/Plant-Based-Living-1561868980720956/

The Warzone Centre is a pretty cool venue. It has a bit of a feel of a community hall or really…read moregrungy trendy art venue. The whole place is decorated with some awesome artwork in a very street art/graffiti type vibe. As a venue itself its of moderate size and seems capable of handling a variety of types of event. I attended a vegan talk there last night and it was my first time in the centre. (I hadn't even realised it was there!) Definitely a trendy, heart of the city kind of place. I'd recommend it for any number of events.

The Spectrum Centre opened in 2001, built on the site of a former cinema. Inside there is a main…read moreand minor hall, dance studio, interpretive centre and café. I refuelled with a cup of tea in the pleasant café, which seems to be quite popular, where there is also a display of artefacts relating to the Battle of the Somme and other aspects of local social history along with information boards that provide narrative and pictures. The Spectrum Centre also houses programmes and courses designed to help unemployed people get back into work, as well as theatre, music, literary and artistic activities.

The MAC is a good spot to spend a few hours and get in touch with your arty creative side. There…read moreare normally at least two exhibitions on show which are usually pretty quirky and reminded me alot of some of the galleries I visited in Paris. Exhibitions are very modern and new age quite like the building itself which is architecturally pleasing. Downstairs there is a reception area, kids play area and 'Native' cafe which also serves alcohol. Seating is plentiful and really comfortable. Make sure and go to the 2nd floor of the building where you will find an amazing white leather sofa which once you perch on you will want to just curl up and stay forever. I really want one for home! There are lots of shows in the theatre and upcoming listings can be found at the reception. There are lifts throughout and wheelchair access is excellent. It's also based in St Anne's Square so has a multi storey carpark park nearby and lots of on street parking around the side streets.

Awesome venue with loads of things to offer regarding events…read more Have a good size eating area. I visit here frequently for seminars,lectures and art shows. Their quality of artists that have shows here are world class.

A hidden gem, the Crescent Arts Centre may look basic, but this modern venue is a great open space…read morewith everything you need to host an event. Clean, functional and accommodating, I have seen numerous events here from poetry slams to comedy improv shows. It's BYOB too, which is a great addition!

The Crescent Arts Centre is a basic but contemporary looking venue…read more It functions as a community arts centre for the people of Belfast and holds a variety of dance, music, creative writing and visual art / craft classes for all. They also push the boat out by holding a artistic participatory events, exhibitions and performances. The Crescent Arts Centre are also the curators of the City Dance Festival and Belfast's longest running literary festival - Between the Lines. I was there recently for the Trans:mission night, showcasing the best Irish electronica musicians, as part of Belfast's innovative trans festival. I was itching to see Nouveau Noise, from Dublin who play deliciously glitchy and lush electronica. The set up was very relaxed. It was a mere £5 in and BYOB. Everyone in the main room was seated round tables dotted around the venue and chatting away. On stage there were electronica acts playing some really interesting and innovative stuff with some cool visuals being projected behind them. In the middle of the night, there was a drawing competition- where two massive boards were erected each side of the stage and a 'crew' of illustrators and street artists from Dublin had to freestyle a picture, with a Dj playing in the background. It made for such an interesting night. I'm all for Arts spaces opening up their doors to gigs, like Block T in Dublin. And the bring your own booze door policy is always a winner.

Small intimate venue which holds a number of different types of events, from concerts to plays and…read moreconferences to comedies. Also has a small restaurant/ tea room which means you can get a bite to eat either before or after the event you are attending.

Nicknamed 'the balls on the falls' is a very impressive structure, you get a great view of it…read morewhilst on the hop on hop off bus. Be great to see it at night.

In Belfast, where dreams rise high, Two spheres embrace the…read moresky, A dance of peace in metal's gleam, Reflecting hopes, a city's dream. The Irish love to give nicknames and the Belfast Rise Sculpture has not managed to avoid that fate. Affectionately known as "The Balls on the Falls," it symbolizes hope and renewal. This massive geodesic dome structure is located at the Broadway Roundabout and I spotted it while driving south on the Westlink. It was designed by Wolfgang Buttress and is a geodesic sphere suspended inside a larger sphere. It is a beacon of peace and progress, composed of thousands of metal bars forming two interlocking spheres, and it's mesmerizing. It's also the largest public art sculpture in the city. [Review 1916* of 2024 - 893 in United Kingdom - 22938 overall] *1916 was the year of the Easter Rising, the most significant uprising of Irish revolutionaries since 1798.

Visited here to take part in a children and their teacher event. This is a North and now South…read moreIndian Hindu Temple and community centre. We celebrated kids event upstairs and the South Indian function had finished upstairs and went down for an excellent South Indian Vegetarian feast traditionally eaten with hands on paper trays. It's open year round, please call for advice.

It celebrates Indian festivals,pooja,dance programs etc..Great place for Indian and all other…read morecommunity people to meet and enjoy You can also organise some functions and programs here