I love art, well looking at it. The thought of painting, drawing and creating appeals to me, but the actual doing doesn’t yield good results. I’ve tried, but am too critical, hence the fact that I write poetry, it’s more me. But then maybe I haven’t found the right place to paint. With food and drink thrown into the mix, this sounds excellent for those like me that lack confidence or who struggled to be artistic at school. The thought of been artistic could be a reality. 

Thus Adding a splash of colour to your plonk is New York’s latest craze.’Paint & Wine Party’, hits Birmingham in September.

Park Regis Birmingham, a luxury, four-star hotel based at Five Ways will be mixing wine with paint at the unique event, where wannabe Da Vincis can get creative in a relaxed and fun environment.
Inspired by the increasingly popular trend in America, guests will follow a step-by-step painting guide provided by the teacher – although freestyling is encouraged – while enjoying wine and a ‘painter’s platter’ of canapes and nibbles at the same time.

Whether it’s your first time painting or an art enthusiast, guests of all abilities are welcome as the teacher talks through each brushstroke, splatter and blend to make sure your masterpiece – which can be taken home at the end – can be hung proudly at home.

  
Robin Ford, general manager at Park Regis Birmingham, said: “We can’t wait to bring the Paint & Wine craze, that has swept New York and more recently London, to the hotel. Whether you’re a seriously talented painter or an absolute beginner, everyone will be able to create a work of art to be proud of while enjoying a few glasses of wine and some delicious nibbles. If you’re thinking ‘I really can’t paint, I’d be terrible’, then you should definitely come along, you’d be surprised at what you could create.”

Park Regis Birmingham, will be hosting its ‘Wine & Paint Party’ on Saturday 10th September, 3-5pm. 

Tickets cost £35 and include all art materials, two glasses of wine and a painter’s platter. Veggie option available. 

Tickets are available from:

http://parkregis.eventbrite.com/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Opus at Cornwall Street has secured its place as the Midlands’ most sustainable independent restaurant with another award win. 

The 2AA Rosette restaurant won the ‘Best Greener and Healthier Lifestyles (Food) Scheme’ award at the ‘Making Birmingham Greener and Healthier Awards 2016’, an accolade from Birmingham’s Green Commissions to celebrate those businesses that are undertaking groundbreaking work with environment. 

Opus picked up the gong at a ceremony on Tuesday 5th July at Birmingham Council House, after it demonstrated a dedication to ethical food sourcing, educating schoolchildren on the importance of good nutrition, raising awareness of British suppliers and collaborating with other Birmingham businesses in an attempt to make the city greener. 
Praised for its passion for sustainability, 90% of Opus’ produce is sourced in Britain and much around the Midlands, in a bid to support the local economy and lower the restaurant’s carbon footprint. Menus are freshly-written each day, keeping food waste to a minimum.  
The restaurant was further commended for its approach to sharing knowledge on moral food sourcing through its unique ‘Source Dinner’ series, in which the restaurant connects the diner with its family of farmers and suppliers, allowing them to hear their compelling stories and see first-hand the passion put into raising their quality produce. 
Other initiatives that helped Opus pick up the award, included its work with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts ‘Adopt a School’ charity programme and its ‘Opus in Conversation’ series. 

This year, Opus has ‘adopted’ St Clare’s Primary School in Handsworth to teach pupils the importance of food hygiene, healthy nutrition and how to prepare dishes. 
‘Opus in Conversation’ is a series of discussions on matters of importance to the city, which this month sees the restaurant campaigning to save the UK’s bee population following news that 35 species are under threat of extinction. 
Sarah Hepburn, sustainability champion at Opus at Cornwall Street, said: “Supporting sustainable, British food – as well as sharing our knowledge on ethical sourcing – is so important to the Opus family. We take our responsibility in making Birmingham greener incredibly seriously and we recognise that our actions, along with the influence we can have on others, can make a huge impact. Receiving this award from our own community is a fantastic achievement and is proof of our team’s passion and commitment to this cause.” 
Barbara Street, Professional Support Officer to the Sustainability Team at Birmingham City Council, said: “When selecting winners, we were looking at organisations that had gone that extra mile and had done something that is not in their normal line of business. We wanted to reward those whose projects had proven benefits to both people and the environment, could be an inspiration to others and have future ambitions to be even greener. Opus fitted this bill perfectly. 
“Not only did the restaurant win due to its ethical purchasing policy, but also because it had taken its food education outreach further by adopting a school and launching a scholarship programme for third year hospitality students at University College Birmingham.” 
This outstanding award from Birmingham’s Green Commission follows news that Opus Restaurants was named a ‘Three Star Sustainability Champion’ by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) – the most prestigious and highest possible rating a restaurant can achieve. From achieving its highest rating yet of 82%, the restaurant group is now in the top 9% of SRA members nationally.

Congratulations to Opus.

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

Birmingham’s Green Commission is an advisory body to Birmingham City Council and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and works with people from a range of backgrounds – whether that be businesses, local authorities, researchers or voluntary organisations – in a bid to see Birmingham become of the greenest, most environmentally-friendly in the world.