Today's idea - Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft

Today if you've got tickets to the sold out and slightly difficult to pronounce Fujiya & Miyagi come to Audio. They're a lovely band who I saw back in March last year in the tediously trendy area of London, in Shoreditch. They're very good live, and afterward I stole the set list and loitered around to get my flappy bit of paper signed by the band who I finally found backstage in something resembling a broom closet. Times have changed and they're a tad more famous now (more fool me for chucking my flappy paper) but still really rather good.

On the other hand, if you're into costumes, papercraft, jewellery making, quilting, knitting and such whatnot, the best bet's to go to the Brighton Centre. From 9:30-5pm today for £6.50, there's a mass of how-to-make demonstrations, displays, talks, and inclusive workshops. As an annual event it sounds like a good wander round for anyone interested in crafty things.

There's

"Lots of experts demonstrating including popular Textile Artist Kim Thittichai. Also at the show are the Beadworkers Guild, Quilters Guild of British Isles, Guild of Machine Knitters, Knitting & Crochet Guild, Lacemakers Circle and Ring of Tatters."

Ignoring the somewhat scarily titled 'guilds' it sounds like a genuinely fantastic how-to, and whilst there's "Handmade Brighton" taking place tomorrow, this is more of a how-to learning than solely focused around buying.

It continues until Sunday at 5:30 and there's more info on the main site here.

Christmas ice skating and fair-ing at the Brighton Centre

Between 10 and 4 today the Brighton Centre becomes infinitely more exciting as it turns into a giant ice rink. We haven't seen this before and aren't sure if this involves pouring water on the floor and opening the doors to the cold, or whether it's a bit more orchestrated. Either way, we're pleased to have our own massive Brighton ice rink, even if it isn't surrounded by fir trees and set in the 1800s (as all Christmas cards illustrate is the right way to go about it).

Opening today and running until the 2nd of January 2010, we advocate the ice rink. Meanwhile, today's a bit special as some sort of mighty Christmas fair is being held there too. Held in the same place, the Christmas Market's press release describes a glowing mass of cheese, champagne, jewelery, art, ceramics, 1950s prom dresses, flowers and floral things, confectionery (we hope this means cake), books, puppets and toys and 'nostalgia'. A busy sort of venture then. On the other hand, the only reference to a men's section of the fair describes a "shiny array of German watches for men", although we're hoping there's a bit more than gold wrist gizmos out there. Most importantly, there's face painting and a Santa's Grotto - neither of which you're ever too old for. Well.. perhaps.

We'd head there for the skating, but if you're so inclined (and it sounds hard to miss it), investigate the fair too.

Skating costs £9, and the fair is free. Christmas away!