His & Hers takes a look at some of the upcoming Eurovision highlights…
Liverpool Cathedral Installation
Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral will host a special video installation documenting the journey Ukrainians need to make in order to flee the nation following Russia’s invasion. Izyum to Liverpool is a the train journey told through a multi-channel video installation filmed direct from the railway carriage.
Writing On The Wall
(WOW) and the Dead Good Poets Society presented WOWFEST. The event happened at Leaf upstairs in Bold Street on May 10th. The Poets of Freedom showcased Ukrainian poets. Some were recorded performances from Ukraine. There were be live performances from Ukrainian poets living in the area. Check out the web-site for future events.
The Museum of Liverpool
The Museum promises musical stairs and exciting live performances from gifted musicians. There will be special events and an opportunity for those who attend to become ‘stars’. Check out the web-site for a list of events.
Tate Liverpool
Tate Liverpool has an exclusive viewing of the Final of Eurovision. The event will take place May 13th at 19.00. Visitors will be able to relax and there will be a selection of food and drinks in the comfort of the gallery.
The Didsbury String Quartet is one of the leading modern string quartets in the North West of England. Set up originally to entertain at functions and events, they have made numerous television and radio appearances.
The Didsbury String Quartet was formed in 2012, after graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Made up of freelance musicians, they have performed all over the world. When not performing live at events, or on television, they have been in the recording studio with names such as Ellie Goulding, Gary Barlow, Sting, and Lady Gaga.
Royal Albert Dock restaurants
Bringing Ukrainian culture to Liverpool’s waterfront, Olia Hercules has developed two recipes for a selection of the dock’s bars and eateries, allowing visitors to experience Ukrainian cuisine close to where the city will be hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine.
From 1-13 May, those with a sweet tooth can visit Maray, Madre and Lunyalita to enjoy Syrnk – a Ukrainian cheesecake topped with caramelised apples. It is based on a recipe Olia’s mother used to make. Visitors to The One O’Clock Gun, Revolucion de Cuba, Tate Liverpool Cafe, The Beatles Story’s Fab4 Cafe, Madre and Lunyalita can savour a Ukrainian Kompot Spritz. This is a fruity cocktail blending berries, rhubarb and sour cherries with Ukrainian vodka, Prosecco and soda water. My kind of cocktail!
Both the dessert and cocktail will appear on specials menus during the two weeks of the campaign and guests are invited to make a voluntary donation of £1. The donation will be added to their bill to raise funds for #cookforukraine. The initiative was co-founded by Olia Hercules and her friend Alissa Timoshkina, a Siberian-born food writer and historian.
Since it was launched in 2022, #cookforukraine has raised over £2m for UNICEF and aided in further spotlighting the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Speaking about her involvement with Eat Drink Ukraine, Olia Hercules said:
“I’ve been delighted to work with Royal Albert Dock, especially when the eyes of the world are going to be on the city this coming May. An opportunity like this couldn’t be missed and it’s great to see my mother’s dessert and my Kompot Spritz appearing on so many…restaurant menus.They’ve really embraced the project and it’s lovely to be able to share a little part of my Ukrainian heritage with so many visitors coming to the city!”
Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Head to the luxury Titanic Hotel for a cocktail to tantalise taste-buds on Grand Finale day. Suitably it is named after the song contest’s famous turquoise carpet, Turquoise Vision. It iincludes vodka, Blue Curaçao, pineapple juice, gomme syrup and passionfruit, and mirrors the Ukrainian flag.
What’s Cooking
Located a stone’s throw from the arena where all the action is taking place, enjoy a pre-show tipple at What’s Cooking. Sip on their Ukrainian-inspired cocktail, Budmo, which means ‘Cheers’. Ingredients include vanilla vodka, licor 43, honey syrup, orange juice, blue Curaçao and lemon juice.
Gusto
Raise a glass to Gusto’s colourful creation, To Ukraine With Love. Developed specially for the occasion, sip on the refreshing flavours off Bombay Citron Presse Gin, Limoncello, lemon, passion fruit, orange juice, Briottet and blue Curaçao. All this while overlooking Royal Albert Dock’s rippling waters for the perfect al fresco experience.
Tonight Josephine Liverpool
Tonight Jospehine will have its Lyubov cocktail available on Friday 12th May until the end of the month to support the people of Ukraine. A special Eurovision cocktail where all proceeds will be going to Ukraine’s Disaster Emergency Committee.
The cocktail, named Lyubov – meaning Love in Ukrainian – is made up of Ukrainian vodka Nemiroff Honey & Pepper, with Giffard Blue Curacao, Absinthe, lemon juice and honey syrup.
To mark Liverpool being the chosen host city for the Eurovision Song Contest, from Friday 12th May until the end of the month, guests celebrating at Tonight Josephine will be able to purchase the Lyubov cocktail for £10. All proceeds support the people of Ukraine.
During Eurovision there are two themed bottomless evening brunches; The Eurovision Brunch and The Abba brunch! The Eurovision Brunch is centred around all of the cheesiest Europop hits and much like the Vengaboys themselves, team Josephine likes to party.
Guests will have the choice of Spritz cocktails, bubbles, beer and a brunch dish.
Prizes will include free cocktails and bar tabs for guests to use on the night!
Tonight Josephine will also play host to the Eurovision-themed ABBA Brunch for all of the dancing queens out there.
Dedicated to Eurovision’s iconic 70s stars, ABBA, this brunch will see guests entertained, serenaded and left amazed with performances by stars as seen in London’s Mamma Mia the Musical.
Hosted by Tonight Josephine’s fierce drag queen, a best dressed table award is up for grabs so flares, floral shirts and platform boots are encouraged! The table named best dressed will win a £100 free bar tab!
Not only that, but guests will also be going head-to-head in an epic sing-along battle where the winner will most likely take it all!
Brunch dishes for both events include free-range pulled pork burger served in a brioche bun with rainbow cabbage and apple slaw with a side of fries. Another option is honey and Cajun glazed chicken skewers with new potatoes, feta cheese and pesto salad. My own favourite: crispy coated red prawns with steamed coconut rice and a Vietnamese minted sweet chilli salad, There are veggie and vegan options on the menu.
Perri Palmer, Head of Brand for Tonight Josephine, said: “The most popular toast in Ukraine is Za Lyubov: “To Love”. The Eurovision is all about love, love of being together, the love of coming together in one night, a love of music and no barriers to love. We created the Lyubov ‘love’ cocktail for the people of Ukraine and we extend our love to those people and will donate all profits from this drink to their charities.’’
For more information on all of Royal Albert Dock’s Eurovision events programme, www.albertdock.com/eurovision/.
https://writingonthewall.org.uk/myevents/poets-of-ukraine/
Tickets for WOW Poets of Ukraine, £5 at: https://bit.ly/3AVnhv5
Rave Ukraine/ images credit to: Marketing Liverpool/Mark McNulty
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool/eurovision-song-contest-2023-screening
Dates include 6th and 12th May from 8-10pm. Tickets are £39pp and can be purchased via: https://www.tonightjosephine.co.uk/eurovision/.
https://www.tonightjosephine.co.uk/the-abba-show-liverpool/.
https://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/
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