Take your pick from a five-star new restaurant, a classic film that's given the big screen screening, clothes recycling - even dancing Nazis in sequins (and you don't get to say that very often!). Welcome to your week in Manchester.
Book a table at Hawksmoor
We've reviewed the new Deansgate steakhouse and given it the full five stars. Find out why. And don't worry if you're a veggie - it's still worth a visit. What's more, you can book a table here on Time Out Manchester!
Reds, Cornerhouse, Mon Mar 16, 6.20pm
As part of the Cornerhouse season of films programmed by its audience, 'That's a Wrap', the astonishingly good 'Reds' gets a much needed screening. Despite being nominated for 12 Oscars, (it won Warren Beatty a Best Director gong but lost out to 'Chariots of Fire' as Best Film), it's a masterpiece of political, romantic, epic film making. Incidentally, I was in 'Chariots of Fire' and I STILL wanted 'Reds' to win!
The Producers, Palace Theatre, Mon Mar 16 - Sat Mar 21, £17.90-£36.40
This absolute joy of a show makes a welcome return to Manchester with a cast which includes a lot people who aren't known for their acting! There's Jason Manford, Phil Jupitus and Louie Spence camping it up to the rafters. But there's also Corey English who knows more than enough about proper stage acting to keep things in check and, anyway, when something's this funny maybe it's not a bad idea to cast comedians.
Sew Recycled sewing class from School of Junk
What a brilliant idea. People of Manchester, learn how to recycle your old clothes with some sewing skills, for FREE! This new project from Junk Shop and Recycle 4 Greater Manchester will teach you all you need to know at various places in Manchester, including The Met in Bury and the Levenshulme Inspire Centre.
Music For Words: Facade Entertainment, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Wed Mar 18, £10
Oldham-born William Walton wrote the piece of music Façade Entertainment in collaboration with English writer Edith Sitwell in 1922, taking on the notion that the poems were written for their sound rather than their meaning. As well as this work, a new piece inspired by the work of Burgess himself will get its premiere.
Sam Smith, O2 Apollo, Thu Mar 19-Fri Mar 20, £22.50
From working with Disclosure to his soulful solo career, Sam Smith seems to be unable to put a foot wrong right now and, armed with Grammy and Brit awards galore, he has two nights to serenade his Manchester fans.
Go classical at Bridgewater Hall with two concerts this week focussing on the cello.
The Hallé, Bridgewater Hall, Thu Mar 19, £11-£39
Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No.2 and Mahler's Symphony No.5 with Sir Mark Elder conductor and Alisa Weilerstein on cello.
BBC Philharmonic, Bridgewater Hall, Fri Mar 20, £10-£35
Vassily Sinaisky conducts Lyadov's 'Eight Russian Folk Songs', Prokofiev's 'Sinfonia Concertante' and Vaughan Williams's 'Job', with guest Leonard Elschenbroich on cello.
Bollox, Bangkok Bar, Fri Mar 20, £5
Bollox presents 'Oh Make Me Over', with Lill and Kate Hughes inviting you to take a spin on their makeover wheel to decide your new identity for the night. The music selection is all over the place but in a good way: one moment you might hear The Knife and the next Beyonce and Nine Inch Nails. Plus pre-Bollox live music from Kill Rock Stars signings Esper Scout.
Warpaint, Albert Hall, Sun Mar 22, £15
Moody goth girls to end your week? With two albums out of damn fine songs, donning some Warpaint could be a perfect Sunday night treat.
