CitySocialiser of the week

Posted by citysocialising | Posted on 09-05-2012

Category : CitySocialiser of the week, CitySocialising HQ

Who: Anthony

Where: Bristol

Why: Anthony was nominated by our Bristol Community Manager Michelle for being a great host and a really popular and active member of CitySocialising. Michelle went on to add that Anthony is a real support and always creates fun, interesting and popular socials.

Alan Says: ”CitySocialising has made a huge difference to my social life, dragging me out of my comfort zone and into new things. A few months ago I would never have imagined myself leading countryside walks, for example. I have experienced far more restaurants and pubs in Bristol than ever I would have done without City Socialising. I am a big fan!”

Email your nominations for CitySocialiser of the week to contact@citysocialising.com.

Get peddling CitySocialisers

Posted by citysocialising | Posted on 03-05-2012

Category : CitySocialising HQ, Friendship Trends and News

Tags: ,

Cycling seems to be a hot topic at the moment, particularly in the UK’s cities as more people are looking for cheaper and environmentally friendly ways to get around.

With the London Mayoral Elections taking place this week, cycling is a key issue in the capital at the moment. After Boris Johnson partnered with Barclays in 2010 to launch cycle docks across Central London, he is now going after the bicycle-loving voters with the promise of more cycle lanes and improvements to safety.

The popularity of Pashley Cycles and the hype around Mark Cavendish in the upcoming Tour De France are also leading us to wonder if the whole of the UK are cycling obsessed! But If you’re yet to make the leap from public transport onto your bike and not sure if the roads of Briton are ready for you, we promise to have you converted by the end of this post with the top 10 reasons for getting on your bike.

1.    Don’t start off your day being squished on public transport:

We figured it’s the morning adrenaline rush that makes cyclists so happy. Whizz past traffic jams, rush to beat the big red bus, zip past cars – beats being crammed up in a rush hour tube with somebody’s chin on your shoulder and armpit in your face.

2.    Wind in your hair and a smile on your face:

Starting your day free as bird with the wind in your hair, music in the air and a smile on your face can be extremely therapeutic and instantly puts you in a good mood. It also gives you good thinking time – rather than shoving your face into a book in order to avoid eye contact with other travellers

3.    Stops global warming:

Cycling does wonders to Mother Earth. It helps to reduce your carbon footprint and with the recent hike in petrol prices and ridiculous queues at petrol stations, you don’t feel the pinch of any such hassles if you are a cyclist.  

4.    Carry anything home:

Forget all the worries of having to buy groceries and lugging them home. Particularly the worry of the bags splitting and all your food escaping down the road! Cycling means you can pack away all your items in a classic pannier or simply tie items to the rack on the back of your bike. Just be careful you don’t topple over.

5. Save money

Commuting within your city can be expensive on public transport. Cycling into work or anywhere else is cost-effective with no parking, petrol, or insurance charges. And if you don’t want to invest in a bike, and your in London you could always rent a Boris Bike to get started.

6.    Late? Me, never!

Gone are those days where you had to rely on public transport and begin your morning cursing of the public transport officials and the frequency in your area. You can now depend on just yourself to get to your destination on time without any delays.

7.    Legs of steel

Forget the gym membership or your circuit training classes, biking everyday can get you fit this summer. So whether it’s legs of steel or some serious calorie burning you are after then cycling is the answer.

Studies show that cycling protects you against heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers, while supporting healthy bones, muscles, joints and even sleep patterns.

8.    Impress with your cycle skills

 You can always stand apart from the crowd by being a cyclist. All your friends, family and colleagues will be impressed with your stamina and your bosses will be impressed by your dedication and passion. It’s always a good way to impress your fellow CitySocialisers too!

9. Explore your city

You may feel like you really don’t know much about your neighbourhood, let alone your entire city. Using the public transport means you miss some of the best undiscovered places like lovely pubs, green spaces you have never noticed, and new cafes and restaurants to try. If you are travelling underground, the only thing you get to see is black walls, sparks and lots of wires.

Being on a cycle gives you the flexibility to take off and see your city the way you want to see it. Stop for a photo of a scenic view or take your bike to one of the many cycle café’s popping up like Look Mum No Hands in London and Mud Dock in Bristol. You can grab a cup of coffee and get your bike serviced at the same time! Do you know any amazing spots in your city? Why not organise a cycle quest Social and share the joys with your local CitySocialisers.

10. Be a part of the cycle community and make new friends

Being a cyclist means you are instantly part of a strong community. To be a part of this community and make new friends all you have to have is the shared love for your bikes and determination to be a cyclist in the 21st century.

If you are a cyclist in your city let us know as we are constantly looking for Socials that are enjoyed by our wider group of CitySocialisers.  Simply let us know on Twitter or Facebook, if you fancy organising a cycle themed Social.

 

Photos Courtesy: BikeNow.org  / garryknight(Flickr)

CitySocialiser of the week

Posted by citysocialising | Posted on 02-05-2012

Category : CitySocialiser of the week, CitySocialising HQ

Tags: ,

Who: Alan

Where: Bath

Why: Alan was nominated by fellow member Jenny Wood for his trips to Taunton. He books hotels, trains and is always thinking of new Ideas for Socials.

Alan Says: ”I am extremely surprised that I have been nominated  for CitySocialiser of the Week because to be nominated for just having fun is great. Since joining CS in September I have meet some lovely people who have become good  friends and have been on some wonderful socials in Bath. It is always exciting catching up with fellow CS members and also meeting new members. Now I have become a host it is always interesting coming up with ideas for socials and finding new venues to hold events”

If you’d like to nominate someone for CitySocialiser of the week simply email contact@citysocialising.com with the subject line ‘CitySocialiser of the Week’, their name and one line as to why you’ve nominated them.

Rain, Rain go away…We want to play! CitySocialising’s Top 10 Rainy Day Tips

Posted by citysocialising | Posted on 26-04-2012

Category : CitySocialising HQ

Tags: , , , ,

Nature is such a teaser. It gives you one week of lovely sunshine and then suddenly it’s snowing! To add to our misery, it gets even worse with two weeks of rain! We wish Mother Nature would make up her mind because we can’t decide whether it’s time to pack up our winter boots and start shopping for swimwear or keep the waterproofs on standby.

Worry not CitySocialisers, we are determined to make a rainy day full of fun, socialising and entertainment! So here goes our top 10 list of rainy day inspirations, guaranteed to banish the bad weather blues:

1. Let your brolly stand apart from the crowd

A gorgeous looking and sturdy umbrella can surely brighten up those rainy days. If you love being different, you will love these Paris themed or Poppy Field Umbrellas. Check them out here, and those who are charged up with all the exciting things happening around London 2012, how about these sporting the official Team GB umbrellas from Marks and Spencer’s? But if all that’s a bit too much, we also love this Dome umbrella for only £6.99

2. Load up on caffeine at the London Coffee Festival

What better way to beat the rain than a grande skinny triple-shot soy frappucino.’Bean’ up to Brick Lane this weekend, Friday 27th – Sun 29th April to enjoy the flagship event of UK Coffee Week.

Back for their second year,  join the 12,000 coffee lovers and foodies, professional baristas, coffee shop owners and industry experts for the UK’s most inspiring and dynamic celebration of all things roasted and ground. Also, relish some street food and other deli goods, masterclass & live music. 50% of all ticket sales will be donated to Project Waterfall, which provides clean water to communities in Tanzania. Tickets process start from at £9.50, find out more here.

3. Singin’ in the Rain

Well there’s definitely been a lot of rain to sing in recently, so go ahead and enjoy an evening of musical hit, Singin’ in the Rain, in the West End. It was nominated for 4 Olivier Awards, including best musical revival. Just watch out for the actual rain on the front row. Find out more here.

4. Plan a beach holiday

Close your eyes and picture yourself, lying on a beach, sunshine on your face and listening to the waves in the background. We bet you’re smiling already?

That’s it then, go out there look for bargain deals and book your amazing beach vacation to beat the rainy blues. Once all your bookings are done, you can begin the countdown to some sun, sand & sea.

But, if your pockets are feeling a bit empty, there are alternatives. Why not take a trip to your local outdoor swimming pool? Find your nearest outdoor pool here.

5. Bring on the aprons and chef hat

Bake, did we say Bake?! Yes, not only can it prove to be quite therapeutic, it’s also the height of fashion, so how about baking some rainy day cupcakes? We love this cupcake by Bakeitinacake, with a white vanilla buttercream cloud.

6. Movie Night

Although a rainy day calls for a perfect lie in with a giant bowl of popcorn and Notting Hill, it could turn out to be quite depressing if you are doing it all by yourself. Instead, why not organise a big movie night for you and your mates. Design movie posters, set up a popcorn and drinks bar at home and even use torches to guide your friends to their seats and let the movie begin.

Ps: Don’t forget to check for ID’s.

7. Theme Park fun!

At least once this spring, you should hit a theme park in the rain. No long queues, only plenty of laughter and adrenaline. All you got to is make sure you’ve carried some extra dry clothes for your ride back home. So gear up and head out to Alton Towers or Thorpe Park.

8. Museum peace

Yes we really are proposing the idea of visiting a museum! This could be a perfect day out for you and a group of CitySocialisers to head out to somewhere you’ve been meaning to visit for ages and have never got around to. Many of them you don’t even need to pay for. There are museums to discover science, wildlife, dress-up, history or art all over the country. So come on, bring out your inner geek!

9. Shopping day

A rainy day is a perfect excuse to head out to a big indoor shopping centre and indulge in some retail therapy. Walk around Westfield or The Trafford Centre and treat your wardrobe to some brand new clothes. Complete you day with some food or a film and continue to be totally ignorant of the weather outdoors!

10. Treat your friends 

If you havent taken advantage of this months fantastic ‘we love people’ offer then now’s the time to get your free two month membership to tastecard and treat a friend to dinner. You can get your card here and it’s completely free.

As if all that wasn’t enough to keep you entertained on these dreary, drizzly days and singing “The sun will come out tomorrow” we have plenty of indoor Socials taking place this week. From our Masquerade Mingle in London to a trip to Cadbury’s World in Birmingham and loads more all over the UK.

Simply follow us on Twitter, ‘Like’ us on Facebook or visit our website for latest updates on what’s happening in your city.

Photo courtesy of Singin’ in the Rain/Facebook 

< Previous
Next >