The Rising Place

The buildings on North Street above the art deco Bank Of Ireland building – including a former home (called The Loft) of the artists’ collective now known as The Vault– were razed in 2017. Since then, the hoarding around the site has been a site for street art and graffiti art, most recently a series of Clash Street Kids pieces (inspired by the ‘Bash Street Kids’) by the TMN krew. The plan for the location is now to produce (for 100 million pounds) a building housing a multi-media presentation of the results of an “unparalleled programme of story collection” (Belfast City Council) that will be attractive to an anticipated 1.8 million annual visitors (Architects’ Journal).

For the street art in the background, see Belfast Deco.

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Christmas Meat

Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the United States, also commonly known as “turkey day”, and the orgy of eating is today followed by the orgy of spending – Black Friday. The terms are gradually creeping into local parlance, to mark an artificial beginning to the Christmas shopping season. One local petrol chain made headlines yesterday with its “Thanksgiving Thursday” promotion (BelTel | Belfast Live gallery), while one Woodvale butcher is encouraging people to “order your Christmas meat now”, using a saving club if necessary.

The mural underneath is Dan Kitchener’s Night Taxi.

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Larne Sports

Toals bookmakers are offering odds and taking bets on racing, soccer, and … shooting? The PSNI are in the crosshairs. In the background are the Black Arch on the Coast Road and Chaine Memorial tower.

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Home Of Champions

Prokick kickboxing (web) has moved from Dundela to Connswater, a bit closer to town; the new digs will be formally opened on September 12th, the anniversary of founder Billy Murray’s first world championship (Sunday World). The mural in honour of Murray (in Dundela) was designed by Stephen Hackett and painted by Glen Molloy (ig).

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/east-belfast-murals-aim-promote-21068122

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Everyone Wants To Eat

The Bellevue steps lead from the Antrim Road to Floral Hall, which served as a concert and dance hall before closing in 1973 and since becomign dilapidated. There have been various plans and calls for redevelopment, even in the last five years (one | two | three) and there is a Facebook group dedicated to restoring Floral Hall, but nothing has happened. As the wide shot shows (below) the famous steps too are overgrown; the facade at least has been painted with zoo animals, by London artist Irony (ig) (Belfast Media). The lion’s name is Quays (Zoo); the giraffe is called Ballyronan (BelTel).

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Dance Addiction

The arrow of the Dance Addiction (Fb) mural points to a cat in the grass (above) and/or to Parkgate Avenue Gospel Hall (below).

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Sweets For My Sweet

For a trip down memory lane, check out the wide variety of sweets available from Old Time Favourites, including the foam shrimps and bananas painted by Pigment Space (Fb | ig) on the side of the shop in Winetavern Street, Belfast. Painted by street artist MWAK/Pigment Space (ig).

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Pets Corner

Another boarded-up building in Larne town centre: Pets Corner at the junction of Dunluce Street and Lower Cross Street, which perhaps became BMK Pet Supplies across the street.

Previously: Potential

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What We Knead

Man does not live on bread alone, but on cheese and tomato sauce. And perhaps some extra toppings and side orders, from We Knead Pizza (Fb) in McQuillan St. For information about Sr Faustina Kowalska, “Apostle Of Divine Mercy”, who had visions of Jesus, see This Image Is Blessed.

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Green & Gold

Work by Danni Simpson (ig) in the courtyard of White’s Tavern, Winecellar Entry.

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