Aaaand relax! That was kind of the feeling when I finally finished fiddling with CreativeTourist.com, a new website for Manchester that launched earlier today. Here’s what it’s all about:

This website has been lovingly crafted by Manchester Museums Consortium, a group of nine museums and galleries in Manchester, separate venues that have a single vision: the desire to stage intelligent, thought-provoking exhibitions and events. Oh, and to celebrate the city in which we live, work and play.

We are rightly proud and passionate about this city of ours; we hope that, by reading about some of the things happening here, and finding out more about our outstanding historic collections, you’ll start to feel the same.

This celebration of our fair city is what has particularly drawn me to the project – the promise of original, substantial editorial coverage of Manchester, the likes of which is a rare treat right now. The launch content ties in with Manchester International Festival of course – Marina Abramovic and Jeremy Deller both make appearances – but there’s also a feature connected to the Videogame Nation currently on at Urbis, for example, and another about ‘Manchester hermit’ Ansuman Biswas.

The blog section is shaping up nicely too, with the Manchizzle’s Kate Feld doing a MIF ‘cultureometer’ roundup, among other posts. Kate’s another member of the CreativeTourist team, which is being overseen by editor Susie Stubbs – winner of last year’s Manchester Blog of the Year no less. Check out the site now, and if you find it interesting sign up for regular email updates, follow it on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook.

Between my nine Twitter accounts (don’t ask – I rarely even visit the site) I’m made aware of some ingenious uses of the platform – none more so than @tweetamanchestercab, which started following @rainycitystories yesterday:

We are a collective group of cab companies operating in Manchester United Kingdom. Follower our group and next time you need a cab tweet us

What a great little idea. If I didn’t live on Europe’s busiest bus route I’d be tempted to try it out.

Has anyone else spotted any fun or innovative Twittering in Manchester?

This just in from Manchester International Festival’s press team:

VERY IMPORTANT
PLEASE NOTE

IT IS VITAL THAT YOU WEAR SENSIBLE SHOES WHEN YOU ATTEND THE PERFORMANCE OF
IT FELT LIKE A KISS AT THE MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL THAT YOU ARE
BOOKED IN FOR.

PEOPLE WEARING FLIP FLOPS, OPEN-TOED SANDALS OR HIGH HEELS WILL NOT BE
PERMITTED TO ENTER.

YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT THE PERFORMANCE CAN TAKE CONSIDERABLY LONGER THAN
THE ADVERTISED 75 MINUTES. SOME PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN THE EVENT FOR UP TO 2
HOURS.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW, OUR PERSONAL ADVICE IS TO HAVE A DRINK BEFORE
GOING! IT IS PRETTY SCARY!!

On the other hand, I know that people aren’t lasting the full duration. The theatre/film/music performance is generating as much chatter as Kraftwerk, which is obviously very impressive – even if the reviews haven’t been overly gushing.

Ste Campbell’s been in touch about an ongoing project he’s working on…

Soup o’ th’ Day offers a week-by-week guide to events happening in the city, in a visual calendar form. Next week, for example, you choose between Sketch City’s Sketchbook Sessions at Odder on Wednesday, a Blur aftershow party at Ruby Lounge on Friday, Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry, or even ‘Women on the Edge of HRT’, both at The Lowry.

There’s also a Soup o’ th’ Day blog with videos, from Not Part of, Islington Mill and gigs, for example.

And remember to check out The Shipping Forecast if you’re interested in music event listings in particular.