Good morning Cardiff!
This morning at City Hall the licensing sub committee will meet to discuss the licence owned by the Live Lounge in the city centre which was called to review after South Wales Police reported crime and disorder at the venue. Read more on the blog later today.
Today the Admiral Big Weekend kicks off in the city as part of Cardiff Festival. Our guest blogger Marc Thomas gave the low-down on the bands playing in the three-day weekender and tonight Cardiff eight-piece group Los Campesinos! will take centre stage alongside Race Horses and the Samoans.
Cardiff's Buffalo Bar has announced an 11-day cider festival this summer, transforming its garden area into a mini village fete include an outdoor bar and bandstand, stocked with organic and locally sourced Welsh cider including Gwynt y Ddraig, Seidr Dai and Blaengawney Farm. The festival will finish on Sunday 8 August.
Also today, the Environment Agency will be stationed at the STAR leisure centre in Splott for representations from the public on their recent draft permit for the Viridor incinerator. Turn up any time between 2-7pm.
The President of the Chinese Boxing Association and athletes from the Chinese boxing squad will meet Lord Mayor of Cardiff, councillor Keith Hyde, today, following their week's training prior to the Night of the Champions event at Cardiff International Arena. The Chinese squad will return to Cardiff to take on Team GB in late summer 2011.
Cardiff Council Deputy Leader, councillor Neil McEvoy, said:
"We are all very pleased to have welcomed the Chinese boxing squad here over the past week, including the President of the Chinese Boxing Association, Jianping Chang."
What's making Cardiff tick?
You may have been forgiven for thinking Hollywood superstar Robert De Niro was in Cardiff this weekend if the reports on Twitter were anything to go by. After a flurry of tweets rumouring De Niro's appearance in Cardiff for new film Killer Elite it soon turned out De Niro himself wasn't actually anywhere to be seen, but Lock Stock actor Jason Statham was.
Windsor Place in the city centre was transformed into 1980s London, and some of the best twitpics from the set came from Alun Vega here and The Promised Land here. Visit Cardiff also posted this video of one of the scenes being shot.
The hashtag #WelshDeNiroFilms saw some interesting suggestions (Raging Wool, Tacsi Driver, TidyFellas …) While the Twittersphere raged with De Niro's alleged appearance a number of blogposts also appeared – such as other celebrity spots in Cardiff. De Niro is now reported to be arriving in the city on Sunday – but if Twitter is anything to go by, we won't be holding our breath.
In the news
The Kings Castle in Canton, Neville in Granetown and Cow and Snuffers in Llandaff North are up for auction reports WalesOnline.
Cardiff councillor and Plaid group leader Neil McEvoy is facing further complaints from a Riverside mosque accusing him of personal attacks towards its chairman and secretary. Read the full story here.
An inquiry into complaints of racial prejudice at the UK Borders Agency in Cardiff has found all but one "unsubstantiated," BBC Wales reports.
A new flatter, faster route has been announced for the Cardiff half Marathon 2010 - visit here for more details.
Elsewhere on the web
On yourCardiff Peter Cox has blogged on the development of Cardiff and hopes for 2020 as we move into the planning stage for the new Local Development plan. What does he hope for 2020? He writes:
"I think this city is most successful when it is like a village: a core of public buildings and open spaces, shops, services, places to work and live. All within walking or cycling distance."
Ahead of the Big Weekend starting today, a freedom of information request shows just how much the three-day festival is costing. The information, given following a request from Justin Eastham shows overall the event will cost close to £263,343 - the sum for last year's event. Read the full request here.
Next month WalesHome will be catching up with Barry-born Australian prime minister Julia Gillard. Listen to the first audio clip here.
Pint of 45 blog visits the Splotlands in Splott. Exemplary quote?
"If you can't even be arsed to turn your head towards the big screen while waiting for your drink, they've helpfully installed a secondary monitor directly above the tills."
Iconic record store Spillers reopened in its new home in Morgan Arcade yesterday. Read our feature on the revamped store and here's Howard Dickens' contributions on his blog. Welsh icons also wishes them good luck in their new home.
If you would like to share your news or an event with me, please write a comment below, or drop me an email, or send me a message on Twitter @GdnCardiff
