A few weeks ago I posted here about always finding out about brilliant things happening around Derry after they’d already finished. Turns out I wasn’t the only one!

Well, I actually went and built Off The Drink Club — www.offthedrinkclub.com

Didn’t expect the response at all. We’re now approaching 2,000 subscribers in just a few weeks, starting from absolutely no following.

The messages, recommendations and support from people on here have been unreal.

The first two newsletters have gone out, and the third goes out next Monday with another six-ish things worth checking out across NI.

One thing I said in my original post was that I didn't want this to become a Belfast newsletter with the rest of NI bolted on. We've already featured a few things across County Derry, including Benone, Bellaghy, Coleraine and Maghera. Still plenty more I want to find around Derry city itself!

I’ve also added a load more Derry venues and local organisers to the places I check each week. A few people have even been emailing me places I’d never heard of, which has been a massive help!

And with Halloween coming up, Derry looks absolutely mad, as you’d expect! There’s so much happening that narrowing it down to the things actually worth doing is going to be some job.

Anyway, just wanted to come back and say thanks to everyone who got behind the idea. You lot are legends!

Still finding things I never knew existed myself, so here’s another question for you.

What’s something you’ve done around Derry or the north-west that made you think, “How did I not know about this”?!

Bonus points if there’s something unusual happening around Halloween. The less obvious the better!

Read they're "restructuring" after having already shed jobs in January. Anyone know the craic?

I’m currently doing an English undergraduate in QUB, the end goal has been teaching secondary English through a PGCE. However since joining I’m absolutely miserable, my original plan was Law, which I really regret not doing as I find it very interesting and would enjoy a career in this area. It’s too late into the academic year for me to swap course I’ve been told and to be honest I don’t know if i’d want to stay at Queen’s. My original choice was Law at Magee, would it be worth taking the gap year and starting fresh next September at Magee? Anyone who’s studying at Magee have any advice?

Any recommendafions for apps / books etc for theory test?

With the new rules, what happens when you have a foreign license that cant be exchanged, will the 6 months waiting still apply?

Any recommendatioms for available instructors *automatic? Tia

Has anyone been to the circus at Brunswick at the moment? How long does it last?

So every year flags go up, people march and then they come down, happy days, aye the amount of flags slightly annoys me but its just the way it is (don't get me wrong, if people flew them in their own areas thats fine but the waterside is covered along main roads) and then im slightly relieved I don't have to look at them after end of sept roughly.

At the end of the day it's like having the Xmas tree up too long or Halloween decorations up for months. You just get sick of looking at them and they get all weathered and worn looking. They just make the place not look nice.

Obvs all the craic in portadown will likely mean that the waterside will stay covered in flags and they will probably not take them down again.

So has anyone learnt to not care or the ability to ignore them on their morning and evening commutes? Just really wish people would keep their crap in their own areas and leave the shared spaces alone.

Well, how did it go?

Anyone take part or pass it?

Seen 3 11 ish girls in foylside sharing a bottle of nurofen on Saturday outside Gregg's.....iv never know this was a thing...is it not more likely they overdose rather than get high?kids will start dying is this turns into a thing.

This is as low effort as it gets but a guy needs to know if team 1 second or 2 second reigns supreme…

Hi everyone, I’m about to start my art classes back up, I normally do my own colouring in pages, other than demon hunters and spiderman, what is wains into theses day, character wise would be really helpful, thank you, want to have a variety 💚

How was your last cinema trip? Finding the best (and worst) cinemas in NI
Had a film spoiled by phones lighting up, people chatting the whole way through, or half an hour of adverts? Or found a cinema where the crowd's quiet and the seats are actually comfy?
I'm putting together a monthly ranking of NI cinemas based on real trips. It's a two-minute form about the last time you went: the crowd, the screen and sound, comfort, and how late the film really started. No sign-in. Brunswick Moviebowl, the Nerve Centre and Omniplex are all on the list.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTiimdc89ABzUmLKY2deAWVFtYhBb3RjkFNasalrucI9Pf6w/viewform
I'll post the results here at the start of every month, including the best and worst crowds and the longest adverts. Fill it in again after each trip, because the more trips we get, the fairer the results. Happy to chat in the comments too: which cinema do you swear by, and which do you avoid?

Anyone know the best place I can get the wire on my headphones fixed? Closer to the city centre the better; not sure where to start looking to get somewhere reliable. Ty! edit: They're Koss Porta Pros if it matters

1990s Derry heads - Q102 - what tunes were the staples of Lovers around 11? Making a Spotify playlist for Audrey from Lincoln Courts from Paddy in Creggan! Air Supply and Chicago already added!

We are buying a house and wanting to get the carpet replaced with vinyl flooring ( well anything but carpet). Any recommendations for companies or people that do this kind of things?
A friend of mine got conned by someone who got an advance payment and blocked her.
Would appreciate a link to someone trustworthy.

Also, are carpets the safer option for stairs? I would’ve liked to get rid of the carpets everywhere but the estate agent mentioned that may not be a great idea.

Thanks!

Can anyone reccomend a reliable window cleaner in the Cityside side? I had a few who don't turn up after a few weeks.

I leave from California for a solo tour of NI cultural, geographic terrain, and history in two weeks

Belfast (October 29-31)=>Newry (October 31-November 3)=>Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (3-6)=>Fermanagh and Omagh (6-9)=>Derry/LD (9-12)=>Coleraine (12-15)=>Ballymena (15-17), Belfast (18).

I have no, no, no agenda. I May do pubs, restaurants, book shops (new & used), antiques, churches, museums, etc.......

Please:

> What can I expect for weather. Clothing types to match in the fashion and the climate setting.

> Will shop owners and pubs want visa cards, cash, ??? How should I greet as a guest/shopper.

> What particular customs and courtesies may come up in NI, and in communities above.

> Will the buses generally run with some reliability (Translink.co.uk ?). I am not driving. (Kinda like. Tony Hawk's, "Round Ireland with a Fridge"). :::: I have one medium roller suitcase, a CPAP machine, and a backpack. Hoping that the transit will be able to handle 'me and my load'. :::: As a Male 60 perhaps I can still hitch a ride between the above towns. ???? Goat carts, hahaha.

> I have set up six different AirBnB rooms etc. Each town above should have an interesting flair and vibe. My room may only be a place to snooze in, get some quiet. Share a laugh with the owners.

> I understand to keep my mouth shut and to suss out my new chat companions before I say anything. Little to no politics, religion, or recent unfortunate history.

Any thoughts that may help me would be appreciated.

Thank you very much.

Do any of these exist in the town apart from the ones in Foyleside? I was in the Foyleside ones a few weeks ago feeding baby (the room is signposted as a baby change and a feeding room- hence the rocking chair in there). And the entire time I was in there (maybe 15 mins tops) there was a group of women outside loudly complaining at how long I was taking, saying it was ridiculous, trying the handle, knocking on the door and even asking staff to open the door!

Whilst I appreciate waiting is hard, there was another baby change/feeding room/disabled toilet beside the room I was in. It’s not great that the disabled toilet isn’t completely separate as I’d hate to be taking up the room if someone needed the toilet.

Where does a good sunday lunch delivery??

Hi, I wanna get back into boxing after a while and I had done classes at the ring ABC but I have a different schedule now so it conflicts with it and I'm wondering if there is any boxing classes that are on during the day on the weekends?

Thank you!

This wasn't a problem years ago, are places just disgusting these days? Maybe I have rose tinted glasses on but I'd say 4/10 of the last takeouts I've gotten had fishy chips. Really putting me off takeouts in general (which is probably a good thing tbh).

It's fine if you order fish, but fishy chips on a chicken box for example is almost inedible. Especially with the rising prices. I order from a multitude of places.

Good enough food but the service awful?

UPDATE: Thanks everyone for the tips. We got to Sandino’s by 4:30 for the trad session and it was incredible! At one point there were 11 musicians playing! And I think 4 people sang. It was the best!!!

Are there any such places in Derry? We were on Waterloo Street tonight and it was insane. Hordes of drunk young people, no chance to get in anywhere and enjoy the music- difficult to even get a beer. Is there anywhere else that is more chill in town?