What's on North 23 Feb-2 Apr: Pancake Day!

Each week The Skinny team hand-pick a selection of the best events from the North's cultural calendar to provide you with this 'ere top ten guide to the most exciting goings-on for the week ahead. From gigs, plays and exhibitions to spoken word, pop-up foodie events and one-off film screenings, we give you the insider's guide to things to do in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds every Thursday morning.

LET'S CUT THE CRÊPE

Oh pancakes, how we love thee, be it in the form of fluffy American ones stacked high with bacon, the super thin French equivalent stuffed with Nutella or the Netherlands' lesser-known spongy little poffertjes. Because pancakes are universal, man.

Good news for waning global relations, then, that Pancake Day draws near! If you're making them at home on Tue 28 Feb, simply mix 100g plain flour with two eggs and 300ml milk, before frying in butter or oil. Easy af mate. Then with toppings, the world's your oyster: go el classico with lemon and sugar, savoury with roasted veg and goats' cheese or ham and gruyere – hell, why not go retro and boozy all at the same time with Crêpes Suzette?

And if you have dieting fads getting in the way of that, we've actually come up with some helpful alternatives...

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FriendsFest is coming to the North!

After everyone went nuts for last year's sell-out tour, Comedy Central UK's FriendsFest returns this summer, rolling out to new UK locations including Manchester and Sheffield.

Top Trumps: The Essential President Parodies

Some say Donald Trump is beyond parody, but following the inauguration of the 45th POTUS we take a look at those willing to try, including Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live and more.

Katy Perry hearts Rachel Maclean

Seems Katy Perry has found a kindred spirit in Scottish artist Rachel Maclean, whose candy coloured film Wot U :-) About? is on show at London's Tate Britain gallery after premiering at HOME in Manchester last year.

Do Not Miss:

Global Scouse Day
Tue 28 Feb

The annual ode to Liverpool's favourite dish, Global Scouse Day falls on the same day as Pancake Day this year, meaning it'll be one hell of a good food day if you're a Liverpudlian. Lucha Libre will be doing scouse tacos, Hus will be putting a Scandi twist on it with Lapskaus, while many other restaurants and bars will be putting the Merseyside favourite on the menus for one day only. Photo: Radarsmum67

Anthony Burgess: A Life In Letters
International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester. Sat 25 Feb, 7pm

Celebrate the 100th birthday of a Mancunian literary icon with a special live performance exploring Anthony Burgess's life through his unpublished letters, brought to life in an evening of typewriters, music, rough cider and poison-pen letters. Tickets include a drink, and can be purchased here.

Liverpool International Jazz Festival
The Capstone, Liverpool. Thu 23-Sun 26 Feb, times vary

The fifth Liverpool International Jazz Festival takes on the Capstone for another long weekend of all that jazz. Along with a series of free sets from Northwest artists, we're psyched for Manchester-based quartet Mammal Hands, signed to Matthew Halsall's Gondwana Records.

Tiny Library x Endless City
The Brunswick, Leeds. Thu 23 Feb, 6pm

Brought to you by Ventral Is Golden, Endless City and Tiny Library, this is a multi-sensory pop-up exhibition of works from the Tiny Library touring collection of zines, fanzines, books, prints and more from local and international artists, with Endless City DJs providing the soundtrack throughout the evening.

Reveal Festival
Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Tue 28 Feb-Sat 18 Mar, times vary

Time for Octagon Theatre's annual showcase of innovative new work from local and emerging theatre-makers and artists, including Gracefool Collective's physical theatre piece Til Death Do Us Part, pictured. You can browse the full programme here.

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