First up of course it’s the Maritime Heritage Weekend – Saturday/Sunday/Monday at the Odyssey and Titanic Quarter are going to be packed with lovely old tall ships and other historic boats, along with stalls, markets, kids’ entertainment and festivally stuff.

Just checking back through my old videos and found some footage of the last Maritime Heritage Festival 2 years ago – which gives you an idea of what to expect (if this weekend is just as sunny!)

Except that… if you checked out the video you maybe noticed some rather mournful-looking deserted retail units behind the dancing pirates and brass bands – retail units which are now thriving with life thanks to the Dock and the Mace.  This weekend The Dock will have extended opening hours – 11-7 Saturday, 2-7 Sunday and 11-7 Monday – to enjoy being right at the heart of all the festival events.  There will be Belgian waffles and craft stalls in the pop-up market.  The deckchairs will be out (because it will be sunny, yes it will).  The guys at the Mace are bringing in an extra ice-cream kiosk.  In a thousand little different ways the TQ community is transformed since that last maritime festival – there’s now coffee bars, local shops, cash points, market stalls, prayer gardens, local history, art, colour, conversation, light, life…

In the video you might’ve also noticed a big white tent – under which was lurking the partly-restored SS Nomadic.  Today the railings came down and the final few tarps came off – she is only a few days away from the Grand Opening on 31st May (102 years to the day since she left Belfast for the first time), with the gates being thrown open to the public on 1st June.

(If you’re on the Dock email list you’ll already have received an invite to a special preview visit – if you’re not on the list, send me your email address now!  But in case you’re wondering – every first-come-first-served ticket for the visit was snapped up within an hour or two – I’ve never had such a lightning response to a Dock email!)

I’ve had a little dig around in my photo and video library for records of all my visits to Nomadic over the years of her restoration.  From being there on the day the doors were closed to the public back in 2010 – through a hard-hat tour when she was being bare-metalled – to the day when we watched the funnel being lowered down onto the vessel – to last week when some of the Dock team were given an exclusive sneak peek of the lovingly-restored interior – it’s been quite a journey!

On that day when the doors were closed, I made a little Dock video called Nomadic Days (still worth a watch!).  And now in 2013 it’s great to be able to say – Nomadic Days Are Here Again!

The removal of the railings around Nomadic has also unveiled a lovely little feature right outside Dock Cafe’s window – 3 metal figures (I think it’s Charlie Chaplin, a French passenger and a stoker) who all are connected to Nomadic’s story. I couldn’t resist the photo op – the Chaplain meets Chaplin…?

This fantastic review by blogger Kooky Miss Match appeared on her site over the weekend.  I’ll reproduce it here in full – and I hope that Tegan, Timmy & all the Dock volunteers feel really encouraged – what other cafe (or church?!) gets a review like this!

The Dock: A living room to the world
Posted on May 18 2013

“Trendy titbits and indie aura, The Dock in Titanic Quarter is the new cool hangout spot in Belfast. Close enough to escape the buzz of Belfast City Centre, just a brisk walk across the Lagan bridge opens up a calm picturesque surrounding which hosts the homely café. Not that you would need anything to adoringly look at other than the quirky interior of the vintage feel tea room.

I was intrigued approaching The Dock as I had heard so much about it, mistakenly thinking it was a boat (I do not know how or why…moving swiftly on!). The enthusiastic friendly staff informed me and my two class mates that due to the MACE opening next door they were no longer able to serve food, but welcomed us to come back for a cosy cuppa with our food. There was an option of exotic teas and varied coffees but due to the sudden pour down of torrential rain and cold weather (typical) Kelly and I opted for a hot chocolate while Aimee went for Chai tea. Not only did the staff enlighten customers with interesting chatty conversation but also gave hints and tips of the tastes and what milk complements the unfamiliar teas, which for an unadventurous tea drinker is very much appreciated!

The Dock is unique: a pop-up space for community, conversation and Life in the Titanic Quarter. Furnished in a fusion of old and new, we call it Victorian-Edwardian-Industrial-Pop-Up-Chic.

The miss matching cups gave the feel of the family kitchen cupboard, likewise the comfy furniture is no different to what you would find in a regular living room. However it all works, collectively stylishly giving passers by a chance of ultimate relaxation and escape from the busy goings on of the world; and be at home, when they can’t go home.

The Dock humbly does not charge for it’s product, there is an honesty box situated away from the view of the front desk asking to kindly give a donation. The Dock is church run by a team from various church backgrounds justifying the beauty of it all, acceptance. There is opportunity for comers and goers to add their own mark to the wholesome hangout. There is a visitors book to share your experience and a majestic prayer garden where people have left notes with quotes, letters and general gratitude to the infectious generosity and kindness of the café. The Dock doesn’t have a typical crowd, culture or belief. It has a worldly universal feel, attracting people from all walks of life, in fact walking around and reading the notes and letters I felt like I had gained a new perspective on Belfast from people travelling from USA, Thailand, Portugal and many more. Despite the fact that people have visited from far and wide, the mutual feeling is a relaxed piece of mind. When you leave The Dock you will not only have the pleasure of a hot cuppa, but a new favourite place and a glow of positivity…visit, experience it, love it, recommend it!

I know this is a fashion blog but there is no doubt inspiration sparks at any time and this place is truly inspiring. The interior is homely and undeniably chic. Of course the uplifting feeling came from the friendly kindness of The Dock but being fashion students it was obvious the topic came into conversation and we couldn’t help but think how stunning a photo shoot would be in this whimsical setting. All I can say is watch this space, in next to no time everyone will be besotted with the delightful dock café.”

But somewhere in the city there is a little oasis of warmth and light and laughter.  Somewhere with great scones and squashy sofas.  Somewhere you can watch the rain beat against the huge picture windows and wonder why on Earth anyone would be out there on a day like this.

Somewhere that you can get lost in a board game

Or join the knitters and knatterers

Or settle in for the day and get your teeth into the epic challenge of a mammoth jigsaw

Somewhere there’s always something interesting in the pop-up market

And where the Chaplain just might be crazy enough to do the Pilgrimage Walk at Titanic Belfast if anybody turned up from one of the more waterproof nationalities (go Belgians and Scots!!)

Somewhere that’s always getting better, looking for ways to expand and improve (the Dock DIY team spent the day sweeping and painting the floor ready for Dock Cafe to expand – it’s getting BIIGGGGGERRRR….!)

Somewhere that allows to you to eat your piece in peace (today our new sign went up in the TQ Mace, so that anyone buying a fresh deli sandwich or hot food in the shop knows that seats, tables, plates, knives and forks await them right next door)

Wouldn’t a place like that be a great spot to while away a rainy day?  Wouldn’t it in fact be a little slice of heaven on Earth?

There was the day I joined some of the lads from TQ Ltd and the Mace to try TQ’s latest greatest water sport: wakeboarding at the end of Titanic Slipways.

(In the interests of responsible journalism, I should point out that any pictures of someone successfully wakeboarding must be one of the other guys, as I spent most of the time upside down in the Lagan.  I can report that it tastes clean, but salty.)

Speaking of responsible journalism, this blog has won a prize!  Click here for details of The Dock’s website and blog victories.

The pic shows Annette, our Diocesan Communications Officer, accepting our prize at General Synod.

The Dock Pop-Up Market is proving to be a bit of a hit – we’ve had great stalls recently like Steph’s charm-ing jewellery (left) and on Saturday you’ve got another chance to bag a bargain at Anabel’s craft stall (right).

Loads more great stalls coming up over the next few weeks – like knits (created by Sip/Sit/Knit, our very own Friday-morning knitting group) and home-made Belgian waffles!

If you’ve got something worth selling, make sure you grab an application form in The Dock – it might be the start of something great!  (As long as your product is better than the “multifunctional” grey box on wheels in The Apprentice last week.)

My two worlds collided this week when St Clements – the friendly Belfast parish who keep me out of mischief when I’m not at The Dock – called in for a visit and a tour of the TQ:

And it was great to see some familiar faces from Holywood (where I worked before my life changed forever when The Dock began in late 2009).  If, like St Clem or the Holywood gang, you’d like to book a group in for a cuppa in the cafe, a tour of the area and an update on the story of the Dock, just get in touch!

Speaking of Holywood, Andy (who was one of the brilliant youth leaders in the church when I was there) got married a few weeks ago; as well as being very honoured to perform the ceremony, I also had a blast at the reception – which happened to be in a wee gaff just up the road called Titanic Belfast.  What a spectacular place for a wedding reception!  (And has anybody ever been to a function upstairs without coming home with at least one Grand Staircase photo?)

One of the great joys of Dock life – introducing people to each other – making connections across our ever-expanding community.  Just one of the hundreds of chance encounters that happen every day: the new Nomadic visitor crew (nearly there now… nearly there now…) meeting the Titanic Foundation team in The Dock:

And a gorgeous moment from today: a group using the Prayer garden for a little gathering with visitors from Portugal.  Songs and prayers in both Portuguese and English echoing across the cafe as we were closing up for the day:

And finally, a few more snapshots of Dock life.  A hen party (a sensible, non-scary one) in The Dock… deckchairs on a sunny day… chess tournaments stretching out all afternoon… Segway tours whirring past…

This is the life, eh!

‘For everyone enjoying ARC life’

I know, I know – amazing.  (And now you’ve got that Blur song in your head for the rest of the day).

For anyone looking at ARC life from a distance, I thought you’d still like to see the issues of Titanic Quarterly we’ve already produced over this past year – so they are now available as PDFs under the ‘Media’ tab of the website, or you can click to have a look at them below.

Enjoy!

It’s a bit surreal to see our home-made little pop-up coffee shop listed alongside luminaries of the Belfast dining scene such as the Potted Hen, Mourne Seafood Bar and Molly’s Yard – but hey, why not?!  Dock Cafe is unique and I think that Tegan, Timmy and the team have loads of reasons to be very proud of it!

So the next time you’re wondering where to go for a cuppa, here’s the GoToBelfast entry in full:

The Dock is unique: a pop-up space for community, conversation and Life in the Titanic Quarter.  Furnished (in true pop-up style) in a fusion of old and new (we call it Victorian-Edwardian-Industrial-Pop-Up-Chic) it’s a space to relax, unwind, meet up and chill out.  You can enjoy hot strong coffee, a huge variety of teas and delicious bakes – or BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) and use our plates, knives and forks.

You can find a table, a squashy sofa or a cosy corner to watch the world go by.  You can browse a huge range of art and photography – from archive pictures of Titanic under construction, to cutting-edge art, to photography of Belfast’s shipyard at every stage of its history.  Explore some unique artefacts from Belfast’s shipbuilding heyday – models, relics and furniture from the evocative Harland & Wolff Drawing Office building.  (There’s even a door from Thomas Andrews’ family home.)   Dabble with a huge range of board games and jigsaws (if you have a few hours to spare…)

Find out all about what’s on offer in the Titanic Quarter at the information stand (or by chatting to the  enthusiastic volunteers).  You can pick-up a bargain at the pop-up market stall, which is available for all sorts of different local cottage industries and home businesses. Take time to pause and reflect in the Prayer Garden – a little corner of greenery, light and quiet in the corner of the cafe.  You can strum on the Titanic Guitars (as long as you are at least a 3-chord wonder) and even meet Kate and Leo (they’re the goldfish).    Everything – the art, the food, the coffee, the photography, the sculpture – is local and home-made; the whole enterprise is volunteer-run, and the ethos is hand-built with love.  We’re here to celebrate the good news in Belfast and enjoy Life in the Titanic Quarter.

It’s a walk around the outline of Titanic on the slipways with pauses for reflection at various significant points – the lifeboats, the names of the lost, the water’s edge etc.  Music and different readings from ‘A Night To Remember’ and Filson Young (a journalist who witnessed Titanic’s launch) bring the story alive and also give food for thought.  I suppose the whole thing is a mash-up between my experience of being a Titanic Walking Tour guide, a Chaplain and a Dock Walker!

Today we had a great group of people – Canadians, Australians, locals (and even some English people – but they were nice).  The plan is to run the pilgrimage walks every Friday and Saturday (weather permitting) at 2pm (note the new time).  The walk is especially intended as a grace gift for anyone who’s just emerging from the Titanic Belfast visitor experience – but anyone is welcome, so if you’d like to call by TB at 2pm some day over the Summer. it’ll be great to see you!

On the way back from the walk, in the middle of that ferocious hail-storm this afternoon, I bumped into Wesley – whose cool panoramic photos already feature in Dock Cafe and are about to feature a lot more.  He captured this beauty of a photo – as you can see, the pilgrimage walk finished just in time before the storm came!

Long-term Dockers will know that we’ve been following the fortunes of this fabulous old boat with great interest.  Nomadic is our last best physical link back to the Titanic – built by the same men, at the same time, with the same metal and rivets (and even the same door frames and light fittings), Nomadic was the tender (taxi) boat that carried out some of the great and the good to the Titanic when she docked at Cherbourg.  (Although in fact her story doesn’t begin or end there – the little ship has had a tumultuous, fascinating century before ending up right back where she started).

As the Dock has progressed from vision, to walk, to team, to pop-up cafe – Nomadic has progressed from rusty wreck, to scaffolding-encrusted project, to shining beautiful ship (albeit with a few tarpaulins still in place for the finishing touches!)

And I’ve been onboard!

And for once – words just fail me.  It is sensational.

This is just a little sneak preview – the work that’s been done on the interpretation and presentation of Nomadic’s story is absolutely stunning, and I promised not to spoil any of the surprises for when (not if) you visit yourself.

Getting ready to go on board (along with the brand new SS Nomadic visitor crew, who were also experiencing it for the first time!):

Perfectly-reproduced floors, original benches upon which Molly Brown’s bum once sat, rivets and metal and wood of Titanic antiquity:

And lovely details and windows into the past – little sections which have been left unrestored, in all their 102-year-old glory:

Now I know I’ve been known to get a bit enthusiastic about these things.  Rusty old coal-cart tracks out on the slipways send me into raptures of joy.  But I really, really thought that Nomadic was absolutely out-of-this-world.

Exciting times!

Among his many, many other accomplishments, Philip was there right at the inception of The Dock, and was one of the people who believed in the idea – and moved and shook whatever needed to be moved and shaken to create the post of ‘Chaplain to the Titanic Quarter’.  He created the parish boundaries which are still in place today, re-drawing church geography so that the TQ was set aside as a unique area in its own right.

He was also part of a day that was in many ways Day One of the dream of The Dock – a trip to St Peter’s Barge in Canary Wharf back in late 2008 to see how church-on-a-boat worked in the London docklands, and to start envisioning the way in which some of those ideas might take root in Belfast.  He watched my boundlessly enthusiastic, utterly naive baby steps towards Dock-world with a wry smile that always hid a fierce support and unstinting encouragement.

He was a steady hand on the original Dock Board of Directors, guiding the project through days of brainstorming, through the formation of the company, launching the Business Plan, appointing new Chaplains, signing the Meanwhile Lease, opening the cafe…

As each new crazy idea came along, he greeted it with quizzical good humour – and then got behind it with all his heart and soul.  He simultaneously dreamed the big dreams and drilled into the little details.  We wouldn’t be here today without him, and we will miss him terribly.

It’s a video promoting the whole Titanic Quarter development – and it hopefully gives you a little flavour of why I am just so endlessly thrilled to be part of the story of this part of Belfast city:

I do remember the first day I saw that model; every time I’ve seen it since then, it makes me just as emotional!  And how amazing that one of those little wooden blocks would one day house Dock Cafe and all the unexpected, quirky, beautiful expressions of community life that have sprung up over this past year…