Electric Shakedown - Secret Sunderland

The Electric Shakedown boys give us a, er, balanced view of the city...

We asked Electric Shakedown to tell us about their Secret Sunderland - and this tongue-firmly-in-cheek piece is what they came back. Never one to stifle creative integrity, we're putting it up on the website - but anyone from Sunderland that would like to send us their genuine highlights of the area please do - and we'll be happy to publish it as a response. And if anyone from Sunderland wants to take it up with the boys in person, you can find them cowering behind the doormen at The Players, Tuesdays at AKA.

Jackie Whites Market

Situated in the exclusive Bridges shopping centre this is a far cry from the Boho Chic of Notting Hill. Wearside's elitists come here to stock up on those must have essential items like Pigeon Feed and Tripe. There is also a fantastic range of fashion from such labels as Dolce & "C"abanna, Tommy Filldiger and Hugo Bosh. After a hard day trawling though the stalls you can wine and dine at the local cafe on such dishes as black pudding and saveloy dips. If you are feeling extremely bold though you can even push the boat out and try the home made innovation: The Pie Sandwich.

Hendon Beach (squint your eyes and you could be in any exclusive resort in the world)

Are you the kind of person who likes to spend £100 on a car then £5000 making it look and sound like a spaceship? If so, throw caution to the wind and tool it down to Hendon Beach where you will be greeted by a mob of other likeminded amateur Ayrton Sennas. With the right motor you could live the life of a playboy Formula One driver with a horde of hot women who will hang on your every rev until 10pm when either the ASBO kicks in or they have to be back in bed for school the next day. Just rev it up and let the honeys come.

Pizzarama

Home of the £1 lunch special. No one can grumble about a place that offers a Margarita and half a dozen chips for a single pound. What better way to end a night than eating an extremely average Pizza while watching 2 grown men (and sometimes women) kick 7 shades of s%*t out of each other. At Pizzarama you get it all, cuisine and excitement. Also a stones throw away from the local 6th Form Girls School. Nice. Best garlic sauce in town.

Spinning Disk

Most Vinyl Junkies will tell you the buzz they get when they uncover an old rarity from the 70s or 80s. It's not often though that you get to experience this pleasure in a record shop that doesn't have a second hand section. Spinning Disk is like a homage to the irrelevant one hit wonder and forgotten nobodies of the past. However if Rave is your bag, this place will be like heaven. Arguably the finest selection of audio tapes in the North. If you are lucky you may also see local music celebrities like MC Sneaky Eye and Dave the Rave frequenting Spinning Disk on a Saturday afternoon.

Published: 15/12/2006

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