The Chinese lion dragon dance at The Mailbox Canalside

It was the Lunar New Year on Saturday 10th February 2024. The Year of the Wood Dragon. The Choy Lee Fut Lion and Dragon Dance Team from Southside performed for about 20 minutes after 2pm at The Mailbox Canalside. Similar to what they have done around the City Centre in previous years, like in the Bullring in 2023. I was joined in getting images with Jack Babington.

CLFLion Dragon on Instagram.

The Choy Lee Fut Lion and Dragon Dance Team started the walk from The Mailbox on Royal Mail Street, then walked up Severn Street and Commercial Street to the steps up to The Mailbox Canalside.

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Enjoy this series of 20 photos of the performance, or watch my YouTube video compilation above.

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Photos and video by Elliott Brown

Summer 2022 umbrellas between The Mailbox Canalside and The Cube

The Mailbox has put up colourful umbrellas on the Canalside near the bars and restaurants, on the paths towards The Cube. They will be up for the duration of Summer 2022. No guarantee of keeping you dry from the wind and rain though!

Enjoy this post of five photos.

You can either approach the umbrellas from The Mailbox, at the exit to the Canalside, or head up the path from Holliday Street. Alternatively come from The Cube, or from Gas Street Basin and over the Salvage Turn Bridge.

The umbrellas are black, red, white, and green.

They on the upper level near Six Sixes and Miller & Carter, and the lower level near Zizzi and Churchills.

Oh and if you visit in late May / early June 2022, you will probably see the Union Jack bunting for HM the Queen's Platinum Jubilee!

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Doctor Who, The Big Hoot & Sleuth at The Mailbox and BBC Birmingham

Lets jump in the TARDIS and go back to The Mailbox and BBC Birmingham when it was safe to do so. For many years there has been a Doctor Who TARDIS at BBC Birmingham, and a Dalek. In 2015, The Big Hoot was on. Then in 2017 it was the turn of The Big Sleuth.

Thank you BBC Birmingham / BBC Midlands Today for running a story about the Creatives We Are competition (and using one of my photos on lockdown). Lockdown photo contest to create 'lasting memory'.

If you watch Beccy or Shefali's Insta stories, they are sometimes in the BBC dressing room, and you can see the Birmingham We Are calendar in the background.

DOCTOR WHO

Going back years before our current period when I saw a TARDIS and Dalek from Doctor Who at BBC Birmingham in The Mailbox.

The TARDIS seen in the window of BBC Birmingham from The Mailbox in July 2010. At the time The Doctor was the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant).

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In July 2017, I had to sign a form before I could go around BBC Birmingham, while The Big Sleuth was on with it's Little Bears Detective Club. The TARDIS had been moved by this point. The Doctor by now was The Twelth Doctor (Peter Capaldi).

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There was also a Dalek inside, from around the 9th and 10th Doctor eras (2005 - 2010).

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I'd earlier seen it in the window of BBC Birmingham during May 2017. DO NOT TOUCH THE DALEK.

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Behind was BBC Blue Room. Was a Nando's opposite. EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!!!!

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At the time you could see the Dalek through the window at BBC Birmingham. If you were going on a tour of the Beeb, you could head upstairs for more. For a few years the TARDIS was visible in this window.

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THE BIG HOOT BIRMINGHAM 2015

In July 2015, The Big Hoot owl sculpture trail was on all around Birmingham, and that included in The Mailbox.

Near BBC Birmingham was a Big Hoot Owl called Peacock. By the artist Jane Anderson. The Mailbox was the sponsor.

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A man was on a saxophone, then some men moved it to the other side closer to the BBC.

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Two strong men moving the Peacock owl back near BBC Birmingham.

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Inside the foyer of BBC Birmingham was The Big Hoot's Little Hoot. Five small owls painted by schools. There names were as follows: Chilw-owl, Lileigh, Seasonal Owl, MoMo and The High Five Values. I didn't make a note of who the schools were at the time.

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THE BIG SLEUTH BIRMINGHAM 2017

Seen outside of Harvey Nichols in July 2017 was the Peaky Blinders Bear. By the Castle Galleries artist Jon Jones, endorsed by series creator Steven Knight in partnership with Retail BID. The Mailbox was the sponsor.

BY ORDER OF THE PEAKY BLINDERS

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On the back of the Peaky Blinders Bear was Tommy Shelby (played by Cillian Murphy).

THIS IS OUR CITY ~ THOMAS SHELBY

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Bradley's Bear was in the hallway outside of BBC Birmingham (and near the restaurants). While it is a little bear, it was not part of the Little Bears Detective Club. It was designed by Bradley Simpson with thanks to the Retail BID and was brought to life by Donna Newman.

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When I went into BBC Birmingham to find The Big Sleuth presents the Little Bear's Detective Club, I had to sign a form when I went in. I found about 7 little bears in total (may have missed one or two?)

Charlie McCheery designed by Kings Heath Primary School.

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Bear Grylls created by The Oaks Primary School.

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Totally Tropical Bear created by Wheelers Lane Primary School.

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The Great Bear created by Colmore Junior School. School sponsored by College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham.

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Fox Hollies School Sun Bear created by Fox Hollies School and Performing Arts College.

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Lulu created by Bishop Challoner Catholic College.

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Bournville Unwrapped created by Bournville School.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks to all my followers.