Something quite big happened in Manchester on Wednesday night.
Football has long been one of our city's greatest assets, and mid-week, Manchester City beat Arsenal in what many will see as the deciding moment of the Premier League title race.
Now here's my confession - I'm an Arsenal fan. And perhaps I should have found the whole evening painful - you know, watching my team's title hopes slip away in the city I call home, tightly packed into a bar full of blues.
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But I didn't.
I live in New Islington, and almost every week I watch people of all descriptions don blue scarves and hats and follow the Rochdale Canal up to the Etihad stadium. It's something I have grown to love - watching so many people come together to experience the highs and lows of a mutual love of the beautiful game. It goes without saying that exactly the same thing happens on the other side of Manchester every week too (except those fans wear red), and is something that Manchester should never take for granted.
I'm gutted by the result, of course I am. But as I walked home, I felt lucky to live in a city where so much is happening. Not everywhere lives the way Manchester does.
That goes for more than just football. Some of our reads for you this weekend highlight just how much is going on in our city at all times. Whether you're looking for food, music, art, sport, nightlife, or even a bit of peace and quiet, it's all here if you know where to look.
So this weekend, I'll be enjoying spending time with people I love in a city I feel lucky to call home. And as for Arsenal? I'll back them until the end, no matter what the journey looks like. It was nice to have them in Manchester.
We've some great reads this Saturday morning. So take 10 minutes, grab a brew and dive into our latest edition of M.E.N. Unwind...
The town near Manchester buyers are flocking to
It's no secret that our region is in-demand, with buying and renting across Greater Manchester more challenging than ever.
For those willing to go a little further afield, this mill town with stunning views is having its moment in the limelight, says property writer Phoebe Jobling.
The town's 'stunning scenery' and affordable property market makes it an attractive option for those looking to buy - and best of all, its only 35 minutes from Manchester.
Phoebe takes a look at why this town is growing in popularity, as well as some of the properties available to buy and rent there right now.
Read Phoebe's piece here.
The 'ghost' railway route you can explore on foot
Fancy a walk that's close to home this weekend? Tourism writer Liv Clarke has got you covered with this great urban stomp.
The route was abandoned until a group of cyclists in the 1990s campaigned to convert it into a traffic-free green corridor through south Manchester, which it remains to this day.
It follows the path of an old railway line. I used to run on it often when I lived in south Manchester, and always enjoyed the greenery, and how secluded it felt from the city.
But things have changed since then, and now you can even grab brunch along the way at Station South in Levenshulme. The route is also home to a great selection of street art and murals along the tunnels that remain.
Read Liv's piece here.
Things to do in Greater Manchester in May
It's nearly May! Can you believe it? I can't...but luckily, Liv Clarke has been keeping an eye on things and has put together this handy list of things to do in Greater Manchester in May.
We're kicking off the month with a big one - the King's Coronation. Liv has got all the best spots to celebrate the day across Greater Manchester sorted, so check out her piece if you're stuck on where to go.
May will also see Greater Manchester host the Colors Festival, where visitors are promised an "artistic universe of colour, creativity and diversity". Count me in!
And for those looking for a little music in their lives, look no further than Manchester Jazz Festival. There will be 10 days of live music, a lot of which can be accessed for free, at venues across the city.
Read Liv's piece here.
Have a lovely weekend
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