i think we were in touch once upon a time, online, perhaps bonding about yarn-y things…
i’m just making sense of Disqus and somehow found your online presence again.
i would like info on books you’ve written.
thanks! hope you are well. – jr

Watch Cardiff City play at the stadium and sit in the Grange end next to the away fans. Anthropological extravaganza.

If you can’t do that, a booze up in the Cornwall of a Sunday when City are playing, or any Sunday to be honest. Last time I went I spent the Bulmers day chatting to a Cantonian ex-marine professional jazz trombonist. Same old…

Run the Cardiff Half Marathon, you’ll go pass areas you didn’t know existed, and at points wish they didn’t.

Go to a Cardiff Kickboxing tournament- political and competitive, chairs fly from one side of the room to the other. Who’d to be the security at that event I don’t know.

Train for and compete at a White Collar Boxing night, fight your friends and colleagues! Penarth ABC can show you how.

Dirty Pop, Ground Floor Clwb Ifor Bach, Saturday nights. Wear very little, it’s hot.

Sit in on the mild-mannered ‘debates’ at the Senedd, anyone can go at any time. Apart from summer holidays because everybody needs a break.

Learn ballet from Carole at the Rubicon Centre in Adamsdown.

The Conway in Pontcanna, Mint and Mustard on Whitchurch road, and Troy on City road are pretty much the only places in Cardiff where you’ll get food worth your money.

Roath Park rowboats, as everybody has said.

The running routes here are an absolute gem and so so so accessible for all levels of ability and stamina. The numerous parks offer varied options for beginners and the Taff Trail / Bay / Penarth routes are spectacular for people with more advanced lung capacity. I can see Herons and Jays frequently while taking in a lap of the Bay or Llandaff and it brings a really life affirming quality to the more bustling things I like in life!

Stay in the beer garden in Buffalo’s until the sun starts peeking over the wall (during the height of summer only, indeed).

If you live or work in Cardiff, get a ‘Key to the castle’, and take many lunches there. If you get to see an outdoor theatre production within the walls, so much the better.

Play the ’10p chat-up’ game in a student bar in Cathays. Do not attempt once past 25.

Get into Cardiff City, find a good bus and go on away trip. See how quickly your normal social barriers dissipate.

Go see Turandot or the Magic Flute at the Millennium Centre. It ain’t expensive, but it is wonderful.

Convince your most carniverous comrade to eat with you at the Vegetarian Food Studio, and watch while they fluster in the face of great grub with no meat.

Clwb Ifor for bands, dancing or being ridiculous. Many nights lay on options for all three.

Row Row Row your boat. Or if you don’t have your own vessel, hire one on Roath Park Lake.

Take a thermos full of spiced rum, ice and coke and lay down with friends in Bute Park on a summer’s day.

Audibly declare everything to be ‘safe’ with alarming regularity, even though no danger was suggested.

Have a pint or six of SA in the Old Arcade when Wales are playing England – then go to the match and hear 60,000 Voice belting out Hen Wlad fy Nhadau

Clark’s pie, chips and gravy for lunch upstairs in the Market

Stock up from any of our fantastic farmers markets and cook yourself a fully local tea

Walk through Bute Park to go and watch the cricket

Wander aimlessly through Roath until you find Waterloo Tea Gardens and have afternoon tea

Go llooking for the shops that have the Christmas decs up in August so you can hang about to see the Dr Who special being filmed

Avoid the crowds in the Bay with a beer at the Waterguard or Cwtch

Go for a midweek fry up in Ramon’s in your suit on the way to work

Pop up to the New House Country hotel for the best views back down over the city and out over the Bristol Channel

Have a proper sit-down kebab in Troy on city road – or a takeaway from Aladins

Go for a lunchtime wander around the National Museum and Gallery’s amazing Impressionist collection

Bore your friends who visit from out of town by endlessly pointing out where they film Dr Who, Torchwood, Being Human, Sherlock…

Do a degree here then stay forever!

Hope that helps – lots I’ve made a note of from everyone else that I’m going to check out!

Cheers, Matt

Experience the ‘Diff on international match day. Soak up the atmosphere, excitement and craziness (and your share of the booze) in a city that is unique for the location of its world class stadium. Better still, go to a Six Nations match too.

To echo what Mr Greenaway said, the greenhouses at Roath Park are a welcome, exotic corner of tranquility. The staff are not the only star attraction – look out for the terrapins too.

Marvel at the scale and technological machinations of the Barrage…and enjoy the eliptical optical art of Felice Verini (Pic here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amodeo/5528996790/in/set-72157594233451292)

Ffion mentioned the Bay Blast. Is this the same one as goes out into the Channel, around Flat Holm and Ranie buoy off Lavernock Point? Great fun. Little bit scary.

Which leads me to Lavernock Point, a particular favourite place to visit, and historically important thanks to Marconi’s over-water radio transmission from here.

Visit Flat Holm, which is owned by and so a part of Cardiff (the Council runs day trips).

Allie Brock mentioned Tony’s – well of course what true drunken Cardiff night out would be complete without a visit to Caroline Street, or Chippy Lane/Alley?

Allie also mentioned the ridge north of Cefn Onn. Similarly, I would suggest what we know as the Ridgeway, basically the path along the summit of low hills north of Lisvane overlooking Cardiff from which you can see a cracking view of the city and, on a clear day, the Severn bridges, Pen y Fan to the north, and the far-off hills of Somerset, across the Bristol Channel. (For this, suggest parking at the Forestry Commission car park on the Rudry Road and, on foot, following winding gravel track.)

Get married at the Norwegian Church. Or just visit it.

Further to John’s suggestion of the Civic Centre: Cathays Park, which is the formal park containing the impressive war memorial within the Civic Centre, is also lovely. Tucked away near North Road, off College, nearly opposite the the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (probably the latest must-visit building) is the less impressive, but poignant and tranquil International Peace Garden.

The National Museum is a rainy day favourite.

Go gay clubbing.

Do some moshing in Metro’s.

I don’t know if this is for locals or tourists, but if it’s the former, a lovely way to explore the city is to follow a stream (if you can) seawards. Likewise, for locals, why not take a road you’ve not been down before. It may surprise you.

Explore the Victoriana of Penarth – its terraced pleasure gardens and of course, its pier.

Visit Epstein’s Christ in Llandaff Cathedral.

Visit Sully island, get cut off by the tide and establish your own republic by hoisting the flag that you previously designed and painstakingly made.

Visit the spooky vampyre lair that is Ruperra Castle, out Rudry way.

Barry Island’s penny arcades and chippys are a must.

Take a Creepy Cardiff ghost walk by David Thompson.

Become a right clown at the No Fit State’s circus school.

Hold a meeting of Welsh republicans at the Cayo Arms, appropriately enough.

Er…think I’ve run out of steam.

Lazing about in the sun in the pleasure gardens, Roath
Playing in alleys behind your house
Fry ups at Bentley’s on Wellfield road
Cruise around roath park on a bike or board
Trundle down Queens street on a skateboard, weaving between the shoppers
Get your bread fresh in early from Allen’s bakery, hidden in a back alley in Roath
Go get your roast dinner ingredients from Roath farmer’s market
Hire a rowing boat in Roath lake, row out to the middle and chill out for a couple of hours. Read a book or something.
Catch something random at Chapter
Back everyone up on ‘go to gigs’ – the heartbeat of Cardiff’s nightlife is live music
Wander through town on a rugby night and marvel at the carnage
A party in milgi’s yurt, or if you can catch one, a dirty protest theatre night
Taking the train from central station to queen street with an excited kid.

Go and see the Cardiff Devils if they still have a team when you’re around. A good clean family night and there’s a man with a bugle. Also marvel at the car being driven slowly around the ice between periods while your friends leave you to stuff themselves full with hot dogs and lager.

Go to Twisted By Design and sit awkwardly and alone on the windowsill/ at your table wishing you were at home, while all your friends get drunk and dance and enjoy themselves. Or alternatively get drunk and dance and still manage to feel awkward. Or is that just me?

Go to Clwb Ifor Bach on a Saturday night, before the queues get too big.

Techniquest.

Wander around Bute Park and stumble upon that hog thing, and realise it reminds you of a big grassy novelty birthday cake.

Go to Ogmore or Southerndown or go fossil hunting at Porthkerry Park/ the Old Arcade. I wouldn’t really go to the Old Arcade.

See the woolly mammoth things at the museum and hear them squeak.

etc.

Allie x