Leeds today: Chapel Allerton Festival, Woodhouse Moor lion and city of unsupported talent?

Good morning, Leeds. The Leeds bin strike may have finished last November - but politicians are still squabbling about the after-effects even now - I'll be filing a post shortly. We'll be focussing on a couple of issues in Headingley - Dr Richard Tyler has written a guest post on the successful completiton of the area's design statement and I've bookmarked some links through to the rather intriguing Headingley Orchard Project. Here's what's making Leeds tick today "Bradford currently has two theatres with a clear focus on developing new small-scale work but Leeds has nothing. The incentive for artists to stay in Leeds is not strong. I myself am very aware that I stay put chiefly to sustain friendships at the cost of progressing my practice as far as it could go. When compared with the initiatives in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow... and regional projects such as Escalator East to Edinburgh, it is very apparent that this story can only end one way, with a gradual exodus of talent from the city." Matt Rogers blogs on Leeds - Home of unsupported talent . The popular annual Chapel Allerton Arts Festival is already up and running, leading up to the main festival weekend this weekend. Find out more at the official festival website become a fan on Facebook or follow @chapelafestival on Twitter. The second Chapeltown Global Village Market will be held at Potternewton Park on Saturday, reports About My Area . A Leeds restaurant owned by a celebrity chef - The Olive Press - has shut down leaving 17 people out of work, reports the YEP . On the subject of food, Leeds Grub has done Whitby - read all about her culinary exploits ... "God, I hate September. It's such an awkward wardrobe month." - Bangs and a Bun on the perils of autumn. Anyone remember the stone lion on Woodhouse Moor? There's a dusk photo shoot at Temple Works in Holbeck over at My Life in Leeds, and a preview of a photo walk in Chapel Allerton . Sportsmen and women at Leeds Metropolitan are celebrating following the news that they've been selected to represent their country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Do you have news, views or events to share? Feel free add them to the comments below or contact me by email or on Twitter @GdnLeeds .