The Central Library mystery, the David Hockney show and the joy of free ping pong

An editor's edition from Sophie

Good morning, Millers — today, we’re trying out something new, namely a glorious mongrel of an issue splicing an editor’s edition with some arts reviews. All the joy of a Sunday supplement tucked into your broadsheet, except miniature and about Manchester — sprinkled with some musings from this edition’s author, Sophie. As with everything at Mill Media, it is a grand experiment, so let us know what you think in the comments. Either way, we hope our reviews of two of the season’s biggest cultural events give you some ideas about what to do (or steer clear of) in the dead wasteland that is the time between Boxing Day and New Year.

But before we get started, a chief executive for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership makes a case for Glossop and Buxton to become part of Greater Manchester, and more in your news briefing.