Allotment - Govan - 5 December 2009

The National Theatre of Scotland, along with The Arches have started a new venture called Allotment – an exciting new arts bar created for a series of one-off events. Allotment is a night where live performance, new art and music fuse unconventionally and take root in a deserted shop. Allotment is created by a team of professional artists from the National Theatre of Scotland and community groups based in the Govan area. The second event at Allotment is being held on December 5 2009 @ Govan Cross from 8pm to 11:45pm. The event will have hi-tech/lo-tech gaming fun "Players" will enter an interactive retro gaming zone where reality is virtual. Experience old favourites re-invented as you journey through a world of vide-oke, giant puzzles and live avatars to reach new levels.

The December Allotment event involves ongoing collaborations with a number of local Govan community groups: the Allotment bar area has been created by GalGael Trust, a project that works with homeless people and long-term unemployed and specialises in making boats and furniture.

Staff from Govan’s Brechin's Bar will continue to run the Allotment bar in December and Maria Leahy, who leads a regular karaoke night in Brechin’s will be working on the vide-oke in Allotment.

Advance tickets will once again be sold from Brechin’s Bar and The Magpie’s Nest. Young people from Impact Arts will be creating new work for the Allotment space.A number of refugees and asylum seekers from the Bridges Programmes will continue their work experience placements on Allotment and help to run the December event.

A new partner on board for the December Allotment is the Govan Integration Network. They bring together public, voluntary and community organisations with local people to promote equal rights and opportunities, cross-cultural understanding and integration, and raising awareness of the issues facing refugee, migrant and minority ethnic residents. They will contribute to the creation of the gaming zone in Allotment.

For more information about Allotment click here or to Keep up to date: Join the online community now

The Glad Cafe

Really like the poster for this event and also liked the snippets of music I've heard of the above bands at least one of whom is a southsider - Barn Owl.

The event is a first toe in the water by some guys who are planning to open a cafe/ venue in the southside soon. Think their plans sound like a good idea? Interested in letting them know your thoughts and help shape what this might be like? Then visit their site and fill out their questionnaire. (Takes two mins)

They also have a second gig lined up for Dec 27 at Queen's Park Glasshouses.

Link: Gladcafe site

Openings

Is it just me, or are we seemingly becoming obessed with food? Must be the winter months and feeling the need to eat up and go into hibernation. Anyway, just a short note about two new food places opening up in the Southside which we will investigate and write more about soon Both sound like quite interesting propositions.

One is Camflava an african Cabaret bar and restuarant opposite Queens Park opening 5 December at 5pm and the other is Cookie a very interesting sounding place in Strathbungo which the owner describes as "A club, a bar, an off license and a food and wine importer, we are also a gallery promoting design and art. The place where art and design meet food, we are a community resource centre for cookery, healthy eating and art." Cookie opens officially on 3 December.

Deli 1901 - 11 Skirving Street

Skirving Street, as we've mentioned before, is one of our favourite streets in the Southside. Its got all the right shops for having a bit of a wander and a nose. Everything is there, including clothes, gifts, kilts, wine and coffee shops. One of the best places to visit, and one which I always love to browse around is Deli 1901.

This is where I come to buy tasty ingredients whenever we are having friends round for dinner. Like fancy stripey lasange sheets or the little bits and bobs that the local supermarket's don't stock like seaweed sheets etc. They also do lots of great home baked things like the above and posh packs of food in trendy packaging for all the people who want their kitchen cupboards to be mini works of art. (Yes our new pantry does fall into that category, though we try to resist it.)

I was in the store the other day and got talking with the owner, its funny but I hadn't realised they'd been around for as long as they have, its coming up for their fifth birthday already. I also forget that they sell so many different things, from freshly baked mince pies and rather excellant lasange to jars of jam, bottles of nice wine and lots of fair trade chocolate.

They also now sell Ian Mellis award winning Cheeses. Ian Mellis is the small but amazingly well stocked cheese shop on Great Western Road and its brill not having to make the trek to the wild west when your recipe requests stinky cheese.

One thing that I think Shawlands lacks and which I think 1901 might be able to help with, is somewhere to buy really nice kitchen stuff, the kind of thing you can buy as a gift for someone. They do have a few items which fit the bill, and they do have lots of nice oils and chocolate sets which would make good Christmas presents but I'd really like a southside shop which sold good pots, bowls, salt grinders etc. Any suggestions? We need a shop like the amazing Hob (RIP) from Queens Street.

The food made on the premises by award winning Chef owner Colin is great. The ready meals to take home and reheat are delicious, especially the lasange. Its always extremly difficult to go in, buy a packet of something and not be tempted by the smells from the fresh cabinet on the way out. Good luck to those that manage it.

For more info about the shop visit their website - Deli 1901
Or better yet pay them a visit

Deli 1901
11 Skirving Street, Shawlands, Glasgow.
0141 632 1630

Cinderella @ the Citizens Theatre

Cinderella is this years festive show at the Citizens Theatre. It's opening with a charity preview on Saturday night and the show will then run until the 2nd January 2010.

There is a really interesting interview with Jeremy Raidson, the director, about the processes involved in creating the show, with some great images of model stage sets, design sketches of the costumes, and glimpses of the actual finished costumes. click here to see the video. You can also dress up and colour in your very own wicked step sister click here

I am not a big fan of Panto's. I've been to a couple over the last few years, but always with friends from outside the UK, who had never been to a panto before. I have to say that they loved it.

This is what the Citizens has to say about Cinderella

A festive family treat for all ages with imaginative storytelling and original live music.
Once upon a time there lived a young girl called Cinderella. She was fair of face and pure of heart, but cruelly downtrodden by her wicked step-mother and mocked by her spiteful step-sisters.
A magical re-telling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, written specially for the Citizens.
Cinderella will take you to an enchanted place where spells are cast, timing is everything and wishes can come true.

Prices
£10 - £17 (concessions available)Peak performances:18.12.09, 7pm - 26.12.09, 8pmFamily and Friends ticket (2 adults & 2 children): £36 - £50

Marblelella Exhibition Opening @ Grianach Cafe

Last week I went along to Laura Hudson MacKay's Photography exhibition, in Strathbungo. Laura's black and white photographs were beautifully displayed through out the ground floor of her home. There was a really good crowd of people at the show, despite the weather. If you missed it, you can still buy prints through Laura's website.

This week Laura, is again, involved in a local exhibition opening. This time it's the opening of an exhibition at Grianach Cafe, 38 Nithdale Road. Marblelella is an exhibition of contact prints of marbles, by Spudd Connor. There will also be some of Spudd's older photographic work and newer contact print/photograms for sale on the night.

Refreshments will be provided and RM Hubbert will be making some blissful sounds with his acoustic guitar machine.

Marblelella opening Thursday from 7pm-9pm @ Grianach Cafe, 38 Nithdale Road

Christmas Craft Fair @ Langside Halls

The Scottish Crafts fair are holding a Christmas Craft Event at Langside Halls, on Saturday from 10-4pm. They have an interesting line up of exhibitors and it's a good opportunity to support Scottish art and crafts. We've actually managed to miss this everytime it's been at Langside Halls, but we're here this weekend and I'll go over and have a browse.

Farmers Market - 21st November 2009

As it's the third Saturday of the month the Farmers market will be taking place as usual in Queens Park tomorrow. Time to stock up on seasonal food and other tasty goods.

Victoria Road Entrance 10am - 2pm

The Little Cake Parlour, Pollokshaws Road

Well I tried to write a post about The Little Cake Parlour last week but hit a snag when we managed to eat both cakes before taking any photos of them. This should give you a good indication that the cakes are very tasty. That night we had a rich chocolate brownie and a gooey chocolate cupcake. Lisa (who owns and runs the shop) advised that the brownie was a new recipe she was trying out and that she preferred her own recipe. I'm looking forward to trying the old recipe then as the new one was v good indeed. With a wee bit of Brooklyn Cafe Ice cream, it would make an excellent desert to serve up to guests.

Actually, this what we intended to do at the weekend. We'd invited friends round for dinner on Sunday night so on Saturday I went along to The Little Cake Parlour to buy some cakes for serving up after the meal. This time, as a precaution I took all my photos, before I'd even purchased the cakes, preventing any eating mishaps robbing us of photos.

I decided to go for two lemon cupcakes, which have gooey lemon centres and very tasty iced tops, two chocolate chip Oreo cupcakes which come with tiny Oreos on top and two raspberry cupcakes with fresh raspberry icing and two real raspberries on top. (Un)fortunately, our guests had to cancel at the last minute and so I've been eating cupcakes after dinner the last three nights. I can't quite decide on my favourite - I'm usually quite a big lemon cake fan, as it has quite a light taste but the raspberry filling was also pretty tip top.

The shop doesn't just do single cupcakes though, you can order big batches for special events - like the MOBO awards recently did and you can also get larger cakes for any occasion made in any flavour you choose. With a changing selection of cakes each week and with your own flavour choice available to special order I think I might need to start doing more exercise while I think of something I'd like made. Mmmm cinemon flavour cupcakes . . . or mayple syrup flavour . . .

Win FREE cakes and get a 10% off in March's Great Southside Giveaway.

The Little Cake Parlour
1002 Pollokshaws Road, Shawlands, G41 2HG
0141 636 0808
Heres the link to their site. The Little Cake Parlour

Pigeon Man

As promised many months ago, here is the footage of the pigeon hunter in action.

Be warned that while this may be an edited down version, it is still just a video of a man standing for a long, long time in a park, in the rain, trying to catch a pigeon. Its strangely hypnotic though.

[For those wondering what this is all about click here for the earlier story]

Art Talk - Govan/ Govanhill

Today sees the official launch of Central Station - a new creative collaboration site. To mark the launch they have organised a host of interesting events across the city. There are not too many taking place in the Southside but one very interesting sounding one - see below. The other is a talk by Tom Warren at Sloanes (just off Buchanan Street) about the work at the Govanhill Baths.

Central Station Event - Savalas
WHAT? Exclusive tour of the UK's first Dolby Premier Mix Theatre, Film City, Govan

WHEN? 5.45pm Saturday 14th November

WHERE? Savalas, post production sound facility

Giles Lamb, Composer and Sound Designer, takes us for an exclusive tour around Savalas, Scotland's largest sound-post facility with the UK's first Dolby Premier mix theatre.
The tour will include an exclusive peek at the sound design for some recent major projects mixed in the studio.
Your chance to ask questions about sound design for feature films, video games, television & commercials and to find out how a low budget filmmaker can benefit from such an amazing resource.

Please note that there are limited spaces available for this tour and RSVP is a must.

Please RSVP to Genny by putting "Savalas" in the subject line of your message.

*if you require any special assistance please let us know when you RSVP**children welcome

Laura Hudson Mackay Photography sale - 18 November 2009

© Laura Hudson Mackay

Laura Hudson Mackay, southside photographer and Director of Hudson Mackay Artist Collective is hosting an exhibition of her black and white, fine art photographs, at her home in Strathbungo. Laura's photography has depth and perplexity, often with a mystical aura. Critics have said her photography captures a restlessness of spirit whilst at the same time bringing a sense of calm and peace.

Photographs will be on display from 7pm on Wednesday 18 November 2009, in the basement at 22 Queen Square Strathbungo. They're all for sale and prices start around £25. They would make excellent Christmas presents or just a wee treat.

Click the links for more information on Laura's work or Hudson Mackay Artist Collective

Shawlands Regeneration?

Thought you all might find the below interesting. We decided to find out more about the Town Centre survery that was carried out earlier this year so did a bit of looking on the council's site and found the email address for David Dunlop, the area planner who is coordinating the review. We sent David a quick email asking about the progress and he sent us back the below information and part of the bid document. What do you guys make of it?

"Following the set up of a Town Centre Steering Group last year, the Council have been gathering information about Shawlands which will feed into a Town Centre Action Plan. As part of this in May this year the Council launched a customer survey to find who uses Shawlands Town Centre, why, and what people feel are the main issues. With the help of Glasgow South East Regeneration Agency the Council also hope to commence a survey of businesses in the centre to find their perspective on what the issues are and how they can improve and attract more customers.

As at 1st October the survey resulted in 1196 responses and I am presently in the process of analysing the results of these and hope to publish them later in the year.

People told us for example, the things they liked about Shawlands are its:-

• Good pubs, restaurants, coffee shops, deli’s, clubs and its warm relaxed feel
• pleasant environment, community atmosphere, social life
• independent and specialist shops
• Good transport links to Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, M8 & M77
• Diverse population
• Beautiful parks, greenery and amenities

However they also told us they did not like:-

• Vacant shops and the Arcade
• poor shop fronts and lack of lighting
• Safety and Security
• crossing the road
• Lack of public toilets
• difficulty in parking

On 28 August, on behalf of the Steering Group, the Council also submitted a bid to the Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund. This fund was launched in May for one year only, and is intended to assist projects which help improve and protect town centres throughout Scotland during the economic downturn. The bid towards a Shawlands Public Realm and Lighting Project is for £680000, and is aimed at carrying out initial improvements towards lighting, footways, street furniture. It is also intended illuminate historic buildings, for example back lighting stained glass in three local churches, provide a lighting installation in Langside Hall, two illuminated fountains in Queens Park boating pond to help connect Shawlands to Strathbungo better, tree management along the western edge of Queens Park and the development of a Shawlands Café Quarter.

As part of the bid we also have a commitment of 100% match funding from private and public sector agencies which would take our overall spend to over £1.5 M. This includes for example the opening of an office of the Glasgow South East Regeneration Agency within the Arcade to directly assist busineses in the centre, advise new starts and help local residents access employment and training opportunities The announcement of successful bids will be on 2nd November. If we are fortunate in securing the funding, the project will be the first stage in delivering a detailed Town Centre Action Plan for the centre, providing early action on some of the key points of feedback residents have given by ‘brightening centre by improved lighting’ and helping to improve Safety and Security.

The proposed Shawlands Public Realm and Lighting Project will also aim to:-

• Build on the unique aspects of Shawlands by using light and key buildings to attract people back to the centre from its traditional catchment.
• Capitalise on a range of major attractions located on the Cathcart Circle e.g.; Hampden (1 m visitors each year), Pollok Park (700000+ a year), the Tramway (25000+), Queens Park (75k)
• Help ‘reposition the centre’ as the City approaches the 2014 Commonwealth Games, to become a leisure and social retail destination providing a specialised quality food, drink and a retail offering which is able compete against larger centres. "

As David mentioned they should have heard the results at the beginning of November so we'll send him another email to find out if they have been successful. While I don't agree with all their proposals, for instance I'm sceptical about fountains in the pond, but the fact that some plans are progressing is a positive sign and it looks like things are moving in the right direction. (In the comments below lets here what you think would be good for the area.)

While the survey has now been processed and an application made, the survey is probably still the best way to let the Council and the Steering group directly know your thoughts on what you'd like to see happen, so click below and fill it in.

Here are the links.

Quick Survey
Customer Survery (longer)

The Little Cake Parlour

Other opening news of the day is the shutters rolling up on The Little Cake Parlour on Pollokshaws Road which opens for business at 10am this morning. We've been peaking in the windows for the last few weeks and are extremely interested in getting our teeth into some of the very tasty looking treats inside. Gutted we are in town all day and are going to miss out on the first batch of cupcakes.

We'll write a bit more once we've been in and eaten a barrel load of cakes but in the meantime if you want more info on the shop, the people behind it and about how they got involved with the MOBO awards then check out their site.

http://www.cakealicious.com/

Pakistani Cafe to re-open

Tomorrow evening the Pakistani Cafe on Pollokshaws re-opens, after several months of renovation works. As far as we can see the main counter has been removed freeing up more table space but the general decor has remained the same. If you've not been to the Cafe it really is worth a visit, the food is delicious and very reasonably priced.