Tell us your questions for Southside MPs

It's been an odd time for UK politics recently, with the Expenses Scandal shaking  the ancient foundations of Westminster and scattering piles of dodgy "receipts" and half built duck houses all over the floor. The only positive side-effect of the whole sorry fiasco has been to enrage and engage everyone over how the country is being run and who should be running it.

With that in mind and with the General election coming up, we thought it might be interesting to find out a little bit more about the various candidates who are competing for our Southside votes. Our plan is to send a series of questions to each of the three wards candidates to find out where they stand on various topics, why they feel they should get our votes and what are their future plans for the Southside.

So what should we ask them?

Please leave your questions in the comments below and we'll take the most popular and send to the candidates to find out where they stand.
Candidates and previous results:

Glasgow South

Glasgow South West

Glasgow Central

Mrs Ogg or the Statue of Commerce and Industry - Kinning Park

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

One of my favourite Sculptures in Glasgow is the Angel on top of the building at Kinning Park, which was completed in 1889, and believed to be by James Alexander Ewing.

The Angel building, at 2-20 Paisley Road West, was once the Ogg Brothers Drapery Warehouse, which has long since closed. So the Sculpture is affectionately known, by some, as Mrs Ogg. I do like to think of her as Mrs Ogg rather than the official name ‘Statue of Commerce and Industry’ which is a little dull.

I always imagine that Mrs Ogg would have some good stories about the things she’s seen from up there, on the south turret of the Angel Building.

This Weekend 26th - 28th February

Saturday

• For the Kids there is the free family day at the Tramway from 10am - 6pm.
• Two Bob Rocket are playing at Samuel Dow's, it's free and starts at 8.30pm.
• New show at the Southside Studios opens on Saturday night at 7pm. The Studios will be exhibiting work by Merlin James, Andrew Taylor and Tom Varley.

Sunday

• Ha Ha Comedy at the Ivory Hotel on Sunday.
• Last day to enter The Great Southside Giveaway for February.

All weekend

• 
  
  It's the last weekend of Sam Carter's exhibition at the House for an Art Lover, this is worth a special trip as his work is really beautiful. 
• The Common of House's project is exhibited in the window of 994 Pollokshaws Road  9am - 7pm.
• 
  
  The Heart of Italy comes to Cookie - Over the weekend of the 26th-27th and 28th Cookie will be taken over and run by an Italian farmhouse kitchen. The whole farm moves from Umbria to the South side of Glasgow just for this weekend, bring with them their own wine, oil and home grown produce. They will be making home made pasta, roasting their own chicory, bottled tomatoes, ducks and guinea fowl and serving up the original flavours of an Italian farmhouse kitchen.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

Big Licks @ 384 Victoria Road

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I'm a big fan of ice-cream, everything from the extravagantly expensive miniature Haagen-Dazs for sale at the cinema, the classic tubs of vanilla from a Glasgow cafe, to a double nugget drowned in raspberry sauce from an ice-cream van. I was therefore quite excited by the idea of an ice-cream parlour opening up in the Southside and had been looking for an excuse to wander down and take a look.

Inside the shop we got chatting with the owner, a very happy young man who smiled and agreed that the midst of the coldest winter for 20+ years was an odd time to open an Ice-cream shop. We were given a quick tour and shown the 26 different flavours on display, though he was quick to point out that he has dozens and dozens of other flavours in the freezers out the back but only has room to display 26 at a time. The flavours contain the usual suspects, Chocolate Mint, Raspberry Ripple etc but there are also loads of more unusual and interesting flavours like Curly-Wurly, Kinder Surprise and Ferrero Rocher.

Ordering in the shop takes a long while, as trying to reach a decision is pretty much impossible. First you have to decide if you want a cone or a tub. If you choose a tub you have to choose from 5 different sizes. If you want a cone, you again have to decide on the size and then on the type - waffle/ chocolate waffle/ choco-sprinkles waffle. You then have to choose the flavours you want (free samples are available to assist decision making) then you have to choose from a multitude of sauces and then about a dozen different toppings – then choose the colour of your spoon. We settled on - a2 scoop tub with Ferrero Rocher, Cookie Dough + Honecomb pieces/ 1 scoop tub with Curly Wurly/ 2 scoop cone with Super Cookie and Chocolate Chip Orange. The total was £6.40 which we thought was pretty decent, considering that the Chocolate Chip Orange had almost been finished so he gave us a normal cones worth plus the last couple of scoops for free.

One thing that I think we’ll definitely have to try one day is the Big Dipper – a massive cone that holds up to 7 scoops of ice-cream. Its £8 but imagine the looks of jealousy on kids faces as you walk up the road eating a cone that requires two hands!!!

I'll admit that when I first saw it I had been slightly confused by Big Lick's branding, with its jet blacks, strong pinks and shocking reds it had more of the look of a trendy chain bar than the kind of place that the words "ice-cream parlour" conjured in my head. I was a bit worried that it would turn out to be a disappointment. But after having been to the shop and chatted to the owner and tasted the wares I think that once it makes a name for itself then the branding will work well to distinguish it from the normal Glasgow Cafe’s. We can also definitely say that it is not a disappointment and highly recommend it as a good way to finish off a trip to the farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.

Big Licks
384 Victoria Road

Exhibition opening at Southside Studios - 27th February 2010

New show at the Southside Studios opens on Saturday night at 7pm. The Studios will be exhibiting work by Merlin James, Andrew Taylor and Tom Varley. It's on from 2nd till 16th March 2010, but by appointment only, please call 077927 39788 to arrange an appointment.

Southside Gallery, 17 Westmoreland Street, Govanhill, Glasgow, G42 8LL

Albert Drive Studios

At the start of 2010 a new and exciting venue opened on Albert Drive. The Albert Drive Studios is the brain child of Hilary, an environmental artist who is in the process of converting the beautiful original detached Victorian villa into a three story home for creative extravaganzas.

Eventually the building will house artist studios on the ground floor, exhibition spaces on the first floor and a workshop and meeting space in the attic. There's a lot of building work going on in the ground floor at the moment as the studios are readied for a series of interesting tenants but the upstairs and the attic have been renovated and are bright, airy and ready for creativity. Tenants will include Bean and Mouse (textile artists), Sans Facon (an art and architecture duo), a hat maker and a clarinetist. The idea of them all working in the one house sounds like the setup for an arty based sitcom. There is also a huge list of different workshops and classes taking place at the studios which are open to the public, including hat making, screen printing, interior design and silk painting. Advanced screenwriting begins on Mondays and Life drawing will be starting soon on Tuesdays. As these are confirmed we'll try to update our calender to include them but if these sound interesting then email info@albertdrivestudios.com for more info.

There will also be events happening soon too, with various art exhibitions planned for the gallery spaces, a music event taking place in the attic, gourmet dinner parties and an open studio and music concert in the extensive gardens. When we find out more we'll add some more posts.
It was really interesting to get a tour of the old building and very exciting to hear all the plans that Hillary has for the studios. I loved all the little nooks and crannies of the building and the little snippets of history that await discovery - for example while being given a tour of the gardens we found what looked like a medium sized stone lion on its back half hidden by leaves. Its definitely a house where you can imagine stories taking place and a new life as the home to creativity seems entirely fitting.

www.albertdrivestudios.com
info@albertdrivestudios.com
07805 346 314

Common of Houses @ 994 Pollokshaws Road

In the summer 2009 I organised a competition with the Architect's Journal and The Lighthouse called Common of Houses. The aim of the competition was to come up with creative solutions for the MPs' expense fiasco - entrants were asked to design two types of home. A Westminster mass housing solution and a constituency home design in which MPs are allowed to stay when they are elected.

The response to the competition was great and we received some amazing entries from designers and architects throughout the world. After a fun judging session in London with Ken Livingstone and Ruth Reed the competition was eventually won by Glasgow based architects Jude Barber and Phil Zoechbauer of Collective Architecture. Unfortunately the announcement of the winners coincided with the Lighthouse going into administration and we therefore had to come up with an alternative plan to exhibit the entries. A mini exhibition of the work is therefore now travelling the country and as of this morning it is in the Southside. The owner of "Clark Thomas - Express Alterations" has kindly donated part of the vacant shopfront next to their shop to show the work. It is therefore on display right beside the main bus stop on the way into town at 994 Pollokshaws Road. Its just a small selection of the work but some of the entries are brilliantly drawn and worth a look.
We'd really to thank the guys at Clark Thomas for donating the use of their shopfront. I've used them before to get a coat cleaned and to repair an old and favourite pair of trousers and always had a good service.

Clark Thomas Express Alterations
994 Pollokshaws Road, G41 2HA

0141 632 0469

[The exhibition will be coming down on Sunday the 28 Feb]

A La Carte

As part of the ongoing improvement works at Central Station the Arches has temporarily closed throughout January and February. Not wanting to be completely absent through this time, the Arches is supporting temporary events in other spaces around the city.

One of these events, happening in Pollokshields sounds fun but very odd.

"A La Carte is a dinner party with a difference. An interactive performance about the art of dining, it is inspired by evenings around the table with friends, family and strangers. Molly Taylor invites you to come dine with her, and explore what we talk about around the dinner table.

Ticket price includes a three-course vegetarian meal, and guests are free to bring their own bottle. Audience members will be told the full address on buying a ticket."

She's a brave lady inviting a bunch of strangers to her home, not that anyone will be a secret serial killer, but thy might be a serial bore.

It seems to be an extension of a mini-fad that started in London last year for pop up restaurants. People advertising and opening up their homes to strangers each week as small restaurants. As the author finds out in this article in the Independent, the lure of the pop up restaurant is that "It's a little bit Come Dine With Me, a little bit MasterChef and a little bit Through The Keyhole. "

Anyone going along to Molly's next week? Anyone think the pop-up restaurant could catch on in Glasgow?

A La Carte
7.30pm (25th + 26th) // 5pm and 8pm (27th)
£10/£8

Link to book tickets

Glasgow Film Festival @ Tramway - 25 February 2010

Mouth Room/After School Special - 25 February 2010 [8pm]
London based artist James Richards has curated two programmes of film and video work for Tramway by artists including Duncan Campbell. Supported by Lux, London. Mouth Room (49mins) Duncan Campbell, Michael Curran, Kim Fielding, Stuart Marshall, Anne McGuire and Stephen Sutcliffe. After School Special (64mins) John Smith, Corin Sworn and archive footage from the C-100 Film Corporation. Tickets £4/£3 available from GFT or Tramway box office.

This Weekend 12 -14 February

Not to tempt fate, but spring is in the air, the sun is out, days are getting longer and it's almost the weekend.

Tomorrow is the day for a wandering stroll around the Southside, stopping for coffee and cake, brunch or lunch. Maybe a bit of retro/vintage shopping, try out Raw Vintage in Abbot street and the Dressers Room on Skirving Street then maybe stroll down to Lady Drawers on Nithsdale Rd, which is due to open tomorrow.

If you've not seen the two main exhibitions @ the Tramway - Accidental Collages and Make it New John, then stop in and have a look.

You could also visit the church of Blessed St John Duns Scotus in the Gorbals, where some of St Valentine's bones are kept. It's decorated annually to celebrate Valentine's day.

Back Beat is on at the Citizens - not to be missed if you are a Beatles fan and Sam Cartman's paintings are still on display at the House for an Art Lover.

Leave a comment below if you know of any other Southside events or of suggestions of things to do.

Tramway Family Day - 27th February 2010

The Tramway are hosting a full day [10am - 6pm]of free activities and events especially for families and young people created to explore documentary film, and how we create stories using still and moving images.

They will think about how we take photographs to document our lives, to capture important events and places so we can look back and remember them and preserve them. Our own photographs help us remember our past. Memories can change over time and sometimes two different people might remember the same incident in two different ways. How do we know which one is the right one?
The participants will explore their own imaginations and create stories inspired by old slides, photographs and found objects.

Workshop 1: 12noon - 1.30pm, ages 6-9 years

Workshop 2: 2pm - 3.30pm, ages 6-9 years

Workshop 3: 4pm - 5.30pm, ages 10-13 years

The workshops are free but you will have to book them in advance

From 10.30 - 11.30, Star Catchers will be using projections of light to transform T4, our Starcatchers artist in residence Katy Wilson, in collaboration with visual artist Euan Sinclair, will create a sensory treat suitable for young children. Drop-in to the space for the full hour or just five minutes: with no need to book.

Throughout the day the Hidden Gardens will be inviting families to spot the first signs of spring Explore the hidden corners of the Gardens with a Spring Nature Trail (activity sheets will be available for families 11am-3pm). The Environmental Artist in Residence will be leading creative family workshops (more details and booking info available on the day) and then at the end of the day take home a bunch of freshly cut Spring daffodils for a small donation.

On top of all this there will also be a quiz running throughout the day and Tramway will be providing special lunch deal for participants.

To book a workshop space, find out more about the activities happening during the day, or what else is happening at Tramway call our Box Office: 0845 330 3501. For more info visit: www.tramway.org

Glasgow Film Festival @ Tramway

The Tramway are showing Comedie & Here is Always Somewhere Else, The Disappearance of Bas Jan Ader, on the 24 February 2010 [7pm] as part of the Glasgow Film Festival.

Duncan Campbell has selected the little seen Beckett film Comédie, which, with its absence of action, cinematography and dramaturgy, stands as a masterpiece of modernity. Tracking Dutch artist Bas Jan Ader’s emergence in the radical art scene of the 1960s and his shocking disappearance at sea, the film is a sweeping overview of contemporary art film, featuring artist interviews such as Chris Burden, Tacita Dean, Rodney Graham, and Pipilotti Rist.

Tickets £4/£3 available from GFT or Tramway.

Urban Roots - Toryglen

I love this little green house, which is built in the grounds of Toryglen Primary school. It's constructed out of empty 2 litre juice bottles, which the children at the school have collected over a period of three or four months. Urban Roots took on the project and with help from some volunteers built the greenhouse along with two school gardens. The greenhouse above will be used to grow plants from seed for the garden.

Urban Roots is a community led organisation in Toryglen, Glasgow. Who are committed to working with local people on projects that improve the environment, health and nutrition work and environmental arts.

Their volunteer teams take on lots of different projects such as transforming derelict or unused green spaces into thriving, blossoming community gardens where we grow herbs and vegetables, fruit and flowers. Not only does this make the area look more attractive, it also helps to create more used, social and safe places and community resources.

for more information on Urban Roots or on ways to get involved click here

Streetland - Call for Proposals

For the first weekend in May 2010, Westmoreland Street in Govanhill and surrounding key spaces will play host to a programme of exhibitions, performances and events.

The programme will open on the evening of Friday 30 April and continue on Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 May 2010. Initiated by the Govanhill Baths Trust, Southside Studios and Govanhill residents, the steering group invite proposals for a range of activities that explore the theme of the street and its use as a conduit, meeting place, home and garden.

Proposals might include submissions for temporary artworks, performances, screenings, talks or events, for example. All media are welcome. The programme will use both indoor and outdoor spaces. There are a range of different spaces along Westmoreland St and the surrounding streets and proposals can also suggest venues. Spaces could include the community garden on Westmoreland St, closes and backcourts, the Centre for Community Practice, 126 Calder St, exterior of the Govanhill Baths building and Peace Garden, for example.

We are especially keen to hear from residents with closes and backcourts to offer. (Please note: Southside Studios and the Govanhill Baths Art and Regeneration Team already have projects planned that will contribute to the event). Participants are expected to work with the Streetland team to negotiate access to spaces, work out access to power for events, and assume responsibility for invigilation etc. Please see submission requirements below.

There is no budget for production, however where possible the team will assist with installation and sourcing of equipment (particularly where required by a few projects/events). They will also organise the marketing, publicity and interpretation materials. Applicants are encouraged to visit Westmoreland St and surrounds.

Members of the steering group will be available to talk through ideas on Saturday 20th February 11am-1pm at the Centre for Community Practice, 126 Calder St. We anticipate that Streetland will offer a dynamic weekend of creative reflections on space and community and we look forward to receiving your ideas. Please include the following information as part of your submissionName and contact details Proposed work (as much detail about your ideas as possible).

Explain how it is relevant to the themes or refers to a particular local space. Approx dimensions, duration, space required If relevant, how the work is to be installed Technical requirements (including what equipment you can source and what you need help in sourcing) Any support required from Streetland team Any other information (please attach a C.V or information about other creative projects that you have been involved with)

Please keep proposals to one side of A4.Proposals can be supported with images (jpegs max. 4) or sound/video (mp3/mpeg4 no longer than 4min total duration) If you have any questions about putting in a proposal please contact Lucie Potter, Streetland co-ordinator at streetlandinfo@googlemail.com Proposals should be emailed.

Deadline for submissions Wednesday 3rd March 2010.

Participants will be notified by Friday 12th March 2010.

Church on the Hill @ Algie Street

A week or so ago, we met my parents for some grub. It was a Sunday night and everyone was in the mood for something simple (pub grubbish). We decided to give Church on the Hill a go, as we hadn't been there for a long time and as we were all in the car heading home and wanted somewhere you could park.

The restaurant was pretty busy when we went in which I think was probably to do with the 2 courses for £7 deal they were running. Inside the pub is pretty big with a long bar and a large open plan dining area. As it was a Sunday night it was full of groups eating but I can imagine on Saturdays and football nights (especially before Scotland home games) it will be pretty rammed.

The food was just what we were after that night (comfort food) all your pub staples, burgers, fish and chips plus a few curries etc. It wasn't anything amazingly special but it was quick, tasty and everyone enjoyed it. The staff were super friendly, they were so nice, that when there was a mix up with my mum's dish, we actually felt sorry for them. They were very apologetic and took the price of that dish and our last round of drinks off the bill to make up for the mistake. (In comparison we also had to meet friends in Sloanes in the City Centre for food last Saturday and they didn't apologise despite screwing up our order and it taking just under two hours to bring out our food!!!.)

Church on the Hill has a bit of a beer garden, which while on a busy roundabout, does have a nice view of the Park. It also has an outdoor TV which could come in handy for the World Cup.

All in all, I'd say it was a reasonable place with decent food and really friendly staff which would be good for large groups. Worth giving a try while their two courses for £7 offer is on. (Runs until end of Feb - excludes the 14th)

Church on the Hill
16 Algie Street, Glasgow G41 3DJ

0141 636 9171

The Great Southside Give Away

We've been in discussions with a few Southside establishments about ways we can help to support them, while at the same time giving you guy's something back and making the site more interactive.

We are pleased to announce the first Great Southside Giveaway. This month, Cookie have agreed to donate dinner for two at their fabulous new eatery on Nithsdale Road.* Two course's of delicious locally sourced food and a glass of house Prosecco - for you and whoever has been extra nice to you this week.

You don't need to send us an answer on the back of a postcard. You don't need to call us. All you have to do is sign up to our RSS Email, Twitter, Facebook or mailing list, and leave a comment about what you would like to see on Southside Happenings below - Click Here for more details

If you're already signed up just leave us a comment below

* Prize Valid Tuesday-Thursday throughout March

This Weekend 06 - 08 February

There seems to be heaps of things on this weekend South of the River.

iBop is on this Friday night at the Pollok ex service mans social club aka 'the Tin Hut' - tickets are available at the door [£5] or alternatively you could go to the new Comme Il Faut music/club night at McNeills bar @ 106 Torrisdale Street. This months DJs are TimB, Scott Kelso and Billy Morrison.

Why not start your Saturday with a 5km run around Pollok Park with Park Run. Then refuel at the Farmers Market, in Queens Park. For kids Bongo and Brass is on at the Tramway and of course there are the two main exhibitions @ the Tramway - Accidental Collages and Make it New John. There's no La Roche Rumba this Saturday, next one is not until March, just incase you were planning on going.

On Sunday the Battlefield Community Project are meeting @ 2pm in Beanscene, if you're interested in getting involved go along for a coffee and a chat. The Ivory Hotel have their regular free Ha Ha Comedy evening [which this week includes the dignitas]

If you know of anything else that's happening over the weekend let us know by leaving a comment.

Backbeat @ Citizen's Theatre

“He had to choose between his best friends, the woman he loved and the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world”

Next week the Citizen's Theatre will be holding the world premiere of Backbeat, a stage adaptation of Iain Softley's 1994 cult movie which told the story of the fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe (the band’s original bassist), and the two most important people in his life: John Lennon and Astrid Kirchherr.

"Re-imagined for the stage by the original writer and director of the acclaimed 1994 film, Iain Softley. This new production of Backbeat is a passionate and vivid portrayal of a love story born out of the famous summer when The Beatles made their name in the city of Hamburg.
Inseparable friends, John and Stuart, become entwined in a fiery triangular relationship as Stuart falls madly in love with Astrid. John forces Stuart to choose between his deep loyalty for John, a future with the greatest band in history or following his heart and pursuing a life as an artist with the woman of his dreams. "

For my Dad's Christmas we got him the Beatles Rockband and tickets for us all to go see Backbeat. I wasn't too sure about it at the time, but after reading a bit more on the web and watching some of the videos of the band practising I think it looks like it will be really good. I also think it might even manage to appeal to our whole family as its half drama and half gig. My only concern is, that after spending most of Christmas addicted to the Beatles Rockband we might get a bit carried away and start using the little ice-cream spoons as drumsticks on the heads of the people sitting in front of us.

The show runs from 9 Feb 2010 to 6 Mar 2010 at 7:30pm
Tickets range from £9.50 - £17.

Citizens Theatre

119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow, G5 9DS
Box Office: 0141 429 0022

Gusto and Relish - Pollokshaws Road

Gusto and Relish is a great deli/cafe situated on Pollokshaws Road within the Strathbungo area. With it’s large glazed frontage, this brightly lit little café provides a pleasant environment to watch the world go by. The deli counter has a great selection of home made savoury dishes, as well as a good selection of cheese, olives, fresh breads and home made cakes and tartes. To the rear of the café are rows and rows of shelves with delicious jams, chutneys, pastas and sauces.

We had breakfast, baked Egg Florentine and a full cooked breakfast which include Gusto and Relish’s own black pudding and sausages. But they also have a large selection of daily specials if you arrive there after breakfast time

I really like Gusto and Relish it’s a calmer, brighter more relaxing atmosphere than Tapa next door. There’s always a daily menu and something to fit what ever mood you’re in. They also have a monthly supper club, last month it was a burns supper and this month it's a curry night.