EAT Deli - 16 Busby Road, Clarkston

Many of you have told us that EAT Deli, in Clarkston, is a great wee place but we hadn't been until a couple of weeks ago when we accidently came across it, while we were out and about. It was just after lunch time but the Eat Deli was busy and full of people enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon.

You are immediately drawn to the large counter running the length of the deli displaying a range of food such as Burritos, vegetarian sausage rolls, main courses such as veggie and meat Lasagne, olives, artichokes, and antipasti, as well as a wondeful selection of  cheeses, hams and salami and  just so much more. Once you've got over the vast savoury selection the delights of the cakes on offer hit you, Portuguese custard tart, Belgium chocolate brownie, courgette lime muffins are just some of the delights on offer.We decided on the carrot cake with cream cheese icing which was delicious.

The kitchens are downstairs in Eat and everything sold in the deli is prepared on site, using locally sourced produce where ever possible. You can eat in, though tables are limited so book in advance for dinner. They also offer takeaway and  can cater for your event. The interiors are well thought through simple yet elegant.

I'd now like to visit Eat Deli on a Sunday morning to sample their Eggs Florentine or perhaps their Panettone French toast with fresh fruit, drizzled with maple syrup, accompanied by Bei &amp Nanini cappuccino.

If you're not from Clarkston it's definetly worth a trip to experience Eat Deli and if you do live close ..make this your local if it's not already. 

Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm

Sunday 11am-5pm

Last orders at Allotment

Last night we finally made it along to Allotment in Govan Cross Shopping Centre and had so much fun we are gutted that this is to be its last hurrah.

A series of events organised by the National Theatre of Scotland, "Allotment" takes place in an empty shop unit in Govan Cross Shopping Centre and is an incredible mix of bar, gallery, theatre, music, games and visuals. It’s slightly hard to describe, partly because there was so much going on, but also partly because to describe it might take away from the fun of discovering for yourself all that is to be found.

We were unsure what to expect when we first arrived - one slightly drunk and extraordinarily tanned wee man walking passed as we arrived at the front the door told us that “something shady must be going on in there” as we and all our the other people arriving “looked well dodgy”. Walking through the main entrance and along the mall you start to agree, its rather disconcerting to be inside a shopping centre out of hours, especially one which has obviously seen better days.

We entered the blacked out space and the firs things that hits you is how big it is and how many different things there are to see 17 in total plus 3 secret rooms which can only be reached by winning certain games or finding a golden ticket. We grabbed some drinks from the bar (supplied and manned by the local Brechin Bar) and were taking a nervous walk round when we were grabbed up and whisked into taking part in a mock gameshow. This level of audience participation is something which I normally dread, but rest assured there is not a single event in the place to fear. The “participation” is of the smallest amount and you ware not expected to sing, dance or speak on the microphone at all. All you have to do is complete a wordsearch, draw a picture of one of your friends or drive a remote control surf-board.

Not sure what our favourite things were, we enjoyed the roundabout bar, which you sit at while people push you or King Kahuna’s Totally Gnarly Wipeout with the aforementioned remote control surf boards. Our control wasn’t quite there and our blue team ended up going a bit robot wars on the poor red team by accident and totally trashing their board – all of which was accompanied by a guy sitting atop an old boat planning surf beats on a massive drum. The giant cardboard Love computer was also a highlight.

All in all we highly recommend getting along tonight for the last ever adventure, you won’t be disappointed. If you fancy a night with cheap drinks, surprises and a pile of imagination then pop along and join in the fun.

Allotment

Govan Cross Shopping Centre

795 Govan Road, Glasgow

Sunday 8pm – late tickets £3 on the door.

Glasgow4Hait Fundraising Event @ The Shed

On Saturday, the ‘Glasgow4Hait’ fundraising album featuring top bands from around the West of Scotland including ‘Some Boy’, ‘Scott Peden’ and ‘Figure 5’ will be launched at the Shed. The event will launch the album on behalf of Glasgow the Caring City charity, with all proceeds towards their Haiti relief fund.

5 months on from the devastating earthquake, the relief operations by many charities are scaling down whilst the need for aid and assistance increases by the day. Glasgow Caring City has project teams on the ground in Haiti effectively contributing to the relief of suffering. The album release and launch event is intended to increase peoples support once again and subtly remind folk that people need their support now, more than at any other stage!

The event kicks off at 7:30pm, tickets are £5 which includes the album launch concert and free entry to the club afterwards circa 11pm. The event is supported by The Shed nightclub who, along with their partner venues in Glasgow, have been major contributors to the Haiti Appeal.

Cessnock

Cessnock is an interesting ethnically diverse area of the Southside, located a short walk from the river.

Shopping
The area has many ethnic grocery, fruit and vegetable shops and deli's selling a whole range of ethnic foods including Indian, Polish and Japanese

Architecture

Cessnock has several important pieces of architecture in close walking distance. Walmer Crescent, a curved tenement building designed by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson is situated within the heart of Cessnock. The BBC Scotland headquarters, designed by David Chipperfield are located 10 minutes from Cessnock on the River Clyde. Also the House for an Art Lover designed by  Charles Rennie Mackintosh is situated in Bellahouston Park on the southern boundary of Cessnock.

The Cessnock Subway station has the only surviving signage from before the Underground Stations were modernised in the 1970's.

Parks
Cessnock has two parks Plantation Park to the East and Festival Park to the North, Festival Park being one of the few reminders left of the 1988 Garden Festival. Bellahouston and Pollok Park are both a short walk from Cessnock.

Festivals
There are not a Cessnock Festival as such, but the area normally takes part in the Subway Festival and of course the Riverside Festival is held only ten minutes walk away.

Links
Cessnock Wikipedia
Alexander Thomson Society

Heritage Trails

With all the sun and warmth around Glasgow just now, it seems the ideal time for a good old wander. With all the interesting parks and buildings in the Southside, there is plenty to take a look at and there are a number of heritage walks setup to help you plan what to see and where to go.

The trails include: (Click the links to download PDF copies)
Bellahouston Park
Langside
Pollokshaws
Queen's Park
Southern Necropolis

Anyone got any other good suggestions for Southside walks/ trails? Send us your thoughts and any links to maps etc and we'll add them to the above list?

This Weekend - 21- 23 May

So it's festival weekend in the Southside, with loads of events taking place in and around Queen's Park.

On Friday night sees Carol Laula, Maeve Boyle and Robyn and Amie play at the Glasshouses. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £10.

On Saturday it's both Castlemilk Family Day and the Southside Festival. This year the festival will be situated on the Queen's Park recreational ground and in and around the Glasshouses. The festival kicks off at 11am when the procession leaves Shawlands academy and makes it's way down Pollokshaws Rd, along Allison street, Vicky Road and then Langside road finishing at the Recreational ground. The mainstage runs from 12 - 10pm, there's also an acoustic stage (situated in the bowling club), and another stage in the Glasshouses. There's a relaxation tent, Art in the Park, Integration marque and lots more click here for a programme

Art in the windows also opens on Saturday in Clarkston. If you're in or around the town centre have a look.

On Sunday get up early and head to Tapa or Gusto and Relish for breakfast or if you fancy a fry what about  Langside Cafe? Take a wander through the park up to the Glasshouses park up and listen to live Jazz from Joni Keen and Bobby Deans from 12 - 4pm. Then take a wander around Art in the Park, browse through a great selection of contemporary art by Glasgow artists. Langside College also have their end of year art show displaying the students work and just along in the other glasshouse is the GIA's exhibition of a selection of design entries for the Queen's Park Performance Arena.

Once you've browsed through all that art cross over to Millbrae Rd in Langside to the Queen's Park Camera Club who are holding an open day, with an exhibition of members work and are staging 3-D slide shows at 1pm & 3pm. (keep your eyes peeled for the special event QPCC are putting on - Can't tell you yet)

After all that you'll be in need of some fuel and refreshment Cookie will be holding a BBQ outside the Glasshouses all day serving a mix of good food.

At 7.30 in the evening Pollokshaws Burgh Hall have their second of three David Lean films, Great Expectations, the oscar winning film about a humble orphan suddenly becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Tickets £4 (available on the door)

For the final Gig at the Glasshouses the festival presents JJ Gilmour along with Acoustic Butterfly and Zemmy. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £10 (available on the door)

Let us know if you are going to any other events or are organising an event for this weekend.

Southside Festival - Gigs in the Glasshouses

 

On Friday 21st sees Carol Laula, Maeve Boyle and Robyn and Amie play at the Glasshouses. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £10.

For the Second year running La Roche Rumba will be part of the Southside Festival with a night at the Glasshouses in Queen's Park. They'll be presenting Pooch, Brand New Bag, Carnivale Fatale and the Rumba DJ's on the main night of the festival. Sounds like a great night and will sell out quickly so get your tickets soon.Doors open at 9pm Tickets £7

Sunday night the festival presents JJ Gilmour along with Acoustic Butterfly and Zemmy. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £10

All Tickets can be purchased from http://www.tickets-scotland.com/  or Tel 0141 204 5151. Tickets can also be purchased on the door.

For more Southside Festival 2010 Events click here

Queen's Park Arena Entries

The entries to the Queen's Park Arena Design competition (see earlier posts here) have now been uploaded to the Competition website and are generally of a really high standard. I think that the right design with the correct backing/ management and with a varied and interesting performance schedule could have a hugely positive impact on this area of the City and on the park. Have a read through the submitted entries and let us know what you think.

A shortlist of entries, selected by the competition judges, will be exhibited in the Glasshouses during the Festival, at Art in the Park and will give the public the opportunity to respond to the judges choices.

Why not pop up on Sun 23 May to the Glasshouses and have your say.

QPCC - Open Studios, Exhibtion and Talks 22/23 May

There are so many interesting and unique places in the Southside to explore but  the Queens Park Camera Club, on Millbrae Rd in Langside, has been on my list for a long time. It's a great facility, I have to confess I have all these romantic notions of photographers working away, discussing ideas and being creative. So I was delighted  when Michael Mclean from the Camera Club, let me know of their plans for an open studio day with an exhibition and talks.

QPCC are organising their exhibition as part of the Southside Festival, alongside Art in the Park, on the weekend of the 22/23 of May. With an extra special event happening on the 23 May ...which I know about but I can't tell you sorry... I promised, maybe I'll give you a clue nearer the time.

“Queen's Park Camera Club is delighted to be part of this year's Art In The Park, which takes place right at the end of another busy year for the us. The festival gives us an opportunity to open our club rooms on Millbrae Road to the public and to exhibit our recent work, as well as a selection of prints from the club's extensive archive. This year we will also be staging 3-D slide shows at 1pm & 3pm on both the Saturday and Sunday. These will be given by our resident expert in stereoscopic photography, Denis Alyshev, who will show images from his travels in Russia, Japan and Scotland all in amazing 3-D. Over the weekend, members will be in the club rooms to give you more information on our activities and to let you know about an exciting project we are currently working on in association with Glasgow City Council.”

Saturday 11pm-5pm

Sunday 11pm - 5pm

QPCC

Click Here for more Southside Festival Events

This Weekend 14 - 16 May

There is just loads of exciting events happening in the Southside this weekend.

On Friday night Club 106 presents WE ROCK LIKE GIRLS DON'T with support from 'Charles Randolph Rivers' Slim Rhythm Revue' Doors open 8pm at Mcneils Torrisdale Street. The Southside Festival present Nick Harper and Hatfitz with Cara Robinson at the Glasshouses. tickets £10 and can be bought on the door or 08444155221

On Saturday The farmers market is in Queens Park selling all sorts of great food. The Salutation Station in Polloksheilds are holding a fundraising event for Govanhill Baths - they'll be yoga, music, food happening all day.

Langside Primary host their Summer fair with music and events all afternoon. Paper Plane, new gift and card shop, on Skirving Street officially opens - we hear they have some lovely free badges. An exhibition of paintings by John Martin will be opening at 7pm on Saturday night at the Southside Studios

As part of the Southside Festival: The Senior Citizens Orchestra will be holding a free concert at Queens Park Parish church at 2.30pm. Albert Drive Studio's are having an open doors event on Sunday and inviting you to tour around the studios, meet the artists and view their new installation pieces in their garden. There will also be homemade cakes and lemonade, as well as a vintage clothing sale 11pm - 4pm

The Festival present Glenn Tilbrook and Howlin Radio at the Glasshouses. tickets £16 and can be bought on the door or 08444155221

All weekend UNINSTAL is taking place at the Tramway

Art in the Park 22 - 23 May

Art in the Park is a free temporary exhibition housed within the Victorian Glasshouses in Queens Park. Now in its second year, the show will run over the weekend of the 22/23 May 2010. Opening times are Saturday 11am – 6pm and Sunday 11am – 4pm. The exhibition is part  of the Southside Festival, and  last year’s exhibition attracted in excess of 2,000 people.

Julie Smith - Ceramics

The event supports both established and emerging Glasgow Artists. Some of the many artists displaying work at this years show include Patricia Cain, winner of this year’s Aspect prize, Paul Kennedy, Joe Hendry, Rosalind Lawless, Simon Laurie, Sam Carter, Julia Smith and Alexandra Milsom The show encompasses paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics and prints.

Patricia Cain

The RGI will be taking part in Art in the Park to promote the aims and activities of the Institute in supporting contemporary artists to show their work in the city. They will be exhibiting postcard-size pieces of work from artists including Rosalind Lawless, Simon Laurie and Patricia Cain.

On Saturday, there will be music by the Moonshiners, Hatfiz with Cara Robinson and the Ballachulish Hellhounds, while on Sunday afternoon there will be live Jazz throughout the afternoon with Joni Keen and Bobby Deans. Art in the Park, and all live music, is free.

Boys Don't Cry by Joe Hendry

Also contained within or around Art in the Park is: the Langside College End of Year Show, Print for a Pony, GIA exhibition of Queen's Park  Bandstand competition finalists, Greenview Photography Club and Queens Park Camera Club open day and Exhibition.

Click here for more Southside Festival Events

This Weekend 7 May 2010

Here's some ideas for this weekend, hope they help get rid of your election hangover, let us know what else is happening. 

Post Election night at Ibop tonight, with guest DJ Emma Howlett from dahn saaf starts at 8pm at the Ex Service club on Titwood

Saturday night is Rumba night at the ex Service men's club on Titwood Road. 

Good luck to everyone who is taking part in the Women's 10km on Sunday, looks like you're going to have a good day for it. For those who are not taking part, how about brunch at the Icafe in Polloksheilds? Take a walk along to the Tramway and take in the GI exhibitions or get on your bike and cycle through one of the great parks in the Southside. 

How about taking in a film at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, they'll be showing David Leans film Brief Encounter on Sunday night at 7.30pm. Tickets are £4 each. You can pay on the door or contact Pollokshaws Burgh Hall.

Chalet @ 18 Dixon Avenue

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We had a good time at the Streetland Festival in Govanhill at the weekend. Lots of really interesting things happening, loads of music and lots of residents wandering around, chatting and checking stuff out.

One of my favourite things was the exhibition at the Chalet art studio. We got a little tour of the space a couple of years ago when the artists had just taken it over and then it was full of old machinery so it was really interesting to see how it had been transformed. I thought the work was really interesting, some rather unusual furniture, a pretty cool illustration of a spaceman, two rooms of sculpture and painting and a short projected film which focused on moments of life in a local Govanhill Tenement block.

The show closes tomorrow and is worth a visit if you get a chance.

The Chalet

18 Dixon Avenue
Glasgow
G42 8ED

Nine Southside Festivals

The Southside plays host to a number of unique festivals during the summer, each one celebrating the uniqueness of that particular area of the Southside. We've listed nine of our favourites - if we've missed any let us know.

1. Bungo in the Back Lanes

Held annually in June in the back lanes of Strathbungo. This quirky festival is one of our favourites. 19 June 2010

Click Here

2. Southside Festival

Now in it's third year the Southside Festival takes place through out the Southside in May, with a main event in Queens Park. Celebrating all that is unique to the Southside of Glasgow. It's the biggest festival South of the River. Click Here

3. Pollokshaws Carnival

An annual carnival held in and around the area of Pollokshaws - 19th June 2010.

4. Castlemilk Family Day

The Castlemilk Family day is a day of events in and around Castlemilk - this year it's being held on Saturday 22 May 2010.

5. Eid in the Drives

Eid on the Drive is a unique event that brings the multi cultural community of Polloksheilds together to celebrate the end of Ramadhan. The event normally runs from around 11am until late and in previous years part of Albert drive has been closed for the celebrations to take place. Date TBC

6. Govan Fair

The Govan Fair is the oldest fair in the city, it was started in 1756 by the weavers in the Burgh of Govan. It's being held on the 4th/5th June 2010.
Click Here

7. Gorbals Fair

The Gorbals Fair, a day of music, activities and fun in the Gorbals. This year it's being held on Saturday the 5th June 2010

8 Battlefield Street Party
The Battlefield Street party was first held in 2009, and is hoped to become an annual event with the second Street Party being held Sunday 18 July 2010.

9. Ready Steady Grow
Maxwell Park, Polloksheilds 6th June 2010

* Pollok Park Family Day  7th August this year - thanks Richard

Within the Looking Glass

This is one of these rare moments, when we take that leap over the river to the other side. It's a rare event but we feel that it's worth it to tell you about Southsider Alexandra Milsom's exhibition opening at the Print Studios, in the Merchant City, on Thursday night. Yes you'll have to vote first and then head over to the exhibition or at least pass on the wine if you're planning on voting after!

Southside artist Alex Milsom studied Visual Arts in Auckland majoring in Printmaking. Milsom is a multi disciplinary artist who has a passion for works on paper and three dimensional glass forms.

Milsom's mezzotints draw on the velvety blackness and intimate scale of the Mezzotint which provides a window to a dreamlike world. A world of childhood narrative imbued with adult insight. These fairytales are acted out with human and animal characters that address issues based upon the human condition.

If you can't make it on Thursday night then don't worry 'Within the Looking Glass'  is on until 30th May 2010. [Alexandra Milsom is also showing work at Art in the Park 22/23rd May]

Southside Festival 2010

The Southside Festival 2010 will be happening on Saturday 22 May at the recreation grounds at Queen's Park with lots of marquees catering to all needs, a large fun procession, a host of great music events, Art in the Park at the Glasshouses and Comedy at The Shed. The website has just relaunched where you can read a copy of the events programme and find out about how to get involved.

Skirving Street - Shawlands

Skirving Street runs between Pollokshaws Road and Tantallion Road, a short street covering two blocks; consisting of a great bustling mix of shops, deli's and cafés. Highlights include the staggering piles of wonderful second hand objects at the three Cosgrove Care charity shops, the beautifully designed Butterfly Kisses, the super friendly and trendy barbers Girasoli, and RW Stevens a tailor, kilt maker and school uniform expert which has been trading there since the 1930s.

Opening hours are mixed but most are open late on a Thursday night. For a list of reviews and information on individual shops and cafes click here

Skirving Street News and Events

Skirving Street is one of our favourite Southside streets.  There is often events taking place in the shops or cafes on the street, for news and events click here

History
Skirving Street is named after the Glasgow architect Alexander Skirving, who trained with Alexander-Greek-Thomson and later became his chef assistant and designed several buildings within Glasgow. His best known works are Langside Battlefield Monument and Langside Hill Free Church, which is now Church on the Hill.

Map

View Skirving Street in a larger map

Cosgrove Care @ Skirving Street

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I like charity shops, they can be a source of all kinds of wonders, odds and ends and strange one off little fun gifts which you would never have purchased at the full price but for a couple of pound seem worth it. Over the last few months from the many different charity shops on Victoria Road, Kilmarnock Road and Cathcart Road I've picked up a board game with a tiny piano, a buzzer that makes the uh-oh noise from Family Fortunes and a Santa Clause puppet.

Some of my favourite charity shops, but ones I often don't get to visit are the Cosgrove Care stores on Skirving Street. There are three stores, two stocking a wonderful assortment o very unusal things and a newish cafe, No 16 Cosgrove which is further down the Street.
It was only while chatting to staff while writing this post that I really understood what the charity is about and why they opened a cafe on a street already very well provided for tea and cakes. Started in 1962 the Cosgrove Care charity was set up to provide support and learning to people with mental disabilities. The shops and cafe play an important role in this support. There are two or three full time staff, supported by a group of volunteers and between them they provide support to mentally disabled adults and children, who gain the skills and experience of work by trying it out for real in the world. As the staff said, the No 16 cafe is really there as a means to provide the users with an oppertunity to learn how to serve customers and help get them into work. Its quite nice that the shops are not just a means to raise funds but are also a direct link to helping the people that need it.

The reason I don't often get to visit the shops is that they don't open at the weekends due to their Jewish beliefs, which were the original founding stones of the charity. The fact that the shops are not open at weekends has led lots of people to think they are actually shut down. We've had a couple of emails to Southside Happenings in the past asking us whats going on with them. We know that Saturday and Sunday opening is something that they are potentially looking at at the moment and it would be great if they did. I think it would not only bring them a ton of extra customers but it would also add an extra bit of life and browsing opportunities on Skirving Street on a lazy weekend wander.

To find out more about the charity and what it does visit this link.

Great Skirving Street Giveaway - Winners Announced

The Great Skirving Street Giveaway has come to an end and our our birthday is over for another year. However, we do have lots of prizes to dish out! Before we announce the winners, we would like to thank everyone who entered the competition. We'd also like to thank everyone from Skirving Street who got involved in the The Great Skirving Street Giveaway. We really hope that we have helped spread the word about what a great street it is and how important it is to support independent local shops and businesses....so here goes.

Aislinn Gormley you will be having wonderful expresso mocha pot and 1901 coffee from Deli 1901; Jen Collinson you have won the fish supper from Blue Lagoon; Foto Jenny you may purchase any book or books up to the value of £20, for free, from the wonderful Young's Interesting Books. Chris Hunter you may like Grianach for their scones but here's your chance to have tea and cake at Biscuit; Gary, who's favourite place in the Southside is the glasshouses has won a bottle of wine from Odd Bins. Hope you play chess Lisa Rouke as you've won the chessboard from Cosgrove Care. Anne Dalton you have won a pair  of beautiful  vintage earrings from The Dressers Room; The lunch for two at Altura goes to Steffi Kerr and Emma McG the beautifully designed Earl & Pearl mug and tea towel, from the lovely Butterfly Kisses is yours. Craig Judge you get to choose a school tie from RW.Stevens; The free hair cut at Girasoli is going to John McDowell and finally the last prize coffee and cake for two at Beanscene goes to Lorna Templeton.

On top of your prize's listed above each one of you will be given an exclusive, new and shiny Southside Happenings winners badge. Send us an e-mail  southsidehappenings@gmail.com to confirm your prize and we'll send you details on how to go about collecting your prize and your SSH badge.

* Thank you for the e-mails regarding the SSH badges, we will be giving more away, so please don't try to bribe us - though we were almost tempted by the free ice cream and sweeties.

Queens Park Arena Competition Launch Day

The Queen's Park Arena Competition organised by the GIA and QPPP launched last Saturday and there are now photos of the day uploaded to the competition site. Its great to see how many people attended and how many designers (60+) have signed up to be part of it. This is fantastic not just because it means there will be some really interesting designs produced but also because I suggested the idea of the design competition and the involvement of the GIA and was a bit worried it wouldn't work but I'm just glad its been so successful for them.

We missed the event unfortunetly as we were down in London for the judging session of the Electoral Reform competition that I'd organised, but from the looks of things lots of you went along and checked it out. Let us know what you thought of the day and what you'd like to see in the final design.