Play with the city - glasgow

I love Bunker, it is one of my locals and one that I go to often.

On entering Bunker, on the middle of Glasgow’s bar-heavy Bath Street, you find a great contemporary venue, still fresh from last year’s makeover, with comfortable seating (there are plenty of cosy booths) and cool lighting that seems to cast an attractive glow over everything. There are huge sunken tables with poles (yip dancing style) in the middle of them.

Bunker has a good range of DJs over the weekend, playing a boogie-tastic mix of indie and pop – perfect for stopping by before heading to a club. Although, to be honest, since it’s open until 2am at weekends you don’t have to leave the place!

Saturday night saw DJ Toast drop some bum spanking and groin grinding indie bits and rock picks. i went with some of my dance loving mates and had an absolute ball. The champagne was by the bucket full as it was my birthday the night before and we were all out to celebrate!

Thanks to everyone who came out and made the night a blast and for my cake, I just wish one of us would have remembered our bloody cameras!!

So the streets of Glasgow were full of leprechauns, pots of gold and shamrocks …. Bars were full of green headed Guinness’s and waiting staff with ginger hair and mushtaches. The Dubliners and Pouges was the favorite choice of music and well, everywhere I went; everyone was pissed!

St Paddy’s in Glasgow is an excuse for a bar crawl like no other- To have a drink and sing- song in every Irish pub before you either; forget who you are out with, forget your name or eventually pass out in a drunken but very Irish slobber of Guinness dribble.

Everyone turns Irish on St Paddy’s day… it’s law. If you don’t find yourself fishing in your wardrobe for that scabby green cardigan to wear, something is wrong with you. And after two or three drinks your not talking in an Irish accent, I would go see a specialist; preferably one with a big green hat and pointy shoes on.

For those of you who love a bit of dress up before you go out (see if you can get any free drinks) have a wee lookie at this site http://www.freekidscrafts.com/st_patricks_day_crafts-t119.html you are guaranteed to something to warm your cockles and get out there in green!!

So where to go? There is loads of irish pubs to go in Glasgow. My fav two would have to be Jinty McGuinty’s. This is a small yet worthwhile pub to visit when spending time in the West End of Glasgow, located perfectly around the corner from the Hillhead St. Underground, Jinty’s in on Glasgow’s famous Ashton Lane. I can undoubtedly say that this is amongst my favoured places in Glasgow. Pop in here for a fab pint of Guinness and a wee bit o the crack and then wander up and down the lovely cobbled lane to enjoy the general ambiance of this Glasgow back street! Often some live music plays and you will always find an interesting local to chat away to.

O’neills Irish bar on Queen Street in Glasgow is another on the pub crawl hit list. This is a legend in the Glasgow. A great place during the day or evening but especially good on St Paddy’s. No complaints but I cant actually remember being in the place… so I’ll stop there.

So if you cant make it over to Ireland to celebrate it’s favourite green saint, plant yourself in one of Glasgow’s Irish bars, raise your pint of Guinness over your head and sing with the best of them.

So me and a very good girl friend decided to gorge ourselves with a pre- theater and a bottle of red before we set of to the Citizens Theater in Glasgow to go see The Shakespeare tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

The production was held by Glasgow’s Reids College final year acting students and by my standards;  I would say they all passed with flying colours.

This was the first time I had been to the Citizens Theater so I wasn’t sure what to expect but there wasn’t a dry eye in the house especially at the end of the night when I realized I had lost a shoe! How on earth I hear you say… well, as I was getting into the whole.. ‘oh romeo oh romeo’ I had kicked my shoes off and made my self comfortable. At the end of the production only one shoe.. no idea what happened to the other one! Taxi!

Anyways, an excuse to buy new shoes.

The production was fabulous. Rather than the ‘the greatest love story ever told’ the Shakespeare’s text was more relevant to our youth, in a climate plagued with knife crime, ASBO’s and gang culture, The Production was  an edgy and very tense interpretation the playwright’s message and it still had a lesson to teach us.

I like getting another take on something (Leona Lewis Snow Patrol- ok  not that one) and the Citizens Theater certainly don’t that! We left the there thinking ‘WaW… How good was that’

Did anyone else go to this?

Find a shoe?

Most people who enjoy a meal out on a regular basis have an opinion on which are the best places to go. But ‘best’ can mean different things to different people – ranging from wallet-busting fine dining venues, to places that just ooze character, or simple unadorned eateries. But all have at least one thing in common- good food.

A new restaurant that’s popped up and causing a stir in Glasgow is Peters on Hyndland Road, we were there to treat a workmate who is leaving us for early retirement… the cheesy burger!

Split into two parts, a cosy front bar with groups of tables, and booths in the back. The environment is suitable for a quiet cocktails as it is a three- course meal; and either will put a smile on your face. The standards are high and the service is friendly, all good for a night out eating and drinking with work buddies.

The decor is not expected of,lo the building- booths, pillars and brickwork- with nice classic touches. The food is great. Daily specials make the most out of the fresh ingredients- such as an amazing Salmon and Haddock fish cake with sweet chili sauce. Or how about a mains of Pan roast breast of chicken with borlotti beans and plum tomato ragout or for something a bit more richer the Saddle of venison, parsnip puree and honey , served with roast vegetables and beetroot jus.

You can get a lunch/ pre theatre in the restaurant costing from £10.92 for two courses or £12.95 for three! Food like this, priced like this puts a smile on the face, even in the midst of a recession!

None of our table went for a desert, simply because we were so stuffed by the starters and mains (a few of us leaving lots of the mains of our plates) however I did put a ‘tick’ to one certain desert that I am definitely going to try next time I give Peters a visit. Mixed Berrie parfait with orange tuille, yum yum yum.

Peter is the new kid on the block and it’s risky being there with so many of it’s neighbours shutting down because; dare I say it- the credit crunch. But I think Peters will do well and if not, I hope they keep me in mind when they are getting rid of their stock of  Cristal Champagne.

I wont mention how much ass kissing I got to mention this comp on this site…

So the lovely, young, fit, handsome, boys at ilovelegion.com held a ski and snowboard comp at Bearsden Ski and Board Club on Sunday the 1st of March. Me and my sister were there ogling the boys in their ‘hanging past their bum’ trousers and shampoo commercial long hair as they posed and strutted some moves on and off the slope.

I am such a big fan of Legion, they are pushing through the crowd of other “snowsports sites” to promote young Scottish talent, they are a cheeky bunch of bum scratchers who are from my hood and I love them.

Now enough with the cheap ass advertising (they are all really old ugly gits)

Now I cant remember the last time I went riding so I didn’t enter the competition, I just went as a spectator and to join in with the after party. (had to take Monday off work, I had the flu you see)

Sunday saw a glorious day for Glasgow, sun was out and for a change it was actually warm! It was a perfect day to fight for a table outside on the balcony, beer in hand as we watched the ski and snowboard competition that was taking place that day.

Bearsden has a couple of good ramps, enough for even the biggest pie munching riders to be able to get some air. There were a few rails out as well for the smart ass riders out there (i cant do rails for shit)

So anyway, who won… No idea.

The after party, ahh now we are talking. The party took place in some swanky pad. I’m thinking the writer of Skins was hosting it as it was wild! The Myspace  parties wouldn’t  have a look in here. The place was jumping with the very best of Glasgow’s punters, all with a posh accent of course!

As we sipped Jacks and co with a cigarette in the winter gardens there was a full blown rave in the front drawing room, some R&B in the lounge and a band in… the other lounge?

It was a great night and I’m hoping there is going to be one again very soon! well not too soon as my head is still thumping.

I have no idea how to pronounce the name of these guys… Chiodos?  So from now on they are known as That Band with the Russel Brand Lookie Likey in it.

So “That Band with the Russel Brand Lookie Likey in it” were playing King Tuts Wah Wah Hut back in the day when it was 2nd of February 2009- and they could scream out a tear of a black hearted goth’s eyeliner eye. Think Lionel Ritchie on helium gas with a big banging bass behind him, oh and a few other band members thrown in there for good measure. (Russell Brand) I wanted to ask why the Garfunkel are they shouting, are their mics shit? But noooo… I need to get out more… But hey there was a mosh pit!!!

These guys pulled in the Glasgow Emo Kids (mostly screaming star- tattooed girls) like the Pan Piper pulled in rats of London, draws them in with their little flute things. So I wasn’t a big fan of the whole emotional screaming sorrow songs before I saw them live, and well I’m still not a fan. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have a fab night out and that I didn’t enjoy the set, because i did!

Anyways me and my life love Dave where there with our fringes, our tighty whitey jeans and lumberjack shirts drinking by the pint load Tennents shandy (yes shandy, we both had our work the next day) We went with the best of them and stood in the middle of the crowd, waved our arms when the crowd did, screamed when the crowd did and hell went for a fag every five minutes as to not damage our hearing too much and to have the odd social chit chat.

I phoned Dave two days later and we were still shouting at each other through our mobiles, Chiodos are that bloody loud!

Did anyone else go to this gig? Are you in need of a hearing aid?

They are back in Glasgow in November, think Im going to make sure I don’t have work the next day and give them another bash.

http://www.myspace.com/chiodos

So I was expecting glow sticks, furry boots and men in white boiler suits. Boy I was wrong.

The Arches in Glasgow saw a fanny fantastic Friday night with Modeselektor on the 20th. The Berlin duo were so good I don’t think the bar served a single drink the whole time they were on set, the dance floor was absolutely mobed and Glasgow was jumping! My ears are still ringing, and I love it.

Now Ive been to The Arches loads of times, it is one of Glasgow’s hot spots; but I have never seen the place so busy or have I seen the dance floor so instinct with everyone having a fncking great time…

The place was swimming with cheap champaign, one from the duo to cool us all down! Thanks for that guys.

New tunes for th Qashqui, yes indeedalydee.

So anyways, The night itself was a blast. The venue was packed with a shit load of girls wanting to be spotted and the atmosphere was very ‘girly’ girls all out to have a couple of drinks and loads of laughs with their mates. We got pissed, laughed lots, bitched lots and got lost trying get home from the night. Good one, do it again?… “ooh yaa darling”.

Putting the weird name aside — apparently the name of some tribe wandering about Iran — I love, love, love my Qashqai; and if you try come take it away from me, I’m sorry but I cannot be held responsible for my actions.

Now you’ve have had your warning, we can get on with the review.

The Nissan Qashqai has some set of “urban credentials” also known as Baws in Glasgow. It is a big beefy boy, but one that likes a bit of lipstick, silk underwear and a bottle of poppers at the weekend. This fruity figure of a man (still talking about the Qashqai here) has the exterior of the Royal British Guard standing in front of Buckingham Palace. Highly polished, stiff upper lip and a big furry hat. This car screams “Yeah I’m not as scary when I’m described that way, but fuck with me and I’ll have your scrotum for a change purse”. This car will give even the most feminine of drivers some great big hairy space hopper balls. The road my friend; is yours.

We have been lucky enough to have some snow in this old Country of ours lately and this is where the Quasqai really let me down. Could I have had a duvet day? No chance, the bloody thing held the road no problem and I ended up in work on time every day of the lovely white conditions. Nipping through town? No probs, switch on the 2 wheel drive and you can nip in and out the gridlock like a Smart Car.

Inside the Quasqai is comfortable, no luxurious; no… imagine the best damned VIP area without the booze and hard drugs, that’s how lush this car is. You have all the James Bond gadgetry at your finger tips. Connect your phone to the car for hand free dirty phone calls. Never bump into the bollard at Tesco again with the beepy beep-beep reverse assistance. Bollocks to Radio 1, a 6 CD changer is integrated via the dash and steering wheel. See what I mean about Lush?

So would I buy one of these city 4×4s. If you had asked me 6 months ago I would have went on about Chelsea tractors and fur coat no knickers Mums dropping off a solitary sprog at school before her morning and afternoon of cheap chardonnay and knee trembling spin cycles. But now I have one, I don’t want to go back to dodgem style cars like a Punto or God forbid a Sex in the City Mini. I’ve been spoiled. You cannot paint dogs’ bollocks in the finest filet mignon and expect him not to lick.

Annnd. I remember thinking this was one of the coolest adverts on the clever box, and now Im driving one of these. If only I was a giant who could kick flip!

He is dead and buried… a more-ish handful of dust somewhere in Ayrshire, but 250 years later we are still celebrating the life’s work of Scotland’s most famous womaniser, philosopher and bard; Robert Burns. A good 250 years hole in the head dead, but boy ‘o’ boy can he can still host a good party! Food, songs, drams and rubbing shoulders with some of Scotland’s finest z-list talents. It all made for a healthy hangover and some fun photos for the album on the morning after.

Held at Oran Mor at the top of Byres Road in Glasgow’s West End, my good self and a few bum chums checked out Burns night.
David MacLennan who is the man in the know when it comes to all things theatre and art, welcomed us all to the night before a choir called The Sirens of Titan held us all in a head lock with an appetiser of Burns in song and Cock-a-leekie soup.

Dave Anderson; another Scottish theatre darling waved a big machete in the air whilst reciting ‘Address to the haggis’  in  broad auld Scots using words that even I couldn’t comprehend let alone understand, before he stabbed a big bag of haggis and dished out our mains. History dictates that The Haggis is borne into the room to the screeching… I mean dullest tones of the  bagpipes and serenaded with Burns’ great paean to the stuffed sheep’s stomach, after the ceremonial piercing; the haggis is toasted with a traditional dram of whiskey. Bottoms up.

So you guess it, the main meal of the night was Haggis, neaps (swede) and tatties with a creamy pepper sauce, loved it! After dinner we had a toast to the Lassies by Jimmy McGregor, a great speech about how much Jimmy loved his women. Reminiscing to a young age when he would court them up the back close in the tenements of old Springburn with nothing more romantic than a poke of chips. Moira Kerr made a reply on behalf of the lassies; a witty speech and a wee sing-song.
Time for desert, the best bit. A Raspberry Cranachan tower with Moustarda of berries followed by coffee and traditional tablet.

David Hayman (the Trial and Retribution guy) made The Immortal Memory speech were he spoke of the charity work that some of Scotland’s finest are doing and the many Scots who have passed but should still be remembered. We of all people ended up with his business card at the end of the night and thought it would be funny sending him some text messages asking “Where do you get those shirts?”
More coffee and tablet.

The finally of the night was Karen Dunbar  her with the nostrils in ‘Chewing the Fat’ reciting what is probably Burns’ most famous poem; Tam O’Shanter. As with all things Karen is involved in, she was a great image up on the stage and got many a laughs from the tables around the room.

There was also a previewing of ten unique and strangely witty paintings, illustrating Burns’s Tam ‘O’ Shanter by the artist and author Charles Nasmyth.

So who was spotted? Robbie Coltrane, Duncan Ballantine, a shed load of the stars of Taggart and River City (I didn’t know any of them) and plenty of others just smelling of TV personality.