GLASGOW LIFE
A quick look at the Nati '
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What is it? The National Wedding Show is a bi-annual event with the premier names in the nuptial industry giving you all the advice in the w0rld, ensuring that your‘ big day is merely nerve-wrecking rather than utterly terrifying.
Big name exhibitors Sainsbury's are joining the fray, providing the exhibition with cakes galore; Versace has teamed up with Rosenthal to create a colourful range of tableware; and Couturier John Rocha has designed a stunning collection of crystal for Waterford with his trademark minimalist decoration.
Who’s on the catwalk? The theme for the show is 'Celtrc', wrth embrordered and textured dresses moving towards a Highland theme wedding. Other fashions are for the mother-of—the-bride (always a tricky one), best man and bridesmaids. What about the non-traditional wedding? There is also advice for those who want to get married in unusual locales such as the 200 or underwater. No, really.
I National Wedding Show, Sat 27 & Sun 28 Feb, 70am—6pm. £5 or f 79 for party of five. SECC, Finnieston Quay info: 07462 485896.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Concentric Cities Throughout the year. info: 287 I999. Part of Glasgow I999. this is essentially a do-it-yourself guided tour to the city split into three parts with each strand highlighting many significant landmarks to create the largest ‘exhibition‘ in the world. Phone for a detailed list of articipating venues. Model Rail ' SECC. Finnieston Quay. 287 7777. Fri l9—Sun 21 Feb. 11am-8pm. The Association of Model Railway Societies of Scotland‘s annual railway extravaganza. with displays. stalls and lots more train paraphernalia. The Personal Enterprise Show Sat 20 & Sun 2| Feb. l0am-5pm. SECC. Finnieston Quay. info: 0800 389 2929. For those who yearn to be their own boss. here’s an ideal opportunity to meet those who have gone down that path successfully. and receive invaluable help and advice. For a free pack and ticket details. call the above number. Alternative Worlds Sat 20 & 27 Feb. CCA. Sauchiehall Street. 332 752I. The CCA‘s series on dissidence and debate continues with the Autonomous Centre of
80 TIIEUST l8 Feb-4 Mar 1999
Edinburgh (ACE) making the case for grassroots groups and projects (Sat 20. lpm. Free). The following week sees protest culture writer Camilla Berens talking about 90s activism (Sat 27. noon. £l.50).
In The Bag - Pieces In Pyramids Tue 23 & Wed 24 Feb. Various venues. Phone 0I7l 323 3003 for exact venues and times. A variety of Scottish talent is brought together to launch Scottish Blend's new Pyramid teabag. Artistic Director Nicola Burnett Smith is orchestrating a performance extravaganza of 50 nine-foot high Pyramids which will be popping up all over Scotland. Among the acts you can behold in Glasgow are Spacehopping Aliens (Sauchiehall Street. Wed. I lam—2pm); The American Tourists (George Square. Tue. I lam—2pm) and The Human Jukebox (Buchanan Street. Tue—Wed. 8.30am-l.30pm). Look out for other acts at St Enoch Square. Princes Square and the Botanic Gardens.
Orchid Quest In The Mountains Of Thailand Thu 25 Feb. 7.30pm. £2 for non-members. Hillhead Library. Byres Road. 334 2422. Assistant Curator of the gardens. David Menzies. gives a talk on
orchids from the Far East in this Friends OfGIasgow Botanic Gardens event. National Wedding Show Sat 27 & Sun 28 Feb. l0am—6pm. £5 or £l9 for party of five. SECC. Finnieston Quay. info: 0l462 485896. See photo caption. Independent Travellers' World '99 Sat 27 & Sun 28 Feb. £5. SECC. Finnieston Quay. info: 0800 328 0888. The ITW exhibition comes to Scotland for the first time giving would-be travellers the chance to explore the sights and sounds of the globe. under one very convenient roof. See feature. page 106.
Scottish Computer Fair Sun 28 Feb. l0am—3pm. £3 (£2). Under l0s free. SECC. Finnieston Quay. info: 01706 299709. There are over 75 trade stands here today to fulfil all your hardware. software and system requirements. Creative Stitches/Hobbycrafts Thu 4-Sun 7 Mar. 9.30am—5.30pm (Sun 5pm). £6 (£5); Under 16s free. SECC. Finnieston Quay. info: 0I425 2727 I 1. Two shows for the price of one for the crafts and hobby enthusiast. Creative Stitches is the largest textile and sewing craft show in the country and offers help and advice on developing or learning new skills. while the set-piece display is a selection of the gowns and hats seen in Titanic. Hn/i/ivcrnt'ts; meanwhile. is a must for anyone with a passion for miniatura. teddy bear making. stencilling. gilding or flower-arranging.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Art Gallery 8: Museum, Kelvingrove Argyle Street. 287 2699. Mon—Sat I0am-5pm'. Sun I lam—5pm. Free. This fine example of late Victorian architecture houses a permanent collection of work by such names as Rembrandt. Botticelli. Whistler and Cadell. plus numerous historical artefacts and animal displays. Also showing: The Lit/tutu (I/tm't Dance Shirt ()hject Cine/nu. l’unm'untu (ilusgmr. l’uisuk/ti Banners. New Architects and Frank UU_\'(/ Wright — The Living City. See Glasgow Art listings page 75.
Burrell Collection
2060 Pollokshaws Road. 649 7 l 5 I. Mon—Sat I0am—5pm; Sun I lam—5pm. Free. Sir William Burrell’s world famous collection of beautiful art objects from around the globe. housed in a specially designed. award-winning building. Also showing: The 'I’hist/e And The Rose. See Glasgow Art listings page 75.
Calderglen Country Park
Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. 0I355 236644. Daily mam—4.30pm. Free. This country park offers something for all ages. with an ornamental garden for horticultural.enthusiasts. an audio-visual display. a children‘s zoo and a host of walks and nature trails.
Chatelherault Country Park
Carlisle Road. Hamilton. 0I698 4262I3. Mon—Sat I0am-5pm; Sun noon—5pm (house closed Friday). Free. Named after the Dukes of Hamilton‘s hunting lodge. restored to its former glory in I987. the park also contains the ruins of Catlzow Castle and extensive woodland walks. some through ancient native forest.
Coats Observatory
49 Oakshaw Street West. Paisley. 889 20I3. Tue-Sat I0am-5pm'. Sun 2—5pm. Free. Built as the result of an endowment from a local philanthropist in I880. the observatory now acts as the major seismic station for south west Scotland as well as filing daily weather reports to the Met Office. The telescopic equipment is still operational and the building houses a library of specialist books.
David Livingstone Centre
I65 Station Road. Blantyre. ()I698
823 I40. Mon—Sat l0am—3.30pm: Sun l2.30—3.30pm. £2.95 (£I.60-£l.75). This
museum. situated in the tenement where Scotland‘s most famous missionary- explorer was born. features memorabilia from his life. both in Scotland and in the heart ofAfrica.
Glasgow Botanic Gardens
730 Great Western Road. 334 2422. Free. Grounds open daily dawn—dusk; Kibble Palace open Mon—Sat I0am—4.I5pm. This I9th century garden and glasshouses are home to an interesting and educational selection of plants. as well as featuring in the film Jude.
Glasgow Cathedral
Cathedral Street. 552 8I98. Mon—Fri 9.30am—4pm; Sun 2—4pm. Free. A stone- built church has stood on this site since
I I36 and the lower church contains the shrine of St Mungo. who died in 603; however most of the present building dates from the l3th or l5th centuries. the most notable exception being the stained- glass windows. renowned as one of the finest post-war collections in the country.
Glasgow Zoopark
Calderpark. Uddingston. 771 I185. Daily 9.30am—4pm. £3.10 (£2.65). A popular haunt on school trips. Glasgow Zoopark boasts a varied collection of animals. from lions to guinea pigs. as well as a well-stocked reptile house. There is also a full programme of interactive events. such as snake- handling and birds of prey flying displays. plus Children‘s Farm. amusements and an orienteering course.
Gruesome Glasgow
Meet at Tourist Information Centre. George Square. 772 0022. £5 (£3-£4). Fri 7pm. Tales of torture and terror on the streets of Glasgow as an expert guide takes you on a tour of the city‘s cruel past.
House For An Art Lover
Bellahouston Park. I0 Dumbreck Road. 353 4773. £3.50 (£2.50). For opening times. call info line ()I4l 353 4449. Art Lover's Cafe and Shop open l0am-5pm daily. Initially designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh for a competition in I90I. this unfinished work has been completed by modern-day architects and designers in true Mackintosh style. Also on show Ash/er (bu/t. See Glasgow Art listings page 75.
L Hunterian Art Gallery
University of Glasgow. 82 Hillhead Street. 330 543 I. Mon—Sat 9.30am-5pm. Free. Home to the university's collection of flat art and sculpture as well as changing exhibitions. the gallery also features a recreation of Charles Rennie lvlackintosh's Glasgow house which contains a host of original furnishings.
Hunterian Museum
University Avenue. 330 422I. Mon—Sat 9.30am—5pm. Free. Dating from 1807. the Hunterian is Scotland's oldest public museum — it lost its artworks in I980 with the opening of the purpose-built art gallery in the grounds. but it is still home to a collection of the university's treasures.
Hutcheson's Hall
I58 Ingram Street. 552 839|. Mon-Sat I0am—5pm. Free. Built by the philanthropic Hutcheson brothers in the l9th century. the hall has recently been completely refurbished to give a taste of its former glory. The site also includes a ten-minute audio-visual display about the Merchant City.
Mugdock Country Park
Craigallan Road. Milngavie. 956 6l00. Free. This country park on the north east side of the city has a full programme of ranger activities as well as numerous woodland paths and walkways. The visitor centre is open 9am—5pm every