SUMMER IN THE CITY
GLASGW
F O FEE
Photographs: Neale Smith
ummer is not kind to (ilasgow — at least
that‘s how the myth goes. The students
are gone. everything vaguely cultural heads down the MS. and everyone left behind wishes they were sitting in a bar next to Lake (‘omo. But here's a tip from the American: take a ‘staycation' and discover (ilasgow‘s hidden gems. many of which can be sourced for less than the price of at Discovery ticket. After all. with the El tanbeds and the mighty steak bake. Glasgow is the natural home ot’ the cheap thrill. So which tree and easy delights does (ilasgow's hip crowd recommend‘.’ The List sought out a stylist. a skater. a PR. a graduate and a restaurateur to lind out.
Shanks'pony
The humble walk has been given a 2 l st century spin. As with everything from British foreign policy to yoga. the Glasgow Musical Trail has a podcast. acting as a guided tour to the points of merit in the city. See where (iary Lightbody gets his guitar fixed! Discover where Franz I‘erdinand played their lirst gig! The sites may not warrant blue plaques. but it‘s a fun concept and one that will put the humble pub bore out of business. Mainly aimed at visitors to
6 THE LIST 3—10 Aug 2006
(ilasgow. you have to put up with the cheesy over-selling ol' the whole (ilasgow thing. but it's worth a listen anyway and you can download it l'rom www.itoorscom.
Hi you like your walks tnore spontaneous. a meandering stroll through the city gives a glimpse into (ilasgow‘s weirder side. (io cra/y l'or Jay-7. at the tackalicious Hip-Hop Shop (24‘) Argyle St. (ll-ll 248 2760). marvel at the need for the Jacobean (,‘orsetry Shop in Merchant (‘ity and peruse the ‘glamorous geggies‘ at l)umharton Road‘s Cosmetic Denture Designers ( l5t) l)umharton Rd. ()I4l 33‘) 53H).
Skater boy Mark lioster prel'ers using wheels to cross the city. ‘My current l‘avourite journey is to cycle along the liorth & ('lyde canal path
to Drumchapel. Just behind the Donald Dewar
Sports (‘entre is a gem of a wee skatepark.
built just a couple of months ago.‘ Other
favourites are lowering the tone of Blysthwood Square by racing down the hills. energised by coffee from nearby Where the Monkey Sleeps (182 West Regent Street. ()l-ll 226 3406). Foster‘s enthusiasm can only last so long though. ‘()nce the skating and cycling day comes to an end. I walk over to the Necropolis
Ill) I CI. ' at I ’ l/l
Incidents and Accidents (left) is a free exhibition of photographs by Gary Browne at Focus skateboard store (99 King Street). The ‘x’ marks the spot of various incidents in Glasgow, on and off his skateboard. The Glasgow Women’s Library (above) is a wonderful, quiet place that won’t be at its 109 Trongate address for much longer. Hidden Gardens (opposite) is the acclaimed free garden at Tramway.
What is there to do if you’re staying in Glasgow during August? A lot more than the naysayers would have you believe, as Graeme Allister discovers when he talks to a group of diehard Glaswegian culture vultures.
to watch the sunset and see the city slow down.‘
Parklife
(ilasgow boasts over 7() parks. created by the Victorians for ‘improving activities‘. I'm assuming underage drinking and the unnecessary baring ol plump. singed skin is not what they had in mind. In order to avoid these delights. keep your head down as you cross the Botanic Gardens and cross oy el' one of the bridges to the much less crowded Kelvin “alkway. Peace is guaranteed. c\ccpt tor the professional dog—walkers. lycra-clad masochists and mothers wheeling what look like a buggy crossed with a [and Roy er. Keep walking along the river and you‘ll get to the arboretum. the lealiest and most private part ol‘ the park. surprisingly only 30 years old.
For those bored with walking and sun- worshipping. student Alice llowlett recommends Tollcross Park (2458 Wellshot Rd). 'As well as hothouses and a luxuriant rose garden. this park in the Iiast Iind hosts poetry groups every week while Shakespeare— alicionados do l‘ree readings every Saturday.‘ llowlett‘s also loves Victoria ’ark (Victoria Park Drive North) l'or its sporting opportunities. with bowling green and tennis courts. Best of all is liossil (iroy'e. It may sound like a suburban liousing community but it‘s a petrilied l'orest some 300 million years old. accidentally uncovered during the building of a pathway through a distised quarry. It's only open until September every year so head early. il‘ only to get a last look at the park before it plays host to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Antony and the Johnsons and several thousands of litter courtesy of the inaugural Indian Summer liestival.
Anyone wanting to see wildlil'e other than overl'ed squirrels and pigeons might consider a trip out to the South Side‘s Linn Park t('larkston Road). home to an equestrian centre. allowing you to see (ilasgow's second biggest park on horseback.
Culture vultures
There‘s more to Trongate than pound shops and leather ol’ questionable quality. Tucked away down in a lane is the Glasgow Women’s Library (109 Trongate. (ll-ll 552 8345). PR