www.list.co.uk/aroundtownWhat’sOn
■ Books ■ Clubs ■ Comedy ■ Film ■ Kids 37 40 49 52 70
72 ■ LGBT 73 ■ Music 96 ■ Theatre 101 ■ TV ■ Visual Art 103
Around Town The Santa Stroll. A bit like Where’s Wally?
Ho, ho, ho . . . ? Struggling to get into the Christmas mood this year? Kirstin Innes rounds up a few handy festive events
I n Glasgow, as ever, the Winterfest hubbub centres around George Square, gleefully decked out with the traditional mass of clashing, colourful lights. As well as the huge outdoor ice rink, the Big Stage is keeping stressed shoppers calm with a whole lotta live music. Quite the nicest wee treat they’ve got in store for you happens on the 21st December, when the RSNO Choir are on hand for a calming C a ro l Concert from 4–6pm. Did you do all your shopping online months ago and have no intention of entering the city centre until at least February? We applaud your organisational skillz, and probably hate you. You can still get a little festive feeling – and for free – at Kelvingrove Museum, where the excellently-named exhibition Oh Yes It Is! charts the history of the humble Christmas panto in Scotland in all its cross- dressing, thigh-slapping glory. If all that isn’t quite thrilling enough for you, head out to the Irn Bru Carnival at the SECC – the Christmas activity equivalent of an E-number fuelled sugar rush.
Over in Edinburgh, the twinkly Winter Wonderland in Princes Street Gardens is already up, running and instilling good cheer into the hearts of beleagured consumers. Traditionalists might like to check out the range of events at Lauriston Castle – there’s a series of workshops to help you create Christmas crafts, and a
talk on our national seasonal traditions (Friday 12 December). Over on the other side of town, the Royal Highland Centre’s Christmas and New Year’s Carnival will be giving good festive thrills from Friday 19th December, with slides, rides and a particularly warm ‘n’ fuzzy-sounding event called The Meshams’ Wall of Death Motorcycle Stunt Show. Of course, if it’s a real white-Christmas- knuckle experience you’re after, check out the City of the Dead’s Festive Fright Fest tours from Saturday 27 December. Rather more traditionally, there’s a four- choir-strong Christmas Choral Concert throughout the day of Sunday 14 December at the National Museum of Scotland. Finally, if you’re one of those proper Christmas junkies who really gets into the spirit of it, why not pour your enthusiasm into a good cause this year? On Sunday 14 December, both Edinburgh and Glasgow’s city centres will be overrun by a swarm of red and white, as the Santa Dash (Glasgow) and the rather more sedate Santa Stroll (Edinburgh) encourage you to dress up like, er, Santa, and take to the streets. The Edinburgh event ends up in the Grassmarket, with All A Twinkle, a festive street theatre and light show.
Full details of all events in the listings.
www.list.co.uk/aroundtown Hitlist CHIT CHAT AND CLOTHES *
✽✽ Narrative Much-missed Glasgow shop Hitherto pops up with a new name and a new temporary Christmas home in the CCA. Glasgow, CCA, until Sat 20 Dec. ✽✽ Big Clothes Swap-O- Rama Bring along your unwanted clothes and swap them. Also featuring live music, a fair trade cafe, short films and a DIY tailoring station to modify your clothing selections. Edinburgh, Out Of The Blue Drill Hall, Sun 14 Dec. ✽✽ Pecha Kucha The Japanese term ‘Pecha Kucha’ roughly translates as ‘chit- chat’. A succession of invited guests will show 20 slides for 20 seconds each (pictured), allowing the audience to experience an exhilarating range of speakers and images over the course of the evening. There’s also music, complimentary hospitality and the inevitable exchange of ideas that occurs when you get so many architects, designers, artists and enthusiasts together in the same room. Glasgow, The Arches, Wed 17 Dec. ✽✽ The Golden Hour Loose cabaret evening with words, music and video madness, hosted by the splendidly- named Ryan Van Winkle, with readings from Jason Morton, Aiko Harmon, Benjamin Lancaster (via satellite from Canada!) and music by The Forest Cafe Choir and klezmer group Blatata. BYOB. Edinburgh, Forest Café, Wed 17 Dec. 11 Dec 2008–8 Jan 2009 THE LIST 35