INDEPENDENT ..’.'.' mGUlDE
GLASGOW
THE
he actual boundaries of the Southside
are a much debated issue. says Allistair
Burt, who runs the Southside Happenings blog.
‘Everyone agrees that it starts at the river, but where does it end? The general consensus seems to be somewhere between Shawlands and Gretna Green.
‘Let’s start with the important items * the traditional, jar filled wonderland of Newlands Cafe and the mixture of textures, flavours and colours at Halal sweet store The Glasgow Sweet Centre in Govanhill, who will provide a more unusual but super delicious treat. Further down Allison Street there are also a huge number of fruit and veg stores filled with odd-shaped objects and spices that you can point at and go “what is that?" Usually the answer is “very tasty".
\\
Sorta-rate
‘()ther specialist shops include the l'arnoirs Moon Guitars. who haVe made guitar's lor everyone from the Pet Shop Boys to l.emon Jelly. the bee-coloured second band music shop Record Exchange. stul‘led lull with bargains. and cycling types can get all their goods at one ol‘ the two lantastie bike shops Behind Bars and Craig MacMartin Cycles.
‘l‘or classic. quirky. contemporary and chic gifts head to Butterfly Kisses or the lowly Bowerbird in Shawlands. Butterfly Kisses is also good l‘or carel'ully-clrosen designer clothes. as are Glitz and Glamour. Raw Vintage and Hayes. The latter two also stock vintage. Raw Vintage also has a rnade-to-order creative wing called Made and a great selection of local designers: they and Kalo sell excellent contemporary jewellery by .sorrre ol‘ (ilasgow 's best up and coming artists.
Butterfly Kisses, Skirving Street
Cowgate, Edinburgh, 0131 556 9993 Sessions with Boosh's head stylist Mary are hard to come by and, if the swishy ‘dos and smug salon smiles on most of the Edinburgh- based Listers are anything to go by. thoroughly worth the wait.
20THEUST16—30Apr2009
Grassmarket, King Street, Glasgow
‘.liist round the corner" lr'oin lsalo is the splendid Skirnng Street. a great bristling rni\ ol sltops. delrs and cales. Highlights include the staggering piles ot worrderltrl innk at the three Cosgrove Care charity shops. the small btit jam packed card shop Note. the super l’r'iendly and trendy bar'bets Girasoli. and RW Stevens a tailor. krlt maker and school irnilor‘rn e\pert which has been trading there since lllc l‘l_i(ls.
()xer' its history the Soirtlrsrde has olten been the lirst borne to new cirltrries coining itito the city and while this has sometimes ereated a tension. tlte legacy is a wonder'ltil blend ol new and old stores. a mu ol traditional (ilaswegian \alires and e\eitrng new ideas wlnelr is llllltlllt‘ in the city In this atmosphere .i lot ot independent business lia\e grown. lllll\t‘tl. and supported eaeli otlrert‘
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egsetiiit‘ié
Springfield Court, Haddington Place,
Edinburgh, 0131 225 2338
It's a new shop, but we're intrigued. Architecturally sculpted into the bottom of Dancebase and run by international stylist Lesley Moses. darting, Sublime stays open until 9pm, so you can get a new pre-club do.
0141 552 6789
So hip they give discounts to musicians, this ace wee place benefits from the bustle of artists and thesps pinballing between Mono. King Street and the Tron bar. James is the stylist of choice and. refreshingly for a salon, the music is excellent.
Glasgow,01412291143 Want the sort of snippor who Stilts your haircut to your personality and SOCiaI life. and whose name soonds like a swrnging spy from a 19608 televi8ron series? Of course you do. Great, deciscive styling by one of the city's best-kept secrets.
Edinburgh, 0131 557 4888
Need a haircut. l)lli can't stanri ill(: 5.riir:ll of a salon? Eknrrra Hall I') Scotland"; first ‘cleari arr' hairdresser, With all organic products, so no Cliorrircally srrioll. There's an equally refreshing ‘no crap (:liat' policy too.