Around Town SITE SPECIFICS
GLASGOW SCIENCE CENTRE What is it? Three futuristic protrusions rising from the south bank of the Clyde, filled with whizzes, bangs and musical fish beyond your wildest imaginings.
Are you sure it isn’t just a bunch of ageing chemistry teachers demonstrating the correct method of picking up a test tube? Yes. The Glasgow Science Centre is seriously up-to-date, and definitely not boring. The main building is the Science Mall, which has three floors and more than 250 bits of science-stuff to interact with. You can merge your features with those of an animal or a celebrity, learn how to walk on stilts, extract your own DNA or visit the ridiculously high-tech planetarium. And the musical fish really do exist, down on the ground floor with the Giant African Land Snails and the Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches.
Extracting DNA? Musical fish? I do that every weekend. Tell me something new. To one side of the Science Mall is Scotland’s only IMAX cinema, and to the other is the Glasgow Tower, the tallest tower and second-tallest free-standing structure in Scotland, beaten only by a power-station chimney in Inverclyde. The Tower has a definite edge over the chimney, however. Not only can you take a lift up to a tower-top viewing platform, but the entire building, by a miracle of computer control, can be rotated 360 degrees. Depending on the weather. How much will it cost? £8.25 for adults and £6.25 for children. If you’re planning return visits, though, a £35/£25 season ticket will give you a year’s unlimited access to the Mall and Planetarium.
How do I get there? It’s a well-signposted 1km away from Cessnock subway station. Non- ’Wegians should hop on from Buchanan Street, which is right beside Queen Street Station. (Lizzie Mitchell)
■ 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, 0871 540 1000 www.glasgowsciencecentre.org
16 THE LIST 20–27 Aug 2009
Events are listed by city, then chronologically by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to sport@list.co.uk for sport or aroundtown@list.co.uk for all other events. Listings compiled by Suzanne Black. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Glasgow Activities & Events Greetin Glasgow Mon–Sat, 11am & 2pm. £8 (accompanied children free). Doulton Fountain, Glasgow Green, 07751 976935. Walking tours of the East End of Glasgow that delve into the histories of immigration, football, riots and murders. Booking required. FREE Free Wednesdays Wed 26 Aug, 1–4pm. Mackintosh Church, Queen’s Cross, 870 Garscube Road, 946 6600. Free entry to the visitor centre every Wednesday from 1pm. Glasgow Tigers Speedway Sun 23 Aug, 4pm. £14 (£6–£10). Ashfield Stadium, Saracan Park, 404 Hawthorn Street, 336 4800. Watch fast-paced motorbike action, on bikes that have no brakes. Yes, that sounds very dangerous to us, too. FREE The King Monkey Pub Quiz Tue 25 Aug, 8.30pm. The Drawing Room, 1055 Sauchiehall Street, 339 2999. Are you brainy or bananas? Win yellow fruit and beer at this weekly pub quiz for teams of up to seven primates. FREE Friends of the Earth Swap Shop Fri 21 Aug, 11am–4pm. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 07787 197103. Get rid of unwanted gifts, fads you’ve outgrown and other embarrassing paraphernalia by swapping it for new stuff. Acceptable stuff for swapping: books, CDs, DVDs, videos and records. FREE Heritage Walk Fri 21 Aug, 1.30–3pm. Pollok Visitor Centre, Pollokshaws Road, 632 9299. Learn about the natural and cultural history of Pollok Estate. Keep coming back every fortnight as the walks cover different themes. FREE Hike Through History Sat 22 Aug, 1pm. Rosshall Park, Crookston Road, 276 0924. A guided historical walk from the grotto in Rosshall Park to Crookston Castle, which has a colourful history, having been home to Mary Queen of Scots, the Duke of Montrose, and the Maxwells of Pollok. Please book in advance.
✽✽ The Peat Cutter’s Ball Mon 24 Aug, 7.30pm. £10. St Andrew’s in
the Square, St Andrew’s Square, 559 5902. Traditional ceilidh in aid of Leukaemia Research. See Hiltlist.
Books FREE Gordon Brown Sat 22 Aug, noon. Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. Gordon Brown (but not the one that lives at Number Ten) launches his new book, Falling.
✽✽ Philippa Gregory Fri 21 Aug, 7pm. Mitchell Theatre, 6 Granville Street, 287 2999. £3. The author of The Other Boleyn Girl talks about her newest novel, The White Queen. See Hitlist. Creative Writing Programme Mon 24 Aug, 6pm. Borders Books, 98 Buchanan Street, 222 7700. £6.50 (£30 for six sessions). Alistair Paterson leads a weekly class to inspire, guide and shape your literary outpourings. FREE Tour of the Mitchell Tue 25 Aug, 2.30pm. Mitchell Library, 201 North Street, 287 2999. Behind the scenes of Glasgow’s famous library. Meet at Granville Street.
✽✽ Liam McIlvanney Thu 27 Aug, 7pm. Mitchell Theatre, 6 Granville Street, 287 2999. £3. Liam McIlvanney launches his debut novel, The Colours of the Town. See Hitlist.
Exhibitions Doctor Who Exhibition Until Mon 4 Jan 2010, 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. £7.50 (£4.50; family ticket
£18). Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 08444 815816. Come face to face with Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans and the Ood with nary a sonic screwdriver to fend them off. Inside DNA Until Sun 6 Sep (not Mon), 10am–5pm. £7.95 (£5.95). Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 08715 401000. Interactive exhibition about DNA exploring scientific, ethical, social, medical and genealogical issues. All Paws on Deck Until Sun 30 Aug, 10am–5pm. Included in admission: £5.95 (£4.65; first child free; additional children £3). The Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour, 100 Stobcross Road, 222 2513. The history of cats on ships, superstitions surrounding cats, ship’s cats in film and literature and ship’s cats today. The Clyde: Films of the River 1912-1971 Until Sun 20 Sep, 10.30am–5pm; Sun noon–5pm; Tue 11am–5pm. £4 (£1.50–£2; free on Saturdays). The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 221 6362. Exhibition about the River Clyde and its connections with the people of Glasgow featuring a specially selected collection of documentary and amateur films, all made between 1912 and 1971. FREE Peddlers of Pleasure – Mr Punch and his International Cousins Until Sun 27 Jun 2010, Springburn Exhibition Space, Springburn Leisure Centre, Kay Street. To launch this new exhibition space, the Open Museum presents a showcase of the impressive Punch and Judy collection of leading puppet master, John M Blundall. FREE Mechanics Alive! Until Mon 28 Sep, 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. Scotland Street School Museum, Museum of Education, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. A touring exhibition showcasing the craftsmanship and imagination of six renowned automata makers. Each automaton is interactive and tells its own story, showing what happens when mechanics and imagination meet. FREE Fizzers Exhibition Until Mon 28 Sep, 10am–5pm; Fri & Sun 11am–5pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. The Glasgow-based Scottish Cartoon Art Studio presents around 60 caricatures of well known Scottish faces, from Rikki Fulton to Frankie Boyle.
Fairs Scotland’s Exclusive Wedding Event Sat 22 Aug, 10.30am. £8.50 (£7.50 in advance). Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 0845 225 5195. An extensive display of everything you need for getting hitched, with 130 exhibitors, live performances and complimentary makeovers.
✽✽ Late Summer Yard Sale and Cafe Sun 23 Aug, 10am–4pm. 50p
(children 10p). Albany Centre, Ashley Street, Woodlands, 07731 773132. Jumble sale and local craft artist fair with an indoor cafe and music. See Hitlist.
LGBT FREE Made in God’s Image Until Sat 22 Aug, Thu 10am–8pm; Fri 11am–5pm; Sat 10am–5pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. The culmination of a project by Anthony Schrag and David Malone which has used the personal experiences of people from the Christian and Muslim faiths to explore the often problematic intersection of sexuality and religion from an LGBT perspective. FREE Rendering Gender Until Sat 22 Aug, Thu 10am–8pm; Fri 11am–5pm; Sat 10am–5pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. The notion of gender has become increasingly fluid over the years. David Sherry’s work with Transforming Arts explores what makes a person male, female, both or neither, and the treatment of transgender people in the past, which has ranged from deification to social rejection. Revolver Quiz Sat 22 Aug, 4pm. £1 per person. Revolver, 6a John Street, 553 2456. A general knowledge quiz that takes
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place every Saturday. Teams of up to six people can enter and 25p from every entry fee goes to the Gay Men’s Health Charity. Sport Scotcheer Sat 22 & Sun 23 Aug, 9am. £15. SECC: Clyde Auditorium, Finnieston Quay, 0870 040 4000. Scotland’s premier cheerleading event with teams from across the UK competing for the title of National Champions.
Talks FREE Objects in Focus Thu 20 Aug, noon. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. A series of short talks looking in detail at works from the Mackintosh and Glasgow Style gallery. This session covers repousée metal sconces by Margaret and Frances Macdonald. FREE Burrell’s Tapestries: It’s All in the Detail Thu 20 Aug, 12.30–1.30pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Ralph Moffat, Curator of Arms and Armour, discusses weapons and the chase in the Burrell’s tapestries. FREE Rashes, Wishes and Cures Sat 22 Aug, 2–4pm. Milton of Campsie, 956 6586. Hear folklore and tales about the wildflowers of Milton of Campsie and their many uses. Booking essential. FREE Curator’s Favourites Wed 26 Aug, 12.30pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Noorah Al- Gailani, Curator of Islamic Civilisations, gives a talk on a 12th century lustre- decorated ceramic tile from Iran. FREE Macho Prams Wed 26 Aug, 2–4pm. Ticketed. Museum of Transport, Kelvin Hall, 1 Bunhouse Road, 276 9599. Today’s (relatively) agile models are a world apart from the early, unwieldy behemoths. Heather Robertson and John Messner discuss.
Workshops FREE Caricature Master Classes Sat 22 Aug, 2–4pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0780. An opportunity to learn the art of caricature from the best as the Scottish Cartoon Art Studio leads a fun, creative workshop for adults of all abilities. Please book in advance. FREE Adult Art Sunday Class: Stone Carving Sun 23 Aug, 2pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2564. View some examples of stone carvings from different cultures and try carving into soft stone yourself. All materials are supplied. Please book in advance.
✽✽ Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sun 23 Aug, 4–7pm. £7 (£5). The
Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. New York phenomenon Dr Sketchy’s livens up life drawing classes with drawing classes burlesque stars and performers as the models. Beginners welcome. See Hitlist FREE Adult workshop: Islamic Tiles Wed 26 Aug, 10am. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2564. Design a ceramic tile based on 12th century Iranian lustre-decorated ceramic tiles.
Outisde the cities Activities & Events Lanark Medieval Festival Sat 22 & Sun 23 Aug, 10am–5pm. £5–£6 (OAPs £5; children £1; family ticket £14). Lanark Racecourse, Hyndford Road, Lanark, 07963 128365. Experience life under the Romans and Vikings with dramatic battle re-enactments, period music, falconry, children’s activities and a real ale tent. FREE Largs Regatta Week Sat 22–Sun 30 Aug, Scottish Sailing Institute, Largs Yacht Haven, Irvine Road, Largs, 01475 670011. Sailing event attracting a unique mix of 150 keelboats and dinghies from clubs around the Clyde participating in ‘round the buoys’ and ‘round the island’ racing.