AroundTown
Events are listed by city, then 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 Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry GLASGOW
Activities & Events FREE Blessing of the Crib Thu 2 Dec, 5.30pm. George Square. The Lord Provost leads a ceremony to mark the start of advent.
✽✽ Cryptic Nights: The Cabinet of Sonic Curiosities Thu 2 Dec,
8pm. £5. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. The latest edition of Theatre Cryptic’s monthly food-talks-music-arts- everything event. See Hitlist. Cardinal Winning Charity Ball Fri 3 Dec, 7pm. £85. Crowne Plaza, Congress Road, 07973 653 611. Charity ball raising funds for projects in and around Glasgow. FREE Get Your Hands Dirty - Rhododendron Bashing Sat 4 Dec, 10am–3pm. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road Milngavie, 956 6100. Join the rangers for a bit of a tidy up and take home the wood you collect. Christmas Open Weekend Sat 4 & Sun 5 Dec, 11am–4.30pm. Donation. The Hill House, Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh, 01436 673900. Festive weekend opening with shops, musical entertainment and crafts for the kids. Bang Together a Birdbox! Sun 5 Dec, 1–3pm. £4. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road Milngavie, 956 6100. Make a winter home for a feathered friend. Contact Jam Sun 5 Dec, 2pm. £3. The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. A chance for dancers and musicians to jam and collaborate. FREE The King Monkey Pub Quiz Tue 7 & 14 Dec, 8.30pm. Firebird, 1321 Argyle Street, 334 0594. Weekly pub quiz for teams of up to seven primates. FREE Film Discussion Group Wed 8 Dec, 6.30pm. Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, 332 6535. Meet up with film writer Eddie Harrison and lots of other film buffs to swap opinions. Stars Over the Botanics Thu 9 Dec, 7.30pm. £4 (children £2). Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 334 2422. A star-gazing session with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow. Ghosts of Christmas Until Fri 31 Dec (not 25/26 Dec). Mon–Fri 5–10pm & Sat & Sun, noon–10pm. £9. The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. See preview, page 31. FREE Silver and Silk Sat 11 Dec, 10am–6pm; Sun 12 Dec, noon–4pm. Caitlin Paxton Salon, 5 Blythswood Square, 225 6275. A showcase of emerging Glaswegian fashion and jewellery talent curated by designer Allyson Gee, all available to buy for that stylish someone. Madame Magpie Presents: Bijou Burlesque Fundraiser Sat 11 Dec, 8.30pm. £5. Brechin Bar, 803 Govan Road, 07735 417518. A night of teasing and titillation from the likes of Dame Nancy Clench, Scarlett Flame, Misty Vie, Bonnie Delight and Miss Piranja.
✽✽ Marvellous Meteors! No Children Required Tue 14 Dec, 7.30–9.30pm. £1.50. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road Milngavie, 956 6100. A ranger-led event where interested adults can hear a short talk on the stars, before searching the December skies for meteors and constellations. Booking essential. See Hitlist.
Exhibitions FREE Garnetbank Primary Gardening Club Until Sun 5 Dec. Thu- Sun 11am–6pm. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Local eco-school Garnetbank Primary presents an exhibition of work relating to the school’s 32 THE LIST 2–16 Dec 2010
gardening club. FREE Mr Jackson’s Toy Theatres Until Fri 28 Jan (not Sun). 10.30am–5pm (Thu until 7pm). Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. An exhibition of Peter Jackson’s creations in his role as one of the leaders of innovative toy theatre. Fairs & Markets FREE Traditional Christmas Market Until Thu 23 Dec. Mon–Wed 10am–7pm; Thu–Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 11am–6pm. St Enoch Square, www.xmas- markets.com. German bratwurst, sweet treats and a sparkling array of gifts and decorations. FREE Christmas Fayre Thu 2 Dec, 6.30–9pm. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road Milngavie, 956 6100. Much more than your usual arts and crafts malarkey, this fair boasts live music, jugglers and fire eaters, as well as a visit to Santa and the opportunity to order your Christmas tree.
Run, fatboy, run!
Glasgow Steiner School Winter Fayre Sat 4 Dec, 11am–4pm. £1 (children 50p). Glasgow Steiner School, 52 Lumsden Street Yorkhill, 334 8855. The fair offers stalls with local products and for kids there are craft activities, games and a chance to meet frosty old King Winter. Puppet show at noon; story time at 2pm.
Sport ✽✽ FREE Macmillan Ski and Snowboard Spectacular Thu 9 Dec, 6pm. Xscape Braehead, Kings Inch Road Braehead, 952 0085. Get friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you to ski or snowboard the Xscape slopes 40 times in three hours, all in aid of cancer charity Macmillan. There are prizes for the fastest times, best jumps and most impressive outfits, as well as family activities like the toboggan run, raffle and quiz. Minimum sponsorship £100 for adults, £50 for children, £75 for team
Our absolute favourite of all the Central Belt’s annual festive events, happening, as ever, simultaneously in both cities. Because, quite frankly, why wouldn’t you want to join a Where’s Wally-esque parade of over a thousand other Santas and run through the streets for charity? It’s the very definition of cockle-warming Christmas spirit. (Anyone swimming against the stream and actually dressing up as Wally wins the Around Town Champion For Life Award). Glaswegians register at www.glasgow.gov.uk/santadash, ‘Burghers at www.thesantarun.org.uk ‘I’m Santaclaus!’ ‘No, I’m Santaclaus!’ And etc. ■ George Square, Glasgow, and Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Sun 12 Dec. Glasgow: 9.30am, £15 (£5), Edinburgh: 9am, £10 (£5).
members. See Hitlist.
✽✽ Glasgow Santa Dash Sun 12 Dec, 9.30am. £15 (children £5).
Glasgow City Centre, www.glasgow.gov.uk/santadash. See picture, below, and Hitlist. Talks Who Goes There? Sat 4 Dec, 1–5pm. £5.50. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A study and discussion afternoon inspired by ‘Democracies’ by Artur Zmijewski, looking at past, present and future models of democracy. Martin Moran: Nanda Devi Wed 15 Dec, 7.30pm. £8 (under 18s/students/RSGS members free). University of Glasgow, Boyd Orr Building, University Gardens, www.rsgs.org. Mountaineer and author Martin Moran discusses Nanda Devi, India’s most challenging peak. FREE The Moon: Exploring our Nearest Neighbour Thu 16 Dec, 7.30pm. University of Strathclyde Royal College Building, 204 George Street, 950 3000. Everybody likes the moon, and Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Society is no exception. Come along and learn more about our white-faced pal in the sky.
Workshops Life Drawing at Offshore Thu 2, 9 & 16 Dec, 7–9pm. £10. Offshore Gallery, 3–5 Gibson Street, 07748 636354. Classes with Dennis Lancaster. FREE Spinning Wheels, Wishes and Wonderment Fri 3 Dec, 11am–2pm. Glasgow Women’s Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. Wise women lead this storytelling session. Booking essential; lunch included. Gardening Friends Meet at Mugdock Sat 4 Dec, 10am–2pm. £5. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road Milngavie, 956 6100. Christmas arts and crafts session with a floral theme: think holly, ivy and poinsettia. Booking essential. Banish Monday Blues Mon 6 Dec, 7–8.30pm. £10. Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Monthly laughter workshop from Joyworks. FREE A Way With Words Thu 9 & Fri 10 Dec, 11am–2pm. Glasgow Women’s Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. Two days of creative writing workshops drawing on the wisdom of women’s folktales for inspiration. Booking essential; lunch provided. FREE Festive Fun Sun 12 Dec, 1–3pm. Pollok Visitor Centre, Pollokshaws Road, 632 9299. Crafting session for all ages. FREE Diary and Notebook Making Mon 13 Dec, 10am–1pm. Glasgow Women’s Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. Make a diary or notebook from reclaimed paper and card. Scottish Screenwriters Mon 13 Dec, 6.30pm. £3. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Industry talk followed by a Q&A and a workshopping session on scripts brought along by participants. All welcome. Christmas Workshops Various dates, 6pm. £25. Make It Glasgow, 3 Osborne Street. Learn how to make your own bunting, tree decorations, stockings, or just some warm wooly accessories at a variety of workshops. Contact ashley@makeitglasgow.co.uk for more details.
EDINBURGH
Activities & Events Christmas on the Closes Until Sun 19 Dec. Fri & Sat 6–9pm; Sun 3–5pm. £12.50 (£11.50; children £6.50). The Real Mary King’s Close, 2 Warriston’s Close, High Street, 0845 070 6244. See picture, page 33.
✽✽ Royal Yacht Britannia’s Christmas Weekend Sat 4 & Sun
5 Dec, 10am–3.30pm. £10.50 as part of admission (seniors/students £9; under 18s £6.75; under 5s free; family ticket £31). Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive,