AroundTown Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to sport@list.co.uk for sport or aroundtown@list.co.uk for all other events. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry

GLASGOW Activities & Events FREE Get Commissioned Thu 17 Nov, 7–11.30pm. The Commission Gallery, 54 Calton Entry, The Barras, facebook.com/thecommissiongallery Barras Art and Design’s new type of event where you can buy, commission or just watch art being created. The Arches Community Choir Thursdays, 7–9pm. £3 donation. The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. The 35-strong community choir known for tackling some unorthodox choral choices. El Abrazo Tango Club Fri 18 Nov, 8.30pm. £5. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Social dancing with Glasgow Tango Studio. FREE Glasgow’s Christmas Lights Sun 20 Nov, 4.30pm. SOLD OUT. George Square, glasgowloveschristmas.com Annual switch-on in George Square. See Christmas Guide, page 10. Glasgow’s Gaelic Pub Quiz Wed 23 Nov, 7.30pm. £2. The Park Bar, 1202 Argyle Street, Partick, glaschu.org/farpaischeist.htm Monthly pub quiz in Gaelic, open to all (even if you don’t speak the language). Christmas Extravaganza Thu 24 Nov, 6pm. Princes Square, 48 Buchanan Street, 221 0324. An evening of special offers and treats. Glasgow on Ice Sat 26 Nov–Tue 3 Jan 2012, daily until 10pm. £7–£9.50 (£3–£7; family ticket £29). George Square, glasgowloveschristmas.com George Square’s open air ice rink returns for another year.

✽✽ St Andrew’s Day Celebrations Sat 26–Wed 30 Nov, times vary.

Prices vary. George Square, glasgowloveschristmas.com Glasgow once again gets down for Saint Andrew, with the annual Shindig on the Sat 26 & Sun 27 Nov, and a concert on the day itself.

✽✽ St Andrew’s Day Sat 26 & Sun 27 Nov, 10am–5pm. £6.50 (children

£4.50). Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, 420 5000. Reduced price entry and a free planetarium show with every ticket (first come, first served). There’s an insight into the work of Scottish scientists too. Marie Curie Ladies’ Christmas Shopping Lunch Sat 26 Nov, 11am– 4pm. £40. Grand Central Hotel, 99 Gordon Street, 240 3700. Charity afternoon of champers, pampering, food and shopping.

✽✽ Bold Souls Fashion Pop-Up: Santa, Baby! Sat 26 Nov,

noon–5.30pm. £4 (£3). The Arches Café Bar & Restaurant, 253 Argyle Street, 0870 240 7528. Fashion pop-up with designers, vintage traders and stylists. See Christmas Guide, page 10. FREE Sesh Story Club Wed 30 Nov, 6–8pm. Provand’s Lordship, 3 Castle Street, 276 1625. Monthly storytelling club aimed at reviving Glasgow’s native myths and legends. A Victorian Christmas Sat 3 & 10 Dec, 1.30pm. £2.50. Platform, The Bridge, 1000 Westerhouse Road, Easterhouse, 276 9696. An hour of traditional carols led by Wendy Weatherby, festive yarns from master storyteller Andy Cannon, and of course mince pies. See feature, page 43. The Not So Secret Society Mon 5 Dec, 8pm. £6 or £5 with the password ‘velociraptor’. The Glasgow Art Club, 185 Bath Street, 248 5210. Not-particularly- secret artists’ gathering from Rhymes with Purple. (Please note change of date.) Stars Over the Botanics Tue 6 Dec, 7.30–9pm. £4 (children £2). Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 276 1614. Star-gazing with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow.

PREVIOUSLY . . . SCOTLAND’S HISTORY FESTIVAL Brand new festival looking back at all things Scottish

Susan Morrison is a familiar face to most of us because of her regular appearances at The Stand and countless comedy festivals. The funny femme’s latest venture, however, shelves comedy in favour of history, as she prepares to launch Previously . . . Scotland’s History Festival in Edinburgh.

‘History is bloody, disgusting and juicy but most people in this country know more about English history than they do their own,’ Morrison says. ‘Things like The Tudors are on TV a lot of the time, but there’s no Scottish equivalent.’

The festival will have 200 events in its first year, organised by Morrison and her colleague Ian Harrower, as well as partnerships with organisations and history enthusiasts across the city.

‘There’s a lot of people out there like me who are history amateurs

but incredibly passionate about a certain part of it and that’s what this festival is all about,’ Morrison says. ‘We went on an odyssey round every place we could think of in

Edinburgh, from VisitScotland to the universities, councils, museums and Parliament. We started to rate places on the standard of their coffee. The Parliament does a lovely cup and a decent carrot cake too, if anyone is taking notes.’ Everything from Scottish food and drink to pirate trials and the

history of strip clubs in Scotland will be touched upon. Events range from fun and frivolous to the more thought provoking discussions such as the three Big Shiny Debates in the Parliament, which will look at issues of national identity. Ian Rankin and Nigel Planer will share their love of Robert Louis Stevenson at City Art Centre, whilst venues such as St Giles’ Cathedral, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the National Library of Scotland, the Filmhouse and the Blair Street Underground Vaults will be giving their perspectives on Scotland’s history. Various venues, Edinburgh, Thu 17–Wed 30 Nov, prices and times vary. For full details, visit historyfest.co.uk.

46 THE LIST 17 Nov–15 Dec 2011

Cafe Flicker Wed 7 Dec, 7pm. £3 (members £1). Glasgow Media Access Centre, Trongate 103, 553 2620. Lively evening of film, discussion, advice and debate. Words Per Minute Sun 11 Dec, 4–6pm. £5. The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. Monthly spoken word, music, film and performance event. Fairs & Markets Think Boutique Pop Up Shop Until Fri 23 Dec, Tue–Sat 10am–6pm; Sun noon–5pm. Westend Hair Salon, 487 Great Western Road, 337 2999. The online ethical fashion shop pops up in a hair salon with clothing, accessories and beauty treatments. The Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair Thu 17–Sun 20 Nov, 10am–5pm (Sun until 4pm). £9.50–£12 (£5.50–£9.50). SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. Crafts, garden and home accessories, clothing and edibles for the Laura Ashley crowd. See feature, page 45. FREE ReFound Glasgow Pop-Up Shop Until Sat 26 Nov, Wed–Sun noon–7pm (Thu until 9pm). New Glasgow Society, 1307 Argyle Street, refoundonline.com Restyled and upcycled furniture by upcoming artists. FREE Sloans Market Saturdays and Sundays, 11am–5pm. Argyll Arcade, Buchanan Street, sloansglasgow.com/market Well-heeled outdoor shopping market. The Scottish Bead Fair Sun 20 Nov, 10.30am–4.30pm. £4 (under 16s free). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Top bead and jewellery event pitches up in Glasgow for the first time. FREE Granny Would Be Proud Sun 20 Nov, noon–5pm; Sun 4 & 11 Dec, noon–7pm. Hillhead Bookclub, 17 Vinicombe Street, 576 1700. Retro vintage market featuring fashion, jewellery, crafts and more. FREE Label Sundays, 2–7pm. Stairway Club, 95 Union Street, 221 1009. Bring, buy or just listen at this vinyl fair with DJs. FREE The Tall Ship Christmas Market Sat 26 & Sun 27 Nov, 11am–4pm. The Tall Ship at Riverside, 150 Pointhouse Place, 357 3699. Meet Santa and browse Christmas goodies onboard the tall ship Glenlee. FREE Byres Road Makers Market Sat 26 Nov, 11am–4pm. Hillhead Library, 348 Byres Road, 339 7223. Handmade crafts and work by new Scottish designers. Christmas Fair Sat 26 Nov, 11.30am. 50p. Queen’s Park Church, 170 Queen’s Drive, 423 3654. Community fair with stalls and a festive tearoom. See feature, page 43, and Christmas Guide, page 10. FREE Dogs Trust Glasgow Christmas Fair Sun 27 Nov, noon–3pm. Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, 315 Hamilton Road, Uddingston, 773 5130. Charity gift fair. See feature, page 43. 3D2D Craft & Design Fair Sat 3 & Sun 4 Dec, 10.30am. £2.10 (90p). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Crafts from all over Scotland. FREE Gin in Teacups Sat 3 & Sun 4 Dec, noon–6pm. Chambre 69, Stock Exchange House, 69 Nelson Mandela Place, info@devilandthedeepbluesea.co.uk An eclectic emporium of crafts, vintage jewellery and clothing and curiosities. See Christmas Guide, page 10. FREE Whims-icle Affairs Sun 4 Dec, 11am–5pm. Church on the Hill, 16 Algie Street Langside, whimsicle@yahoo.co.uk Vintage and second hand clothing, art, accessories, baking, plus an on-site beauty parlour, a psychic and some live entertainment. FREE Little Birds Market Sun 4 & 11 Dec, 11am–5pm. Sloans, 62 Argyll Arcade, City Centre, 07946 715204. Vintage, craft and design vendors. FREE The Made in the Shade Holiday Hullabaloo Sat 10 Dec, 10.30am–5pm. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 221 6362. Glasgow’s foremost purveyors of all things pretty and independently designed. See preview, page 48, and Christmas Guide, page 10.