Cloud Appreciation @ Kelvingrove Park

Wee Lassi from Distill - yum yum rum in my tum!

Review: The Finnieston

These chips are as close to McDonald's as they come. Bit on the floppy side, which made me consider whether they had hopped along and got them off Ronald! They also have an option of handcut chips for those who favour them over fries.

I had a cheesburger - absolutely fantastic. Lovely meat. And the bun was the right size for the burger. 

They made my Bloody Mary extra spicy to order, and it came in a tiny little bucket. Awww.

Toilet doors - love it!

The Finnieston has one of my favourite beer gardens. We went to watch the tennis, it was hoaching so you might not get an idea of it from this pic...

We spent most of the day taking turns sitting on the barrel at the back. Intrigued by the mysterious railway tunnel to the right...

Rave? 

#cuteglasgow

Doggie wine at Cherubini on Great Western Road.

Big Slope, Small Chips

After some soul-searching, I've come to the realisation that all I'm really looking for is the opportunity to eat McDonald's chips whilst drinking booze. Now, I don't want to eat cold chips with a carry out, so what I need is for the pubs of Glasgow to emulate the great Maccy D's chip.

The Big Slope does this so well that I've almost forgiven them for the removal of their club sandwiches from the menu.

Curry Capital - Vote Glasgow!

Help Glasgow become the Curry Capital of the UK 2013! We came second last year.

Nominate your favourite Indian Restaurant in Glasgow here.

My top 3:

1. Babu's Bombay Street Kitchen

Best dish: Garlic Chilli Chicken

2. Mother India

Best dish: Any lamb dishes

3. The Village Curry House

Best thing on the menu: Mango Lassi

Have to give an honorable mention to Mr Singh's for their haggis pakora! 

Dear Green Place

George Square is shut at the moment, for renovation. 

Architects Journal have the low-down. Apologies if this link doesn't work for you. The gist is:

The first phase of the project will be completed before the Commonwealth Games 2014 and will feature a grey epoxy resin. Following the Games, the second phase, involving two new grass beds and new lighting, will begin.

The impressions look pretty slick and modern, in-keeping with Glasgow's stylish new image. 

Main thing is, there is still going to be some grass on the Square.

If you're looking for grass in the city centre, you can be hard pushed (unless it's the herbal stuff you're after!)

Top 3/only grassy spots you can get to and fro on your lunch hour:

1. Up at Strathclyde Uni

Not often you see a giant safety pin either!

2. Blythswood Square 

(not always open - will post the notice later)

3. Doon By The Water

Facing south, right of the Glasgow Bridge is the-business-person-with-a-packed-lunch area.

Left of the bridge = jakey as

Bridge to Nowhere/Everywhere now open!

Great wee walk home, especially in the sunshine.

Starts in town, at the top of Waterloo Street, takes you over the motorway to link up to the cycle path in Anderston, leading to West End. 

He done it!

What's in a name?

For the last decade (eek), one of my most regular haunts has been the Goose, on Union Street. Often mocked, but never ignored, for many the Goose had reached 'Glasgow Institution' stature. 

My favourite things about the Goose:

1. Old man banter
2. If you don't specifically ask for a single vodka, then you're getting a double.

3. Juke box

4. Beer Garden

5. That sense of unplaced exclusivity whereby you might not get in, and you may be flung out at any moment.

6. The fact that a woman gave birth at the top of the stairs, while her pal tried to steal her handbag.

I admit I felt a bit like Katie Hopkin's when I walked by and saw this!

For all intents and purposes, the pub looks the same. However, their new website alludes to trendy version of Yate's. Upon closer inspection, the same group of youngsters have been photographed in 2 out of 3 pictures. The phrases urban chic and handsome are not ones I would attach to this bar, and "great views of Union Street" is simply a contradiction in terms. However, a quick glance in the window will tell you that, fortunately, nothing has really changed - long live the Goose!

More Murray, only a few more days!

Love the boy, but these are absolute gems:

The Internet Reacts To Andy Murray

Old Transport Museum

Ever wondered what goes on in the Old Transport Museum these days? I have(and it's not raves because they wouldn't let me)

It's this:

Danny MacAskill's Imaginate

There's still the odd rave in a tunnel under the car park though!

Nae worries, Andy Murray!

Under The Lights (Song For Andy Murray) By Keith Meisner

Absolute belter of a wee tune about Muzza. You've got to win Wimbledon now, pal!

The entire country is behind this man, what a great time to be Scottish!

If, for any reason, you're finding it hard to support the man of the moment - watch this:

WARNING! YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER AN 

EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER

Andy Murray: The Man Behind The Racquet (BBC)

Wimbledon Watching

Sloans(City Centre)

Offers: Jug of Pimm's for a tenner
Screen size: Big screen in the Ballroom for the final

Screens are smaller for the competition, and view can be compromised by seating arrangements. 
Food is great.

Arches Cafe Bar(City Centre)

Offers: Bottle of Cava and strawberries for £10
Screen size: Big 

Food is fantastic, and reasonably priced. (only bar snack menu for the final as they're not usually open on Sunday's, but this includes pizzas, chilli, etc and CHOICE OF FRIES OR HANDCUT CHIPS!!!)
Big comfy couches to watch the tennis on.

Big Slope(West End)

No specific offers for Wimbledon, and the screens are quite small, but it is a great wee pub for watching sport. And 
Great fries and good drinks selection. 
If you go, please berate them about their lack of club sandwiches - they took them off the menu, and replaced them with salads. Not cool. Not cool at all.

Sport Sport Sport!

Everyone's gone sport daft since the Olympics last year.

Don't forget to support Glasgow's bid for the 2018 Youth Olympics! Only 8 days to go!

http://www.glasgow2018.com/

Scotland's National Animal

A unicorn, for those who don't know!

As we all know, the unicorn is a symbol of purity, and legend says that it may only be tamed by a virgin. Apparently the unicorn is our national animal because Elizabeth I, aka the Virgin Queen, failed to 'tame' the Scots! I love this story, but I have also heard that a Scottish royal family had the animal as their symbol much earlier. 

C'mon Andy!

http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/magazine/230105-john-paul-spiers-serves-up-andy-murray-far-in-jim-supporters-song/

When is a chip just a potato?

I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder at the moment about, well, chips.

I'm often disappointed at misleading menus promising "Chunky Chips!" "Handcut Chips!", when the reality is nothing more a few potatoes chopped in half. There is a lazy hand cutting those chips, I tell you! 

For example, The Landsdowne.

(apologies for the poor lighting)

I must add that this chip was not even the biggest in the portion. 

The menu advertised "Our Own Chunky Chips". This chip is twice the size of a roast potato. 

It's a subjective, some may say contentious, topic - fry fan or chunky monkey - how d'ye like yer chups? Send me your reviews.

Want to become a regular reviewer? Apply below to become one of our Wee Apple Chipsters, and enjoy all the perks!*




*Perks DO NOT include monetary payment, reimbursement, holidays, or pension scheme. You may, however, become famous in Alaska.

My Summer Hitlist Part I

This is as much for my own benefit, as my readers.

FOUNDATION GLASGOW EXHIBITION

(On Groupon just now, if you're fast!)

MERCHANT CITY SLAVERY AND ABOLITION WALKING TOUR

Taken by Stephen Mullen, author of "It Wisnae Us: The Truth About Glasgow and Slavery"

TITAN CRANE, CLYDEBANK

One of Glasgow's four hammerhead style cranes - like the famous Finnieston Crane, but you can go up it (without having to abseil down)

JURASSIC PARRR GOLF

Dinosaurs, mini golf, and puns - what more could you want!

EMINEM CONCERT

Even more excited about the support acts tbh! 
Kendrick Lamar, Yelawolf, Earl Sweatshirt, Earlwolf and Tyler the Creator! Yaldibags!

Reviews to follow!!

There was this one time, at the Necropolis...

Those who know me will know that, for the last month, I've been a one-stop Glasgow Necropolis fact machine.

One of my top top top recommendations, whether you live in Glasgow or are just visiting, is the guided tour of the Necropolis. 

As our tour guide, Annette, would say, it's a real who's-who of the Glasgow elite! (circa 19th Century of course!) 

Don't let the length (2.5 hours) put you off - my attention span is extremely short, but I was truly enthralled. So much so, that I'm going for a third time next month! 

Did you know that Charles Rennie Mackintosh's first commission is in the Necropolis? Probably not, as they don't tend to mention it in the books! Here it is:

I won't bore you with the rest of my slide-show. Book the tour, but don't forget the Kleenex as it can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster!

Glasgow's Most Ingeniusly-named Businesses Part I

Meat Bar

Not tried the food at Meat Bar yet, but it looks fantastic.

This tastes like a minty stock cube.

Goat tae mention the goats!

Couldn't possibly write about G-toon without mentioning 2013's biggest Facebook craze - Glesga Goats! 

It was short-lived, but very enjoyable. Here's the best of the bunch (look away now if you're not from Glasgow):

There's definitely an 'aye' in Team Effort.

I'm new to this blogging lark, and didn't really know where to start. So I thought I'd tell you about to the moment that inspired me to start a blog about Glasgow. Ironically, it was at an event, essentially in someone's backies in Pollokshields, that honestly made you feel like you were in Berlin! 

IF (Informal Fuckabout) had me at BYOB. But there was more; there was musical theatre. I won't give too much away, it's on every two weeks over the summer so please go. They even supply the plastic cups. 

Here's some pics I stole from the Facebook page.