AROUND TOWN | Events

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 Charlotte Runcie. Indicates Hitlist entry

GLASGOW Activities & Events Glasgow on Ice Mon–Fri noon–1pm; Sat 10am–10pm, until Sat 5 Jan. £8–£10 (£6–£8; family £29–£33). George Square, glasgowloveschristmas.com A chance to perfect your pirouettes (or at least let go of the side) as George Square’s open air ice rink returns for another year accompanied by non-stop music. There are special gentler sessions for under 7s, accessible skating sessions and plenty of other activities going on around the ice. FREE Mono Sunday Social Sun 16 Dec, 23 Dec, 30 Dec, 6 Jan, 13 Jan & 20

Jan, noon–1am. Mono, 12 Kings Court, King Street, 553 2400. A weekly event for those who like to do their chillaxing outside of the home. There are papers, a brunch menu, coffee, tea and beer, table football and DJs David Barbarossa and James Pole in the evening to help with your pursuit of Sunday bliss. SoundRoutes Community Choir Mon 17 Dec, 24 Dec, 31 Dec, 7 Jan, 14 Jan & 21 Jan, 6–7.30pm. £5 per session. The Piper on the Square, 57 Cochrane Street, 07811 504141. Join your local SoundRoutes choir for weekly practices, learning a mix of pop, folk, world, reggae and blues songs. Stars Over the Botanics Tue 18 Dec & Tue 22 Jan, 7.30pm. £4 (children £2). Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 276 1614. A star-gazing session with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. Spaces limited to the first 40 people. GFT Film Quiz Wed 19 Dec, 8.45pm. Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, 332 6535. Test your knowledge against some of Scotland’s most knowledgeable film critics.

Irn-Bru Carnival Fri 21 Dec–Sun 13 Jan, times vary. £12. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. From the traditional whirl of the waltzers and the crash of the dodgems to the brand new High Roller and equally stomach- churning Matterhorn, Speed Buzz and Extreme. Plus of course there are gentler rides for wee ones such as the Pirate Ship, Mini Wheel and Chairoplanes. The £12 entry fee gets you ten vouchers to use on rides (one voucher) or side stalls (two vouchers), plus two more ride-only vouchers. Extra vouchers available. Boudoir New Year’s Eve 2013 Mon 31 Dec, 10pm. £12 (£20 including access to Merchant Square Party). Boudoir Wine Bar, Merchant Square, Candleriggs, 552 4774. Chic boutique and French house music rings in the new year, with Champagne, cocktails and a ‘celebratory chic’ dress code.

Exhibitions ✽FREE A Futuristic Fashion Exhibition Thu 13 Dec–Sat

15 Dec & Tue 18 Dec–Sat 22 Dec, 11am–5.30pm. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Exhibition of high-tech ethical fashion label allenomis, creator of clothes that respond to their surroundings. FREE Evince Rock Jewellery Exhibition Sun 16 Dec, 12–6pm. Bar Ten, 10 Mitchell Lane, 572 1448. Showcase of new jewellery and crafts.

✽Pecha Kucha 13: The Christmas Special Wed 19

Talks FREE Look Back Leap Forward Thu 13 Dec, 6.45–8.30pm. Inner Space Glasgow Meditation Centre, 277 High Street, 552 7446. Meditation followed by a talk with an opportunity to look back on 2012, what worked and what didn’t, and look ahead to 2013. FREE Shining Light on Tuberculosis Sat 15 Dec, 3–5pm. Free (voluntary donations of £2 are appreciated to cover venue costs). Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Talk on tuberculosis, with opportunities for questions afterwards. Dec, 6pm. £8 (£4). The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 276 5365. Analogue Social, an open network of Scottish designers, hosts the last pecha kucha session of 2012. FREE Slide Rules and Space Suits Thu 20 Dec, 7.30pm. University of Strathclyde Royal College Building, 204 George Street, 950 3000. Talk looking at the pioneering years of science in space. FREE Navigation, Astronomy and Timekeeping Thu 17 Jan, 7.30pm. University of Strathclyde Royal College Building, 204 George Street, 950 3000. A lecture looking at how stars have been used to tell the time and show the way, with Astronomer Royal Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS.

Fairs & Markets FREE Traditional Christmas Market Thu 13 Dec–Sat 15 Dec & Mon 17 Dec–Sat 22 Dec, 10am–7pm. Sun 16 Dec & 23 Dec, 11am–6pm. St Enoch Square, xmas-markets.com Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Christmas market with German bratwurst, sweet treats and a sparkling array of gifts and decorations. FREE Simply Swap Fashion Exchange Fri 14 Dec, 11am–3pm. Simply Swap, 937 Tollcross Road, Tollcross, 551 0071. Beat the recession with some cash-free shopping: exchange that never-worn evening dress (the one that seemed like such a good idea at the time) for something you’ll actually wear. Clothes for men, women and kids available. FREE GalGael Christmas Fayre Sat 15 Dec, 10am–4pm. GalGael Shipyard, 15 Fairley Street, Govan, 427 3070. Festive fair with craft stalls, hot food and drinks, home baking, raffles, carol singing, chestnuts roasting on open fires and lashings of Christmas spirit. FREE The Lighthouse Design Markets Sat 15 Dec & Sat 22 Dec 10.30am–5pm. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 276 5360. An array of wares to buy direct from the designers and makers who crafted them. D2D Craft & Design Fair Sat 15 & Sun 16 Dec, 11am–5pm. £1.20 (£0.90). Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, 353 8000. Regular craft fair events around Scotland, with upwards of 50 exhibitors each time. FREE Blochairn Car Boot Sale Sun 16 Dec, 23 Dec & 30 Dec, 6am– 3pm. Wholesale Fruit, Veg, Flower and Fish Market, 130 Blochairn Road, 287 2500. One of the UK’s largest weekly car boot sales. Attracts over 500 sellers every Sunday with just about anything you could think of on sale, from curtains to cakes. FREE Granny Would Be Proud Sun 16 Dec & 23 Dec, 12–7pm. Hillhead Bookclub, 17 Vinicombe Street, 576 1700. Retro vintage market featuring fashion, jewellery, crafts and more. Sport TNA Wrestling: Maximum Impact Tour Wed 23 Jan, 5pm. £32.50. Braehead Arena, Kings Inch Road, 0844 499 1700. Total Nonstop Action with professional wrestlers Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Jeff Hardy and more.

NEIGHBOURHOOD VOX

CHRISTOPHER CUSACK

Age 32

Occupation Music venue manager Lives West End, Glasgow

Favourite places to eat and drink? To eat, Nanakusa on Sauchiehall Street is very good. It has a very varied menu and the sushi is excellent. There’s also a place called Nachos on Skirving Street on the Southside who do a ridiculously good mid-week Mexican tapas offer. The Roxy has good quality drinks and is one of the only places you can watch football without getting bammed up.

Best day out / night out? On a day off, I could spend a pay packet on cheap films in Missing Records. For a night out, I’d choose a late movie and anything which doesn’t involve the car- nage of Sauchiehall Street . . .

Favourite quiet spot or hid- den gem? There’s a really nice coffee joint called Artisan Roast on Gibson Street. It smells great and they sell some excellent cakes. (Interview by Lauren Mayberry)

FESTIVE FAIRS AND MARKETS

Fed up giving your parent/sibling/misc other family member a box set every year? Follow this handy guide to find more bespoke gifts for your loved ones this season in Glasgow and Edinburgh GLASGOW Regular craft markets take a seasonal twist, with Granny Would Be Proud offering clothing and accessories with a retro twist (Hillhead Book- club, 16, 23 Dec). Designers and makers will be showcasing their wares at The Lighthouse Design Markets (The Lighthouse, 15, 22 Dec), with over 50 exhibitors at the Concert Hall’s 3D2D Craft & Design Fair (Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 15 & 16 Dec). The Blochairn Car Boot Sale (130 Blochairn Road, 16, 23, 30 Dec) is perfect for unusual second- hand finds, with over 500 sellers turning up every week. Fashion lovers should also head to Simply Swap Fashion Exchange (937 Tollcross Road, 14 Dec) to trade their unwanted impulse bought outfits of yore for something more suitable for this year’s Christmas work night out.

EDINBURGH The Nomads Tent Christmas Bazaar (The Nomad’s Tent, 13–24 Dec) brings a hint of the East to our traditional Christmas, while Tinderbox Fest takes over Summerhall (15 Dec) with stalls and a fashion show before live music featuring Broken Records and North Atlantic Oscillation. Rare is a six-week showcase at Edinburgh Contemporary Crafts (13–24 Dec), while Portobello Makers Market (Portobello Town Hall, 15 Dec) and Stockbridge Market (Saunders Street, 16, 21–23 Dec) present a mix of handmade designs, crafts and produce. The Ethical Christmas Fair on Castle Street (13–16 Dec) is perfect for the more aware shopper, while Princes Street Gardens host the Traditional Highland Village Christmas Market (from 13 Dec), selling clothing and accessories from across Scotland. For homeware and furniture, hit up Funk Fair (Café Camino, Parish Centre, 22 Dec), and for more specifically seasonal items, head to Broughton Street Christmas Market (St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, 15, 16, 22 & 23 Dec) where there will be stalls with arts, crafts and fresh food. (Lauren Mayberry)

70 THE LIST 13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013