Those of you who know me know that I have been a huge advocate of the games and all that they and the associated festival will bring to Glasgow over the course of the next month. There is soooo much going on and it is only just around the corner. Trying to distill it all can be overwhelming (old fashioned me found it so much easier with the hard copy brochure rather than the online publications!!) so I have done my best below to help you all get the most out this once in a lifetime experience and support the Games and Festival.
Still want to go to the sporting events but haven't got tickets? well there are tickets still available at www.glasgow2014.com/tickets. This covers many of the sports and also some late release tickets for the opening ceremony - they are limited view tickets but at £20 you can still soak up the atmosphere. Also remember that a number of the street events are free and here are the key dates for you if you want to see the Commonwealths top atheletes compete:
Sunday 27 July from 9am to 1pm (gates at Glasgow Green open at 7:30am) - MARATHON
Thursday 31 July from 10am to 4pm (gates at Glasgow Green open at 8:30am) - CYCLING TIME TRIAL
Sunday 3 August from 8am to 5pm (gates at Glasgow Green open at 7am) - CYCLING ROAD RACE
All of these events go through Glasgow so check out the website for more route information.
Want to be part of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies but don't have tickets? Well there are opening ceremony parties going on at Glasgow Green, Merchant City and Kelvingrove Bandstand. Legends Belle and Sebastian will be at Kelvingrove whilst the likes of Eddi Reader and Lulu will feature at Glasgow Green. All venues will screen the opening ceremony. For tickets visit www.glasgow2014.com/Festival2014
Want to soak up the atmosphere at the myriad of events which are on throughout the festival? I would highly recommend picking up a copy of the festival brochure but here is my summary and recommendations.
There are four main areas where activities will be taking place pretty much all day every day:
1. Glasgow Green Live Zone which is being themed around Home is Where The Heart Is. The Green will be zoned like a house including the living room where you can watch the coverage of the sports, the kitchen where you can find lots of great food and drink, the back garden where you can try out sport, the wee house for entertaining young kids and the playhouse spiegeltent. Entry is free and unticketed.
2. Merchant City is extending it's annual festival and during the Games there are many arts, dance, theatre and music events on for you to drop in to. There is also the annual Vintage fair and the Old Fruitmarket is home to Team Scotland with a couple of exhibitions open to everyone.
3. Kelvingrove Bandstand will host a daily range of events from folk, rock, pop, classical and jazz music to comedy, art, films and storytelling for the youngsters.
4. BBC at the Quay which is a sixteen day pop up festival hosted by the BBC. Many TV and radio shows will be coming live from the venue as well as being recorded there, there are live music and comedy events from some major big league acts including Paloma Faith, Simple Minds, Sharleen Spiteri, interactive events, food, drink and a big screen. Some events are ticketed and a lot of the big ones are gone but there are still plenty up for grabs through BBC ticketing ballots. Check out www.bbc.co.uk/thequay
Having perused the brochure there is way too much to mention in terms of specific events but I would draw your attention to a few of them:
The parties for the opening and closing ceremonies - why wouldn't you want to soak up the atmosphere with others from around the Commonwealth? I am lucky to be going to the opening ceremony but for £10 have picked up Glasgow Green closing ceremony party tickets - bargain
Perch - Sat 19 and Sun 20 July at 9:45pm to 11pm (I know way passed my bedtime but an exception being made). Taking over the whole of Rottenrow Gardens and rooftops this is a spectacular aerial performance which features over 200 performers including street artists, circus performers, aerialists, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and a video hook up with the home of Perch in Brazil. And all for £8 a ticket which you can prepurchase from the Arches website
Boomerang (Commonwealth Cultures) - Thu 24 July at Glasgow Green Living Room. This one no doubt appeals to me cos it brings together my three homes - Scotland, New Zealand and Australia. It is a celebration of the Commonwealth from Haka dance to Maori vocals, Aboriginal dance and Gaelic song. This is a collaboration of twenty one artists from across the three countries. I watched the preview of what they are doing and have to say it was extremely compelling. And it's free
The Commonwealth Flotilla - Sat 26 Jul with best views at the Riverside museum. This is the largest flotilla to ever have been on the Clyde and promises to be spectacular. Visit ryascotland.org.uk for more info.
The Big Big Sing - Sun 27 July at Glasgow Green Living Room. A day of singing fun for everyone culminating in everyone being part of the biggest Big Big Sing Choir - so what if you can't sing - never stopped me doing earphone karaoke even if it should have - and it's free again
Finally if you're really young at heart then the Old Fruitmarket is the late night club venue of choice - it is brought in conjunction with Celtic Connections, costs £10 per ticket available from glasgowconcerthalls.com and will feature a range of musical acts taking in the many musical cultures of Scotland and the Commonwealth - if you can stay up that late.
And beyond that my suggestion is this - in any free time you have or on your lunch break at work just get out there and wander the city, it is going to be astounding.
So with only a week or so to go until the Queens Baton hits East Ren and Glasgow it's time to get those diaries out and get planning. I intend being there every day and posting lots of info about what is going on so if you're around and fancy a coffee, a glass or a general hangout then just give me a call.
Signing off as the official Comm Games tour guide (for now) - hope it's been useful - G
PostScript 1 - if you're reading this from overseas and I've tantalised your taste buds then it's not too late to visit (though accomodation may be a struggle)
PostScript 2 - remember there are a tonne of amazing cafés, restaurants and bars around Glasgow to indulge at but you may want to think about planning and booking ahead. I can't say that without drawing attention to some of my favourites including Cafe Gandolfi (first and foremost), Guys, Italian Caffe and Central Market all in Merchant City; Laboratorio Espresso in West Nile St for the best coffee in the city centre (or All About The Coffee in South Block at St Enoch if you're in transit); Alston Bar for a massive range of gin (conveniently at Central Station). And as for the West End well the choice is endless but a cake from My Home bakery on Hyndland St and a coffee to go with it from Papercup would definitely hit the spot. Oh and don't forget to try an Irn Bru lolly - they are actually yum!!
Whilst compiling my public service broadcast I...
...HUNG OUT AT...home quite a lot last week doing lots of little jobs fixing things and some cooking and some up cycling of furniture (and being a captain of industry)...
...WINED ON...some nice wines over the weekend with my favourites being the Domaine de Morin-Langaran Picpoul de Pinet to go with my herbed chicken salad and the La Tunella Noan 2009 dessert wine which was so good it convinced one of my friends who I was entertaining that she did actually like dessert wine for the first time ever. Both available from Corney and Barrow...
...DINED ON...a beautiful late night meal at Guys restaurant in Merchant City. Being such a food and wine lover I can't quite believe I haven't been here before but there you go. The neon sign outside the door certainly does not do justice to what lies inside. A beautiful interior, relaxed vibe despite it still being mobbed at 9pm, great service and a bit of celebrity spotting quickly made me fall in love with Guys. And if only to underpin that the caponata which my friend and I shared to start was out of this world. I followed up with a beautifully succulent veal escalope (I'll not mention the accompanying chips). All very simple but all very stunning and beautifully offset with a great Argentinian Malbec. My only disappointment? I ordered a coffee partly because I wanted one and partly because I know that the amazing Pufs Pastries Tablet accompanies it. As much as it is the best tablet I don't often have it (like Puf herself too many years testing it!!) that said once in a while ones taste buds just cry out for it but alas it wasn't to be as I was presented with a gold foil wrapped waffer thin mint. Overall a great meal in a fabulous atmosphere that you can make as casual or as upmarket an event as your table desires.
Until next week - have a good one
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