This year's festival was darn good I tell thee. It was brilliant with so much going on throughout…read morethe whole weekend. It was only through my man who spotted a photo challenge competition online that we found ourselves on the streets of the Merchant City. We both entered the 6x4 Panoptic Challenge that was hosted by Trongate 103. We collected our 6 themes and we only had 4 hours to take 6 photos and in the order of the themes, meaning there was no going back. This was going to be definitely a challenge especially with us going round together. "I spotted that photo opportunity first!!!" Actually having the photo challenge was a great idea as it made us explore the festival even more. We came across many street performers and checked out the many stalls in the Scottish and Continental markets. We went along to Merchant City Square where we had fun at The Festival of Fudge and most delicious it was. We met very interesting characters including policitians from Fudge Poltics to a professor of fudge where I got a history lesson in various fudge of the world. 10 minutes of my life I will never get back. We also headed along to the Britannia Panopticon where they were holding a bazaar with many wonderful goodies on sale. There was an amazing milliner and I just wanted to buy all her hats but alas payday was too far and a MOT was to near. I got her card and with a friend's wedding coming up I think a hat is on the list. Above is only just the Saturday, phew, but ach why not, we headed back along on the Sunday for more and especially as all the photographs were going to be on display at Trongate 103. Unfortunately neither or us won but to be honest we weren't that bothered, it was just so nice to see your work up on display. I saw walking bands, a carnival parade, live bands at the Creation Studios Stage and also some lovely Yelp staff where I got myself some lovely groovy new sunglasses. I've probably missed out half of what we saw as there was so much going on. It's a great weekend and well worth the visit. I cannae wait until next year's already.

Darn it all to hell! OK so this is an update on the festival (2011) and I'm searching for a way to…read moreaward an additional star to the folks... cannie be done... darn it all to hell! Yeah, so they did the unlikely and made it even better this year. More performances, more food, more stalls, more vibe, more moreness (yeah, they even managed to get me to make up a new word... moreness). If you read my review from last year, then you'll gather that this is a festival not to miss. Well, if this year is anything to go by then that statement not only desrves to be stuck to, but shold also be underlined, whacked into bold and maybe even a wee font size increase. Residents and visitors alike. This is a must.

I loved the GRAF. We went on the Saturday afternoon and, while there were over 100 beers to choose…read morefrom, a few of them were finished by that point. There were still plenty to choose from though so we were quite happy. Very happy! We'd queued outside for about half an hour (another reason for going earlier next year) so were glad to get into the lovely surroundings of the Briggait, and surprised that we were able to get a seat. The bar staff were all volunteers and were really pleasant and friendly. We were given a glass with a giraffe (GRAF - geddit) on it and you hand it over when asking for your beer. I loved that! No plastic glasses. We stuck to half pints so we could try a few - I couldn't tell you which ones I tried but they were all appreciated. We got chatting to the folks about us, about beer of course, and there was a really relaxed and good natured atmosphere. We were allowed to pop in and out so we went to Mono for some pizza and a donut. It was at that point I realised I had turned into Homer Simpson - mmm beer, mmm pizza.... But we went back in to the GRAF, had another beer and it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I'll definitely be back next year.

So this weekend saw the return of the Glasgow Real Ale Festival (GRAF, for short) at the fabulous…read moreBriggait! For a £6 entry fee, you get your own giraffe (get it?!) branded pint glass to refill throughout the day, guide listing all the ales, ciders and perry's and wristband so you can come and go. Prices ranged from about £1.20 for a 1/3 pint, £1.80ish for a half and £3.60ish for a full pint, cheaper than chips (well, almost)! We turned up about 6pm on the Saturday and picked out some gin themed ales (Juniper Tree and Gin & Juice), wow I thought, my kinda ale! Sadly those kegs were done, as were quite a lot of others. After some guidance we eventually settled on a couple of halves, and I hate to say it but we were disappointed...both were flatter than water and warm :-( Opting for cider next, much the same result, sigh... On the plus, great venue, friendly staff, they were selling German sausages and fresh crepes and had several pipers breaking into Scotland The Brave every so often so they redeem a star for that!

Bzzzzzz. That's me,…read morebuzzing with caffeine powered energy after the Glasgow coffee festival, having tasted coffee by five different companies, not to mention some delicious veggie stew, a slab of millionaire shortbread that could only be described as obscene and a half pint of BrewDog's coffee flavoured beer in some misguided attempt to calm myself down. So yes, I'd consider this event to have been a bit of a success. I have to admit, I wasn't really sure what to expect with a coffee festival. Beer festivals I know - you just try as many beers as you comfortably can without becoming an embarrassment to your friends. Coffee festivals, though? Presumably everyone has a point they reach where they don't really want any more coffee? Plus, given it's strong flavour, can you really be said to be "tasting" them after you've had your first one? Well, yes, at least everyone I've spoken to so far does get to the stage where they don't want any more coffee. Food helps and there was plenty of it available - mostly cakes, bakes, donuts and other sweet treats but a few vendors were doing soups and stews, schawarma, bagels and sandwiches. Beer helps too and BrewDog was a very welcome addition. Without the odd bite to eat I'm sure I wouldn't have felt very well drinking as much coffee as I did - fortunately that could never have become a problem with so much on offer. As for the strong flavours, and I can't speak for espresso drinkers here because I avoided it on this occasion, it's quite surprising. If you take your time in between coffees and especially if you eat or drink something else (the truly dedicated were swigging plenty of water) then the strong coffee flavours aren't overwhelming. This may in part have been due to the variety of single origin beans and blends that were available - they do just taste different. Taking your time about it is probably the way to go anyway. Who wants to race around a coffee festival. While we were nursing those coffees we were lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful, if slightly chilly, surroundings of The Briggait. Early in the day we also had some musicians in which was a really nice touch. I was slightly relieved that we were listening to clarinet rather than a DJ set. A few more places to sit would have made the venue perfect - the only downside was getting tired feet from so much standing. So yes, the Glasgow Coffee Festival was a success and something I'd definitely look out for next year. Sure, I'm still on a bit of a caffeine high, but that's exactly what I expected and I embrace my caffeine high cheerfully. Plus, I now have a handbag full of coffee shop business cards for places in and around Glasgow, which means a bunch of new places to go try out, although maybe not until I manage to calm down a bit.

I loved this! After missing the event last year I was very excited to get along this time. Both my…read moremum and myself are massive coffee fans so we planned a wee out day around this. So off we popped bright and early to get our fill of coffee before it go too busy. There was a bit of a queue to get in the door when we turned up, it was not long after it opened so I guess that was why. We were given a wrist band and a poker chip to get a free coffee, although many stalls were giving out tasters and even free full flat whites and lattes :) to be honest we were a little confused about the set up but eventually someone took our tokens. The idea of giving folk wrist bands for the event is great, if I'd been in the area later in the day I would have popped back in to be honest. So we spent a wee while wandering around, trying coffee, got a wee (huge) slice of brownie from River hill. Coffee flavoured of course! Looked at some very cool coffee machines as well as finding some interesting beans to take home. There were a selection of coffee roasters from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ayrshire and further afield. Each stall was friendly, happy to explain a bit more about their produce! There were also tea, chocolate, food and even a clothing stall dotted in between. And of course the yelp stand! We only spent a couple of hours there, although there was pleanty of talks and demonstrations that could keep you occupied throughout the day. To be honest if I'd drank much more coffee my heart might have exploded! haha But we left happy as anything, coffee in hand, bag full of treats and more energy than we knew what to do with. I can't wait for next year!

Looks like the Cathouse is loved and loathed by 'weegies in equal share!…read more I used to go here for the Under 18s night when I was about 14-15, and it was a smashing time. As far as I can gather from the website, it's much the same as it was back then. Lots of heavy metal upstairs, punk, pop-punk, hardcore and ska downstairs. It's a great place for the alternative kids to hang out, pair off, and headbang the night away. For the over 18s, it's a little different. Lots of classic rock, metal, grunge, punk, all cranked up to 11. It has all been refurbished in the last 5 or so years, and is a lot less grimy than it used to be. It's also a much more pleasant atmosphere since the smoking ban came in. The set-up is great, with the pay point at the top of the stairs, the coat check around the corner, and then on up the spiral staircase to two levels. Downstairs is big, with a bar, big dance-floor, and stage, and more seating around the side. Upstairs is smaller and more intimate, with lower ceilings and plenty of seating space. Honestly, you'll know whether this is your cup of tea by the music alone.

It's been a few years since I've been to the Catty on a club night but I see gigs here a few times…read morea year. As a gig venue it's alright. Not my favourite venue but it's where the smaller rock/metal gigs are, and you'll forgive its shortcomings when it's a kick-ass gig. Proceed up the stairs from street level and you'll reach the ticket desk, cloakroom and toilets. Up the next flight is the stage and smaller dancefloor and on the top floor is the main dancefloor. For me the best place at gigs is to grab a seat at one of the tables that run down the side of the room. The seating is raised on a long bench seat and you can get a decent view over the crowd if you stand when the band comes on.

This type of art installation becomes back to a time before computers became so popular and…read morewidespread and affordable. If you are into automata timed with music and lighting in which the art moves and tells a story of itself by its movements and items used, this is for you. You won't find this anywhere else. What a unique creation and a must see!

I'm really surprised more Yelpers haven't been here, as it's definitely a Yelpy type of place!…read moreIndependently run, this varied and unique display of surreal kinetic art/sculptures can't be found anywhere else. What to expect: -The full session takes about 75 minutes, starting with a sit-down 20 minute display set to music -You then walk around the rest of the exhibits, watching them come to life, again to music (if you can't stand for long there are chairs available) -It's all very surreal! I'd also suggest that if you don't like ballet (i.e. you need words/lyrics to appreciate stories being told) then you probably won't like this too much, but just for its sheer uniqueness you should give it a visit. Perhaps start with the 40 minute show and work your way up.

The Old Fruitmarket is, without a doubt, in my top 5 favourite music venues…read more You'll find it hidden away within the City Halls venue, where it's been restored over the years to show the space in its original glory. Above the bar, wrought iron supports hold up an awesome balcony where you get a super view of the main stage. I've been to many gigs in here - it's the perfect intimate venue where there's also enough space to dance (not me obv!). There's always some great Celtic Connections events held here. Great place! Can't wait for my next gig here!

The Old Fruitmarket is a gorgeous venue in the heart of Merchant City, that you may not yet have…read morediscovered. I went here for a jazz concert, and the combination of the musical talent and the atmospheric surroundings was quite amazing. There were round tables scattered across the floor, in a jazz cafe style, which created a lovely ambiance that complemented the musical backdrop. The lighting was low and the walls were decorated with fairy lights, which was a charming touch to this beautiful big building. With its original wooden beams and cobbles, this place reeks of history and is a truly amazing venue for any occasion.

This is a review for the bar area only. My guy and I were out and about for a few drinks one night…read moreand decided to stop in here. A great little spot, I feel it's a bit enough off the beaten path that it wasn't crammed full with people. We were able to pop in, order some drinks and find a table with complete ease and without having to push through groups of people. It's quite a small place, I couldn't imagine it being full up with people. It was quite festive with lights and mini christmas trees all about. The staff were really friendly, even convinced me to try an elderflower cider, one which I've never even fancied trying. I quite like it when bar staff are chatty, makes for a more personal experience. The atmosphere all together was calm cool and collected and I could see a bunch of us popping in for drinks on any given night. Great spot.

Headed along to Under Milk Wood at the Tron last night - somehow I've never made it here before but…read morewas pleased at having a chance to check it out. There's a large foyer area with a bar which is great for milling about waiting for the show to start. I had a rosé which came in a wee bottle but was served in a plastic cup for those going into the performance and came in at around £4. The only reason this venue gets 4 stars rather than 5 is lack of leg room when you're seated in the main auditorium - you might feel pretty squished while watching the performance. Apart from that, the seating is banked at such a steep angle that I can't imagine you'd have any troubles seeing past the person in front of you and it had good acoustics. Afterwards we headed around to the Vic Bar but it was heaving so we didn't stay long. They are doing a special pre-theatre menu in the Bar & Kitchen for the Home Nations Festival 2014 which is Best of British, with dishes like cullen skink, haggis fritters and mackerel fillets which sounds very tasty - 2 courses for £11.95.

Mischief La Bas are the cheeky monkeys of live art. A knowing wink, a cheap laugh and suddenly,…read morethey are exploring complex ideas about performance and life. Main man Ian Smith has become a regular face on the performance circuit, hosting difficult events like the National Review of Live Art with a broad sense of humour and a deep respect. Mischief events are usually free: they turn up unexpectedly in public spaces, scrub the street furniture clean or stage a football match between surreal teams. The acceptable face of live art, they could be mistaken for a comedy sketch show, until their serious intent reveals itself in a moment of dramatic recognition.

The Glasgow Print Studio is a charitable organization which aims to aid and encourage people to be…read moreinvolved in the art of printmaking. They do this buy offering print services and educational courses to artists and the general public. The services on offer include facilities for etching and engraving on metals or wood, screen-printing, computers and printers of digital imaging and the invaluable advice of profession printmakers with an abundance of experience. You need to join the gallery as a member to use the facilities and pay an annual membership but it is worth it if you are serious about printed art. The Glasgow Print Studio also exhibits some really interesting work and is currently taking part in the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art. There is also a fantastic range of artwork of sale which is very varied and the friendly staff are always happy to help and can organise any framing you may need.