Great gallery but a hidden gem when it comes to picture framing. Amazing range of hand finished…read moreframes that many of Scotland's top artists seem to use.

Great home made food, innovative cocktails and large selection of lagers. Large seating area with…read morebig booths. Wish they had more IPAs and it's best to check their Facebook for the latest cocktails because menus aren't up to date.

This is admittedly a slight overestimation five based on it being a 4.5 and them deserving the…read morelittle push. Bag O Nails is a very renovated location at what was once Patrick Brewing Company and Patrick Tavern before that. Unlike with the last name changes, this was clearly a major change. Workers were there for weeks, ripping everything out, and rebuilding it. And this was until the day it opened. I stopped by briefly on the night it opened, but didn't really take time to explore it until today. The Sunday brunch compelled me. The design is that purposely worn down look, but unlike most places of this design it has plenty of light from huge windows. It didn't take long to be seated and given both the standard menu and the special Sunday menu. The drinks menu has enough where I'm going to need to have a night here at some point but my mission for this trip was mostly for waffles. My dining companion (Cindy) just got waffles but I got chicken and waffles. It didn't take long for both to come out. It all looked just as I had hoped with plenty of butter and sufficient syrup. The waffles were not the best I've ever had but very enjoyable. The chicken really stood out though, as it was moist and flavourful. Neither of us had a hard time finishing our food. It was a really nice experience and I look forward to going again. The brunch menu is varied and the dinner menu also looks nice. I also need to go during the evening and try some of the cocktails and beers.

I went to Glasgow Uni for four years and I didn't notice this place until 2014, eight years after…read moreI'd graduated! It's hidden away inside the Zoology department but is open to the public Monday to Friday. The museum one large room full of taxidermy, insects, birds, shells, coral and lots of other things. Like a giant sea turtle suspended from the ceiling. There are also a few live specimens so look out for those. I can imagine this being a great setting for a B movie about an escaped tarantula. It does look and feel like nothing has changed since the 50s! Definitely an interesting place for a look around if you're nearby or visiting the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery and of course if you have an interest in natural history.

The West End Festival is one of my favourite events of the year in Glasgow. The parade is a mix of…read morecolour and music as the people in it dance down the streets of the West End. Mouths won't go hungry as local businesses set up stalls and seats outside. Burgers, pizza, chips, cakes and pastries: there's lots to fill you up whilst you're entertained by the parade. Outside Hillhead Bookclub is the over 18s area which is a good escape from the pushy prams. You just need to make sure you get a good spot or you might not get to see a lot!

Did anyone make their way to Glasgow Mela last weekend? Cause I thought it was FAB! Lucky enough…read morethat the weather was on our side last weekend too. The festival had so many things and I'm glad that it was free too seeing as it was in Kelvingrove Park! The atmosphere of family, children and friends of different cultures (many Indian folk, locals and a bunch of other random nationalities including myself :D) came by to chill out at the park. Whether it was to play with outdoor installations or at the fun fair, or listen to music with a pint under the sun, or watch silly performances by street artists (and magicians) or even dance along with the amazing traditional performers (and also Irish line dancers) the day was just great! My partner and I explored everything! We were down at the smaller stage listening to Indian music with toddlers dancing everywhere. And then we watched as a parade of what seemed to be circus performers walked by. We slept on the grass while having Pimm's cocktails and listening to some dj sets. And then watched the amazing performers by so many tradition local clubs! If you haven't been before, you should really consider going in the next years to come :) Update: also, went to Chop Pop's exhibition of her Love Letters to Glasgow in the Hillhead Library and it was wonderful! Her artwork is amazing and meticulous! She's also a friendly wee lady and I love her. Check out her facebook if you didn't manage to catch her!

Mishka's wee shop a veritable Aladdin's cave of books, crystals, incense, tarot cards and general…read moreNew Age-y trinkets, located just a step or three off the main drag in Partick. The unassuming frontage gives but a glimpse of the goodies that lie within, and I always try to make a point of dropping in if I'm passing, even if it's just to say hello and have a browse around. There's always something to catch your eye, be it a sparkly crystal, a book, or one of the pieces of local artwork that adorn the walls of the shop. There's a homely and welcoming feel to the place even though its appearance is far from the glitzy end of the spectrum, but somehow that makes it feel all the more genuine. Mishka herself is a very talented tarot reader, astrologer and psychic. You will sometimes find the front door locked if she's doing a reading for a client, so you'll need to come back a bit later on. If you want a reading yourself, it's best to call her to book an appointment, otherwise you could be standing outside for a while. She's a lovely and friendly person, she loves a good blether and is always knows about any mind-body-spirit type events that are happening in the West End.

This tiny, shiny cave is full of every spiritualist's needs. From runes to books on Wicca, this…read moreshop is great for those interested in white magic and the art of tarot and palm reading. The shop also has an assortment of ornaments on this theme, incense and everything imaginable for people who are interested in the chilled out art of spiritualality. There are some Buddhims offerings in here, and some alternative remedies. There are also a number of books on withcraft and Paganism adorning the shop's shelves. What intruigued me the most about Mishka was its small but modest display of local art. There was a sparse display of local paintings of a spiritualist nature, each of high quality and a paragraph of the artist's backgrounds beneath each piece. It was an extra element to an already beguiling little shop for those interested in the alternative crafts.

This is a pretty area down a hidden alley with lovely colourful studios but honestly that's about…read moreit, I was expecting a lot more but there really wasn't anything to offer. I was expecting little boutique gifts shops but all I found was the hidden lane tearoom which to be fair looked cute, upholstery shop, yoga studios and not much else so I was disappointed, I wouldn't go out your way to visit.

The Hidden Lane has much to offer. Unfortunately, it's also a bit too hidden, so lots of people…read moremiss it, which means that the turnover of the retail businesses is fairly high, as they often don't get sufficient foot fall to sustain their business. The landlord really needs to get his act together, and get some proper signage and lighting. The entrance to it could be really cool - I'm thinking maybe some sort of art installation of neon lights in the lane entrance, or big neon arrows, or something along those lines. When you get into the lane itself, signage would really help with finding the businesses too, as it is a bit of a rabbit warren, and it's hard to work out where things are, even when you know they are definitely there. Signs with numbers would be a great help. Particularly in the winter months, when it gets dark so early, it can be a bit intimidating stumbling about a lane in the dark. Also, cars are allowed to park right in front of the doors pretty much, so even if there is a small sign that the business has put up, it's often easy to miss. Seriously landlord dude, get it sorted. The businesses that are there though, are typically worth seeking out. There is the AWESOME Hidden Lane Tearoom, a vintage style cafe, with beautiful cakes and teas. Currently, the lanes are also home to Paul Tasker Music - cool guitar teacher, A Shore Thing - a guy who makes great things from driftwood - top tip - you'll see a lot of his stuff in some of the pricier west end boutiques at much more expensive prices than if you buy from him directly.There's also the newly opened Sweetheart Creations selling up-cycled items, Dragonfly Boutique selling beautiful jewellery, art, and home-ware items (well worth a visit - they have some gorgeous stuff including items made from beach combed glass), Monday's Child, selling textile home-ware, and Emily Rose vintage. Aside from the retail units, there are also all sorts of people doing really cool things. Sew Confident offer sewing courses, which I really like the sound of, there's Shona Jewellery, who mostly sells online but works from a studio here, Bobbin & Fleck who do furniture restoration and upholstery, and lots more including a picture framer, a laser cutting and engraving place, a landscape architects' studio, and the New Hellfire Club, which is a not for profit record and book shop. Plus there's a recording studio! La Chunky Studios are right at the back left hand corner of the lane, and it's a fantastic place, offering high-end recording facilities for musicians, film-makers and voice over artists. I was lucky enough to have a look about recently, and hidden at the back of their studio there's a massive sunken room for hanging out in - it's so cool. So, The Hidden Lane is a quirky place, fully of brilliant people who deserve a better landlord - one who has the vision to turn this into a thriving hub of creativity and successful businesses. The Hidden Lane is cool already, but it could be utterly amazing.