Lobey Dosser Tribute Glasgow Blog

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3

Glasgow on Fire
2007-11-06 11:28:00
Remember remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason should ever be forgot...The one thing to remember if you're in Glasgow on 5th November every year is to get yourself along to a fireworks display, and if you can get there, to the magnificent Glasgow Green in particular as Tracey & I did last night. Why's that? What's different about this night from the glorious dazzle of the Hogmanay fireworks?In the UK we celebrate this night unlike most other countries in the world. Bonfire Night (aka Guy Fawkes Night) is all about celebrating the foiling of the outstandingly audacious Gunpowder Plot of 5th November, 1605, when a tight gang of Catholic arsonists, including the infamous high heid yin Guy Fawkes, tried to blow London's Houses of Parliament into smitherines and kill King James I. We celebrate it by sending fireworks into the air, setting fire to Guys (ie. dummies of Guy Fawkes made usually from straw or wood), and general...
More About: Fire

Update your Bookmarks
2007-10-19 15:54:00
Just a wee word to let you know that you can now update your bookmarks for my site, and can add more easily the Lobey Dosser Tribute Blog to your favourite Blog Reader.To bookmark the site, simply press this button (100 safe) - addthis_url = location.href; addthis_title = document.title; addthis_pub = 'BestGlasgow'; And to subscribe for free to my little blog, here's the button to press - If you want more information about this, just give me a shout. I'll be back soon with some great photos of our recent day out at Xscape Braehead in Glasgow, and look forward to receiving any photos or restaurant reviews you want to see up in lights on the site.See you laters...
More About: Update , Bookmarks

Glasgow Christmas Lights Already?
2007-10-15 13:08:00
It may still be October, but you'll have to act quickly if you haven't yet snatched up your tickets for the big Glasgow Christmas Lights switch-on.It's being held as usual in George Square on 18th November. Tickets are free (apart from a small booking charge), and the first tranch of them were released through Ticketmaster on Saturday there. The second batch of them will be released from 9am on 27th October, again on Ticketmaster, so make sure you're out of bed early to grab them up, as it's a dearly loved Glasgow event that'll get your spirits geared up for the Festive season.And talking about spirits, I hope you're ready for Halloween in Glasgow. If you've not got a party to head to (I'm pretty sure my costume this year will be Peter Pan - I'll put a pan on my head and write "Hello My Name Is Peter" on my shirt - genious, eh? Eh?), then just head to the movies at Cineworld Renfrew Street or at Anderson Odeon, and catch Rob Zombie's Halloween, or head into the City Centr...
More About: Christmas Lights , Ready

Glasgow Cathedral
2007-10-12 09:57:00
I love this website. As a native living in Scotland I have visited Glasgow many times. It was only in later years, having visited many great cities
More About: Cathedral

Ristorante Caprese remains open
2007-09-10 10:34:00
Please note that despite previous indications, in actual fact my favourite restaurant in Glasgow, Ristorante Caprese in Buchanan Street, remains open.Having walked past it on quite a few occasions last month, I had thought that the worst had happened and it had closed its doors for the very last time (and you'll remember why if you read the review and update), but thankfully it had only been closed temporarily.So that gives you another chance to sample one of the greatest hidden gems my home town has to offer, before Costanzo finally brings a close to his amazing restaurant and opens his new one to carry on the tradition.
More About: Open , Mains

The only Glasgow Events Guide you'll need this year
2007-09-08 20:39:00
I've just completed a wee what's on in Glasgow events guide, so that you can plan your time here in a relaxing way.There's also a guide to the best Glasgow music venues there as well, and a little on why I think Glasgow continues to generate such a top rate reputation in the music world.If you think I've left anything obvious out, put the gun back in its holster and let me know, because to be honest, this is simply the beginning, the foundation of a comprehensive guide to how to get the best out of my home town, so pour out a wee coffee & take a minute to learn why Glasgow won't let you leave without giving you so many great memories you'll be itching to return for more...
More About: Events , Guide , Year , The O

Free Glasgow Games
2007-08-22 15:58:00
OK, so having put in a power of work to the site in the last few weeks, I got distracted for a second, and low and behold a page of free Glasgow Games has suddenly appeared on the site having escaped my notice.A word of warning - if you've got something important to do right now, if someone is depending on your full attention, don't click onto this page - I just can't guarantee you'll end up doing anything other than frittering away your time there for the rest of the day.More games to follow soon, apparently...
More About: Free

Khublai Khans Glasgow Mongolian Feast
2007-08-22 11:51:00
Hi Scott, My favourite restaurant in Glasgow is Khublai Khan's in the Merchant City Candleriggs. I try to go there as much as possible as its so
More About: Feast , Hans , Mongo

Did you capture your special Glasgow moment?
2007-08-21 12:10:00
Whoaa, it's all hotting up now.I've now added a great wee feature in my Glasgow Photo Box. First you could share your best Glasgow restaurant experience. Now you can share with your friends, family and thousands of other visitors every month, your single best moment in Glasgow that you captured on camera.Simply upload the photo, tell us the wee story behind it, and you'll have your own little memory of Glasgow online for years to come.Add as many Glasgow photos as you like, your own scrapbook of your time here, and tell everyone you know to have a look and upload photos of their own...
More About: Special , Moment , Capture

Molly Malones on Hope Street
2007-08-20 16:55:00
I don't know if this counts Scott because Molly Malones is a bar, but the food there is brilliant. My wife and I have recently returned from a trip
More About: Street , Hope , Alone , Olly

What's YOUR best Glasgow Restaurant?
2007-08-20 16:03:00
Enough about me. It's YOUR time now.As I mentioned a few days ago, after a great deal of head-scratching, I've managed to work out how to publish your experiences of Glasgow in my site.First up? What's your favourite Glasgow restaurant?Take a look at my little restaurants section. You'll see that you can add your experience, what you love about your best place to eat here, what you were there for, who you were with. You can add your best photo of your time at the restaurant, and if you've got a video on YouTube etc., I can embed that too for all your friends and family to share, together with thousands of other visitors every month.So don't be shy - be among the first ones to share your experience and get your name up in lights. Then tell everyone you know so that they can comment on it all.This whole shabang is about to really take off. Think of me from now on as your personal online scrapbook. If you want to create your own profile, as you would in MySpace or Bebo, I'll be ...
More About: Restaurant

The best Italian Glasgow restaurant?
2007-08-20 00:33:00
Tracey and I just came back from another outstanding meal at Ristorante La Fiorentina, one hell of an Italian Glasgow restaurant.Have a look here at why we think it deserves to be singled out from the myriad of Italian restaurants in Glasgow.And if you agree or disagree, remember that your time is coming! Your Top Ten Glasgow Guide. Your favourite Italian restaurants in Glasgow. I can't wait to hear your stories...Comments
More About: Restaurant

The best walks Glasgow has to offer
2007-07-19 23:29:00
Just got around to completing another wee page, this time about the best walks Glasgow lays out for you and the most satisfying Glasgow walking tours.Have a read about why I think throwing aside the car keys and stashing the bus pass for a while might be the best decision you could make during your time in Scotland. Glasgow and our country get a write up as being one of the most beautiful places to walk on the planet. If you don't know already, find out why here...Comments
More About: Walk , Walks , Offer

The least known but best Chinese Glasgow restaurant
2007-07-02 16:58:00
I may be in a heap, crumpled on my couch with my notebook dangling precariously on my lap, but despite my feeling more stuffed than I've felt in a long time having just returned from Cathay Cuisine Glasgow , I've just about managed to scrape together a review of the best Chinese Glasgow restaurant I know.Have a look when you've got a spare few minutes, but I warn you, reading it will just make you hungry, and that's exactly how I felt before I ordered what must be Glasgow's finest beef satay. Not that I wish I hadn't of course. It's just that I think I've satisfied not only my taste buds for the next few years in one go, but also my appetite as well.Where's those prawn crackers though?...Comments
More About: Restaurant

New Glasgow events guide launched
2007-06-27 14:49:00
Have a look at the seeglasgow site I've linked to, as it's just launched again the hugely popular Glasgow Diary for forthcoming events in the City.It lists all the main Glasgow attractions and events not to be missed this summer. For example, you'll be able to plan your attendance at the Glasgow River Festival in July, Piping Live in August, the Merchant City Festival in September and much more.One look at the Diary and your head'll be spinning, as there's just so much to do in such a short space of time. And here's a thing. My simple yet genius plan to ensure that I don't miss any of the upcoming events is to work out how Hiro Nakamura manages to bend time and space. Easy peasy eh? If you're a fan of Heroes you'll know what I'm talking about. If you're not, I'm pretty sure as a regular Lobey Dosser blogee you'll sigh the usual breath of regret that you started reading such nonsense, even if doing so was just out of sympathy.In the meantime, many thanks for all your mes...
More About: Events , Guide , Launched , Vent

A long snooze on a Glasgow bus
2007-06-25 22:28:00
Well, I think I fell asleep about a hundred times, but after I'd broken my last matchstick trying to pry my eyes open, I finally saw before me a page about saving money getting around on a Glasgow bus.Of course, maybe it took so long to get through it because my family & I have just been celebrating the birth of my niece Suzannah. Congratulations again Claire, John and Charlotte - here's to ye.Either way, I got there in the end. It's a wee addition to my Top Ten Getting Around Glasgow Guide. I mean come on, have you ever heard of anything so exciting? It had to be done though - all this housework before the real fun about Glasgow begins...Comments
More About: Long , Snooze

A rail Glasgow train guide
2007-06-15 18:16:00
See what I did there? Rail ? Real? Anyone?OK OK, fair enough. You'll be delighted to know however, that having been refreshed from my recent time in Vegas, and having no money left to go anywhere other than online, I've managed to finish a wee page about getting around the Glasgow rail network.It's a fascinating read, I promise...Comments
More About: Train , Guide , TRAI

OK, so maybe I spoke too soon...
2007-06-13 10:26:00
There's me warbling on about how brilliant it'll be for Glasgow Airport travellers with the M8 now fully open, and then I hear that they'll be imposing even more restrictions between the junction with the M77 and the Clyde Tunnel exit of the motorway.Have a read, and once again my suggestion out of the Book of the Obvious would be that if you'll be heading to the airport via the M8 between the end of June and the end of August, you should leave some extra time in case the traffic turns out to be monstrous.As I said before though, the last few times the narrowing and speed restrictions have been imposed on the M8 the hold ups haven't been too bad.(said he with his fingers crossed behind his back)
More About: Poke , Spoke

Good news for Glasgow Airport travel
2007-06-12 10:50:00
Finally.Having just returned to work after my vacation (more's the pity), I noticed this morning that the M8 Whitecart Viaduct leading to and from Glasgow Airport has now fully re-opened.You might recall my tearfully depressive bloglet back in January when the road was narrowed and given speed restrictions until May, and I predicted that I'd pretty much be spending the next few months stuck in my car, listening to the same news bulletin on the radio over and over again whilst the traffic jammed itself to a halt.Well, maybe I was a little on the pessimistic side. In fact, the jams on the road weren't that bad, and neither Glasgow Airport, our national economy, nor the world at large ground to a stuttering stop as had been feared at the outset.So now that the road restrictions have been lifted, you won't need to leave as much time as before to get to or from the airport, although having said that, I also read when I got back that the M8 has now been awarded the proud tag of the UK...
More About: News , Travel , Good News

Velvet Revolver rocks SECC Glasgow
2007-06-11 23:23:00
Well that's me back from Vegas. Shattered, broke, very happy.Since I've come home I've been celebrating my 30th birthday, basically by getting over my jetlag and eating so much BBQ meat in the brilliant Glasgow sunshine that my jeans belt finally decided that it couldn't cope any longer and just took itself off for its own vacation. I also went to see Velvet Revolver rock the house at SECC Glasgow last night.Outstanding.No doubt if you're a fan of Scott Weiland and Co. you'll have caught most of the gig online already, thanks to the hundreds of our brave, devoted YouTube Warriors immersed throughout the crowd, unselfishly sacrificing their own true enjoyment of the gig just to capture it for us all on their little phones (I mean, how did we ever actually enjoy gigs before the digital camera was invented?).For me, it was one of the most satisfying gigs I've ever been to, due simply to the sheer energy of the band's performance all the way through the concert, but mainly becau...
More About: Rocks , Evolve

Glasgow Art Fair 2007
2007-04-17 13:08:00
Well? Could you do better?This is my picture of what George Square will look like between 19th and 22nd April for the Glasgow Art Fair 2007. Should this be up in one of the galleries? Eh? Anyone?Yeal well, fair enough.Scotland's National Art Fair is here again with 43 galleries exhibiting work from over 1000 established artists and cutting edge talents, all of which will be available to buy if you have some spare greens to part with.Last year saw over 16,000 visitors pop in for a look, with about 1.1 million pounds worth of art work sold, from 50 quid sculptures to spanking new paintings for thousands of pounds.So it's a pretty big deal really, as it's now referred to as the UK's most prestigious contemporary art fair outside of London, attracting the cream of Europe and reflects just how much of a name Glasgow has made of itself in global visual art circles.I'd recommend heading to George Square for a look if you'll be here. Tickets are only about 4 to 6 pounds, or 10 pounds ...

Spread the word...
2007-03-30 16:37:00
Top Ten Glasgow Guide is beginning to find its feet in the crazy big world out there. I've been receiving a few messages from you all, asking whether you can sort out a link to my little site, and following an embarrassing amount of huffing & puffing on my part, I've finally worked out how to build this wee page, and hope it helps you do just that.I mean, there should be an award for brainiac wizardry like this! OK, so I'd never win it, but everyone loves a trier, don't they?Anywho, there are a number of ways you can link to my site, and if you've any queries about the whole thing, just let me know.You might also have noticed that I now have a wee friendly favicon to help me. If you can't see it in the address bar in your browser (which may be likely if you run with Internet Explorer), simply left-click on the 'e' icon you see in the address bar, keep your finger down and drag the mouse a bit to the right. You might have to do this a few times and even refresh your browser, ...
More About: Word , Read , Spread

The Glasgow laughter continues...
2007-03-07 21:52:03
It's here again.Conti nuing Glasgow 's annual hogshead of globally respected events, the fifth Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival kicks off tomorrow.In years past this outstanding festival has attracted thousands to the city, rivalling similar set ups throughout the UK (including a complete trouncing of even Edinburgh's much-trumpeted equivalent), and this year promises to be the best yet.The great thing about the festival is that you can pop into a local pub and watch an up and coming talent working through his or her nerves, or you can book a seat in a larger venue where the bigger names in comedy will be playing.The festival runs from 8th March until 24th March, and involves about 40 venues with over 300 shows. My suggestion? If you're here you'd be well advised to head to Oran Mor at the end corner of Byres Road and Great Western Road, where you'll be treated to a superb night's entertainment entitled A Play, a Pie, and a Pint. Other stand out shows will include ...
More About: Laughter , Laugh , The G

The Best Fish at Two Fat Ladies Glasgow
2007-03-01 03:36:02
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Tracey and I were going back to one of my favourite restaurants for St. Valentine's Day. The place is called Two Fat Ladies , and I've finally gotten around to completing the review.Long story short? Without doubt it's the best fish restaurant in Glasgow , and you'll see exactly why that is in my review, but don't just take my word for it - next time you're here, book a table and look forward to an outstanding menu you'll be dreaming about until your return.And if you happen to invite me along for a free meal, hey, don't you worry there, I definitely won't be offended. Of course, you may well be, that is once you notice me drooling over the table in anticipation. It's an embarrassing habit I know, but what can you do?So have a wee peek at my review, and as always, if you've experienced this delicious corner of dining perfection yourself, please feel free to let me know and I'll share your thoughts here.Comments
More About: Fish , Best , Dies

Glasgow welcomes the Chinese Year of the Pig
2007-02-28 15:35:08
Last week saw Glasgow celebrate the Chine se Year of the Pig.Every year the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow hosts a well-attended day of performances to mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year, involving local kids, pensioners and representatives of all the City's diverse ethnic minorities all getting together and enjoying a celebration borne of 5,000 years of mysterious history.This year the Guizhou Song and Dance Ensemble of The People's Republic of China, and also Eddie McGuire's Chinese Ensemble, entertained what turned out to be a packed hall in the evening, but the day also included lessons in speaking and writing Chinese, a colourful display and photoshoot of traditional Chinese facemasks, and of course a superb menu of indigenous delights like seafood and dumplings.Whilst I wasn't able to pop along, I gather that it was a perfectly organised and packed event, and I hope to spare some time to visit next year, provided of course that I get over that irrational fear of drag...
More About: Welcome , Come

The Nightrider comes to Glasgow
2007-02-26 21:31:02
No, it's not another Hasslehoff-driven Kitt I'm on about.Having caved into many concerns about the lack of Subway services throughout the night, on 20th April Glasgow will be introducing a Subway Night rider bus service running from 11.40pm on Friday and Saturday nights until the Subway re-opens the next morning. On Sundays, it'll operate from 6pm until 11.30pm.Six buses will provide clockwise and anti-clockwise journeys every 20 minutes along the route of the Subway circles, at a fare of two pounds, and the buses will stop at each Subway station, mirroring the underground system.Now whilst transport announcements are never the most exciting things to hear, particularly on a Monday morning spent propping my eyes open with matchsticks, I have to admit that this is great news. Basically, this'll now mean that if you're at a concert at the SECC or Armadillo and the gig runs late, no longer will you have to stand in the freezing cold cursing the fact that you missed the last subway ...
More About: Ride , The N , Come

Come watch a feast of Glasgow sport
2007-02-21 15:19:02
I was listening to Clyde 1 FM, one of the best Glasgow radio stations, last night on my way to Celtic Park, where we were about to play AC Milan in what turned out to be another exhilarating Champions League night (and that's despite it ending in an admirable 0 - 0 draw, in case you hadn't heard).Clyde 1 and Real Radio both run a superb football phone-in from 6pm on week nights (you can listen online if you're outside Scotland), and if you're looking to get a true measure of Glasgow's pulse, how inextricably consumed we are as a populace with everything football, then you'll be sure to find the phone-ins an eyebrow-raising induction. Like reality TV, despite some of the complete drivel you'll hear from callers and hosts alike, it's one of those things I just can't tear myself away from.Last night a caller to the show phoned in and made a great point that (shock horror) didn't concern Celtic, Rangers, or whit's wrang wi Scottish referees man?. Basically, he put across how ...
More About: Watch , Sport , Port , East

Glasgow tops yet another poll
2007-02-14 21:03:02
Would you give up your seat on the bus to a pregnant woman or elderly person? Do you think it's acceptable to be 15 minutes late? Would you stop to pick up a lady's dropped groceries?According to a poll out today, Glasgow is the politest City in the UK, where a fair whack of us would give up our seat, hold a door open for a lady, and turn up when expected.Too bad they didn't ask me about that time I was half and hour late, shoved an old codger off the bus to get the last seat, and then slammed the door in this woman's face when she told me off for running past her to get through the door first.I'm just kidding with you there. When you come to Glasgow you'll likely come across the same kind of rudeness you'd find anywhere else in the world, but for the most part we're amongst the world's most down to earth, friendly, and welcoming people, which over and above all this crazy architectural beauty and cultural scene we have going on here, is one of the main reasons visitors wa...
More About: Tops , Other , Poll , Another

Eat well at the German Christmas Market
2007-02-13 15:00:08
Another festive delight to watch out for every December in Glasgow, is the German Chris t mas Market in St. Enoch Square.As if stuffing yourself silly with roast turkey dinners for an entire month wasn't enough, at the stupendously busy German Christmas Market you'll be faced with stall after stall of deliciously tempting bratwurst and currywurst sausages, spanferkel (ehm, roasted piglet I think, but v. tasty whatever it is), garlic and salami pizza bread, and a great deal more, not forgetting the dazzling plethora of sweets and treats, all to be washed down gently with a subtle gluhwein (which is mulled wine, in case you want to appear knowledgeable if anyone asks).But whoaa there right now. Just stop, anhalten with all this food talk - I'm drooling freely all over my keyboard, and to me this is pretty embarassing seeing as how I'm typing all this at work.So before I'm electrocuted or otherwise frogmarched from my work, suffice to say that it's worth visiting the market just fo...

State of the Union - Signing off for 2006
2007-02-13 15:00:08
Well? I guess that's it then.With Christmas and the New Year upon us, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it's been a long year for my little site.On a rough calculation, aside from my blog I suspect that I only managed to drool out about two proper pages a month, which, yes you don't have to tell me, to be honest is just plain lazy.My New Year resolution for 2007? To get off my well-cushioned derrier and flesh out the bones of what I'd intended at the start to become a pretty decent guide to my home city. And I also promise to stop bleating out weakly (and weekly) the whole 'yeah but I've got a nine to five job' excuse, so you can keep the cheeky reminders to yourselves.That having been said, despite the significant lack so far of evidence on the site that I'm actually still alive, I'm pretty chuffed that in 2006 the number of visitors to the site increased to ten times it was last year, my blog has been pulling in a great deal of interest and (mostly kind) comments...
More About: Union , State , Sign , Stat , The U