Glasgow West End: Pat's guide to what's best in the West

It's been a busy old month. One of the highlights was a fantastic night out at OranMor, where loads of my buddies came along to support Basia and John's Cuba Challenge Trip. My son John, my brother Liam and their friends came up from Old Kilpatrick and Issi and Davie Wilson came with Joyce and Maggs. Val, Linda and Ann also made it along. It was superb and we had great fun dancing the night away to Jim's band Loris. Good luck to Basia and John, who set off on their journey this week.

Thankfully we are now seeing some blue skies - although still needing to wrap up against the cold. I've been out and about quite a bit and the other day we went down to Lomond Shores to see the Aquarium. Caitlin and Ryan (and the big folk) were in raptures over the baby sea horses and highly excited at seeing sharks close up. Maybe plan a trip on the Maid of the Loch, when summer arrives!

We had a shorter excursion along to Bingham's Pond to see the ducks and swans and I tried out our new tiny video camera - it's going to take some practise as part of the recording was inside my handbag.

Easter Sunday was a particularly cold day but John, Ryan and I ventured up into the Old Kilpatrick Hills and rolled the Easter Eggs amid flurries of snow. Think that's the first Easter we've had to wear our wellies. We went back up into the Hills this week-end and Caitlin came along too. We had to go very carefully as lots of wee lambs about - the children were thrilled when we saw one of the sheep giving birth. We had to stay quite a bit away so that we did not startle them but it was a great experience watching the mother lick the babies clean and nudge them onto their feet and help them take their first steps.

Afterwards we went down to the Old Kilpatrick Bowling Club for a party my friend Ann was holding for Somalian friends, who had just got married. It was brilliant - a real mix of cultures - we sang Flower of Scotland and danced to some great African beats.

I was also down in the village for the Christening of my new great-niece, Michaela Freya Margaret O'Neill, to be known as Freya. Both she, and her big sisters Eve and Sartah were looking very smart and the baby was on her very best behaviour. I saw lots of familiar faces and It was good to catch up with folk from Old Kilpatrick and Duntocher including the McDermotts and my mum's old friends Josie and Andy Gillepsie.

At last we have managed along to the Allotment and have done a bit of tidying up and some planting. Although, I am still trying to get organised regarding purchasing a garden shed so any tips gratefully accepted.

I've also been catching up with friends and visiting some interesting places in the West End; I popped in to find out what was happening at the Baby Grand at the bottom of Byres Road, and learned that it has been reincarnated as 'North of Bondi' - Glasgow's first Austalian Restaurant. Nick Biok, the Chef was happy to chat to me about his new venture - the menu looks very exotic with lots of Malaysian and Thai influences. I'm hoping to get along some day soon to try out their brunch menu. I may well pop in on my own and see if there is anyone sitting at their communal table - a new concept for Glasgow, which is apparently the custom in Australia.

I had a really wonderful meal at Two Fat Ladies, The Buttery down in Argyle Street, where we had a belated celebation for Eleanor's birthday. It was a unique experience as we had the Chef's Room just to ourselves - with a view right into the kitchen through a glass wall. Having avidly watched the Gordon Ramsay programmes, where there always seems to be some sort of stramash going on, we were amazed at the tranquillity in Two Fat Ladies' kitchen. There were eight of us altogether and most of us had the fish dishes that the restaurant excels in. I had fabulous sea bass and scallops to start - delicious. A great restaurant for a special night out - not a single compaint to be heard.

We also had a night out with Jim's family, when twelve of us went along to see Black Watch a the SECC - not our usual choice and we did not know what to expect but it was a very rivetting and hard-hitting play. Thanks to Stephen, who very generously treated the whole family.

Another event I really enjoyed was 'A Programme, A Playwright and A Pint', at OranMor, where Denise Mina was interviewed for BBC Radio Scotland by Janice Forsyth. The discussion was lively and apart from hearing a bit about Denise's ideas on writing, we had a sneak preview of Denise's "A Drunk Woman Looks at the Thistle' with Karen Dunbar performing excerpts from the work. The rapport between the three women on the stage was brilliant and the event was thoroughly entertaining. On at OranMor for a week from Monday 21st April, I think this is going to be well worth a visit to their lunchtime theatre.

I was back along at OranMor for their Charity Vintage Event, organised by DJ Heather Suttie as part of the Say No to Plastic Campaign. Frances and Nicky came along with me and we all had a good rummage and a chat to some of the celebrities manning their stalls - including the very affable Allison McKenzie, Jo (the first one) in River City, who is forging ahead with her career and about to be in a film with Dougray Scott.

Afterwards we had a lovely lunch in Heart Buchanan and enjoyed massive platters of delicious sandwiches garnished with very tasty rocket and Nicky was able to fill us in on all her exciting excursions including a wedding in Cuba.

I've been having other little jaunts around the West End and met up with Lynne McKinstray, who is bringing her enthusiam for music to our Gig Guide. We met up in The Belle on Great Western Road and had some super Bei & Nannini coffee (only 99p a cup) and tea cakes. Nice staff and surroundings.

I also had an opportunity to check out the new cafe at Trevi, on the other side of Great Westrn Road, where I went to meet Roy Beers and one of his colleagues, also Lynne,and we had a good little chinwag over some tasty bruschetta. Sorry to see the Trattoria go after all these years but hope the Cafe does well - the staff are certainly very courteous.

I bumped into Roy again when I went along with Anne to Pintxo for a little party thrown by the owner Allan Mawn. Turning out to be a mighty successful restaurant and the food at Pintxo's is nothing short of blissful. There were a few weel kent west end faces at the 'do' and I had a chat with Robin Morton about the super programme at Brel for the West End Festival. Also caught up with Nancy Smillie, whom I also bumped into when we went along to the Glasgow Art Show.

Roy is always first in the know with everything happening in the Dining and Drinking Scene in Glasgow's West End so keep your ears open for a new wine and food bar called Serge. Apparently, there will be discounts towards a meal for your next visit! To open mid-May down Byres Road way.

I've had a few trips down to Partick, popping into all my favourite places including Cherrybean and Maxine's 'Handbags and Gladrags', where I spotted a fabulous Louis Vuitton bag that I may well go back for - if it's not been snapped up. It was such a bargain I should have bought it.

I had planned to have a quick lunch somewhere on Hyndland Street at Cafe Vienna or The Rio Cafe but I nattered so long to Maxine that I decided just to pick up a few tasty snacks from Polish Taste, the brilliant Polish deli, which has expanded offering an even wider variety of produce. I am a big fan of the Keffir and their Polish dumplings.

Other shops I've had a wee browse in lately include Zico's, where Simon Weir told me that the monochrome summer dresses are leaping off the shelves. I'll be watching out for Simon playing a new role in a television soap in the very near future.

Bolshie is another shop great little shop that has fairly livened up Bank Street and their organic, recycled and eco-friendly clothes are proving to be very popular. They've now also got free Wifi so pulling in the students for a pleasant place to have a snack and catch up on their surfing. I could not pass by Scherezade, the super middle-eastern deli. I picked up a some tasty stuffed aubergine and hummous to take home and heard all Ali's news. I was out for hours that day and also spent a lot of time browsing in Retro - the great retro clothes and accessories shop in Otago Street and the antique shop next door.

Around the corner on Great Western Road Galletly and Tubbs are still adding to their fantastic new Interiors/Furniture shop. Well worth a visit if you are into beautiful stuff for your home. You won't see anything else quite like it.

When I'm along at Kelvinbridge more often than not I bump into Lynne Scobbie and for years she has been suggesting that I come to her art class so I have now taken the bull by the horns and went along to my first class. It was great fun and I met quite a few very talented and friendly people and had a great time with my first artistic attempts. Jackie and I went along to the Visitor Centre at the Botanics to the exhibition of work by the Art Class students. Who knows maybe next time I'll have a couple of wee paintings on display!

I've also been busy adding lots of new stuff to the site. Including another great article about Glasgow by Ian Mitchell - this time he takes us to Easterhouse.

You will also find:

More information on Glasgow Weddings

Christina's Latst Film Crits
How to find your dream property in Glasgow Wet End
Exhibitions at The Hunterian
Update on Retro and Vintage Shops in Glasgow West End
Maggie Graham Writer's Diary
Jim's Latest Photodiary
Helen Rose's Hillwalking Diary
What's On in Glasgow
New offers in our Restaurant Reservations
and for lots more see our What's New

Despite the atrocious weather I've been out and about a fair bit - in fact it's been a particularly busy and enjoyable month. This last week has been an absolute pleasure and makes you feel very privileged to be living in Glasgow. I've had a great time at the Aye Write Festival and so far I've been along to two of the events. I went along to listen to three of Glasgow's most successful writers reading extracts from their books and talking about their work - Louise Welsh, Janice Galloway and Anne Donovan - it was a pleasure to listen to what they had to say. All three women are gloriously talented, funny and entertaining and thanks to them I am now lining up my reading for my next holiday with Anne Donovan's 'Being Emily', 'Clara' by Janice Galloway and Louise Welsh's latest 'The Bullet Trick'.

I was back in The Mitchell, the heart of the festival, the next evening, when I went along with Rosemary Venditozzi to hear Kathleen Turner talk about her book 'Send Yourself Roses: my life, love and leading roles.' What an absolute Hollywood Goddess - she had the audience enthralled if she was back again next week I would go back for more. A very spirited and interesting speaker with Janice Forsyth in great form as the presenter; a particularly enjoyable night out.

Definitely worthwhile making the effort to venture into the stormy night as another treat was having a meal in The Drawing Room in Sauchiehall Street. Rosemary and I were very cosily ensconced in a window seat with a nice view of the rain battered Kelvingrove Art Gallery. I had intended trying out the tapas but opted for the rack of lamb with garlic runner beans and spuds and it was delicious. Rosemary loved her creamy chicken dish - we were both too full up for the sticky toffee pudding that we had in mind for afters. I think that The Drawing Room may soon be joining the restaurants that are on our Glasgow Restaurant Reservations

Recently I enjoyed a lovely evening out with the Venditozzis at young Rosemary's 40th birthday party, where it was great to meet up with all the gang. Including Luisa home from Milan, Michael over from New Hampshire and Dominic and Zoe down from Dundee - to mention but a few! Well done Zoe on completing your first novel, good luck to Anthony about to set off for New Zealand and Happy Birthday, Rosemary.

Another literary event I enjoyed was the first of a new series at OranMor, A Playwright, A Play and A Pint. I went along with Sylvia Rossi to this unusual performance where the first playwright to be interviewed was Louise Welsh, she must now think I am a groupie - and why not? Clare English from BBC Radio Scotland discussed with Louise her play, 'The Importance of Being Alfred?, part of the Play, Pie and Pint series at OranMor, and excerpts from the play were performed. Listen out for it on the radio as it was very absorbing to hear about the dynamics between the playwright and the actors and also learn something about what makes a writer tick. Watch out for this event at OranMor - I'll definitely be going along to the event on 25th with Denise Mina.

I also went with Sylvia to see Hephaistos, the play by Chris Dolan, as part of the Play, Pie and Pint series at OranMor. Gerry Rossi, Sylvia's husband composed the music for this ambitious piece of theatre, which was rivetting stuff for a lunchtime audience. The after play discussion was also very enjoyable as we found ourselves surrounded by Glasgow's literati and glitterati when we had a coffee after the show.

I now find myself in awe of Libby McArthur (Gina Rossi in River City) - if she decides to move on from that role she could pursue a very successful career as a critic as her views on the play were pretty engrossing. I'm sure I spotted Archie, her risen from the dead husband (on the tele that is), hanging onto every word.

Every so often it comes home to you as to just what a small world it is as it turns out that Libby's and Sylvia and Gerry's children went to school together hence the reason that Rossi was chosen as the surname for her character in the television soap. We also had a wee natter with the very affable, yet so smart, Chris Dolan, author of the play. I'm lining them all up for my local characters section.

Back in the real world with my family, I've been on my usual trips down to Old Kilpatrick and went along to see our latest member of the family, Freya O'Neill, my new grand-niece. Then Jim and I had a lovely time at a party over in Cardonald, where my cousin Desmond McColgan and his wife Cathie celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary.

I've also been having some new experiences and John, Ryan and myself went along to the Botanics to the Hillhead Children's Garden to get involved in some of their springtime planting. John Hancox soon got us fixed up with the necessary equipment and before long we were joined by a gang of kids all busy planting bulbs. Great fun! The garden is such a good idea - we will be back along first sunny day.

I also took Ryan on his first outing to the Cinema when we went along to see 'Polar Bear' at the Grosvenor - he was thrilled to bits and the only downside for me was that he wanted to sit in the very front row. Afterwards we had a great time in The Sentry Box - the fabulous toy shop in Great George Street, where I bought some animal figures the same as we had seen in the film. Then met John for lunch at Baguette Express in Byres Road, a smashing place for a swift and tasty sandwich - recommended by Roy Beers. I also tried out another fairly new eaterie at the bottom of Byres Road - Cabbages and Kings, nice and spacious and very relaxed with tempting home made soup and cakes - recommended by Linda Keenan.

I had a very enjoyable time catching up with young Michael Bowes at everyone's favourite cafe/deli Sonny & Vitos - we had a delicious lunch then I stocked up on some homebaked delicacies for our tea. After leaving Michael, I popped into some of the great shops in Park Road, JKJ Jewellers to say 'hi' to the delightful Judith Kenny and also had a look in Doll - one of the most attractive new shops in the City.

Afterwards I caught up with Roy Beers for coffee in Cherubini and heard all the latest lowdown about the Drinking and Dining Scene in Glasgow's West End. I had eaten and drank so much myself that I walked along University Avenue and paid a visit to Maggie Graham in her lovely new flat in a great spot overlooking the avenue and Byres Road.

A couple of days later I was back along in that territory, when I went to meet Frances Rickus for lunch at Glasgow University and a peep at the Mature Students' Association, where Frances has been been very pro-active in the refurbishment programme. You can read all about this in her Mature Student's Diary. Whilst back in this neck of the woods I called into Christo's Gallery to see what Louise Burns was up to in this fantastic gallery and gift shop.

On Mother's Day we met up with Jim's Mum and Dad and went along to Paperino's for some fine Italian fare. The restaurant is very lively and relaxed and was doing a roaring trade and we had a happy time amongst the throng of diners. Congratulations to Sandro Giovanazzi of La Parmigiana winning The Best Italian Restaurant Award at the inaugural Scottish Restaurant Awards 2008.

I've had a couple of lunch dates in Booly Mardy's, where I caught up with Jackie and also Basia, who had a high time of it on the red carpet at the Sundance Film Festival where her daughter Marianna Palk was the youngest director to pick up an award. You are an absolute star, Marianna.

We'll catch up again with Basia on Monday 17th when Jim's band Loris will play at OranMor at a fundraising event in aid of Basia and John's involvement in the Cuba Cycle Challenge. Should be a good night and we will have the Old Kilpatrick gang visiting the West End for the occasion.

Jim's been busy with the band making a new recording, he's been out at gigs in The Liquid Ship and Nice 'n' Sleezy and was also interviewed on Sunny Govan Radio. You can listen to some of his songs the Loris website and Jim's myspace.

Apart from all the nightlife I've been making a good attempt at introducing a fitness regime into my life. A bit blustery for the gym and sadly due to the bad weather the allotment has been neglected but I have been going swimming at Scotstoun Leisure Centre and we've had a few family outings there as well. Ryan, about to be four in a week or so, has taken to swimming like a duck to water and this is now his favourite activity so it means that I am splashing about in the childrens' pool as well as building up the number of lengths of the baths that I swim.

We introduced him to the pool recently when we went on a short trip to Southport and there was a pool at the hotel we stayed at - Scarisbrick Hotel. We were only there for one night but managed to fit in quite a lot on our first trip to Merseyside - and were almost blown away on Southport Beach and then on our return journey we had a similar experience at Morecambe. Blustery weather but we had great fun and got rid of some cobwebs on our beachcombing venture. In particular, it was really nice to visit Trish Thorburn, one of the O'Donnell clan from Clydebank, who has got a thriving little cafe in Southport, Sue's Pantry. Great to catch up with Trisha and her Aunt Annie, whom I visited in 1965 in London. A lively 80 year old, she is doing a fine job working away in the cafe.

Apart from all these outings I've been very busy on the website and have recently added a new feature on Sonny & Vitos, I've also been busy creating a feature on Flounce, the beautiful curtains and soft furnishings shop at Kelvinbridge. I've been down to find out about the new developments at Maxine's, Handbags and Gladrags at Partick Cross, where there is a very attractive new designer/retro area - with unbelievable bargain prices.

On my way down Byres Road I called in to see David Howat at Pattison & Sim for a wee natter and he assures me that house prices in the West End are not dropping. I also called in to have a look at the new Street Wear Shop - with the very snazzy name of Zip-Code - should appeal to the youngsters and the Vans fans.

Another super shop, not long opened in the West End is Hilly & Boo on Hyndland Road, where I had a chat with Elaine McKay about this new venture. Certainly a place to head if you are on the look out for a gift - or a wee treat for yourself. Lots of unusual cards and bits and bobs and lovely ranges like Crabtree and Evelyn and those irresistible Yankee Candles.

I am still busy pulling together information for our Glasgow Weddings section on the site so if you are a photographer, florist, kiltmaker, or baker please get in touch and if you are the bride then find out about your £ 50 gift from Debenhams.

There's stacks of new stuff up on the site including:

Jim's Latest Photodiary
Christina's Latest Film Crits
More Personal Development Tips from Anne McGhee
Updates to our Gig Guide including review from new contributor Marianne Wilson
We've got a new section with Creative Writing from University of Glasgow, Creative Writing Course.
Plus loads more including our: What's On in Glasgow
and What's On in Glasgow Calendar, where you can also add your events.

Remember there's still time to catch some of Aye Write as well as Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Off to peruse the programmes.