Paisley born singer songwriter Gerry Rafferty is to be remembered at two concerts on 22 and 23 January as part of this year’s Celtic Connections in Glasgow. The concerts have been curated by Rafferty’s daughter Martha and Rab Noakes and will feature performances by, among others, The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson, Ron Sexsmith and James Vincent McMorrow. Irish singer McMorrow, who sings some of his songs in a voice so high
It sometimes seems as if the humble cupcake has become the art medium du nos jours. Check out these creations from Cakes by Lyndsey: you don't know whether to eat them or enter them for the Turner Prize. A graduate of Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, Lyndsey is now based in Edinburgh. She is much in demand for events and special occasions and delivers boxes of spectacular, themed cakes
Heartbroken at the the thought of the thick, richly fragranced oak of old whisky barrels being sold for firewood or, worse, sent to landfill, Jackie Dunsmuir and her team at Recycle Fife have created Barrel Crafted, a unique range of furniture and home accessories which includes cabinets, candleholders, benches, wine racks, stools and even birdhouses. The idiosyncratic collection, handcrafted to last in Lochgelly, is inspired by the contours and hues
Johnnie Walker is exporting Scottish glamour from Leven in Fife, Scotland to the former French Quarter of Shanghai. The newly opened Johnnie Walker House is the brand's only location outside Scotland and whisky is in the fabric of the building – literally. The lobby (pictured above) has a ceiling covered in hanging whisky glasses. Another room is adorned with the primary ingredients of whisky with walls of malt and peat
by Alannah O'Sullivan Top notch coffee shops, delis, art shops, florists, supermarkets, farmers’ markets, parks, kindergartens, schools, libraries, hospitals, churches, art galleries and theatres – all within walking distance of where I live. Is this Paris? New York? London? No, it’s that well-kept secret – Queen’s Park in Glasgow’s South Side. From my front door, I stroll into the ever-captivating park of the same name with its acres of green.
I have a great fear of and fascination for deep dark woods and these brilliantly brooding paintings by Fife artist Nerine Tassie capture that allure. Her bleak, unpeopled seascapes are equally appealing. Tassie, who is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, says her work is inspired by natural spaces and in particular, the impact of time and changing light within these spaces. Despite, or perhaps because of their small
Linking the east of Edinburgh's city centre to Leith is Easter Road, an area sometimes dismissed as bit grungy but one that's full of life and much beloved of its residents. At the top of the road is popular local hangout The Manna House Bakery which offers 30 types of handcrafted breads and authentic European pastry delicacies freshly baked in store each day. With a New York, Sullivan St Bakery
In the heart of the bustling Edinburgh neighbourhood of Easter Road is Bra Bohag, a tiny establishment that has been described as 'without doubt the best retro shop in Scotland'. Run by the hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic team of Jim and Louice, it's a treasure trove of mid century classic furniture and artefacts sourced from the UK and Scandinavia. The shop regularly stocks pieces by Ercol, G-Plan, Stag and McIntosh
This Saturday 3 September 2011 there's a Plum Market in Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. In September and October there will be apple and pear markets. Jams, preserves and chutneys will also be for sale. Newburgh Orchards Group was set up in 2002 to protect and promote the orchards in the area. Some date back to 1191 when Benedictine monks came from Abbeville, France and planted trees in and around Lindores Abbey.
We are delighted to announce that friend of Avocado Sweet, Jill Ireland's new venture Life is Good opens for business tomorrow, 27 August. It is a bright little gem of a shop selling a gorgeous selection of homewares, clothes and art and it enjoys an enviable location right in the heart of the boutique and cafe scene of Edinburgh's Morningside. We wish Jill the very best of luck although, with