try glasgow more

yeah the whole building has been affected by the look of it

The fire apparently started in the basement. I went by the scene an hour or so ago and fire could be seen on the top floor, both sides (Sauchiehall St and Renfrew St sides). Given that much of the interior is wooden, it's going to be very serious damage.

Degree show was supposed to be in a couple of weeks as well.

The pictures look awful; it's awful to think of it gone.

Duncan of Jordanstone art college in Dundee is also having a fire, I hear?

DoJ is fine, just a minor thing.

GSA are going to have a press conference in the next hour or so. Looks very bad :(.

Desperately sad to see another great Glasgow building destroyed by fire.

Robert Bruce will be celebrating in his grave, it was listed by the Council for demolition up until the Scottish Office finally put the kibosh on it in the 50s.

Of course, architectural conspiracists will point out that Glasgow has a history of mystery fires in significant building - the most famous example being Greek Thompson's Caledonia Road church, burnt out less than 12 months after the council said it was a candidate for demolition, and in the last decade the Elgin Street Congregational church pulled down after a fire with no thought given to retaining the Ionic portico.

Call it by it's proper name: THE SHACK. I still find it hard to believe a building like that was allowed to become a crappy nightclub.

the cultural and social landscape of the city is hugely diminished even in spite of the efforts of the firefighters. a truly awful day for the city and the world.

I am thinking of moving into a flat in Govanhill but I have heard scary things about that area. Is it really so bad or is it not the sort of place where it would be a good idea to live?

Govanhill has its problems, like any poor area, but I think it gets a bad rap, which is partly to do with racism towards the Roma who live there. I've always found it quite a vibrant place - the most multi-cultural area of Glasgow - and there are good attempts being made by community groups to improve relations and understanding. Some really nice flats on Victoria Road and also skirting Queen's Park. The bit towards Crosshill, along Allison St and around, isn't particularly nice, but towards Queen's Park and Victoria Rd is ok. The Asian Sweet Centre in Allison St does the best samosas in town.

i'd never live there and, considering i live in maryhill, that's saying something.

i am a bit racist though.

all the ukip/sdl supporting racists say "govanhill has been ruined and there's no-go areas"
no idea if its true but it keeps popping up in comment sections.

i spent the night in maryhill on tuesday. tesco mega: better or worse than the skaggy mall that was there before? (or maybe that's the wrong question)

meanwhile, on the south side:

http://f.cl.ly/items/1l3i080L2q1U1t013g3f/IMG_2211.jpg

anybody going to the east end social/duke st expo stuff tomorrow? there's nothing on the bill that particularly knocks my socks off, but seeing as it's literally happening on my doorstep i thought it would be churlish not to attend, so a friend and i have bought tix

http://www.eastendsocial.com/event/duke-street-expo/

Had thought about it for Admiral Fallow/King Creosote/Kid Canaveral, but am too skint.

Govanhill's a bit rough in parts, and there have been a few assaults, but perhaps I just paid closer attention when my best mate lived there and I visited regularly. I've never felt particularly unsafe there.

I'll be photographing the Duke Street Expo so watch out for me running about camera in hand, as per usual!

I can't believe a barbecue place has opened up round the corner from my flat now that I live in London.

From my Dennistoun flat, that is.

I know the bit around Victoria Rd and that's not so bad but the flat I'm looking at is over by Cathcart Rd and I'm not so familiar with that part of town so i'll go check it out when I view the flat

I'm thinking about the Paisley Road West area as well, from Kinning Park through to Govan. I know there's some nice flats there and I've got a pal who stays in Cessnock and he says it's an OK place to live

Re barbecue places - Buddys on Pollokshaws Road does awesome burgers/ribs/wings to take away

xpost
as an attempt to emulate a proper american burger bar in the east end of glasgow, it is p good and dangerously close to my flat in dennistoun, too.

krakow, i liked yr tectonics pics on the beeb website, esp yr man and his lightbulb

Tracer, you were 100 yards from my flat! The megaTesco is better and worse, I suppose. I preferred the coperative (co-per-eh?-tive).

My pals Sonny Carntyne are playing the Duke St Expo! I won't make it through though.

Govanhill looks scary to me but I think it's just a recent spate of crime that puts me off. I wouldn't entertain Dixon Avenue just now though.

Paisley Road West has some lovely flats on it and it's much better connected than you'd expect.

i'd move to another city before i moved south of the river tbh. i'm generally like wtf is this pish? whenever i happen to be there. i kinda hate it.

i know that's awful but i enjoy it. i'm voting yes btw.

bullet to The Tramway and then out.

Pollokshaws is nice, a few of my friends live there and there's quite a lot going on.

oh drunk in charge of a keyboard. apologies.

Do we have a Commonwealth thread?

bizarrely no. i shall start one.

Are there any decent pubs in the city centre to watch football at?

Rhoderick Dhu has plenty of screens and the service is usually quick, even on busy nights. There's also Bar Drop a couple of doors along which is a sports bar with screens everywhere. The Admiral's good too - some booth seating with screens in each booth, a couple of big screens and 2-for-1 pizzas.

All these pubs are in the five minute walk between my work and Central Station - you can tell I'm something of an explorer.

Those are the three I would have suggested, but mostly because my football-watching in Glasgow is usually only when meeting onimo out of his work after i get off a train at Central. Admiral can get quite busy, though you can ring them or tweet them and get a booth reserved easily enough. Their pizzas are pretty decent.

sad to hear that the volcanic tongue shop has now closed (mail order to continue).

If anyone is at The Last Big Weekend on Saturday or Sunday, watch out for me taking photos.

jesus, horrible news about the lorry crash in george square. really hoping it's not as bad as it appears to be.

Aye, absolutely horrific.

Fielding many phone calls as I'd left my other half to go shopping and he had no idea where I was going, thankfully chose to avoid the city centre.

Hope everyone here and their loved ones are safe.

christ, awful

this is so sad. hope all glasgow ilxors and yr family/friends are ok.

six confirmed dead, more injured. just tragic

FAP action being planned over here: --- glasgow ----

NOT MONO.

I would like to suggest the Vic bar at the art school - the Music is not too loud and you can eat and drink pretty cheaply. The food is especially cheap and good. It also has a Good selection of beers and also decent talent.

That's a good idea! I so rarely go out in Glasgow these days, I can never remember places.

Since they reopened the vic last year you don't have to be a student or be with one to get in and it's actually a nice varied clientele especially in non term time. It's v nice.

I'm the last person in the world to get sentimental about Glasgow, but a friend just posted this on Facebook:

Entrance buzzer goes in flat.
Me: 'hello?"
Response: first part is sung - 'is it me you're looking for?.....how you doing? it's the bin man '