Life & style, Issue 589

Secondhand record shops in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Shopping and I have always had a love-hate relationship. But we put aside our differences for record shopping: that ritualistic, solitary activity that’s at once sombre yet exhilarating. Secondhand records possess the same mystique as old books; they…

Ian Rankin's favourite culture snacks

My 15-year-old son and I have a weekly pilgrimage where we go into HMV, Virgin, Game, Game Station and Waterstone’s. He gets his games and magazines and I get my CDs, DVDs, books, magazines, newspapers. That’s all I spend my money on. That and…

BBC Good Food Show in Scotland

This has been the year of the food fair. Events organisers up and down Scotland have sniffed the air and have, in their droves, turned to food and drink as a way of celebrating local identity and drawing crowds young and old. Numerous towns around the…

Crime & punishment - breaking the virtual rules

These days, when we talk about crime in the cyber world we’re not referring to the joyriding depicted in Need for Speed or the multiple murders of Manhunt. These are crimes against computer controlled characters within games. This may sound…

The Restaurant Bar & Grill - review

The name betrays either supreme confidence or a dearth of imagination. But, while The Restaurant Bar and Grill may not sound as exciting as its predecessors – Zinc and étain have been merged into one – there is a sense of self-assurance running…