Life & style and Niki Boyle

Interview: Eva Verity, creator of Haircuts by Children

Project providing creative space for children and adults to interact in

25 Apr 2012

‘There was one guy who once got a nick on his ear,’ says Eva Verity, ‘but other than that, we’ve had no major injuries.’ I’m thankful there’s no trace of annoyance in Verity’s voice, in spite of my slightly anxious line of questioning. She’s talking…

The best breakfasts in Glasgow

The best all-rounders in the west, plus a few specific breakfast-item highlights

29 Mar 2012

Café Gandolfi 64 Albion Street, 552 6813, cafegondolfi.com Breakfast served: Mon-Sat 8am-noon; Sun 9am-noon. The long-standing, Scottish cuisine-focused eatery has beefed up its breakfasts in recent years, resulting in a menu with eight different egg…

The best breakfasts in Edinburgh

The finest cafes, bistros and restaurants in the capital for a morning meal

29 Mar 2012

Broughton Delicatessen 7 Barony Street, 558 7111, broughton-deli.co.uk Breakfast served: Mon–Sat 8am–3pm; Sun 11am–3pm. What does this place not do well? A great deli, healthy lunches and superb, made-from-scratch breakfasts from morning until 3pm…

Five alternative Easter activies

Bored of egg-hunting? Here’s how the rest of the world marks the occasion

26 Mar 2012

1 Hunky Jesus Contest The devout gather every year at San Francisco’s Dolores Park Easter Celebration to watch a pageant of men in loincloths carrying planks of wood. They are joined by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, ‘cross-dressing…

Valentine's Day - where to take your date

Some seductive suggestions for what to do on or around February 14th

3 Feb 2012

Experience a May-December relationship ... or at least, vicariously experience someone else’s. Among the several films the Glasgow Film Theatre are screening to get you into the Valentines spirit on 14 Feb (including Brief Encounter and French…

The Hot 100 2011: 100-50

The definitive list of Scottish creative talent

16 Dec 2011

100: Gordon Ferris. Kilmarnock crime author makes good. The already packed Scottish crime writing field has finally found a bit of elbow room for another burgeoning talent. Joining the likes of Rankin, Brookmyre, McDermid and co is this Ayrshire-born…

Rockstar releases the Grand Theft Auto V trailer

Watch the latest release from the Scottish game developer here

2 Nov 2011

Edinburgh-based games developer Rockstar have unveiled the first look at Grand Theft Auto V, the latest instalment in the world-famous series. The trailer, while still occupying the fictional universe that GTA has always been set in (with one small…

The best Scottish websites

The top 30 websites made for and by Scots

21 Jul 2011

When putting together this list, we weren’t necessarily looking for the biggest or the best-known cultural websites in Scotland. We were looking for unique and interesting ideas, cleverly realised and lovingly maintained on the web. This might mean that…

The best free and cheap things to do in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Visit a library, go for a walk, bake a cake or see some cheap theatre

21 Jan 2011

Beat the January blues with these guaranteed pick-me-ups, suggested by our writers and some friends of The List. They’re all free, or cost just a few quid, so you’ll come out of winter with your bank balance intact and a smile on your face

Traditional Hogmanay events around Scotland

Highlights include the Orkney Ba’ Game, Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony and the Biggar Bonfire

15 Dec 2010

1: The comedy banquet Maggie May’s (60 The Trongate, Glasgow, 548 1350) brings back its annual Hell’s Bells celebration, with a five-course meal, comedy from Canadian funnyman Tom Stade (pictured), live music from The Dawn Patrol and a club open ‘til…

How to spend Hogmanay in Edinburgh 2010/2011

The best events in Edinburgh for bringing in the New Year

15 Dec 2010

Kick off your new year revels by heading to the temporarily renamed Resolution Square (otherwise known as The Mound precinct) at 5pm and enjoying some traditional Scots and Irish folk tunes courtesy of the Island Sessions. Then, walk up to Parliament…

How to spend Hogmanay in Glasgow 2010/2011

The best events in Glasgow for bringing in the New Year

15 Dec 2010

Thu 30 Dec George Square has been the focal point for Glasgow’s Christmas festivities throughout the month, with live music performances from jazz, folk and choir groups, as well as the pretty darn magical Glasgow On Ice skating rink. The celebrations…

The best places to buy Christmas trees in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Real Christmas trees, fake trees, wreaths, firewood and flowers

23 Nov 2010

Caring Christmas Trees has outlets for their sustainably-farmed Nordmann Firs in various locations around the country, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Paisley, Livingston and Fife. The ‘caring’ part of the title comes from the charities…

Looking back on 25 years of commentary on Scottish culture

25 years of The List

23 Sep 2010

A lot has happened in 25 years of Scottish culture. Niki Boyle gives a blow-by-blow account of the major events

Getting Around: Edinburgh

Get from A to B in the country's capital

16 Sep 2010

Orientating yourself around any new city can be a daunting prospect but help is at hand, as Niki Boyle takes you area-by-area through Edinburgh’s finest haunts and cherry-pick the top spots you cannot afford to miss

Music Guide 2010

What's big and what's coming up

10 Sep 2010

Niki Boyle and Camilla Pia reveal Scotland’s amazing music scene and the gigs worth getting in line for Music

Edinburgh in August: Ten-step survival guide

Essential insider knowledge you'll need to survive the festivals

5 Aug 2010

Niki Boyle has compiled a list of festival insider tips to help you survive August as if you were from the city itself. Avoid queues at ATMs, dealing with flyerers, umbrellas, and places to relax.

T in the Park 2010: Alternative Entertainments

16 Jun 2010

Niki Boyle rounds up the best of the alternative entertainments on offer at this year’s T in the Park

Edinburgh Skate Park opens

14 May 2010

It’s mean, it’s green, and it’s obscenely fun – Edinburgh Skate Park is now open for business. Sam Patterson, a long-time skateboarder himself, has been present at all stages of the park’s development. Niki Boyle speaks to him about his skate park…

How to get fit through jogging, swimming, skateboarding, frisbee and tennis

14 May 2010

Hey you! Lazybones! It’s warm outside, which means there’s no excuse for your sofa addiction anymore. Niki Boyle has the best suggestions for getting sporty through spring and summer...

The best places to eat breakfast in Glasgow and Edinburgh

We select the best cafes for the most important meal of the day

22 Mar 2010

What did you have for breakfast this morning? A thin slice of processed white toast, smattered with vegetable oil-laced spreadable butter? A dry cereal bar, full of shrivelled fruit and bound together with sugary glue? Worst still, a Sausage and Egg…

More for less: Deals on meals

21 Jan 2010

With restaurants, a bargain can be anything from £25 for a meal that should cost twice that much, or £6.90 for a three-course lunch. Niki Boyle and Donald Reid present 30 of the best value-for-money deals on offer this month Smart tables You don’t…

More for less: Health, exercise and beauty

20 Jan 2010

Looking great doesn’t mean shedding vital pounds from your purse – Niki Boyle offers some sneaky hints on budget beauty Being a hairdresser’s ‘model’ can sometimes be a daunting prospect, but you can get a quality trainee cut at Rainbow Rooms in…

More for less: Attractions

20 Jan 2010

Attractions If you’ve exhausted the National Galleries or the National Museum of Scotland and you’re jonesing for new exhibits The Edinburgh Museums Collections Centre offers something a little bit different. A self-described ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of…

Alternative Hogmanay

17 Dec 2009

If you’re a healthy combination of sporty and ah, carefree, there are numerous NY options available. The infamous Loony Dook takes place in various locations around the country, notably South Queensferry and Dundee. For the uninitiated, it involves…