Posts by Kenny Smith
Meet the Scots artist living with a brain tumour
Diagnosed with a brain tumour at 32, Scottish artist Gordon Shaw creates comic books to communicate his experience of cancer. His uplifting story is told in this new feature length documentary, which is being given its TV debut on the BBC Scotland channel after its premiere at the BFI Flare festival. Through his comic art,…
Read MoreWhimsical afternoon tea just in time for Mother’s Day
Tigerlily is perpetually ready for spring with its abundant floral and leafy décor. And from now until mid-June, afternoon tea and cocktail enthusiasts wanting to indulge in a botanical setting can do so at their ROKU Gin Japanese Garden. Afternoon tea at Tigerlily has been on my Edinburgh bucket list since I first visited Edinburgh…
Read MoreRoyal Highland Show’s light show comes to Alloa
The Royal Highland Show’s 200th anniversary light fantastic has this week taken it to Alloa. It is showing a series of immersive storytelling installations across Scotland which will animate and project its rich history onto historic landmarks and buildings. Taking place over four weeks in March, The Royal Highland Show Illuminated, produced in association with…
Read MoreGlasgow Craft Beer festival reveals a stellar list
Scotland’s biggest celebration of craft beer have today announced the stellar line-up for this year’s event. Set to make its city debut from 8-9 July, the Glasgow Craft Beer festival will reach new heights in its new home at SWG3, relocating from Edinburgh. The chance to explore hundreds of world class craft beer options, tickets…
Read MoreWhisky production returns to the city of Stirling
Stirling Distillery has announced the launch of their limited edition VI Casks for King James single malt whisky. The six bottle set will comprise one bottle from six different flavoured casks – bourbon, sherry, port, rum, wine and madeira – and marks the distillery’s move into new-make whisky production. Stirling Distillery is well known for…
Read MoreA wonderful look at teaching on a Scottish island
Life as a teacher is trying enough without having to contend with scare resources, limited electricity, and the worry of pupils walking a dangerous path to reach their classes each day. Kate Riley, a former headteacher on Canna, delves deep into the history of the island’s 1878 schoolhouse, bringing to life those who preceded her.…
Read MoreJames McAvoy’s triumphant Scots stage return
Any expectations I may have had about what to expect from James McAvoy’s return to the Glasgow stage in Cyrano de Bergerac were thrown out the window in seconds. I had known it would be a contemporary version of the Edmond Rostand classic, about the poet with a large nose, who is obsessed with a…
Read MoreHippfest film event returns to great acclaim
The Hippodrome Silent Film Festival is celebrating the success of its 12th edition with the return of live and in-person events. These were held at the Hippodrome, Scotland’s oldest purpose built cinema, in Bo’ness. Organised by Falkirk Community Trust, HippFest 2022, as it is affectionately known, ran for five days from Wednesday 16 to Sunday…
Read MoreBladnoch ready to release new classic Alinta
The Bladnoch Distillery have announced the latest addition to their ‘Classic Collection’ of Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Alinta. Alinta will be the first peated whisky to be added to their range since the distillery – first opened 204 years ago – was taken over by David Prior in 2015. ‘Alinta’, an indigenous Australian word…
Read MoreAnother joyous trip to Scotland Street
Granny ‘Bana’ Morton always spoke of The Great McCall Smith. And here he is, 15 books into the world’s longest-running serial novel, 44 Scotland Street, proving that his writing is as timeless as it is beguiling for all age groups. This time, Bertie finds life moving at an extraordinary rate, and he’s under pressure to…
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