Elite Event: De Courcy’s Arcade Bash

This was an Elite Event as they’re meant to be. I discovered an area of the city I probably never would have ventured to in my day to day life, I met some cool people, and had a few complimentary drinks and nibbles. I will be back to De Courcy’s Arcade for the cupcakes *alone.* The atmosphere up there is whimsically homespun. You would never be able to predict the flights of fancy in the Arcade from the street.
I am a brand spanking newbie to Glasgow, so it was a pleasure to be introduced to Unilocal Glasgow at such a charming and convivial event. See y’all next time!

Very much a hidden away treasure in the West End. I did not know that this enchanting emporium of treats was here until I attended a Unilocal Elite Event. The event was held in the upper level so I’ve still got the lower to explore.
It has to be the most ickle shopping arcade I’ve ever been in. It only contains 6 shops but all with a different shopping experience and including a cake lounge. Yum! So from vintage clothing, arts and crafts, handmade jewellery to made to measure outfits and moutashes on sticks. It’s a definite must to visit but take your time as there is so much to take in. To be honest I say you’ll need a least a good few visits, well that my excuse.

There was one niggling concern I had for the whole evening at the recent Unilocal event in De Courcy’s arcade. Where do I put my drink?
It was so strange. Like when you go to school after hours for a play or a parents evening. Eating and drinking socially in places you learn feels strange. Eating and drinking socially in a shopping arcade is equally strange, where do I put my drink?
Strange in a good way though, before you start thinking I’ve just given it five stars because I got free food and drink.(Although the food and drink were good. Pizza was delicious, and the sachets of wine delighted me with their ingenuity.) It’s strange purely because you get to see a part of the world from a fresh angle.
Aside from all the lovely Unilocal people I got to say hello to it was a treat to be able to have a chat with the shop owners themselves in an informal setting, and to learn a little bit more about them and how they got started. Asking the owner of Mind the Gap where they got their suits of armour for example. ‘Oh, it’s a guy in India, he makes them for us. He also builds the Gramophones and the Sextons.‘
This wonderful insight into the eccentricity of the owners endeared them to me more than any amount of billboard advertising could, and whilst the shop was stocked with fun stuff I’d probably want to buy, now I want to actively support them.
It’s this more than anything I took away from the evening, the pleasure of seeing people in my local community making a go of something and succeeding.
Support local kids, only good things can come of it.

So, I wandered down to Cresswell Lane on Thursday night.
The lane was lit up with overhead fairy lights — like the Merchant City in miniature. I had not been down here in years. It used to be the haunt of old shops selling import videogames and football programs. But man, this is decidedly different. The fellow at the bottom of the stairs gave me a name badge and I headed up.
Imagine if you could travel back the 1950’s. You would probably hate it. This decade was not nice. It was rickets, coal smog, female servitude, worker uprisings and country trying to dig itself out of the war. The 1950’s were pretty unpleasant time for all.
Now imagine if you could go to the 1950’s and bring back the nice bits.
Step into De Courcy Arcade and you get to experience the 1950’s with rock-​a-​billy, cool clothes and cupcakes — completely rickets free.
Glasgow would have been a much better place, especially if these cupcakes had been around.
Not the Original 50’s — Kind of a re-​imagining.
The place was filled with folks whose names I only knew as a bunch of reviews and some nice comments on the pieces I have written. I bumped into Declan, Tony H and the lovely Emma K.
Chris had taken the event seriously and dressed accordingly. Jen L was providing moral support for the wee man. He had managed to score a band, pizzas, cupcakes and a lovely bottle of whisky from the fine Inverarity One to One folks. He also had brought enough Unilocal items to satisfy the serious Unilocaling Collector. I am wearing the sweatband right now — honestly.
The main activities took place in Mind The Gap which is a shop centred arround a collection of quirky and cool items from a variety of sources. Worth a repeat visit.
So, a very nice evening — well planned, executed and attended. Hats off to the folks that put this together (I assume that this is Chris).
PS While waiting for the bus — I saw a guy riding a unicycle down Wellington Street. Not sure if this is a regular event but I wondered how the hell do you stop that thing. And it was slower than walking. I think he was showing off and really not using it for regular commuting.