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Civic Christmas Decorations

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:12 pm
by My Kitten
Glasgow's are certainly looking a bit shabby.

What would you like to see in Glasgow's fine city centre?
Are there decorations you are ashamed of? proud of?

I'd like to see more decorations around the city, there seems to be a lack of willingness by businesses to titivate the outsides of their businesses. Out city is cold and depressing looking enough in this weather, surely we deserve some twinkles?

Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street, Argyle Street and along the clydeside are my particular bug bears at lack of twinkliness.

Out of town decorations too - Dumbarton's - they give me a chuckle.

Re: Civic Christmas Decorations

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:32 pm
by Fat Cat
My Kitten wrote:Glasgow's are certainly looking a bit shabby.

What would you like to see in Glasgow's fine city centre?
Are there decorations you are ashamed of? proud of?

I'd like to see more decorations around the city, there seems to be a lack of willingness by businesses to titivate the outsides of their businesses. Out city is cold and depressing looking enough in this weather, surely we deserve some twinkles?

Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street, Argyle Street and along the clydeside are my particular bug bears at lack of twinkliness.

Out of town decorations too - Dumbarton's - they give me a chuckle.


Glasgow's decs are crappy. Same shabby old stuff that was put out when I was young (which wasn't yesterday).

The shops don't even bother any more. Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Street used to be good but not any more. And now they want to open on Christmas day.... FFS

They should put a bit more effort into it. The council have got the cheek to make putting on the lights an all ticket affair. To control the massive crowds :!: How long before they charge?

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 3:59 pm
by JayKay
I'm sure there are some in the council who would have a powercard meter installed in George Square so that the public can pay for the lights.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:47 pm
by glasgowken
I've just seen the Eiffel Tower on the news, all lit up with sparkly lights. Is that just for Christmas ?
If so, that's the way to do it.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:58 pm
by JayKay
Can't remember if it ws just a Christmas thing, but the Eiffel Tower used to go sparkly lights on the hour at night.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 5:22 pm
by Smartalex
I believe that more stores should take the same route as the old Lewis's window displays on Argyle Street at Christmas most shops now are too interested in showing their products and wares than being more involved in the christmas spirit.

It's all about the Money these days. :(

Bridgeton Cross even has a few light-up Decorations and a Tree, If they can survive there the can survive anywhere.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:38 pm
by mr moto
as a kid i always looked forward to going to goldbergs to see their christmas display in the window and meet santa :D
as for the eiffel tower? yes it is lit up all year round after dark, but they always have something special each year for christmas .

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:19 pm
by Vladimir
I dont care what the decorations look like, as long as they put them up in DECEMBER and not one month, or even two months earlier than that!

Bah, humbug!!!

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:23 pm
by Vladimir
The colours are crap in Glasgow, it looks like an even cheaper, even tackier version of the Blackpool illuminations...

They should do it like they do in Aix. Simple, but tasteful:

Image

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:45 pm
by Alex Glass
The fact that people were willing to que for the tickets knowing that the lights are the same has not detracted from the event. The switching on of the lights at George Square has become more popular in the last 5 years. For the health and safety of the public it was decided that this year the event would be all ticket.

I am sure there are a lot more people who appreciate the lights, however old are those on display in George Square.

Its is a shame that some people are unwilling to accept the effort that is made to light up this part of the city and those around GoMA. But to each there own.

I do agree that more effort could be made to light up some of the main shopping streets. Unfortunately no progress is ever made with this suggestion. I am aware that this is regularly raised with the shop owners.

I should also point out that although it does appear to be the same lights every year there was additional funding made available last year to improve some of the lights within George Square.

I like the lights within the City. However much this may appear to be a minority view and its not just because I have to.

PostPosted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:49 pm
by e2wufos1
Smartalex wrote:I believe that more stores should take the same route as the old Lewis's window displays on Argyle Street at Christmas most shops now are too interested in showing their products and wares than being more involved in the christmas spirit.


Does anyone have any old photos of the Lewis's display in the old days?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:02 am
by glasgowken
There's a very brief shot of Lewis's at Christmas in this Glasgow transport video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWc5sjaB3V0

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:19 am
by MacotheIsles
Speaking as a resident of North Lanarkshire whose own hometown lights are a few bulbs short of the nocturnal eruption of extravagant splendour one might expect, I am very pleased to see the fantastic shows provided by individual households in the past few years. Long may their reindeers sparkle.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:18 am
by Margaret
Alex Glass wrote:The fact that people were willing to que for the tickets knowing that the lights are the same has not detracted from the event. The switching on of the lights at George Square has become more popular in the last 5 years. For the health and safety of the public it was decided that this year the event would be all ticket.


I am sure that a lot of the people who queue for tickets are parents and grandparents of young children - the same people who put a lot of effort into bringing "magic" into certain events their children's lives.

More and more householders are decorating their houses and gardens - I know that last year my granddaughter (and me) found more "magic" in these displays than from the civic display. I must admit we got most pleasure from Carlton Place and the Suspension Bridge - a lot of this to do with storytelling as we crossed the bridge.

You need to look for the "magic" of the lights - some people will see shabby decorations that have been trotted out year after year other people look with their eyes half shut and a lot of imagination

PostPosted: Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:55 am
by retired tiger
glasgowken wrote:There's a very brief shot of Lewis's at Christmas in this Glasgow transport video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWc5sjaB3V0


Just had a nostalgia trip watch glasgowbus's tram vids, excellent :D