...going into town...

...when I say going into, I really mean gone already.

It was just a quick in and out but I did go via the Lighthouse and Borders in the Merchant's Square, you know, next to GOMA.

The Lighthouse went under recently. It was a real shame that the premier legacy from the 1990 City of Culture was in such peril.
As I took the chance and walked up the alley to the entrance, I was wondering how the foyer would look without any lighting and only brightness coming from the skylight, 4 storeys up.
It wasn't to be, the Lighthouse was open. Yes, only half lit by bulbs but there was a couple of people sitting at reception in the dull gloom. As I asked about the situation, I noticed just how cold it was in there. Dark and cold, this is a tourist's must see. Also it is now without a classy restaurant, coffee shop and the money making merchandise and habitat like store. In fact, as the receptionist relayed the exhibition info, I noticed how there was only a handful of books on display. They're free BTW, yep, free. Also, I am under the impression  the Lighthouse is now free to get into too. Thanks to the City Council's help out until March 2010, the place is on half on mode; a shadow of it's former light, brightness.

So go. Go there, bring the numbers up, show that people of Glasgow appreciate the finer things. Make the council see that it is worth bringing back to full beam because as it stands, come March, it's for sale. There's also the ability to change the building use and design. Come March, it really could be the end, end. Once they change it, there's no undo button, there's no more design museum in Glasgow. The only 1990 City of Culture reminder of how Glasgow started to get away from it's stab you now, stab you later image will go.


Borders is also closing down, where will everyone go it read heat magazine for free?

Yet Hamley's has opened a new flagship store down the road at the St Enoch's Centre (of all places?)

Maybe it more a sign of books don't sell but crystal-encrusted-model-cars do?