SurGE magazine:

If you're out and about in Edinburgh or Glasgow in the near future (or have been over the last week or so) you may well stumble across a copy of the magazine pictured above.  I'm really proud to say that SurGE magazine was created and produced purely by my uni class in just over two (short and stressful) months.

SurGE is loosely themed around the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer.  As the least sporty person I know, I wasn't expecting to get on board with this theme as much as I did.  In the end, it worked out perfectly.  We managed to create an interesting and well rounded publication that covers the human and cultural sides of the Games, as well as the sporting element.  I really think that there's something for everyone in SurGE!  But maybe I'm biased.

Source: here

It started as a class assessment, but became a way of life.  We did everything you might expect journalism students to do along the way (i.e. writing and editing copy) as well as quite a bit that you wouldn't expect.  Fundraising, diving and wrestling (for research purposes, of course), sourcing advertisers and distributors, wrangling with alien programs like Photoshop and InDesign to construct the individual pages of the magazine...  You name it, we did it.  SurGE even has its own website with extra content, from interviews to videos.

Source: here

My main role on the team was Culture Section Editor, but I also did various other bits and bobs to help out.  The most challenging of these was arranging a sportswear fashion photo shoot for the magazine.  I don't claim to be anywhere near an expert on sport or fashion, but I can organise the hell out of anything, and that's exactly what I did.  Somehow - with a lot of help from friends and classmates - I manage to rustle up a photographer, two models, two make up artists, top of the range sportswear, props and both an indoor and outdoor location for the shoot.  The day went really well in the end, and we even avoided the rain for the most part!  My partner in crime Nicola and I filmed a behind the scenes video of the shoot which you can watch below.




Seeing the magazine in print makes all the hard work worth it, and I'm so proud of all of us!  Last Thursday the majority of the class went out in teams to distribute SurGE across Edinburgh and Glasgow before celebrating our official launch with a party at The Voodoo Rooms.  The French Quarter Bar there has an amazing light up dance floor, which we all pulled our fair share of shapes on during the course of the evening.

It feels good to say I helped to make a magazine, but it also feels good to say that we've finished it!  Now please excuse us all while we take a two week holiday to recover...

Burger Meats Bun, Glasgow:

 It's no secret that there is a special place in my heart for a good burger.  Last September I posted my list of Edinburgh's best burgers, and intended to write a corresponding one for Glasgow.  Sadly, this venture has been put on hold since I became a poor (and extremely busy) student again!  Still, when I was through for Glasgow's Film Festival last month, I did manage to pay my first visit to a restaurant I'd heard a lot about called Burger Meats Bun.

Source: here

Burger Meats Bun is hidden in a basement on West Regent Street, and when Nicola and I first popped in on a busy Friday night it was standing room only.  While waiting for a table, we enjoyed a drink at the bar.  As you probably know, I'm a fan of a cocktail or two, so I opted for a Dark & Stormy, with dark rum, lime juice and ginger beer.  It was delicious!  But I should have mixed it up before I drank it...  Rookie mistake.

After waiting our turn, we were seated at a tiny bar style table and asked for our order.  One of my favourite things about Burger Meats Bun is the simplicity of their menu.  You might think that a choice of three beef burgers, two chicken burgers, a veggie burger and a few sides isn't much, but when the burgers are this good, there's no need to dress them up with too many fancy toppings.  And, believe me, these burgers really are unbelievably tasty - I can't stress that enough!

The minimal menu also cuts down the excruciating decision making process, and pretty much eliminates the chances of food envy when your friend's burger looks infinitely more delicious than your own on arrival.  In my expert opinion, you can't beat a good, old fashioned cheese burger, and that's exactly what I ordered.

Burger Meats Bun don't believe in plates.  Of course, no plates mean no washing up, and that's a philosophy I can get on board with.  Instead, our burgers arrived wrapped in paper (kind of like McDonald's, but better) accompanied by a bucket of homemade fries.  The homemade part is important, because so many restaurants let their amazing burgers down with bog standard frozen chips.  We treated ourselves to a couple of yummy Pineapple Express cocktails with our food, which were on the specials board.

Okay, I have a confession to make now.  My first Burger Meats Bun experience was so good that I went back with other friends two days later.  And I ordered exactly the same thing.  Excessive?  No, because this was (on both occasions) the BEST burger I have eaten in a long time.  And if that doesn't persuade you, then I don't know what will!