There is something special about March sunshine. It seems to come out of nowhere, violently grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me until I release all of the seasonal tension and depression that has fused my shoulders to my ears for the past four months. As my trapezius muscles relax under the sun’s cold rays, I remember that I have a bicycle and wouldn’t-it-be-nice to cycle into the office today.

Helmet strapped tightly to my head I peddle off along Glasgow’s South City Way, teeth chattering and knuckles freezing. When I get to the Victoria Bridge with a little time to spare, I pull over. The riverfront is mostly overgrown and neglected but all this Vitamin D is really getting to my head and I’m feeling optimistic.

It’s been a hot topic of discussion, how underused Glasgow’s riverfront is. There are always grand sweeping plans to get the city to turn around and face the flowing water that created it, but the complicated patchwork of ownership along its banks has stalled most progress. While we wait patiently for the grand, sweeping £25 million river park plans to get out of the consultation phase and into reality, it’s worth noting that smaller projects are in the works. And most of them could come to fruition in time for summer. Forget Glasvegas. Forget Costa del Glasgow. I’m manifesting the summer of the Glasgow Riviera.

First, there’s the Clydeside Containers project. It’s billed “a vibrant community of food vendors and live entertainment” that will take over the section of the Clydeside at Broomielaw. Constructed from repurposed........

© Herald Scotland