So it's interesting when a slightly different option for a night out appears in the festive period.

At the Glasgow science centre, they're letting the grown-ups loose with a series of evening events, Social Science.

The launch party saw demonstrations from the centre's helpers – usually used to dealing with schoolchildren, they did an admirable job of performing for the over-18s, particularly as the audience was also equipped with alcohol.

Amused adults strolled, giggling, through the exhibits, soon overcoming their fear of embarrassment and using the interactive pieces or taking pictures at the distorting wobbly mirrors.

Meanwhile for any southsiders looking to chase away the post-Christmas blues, Queens Park glasshouses are the place to be on Sunday night.

After a successful night in the Pollok ex-servicemens club in November, new night The Glad Café is hosting a club among the plants with music from Fox Gut Daata, Nitram and Huntley and Palmers djs.

Organiser Joe Smillie told The Extra: "November was fantastic and we got a really good crowd in – more people than we expected.

"The idea behind it is that eventually we'd like to set up a café venue in the southside so we thought these gigs would be a good way to seeing if people in the area would support something like that. So far we've had a positive response, and I think it will be a good turnout at the glasshouses.

"It's somewhere a bit different – and it's also BYOB which should help keep the costs down for people after Christmas".

Performing are djs from Huntley and Palmers, Martin Patton and southsider Rickie McNeill as Fox Gut Daata.

Joe said: "Rickie is from Govanhill so it's quite nice to have some local talent.

"He is also an artist, he's a really creative guy. His music – you kind of have to hear it. It's hard to describe, but it's great".

THE Glad Café is at Queen's Park glasshouses from 8pm on December 27. Tickets are £7 on the door. Visit thegladcafe.com and www.myspace.com/fxgdaata for more.