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Scotland’s First Minister Invades the US
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Last week, I had the privilege of making a brief visit to DC. The occasion, a visit to the US by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Her first visit since being chosen as Scotland’s highest elected official last year. Her visit included stops in New York and Washington DC, including one meeting that the FM had…
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Taking Down Mike Myers On Behalf Of Scottish Food
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Mike Myers has a lot to answer for. As a Scot adopted by America, I am reminded of this every time the conversation turns to food. “Scottish food? Isn’t that haggis? Gross!” is a typical exclamation from those Yanks who engage in said conversations with me. I’ve come to discover that their perception of…
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St. Louis Chef is the Face of Scottish Food in the US
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St. Louis chef, and Scottish immigrant, Alastair Nisbet is the face of Scottish food across the US and Canada in a new initiative by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government in the US is promoting 2015 as Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, and beginning in March a series of videos will be released…
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Big Folks, Heavy Stuff, and Fierce Competition
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Since 2001, the St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival (SLSG) has been informing, entertaining and enlightening more and more people in the Midwest about the history, culture and contributions of Scotland. That success has now led to in the announcement that SLSG will host the Masters World Championship (MWC) of Scottish heavy athletics…
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A Weekend of Scottish-ness in St. Louis
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There are three big Scottish celebrations in St. Louis, the weekend of January 25, plus a visit from the British Government. Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet and the author of Auld Lang Syne, is celebrated each year by Scots around the world on Burns Night. It’s a night of kilts, haggis, scotch, toasts, speeches,…
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Putting Edinburgh tech scene on the World map
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We all take where we live for granted. I recall living 32 miles from London, and really not thinking that much about it. Or visiting Edinburgh, as I did every year for our annual “escape the clutches of the English” holiday, and walking past historic monuments and buildings without even a second glance. Now…
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US Ambassador to Ireland Brags About St. Louis
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While not quite as far as Scotland, Ireland is still across the Pond from the US. And when the new US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley, spoke this week at the Dublin Tech Summit and talked about the tech scene and vibrant startup ecosystem in St. Louis, I paid attention. As reported by the…
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The Immortal Memory – A Tribute to Scotland & Robert Burns
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Every January 25, or a date nearby, Scots the world over gather together and raise their glasses to Robert Burns, or as he is known in Scotland, Rabbie Burns. It is a night of bagpipes, haggis, fine meals, fine Scotch, and speeches. And the highlight, hopefully, of the evening, is the Immortal Memory. The…
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Increasing Number of Americans Visiting Scotland
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Figures released by Scotland’s Office for National Statistics show a 32% increase in US visitors to Scotland. You can read more over at STV News. And in other news, Scotland has been voted one of the friendliest countries in the world, and the friendliest country in Europe. Read more at Visit Scotland.
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Campaign for independence raised profile of Scotland in America
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My latest article in the UK Telegraph allowed me to talk Scottish Independence, the Scottish Government in the US, Scottish Development International, St. Louis and the St. Louis Cardinals. You can read it here.