Daily Chat & What's On - The OG Steamie - 23/07/26
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**Daily Chat & What's On - The OG Steamie - 23/07/26**
**THURSDAY TRAVEL UPDATE — COMMONWEALTH GAMES DAY 1 — MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE — X-CRAFT**
The Steamie Daily Chat is the place for your random thoughts, tourist questions, what you're up to today, photos and videos of the city, or anything else that's on your mind. Please be civil!
## Transport & Travel
### Road Network
* **Commonwealth Games Road Closures** — Four weeks of road closures and restrictions are beginning across the city in preparation for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Check Traffic Scotland and Glasgow City Council before traveling. [1]
* **M8 Jct 21 (Scotland Street)** — Essential bridge expansion joint replacements are ongoing with overnight closures (8pm-6am). Expect total closures of the M8 J21 off-slip and the M77 Northbound to M8 Eastbound connecting ramp tonight. [2]
* **M8 Jct 16 – Jct 18** — Eastbound and Westbound restricted due to essential bridge repairs.
* **M74 Southbound (J9 to J11)** — Ongoing closures in place. [3]
### Rail
* **ScotRail engineering works** — Line closures and disruption continue across parts of the central belt due to ongoing Network Rail engineering works. Check JourneyCheck before travelling.
### Subway
* **Glasgow Subway** — Outer and Inner Circle services run every 6–8 minutes. First train from Govan/St Enoch on Monday–Saturday is 06:30, last train around 23:16–23:30.
### Cycling
* Public-cycle routes across the city are generally running, but check SPT and local council pages for any temporary closures or lane changes due to roadworks, events, or Commonwealth Games preparations.
## News & City Updates
**Glasgow & West**
* Three-storey extension on old farmworker’s cottage rejected by Scottish Government.
* 'Disgraceful state': Row over litter management at Luss continues.
* Delivery driver caught fleeing the country after raping woman at his flat.
* Investigation launched into death of inmate at Scots prison.
* Mum who survived maternal sepsis urges pregnant women to be wary of signs.
* US Navy nuclear submarine arrives at Faslane.
* Man charged with 'murder bid' after homes evacuated due to gas leak.
* Suspect charged after man injured during 'disturbance' at home.
* Armed police respond to incident at Glasgow's St Enoch Centre.
* Madeleine McCann's brother to compete for Scotland at Commonwealth Games.
**Scotland**
* Venomous snakes, crocodiles and alligators kept as pets in Scotland.
* John Swinney hails ‘Scotland the Brave’ at Commonwealth Games welcome event.
* HMRC make unannounced visits to high street shops amid crackdown.
* Grocery price inflation slows to lowest rate since December 2024.
* Unemployment rose slightly in Scotland in last quarter.
* 'Very high' wildfire risk extended after Arthur's Seat and Cairngorms fires.
* Teacher 'told pupil she looked older and kissed her in his house'.
**UK & International**
* Prince George turns 13 in new birthday portrait as he prepares to start Eton.
* Trump ordered by judge to reveal financial records in BBC defamation case.
* OpenAI says its AI system acted on its own in ‘unprecedented’ hack of other firm.
* Spain temperatures to surpass 44C as wildfires burn across Europe.
* Excavation uncovers remains of nearly 100 babies in Ireland.
* More than £100,000 raised for family of boy injured in crocodile enclosure.
* Humanitarian worker monitored in London hospital after potential Ebola exposure.
* Man who was nearly sucked out of Ryanair plane says he is 'mentally destroyed'.
* What is India’s Cockroach movement? The youth-led protest challenging Modi.
* Beluga whales rescued after being trapped in closed down Canadian theme park.
All stories at [STV News](https://news.stv.tv).
## What’s on today
**Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games**
The wait is over! The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games officially kicks off today and will continue until August 2nd. Thousands of athletes from 74 nations will be competing across the city!
**My Chemical Romance — Glasgow Summer Sessions**
MCR headline the Glasgow Summer Sessions tonight! Expect big crowds around Bellahouston Park this evening. [4]
**Barbie®: The Exhibition**
Come and celebrate how Barbie has inspired generations across the world for almost seventy years when Barbie®: The Exhibition comes to Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum!
**Still Glasgow**
At the Gallery of Modern Art, this extensive new exhibition has photography at its core and looks at Glasgow, past and present.
**X-CRAFT Dive Deep**
An ALL NEW 360 Immersive Show that utilises MASSIVE 360-degree screens to tell the story of the submarine pioneers that paved the way for the submarines of today! Located in Helensburgh.
## Tune of the Day
[My Chemical Romance — Welcome To The Black Parade](https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=My+Chemical+Romance+Welcome+To+The+Black+Parade)
## On This Day
* **23 July 2014: Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony** — Exactly 12 years ago today, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games officially began with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at Celtic Park, featuring dancing Tunnock's Teacakes, John Barrowman, and Rod Stewart, setting the stage for one of the city's greatest fortnights.
## Gigs, Theatre & More (today)
Always double-check times and tickets directly with venues.
* **Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games — Various Locations** —
* **My Chemical Romance — Bellahouston Park** — South Side. [4]
* **Barbie®: The Exhibition — Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum** — West End.
* **Rae-Yen Song Solo Exhibition — Tramway** — South Side.
* **Still Glasgow — Gallery of Modern Art** — City Centre.
* **X-CRAFT ‘Dive Deep’ — The Submarine Centre** — Helensburgh.
* **Live Music at The Botanist — The Botanist** — City Centre.
* **Oran Mor Summer Panto — Big Bad Riding Hood** — ongoing at Oran Mor.
* **Designosaurs — Summer at Glasgow Science Centre** — ongoing.
* **Bard in the Botanics — Glasgow Botanic Gardens** — West End.
* **Summer Reading Challenge: Read to the Beat — Various Locations Glasgow**.
## r/glasgowmarket – Latest Posts
Some recent posts from [r/glasgowmarket](https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgowmarket/new/); as always, please take care with payment and meet-ups.
* **The subreddit exists as a dedicated Glasgow buying and selling space.**
* **New posts are easiest to catch on the live feed.**
* Check listings directly before arranging collection or payment.
## Coming Up This Week
* **Merchant City Festival — 23 July to 1 August**
* **Surge Festival — Merchant City, 24–26 July**
Citations:
[1] Full list of road closures ahead of Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/full-list-road-closures-ahead-37410630
[2] M8 lane and road closures as Glasgow roadworks to last one month https://www.glasgowworld.com/news/traffic-and-travel/m8-roadworks-lane-and-road-closures-planned-as-glasgow-roadworks-to-last-one-month-3756952
[3] Live traffic updates in Scotland https://www.traffic.gov.scot/travel-news/live-traffic-information
[4] My Chemical Romance, Glasgow Summer Sessions, ... https://gigxchange.app/gigs/directory/glasgow
[5] Current incidents, accidents & road closures https://www.traffic.gov.scot/traffic-information/incidents
[6] Upcoming major events & planned roadworks https://www.traffic.gov.scot/travel-news/projects-and-events
[7] Planned roadworks & road closures in Scotland https://www.traffic.gov.scot/traffic-information/planned-roadworks
[8] Events in Glasgow Today https://www.whatsonglasgow.co.uk/events/
[9] Roadworks & road closures in Scotland https://www.traffic.gov.scot/traffic-information/roadworks
[10] Glasgow Events 2026 - What's on in Glasgow https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Glasgow/
Posted Jul 23, 2026, 5:02 AM UTC