EXTRA TIME
listings
This section gives details of special selected events taking place within Edinburgh and Glasgow and around the Central Belt this fortnight.
Listin s are com iled by date, lace and en event. istings compi ed by Brian Donaldson.
FRIDAY 26 Edinburgh Original Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour The Beehive Inn. Grassmarket. info: 226 6665. 7.30pm. £6 (£5). A great excuse to educate yourself through alcohol as the tour follows in the footsteps of Rabbie. Sir Walter. Robert Louis and Irvine across the ale houses of the city. The tour is now running Thursdays to Sundays.
Stirling
Battle of Stirling Bridge 700th Anniversary Various venues. info: 01786 401297. Until 9 ()ct. The celebrations continue apace with extra resonance after the big vote the other week.
Renfrew
Renfrew 600 Various venues. info: 0141 886 1997. Until 31 Dec. This fortnight‘s happenings to help the town celebrate its big year include Tenement Living (Fri 3) in which models of Renfrew tenements through the ages have been recreated. the ENABLE Scotland AGM and forum (Fri 3/Sat 4) and a gig from the Paisley Philharmonic Choir (Sun 5).
Helensburgh
The Secret Peace Artists Ball Faslzine
Peace Camp. info: 01436 820901. Until Sun 28. To mark the second month of defying an eviction order. the peace camp has organised a three-day festival of music. DJs. poetry. comedy. stalls and workshops. Friday is a chill-out night with DJs and dubsounds to ease the visitors in gently while Saturday has poetry and acoustic sounds in the afternoon with comedy and amped music at night. The final day sees volunteers heading off to Knowtop Community farm while workshops and stalls will still be up and running for those staying behind. The festival is free but donations are welcome. A tent and warm clothing are advisable.
SATURDAY 27 Edinburgh
Doors Open Day Various venues. info: 0141 221 1466. A variety of usually impenetrable doors have been thrust open during September‘s weekends for the public’s pleasure. Today is Edinburgh's turn. See photo caption.
SUNDAY 28 Glasgow All Formats Computer Fair The Time Capsule. Coatbridge. 01890 883807. 10am-3pm. £4 (£2). free to disabled wheelchair users. Whether computers are just a hobby or the means to a career or education enhancement. this is the fair for you. There are potential savings to be made on new and secondhand gear with CD ROM titles aplenty. From 2pm. admission is slashed to £2.
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scooping the Trinity Award?
ABERDEEN ALTERNATIVE FESTIVAL Various venues, Aberdeen, info: 01224 635822. Thu 9-Sat 18. Aberdeen’s biggest cultural hotspot gets redder by the year and 1997 is arguably the finest line-up to date. Feel our lips smack together as you read this list - David Baddiel, Geneva above), the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Armando lannucci. Boothby Graffoe. Isla St Clair, Duncan McLean and the BT Scottish Ensemble. The whole thing kicks off with the appearance and, hopefully, rising of a rather large hot air balloon in St Nicholas Street. And the question to shoot from many a mouth is who will follow last year’s cast of Marabou Stork Nightmares in
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DOORS OPEN DAY Various venues, dinb
listings EXTRA TIME
t 193,41yf’y Mi 4' I
0141 221 1
urgh, info: 466. Sat 27.
Over 40 countries take part in the European Heritage Days and for seven years Scotland has been allowing its citizens free access to some architectural and historical landmarks through the Doors Open Day. Edinburgh has chosen to have a reli ious emphasis this year with the capital swinging its doors wide to a ow you into buildings such as Leith
Customs House in Commercial Street, The Signet Libra
in Parliament
Square, St Giles Cathedral (above) on the High Street, t e Catholic Chaplaincy in George Square and the David Hume memorial on Regent
Road.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival of the Environment Lecture Quaker Meeting House. Victoria Street. 225 4825. 7.30pm. Leading US environmental activist Brian Tokar gives this lecture on all manner of issues affecting the state ofthe globe. Tokar has written books such as Earl/i For Sale and Green Alternative. so he should have a fair idea what he's talking about.
WEDNESDAY 1
Glasgow
RSPB Lecture Boyd Orr Lecture Theatre. University of Glasgow. info: 945 5224. 7.30pm. £5 (£3). Author. broadcaster and conservationist Tom Weir presents an illustrated talk entitled Scotland: All Heights and .S'euxmis, Its Wildlife. St'eiierv (Ull/ People.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Greenpeace Campaigning Group Bannerman's Bar. Cowgate. info: 557 5204. 8pm. free. With current campaigns on the go such as preventing deep sea oil exploration off the West Coast of Scotland and nuclear discharges from Sellafield. the group will be happy to greet new members.
SATURDAY 4
Peebles
Spirit of the Reivers Neidpath Castle. info: 01721 720138. Until Sun
5. l 2.30—6.30pm. Thundering hooves and the clash of steel will disturb the tranquility of the Tweed as the spirit of the Border Reivers rises again. The Reivers were robbers. cattle rustlers. plunderers and racketeers as well as poets and scholars. Music. drama. traditional crafts. a lecture and gallons of beer will be utilised to bring a slice of Scottish history to life. No dogs allowed.
SUNDAY 5
Glasgow All Formats Computer Fair Mitchell Theatre. Charing Cross. See Sun 28.
lrvme
Scottish Boat Jumble Pilot House. Harbourside. info: 0421 888789. 10am. £2.50 (accompanied children free). Need a new canoe paddle '? Simply must have some anti-fouling paint? If so. this is the event for you. Exhibitors from across the UK will be coming to Irvine for what is the biggest event of its kind in Scotland. Should you be making the voyage by boat. ovemight mooring is available and free.
Peebles
Spirit of the Reivers See Sat 4.
MONDAY 6
Edinburgh
Tibet: The Time For Action Apex International Hotel. Grassmarket. info: 0171 383 7533. 7.30pm. £5. Professor Samdhong Rinpoche is the most prominent exiled Tibetan leader after the Dalai Lama and this talk is a launchpad for a new campaign to save Tibet from Chinese occupation. The 58-year-old has spent much of his life challenging both the Chinese and the UN Declaration of Human Rights which has failed to protect his people. Next year he is aiming to return to his country armed only with non-violent civil disobedience.
THURSDAY 9
Aberdeen
Aberdeen Alternative Festival Van'ous venues. info: 01224 635822. Until 18 Oct. This year's festival is a superb collection of artistic endeavour across the spectrum with acts no doubt having half an eye on the Trinity Award for the best festival act. voted for by the people. See photo caption.
26 Sep—9 Oct 1997 THE LIST 91