listings
SPECIAL EVENTS
Paragliding Over The Himalayas Thu 4 Mar. 7.30—10pm. £5. Lecture Theatre. Appleton Tower. Bristo Square. Edinburgh University. info: 667 9547. Bob Drury gives a slide show and talk about the experience of meeting the clouds above the Himalayas.
Edinburgh One World Festival Fri 5-Sun 14 Mar. Various venues. info: 220 6350. Among the highlights of this year's festival are International Work Brigades 7o (‘n/m (Strn 7 Mar) which marks the 40th anniversary of the Cuban revolution and looks at the people who have gone over there from Britain to help out; Fiesta Solitlaria.’ (Wed 10 Mar). a celebration of free trade with guest speakers such as George Foulkes MP and a tea farmer from Uganda; and Give Peat‘e A Dance (Fri l2 Mar). the Amnesty International Ceilidh. a traditional highlight of the festival. Scottish Alternative Health Exhibition Sat 6 Mar. 10am—6pm; Sun 7 Mar I lam-6pm. £4 (£2.50); weekend ticket £6 (£4). Assembly Rooms. George Street. 220 4349. ()ver I30 stands and 32 lectures make up the backbone of this event which will address all your physical and spiritual needs. such as massage. shiatsu. herbalism. colour therapy. colonic irrigation and aura photo vraphy.
Scottish National Junior Badminton Championships Sat 6 & Sun 7 Mar. £1 (50p). Meadowbank Sports Centre. London Road. 66I 5351. See the horne- grown talent of the future with the under fifteen and nineteen badminton tournaments.
Dance your Frocks Off Sat 6 Mar. 7.30pm—midnight. £6 (£4); children £1. Gorgie War Memorial Hall. Westfield Road. info: 337 5442. Celebrate International Women‘s Day with a womervonly event courtesy of the Adult Learning Project. Among the highlights of the night are ceilidh combo the Belle Star Band. Egyptian belly dancing. Scottish and Irish step dancing and The Tartan Gussets.
Geowalks Sun 7 Mar. 2—4ptn. £5 (£4). Holyrood Palace Car Park. info: 228 2410. Geowalks present a guided tour of Holyrood. looking at the Arthur's Seat volcano and the natural and human history of the park. Further tours will take place during the Edinburgh lrrternatiorral Science Festival in April. MAD Mondays Mon 8 & l5 Mar. 6.30pm. Monboddo. Bread Street. info: 332 ()829. The Manifesto Architecture Debates (MAD) continue with Heritage Heaven 01' Future Hell (Mon 8) and The Cilv .‘II'(’/Ill(’('l — Loss or Gain? (Mon I5). Morningside Justice And Peace Group Wed 10 & 17 Mar. 10.30am. 50p. ()pen Door. Morningside Road. info: 445 1628/229 1020. The group's spring programme continues with a debate on creative thinking (Wed 10 Mar) followed by a discussion on the Scottish Parliament (Wed 17 Mar).
Scottish Motorcycle Show Sat 13 & Sun I4 Mar. 9am—5pm. £10 (£5). Royal Highland Centre. lngliston. 333 3036. See photo caption.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Camera Obscura
Castlehill (Royal Mile). 226 3709. Daily 10am—5pm. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction. which gives visitors a real-time. 360 image of the city. There is also art exhibition devoted to ltolographs and photography on the lower floors.
Craigmillar Castle Niddrie Mains. 661 4445. Mon—Thu 8: Sat 9.30am—4.3()pm ( lprn Thu): Sun
EDINBUGH LIFE
2—4.30pm. £ I .80 (75p—£ l .30). For a real taste of history. take a drive out to this ramshackle old castle. which although not quite as intact as Edinburgh Castle. is far more atmospheric and the scene of much plotting during the reign of Mary. Queen of Scots.
Deep-Sea Word
North Queensferry. 01383 41 I880. Mon—Sun 10am—5pm (6pm Sun). £6.15 (£3.55—£4.25). Famous for its underwater tunnel. which brings visitors face to face with a huge collection of fish native to our coastlines. Deep-Sea World also houses an Amazonian rain forest display. a touch-pool and educational facilities. Expert staff are on hand to answer questions and. thanks to the latest communications technology. visitors can even talk to divers as they feed the animals in the aquarium.
Edinburgh Castle
225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm. £6 (£1.50—£4.50). Although much of the castle’s medieval character was lost when it was converted into barracks in the 19th century. continuing excavations aim to redress this. Other attractions include James lV‘s famous cannon. Mons Meg. lots of military silverware and. of course. The Stone Of Destiny. used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Edinburgh Zoo
Corstorphine Road. 334 9171. Mon—Sat 9am—4.30pm; Sun 9.30am—4.30pm. £6.50 (£3.50—£4.50). Widely accepted as one of the finest zoos in Britain. there’s plenty here to while away an afternoon. or even a whole day if you take your time. The penguin parade at 2pm is a must and the newly built African planes afford a fantastic view of the city.
Huntly House
I42 Canongate. 529 4143. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Packed with historic artefacts. this restored I6th century mansion tells the story of Edinburgh's past and its people and houses important collections of Edinburgh silver and glass. Scottish pottery and shop signs. Also on show Bolri litsveerein. Sec Edinburgh Art listings page 77.
Mary King's Close Tours
Meet at Mercat Cross (beside St Giles' Cathedral). 225 659 I. £5 (£4). Tour times vary — call for details. Advanced booking necessary. Literally. a trip to Edinburgh‘s underworld. Mary King's Close is part of a now subterranean network of streets. walled off in the middle ages during an outbreak of the plague. Visit the restored (or at least made safe) street and hear the horror stories of the residents left to die.
Midlothian Ski Centre
Hillend. 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am—9pm: Sun 9.30am—7pm. £6 (£4). Europe’s longest artificial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone ski-ing and snowboarding skills. The centrqalso houses a competitively prices ski repair and maintenance facility. A special deal on Saturday night gives you three hours skiing for the price of one. which can't be bad.
Museum of Childhood
42 High Street. 529 4142. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Founded in 1955. the museum has five public galleries with all manner of archive material arid old toys relating to childhood through the ages. Front antique dolls to 1980's computer games. there's plenty here to send you off on a trip down memory lane. Also on show Seen But No! Heard. See Edinburgh Art Listings page 77.
Museum Of Scotland Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon—Sat
10am-5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); Children free. This is the newest addition to our national museum selection and the only one dedicated solely to Scotland‘s history and heritage. The building contains five thematically-arranged exhibitions. moving from pre-history. through the Industrial Revolution. to the present day. at which point national heroes such as Billy Connolly and Elaine C. Smith get involved.
Old Town Weaving Company
555 Castlehill. Royal Mile. 226 1555. Mon—Sat 9am—5.30pm; Sun 10am—5pm. Free. Watch tartan appear before your eyes at this weaving wonderland. It’s free to observe, but
if you feel like having a go. £3 buys you a shot on the loom and £2 gets you into two mixed-media exhibitions. Slorv 0f Weaving and Highland Dress Through The Ages. And if you’re feeling brave you can dress up in ancient Scottish costume and have your photie taken.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile. 556 1096. Mon—Sun 9.30am—4.30pm. £5.30 (£2.60—£ l 3 family). Starting life as a 13th century abbey. the palace has evolved into a sumptuous regal residence crammed full of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the 17th century. The tower apartments housed a sad and lonely Mary Queen of Scots’ for a time. but with a spectacular view ofArthur's Seat. and magnificent gardens to look at. it's hard to feel too sorry for her. Also on show Queen Victoria 's Family. See Edinburgh Art listings page 77.
Royal Botanic Garden
lnverleith Row. 552 7I7I. Mon—Sun 9.30am—7pm. Free. 9.30am—5pm (6pm in March). A sea of tranquillity in the - hubbub of the city. the Botanic Garden is home to a wealth of flora and fauna from all over the world. The glasshouses give you the opportunity to check out tropical plants as well. The site also hosts art exhibitions. horticultural courses and various countryside events. including daily guided walks.
listings EDINBURGH LIFE
show Chinese Liter/tier and Danish Tapestry: See Edinburgh Art listings page 77.
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre Blackford Hill. 668 8405. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm. £2.50 (£1.50). This attraction is a mine of information on the heavens. from the latest interactive CD-Roms on space and astronomy to the observatory's ongoing work in Hawaii and Australia. Public star-gazing sessions take place every Friday night from October to March.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive. Leith. 555 5566. Daily 10.30am—6pm. £6.50 (£3.75~£5). The former royal yacht has recently opened its doors to members of the public after a £25 million refit. The on-shore visitor centre contains historical information on the boat and its furnishings while. on the yacht itself. members of the public can have a good rtosey round the royals' former quarters.
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
354 Castlehill. Royal Mile. 220 0441. Mon—Sun 9.30am—4.3()pm. £4.95 (£2.50—£3.50). Take a romp through the traditions and history of your national drink at this fully interactive attraction. Highlights include a lesson from a ghost master-blender. a barrel-car ride through whisky history and a well-stocked bar in which to test your newly-aqcuir'ed expertise.
The People's Story
Canorrgate Tolbooth. 163 Canongate. 529 4057. Mon—Sat 10am- 5pm. Free. Situated in the Canongare Tolbooth. the sights. sounds and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithftrll y reproduced. Witchery Tour Meet outside The Witchery restaurant. Castlehill (Royal Mile). 225 6745. £7 (£4). (9pm arid 10pm nightly). Take a trip to the dark side of Edinburgh with your guide. Adam l.yal deceased. who will regale you with stories of torture. murder and witchcraft — but watch our for ghosts and ghouls lurking in the shadows.
Royal Museum of Scotland
2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon—Sat |0am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am-8pm. £3 (£1.50). A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history. geology. science. technology and the decorative arts. plus two permanent exhibitions: Ari & Int/tislrv and The Ivy Wu Gallerv. Also on
SCOISH MOTORCYCLE SHOW Sat 13 8t Sun 14 Mar, 9am—5pm. £10 (£5).
Writers Museum
Lady Stair's House. lady Stair's Close. 529 4901. Mon—Sat l0am—5pm. Free. A treasure-house of items relating to three of Scotland's most famous writer's: Robert Louis Stevenson. Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Also on show Naomi Mile/tison. See Edinburgh Art listings page 77.
Royal Highland Centre, lngliston. 333 3036. With the backing of . manufacturers. importers and dealers, the show's centrepiece rs the first round of the European Stunt Riding Championship. Among the other
a
highlights are the kiddies quads, target jumping,
rt racing, the dyno
challenge and the somewhat less pacy pony rides. There are also guest appearances from John Surtees MBE wrth racing machines from his own collection and the saucin-named Purple Helmets.
4—18 Mar 1999 THE LIST 83