EDINBURGH lIFE
EDINBURGH LIFE continued
Shows
3DI20 Craft & Design Fair Thu lo-Thu 23 Dec, 10.30am-5.30pm. 70p (50p); children free. Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, 220 4349. An ideal place to pick up some unique Christmas gifts.
Sport
Edinburgh Rocks vs Chester Jets Thu 30 Dec, 7.30pm. £7 (£5). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. See Edinburgh’s finest basketball players take on the Chester Jets in their last clash of the year.
Tours
New Year Walks Mon 27 Dec—Sun 2 Jan, times vary. St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile, 557 6464. Take a trip back in time to the days of witches, hangings and general unpleasantness on this guided tour through Edinburgh’s dramatic past.
Other Events Living History Displays Edinburgh Castle, 225 9846. Entry to Castle: £6.50 (£2-£5). Two theatrical demonstrations bringing history to life this fortnight: Life Under Sei'ge recreates the time of the Jacobite uprising on Thu 16, Thu 23 and Thu 30 Dec, 10am—4pm; and the Jacobite redcoats and Highland clans do battle in All For The Prince on Fri 17, Fri 24 and Fri 31, 10am—4pm. Winter Wonderland Thu 16—Thu 6 Jan (closed 25 Dec). Sun—Wed 10am—8pm; Thu—Sat 10am—10pm (24 Dec 10am—7pm; 31 Dec 10am—5pm; 1 Jan noon—10pm). £3.50—£4.50 (£2.50—£3.50); family ticket £12.50. East Princes Street Gardens, 226 2151. Indulge in some seasonal fun Central Park style, as East Princes Street Gardens is once again transformed into the UK’s largest open-air ice-skating rink. As well as plain old skating there’ll be ice hockey demonstrations by the Edinburgh Capitals on Sat 18 Dec & Sun 2 Jan, 10am—llam; a curling demonstration from Balemo Curling Club on Sun 19 Dec, 9am—1 lam; and a festive jazz performance from the Wester Hailes Education Centre Show Band on Wed 29 Dec, 7-8pm. Plus a Winter Craft Fair selling hot food and drink and festive gifts. Bank Of Scotland Torchlight Procession Mon 27 Dec, 6pm. Free. Parliament Square, 473 2000. The parade makes its way from Parliament Square to a festival of fire on Calton Hill culminating in a spectacular fireworks display. Torches are available for £5 (£4 in advance), with proceeds going to help charities for children. The Archipelago Mon 27 Dec—Sun 2 Jan, 10am—5pm; 31 Dec & 1 Jan noon—5pm. £3; family ticket £10. Princes Street Gardens East, 473 2000. Step into the wonderful world of the Archipelago, a huge inflatable sculpture which takes you on a journey through light, sound and dreams. Hogmanay Carnival Mon 27 Dec-Tue 4 Jan, 11am-11pm (27 Dec 4—11pm; 31 Dec 11am—1pm). Waterloo Place, 473 2000. Waterloo Place is transformed into a fun-filled winter fairground with thrilling rides for all the family. Beating The Retreat From The 20th Century Thu 30 Dec, 6pm onwards. Free. Royal Mile. Info 473 2000. Join the march of a thousand pipers from the Castle to Holyrood Palace where the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra will perform a grand finale in Holyrood Park. There will be a pageant of Scottish history to be seen all the way down the Royal Mile from 6 m onwards. Cage Bird Show Sat l—Sun 2 Jan; Sat 2—7pm; Sun 9am—3pm. £3 (£1). Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 333 3036. Celebrate the new year by finding a feathered friend to row old with. Huskies Go To No yrood Sat 1 Jan, 1.30pm. Free. Holyrood Park, 473 2000. Dozens of Huskie and sled dog teams
N THE LI3T 16 Dec 1999—6 Jan 2000
race around the park in this popular Hogmanay festival event.
The Loony Dook Sat 1 Jan, 11.30am. Free. High Street, South Quecnsferry, 331 4346. One for the mad and the brave only! This infamous dip into the River Forth entitles you to a hot toddy and soup, and the chance to win lots of prizes - alternatively you could just go along and watch. Meeting point for participants: Moorings Pub, 24 Hopetoun Road, South Queensferr ' at 11am.
New Millennium Triat Ion Sat 1 Jan. 12.30pm. £20—£30 for entrants; spectators free. Holyrood Park. While most of us are languishing in bed, some people will be haring around Arthur‘s Seat in a gruelling triathlon featuring swimming, cycling and running. Entry forms from Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op on 660 5213.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Caledonian Brewery
Slateford Road, Edinburgh, 623 8066. Tours run Mon—Fri only, 11am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm. Closed Mon 3 Dec & Tue 4 Dec. The award-winning Caledonian Brewery, still going strong after 100 years, will let you in to the secrets behind the crafting of their fine ales.
Camera Obscura
Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 226 3709. Mon—Sun 10am—5pm. Closed Sat 25 Dec & Sat 1 Jan. £3.95 (£1.95—£3.15); family ticket £11.50. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction, which gives visitors a real-time, 360° image of the city. There is also an exhibition devoted to holographs and photography on the lower floors.
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, 550 7800. Wed—Sun 10am—5pm. Special opening hours over the New Year period: lOam-Spm every day (last entry 3.45pm) from Sun 26 Dec until Sun 9 Jan. £5.95 (£3.50); family ticket £16.50. The history of the earth has never been more interesting. Edinburgh’s brand new visitor attraction uses stunning new developments in interactive technology to piece together the history of the planet, creating a thoroughly modern way to step back in time.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh, 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm (last admission 4.15pm). Closed Sat 25 Dec & Sun 26 Dec. Reduced hours on Sat 1 Jan 11am—5pm. £6 (£2—£5). 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 IV‘s famous cannon, Mons Meg, lots of military silverware and, of course, The Stone Of Destiny.
Edinburgh Zoo
Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, 334 9171. Daily 9am-4.30pm. £6.80 (£3.80—£4.80); family ticket £19-£23.50. Admission half price on Sat 1 Jan & Sun 2 Jan. Widely accepted as one of the finest zoos in Britain, there‘s plenty here to while away your time. The penguin parade at 2pm is a must.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. Closed Sat 25 Dec. Reduced hours Sat 1 Jan 11am—5pm. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 free. Devoted solely to the history and heritage of Scotland, the building contains five thematically-arranged exhibitions, moving from pre-history, through the Industrial Revolution, to the present day.
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—4.45pm (last admission
lEdinburgh's Millennium
3 Will all the stars be here? Why yes. Those kings of tartan, the Bay City Rollers Will
I Edinburgh’s Mil/ennium Hogmanay, Mon 27 Dec—Sun 2 Jan, various venues across
Hogmanay
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But doesn't the new millennium begin in 2001? A trifling detail, Anyone who
likes to party and is familiar With the music of Prince knows that the Hogmanay of
1999 is gomg to be the biggest party ever. So it's the usual kiss a stranger in the street affair? Ye Gods! This year
Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a week-long festival, mixing theatre, mu5ic, comedy and
family events to ensure Edinburgh is the place to be.
rub shoulders With the likes of Texas and The Mavericks, Prince Charles Will be at Holyroodhouse, and if you'd been wondering ’Where are they now’ With regards to Del Amitri, the answer is — in Edinburgh, of (Ourse.
Surely there must be a downside to all this merriment Well, in case you don’t know, tickets for the Virgin and McEwan’s Street Party are all now gone, so your best bet is to enter our competition to Win a pair — see page 120.
It all sounds fantastic. Where can I learn more? Funny you should ask, IflSlde
yOur copy of The List is a full colour supplement telling yOu everything you need to know, and more, about the celebrations.
Edinburgh. Box office 473 2000. Information line 09069 750150 (cal/s cost £1 per
minute at a// [/0795‘
3.45pm). Closed Sat 25 & Sun 26 Dec.
Thu 30 Dec—Sat 1 Jan. Early closing on 3 Thu 23 ck Fri 24 Dec , 3pm. Reduced
: hours Sun 2 Jan. Ham—4pm (last
admission 3.15pm). £5.50 (£2.70—£4);
family ticket £13.50. 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.
Royal Museum Of Scotland
2 Chambers Street. Edinburgh. 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. Closed Sat 25 Dec. Reduced hours Sat 1 Jan 11am—5pm. £3 (£1.50): children under
18 free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history, geology. science. technology and the decorative arts. plus two permanent exhibitions: Arr & Industry and The Ivy Il'u Gallery.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh, 555 5566. Daily 1().30am—3.30pm; weekends 10.30am—4.30pm. Closed Sat 25 Dec. Sat 1 Jan & Sun 2 Jan. £7.50 (£3.75-£5.75); family ticket £20. 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 nosy round the royals‘ former quarters.