M Sm of an m Looking directly at that big ol' fiery ball of light in the sky has never been recommended, but what if you’re a wannabe astronomer checking for sun spots? Handily, this strange triangular device allows visitors to the Royal Observatory to see any blemishes on the sun without going blind. And it it’s hiding behind a cloud, there’s also the chance to locate Mercury or Jupiter and look at meteorites. I SHIN/ill)! Observr/rg E VO/llllgS. everv Frr, Royal Observatory: Blackford Hr//,
Edinburgh
Free. Scotland's newest comic rnai't piled high witli original graphic nosels. collecletl editions and special back issues. See Illaill piece.
Wednesday 26
Activities & Events
Drop the Beat Cate Queen (‘harlotle Rooms. 56a Queen (‘harlotle Street. 555 (ibbll. Spill. Free. :\ll ellei‘x escent esening ol‘ lise music. poetr} and stoi'} telling. with lla/el Morrison. Milton Balgoni. The Sliellsuit Massacre. Stephen Barnah} and more.
Friday 28
Talks
* The H Block Hunger Strike National Library ol' Scotland. (ieorge 1V Bridge. 226 4531. 7pm. Free. ticketed. See lllllisl.
Saturday 29
Workshops
Primate Behaviour Workshop lidinburgh Zoo. ('orstorphine Road. 334 0171. 10am 3pm. £15 £20. Part two of this course examining the flexible lingered group. which includes monkeys and man on is that men'.’). Participants must hax e pres ious know ledge ol‘
behax iour research or has e attended part
Activities & Events
Melodic Moments Royal Botanic (iarden. lmer‘leith House. 552 7171.
2 5pm. Free. What better w a} to while aw a} a Sunda} afternoon than 1} ing on the grass listening to some light _ia// and easy listening in the gardens? Styletrial Battle Session The Bongo Club. Mora) House. 37 Ho1_\rood Road. 556‘ 7604. 2-0pli‘l. £2. Show off )our B- bo} /B-girl niox es followed by a competition with 1)Js and pri/es from
4 rm. Spectators welcome.
i Stockbridge Saunter ()ld Bell's Brae Bridge. Dean Village. \Vater oi Leith. 455 7367. 2pm. £2.50. See Hitlist.
Fairs
Hopetoun House Summer Fair Hopetoun House. Shore Road. South Queenst‘ei'r). 331 2451. I 1am— 5pm. £6.50 (£4501; £20 Tamil) ticket. Fun l'amil} day out in the grounds ol' this historic house. with lalconi')‘ displa) s. the Scottish (iolden Lions parachute learn. crall \ illage and
ens ironment tent.
Spon
Try Cycling in Edinburgh The
Meadow s. Mehille l)ri\e. 558 2647. 10am. Free. A gentle 14 mile c)cle ride to Swanston Village. \ ia Braidburn Valle}. Booking essential.
Spod
Lismore WRFC Pre-season Training Inch Park. ('arneron Toll. ()ld Dalkieth Road. 07765 48 1075 or 0799‘) 654222. 7pm. Lismore \VRF(‘ are looking tor new pla)ers ol‘ any skill leer tor their dynamic women’s nigh) team. lix en il‘ you don't know a scrum l'rom a tackle. w'h) not pop down to their pre-season ti'aining'.‘ You'll soon be lar loo professional to snigger at hookers.
Ongoing Edinburgh Activities & Events
Cocktails by Design Tue- Sat until Sat 2‘) Jul. Festixal Square. l.othian Road. 0208 735 5130. 6..‘~lLS..‘~0pm. £10. Take a guided tour or the Boinba) Sapphire (ilass House and learn how to make great cocktails. sipping on a couple as )ou go. of course? A Boinba} Sapphire good) bag is )tiirr pri/c at the end ol‘ the exening. Summer Nights at the Observatory Fixer) Fri. Ro} a1 ()hsenalor} Visitor Centre. Blackl‘ord Hill. 668 S404. '—S.45pin. £3.501t'250i; L") lainin View images of the sun using the Royal ()bserwitor} 's solar telescopes; keep _\our e}e.s peeled tor sunspots. check out meteorites and find out where to look for Saturn and Jupiter. Booking essential.
The Guid Crack Club: Summer Nights Fixer) Hi. The \Vaserle}. 1 St Mar) 's Street. 556 9579. 7.30pm. Free r£3 suggested donation 1. Locals and \ isitors
alike are welcome to go along and hear some cracking _\arns as well as contributxng a lew ol their own ll the} wish
Sunday Sailings 1:\ er} Sun Izdinburgh Qua}. rBehind ('argou l-ounlainbr‘idge. 11S45 345 "445 noon. 1 30pm. zpm .\
4 30pm {51:5 :2r. L15 tainil} Firio} a gentle trip along the 1 iiion (anal on Re» l'nion‘s lo\el_\ purple boat
Move-Me Wed 26 Jul litre S .-\ug Brunton l'heatie. l.adsw ell \\a_\. Musselburgh. 665 2240 limes \ar} \ chance to dance along w ith clioi'eogi'aph} b} Deborah Ha}. Shobana Je_\asingh and Stephen Petronro in this speciall} created booth
Exhibitions
The Architect’s House: Sir Robert Rowand Anderson at 15 Rutland Square l'ntil Fri 4 .-\ug inot Sat/Suni Rl.-\S (killer). 15 Rutland Square. 22‘) 7545. Mon Fri ‘lam 5pm. .-\ii exhibition about the lite and works ol the lounder ol the Ru} a1 Incorporation ot .-\rchitects in Scotland.
Birds of a Feather - Audubon in Edinburgh l'ntrl Stiii 15 ()ct. National Library ol' Scotland. (ieorge lV Bridge. 226 4531. Mon Sat 10am 5pm; Stiii
2 5pm. Free. His name loi‘e\ei' linked with the l'S.-\'s Bird Protection Societ). this exhibition explores the work ol great
w ildlil'e artist John James .-\udubon. Conan Doyle and Joseph Bell - The Real Sherlock Holmes l'ntil Fri 22 Dec. Surgeons’ Hall Miiseuni. Royal (‘ollege oi Surgeons ol' lidinbui‘gh. Nicolson Street. .527 lb4‘). Mon-Fri l0ami4pm. £5 (£3). A special exhibition looking at the lite ol' Joseph Bell. l'orriier' president ol the Ru} a1 ('ollege ol Surgeons. and his relationship with the creator ol' Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur ('onan l)iwle. Discover Islam Tue lv'l‘hu .11 Aug. lidinbui'gh ('entral Mosque. 50 Potlerrow. 667 1777. Noon 76pm (Fri 2pm 6an. Free. A chance to lind out more about lidinburgh's Muslim communit) at this riionth-long celebration ol the Islamic tarth. You can take a tour oi the mosque. chat to the guides and look at the displa)s. Planet Football (Welteprache Fussball) l'ntil Sat 2 Sep (not Suni. North lidinburgh Arts ('enlre. l5a Pertinw ell ('oiir1.315 2151. Mon Sat 10am 4pm. Free. (‘ollaboratise exhibition between the (ioethe—Instilut and Magnum Photograph}. including l‘ootball—related prints l'roin photographers such as Henri ('anier- Bresson. Martin Parr and Herbert l-ist. Soqotra: Land of Dragon's Blood l'ntil Sun 2‘) ()ct. Royal Botanic (iarden. Iixhibition Hall. lmerleith Row. 552 7171. 10am—5pm. Free. Major new exhibition exploring one of the world‘s most biologicall} dixerse island chains. described b} some as the ‘(ialapagos ol the lndian ()cean'. Detailing the plants. animals and people that lixe llilt'lliolllotlsl} on the island. the exhibition also explains w'h) this lragile balance is under threat.
Food & Drink
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market l‘.\er} Sal. ('aslle Terrace. 652 5940. 9am 2pm. More local. qualil}. ethical produce than you could shake a stick at.
Spon
European Touch Rugby Championships l-‘ri 21-~Sun 23 Jul. (ieorge Heriot's School Rugb} (‘lub. Bangholm Terrace. 07906 168047. 9am—5pm. £2: £5 weekend ticket. Thirteen nations will be taking pan in this competition. which includes men‘s. women's and mixed categories. making it the largest participation rugby merit in Scotland. Aside from the sporting action. there will be family tun in the shape oi a bounc} castle. lace painter and an on-sitc bar 1 Y 1.
Urban Beach Tour Thu 20—Sun 23 Jul. Princes Street Gardens. 556 4633. See 5 Reasons. abm e.
Workshops Paintings to Design via the Mac Mon—Wed until Wed 2 Aug. National
Around Town
REASONS TO 60 SEE
THE UM BEACH TOUR 1 Beach volleyball is the new football Since it was made an Olympic sport at the Atlanta games in 1996. it is fast becoming the hottest way to get sweaty since the beautiful game itself. The Americans. Australians and Europeans are already big fans. and its following in the UK is slowly growing. This four day event brings the sands right into the city and gives people a chance to see the game up close and personal. 2 it's your chance to get involved Whether you prefer watching from the sidelines or are itching to get on the court yourself, there will be folks on hand from the Scottish Volleyball Association to tell you more about BV. The association runs a series of competitions on real beaches throughout the summer so there's no excuse for missing out.
3 Playing volleyball will make you look really cool on the beach What better way to catch that hot chick/chaps eye than by showing off your sporting prowess on the sands? But remember. hitting a ball in her/his face may have worked in primary school but we're all grown ups now . . . right?
4 All the pros will be there The event culminates with a UK grand prix competition. where the six top ranked men's pairs and four women's pairs will be fighting it out for the trophy. accompanied by live music and cheerleaders.
5 What’s not to like? Even if the thought of being the king or queen of the beach doesn't tempt you. then maybe the sight of 20 top athletes leaping. smashing (pictured) and diving for the ball is more erm. attractive. Need I say more?
I Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Thu 20—Sun 23 Jul. www.urbanbeachtour. couk
(killer) (ll Scotland. (ilrile l'altlcalloll Centre. The Mound. 624 6201; 2 4 iliprri l'ree. Drop-in sessions looking at how to transloriii a classical painting into a riioder'n design.
Zoot Swing l'.\er‘_\ Mon (‘alc Royal. 1 \Vesl Register Street. .220 254‘) “pill L45” 11.3.50r. Swing that thing at these tun classes lbeginners 7pm. iriiprmeis Spiiir lollowcd h} neo-swing lil'g' heals and Hlxl st}le _]a// tunes lrom Uprn until late
Stitch and Bitch lzser} lue The Bongo ('lub. Mora) lloiise. i7 Hol}rood Road. 55s 7604. '7pm. Free. Join the knitting remlution.
Visible Ink Writer’s Group l;‘-er} 'lue. The West lind Hotel. 25 Palmerston Place. 665 3166. 7 9pm. £211: lirsr timers li‘eer (let _\our creatbc rurces llowing at this lriendl) mixed w rrter‘s group New members alwa}s w elcome.
', a, - ': Ax; THE LIST 29