German Christmas Market Fri 24 Noy—Sat 23 Dec. St linoch Square. 204 3‘100. Times vary. Free. Iinjoy a genuine (ierman Christmas tnarket. with food and drink. toys and gills to browse.
Food & Drink
Farmers’ Markets Sat 18 Not; Queen‘s Park. 520 Langside Park. 287 7273; Sat 25 .\'o\‘. Mansfield Park. ol'l' l)umbarton Road. 341 0844. 10am 2pm. Farmers’ markets are all about organic. quality produce direct from the land.
Talks
The Friday Tour Fri 17 & Fri 24 .\'oy. The Bridge. 1000 Westerhouse Road. liasterhouse. 276 ‘)6‘)6. Iprn. Free. (iuided walks through (ilasgow 's newest purpose-built arts Venue. Booking essential.
Edinburgh rimm—
Food & Drink
Italian Christmas Shopping Evening l-‘ruitmarket (iallery. 45 Market Street. 225 2383. 6 ‘)pm. Free. Browse Italian-themed stalls featuring a delicatessen. plants. Christmas wreaths. horneware. cashmere. wine and coffee. Produttori Del Barbaresco Wine Tasting Valyona ck Crolla. 1‘) lilm Row. 55‘) 6066. 7.3()~‘).30pttt. £22.50. Aldo Vacca. one of Piemonte’s top winemakers. leads a tasting of the Italian co-operatiye's wines. which are cxclttsiyc
to VtSzC.
Politics
Edinburgh Alliance Against Urban 4x48 Meeting The Meeting House. 7 Victoria 'l‘errace. 467 5585. 7.30 8.30pm. Free. See llitlist.
Activities & Events
Flamenco Night The Pleasance. 60 the Pleasance. 650 234‘). 8pm. £4 (£3501. l.iye dance and music from [as Babuchas. followed by liesta for all.
Saturday 18
Activities & Events
Cathay House Blend Royal Mtiseum Ilawthornden Court. 2 Chambers Street. 247 421‘). 12.45pm. 2.45pm. See llitlist.
Food & Drink
Loch Arthur Cheese Tasting Valt-ona (Q Crolla. 1‘) lilm Row. 556 6066.
1 Iain 4pm. Free. Barry (iraham l‘rom the Loch Arthur Creamery introduces their range of vegetarian cheeses.
Spon
Scotland v Pacific Islands Mtirraytield Stadium. Roseburn Street. Murraylield. 346 5000. 2.30 4pm.
£10 £20 (£5 £ 101. Come and cheer on the national Rtrgby l'nion team.
Activities & Events
Buona Natale Conference Square. oll‘ Morrison Street. 221 7788. 5pm. Free: donation welcome. Sing along at this Italian Christmas carol eyeriing. In aid of Streetwork Charity.
Fairs
Toy and Train Fair Royal Ilighland Centre. lngliston. 335 6210. 10am 4pm. Free. Lots of collecting opportunities in one place.
Tuesday 21
ActiVities & Events
Capital One Lunch and Laugh Festiyal Square. l.othian Road. noon—3pm. Free. Patrick Monalian comperes top comedy perl'orrners. and the folks at Capital One lay on a tree lunch.
Talks
Celebrating Success Royal Museum l.ecture Theatre. 2 Chambers Street. 247 40‘)5. 6 ~8prn. Free. National Museums Scotland annual open meeting. at which attendees give their views. Iimail
s.borley (0 nms.ac.uk to hook. Introduction to WWF Scotland .\'apier l'niyersity. Craiglockhart Camptrs. 667 7057. 7.30pm. £2. Illustrated talk by Julie Stonernan. coy’ering Scotland's global footprint. climate change. and l‘reshwater and marine enyirortinents.
Wednesday 22
Food & Drink
Anna del Conte Cookery Demonstration Valyona ck Crolla. l‘) Iilm Row. 5566066. 7.30 ‘).30pm. £22.50. The author o1 Amaretto, App/r Cake and .-lr!it'/rolu's': The [it’s] o/klmru Del Come recreates her layourite recipes.
Politics
Walls and Boundaries in Israel and Palestine Open Door. 420 Mornittgside Road. 447 ‘)757. 10.30 1 1.30am. £1 donation. Mor'ningside Justice and Peace (iroup discussion. with Women in Black members Pat Bryden and Janet Pow'ney.
Talks
Pauline & Phil Sanderson: EVERESTMAX 'l'iso lidinburgh ()utdoor lixperience. Commercial Street. 554 0804. 7.30pm. £4 t£3l. See llillist.
Activities & Events
Light Night Princes Street (iardens liast. Princes Street. 5pm. Ice-skating display. opening of the lidinburgh Wheel and Christmas markets. and switching on of the lights in true l‘estiye fashion.
Norwegian Carol Service St (iiles’ Cathedral. Royal Mile. 226 0673.
7.30 ‘)pm. Free. Art Adyent seriyce in St (iiles. Iidinburgh‘s medieyal cathedral.
Fairs
Knickers Sample Sale Cabaret Voltaire. 36 38 Blair Street. 220 6176. Noon 1 1pm. £3. I)esigner lingerie at 50‘} oil the price at this breast cancer charity ey‘ent. including Jodi (iallaer. Spoylt. Argentoyiyo. Beatt Bra and Valery.
Talks
Guided Walk - Saving the World‘s Flora Royal Botanic (iarden t'l‘emperate Palm House). lnyerleith Row. 552 7171.
1 lam. £4. A (iarden (iuide explains how the Botanics are helping to saye the world's endangered llora. ()y‘er- 12s only.
Activities & Events
City Lights (ieorge Street ck St Andrew Square. 6.30pm. linjoy the local light switch-on.
Flock Trust Sleep Out St Andrew ‘s and St (ieorge's Church. 13 (ieorge Street. 225 3847. 10pm 6am. Spend the night otit in the cold in aid ()1 Rock 'l‘rttst. a charity supporting young homeless people. See
w w w .rocktrust.org l‘or‘ details.
Workshops
Pomegranate Writing Group Scottish Poetry Library. 5 Crichton‘s Close. Canongate. 557 2876. 6pm. £5 t£3 i. Readings from lili/aheth Bruns. M Joy Christie. Jennie Ilouse and others. as well as music from Sheena Robertson. Booking essential.
Activities & Events
Lothians Conservation Volunteers Autumn Walk Corstorphine llill. Queenslerry Road. Davidson‘s Mains.
1 Iain. Free. llead into the trees and lind a radio mast. a ruined tower and a Vast redundant nuclear shelter. Bring lunch. St Andrew‘s Day Rally liast Market Street. 4pm. Free. See panel.
St Andrew’s Day Post-Rally Gathering 'l‘homas Morton llall. Ferry Road. l.eith. 554 1408. 7pm. £10. See panel.
Food & Drink
Cheese, Cognac & Calvados Tasting Valy'ona & Crolla. 1‘) lilm Row. 556 6066. I Iarn 4pm. Free. lrnbibe the best in apple- deriyed spirits and taste dairy delights t'rom ’l‘rethowans in 1.1anddewi Breli.
Spon
Scotland v Australia Murraylield Stadittrn. Roseburn Street. Murraylield. 346 5000. 2.30 4pm. £10 £30 (£5 £15). Scotland's national Rtigby l'nion team prepare to run. ruck and scrum.
Activities & Events
Tryqrcling in Edinburgh Roseburn
Park. Roseburn Place. Murraylield. 558 2647. ‘).45am. Free. (ientle l0-mile ride from Roseburn Park to lidinburgh Park.
Politics
The Bin the Bomb Bash ’l‘he Pleasance. 60 The Pleasance. 650 234‘). 4.30 10pm. £5 tree for accompanied children. 'l‘alks. comedy from A1. Kennedy. music. dance and discussion at this Scottish C.\'1) social eyening.
Talks
Ballads o’ the Bothy Lads Royal Museum llawthornden Court. 2 Chambers Street. 247 421‘). 2.45 3.15pm. Free. l.isten to traditional Scottish tanning songs and stories. once heard around the tire.
Talks
The Night Sky in December Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackl'ord Hill. 668 8404. 7.30 8.30pm. £3 l£l.50l. Russell liberst turns his eyes towards the heavens to see the stars of winter.
Tuesday 28
Food & Drink
Tempting Tipples Cockburns ol‘ l.eith. [hit 3. Abbeyltill Industrial listate. 661 8400. 7pm. £15. Festiye wine eyening. Sample a sparkling number. followed by whites. reds and a dessert wine. Visit www.discoyetthetaste.corn to book.
Talks
Jewish and Scottish - The Threads
and the Tartan Martin Ilall. l'niyersity
ol' Iidinburgh. New College. Mound Place.
650 8‘)00. 5.15pm. Free. liphraim
Borow ski ol- the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities giyes this year's ("I'Pl Baillie l.ecture.
Wednesday 29
Activities & Events
Boxwars Studio 24. 24 26 Calton Road. 558 3758. 7pm. £8. Battles in bull packaging. with a liye set by CK Subs. Visit www.boxwars.co.uk to register.
Talks
Natural Disasters Discussion Forum Royal Society of lidinburgh. 22 26 (ieorge Street. 2405000. 6pm. Free. Professor (iareth Pender explains the causes and social impact of floods. and talks about a flood that occured in (ilasgow's Iiast lind in 2002.
Pushing the Limits (icorge Square Theatre. l'niy'ersity ol‘ lidinburgh. (ieorge Square. 7.30pm. £6; tree lor students and RS(iS members. The story ol‘ Canadian mountaineering with climber Chic Scott. tising historic images and action shots.
Workshops
Writers’ Group North lidinburgh Arts Centre. l5a Penny w ell Court. 315 2151. 6.45 8.15pm. £4 (£2 £2.50). (iet together with l'ellow scribblers at the l‘ortnightly writing group. led this term by Scottiin playwright Isabel Wright.
Around Town
ActIVIties & Events
City Lights (irassmarket. 6.15pm. linjoy the local light switch-on.
One Scotland Ceilidh 'I‘he Lawnmarket. Royal Mile. 7.30 10.45pm. Free. See panel.
St Andrew’s Day lidinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 225 ‘)846. Free. See panel.
Fairs
Eating Place Castle Street. 10am 8pm. Free. A selection of the best food and drink produce from around the 1K.
Workshops
Ethical Christmas Craft Workshop Forest Cale. 3 Bristo Place. 220 4538 .
4 6pm. Free. (iet away from the materialism of Christmas and make l‘estiye cral‘ts from recycled materials.
Activities & Events
Observing Evenings Fri 17 & Fri 24 Not; Royal ()bseryatory Visitor Centre. Blackl'or'd Hill. 668 8404. 7 8.45pm. £4 (£3: £10.50 l'amily ticket). View images of the sun. check otit meteorites and look for Saturn and Jupiter. Booking essential.
Exhibitions
Andrew - Portrait of a Saint City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 52‘) 3093. Thu 30 .\'oy Sun 4 Mar. Mon Sat 10am 5pm; Sun noon 5pm. Free. See panel.
Fairs
The Edinburgh Art Fair Fri 24 Sun 26 .\'oy. Corn lixchange. 1 1 .\'ew Market Road. 477 3500. I 1am 6pm: 1 1am 5pm. £5: weekend ticket £7.50 (children £3). The chance to pick tip artwork from (Her 60 exhibitors.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Thu 23
.\'o\ Sun 24 Dec. Various \enues. times yary. All the fun ol‘ the lair. as the big wheel. ice rink. carousel and bungee dome open for business.
French Market Thu 23 Sun 26 Not. Frederick Street. 10am 8pm. Free. See llitlist.
Waditional German Christmas Market Thu 23 .\'o\ Sun 24 Dec. Mound Square. oll' Princes Street. 473 3800. 10am 8pm. Free. A range ol traditional (ierman cral'ts. toys. lootl and drink to get you in the liestiye spirit. Scottish Christmas Market Thu 23 \oy Sat 6 Jan. Princes Street (iardens liast. Princes Street. 10am l0pm. Free. A variety of stalls ol‘l'ering local produce. food and drink.
Food & Drink
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market liyery Sat. Castle 'l‘errace. 652 5‘)40. ‘)am 2pm. More local. quality. ethical produce than you could shake a stick at.
Food Walking Tour liy'cry 'I‘ue & Sat. Various yenues. 453 1660. 10am noon. £15. Forget history. take in lidinburgh's l'oodie delights with the emphasis on tastings. Adyance booking required email inl'ota discoyerthetaste.com. Pre-Christmas Wine Tasting .\lott 27 'l‘ue 28 .\'o\'. Valyona & Crolla. l‘) lilm Row. 5566066. 7.30 ‘).30pitt. £15. Assess wines for the l‘estiye season. taste seasonal food products. and order a hamper. Crostini proyided.
Workshops
Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sun 1‘) & Sun 26 Not. Cale Royal Bistro Bar. 17 West Register Street. 557 47‘)2.
3 6pm. £6 for a table: £4 to draw thee to see). Draw burlesque diyas. rippling htiiiks and cit'cus l’reaks. Witt alcohol and art supply pr'i/es.
Watercolours in the Museum Sun I‘) & Sun 26 Nos. Royal Miiseum Main Hall. 2 Chambers Street. 247 421‘). 10.30am 12.30pm. £16 (£12). Karen (‘lttlow tley‘elops your skills itt watercolour using the museum's collections and architecture to inspire.
lii (ill, NW.
3306 THE LIST 29