www.list.co.uk/aroundtown
Bletherheads Why would you bother forking out your last 20 quid for a probably patchy big-name comedian when
you can see the cream of Scotland’s literary and performance talent, live, for less than the price of a fish supper? The increasingly ubiquitous novelist/playwright/whatever Alan Bissett hosts this sparky new performance night, with big names like AL Kennedy (pictured), Tam Dean Burn, Rodge Glass, Ewan Morrison, Kevin Williamson, and Iain Heggie all performing new work, and emergent acts like writer Anneliese Mackintosh and Glasgow indie-folkers Maple Leaves thrown in for good measure. Look out for last minute additions to the line-up on the Bletherheads Facebook group. ■ Electric Circus, Edinburgh, Sat 29 Aug, 7pm, £6.
Holyrood Park, 652 8150. Follow the 5km wall that surrounds Holyrood Park and hear the stories this 500-year-old boundary has to tell. Sturdy footwear and warm/waterproof clothes are recommended. Booking is essential. FREE Donald Bloxham Thu 10 Sep, 6.30pm. Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. The Professor of Modern History from the University of Edinburgh takes a new look at the Holocaust in The Final Solution.
Books FREE Bharati Ray, Sangita Bandopadhyay and Bashabi Fraser Sat 29 Aug, 1pm. Word Power Bookshop, 43 West Nicolson Street, 662 9112. Three Indian writers in different genres and styles talk about their work. Part of Edinburgh Book Fringe. FREE Julian Clary Sat 29 Aug, 3pm. Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, 657 4041. 3pm. While appearing at the Fringe, the camp comedian takes the opportunity to sign a few of his books.
✽✽ Bletherheads Sat 29 Aug, 7–10pm. £6. Electric Circus, 36–39 Market
Street, 226 4224. See picture, above. FREE Stephanie Taylor Sun 30 Aug, 2.30pm. Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, 657 4041. Reading from the debut novelist of her book The Device, The Devil and Me. FREE Mary Brennan Thu 3 Sep, 6.30pm. Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. Dance critic Mary Brennan, who has written Scottish Ballet: Forty Years joins in an evening celebrating the illustrious company. FREE Blackwell Book Quiz Mon 7 Sep, 6pm. Blackwell, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. Test your literary credentials in teams of up to five members. Iain Banks Mon 7 Sep, 6.30pm. £2. The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 3034. Popular and distinctive Scottish author Iain Banks returns to his home country to talk about his new book, Transition. Storytelling Café Wed 9 Sep, 7pm. £4. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Storytelling, music and song in a relaxed café atmosphere.
Exhibitions FREE Votes for Women Until Sat 9 Jan 2010 (not Sun), 10am–5pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. An exhibition charting the women’s suffrage movement in Edinburgh. Fairs FREE The GrassMarkets Sun 6 Sep, noon–6pm. Grassmarket. The Grassmarket is coming over all crafty the first Sunday of each month. See www.grassmarket.net for more info.
Food & Drink ✽✽ FREE Sheep Heid Inn Summer’s End Beer Festival Fri 28–Mon 31 Aug (not Sun), Fri/Sat 11am–midnight; Mon noon–6pm. The Sheep Heid Inn, 43–45 The Causeway, Duddingston, 661 7974. See Hitlist. FREE Edinburgh Farmers’ Market Sat 29 Aug & Sat 5 Sep, 9am–2pm. Castle Terrace, 652 5940. More local, quality, ethical produce than you could shake a stick at. World Café Fri 28 Aug, 5.30–7pm. £5 (£2.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Eat food from around the world and meet members of the local community at this monthly night. Booking advised.
LGBT FREE Carers Support Group Tue 1 Sep, 7–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. LGBT carers group run with Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL). Pink Links Fri 4 Sep, 7pm. £5. Deep Blue, below the Blue Moon, 1 Barony
Street, 556 2788. Women-only speed dating fun on the first Friday of every month. See www.pinklinks.biz for more info or to book tickets. FREE Self-harm Self-help Course Wed 9 Sep, 7.30–9.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A six-week course looking at self-harm. Focussing on coping strategies and dealing with scarring, it’s only about stopping if you want it to be. Facilitated by Merrick Pope. Booking essential. FREE Icebreakers Wed 9 Sep, 7.30pm. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. This welcoming and non-threatening group, organised by the Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, is ideal if you’re new to the city or recently out. Talks Curator’s Choice: Dandies, Scorchers and Wheelers Fri 28 Aug, 2pm. £5 (£4; members free). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Alastair Dodds discusses Scotland’s bicycling history. FREE Manhattan to Marrakech – The Life and Art of James McBey Mon 31 Aug, 12.45–1.30pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. Jennifer Melville discusses the life and work of rags-to- riches Scottish artist McBey. FREE Devolution and the Diaspora Thu 3 Sep, 7pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Dr Duncan Sim looks at how devolution has impacted on Scotland’s long-term relationship with its Diaspora. Booking required. Supercontinents, Scotland and the Scots Mon 7 Sep, 7pm. £5. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Prof Ian Dalziel, University of Texas, gives a public lecture on Edinburgh’s geology, its role in the study of geology and the ‘supercontinental cycle’ from Rodinia to Pangaea.
Around Town
FREE Moving Out Wed 9 Sep, 7pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Poet Kenneth White considers itinerant Scots and explores what he sees as an endemic urge in the Scot to cross territories and open up new cultural space. Booking required. FREE Something Unseen Thu 10 Sep, 6–7pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Alison Watt returns to Scotland to discuss a painting that captured her imagination – Zurbarán’s remarkable Saint Francis in Meditation. Centenary Hoof Stock Talk Thu 10 Sep, 7.30pm. £6 (members £4). Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 314 0350. Learn about the zoo’s hoofed animals (including pygmy hippos, zebra, and Malayan tapiers). Booking essential. Workshops Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sat 5 Sep, 1pm. £7 (£6). The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. Cabaret meets life drawing in this antidote to solemn, lifeless classes. Wellness Through Ancient Rhythm & Movement! Sat 5 Sep, 3pm. £10 (£7). The Yoga Room, 5 Forth Street, Broughton, Learn about & experience the Zaar; Rural East African & Arabian trance music & dancing. Booking required.
✽✽ Dead Girls’ Dance Club Sat 5 Sep, 7.30pm. £10 (£7). The Yoga Room, 5 Forth Street, Broughton, See Hitlist. Gem Sweater Workshop Wed 9 Sep, 7pm. Donations. The Bowery, 2 Roxburgh Place. Bring a jumper and a donation to cover the cost of gems and create your own blinging fashion. FREE Badge Making with Sandy Christie Thu 10 Sep, 6.30pm. The Bowery, 2 Roxburgh Place. Bring your own designs or small bits and pieces to create badge-tastic accessories.
watch
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27 Aug–10 Sep 2009 THE LIST 19