www.list.co.uk/aroundtown
Lauriston Street, 473 2000. A ceilidh with a caller to remind you of all the steps. FREE Broons Appreciation Evening Sat 26 Jun, 9pm. Edinburgh Books, 145–147 West Port, 229 4431. An evening devoted to Scotland’s first family, with readings, recitations, artwork, and whisky tastings. Part of the West Port Book Festival. FREE ESSA: Silent Auction of Fine and Applied Art Sat 26–Wed 30 Jun, Sat 11am–4pm ; Sun 2–5pm; Mon & Tue 10am–5pm; Wed 10am–1pm. Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, 225 6671. Opportunity to buy contemporary Scottish art and simultaneously support the continuation of ESSA, the umbrella organisation for the three main art societies in Scotland – SSA, RSW and VAS. FREE Scottish BoyBand Search 2010 Sun 27 Jun, 10.30am. Dance Base, 14–16 Grassmarket, 225 5525. Oil those chests, slick back that hair and get practising your standing-up-from-a-stool moves. They’re looking for 16-23 year- olds with the voice and the moves to impress and, just like Yorkies, it’s not for girls. FREE Helping Hands at Hillend Country Park Sun 27 Jun, 1.30–3.30pm. Hillend Country Park, Biggar Rd, 445 3383. Come along and help the Countryside Rangers do some valuable tidying up. Equipment will be provided but bring gloves. FREE West Port Book Festival Party Sun 27 Jun, 8pm. Roxy Art House, 2 Roxburgh Place, 629 0039. Closing the festival are local band Deserters Deserve Death and friends entertain from 8.30pm, then there’s ambient music and laidback literary chat from 11pm. Part of the West Port Book Festival. FREE Amble Around Arthur Mon 28 Jun & 5 Jul, 1–2.30pm. Holyrood Park, Holyrood Lodge, 652 8150. A guided walk with park rangers exploring many different aspects of Arthur’s Seat. Booking essential. Born to be Wide: Music Agent Seminar Thu 1 Jul, 7pm. £4.50; free after 9pm (students £2; MU members £3). Electric Circus, 36–39 Market Street, 226 4224. Seminar aimed at musicians on how/why/when/where to get a booking agent and how to book your own gigs. Followed by ‘self indulgent’ DJ sets from seminar speakers. FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 3 Jul, 10.30am–4.30pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. A new monthly boutique craft and design market held on the first Saturday of every month. FREE Edinburgh Zapcat Racing Grand Prix Sat 3 & Sun 4 Jul, noon. Leith Docks, 555 8888. High-octane thrills on the water as a range of nifty little powerboats compete to become champion Zapcat. Summer Ceilidh in Support of Marie Curie Sun 4 Jul, 8pm. £15. The Merlin, 168 Morningside Road, 447 4329. A wee dance with the Will Marshall Ceilidh Band, in support of the Marie Curie Hospice at Fairmilehead. Magic Shows Wed 7–Sat 10 Jul (not Thu), Wed & Fri 7pm & 8.30pm; Sat 4pm & 5.30pm. £8–£10 (£6–£8). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Suspend disbelief with old- school magic shows presented by Matthew Dowden and Xavier Mortimer. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Talks FREE A Highland Art: Reclaiming the Visual for the Gàidhealtachd Thu 24 Jun, 5.45–7pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. The University of Dundee’s Murdo Macdonald discusses the visual culture of Gaelic Scotland. State of the Art: Visual Traditions and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland Fri 25 & Sat 26 Jun, Fri 9.30am–5pm; Sat 10am–12.45pm. £25
(£15). National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 01382 388038. Two-day conference on the visual aspect of Gaelic culture. FREE Landscape with a View of the Valkhof, Nijmegen Fri 25 Jun, 12.45–1.15pm. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. Art historian Ailsa Turner discusses Aelbert Cuyp’s luminous landscape. FREE Young Scottish Artists: Alan Stanners Mon 28 Jun, 12.45–1.15pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. The Glasgow School of Art graduate talks with Julie- Ann Delaney. FREE Truth and Lies Behind our Expanding Waistlines Mon 28 Jun, 6pm. Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22–26 George Street, 240 5000. The Nutrition Society hosts a discussion between two experts about the science behind obesity, nutrition and dieting. Classical Temples in Edinburgh Tue 29 Jun, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Paul McAuley discusses Edinburgh’s many classically-inspired monumental ‘temples’. Includes refreshments and a tour of the castle. Booking essential. FREE Beauty and Devotion in Botticelli Tue 29 Jun, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. It isn’t hard to see the beauty in Botticelli’s paintings, but what is its purpose in inspiring devotion? Art historian Michael Bury discusses. Self Portraiture and the 19th- Century Woman Artist Wed 30 Jun, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A discussion of the factors that led to the increased prominence of the professional female artist in the 19th century. Includes refreshments and a tour of the castle. Booking essential. FREE The Place Name Debate Wed 30 Jun, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. A panel including representatives from the Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names discusses the controversial merits of including Gaelic place names on signs in Scotland. Followed by a Q&A session. FREE Christen Kobke: Danish Master of Light – Curator’s Talk Sat 3 Jul, 2–3pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. The life and work of the Danish artist, with a focus on locations around Copenhagen that inspired him. FREE Edinburgh Skeptics Sunday Sermon Sun 4 Jul, 2pm. Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. An alternative Sunday Sermon as Keir Liddle discusses ‘Crank Magnetism’. FREE Confrontation: Cranach and Dix Tue 6 Jul, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Tico Seifert and Keith Hartley explore and compare Cranach’s Venus and Cupid and Otto Dix’s Nude Girl on a Fur. FREE Portraits in Focus Wed 7 Jul, 12.45–1.15pm. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. Dr James Dawson examines Rubens’ austere Portrait of Petrus Pecquius. Workshops An Introduction to Organic Gardening Sat 26 Jun, 9am–4pm. £40 (£20). Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, 664 9559. Learn all you need to know to grow tasty food. Booking essential; bring waterproofs, boots, gardening clothes, lunch. FREE Artists Workshop: Drawing into Print Sat 26 Jun, 1–4.30pm. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Exhibiting artist Alfons Bytautas presents a drawing workshop using simple monotype techniques. Watery Rainbow Flowers Sun 27 Jun, 10.30am–3.30pm. £15. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 336 2060. Artist
Around Town
Irregular Ladiezangenulmen! Mr! Nick! Cave! Canongate pull off something of a coup with an appearance by the Lord of Darkness at their literary cabaret night. Thanking their lucky stars that they’re on this line-up are writer David Whitehouse and musician Jed Milroy, and there’s also a first-ever screening of an exclusive interview with Gil Scott Heron. And Nick Cave. Did we mention Nick Cave?
■ Roxy Art House, Edinburgh, Thu 24 Jun.
Jacqui Pestell leads this beginners’ class in watercolours and mixed media in Lauriston’s glass studio. News Group Sat 3 Jul, 10am–1pm. £5. Pilmeny Youth Centre, 44 Buchanan Street, Leith, 07963 782874. Workshops offering participants a chance to analyse current affairs with theatre group ACTive INquiry, including discussion and drama techniques. Printmaking Workshop Sat 3 Jul, 10.30am–3.30pm. £15. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 336 2060. Learn how to do mono-printing, press print and simple etching with artist Tessa Asquith- Lamb on hand for guidance and Lauriston’s Japanese Garden for inspiration. Japanese Mark-Making with a Western Approach Wed 7–Fri 9 Jul, 10.30am–4pm. £130. National Gallery of Scotland: Clore Education Centre, The Mound, 624 6200. Use traditional sign boards, calligraphy and textiles as inspiration to experiment with oriental mark-making techniques.
FREE The Drawing Room Thu 8 Jul, 5.30–6.45pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6410. Monthly experimental drawing sessions inspired by works in the collection, each led by a contemporary artist. All materials are provided. Please book in advance. Words on Canvas II: Creative Writing Thu 8 Jul, 5.30–7.30pm. £12 (£10). National Gallery of Scotland: Clore Education Centre, The Mound, 624 6200. A two-part class: the first session involves looking at and discussing art, and in the second you will share what you have written. (Price is for both sessions; session two takes place on Thu 22 July.)
Got an opinion? You can now Comment on all our articles at list .co.uk 24 Jun–8 Jul 2010 THE LIST 31