www.list.co.uk/aroundtown
in search of quality ethical goods including food, drink and household items. FREE Glenmorangie Whisky Sampling at the Scotch Whisky Experience Fri 27 Aug, 10am–5pm. Scotch Whisky Experience, 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, 220 0441. Try samples of Glenmorangie’s Single Malt and Bailie Nicol Jarvie blend. WoodWinters Friday Tastings Fri 27 Aug, 5pm. £5. WoodWinters, 91 Newington Road, 667 2760. Wine tasting on the last Friday of the month - the theme is ‘Fashionistas’. Bottoms up! World Café Fri 27 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. Families welcome. Booking advised. Jolly Toper Whisky Tastings Thu 2 Sep, 7.30pm. £17 (approx). The Tolbooth Tavern, 167 Canongate, 556 5864. Whisky tasting sessions at one of the best- stocked bars in town. Booking essential. LGBT FREE Different Strokes Thu 26 Aug & 9 Sep, 4–6pm. Glenogle Swim Centre, Glenogle Road, Stockbridge, 523 1100. Swimming session for transgender people. Email emma@lgbthealth.org.uk for info and to sign up. Evolve Launch with Rhona Cameron Fri 27 Aug, 7pm–midnight. £10. Revolution, 30a Chambers Street, 220 5679. A relaxed social networking event for gay professional ladies and their friends. Stand-up comedian and author Rhona Cameron will be in attendance to assist with the celebrations. See picture. FREE ShuttleScots Badminton Tue 31 Aug & 7 Sep, 7–9pm. Crags Sports Centre, 10 Bowmont Place, 523 1100. Social badminton group meeting every Tuesday at the Crags Sports Centre. Contact james@lgbthealth.org.uk for further information. FREE LGBT Glee Club Tue 31 Aug & 7 Sep, 8–10pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Learn some songs and recreate the magic of the TV phenomenon. Email intern@lgbthealth.org.uk for more information.
Talks FREE Impressionist Garden Tours at RBGE Sun 29 Aug, 2pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 624 6560. Exploring the flowers, plants and gardens that inspired Impressionist artists. Booking essential.
✽✽ Will Self: ‘The Last Refuge of Greatness’ Fri 27 Aug, 6–7pm. £8
(£6). National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. The writer and satirist discusses his lifelong fascination with scale, with a focus on artistic practice and creativity. See picture, page 74. FREE National Gallery Highlights Tour Sat 28 Aug, 2–2.45pm & 3–3.45pm. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. An introduction and tour of the key paintings in the National Galleries’ permanent collection. Meet at the main entrance. FREE Sun and Shade: The Impressionist Garden Tue 31 Aug, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Dr Clare Willson, co-curator of the Impressionist Garden exhibition, delves into the idyllic gardens of Monet, Manet, Sargent and others to explore picturesque imagery. FREE William McTaggart and Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery Wed 1 Sep, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Dallas Mechan discusses McTaggart’s place in Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery. FREE Christen Købke as a Portrait Painter Fri 3 Sep, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland:
Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Sine Krogh discusses Købke’s skill as a portraitist. FREE Festival Pecha Kucha Fri 3 Sep, 7.30pm. Inspace, 1 Crichton Street, 650 2750. Interested in stuff but don’t like it when people drone on for too long about it? Try this Japanese-style speed presentation event, where young creatives gather to show 20 images for 20 seconds each, so no time for spraffing. FREE Hard of Hearing Tour: Impressionist Gardens Sun 5 Sep, 11am–noon. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6560. Tessa Asquith- Lamb leads a tour with portable loops. FREE Peter Liversidge in Conversation with Alice Strang Mon 6 Sep, 12.45–1.15pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. The Lincolnshire-born artist discusses his work with Senior Curator Alice Strang. FREE Let the Flowers Speak Tue 7 Sep, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. David Mitchell, Curator at the Royal Botanic Garden, reveals the hidden identities of the plants that appear within the Impressionist Gardens exhibition. Life on the Streets of Old Edinburgh Wed 8 Sep, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Learn about colourful characters from Edinburgh’s past. Includes refreshments and a tour of the castle. Booking essential. FREE How Did a Scottish Game Conquer the World? Thu 9 Sep, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Find out about golf’s spread around the world from its origins in Scotland. Workshops FREE Sketching in the Park Fri 27 Aug, 10.30am–3pm. West Princes Street Gardens, 624 6200. Sketch the beautiful views from Princes Street Gardens, with artists on hand for tips and advice. Easel and all materials supplied. With the National Galleries of Scotland. An Introduction to Organic Gardening Sat 28 Aug, 9am–4pm. £40 (£20). Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, 664 9559. Learn all you need to know to grow tasty food. Booking essential. Introduction to Researching Your Scottish Family History Mon 30 Aug & 6 Sep, 9.30am. £75. ScotlandsPeople Centre, HM General Register House, 2 Princes Street, 01683 300389. Whether you’re a beginner or have already started researching your family history, this day with a professional genealogist should help you take your ancestral sleuthing to the next level. Includes lunch and refreshments. Telephone or email lesley@scottish-ancestral-trail.co.uk to book. FREE Impressionist Gardens: Sketching in the Royal Botanic Garden Sat 4 Sep, 10.30am–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. A drop-in drawing session inspired by Impressionist paintings and locations in the garden. Materials are supplied and artists are on hand to help. Mexican Mosaic Panels Sun 5 & Mon 6 Sep, 10.30am–3pm. £20. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. A two-day workshop for adults in which you’ll use colourful tiles and bits of broken glass to make a panel for your home. Booking essential. FREE The Drawing Room Thu 9 Sep, 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. Booking essential.
Outside the Cities Cowal Highland Gathering Thu 26–Sat 28 Aug, 9am–6pm. Day tickets
Around Town
Evolve Launch with Rhona Cameron Come along and help to launch
Evolve, a new regular social networking event for gay professional ladies and their friends. Stand-up comedian and author Rhona Cameron will be in attendance to assist with the celebrations. ■ Revolution, Chambers Street Edinburgh, Fri 27 Aug, 7pm–midnight. £10.
£4–£10 (children £1–£2). The Stadium, Argyll Street, Dunoon, 01369 703206. World famous Highland games with competitors from all over the world travelling to enter the heavy events. Featuring the Cowal Pipe Band Championship and World Highland Dancing Championships. Largs Viking Festival Sat 28 Aug–Sun 5 Sep, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, Largs, www.largsvikingfestival.com. Learn all about those crazy Vikings, who were driven out of Scotland in 1263, with a week of Viking-related events. There’s a Viking village and re-enactments, plus a firework display and farmers’ and continental markets. FREE The Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Sun 29 Aug, from noon. Southbank Marina, Southbank Road, Kirkintilloch, 578 0144. A day of fun at Scotland’s canal capital, with boat trips, arts and crafts and a range of live bands including Aaron Wright and the Aprils, Glasgow Wind Band and Raintown. The event also includes the on-site creation of a metal sculpture by metalworker Eden Jolly, who will be firing up his furnace and moulding metal for everyone to see. FREE Doors Open Days Sat 4–Sun 26 Sep, times vary. Various Venues, Scotland, 221 1466. Get into local landmarks and hidden architectural gems free of charge. Buildings range from castles and distilleries to fire stations and schools, and different areas of the country
will be having their doors open days on different weekends throughout the month. FREE The Trossachs Beer Festival Fri 27 Aug–Sun 5 Sep, The Lade Inn, Kilmahog, Callander, 01877 330152. A traditional beer festival with live folk music, beer-based events and lovely food. More than 25 cask ales and over 100 bottled Scottish beers on offer. The pub is both children and dog friendly. Dundee Flower and Food Festival Fri 3–Sun 5 Sep, Fri 11am–6pm; Sat 10am–6pm; Sun 10am–5.30pm. Day tickets £8–£10 (£7–£9); weekend tickets £16–£20 (£14–£18). Camperdown Country Park, Coupar Angus Road, Dundee, 01382 433815. A three-day extravaganza of cookery and gardening demonstrations, children’s activities, a craft fair, and the chance to buy a wide range of plants and food products. The National Vegetable Society also holds its championships, and special guests, TV duo The Hairy Bikers, will be dropping in to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Society. FREE Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight Sat 4–Sun 19 Sep, Scotland- wide, 0131 5248621. A celebration of Scottish locally-sourced, healthy food involving businesses around the country. Restaurants and bars are offering local menus, while events range from venison tasting in Linlithgow to the Flower and Food Festival in Dundee. See www.scottishfoodanddrinkfortnight.co.uk for full details. 26 Aug–9 Sep 2010 THE LIST 75