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AroundTown HITLIST A WHOLE LOTTA FESTIVALS
Leith Festival The Port does community festival in a staunchly, Leithly local way: the famous Trainspotting tours, an Art Deco dance, a discussion on class loyalty and its own, non- military, Tattoo. Edinburgh, various venues, Leith, Fri 10–Sun 19 Jun.
West End Festival Arrribba! With more than 600 events over two weeks, it’s time for Glasgow’s BoBo (that’s bourgeois bohemian, darling) quarter to celebrate itself again. See picture, page 62. Glasgow, various venues, West End, Fri 3–Thu 23 Jun. Glasgow Science Festival Prepare for a Scottish Opera science-themed musical, anatomically correct knitting, and a lecture from a Theoretical Zombiologist Doctor . . . Glasgow, various venues, Wed 1–Sat 18 Jun.
Refugee Week Scotland Yet another fest, this one with a varied programme that spans the whole country. See Noticeboard, page 9, and listings. Across Scotland, various venues, Mon 20–Sun 26 Jun.
Meadows Festival Long-running weekend (since 1974, date fans) of live music, face painting, clothing and jumble stalls, kids’ events and slightly hippyish atmosphere. Edinburgh, The Meadows, Sat 4 & Sun 5 Jun. Ready Steady Grow Pollokshields’ mini-garden fest, celebrating that community’s increasingly popular green-fingered, grow-it-youself ethos. Glasgow, Various gardens, Pollokshields, Sun 5 Jun, 1–4pm.
Edinburgh’s World Naked Bike Ride Get nude, get on your bike and ride, to raise awareness of the vulnerability of cyclists on our busiest roads. Edinburgh, The Meadows, Sat 11 Jun.
Bold Souls Chic pop up styling event run by Chouchou Couture and Les Garçons de Glasgow returns. The location was still top secret at time of going to press – see listings for website. Glasgow, venue tbc, Sat 11 Jun.
Challenge Scotland Run, Walk or Toddle for Scotland in aid of Alzheimer Scotland. It’s a whole day of sporting events – we think you have to be fully clothed for this one, though. Edinburgh, Holyrood Park, Sun 5 Jun.
Writers’ Bloc presents Mr Big Society Give your brain a work out, as Writers’ Bloc explore David Cameron’s big idea. Tongues may or may not be in cheeks. Edinburgh, Wee Red Bar, Wed 1 Jun.
60 THE LIST 26 May–23 Jun 2011
list.co.uk/aroundtown
NEIGHBOURHOODWatch AROUND YOUR BIT OF TOWN
NEWINGTON EDINBURGH
What’s it like? OK, we’ll get the inevitable out of the way first. There are a lot of students living in Newington. And while we know some of our readers aren’t that keen on students, their presence does imbue the area with a certain bounce and life not seen in some of the quieter parts of the city.
Where’s it, like? About 15 minutes from the Royal Mile: walk up the Bridges and keep going until the people on the streets begin to get younger and posher. Who’s from there? Harry Potter, thank you. Despite claims by other establishments, we all know the boy wizard was created in Nicolson’s, now Spoon, on Nicolson Street. And Inspector Rebus, although he lives in Marchmont, occasionally reports for work at the St Leonard’s Police Station. We can’t think of any real people off the top of our heads, although Walter Scott was known to be a fan of the area, as Heart of Midlothian and cosy snug The Jeanie Dean’s on St Leonard’s Street will testify.
Why would I go there? Because it’s home to some of the best independent shops and bars in the city. The Pear Tree and the Moo Bar are legendary, the Blind Poet has great real ale and hosts excellent spoken word night Blind Poetics on the first Monday, Word Power is a wonderful radical book shop with its own annual Fringe to the Charlotte Square festival, Hot Head give great hairdressing, and the hungry of all budgets are catered to with the excellent likes of Blonde, the Mosque Kitchen (pictured) and the aforementioned Spoon.