AroundTown
555 7100. Everything from paintings to jewellery and vintage clothing to furniture. FREE Out of the Blue Flea Market Sat 16 Jul, 10am–3pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Unbeatable bargain buys.
✽✽ FREE Magpie Market Sun 17 Jul, 11am. The Hub, Castlehill
Royal Mile, 473 2000. A craft fair offering contemporary craft and design objects from Edinburgh and beyond.
Talks A Day to Die For: 1996 Everest’s Worst Disaster – The Untold Story Thu 23 Jun, 6–7pm. £2 (EICA members free). Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, South Platt Hill, Ratho, 333 6333. Graham Ratcliffe has written a book about the real life disaster in 1996 that inspired Jon Krakauer’s haunting film Into Thin Air. Here he discusses his research and signs copies of the book.
✽✽ Dear Mr Harper Tue 28 Jun, 6pm. £4. National Library of Scotland,
George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Robin Harper, one of Scotland’s most popular and best-known politicians, discusses his new book with BBC Radio Scotland’s Iain Anderson. See picture, below. FREE Artist Talk: Paul Furneaux Wed 29 Jun, 6–8pm. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Artist Paul Furneaux gives a talk on Japanese woodblock printing. Ian Robertson and Gordon Rutter present: The Death and Life of the Great Lafayette Tue 5 Jul, 8pm. £12 (£10). Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 473 2000. Robertson and Rutter, who have just published a book on the legendary magician who died almost exactly a century ago in a fire at the Festival Theatre, present a talk on the life and death of the master illusionist. Suitable for ages 16+. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival. FREE Edinburgh Forteans Tue 12 Jul, 7.30pm. The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. See above: Rutter & Robertson reprise their talk for those who didn’t catch it at the Magic Festival. FREE Edinburgh Skeptics Thu 14 Jul, 7.30pm. The Bongo Club, Moray Dear Mr Harper
House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. Allan Callister discusses ‘Energy Healing – The Bad Touch?’ FREE The University of Edinburgh’s Enlightenment Lecture Mon 18 Jul, 6–7pm. Assembly Hall, New College, 1 Mound Place, edinburgh-university-38- eorg.eventbrite.com Prestigious annual lecture examining aspects of the Enlightenment’s legacy in relation to contemporary issues. This year’s is delivered by Nobel Laureate, Professor Amartya Sen, Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard University. Workshops The Comedy Kitchen Mondays, 27 Jun & 4, 11 & 18 Jul, 6–8pm. £5. City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. A two- hour workshop, open to all abilities hoping to polish their act, with advice, discussion and guest speakers. Belly Dancing Class: BellyBasics & ChroreoImpro Tuesdays, 28 Jun & 5, 12 & 19 Jul, 7–8pm (Basics) & 8.15–9.15pm (ChoreoImpro). £7 drop in or £50 for 8 classes. Studio Below, Medusa Hairdressing 26 Bread Street, bellydancingbarbie.com Build confidence, make friends and get fit with these bellydancing classes. Colin McLeod: It’s All in the Mind Thu 7 Jul, 8pm. £12 (£10). Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 473 2000. Magician/motivational speaker Colin McLeod gives a workshop incorporating show and tour of the Camera Obscura in the capabilities of the human mind and how to fool it. Suitable for ages 16+. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Gleetastic for Adults Fri 8 Jul & 15 Jul, 6.30–7.30pm. £6.50 per session. Sing for Smiles Vocal School, 3 Quayside Street, 555 5721. Sing your little heart out with some favourite songs from the hit TV show, every Friday night in July. A special offer is available if you book all four Saturdays in advance. Summer Sculpture Sat 9 Jul, 10.30am–3.30pm. £18. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make garden furniture from wood, willow, stone and metal, inspired by the
surroundings of Lauriston Castle. FREE Studio Demonstration of Mokuhanga Sat 9 Jul, 2–3pm. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Paul Furneaux demonstrates the art of Japanese woodblock printing, showing the level of control that the artist gains through these ancient manual techniques. Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sat 9 Jul, 8pm. £4 (£3). The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. Where cabaret meets life drawing– the models are burlesque divas, strapping hunks of manhood and circus freaks. Win alcohol and fancy art supply prizes at this antidote to solemn, lifeless classes. FREE Planet Pledge Thu 14 Jul, 5.30–7.30pm. The Melting Pot, 5 Rose Street, 243 2626. Find out what your impact on the environment is, and what you can do to lessen it. Storytelling Scotland: The People, the Stories, the Songs Sat 16 Jul, 10am–4pm. £50 (£46). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A day of talks and activities from some of Scotland’s finest Storytellers exploring Scotland’s culture and traditions. Sessions cover ballads, historical and hero legends, Scots folk, Gaelic folk, and music makers. Suitable for all aged 14+. Price includes lunch.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Activities & Events Midsummer Picnic Sat 25 Jun, 6–9pm. £20. Jupiter Artland, Bonnington House Steadings, Wilkieston, jupiterartland.org A hop, skip and jump from Edinburgh, Jupiter Artland bring the art and the picnic (salads, quiche, summer fruits and wine) and you bring the good vibes (and a rug) for a lovely way to spend an evening. Spectacular Jousting Extravaganza Sat 2 & Sun 3 Jul, 12.30–4.30pm. £11 (£8.80; children £6.60; family ticket £22.70–£39.30). Linlithgow Palace, Kirkgate, Linlithgow, historic-scotland.gov.uk Enormously popular day of Medieval entertainment from the Knights of Royal England. Advance booking recommended.
Home Sat 9 Jul, 6.30pm. £6–£10 donation on the door. Old St Paul’s Hall, 63 Jeffrey Street, rosie@doodlehut.com A community club night, featuring chill- out zone, a small craft market, a children’s zone and more. TED Global 2011 Mon 11–Fri 15 Jul, times vary. Prices vary. Edinburgh, ted.com. Conference of big ideas, and when we say big, we mean the preliminary programme includes titles like: ‘what’s the point of art?’ and ‘what is it like to be a baby?’ Talks are pacy at only 18 minutes each, and beyond that there’s a wealth of art, technology, social and networking events, video interludes, comedy, tours and ‘surprises’. Guid Crack: Summer Nights Fri 15 Jul, 7.30pm. £3 suggested donation. Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. The monthly club goes into overdrive with a flurry of weekly storytelling and song sessions, with a different guest storyteller each time. With guest Robert Howat. Crucible of Lost Souls Sat 16 Jul, 9am–11pm; Sun 17 Jul, 9am–6pm. £45. Adam House, 3 Chambers Street, 07876 794968. The Scottish qualifier for North West Warriors’ national Crucible of Lost Souls Warhammer Fantasy Battles tournament. Finish as one of the top two generals using a list from any Warhammer Armies supplement and get an exclusive free ticket to the final at Warhammer World, Nottingham in October. If none of that means anything to you, congratulations – you are not a nerd. FREE Remembered Remedies Sat 16 Jul, 10am–noon. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. We all know dock leaves take the nip out of a nettle sting, but how else do we use plants as remedies? Ethnomedica want to know your secrets. FREE Sparrowhawk Weekend Sat 16 & Sun 17 Jul, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. Exhibition and family activities focusing on these amazing raptors. Living Lauriston 1910 Sat 16 & Sun 17 Jul, 2pm & 3pm. £5 (children £3). Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Travel back in time to the Edwardian period and meet Mr and Mrs Reid and their staff. The Scottish Car Show Sun 17 Jul, from 10am. £15 (£9; children £9; family £33). Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Big car show featuring show cars, demos, stunt shows, mods, stalls, music, Terry Grant’s Motor Mayhem show and more. They also have a ‘Babe Army’. FREE RBGE Show and Tell: Meet the Spikey Babies Wed 20 Jul, 1.30–3pm. John Hope Gateway Centre, Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Not, as you might have thought, a creche for Hellraiser-themed infants, but an introduction to newly germinated cacti and succulents, natch.
✽✽ FREE The Golden Hour Wed 20 Jul, 8pm. The Forest Café, 3 Bristo Place, 220 4538. Loose cabaret evening with words, music and ‘raunchy cartoons’, hosted by the erudite, and moustachioed, Ryan Van Winkle, with readings and live music. This is set to be the penultimate regular monthly Golden Hour event, as the future of the Forest Café hangs in the balance and the organisers move on to other projects, so there’s extra reason to get down and show some support.
Fairs & Markets FREE CD & Record Fair Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jun, 10am–4.30pm. MacDonald Roxburghe Hotel, 38 Charlotte Square, 01360 440546. A wide selection of new and used CDs, vinyl and DVDs. FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 2 Jul, 11am–4pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Monthly boutique craft and design market. Out of the Blue Arts Market Sat 2 Jul, 11am–5pm. £0.80. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 42 THE LIST 23 Jun–21 Jul 2011
There are very few politicians almost universally revered by their peers and the public. (Saint) Margo Macdonald may be one; Robin Harper, almost as well-known for his hand-knitted signature rainbow scarf as he is for being the UK’s first ever elected Green Party parliamentarian, is another. Here he discusses his new book, and very probably the recent Scottish elections, with BBC Radio Scotland’s Iain Anderson. ■ National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Tue 28 Jun, 6pm. £4.