list.co.uk/aroundtown
3000. Today it’s ‘Edge of Darkness: Talk on Dark Nebulae’ by Dr Nick Hewitt, British Astronomical Society. Workshops ITISON Crochet for Beginners Taster Sessions Sat 22 Mar, 11am, 1pm & 3pm. £15 (includes material). The Stitchery, Flat 2/2, 50 Kent Road, 07969 044462. A bite-sized sample of crochet during which you’ll decorate your own alice band. With expert Kat Goldin. All the Young Nudes – Life Drawing Club Every Tue, 8–10pm. £4. The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street, 564 1450. A relaxed life drawing club with music and a bar to aid the flow of inspiration. Dressmaking and Design Every Thu 3 Apr–5 Jun, 2–4pm or 7–9pm. £175 (plus fabrics) for ten weeks. The Stitchery, Flat 2/2, 50 Kent Road, 07969 044462. Feel pretty, oh so pretty, in a dress you’ve made with your own two hands (and sewing machine). Appropriate for anyone with basic sewing skills. The Value of the Local: Writing for a Specific Theatre with Clare Duffy Sat 5 Apr, 2.30pm. £3. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Award- winning playwright Duffy (3Crossings, ANA) explores writing theatre-specific drama. TalkFest. Textile Screenprinting with Laura Spring Sat 12 Apr, 9.30am–4pm. £75. Grey Wolf Studios, 131 Craighall Road, lauraspring.co.uk A course to help you learn the ropes of screenprinting. By the end of the day you’ll have four brand new, custom printed totes to brag about. Price includes all materials; reserve a spot online. Explore MacMillan Veni, veni, Emmanuel Sat 12 Apr, 10.30am– 4.30pm. £25 (includes refreshments and lunch). City Halls, Candleriggs, 353 8000. Paul Rissmann leads a study day exploring James MacMillan’s Veni, veni, Emmanuel, the most performed percussion concerto in the world.
EDINBURGH
Activities & Events Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace Thu 20–Fri 28 Mar, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 331 4469. For the tenth year the fest draws together people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, traditions and communities to celebrate peace and mutual understanding via spiritual, educational, artistic and cultural events. Freeze Frame Film Club Fri 21 Mar, 6.45pm. Free (two-course meal £12). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. A classic film club to satiate your desire for black and white cinematography and actors with excellent elocution. The OOTB cafe menu is inspired by the evening’s film. Scottish Golf Show Sat 22–Mon 24 Mar, 9.30am–5pm. £15. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Try and buy equipment, enjoy short game and putting practice areas, take free lessons from PGA professionals and much more besides. The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition Sat 22 Mar, 11am–4.30pm. £5 (group of four £15). Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 01290 518424. Edinburgh’s biggest bridal event featuring over 100 suppliers, cocktails, live bands and a pamper area. Scottish Beauty Show Sun 23 Mar, 10am–5pm. Mon 24 Mar, 10am–4pm. £10. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Companies showcasing their latest products, treatment launches, equipment innovations and training courses for beauty, nails, tanning and holistic therapies.
✽FREE Hidden Door Festival Fri 28 Mar–Sat 5 Apr, times vary. Prices
vary. East Market Street Vaults, East Market Street, hiddendoor.org Artists of all stripes congregate for the Hidden Door interdisciplinary arts festival, which features dozens of cool if completely
obscure musicians, bands, artists, poets and filmmakers, often working in new and exciting combinations. Scottish Tattoo Convention Sat 29 Mar, 11am–10pm. Sun 30 Mar, 11am–8pm. £20 per day or £30 for a weekend ticket. Corn Exchange, 11 Newmarket Road, 477 3500. Attracting artists from across the globe to get their jaggy paintbrushes all over your body. There’s also music, burlesque, competitions and merch. Edinburgh International Science Festival Sat 5–Sun 20 Apr, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 0844 557 2686. Hands-on science in venues across the city with programme ranging from the entertaining to the controversial and, of course, the icky. See feature, page 24 and Making It preview, page 37. Edinburgh International Wedding Exhibition Sat 5 Apr, 10am–5pm. £8.50 for entry; £11 for entry plus bridal showcase; £25 VIP access. EICC, 150 Morrison Street, 611 0330. A brand new wedding fair on the scene, gathering together over 200 industry experts offering products, seminars and demos. FREE Sofi’s Pugs in Pubs Sat 5 Apr, noon–5pm. Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street, 555 7019. Like a playdate where it’s acceptable for all the parents to drink. All dogs welcome, not just those of the tiny, wrinkly variety.
✽LateLabs Sat 5, Sun 6, Mon 9–Sun 13, Wed 16–Sun 20 Apr, times vary. Prices vary. Appleton Tower, University of Edinburgh, Crichton Street. This year’s Science Fest features an expanded LateLab programme, delving into topics including alternative food sources, synaesthesia, laughter and gambling. Expect hands-on science activities, face time with experts and more. See preview, page 36. Edinburgh International Science Festival. Wide Days Wed 9 & Thu 10 Apr, times vary. £34–£125. Teviot, Bristo Square, 650 4673. Born to be Wide present two days of music seminars (topics include music publishing, photography and digital services) plus a series of live gigs.
✽Botanics Late: Indigenous? Thu 17 Apr, 7.30–10pm. £10 (£8). Royal
Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. An after-hours event at the gardens, with live music, exhibitions, activities, a bar and a chance to view Corin Sworn’s exhibition. EISF.
Exhibitions Brick Wonders Sat 5–Thu 17 Apr, 10am–4pm. £2–£4. Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, 220 1232. Architectural gems in Lego, created by Warren Elsmore. FREE Wild Medicine Sat 12–Wed 16 Apr, 10am–7pm. Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. An exhibition looking at the weird and wonderful ways animals treat their aches and pains. EISF.
Fairs & Markets The Vintage Kilo Sale Sat 22 Mar, 11am–4pm. £1. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Vintage fashion sale where shoppers turn up and pay £15 per kilo of clobber. Hmm, how many floaty silk blouses make up a kilo? FREE Secondhand Bike Sale Sat 29 Mar, 10am–noon. Edinburgh Steiner School, 60 Spylaw Road, 337 3410. Buy or sell a second-hand bicycle, tag-a-long, scooter or bike accessory at this fundraiser for cycle proficiency training for pupils and other aspects of the eco- schools programme. FREE Out of the Blue Flea Market Sat 29 Mar, 10am–3pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Bargain buys including furniture, clothes, music and more. FREE Me to You Markets Sat 29 Mar, 10.30am–4pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 07796 905986. A range
GREAT DAYS OUT IDEAS
Workshops Harp Workshops with Charlotte Sager Every Sat, times vary. £15–£25. Blackwell’s, 53–59 South Bridge, 622 8222. Complete beginners and all other levels
of vintage home wares, preserves, clothing, toys, handmade jewellery and more. FREE Loppis Fri 11 Apr, 2–4pm. Victoria, 265 Leith Walk, 555 1638. Swedish-style junk sale.
Talks FREE What’s the Difference Between You and a Computer? Thu 20 Mar, 5.30–8.15pm. Edinburgh University Informatics Forum, 10 Crichton Street. Dig into the subject of artificial intelliegence by partaking in some science-y activities. Scottish Enlightenment – Ideas and Objects Sat 22 Mar, 1.30–4pm. £10 (£8). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. A panel of experts looks at the beautiful ideas of the Enlightenment and the beautiful objects they created. FREE Munro Lecture: Neanderthals and Modern Human Origins Mon 24 Mar, 5.15–6.15pm. St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, 668 2019. Prof Katerina Harvati shares some breakthroughs in the study of our furrier cousins, looking at how humans and Neanderthals may have interacted. Winter Talks Mon 24 Mar, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50) per lecture; season ticket £20 (£10). Tonight, for ‘Life in the Cosmos: Are We Forever Isolated?’, Charles Cockell discusses whether there’s life elsewhere in the universe, and if there is, whether we’ll ever make contact with it. The Scottish Divisions 1914–1919 Wed 26 Mar, 6.30–7.30pm. Free but ticketed. Stockbridge Library, 11 Hamilton Place, 529 5665. Adam Brown talks about the six Scottish divisions deployed in France and the Middle East during WWI. FREE Rebecca Gouldson: Artist’s Talk Sat 29 Mar, 3–5pm. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. The metalsmith discusses her exhibition The Industrial Shift. Booking essential. FREE Edinburgh Ragged University Talks Thu 10 Apr, 7–10pm. Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 667 7533. Tonight’s talks for enquiring minds are ‘Why Don’t People Vote?’ by Helena Catt and ‘Schizophrenia: Reflections by an Insider’ by Kenneth Wilson. Doug Allan: In the Company of Giants Sun 13 Apr, 7.30pm. £14 (£12.50). Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 248 4848. Illustrated talk from the award-winning cameraman, who has worked on the shows Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Ocean Giants. Does Technology Make You Smarter? Thu 17 Apr, 10.30–11.30am. Free but ticketed. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Dr Mark Sprevak examines the way technology changes our children’s brains, from memory to abstract reasoning. Babies and pre-school children welcome at this ‘Philosophy in the Playground’ lecture. FREE Spotlight On: Minerals and Mobile Phones Thu 17 Apr, 2–3pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3734. Curator Dr Rachel Walcott and Prof Simon Hartley
explore all the chemical elements
that mobile phones contain (hint: it’s nearly all of them).
of harpists can book a lesson with RSAMD grad and professional
instructor Sager. Harps are provided. Sewing Alphabet Cushions Workshop Sat 22 Mar, 10.30am–4pm. £45. Avery Homestore, 7–9 Church Hill Place, 447 1000. Further your soft furnishing skills and create 3D personalised cushions in the shape of letters. Watercolour Portraits Workshop with Aine Divine Sat 22 Mar, 10.30am–4.30pm. £80. The Edinburgh
Events | AROUND TOWN Drawing School, 13A Great King Street, 07791 121313. Create some beautiful art at this one-day workshop, suitable for all levels. Email to book. Booking essential. Wool Eater Crochet Workshop Sat 22 Mar, 2–4.30pm. £25. Avery Homestore, 7–9 Church Hill Place, 447 1000. Learn Sarah London’s crochet design and be prepared to go through a lot of wool. All the Young Nudes – Life Drawing Club Every Tue 8–10pm. £4.50. The City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. See Glasgow, Workshops. Introduction to Water-Based Screenprinting Sat 29 & Sun 30 Mar, 10am–5.30pm. £160 (£110). Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Use anything from photocopied images or text to your own drawings to screenprint onto paper. Booking essential. Mother’s Day Quilting Workshop Sat 29 Mar, 10am–4pm. £40. St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road, 661 1924. The perfect Mother’s Day present for those who want to make quilts, but need to start at the very beginning. Run by Lovelorn Creative. Weaving Song and Story: In the Scots Tradition Sat 29 Mar, 2–5pm. £18 (members £15). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A workshop for storytellers and singers bringing to life Scots story and song. Instant Peace Lab Workshop Thu 3, 10 & 17 Apr, 7–10pm. £10 (£6) per session; £15–£25 for all three. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Explore the power of creativity to dissolve conflict in these three workshops run by Lee Gershuny (Elements World Theatre), which can be taken individually or as a course. Anatomy Drawing Day Sun 13 Apr, 10am–4pm. £15. Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, 527 1600. Study the mechanics of human anatomy with a the help of a life model and the pathology collections of the Surgeons’ Hall Museum. Ages 8+. EISF.
KEARA MURPHY: MICE AND WOMEN (one woman comedy show)
Sat 24 May 7.30pm Tickets £7.50 / £5
JIM DIAMOND & BAND / HORSE
Sun 25 May 7.30pm (Doors open 7pm) Tickets £15
Tickets from www.ayrgaiety.co.uk or 01292 288235
20 Mar–17 Apr 2014 THE LIST 41