AROUND TOWN | Events
Mackintosh Subway Tour Sun 19 & 26 Oct, 10am–4pm. £10 (£6). Scotland Street School Museum, 225 Scotland Street, 287 0500. Tour of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s works using the Glasgow Subway to shuttle between key sites. Part of Creative Mackintosh Festival. FREE Black Nationalist Groups and American Civil Rights Tue 21 Oct, 7–9pm. Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead Street, 330 4221. A discussion about black nationalist groups and their leaders. FREE Glasgow Skeptics Mon 27 Oct, 7pm. The Admiral, 72a Waterloo Street, 221 7705. ‘Lies, Cover-Ups Theft and Death: Just Another Day in the Office. The Psychology of Corporate Corruption’. Dr Adam Moore explores corporate violence and corruption. FREE TalkSeePhotography Tue 4 Nov, 7pm. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Photography types share, discuss and look at still photography.
✽ Gordon Buchanan: Lost Adventures Tue 4 Nov, 7.30–9pm.
£12.50–£14.50. Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Gordon’s tales of his adventures, expedition and wildlife experiences. See preview, page 46.
Workshops FREE Adult Art Afternoons Sundays, 1–3pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Free classes to help you unleash your inner art beast. Booking essential. Intro to Sewing Workshop Sat 25 Oct, 11am–5pm. £60. The Stitchery, Flat 2/2, 50 Kent Road, 573 0475. Go from complete newbie to creator/owner of a fancy new tote bag in this one-day workshop that covers machine basics. Photography Workshops Sun 26 Oct, 10.30am–1pm. £30 (includes tea and sail). Peccadillo Barge, 1 Applecross Street, 07779 787122. Hop aboard the boat and take photos on a short canal trip.
Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sun 9 Nov, 1–3pm. £7 (£5). Stereo, 20–28 Renfield Lane, 222 2254. Burlesque art class. Laydeez Do Comics Mon 10 Nov , 6.30–9pm. £2. Pearce Institute, 840 Govan Road, 445 6007. A worldwide graphic novel forum led by women.
EDINBURGH Activities & Events Hispanic Festival Wed 15 Oct– Fri 31 Oct, Times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 07813 159823. Events showcasing Spanish and Latin American culture. Watch out for the Flamenco performances. FREE Literature Tour – Language and the Land Sat 18 Oct, 2.30pm. The Scottish Parliament, Horse Wynd, 0800 092 7500. A tour of the Parliament building with an eye to its literary past, including links with Ian Rankin and Robert Burns. Email to book. FREE Wellbeing Mela Sun 19 Oct, 1–4pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Celebrate diversity and promote positive mental health and wellbeing among Edinburgh’s varied minority ethnic communities. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. The Cancer Research UK Ceilidh Experiment Fri 24 Oct, 7pm–midnight. £10 (£7–£8). Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 560 1581. A hoolie in aid of Cancer Research UK. Mercat Tours: Vaults Vigil Sat 25 & Fri 31 Oct, 11.59pm–4am. £55. Mercat Cross, High Street. Join Mercat Tours for a guided exploration of South Bridge vaults and a chance to observe and record paranormal activity overnight. FREE Tea Dance at the Portrait Gallery Mon 27 Oct, 2–4pm. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, 624 6200. Tea dance with a wartime
theme. With music from That Swing Sensation. Booking required.
✽ Night in the Garden Thu 30 Oct–Thu 13 Nov, 6pm. £12.50
Online bookings at www.rbge.org.uk/ botaniclights Phone 0844 573 8455 or in person at The Fringe Shop, 180 High Street, Edinburgh. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2909. Follow a trail of light through the Botanic Garden and see it illuminated as you’ve never seen it before.
✽ FREE Samhuinn Fire Festival Fri 31 Oct, Times tbc. (donations
welcome). Royal Mile, beltane.org Hosted by Beltane Fire Society to celebrates the Celtic New Year. Watch a stunning torchlit procession down the Royal Mile, with acrobatics, fireworks, beautiful costumes and breathtaking performances.
✽ Close Fest Fri 31 Oct–Fri 7 Nov, Times vary. Prices vary. The Real
Mary King’s Close, 2 Warriston’s Close, High Street, 0845 070 6244. The Real Mary King’s Close hosts this week-long spooky festival which covers music, tours, talks and more. FREE The Edinburgh Poetry Tour Sat 1 Nov, 2pm. Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. Visit various places of poetic interest on a walk around Edinburgh. Fireworks Extravaganza Sun 2 Nov, 4.10pm & 6.40pm. £6.50–£7.50 (family £24–£26; under 2s free). George Watson’s Rugby Stadium, Myreside Road, 629 9112. There are two fireworks displays at George Watson’s Rugby Stadium, both feature a full programme of entertainment, including Delighters Fire Circus Theatre, rock choir and pipe band. Book via SLA charity website. FREE Rock Trust Sleep Out Thu 6 Nov, 7pm–7am. Festival Square, Lothian Road, rocktrust.org Get sponsored and spend the night out in the cold in aid of Rock Trust, a charity supporting young homeless people.
Fairs & Markets The Vintage Kilo Sale Sat 18 Oct, 12–4pm. £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. FREE Fresh Start Charity Sale Sat 25 Oct, 10am–1pm. The Fresh Start Food Station, 1 Harrison Place, 476 7741. Buy up some baked goods, bric a brac, crafts and more and help raise funds for homelessness charity Fresh Start. FREE A Spoonful of Vintage Sun 9 Nov, 11am–4.30pm. Spoon, 6a Nicolson Street, 07711 839958. Vintage ceramics, collectables, homewares and furniture from the 50s, 60s and 70s, vintage fashion and accessories, plus vintage hair and make-up styling and high teas. Sport The Fit Festival Sat 18 & Sun 19 Oct, 10am–5pm. £10. Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, 467 1529. A two day health, fitness and nutrition event. See column, page 45. Glow Neon Fun Run Sat 25 Oct, 7–10pm. £10. Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. Get doused in glowing water as you run, walk, dance or locomotion along the course. Unibet Masters Sat 1 & Sun 2 Nov, 12.45pm & 7pm. £20–£25. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. The world’s best darts players assemble.
Talks Enlightened! A Walking Tour of Edinburgh’s New Town in the Age of Reason Wed 15 Oct–Wed 12 Nov, 2–3.30pm. £10 (groups of five or more £8 per person). Dundas House, 36 St Andrew Square, 07459 109460. Explore the New Town with Enlightened! walking tours and learn about how clever Edinburgh’s people of yore were. Meet outside. FREE Annual SSHoP Lecture: Paul Seawright Wed 22 Oct, 6–7.30pm.