AROUND TOWN | Events
and died in the 16th and 17th centuries. The underground tours are led by guides in the character of real people who lived in the close. ■ ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH Inverleith Row, 552 7171, rbge.org.uk Daily 10am–4pm. Free; glasshouse entry £5 (£4; children free). These gardens, founded in the 17th century, cover over 70 acres and are just one mile from the city centre. There are glasshouses and cafés within the grounds, as well as high- profile art exhibitions at Inverleith House.
■ ROYAL OBSERVATORY VISITOR CENTRE Blackford Hill, 668 8404, roe.ac.uk/ vc Entry by arrangement or at Public Astronomy evenings (weekly, Fri 6.30– 7.30pm & 8–9pm). Public Astronomy evenings £4 (£3). See the stars through the research centre’s magnificent copper domes at weekly astronomy evenings. ■ ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA Ocean Terminal, Leith, 555 5566, royalyachtbritannia.co.uk Daily 10.00am–3.30pm. £12.75 (£11.50; under 18s £7.75; under 5s free; family £36.50). Take a guided tour of the ornate floating royal residence (and the naval quarters below) and learn about life aboard the yacht, which served the royal family for almost 50 years.
■ SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE 354 Castlehill, 220 0441, scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk Daily 10am–6pm; entry is as part of a tour. Tours £12.75–£52 (£10.25–£26; under 18s £6.50). Learn more about Scotland’s tastiest export with a tour and tasting session. There is also a bar and restaurant if you need a few more drams to help decide which is your favourite. ■ SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT Horse Wynd, 0800 092 7500, scottish. parliament.uk Opening hours vary according to whether Parliament is in session, see website for details. See Spanish architect Enric Miralles’ magnificent (and controversial) Holyrood building, take a tour of the interior, sit in on a debate or look at the artwork on display.
■ SCOTT MONUMENT Princes Street Gardens East, 529 4068, edinburghmuseums.org.uk Daily 10am– 4pm. £4. Commemorating Sir Walter Scott, this is the largest monument to any writer in the world. Take all 287 steps to the top for a great view of the city, plus occasional exhibitions.
■ SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE AND JOHN KNOX HOUSE 43–45 High Street, 556 9579, scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk Mon– Sat 10am–6pm. Closed Sundays. Free
entry to SSC; John Knox House £5 (£4; children £1; under 7s free). A stylish contemporary building appended to the 15th century home of Protestant reformer John Knox, housing materials relating to Scotland’s rich oral culture.
EVENTS
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication by using our ‘Add an Event’ service at list.co.uk. Listings compiled by Rowena McIntosh. ✽ Indicates Hitlist entry GLASGOW
Activities & Events FREE New Start Scotland Thu 13 & Fri 14 Nov, 10am–4pm. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0330 122 2049. Over 150 exhibitions and 50 seminars at Scotland’s largest business exhibition for start-ups. ELIA NEU/NOW Festival Thu 13–Sun 16 Nov, 10–5am. Opening and exhibition free; film screenings and performances £5 each. Reid Building, Glasgow School of Art, 164 Renfrew Street, 353 4500. The European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) NEU/NOW Festival provides an international platform for graduating/ graduate artists and features emerging talent in fields such as visual art, music, film, animation theatre and dance.
✽ FREE Only Human? Fri 14–Sun 16 Nov, 11am–8pm. Gilmorehill
Centre, 9 University Avenue, University of Glasgow, 330 2892. A weekend festival exploring the relations between humans and the ‘more than human’. Featuring a broad range of talks, exhibitions, performances and more. Fundraising and Family Ceilidh for Syria Fri 14 Nov, 7.30–11pm. £5 (£4; under 14’s free). St Silas Episcopal Church, 69 Park Road Woodlands, 337 2276. Charity event in aid of supporting the millions of internally displaced people in need of help. Firewalk Tue 18 Nov, 6.30–9.30pm. £20. St Enoch Square, samh.org.uk A firewalk where participants aim to walk across 20 feet of wood embers burning at 1236 degrees Fahrenheit. Girls’ Day Out Fri 28 & Sun 30 Nov, 10am. £12. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 248 3000. The women’s lifestyle, health, beauty and fashion event. See preview, page 43. FREE Winter Wetlands Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov, 10.30am–2pm. Hogganfield Loch, 1628 Cumbernauld Road, 276 0931. This bird bus tour takes in some of Glasgow’s wetland areas and the winter birds found therein. Booking essential. The Gatsby Club Sat 29 Nov, 7.30pm–2am. £14 for the full night; £5 from 11.30pm. Glasgow University Union, 32 University Avenue, 339 8697. 1920s-themed club night of live jazz,
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44 THE LIST 13 Nov–11 Dec 2014
GLASGOW SANTA DASH It’s a wonder Santa can run anywhere after all those mince pies, but nevertheless, run he does. Thousands of him. All to raise funds for worthy causes such as the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. (You don’t have to be a gold star sprinter to take part, you’ll be glad to hear.) ■ George Square, Glasgow, Sun 7 Dec.
swing, comedy and burlesque. Dress Code: Christmas belles and festive finery. Stars Over the Botanics Tue 2 Dec, 7.30–9pm. £4 (children £2). Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, 334 2422. A star-gazing session with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. Ghost Tour Tue 2–Fri 5 Dec, 10.30pm. £12. Theatre Royal, 282 Hope Street, 0844 871 7647. Backstage experience with a spooky twist.
✽ Glasgow Coffee Festival Sat 6 Dec, 10am–8pm. £9. The Briggait,
141 Bridgegate, 553 5890. A one-day festival celebrating the mighty coffee bean and showcasing the speciality coffee scene in Scotland. Tastings, competitions, presentations and music on offer with all proceeds going to Coffee Kids UK. Ticket price includes one hot drink.
Exhibitions FREE Empowerment: Social Change Through Building Thu 27 Nov–Tue 9 Dec, 10.30am–5.30pm. Sundays, noon–5pm. The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, 276 5365. Showcase for Orkidstudio, which supports architectural projects in the developing world. Fairs & Markets FREE Christmas Craft Fair Sat 15 Nov, 10am–4pm. Partick Trinity Church, 20 Lawrence Street, particktrinity.org.uk Handmade gifts for Christmas plus baked goods, raffles and a professional make up stall. All proceeds towards GCA charity. The Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair Thu 20–Sun 23 Nov, 10am. £10. SECC, Finnieston Quay, 248 3000. Over 200 exhibitors showcase the finest in crafts, garden and home accessories and homemade food and drink. Demos and tasting sessions. FREE Glasgow Comic and Toy Fair Sat 6 Dec, 11am–5pm. Renfield St Stephen’s Church, 260 Bath Street, 332 6034. More than 30 tables selling comics, graphic novels, back issues, games and more. Free activity sheets, face painting and the chance to meet Super Santa. FREE Christmas Fayre Sun 7 Dec,
11am–3pm. House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, 353 4776. Get your hands on everything from jams and Christmas puddings to jewellery and festive garlands.
Sport ✽ Glasgow Santa Dash Sun 7 Dec, 9.30am. £15 (children £5). George
Square, glasgow.gov.uk/santadash A five kilometre fun run dressed as Saint Nic to raise funds for worthy causes. Entry fee includes Santa suit. See preview, above.
Talks FREE Transmission Gallery Artist Talks Wed 12 Nov, 7pm. Transmission Gallery, Trongate 103, 28 King Street, 552 7141. By artist Kathryn Elkin. FREE Kevin McKenna and guests Sat 15 Nov, 2–4pm. Mitchell Library, North Street, 287 2999. Exploring the contribution and impact of the Immigrant Irish in Glasgow. FREE The Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow Lectures Wed 26 Nov, 7.30–9pm. John Anderson Building, Strathclyde University, 107 Rottenrow East, 548 3444. Talk on the new V&A Dundee. 20 Years of Democracy: Art and Activism in South Africa Wed 3 Dec, 9.30am–5pm. £15 (£10). CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Co-hosted by Africa in Motion and the University of Glasgow. Focusing on South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994 and the role of art, music, film, literature and theatre in the anti-apartheid struggle. FREE A Pageant of Great Women: The Suffragettes and Performance Thu 4 Dec, 6–7.30pm. Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, 550 2267. Katharine Cockin, Professor of English at the University of Hull and author of Edith Craig (1869-1947): Dramatic Lives delves into the history behind the play A Pageant of Great Women. Booking essential. Workshops FREE Square Mile of Murder Thu 13 Nov, 2.30–4pm. Mitchell Library,