Friday, 11th February
Royal Scottish National Orchestra: Romantic Valentine’s Classics
The Usher Hall holds a nationwide series of concerts presenting the most romantic classical compositions. No matter which composer is your definition of love: Tchaikovsky, Ravel or Mahler, you are more than likely to be in the romantic mood before the start of the weekend!
Usher Hall,Lothian Rd, EH1 2EA | 7.30pm | tickets: 10 -32 pounds; concessions for the diabled, under 16s and under 25s
Saturday, 12th February
Bring a friend weekend
The University of Edinburgh Centre for Sport and Exercise encourage all the current members to bring their friends for the weekend on 12th and 13th February for free gym sessions! Just print the voucher and show it at the reception!
Centre for Sport and Exercise, ( 46 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ) | 12th and 13th of February | free
Friends of The Earth Ceilidh
Friends of The Earth Scotland are holding a Valentine’s Ceilidh, which will be a fundraising event for the charity. There will be live music by Cosmic Ceilidh Band as well as special guests the Electric Avenue Band. .
Rudolph Steiner School (60 Spylaw Road, EH10 5BR) | 7.30- 11.59 pm | £10 (£6.50 concessions), book at www.thebooth.co.uk or call 0131 243 2700
Sunday, 13th February
Specials at the Jazz Bar
Jazz Bar organises a unique burlesque models drawing-class (and competition!) in the afternoon So get yourself in the artistic-romantic mood and don’t forget to try the new “Love Potion 69” cocktail!
Jazz Bar (1A Chambers Street, EH1 1HR, tel.0) 131 220 4298) | 3-6pm |£7 (£6 concessions), book at www.drsketchyedinburgh.co.uk
Anti-valentine singers’ night with Claire Daly promises to soothe any broken hearts with the anti-Hallmark retaliatory songs. This jazz music will definitely help you to get ready for the next day!
Jazz Bar (1A Chambers Street, EH1 1HR, tel.0) 131 220 4298) | from 8pm| 5 pounds (3 concessions)
Monday, 14th February
Wildlife Ramble in Bawsinch and Duddingston Nature Reserve
Scottish Wildlife Trust have prepared a series of free guided walks through the wildlife reserve. This unique venue, located just 3 kms from the centre of Edinburgh is a home for numerous rare bird species. A walk through a picturesque loch might be a perfect day out, both for families and singletons!
Bawsinch and Duddingston Nature Reserve (access is from the bend on Duddingston Road West, tel. 0131 312 4742) | 11am-4pm | free
Italian dinner at VinCaffe
A three-course dinner accompanied by traditional Italian live music is being held at VinCaffe . Book any time, but they especially recommend arriving at 6.30, when the musicians come!
Vincaffe (11 Multrees Walk,EH1 3DQ ) | dinner served all day, music from 6.30 pm to 9pm | £45 per person, for reservations call 0131 557 0088 or email reservations@vincaffe.co.uk
Dinner at the Gateway Restaurant (Royal Botanic Gardens)
Why don’t you treat your beloved to a dream-dinner in the greenest place in Edinburgh? The Gateway Restaurant, located at the Royal Botanic Gardens, organises a four-course dinner accompanied by the sparkling wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Sounds romantic enough? Book a table before it’s gone!
The Gateway, Arboretum Place, EH3 5LR tel. 0131 552 1974 | from 7pm | cost: £40 per person, booking essential
The Anti-Valentine Slam
The creators of the event encourage: “Calling all the lovelorn, cynical, and still-illusioned! Calling all those without a date for the night, or who want to bring their dates to the hottest, steamiest, nastiest live-lit event in town! Calling worldly wordly competitors and the audience for whose pleasure they will be performing! Calling one and all to The Anti-Valentine’s Slam, presented by Inky Fingers.
They are calling for 16 brave writers and performers to sign up to compete for a tasty grand prize and the admiration of all. The winner will be eligible for the Scottish Slam Final on March 4th, in Glasgow, where they’ll be competing for a £200 cash prize! You can perform anything artful into that mic – stories, poetry, rap, experimental vocalisations – as long as it’s within the time limit and you’re prepared to face the audience judges. The only rule is: no love poetry. The audience won’t just be participating in and judging this mock-gladiatorial competition. Entry will be by donation, with all funds going towards paying running costs for future Inky Fingers events”.
The City Café, (19 Blair Street EH1 1QR)|8pm -11.30 pm | entry by donation (suggested £3-4 )
Valentine’s shindig at Malones Irish Bar
Live music and speed lingua (don’t confuse with speed dating – it’s language exchange meeting!) are the main attractions of the Valentine’s evening at Malones. Two local bands: Forever Alone and Screen Kids will be playing while the local people can meet the internationals and learn languages in the entertaining atmosphere!
Malones Irish Bar (33 Forrest Road) | 8pm –late | entry: £1
Tuesday, 15th February
Performance and talk: National Library of Scotland host an alternative Valentine’s celebration
National Library of Scotland invites for an alternative post-Valentine celebration of word and music in the company of Ewan Morrison, a critically acclaimed author of novels “Swung”, “Distance” and “Menage”.
National Library of Scotland, (George IV Bridge EH1 1EW) |8 pm | for booking call 0131 623 3918
