Jamie’s at Assembly Rooms – Penguins launch Rock Appeal – Our AR app – We need help for the Fringe! – Festival of Politics
Next Thursday the Assembly Rooms will once again open its doors to the public. Part of the renovation has been to form a restaurant which is being occupied by Jamie Oliver’s Jamie’s Italian. They are already taking bookings and you can find out more here.
***
Edinburgh Zoo will launch their 2012 appeal and introduce 2012’s gentoo chicks to the media today. Called the Penguins Rock Appeal, the Zoo is unveiling plans for a new 21st century colony for the Zoo’s iconic penguins.
Penguins Rock, the new enclosure, will cost £750,000 and feature a complete visual redesign; including interactive elements, slides and diving boards, enhanced interpretation and new viewpoints. Edinburgh Zoo is asking for assistance in raising £100,000 to go towards its new enclosure.
Edinburgh Zoo’s outdoor penguin pool is the largest in Europe and has served the Zoo’s much loved penguins for over 60 years. However in March, it was announced that their penguin enclosure would be the focus of an intensive maintenance and upgrade programme. In order to do this, the resident colony of kings, rockhoppers and gentoos were split up for a short time. A third of the penguin colony remained at Edinburgh Zoo, with the remaining birds being temporarily rehomed in other experienced Zoos.
Darren McGarry, Head of Animals at Edinburgh Zoo, explains more:-
“Our existing penguin enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo is one of our most iconic features, however after leaks started to appear in the main pool earlier this year, we took the decision to perform extensive maintenance work. We are now delighted to announce that Edinburgh Zoo will also carry out a total visual redevelopment as well, creating a new 21st century exhibit that both our penguins and visitors will love.
“To date, the important exploration work has how been completed and the first phase of engineering work and demolition has commenced. We’re also looking at a new filtration system, a special membrane to coat the existing pool and other maintenance. The bulk of the work will commence in September after the busy summer season and we hope to welcome back our esteemed penguin residents early next year.
“The total work to make our vision of a 21st century colony, worthy of our beloved penguins, will cost £750,000. We are seeking funds from a variety of sources, but will also make Penguins Rock the focus of our 2012 appeal. We hope that people can help us in raising £100,000 worth of funds. The remainder will be raised through grants, trusts, sponsors and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland funds – the charity that owns and operates Edinburgh Zoo.
“I’m also delighted to introduce Rocky and six other gentoo penguin chicks. We didn’t think our gentoo penguins would breed this year in their temporary enclosure as they really are creatures of habit, but have been delighted to be proved wrong!”
Penguin fans can leave a permanent legacy of support for Penguins Rock by sponsoring a penguin footprint near to the pool, with their name and a special dedication. This will be displayed for decades to come and viewed by thousands of people – not to mention the famous penguins on their daily penguin parade!
- £250 gives supporters a penguin footprint and their name at the enclosure
- £500 gives the same as above, plus an exclusive invite to the grand opening of Penguins Rock
- £1,000 gives all of the above, plus an exclusive experience for six at Penguins Rock
- Also text PENG12 £2, PENG12 £5 or PENG12 £10 to 70070
For more information on Penguins Rock Appeal, please visit www.penguinsrock.com or contact Edinburgh Zoo on penguinsrockappeal@rzss.org.uk or 0131 314 0380
***
We have now added many articles which have geolocation activated and which will enable you to pick up our articles around the city if you have the Wikitude app downloaded to your phone. All that you have to do is download the app and then search for ‘The Edinburgh Reporter’. What you will see on your screen – which then acts a bit like a camera – is all of our articles tagged in that part of the city which you can then click through to. We have tagged today’s article with a Leith Walk tag, but there are quite a few in George Street and St Andrew Square, and you can pick them up from quite a distance anyway. Do let us know what you think! This has been developed by Mike Rawlins from Pits n Pots with help from charity Nesta and the Talk about Local Project.
***
The Scotsman has helpfully listed its 50 recommendations of things to go and see at the Fringe this year. We are busy working on our Edinburgh Reporter Radio project which is to begin in a couple of weeks. We aim to record audio at, before, during and after Fringe events to bring you really up to the minute audience reaction and a round up of what you might still be able to go and see. We have recorded a couple of test articles already and you will find them on our new Radio Section. We need help however. Do you have the skills or the time to help us in August? Or if you have some energy and enthusiasm then we can train you to do what is necessary. So get in touch! email us theedinburghreporter@gmail.com to tell us what you might be able to help with. If you are staging a Fringe show then get in touch so that you can be featured too.
***
The Festival season is of course almost upon us and will include the Festival of Politics. The List has published a guide to help you decide what to go and see there… Are you going? Maybe you would write a review for us?
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
