Monday in Edinburgh – what’s on today

Edinburgh Book Fringe 2014: John Menaghan and Andy Jackson.  Prize-winning poet and playwright John Menaghan has published four books with Salmon Poetry (Ireland); four of his short plays have been staged in Los Angeles and one in Omaha.  Menaghan teaches literature and creative writing at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he also serves as the Director of Irish Studies and Summer in Ireland programmes. Andy Jackson takes his poetic inspiration from the most unlikely sources, from cult movies to the inner secrets of dentistry. He is from Salford but has lived in Scotland for over twenty years. His debut collection The Assassination Museum was published by Red Squirrel in 2010 and he is editor of Split Screen, an anthology of poems inspired by film and TV. A second poetry collection is due next year. 1pm, Word Power Books, 43-45 West Nicolson Street. All welcome! Admission free – donations also welcome!

Lunchtime Concert: Piano Speak.  Will Pickvance performs popular piano improvisations and witty repartee. ‘A Bach fugue evolves into a bebop classic on its way to becoming a version of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit.’ 12.15pm, St Giles Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Be Arty Be Healthy: a new six week photography project for people with experience of mental health issues, developed in collaboration with Outlook. The project will lead to an exhibition to be shown at Craigmillar Library during the Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in October. If you would like to be involved, or know someone who might be interested, get in touch with Tracy, Be Arty Be Healthy Project Coordinator, on 0131 669 8432 or email beartybehealthycca@gmail.com. 1-4pm,today and for the next five Mondays,  Craigmillar Community Arts Centre, 58 Newcraighall Road.

Where Do I End and You Begin: informal curator’s tour of the exhibition and its themes, with Agnes Gryczkowska, curatorial assistant. 3pm, City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. Free and unticketed.

Edible Gardening Seasonal Advice: drop in to find out how to grow your own food, and take a look around the productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project team.  1-3 pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free, no booking required. Also available on Tuesday 19th August.

Free Fringe Music at The National Museum of Scotland. Today: The Erskine String Quartet. 2-2.40pm, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street.

Discover Islam Exhibition: friendly guides will show you round Edinburgh Central Mosque and exhibition and answer your questions. ‘A dynamic experience of knowledge, art and culture.’ Free admission, literature and refreshments. 12 noon – 5pm Saturday to Thursday, 2-5pm Friday, until 28th August 2014, Edinburgh Central Mosque, 50 Potterow. Part of Islam Festival Edinburgh, which is made possible by donations of the Muslim community and the Mosque.

Lunchtime concert: Louise Cournarie, piano. 1.10-1.50pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

Cityselfie Workshop: get hands-on with drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles – explore the city space above your head. 11.30am-1.30pm, Edinburgh College of Art, Main Building, Lauriston Place. Free but places are limited and must be booked via eventbrite. Part of ECA Masters Festival 2014.

Designers Talk: Problem Solving, Storytelling and Innovating.  Join graduating Design students as they discuss their work before taking you on a guided tour of the degree show. 2-3.30pm, Edinburgh College of Art, Main Building, Lauriston Place. Free but places are limited and must be booked via eventbrite. Part of ECA Masters Festival 2014.