Friday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Inch Community Centre Kids’ Club restarts today for ages P1-P4. Cooking, arts and crafts, physical activities and a healthy snack. 1.45-3.15pm every Friday until 12th December, Inch Community Centre, 225 Gilmerton Road. For more information contact the centre on 0131 664 4710 or email Margaret.faichney@ea.edin.sch.uk

Deborah Harkness:The Book of Life. Internationally bestselling author Harkness will talk about The Book of Life, the concluding part of the All Souls trilogy. ‘A rich,  thrilling and educational tale….a captivating and romantic ripping yarn’ (EL James, The Guardian.) 6pm, Waterstones West End (Princes Street).  Tickets cost £5 (£3 with Waterstones loyalty card) and can be purchased from the shop. Further details on 0131 226 2666.

Children’s Crafts: 2.30-3.30pm this and every Friday, Newington Library, 17-21 Fountainhall Road. Contact library for more information.

The Big Debate with Gordon Brewer: BBC Radio Scotland’s presenter Gordon Brewer invites you to ask the big questions about the Referendum. 11.30am-1pm, (broadcast live 12 noon-1pm) Greyfriars’ Kirk, Greyfriars’ Place. To apply for a place in the audience complete the form on the website here;  to submit your questions, email bigdebate@bbc.co.uk as soon as possible.

GENERATION:By Night. Modern One hosts a very special night in conjunction with GENERATION: 25 Years of Contemporary Art in Scotland. A unique evening featuring OPTIMO and GOLDEN TEACHER. Scottish dancefloor pioneers JD Twitch and JG Wilkes will man the turntables  in their own joyously eclectic style, while the Glasgow-based high energy afro-disco collective Golden Teacher perform live. 7.30-10pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, Belford Road. Free. Please book via eventbrite.

Demonstration of Traditional Oil Painting: The Portrait. Instructors from the Academy of Realist Art demonstrate traditional layering process oil painting as used by 19th century academies. 12 noon-4.30pm, Scottish National Gallery (Main gallery floor), The Mound. Drop-in; no booking required.

Children’s Crafts: this week making ‘The Eye of God.’ All 7-11 year olds welcome!  2-3pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge.

Lights, Camera, Action: Exploring the Cast of Characters in Charles Lees’ The Golfers. Angela Howe, Director, British Golf Museum, will take a look at the personalities in one of golf’s most important paintings. Painted in 1847, it portrays some of the key names associated with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the wider development of the game. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

Food Co-Op: Green City gives you the opportunity to buy cheap, high quality food from the Scottish Wholefoods Collective Warehouse. Ethically-traded vegetarian products, none involving animal-testing. 3-6pm, Forest Cafe, Lauriston Place.

Lammermuir Festival: want to get out of Edinburgh this weekend? Beautiful music is on offer in East Lothian as the Lammermuir Festival begins today. Events from Musselburgh to Dunbar, North Berwick to Humbie. Opening concert 8pm tonight, St Mary’s Church, Haddington. Festival continues to 21st September 2014. More information and booking here.