What’s On in Edinburgh this week - The Edinburgh Reporter

MONDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2014

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. 1-3pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free drop-in session. Also available on Tuesday 9th September.

LGBT Drop-In with talk on preparing for a GP appointment: informal weekly gathering for LGBT people – meet others in a friendly, relaxed and welcoming environment and find out what is happening at the Centre and in the community. Between 6.30 and 7.30pm, a GP will discuss how to make the most of appointments – use the session to ask questions and get tips on the best way to make the most of future appointments with your doctor. 5.30-8pm, LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre, 9 Howe Street.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Children’s Book Group: a group for 8-11 year olds with a love of books and biscuits. A friendly hour of fiction and chat, currently reading Lauren Child’s look into my eyes. 6-7pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. To join this free group email childrens.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Not About Heroes: Gala Opening Night. Feelgood Theatre Productions presents a play by Stephen MacDonald, directed by Caroline Clegg. Not About Heroes focuses on the meeting of war poets Wilfred Owen and Seigfried Sassoon at Craiglockhart War Hospital . ‘A timeless and uncompromising exploration of courage, humanity and intense friendship forged through poetry and the power of words overshadowed by the terrible and all-consuming conflict of the First World War.’ Suitable for ages 11+. 7.30pm, then at varying times on 9th & 10th September – see website for details – The Rivers Suite, Napier University Craiglockhart Campus, 219 Colinton Road. Concessions, group and school ticket prices available: book here.

Words and Deeds: Weapons and Wounding. Surgeons’ Hall, in partnership with Edinburgh University, brings its touring exhibition to Edinburgh Napier’s Sighthill Campus. The exhibition highlights the severity of injuries that women in warfare would have dealt with, exploring the progression of weaponry and the ever increasing need for new medical and surgical techniques to cope with wounding in warfare. 9am-4pm Monday to Friday until 30th September 2014, Level 4 LRC, Edinburgh Napier University Sighthill Campus, Sighthill Court. Free.

Pear Tree Quiz: Know your physics from your psychics? Still in mourning for the loss of 15-to-1? Try the Pear Tree quiz: cash prizes! £1 per team. 8-10pm (but you are advised to arrive early as tables fill up fast), Pear Tree House, West Nicolson Street. NB: over-18s only.

TUESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER 2014

Dramarama: the recent one-off Dramarama workshop for aspiring actors was such a hit that it is now becoming a weekly event! It’s about building confidence, trying something new and making friends. For ages 12-16. 5.30pm, Corstorphine Library, 12 Kirk Loan. If interested ask in the library or call 0131 529 5506.

Inch Community Centre Junior Club for P4-P7 restarts today. Cooking, arts and crafts, physical activities and a healthy snack. 6.15-7.45pm every Tuesday until 9th 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

eBook surgery: get help with downloading free eBooks, audiobooks and emagazines. 2-3.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. No appointment necessary.

LGBT Learning Disability Project: Carpet Bowls. For LGBT people who also identify as having a learning disability/difficulty. Join in a game of bowls played indoors – try the game at this session, which is just for this group. Tea and coffee provided. Meet at LGBT Health and Wellbeing Centre, 9 Howe Street at 1.45pm to catch the bus to the venue, or meet at Muirhouse Community Centre, 7 Muirhouse Medway at 2.30pm. Session lasts one hour. Please bring a carer or supporter if you need help to participate. Booking essential: contact George at george@lgbthealth.org.uk or call 0131 652 3281.

Chris Ryan: Hunter-killer. Former British Special Forces operative turned bestselling author Chris Ryan will sign copies of his new book, Hunter-killer. In this, the second Danny Black novel, the SAS hero is recruited to an assassination squad tasked with hunting down terrorists. 12.30pm, Waterstones West End (Princes Street)

Edinburgh Hacklab Open Night: everyone is welcome at hackerspace open nights – just drop in and say hello. Bring along a project to tinker with, ask for some electronics help, hack some code or just have a chat and see what’s happening. 7pm tonight and every Tuesday and Thursday (subscribe to mailing list for last minute updates), Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. All welcome: free. More information here.

WEDNESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2014

The Great Stockbridge Bunting Bee: help make Stockfest bunting! If you’d like to take part, drop in for an evening bee, with tea, coffee and biscuits. 6-8pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. (There will be another event on Monday 15th for children aged 9+)

Saltire: book signing with Saltire Annihilation Part 1 author John Ferguson, who says ‘Saltire is an immortal being created thousands of years ago to protect Scotland and its people. He’s big, he’s blue and he’s ginger. He has Scottish values but he’s a traditional comic book superhero with a variety of supervillains to contend with as the story progresses…’ 5-6pm, Forbidden Planet, South Bridge.

Chess Club: a new club for children and teenagers under 16. 6pm, Moredun Library, 92 Moredun Park Road.

Chatterbooks! Reading group for Primary 4s and 5s. 3.30pm, Balerno Library, 1 Main Street, Balerno. Contact the library to book your place – hurry, they go quickly!

Referendum Question Time with Richard Holloway, Sally Foster-Fulton, Dr Doug Gay and Professors Kenneth Boyd and George Newlands. An opportunity to ask questions, share in respectful debate and explore issues from a Christian perspective. 7.30pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free but ticketed: tickets from St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, St John’s Episcopal Church, Princes Street or St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road.

Lunchtime Concert: Will Pickvance: Piano Speak. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

The Welcoming Association: Scotland for Newcomers. Conversation class with a different topic every week. 2.15-4.15pm, The Hall at St John’s Church, Princes Street. The Welcoming Association brings together refugees, asylum seekers and people from Scottish and local minority ethnic communities, with the aim of welcoming newcomers, learning together and improving English language and literacy skills. The project supports new migrants to get to know the local culture through outings, music, drama, visual arts and talks, and there are also visits from service providers in law, housing, education and employment. It runs a programme of classes and workshops: for more information click here.

Titian in Ten: ten minute pop-up talks delivered by NGS staff. Gain an exclusive insight as staff from across the galleries offer different perspectives on Titian’s masterpieces. 2pm, Scottish National Galllery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Ruskin and the Daguerreotype: Photography and the Grotesque. Gallery talk and tour by art historian Ian Jeffrey, focusing specifically on the daguerreotypes. Ruskin uses the term ‘grotesque’ in Modern Painters: Volume 3 as an aesthetic category with many subsections; he has something imperfect and uncompleted in mind. 12.45-1.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free but tickets should be obtained in advance from the Information Desk at the Scottish National Galllery, The Mound.

Wiff Waff Wednesday: monthly ping-pong night for all ages with music, drink and great food available from the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. ‘Friendship first, competition second.’ 6-10pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 35 Dalmeny Street. Free.

LGBT 50+: Stroll along the Prom, Prom, Prom! Join LGBT Age, a group for those 50+, on an outing to Portobello beach for a walk along the prom and a breath of sea air, followed by a cuppa and a chat. 12 noon-3pm, Portobello. For meeting place and more information contact Jane on 0131 523 1100 or jane@lgbthealth.org.uk Organised by LGBT Health and Wellbeing.

LGBT Community Discussion: Ticking the other box. Are you always ticking the ‘other’ box on forms, and how does this make you feel? Hear guest speakers and have your say in a safe and inclusive space. Explore the true diversity of your community, how labels and language affect it and how organisations like LGBT Health & Wellbeing can continue to promote inclusivity. 6.30-9.30pm, venue TBC. Booking essential: click here or contact Jules via jules@lgbthealth.org.uk or call 0131 523 1104. Organised by LGBT Health and Wellbeing.

Filmhouse foyer

A Single Man: a special free screening as part of Suicide Prevention Week, in association with Choose Life. Los Angeles 1962: British professor George Falconer is struggling to find meaning in his life after the death of his long time partner Jim. Cast includes Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Staff experienced in suicide prevention will be available for a post-film discussion. 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Free tickets can be booked here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688.

THURSDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER 2014

Someone Was Singing: World War One in Poetry and Song. In association with the Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh Reads presents poet Alexander Hutchison and singer/musician Wendy Carle Taylor for an evening of poetry (contemporary and historic) and song commemorating those who died in the First World War. This evening launches a programme of World War One events in Edinburgh libraries over the next four years. 7-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite.

Harrison Park Bat Night: community event. All welcome, but under-16s should be accompanied by an adult. 7.15pm, Harrison Park, Polwarth. Meet at the play area accessed by Ogilvie Terrace, Harrison Road and Harrison Gardens. For further information contact Esperanza Martin on 0131 445 4025. Organised by the Friends of Harrison Park. Free.

Underwater Explorers. This term: Vikings – Norse Mythology, Viking Navigation, Viking Burials, Monsters and Myths. For ages 8-13. 3.45-5.45pm (children can arrive from 3.30pm), Fort Community Centre, North Fort Street. £1 per session. To book or for more information call Caithleen on 0131 553 1074 or email CLD-Fort@ea.edin.sch.uk

Jay Griffiths on Kith: Jay Griffiths, award winning writer and author of Wild: An Elemental Journey discusses her new book Kith: the Riddle of the Childscape, which examines what it means to be a child, and the huge differences in how childhood is experienced in different cultures. Griffiths explores why many children in American-Euro cultures seem unhappy – and why many children in traditional cultures seem happier. 7-8pm, Lecture Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Tickets £5, available from eventbrite. The talk is held in conjunction with the no strangers exhibition at RBGE, which focuses on the plight of indigenous people throughout the world. Further talks related to the exhibition will take place on 13th & 20th September.

Inch Community Centre Senior Youth Club restarts today for ages P7-S2. Cooking, arts and crafts, physical activities and a healthy snack. 6.30-8pm every Thursday until 11th 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

Drift Live Performance: Drift weaves together stories of generations of women with connections to Portobello Prom across their lives. In a promenade performance by Laura Cameron Lewis and Juliana Capes, participants will walk along the Prom experiencing the scene as it is set and the narrative unfolds. 6-7pm, Portobello Prom; meet on the Prom at the bottom of King’s Road – the walk will end at The Espy for optional drinks. Free. To book call Artlink Edinburgh and Lothians on 0131 229 3555 or email susan@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk A portable loop system will be available. Part of Investigate – Create ‘opening up the arts in Edinburgh for people with sight loss, hearing loss, people who are Deafblind, and sign language users.’ More information about Investigate here.

Waterstones Edinburgh presents An Evening with David Mitchell: the Man-Booker Prize nominated author of Cloud Atlas and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet will discuss his new book The Bone Clocks. 7pm, Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place. Tickets £8 or £5 with Waterstones loyalty card from Waterstones West End (Princes Street) or online. Further information on 0131 226 2666.

Raising Spirits: Allotments, Wellbeing and Community. Authors Jenny Mollison, Judy Wilkinson and Rhona Wilkinson talk about their new book, which shows how allotments came about, why they can make such a substantial contribution to health, wellbeing, community, food production and the environment, and what’s happening with allotments in other countries. 6-8pm, Waterstones, George Street. Free tickets available from the shop. Further details on 0131 225 3436.

Portrait Gallery Insights: John Byrne Sitting Ducks. Julie Lawson, Chief Curator of the Portrait Gallery, explores John Byrne: Sitting Ducks, an exhibition by John Byrne featuring friends, family and celebrity sitters. 5.30-6pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free but places limited so please book by calling 0131 624 6560.

The Welcoming Association: Skills for Living and Working – Job Seeking Skills. 2.15-4.45pm, The Hall at St John’s Church, Princes Street. Refreshments and all materials provided. For more information on The Welcoming Association, see Wednesday’s listings or click here.

The Drawing Room: informal, artist-led drawing sessions. Each session is developed by a contemporary artist and is inspired by the GENERATION exhibition, also reflecting concerns within each artist’s own work. This week: artist Morgan Cahn. No experience necessary, all materials supplied. 5.30-6.45pm, Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

From Virgil to Tintin: Translating into Scots. A panel of distinguished scholars and translators will discuss the future of literary translation into Scots. Speakers, who will also read from their translations, are poet and novelist Tom Hubbard, J Derrick McClure, translator of Sorley Maclean and Alice in Wonderland into Scots and Susan Rennie, editor of The Dictionary of the Scots Language and creator of the Scots Tintin. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free tickets can be booked here. Sponsored by BOSLIT.

Artist Talk: Roderick Buchanan. Artist Roderick Buchanan discusses his exploration of identity in the works currently on show at the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art One, including Soda Stream 1995. 6pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, Belford Road. Free and unticketed. Part of GENERATION By Night.

Gayfield Twilight Talks – The Power of Place: Global Pictures, Local Spaces. Stuart Falconer of Edinburgh-based architects GRAS and Katy West, curator of the India Street exhibition, will explore their experience of working with designers and makers from different cultures, and the ways in which design can both create international links and highlight international concerns. Chaired by Dr John Ennis, Gayfield’s Creative Director. 6-8pm, Gayfield Creative Spaces, Gayfield Square. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article about India Street here.

FRIDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER 2014

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.

SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2014

Grow Your Ain: come and enjoy the art of producing your own food, from high-class restaurants to children’s vegetable patches. Join Slow Food Edinburgh to learn, dig, eat, forage and connect with people producing their own food all over the world – the good, clean and fair way. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free, no booking required. Part of Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight. Also available on Sunday 14th September.

Powerful Plants: no strangers exhibition talk and tour. Each culture has plants that are significant beyond the prosaic in providing health, happiness or an entrance to other worlds. Find out more about the plants especially valued by the people featured in the current no strangers exhibition, and what secrets these plants hold for the modern world. A talk and tour of the exhibition by Ian Edwards, RGBE Head of Exhibitions and Events. 3-4pm, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. No booking required.

Organ Recital: Inverleith St Serf’s Church celebrates the renovation of its 1931 Rushworth and Dreaper organ and the 150th anniversary of the Royal College of Organists with a recital by St Serf’s organist Nicky Fraser. Music by Bach, Franck, Guilmant, Vierne, Howells, MacMillan and Moore. 7.30pm, Inverleith St Serf’s Parish Church, 280 Ferry Road. Admission free: retiring collection.

Lunchtime Concert: Gule Blandakor. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Treasure Everywhere! Draw, colour or design a piece of treasure to add to the arty archaeological frieze. Suitable for all ages. Drop in between 12 noon and 4pm, Grand Gallery One, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Also available on Sunday 14th and Monday 15th September. Free.

Dish The Dirt: who or what is buried in the dig boxes? Sift, sort and solve the mystery! 12.30, 2.30 or 3.30pm (45 minute sessions), National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Also available on Sunday 14th and Monday 15th September. Suitable for ages 7-12 with an adult helper. Free but limited places: sign up from 11.30am on the day at the Learning Centre on Level 4.

GENERATION tours at Modern One: free, discussion-led tours focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, Belford Road. Free: no booking required.

out of the blue exterior

Bruncheon! aka The Sound of Muesli… Featuring the Songs of Bob Dylan. This month at Bruncheon Edinburgh’s finest performers tackle the timeless songs of Bob Dylan. 11.30am-3pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 35 Dalmeny Street. Free entry.

SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2014

Citizen Science: Have you spotted a bug and not known what it was? Seen a frog and wanted to tell someone about it? Find out how, where and why your wildlife sightings can be used for important conservation projects – and have a bash at some surveys on the farm. Anna Canning will also lead a foraging walk , Wild Food and Medicine. 1-4pm (foraging walk 2-3pm), Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road.

Portrait Detectives! Collect your kit, follow clues and solve a mystery from history! For ages 4-12. 2-4pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free: no booking required.

St Giles’ at Six: Philomusica of Edinburgh. Laurence Dunn directs a programme of music for string orchestra by contemporary Edinburgh-based composers, including From Tweed to the Orcades by Stuart Taylor and Karelian Welcome Song by Neil Mackay. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

Dish The Dirt: who or what is buried in the dig boxes? Sift, sort and solve the mystery! 12.30, 2.30 or 3.30pm (45 minute sessions), National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Also available on Monday 15th September. Suitable for ages 7-12 with an adult helper. Free but limited places: sign up from 11.30am on the day at the Learning Centre on Level 4.

GENERATION tours at the Academy Building: free, discussion-led tours focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

Pear Tree Yard and church

Pressure Valve: live open-mic jam session – get up and play if you’re feeling brave, or just chill out and enjoy what’s left of the weekend. 8-10.45pm today and every Sunday, Pear Tree House, West Nicolson Street. NB: over-18s only.