Tuesday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Spanish Rhymetime! Sesiones de Rimas en Espanol! Rhymes and songs for babies and children aged 0-4 and their parents or carers. For Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers. 10.30am today and the last Tuesday of each month, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. Ole! Come and enjoy with us!

Tinderbox Presents Youth Music Showcase: The Frontiers Orchestra! An evening of new music from some of the finest young musicians from all over Edinburgh. Tinderbox has been running a brand new orchestra at North Edinburgh Arts, bringing together orchestral instruments, samba drums and electronics. This exciting evening will feature performances from the orchesta plus tunes from their Creative Sessions project, together with a performance by Jellyman’s Daughter. 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), Festival Theatre Foyer, 13-39 Nicolson Street.  Suggested donation £3 per person.

Cafe Ceilidh: St Andrew’s Day Celebration. Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for a relaxed afternoon of songs and music celebrating Scotland’s patron saint. 2-4pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed.

War Artists Series – The Second World War: Fighting Fronts and Home Fronts. Dr Patricia Andrew, freelance art historian, traces the progress of war art from the 1930s to the end of the Second World War in 1945, discussing both official schemes for professional artists and the work of numerous unofficial and amateur artists.  This was a war in which everyone was involved, and the images of civilian life are as important and interesting as those which depict actual conflict. This lecture will focus in particular on Scottish artists at home and abroad, and Scotland as seen by the many artists who visited during wartime. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Mindfulness: learn the mindfulness techniques of breathing and knowing, and bring your attention to the present moment, invoking your inherent capacity for healing and renewal. 12.15-2pm, St Mark’s Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Judah Passow and Michael Mail: The Scots Jews. Photographer Judah Passow has created a portrait of Jewish people who live north of the border, exploring the place of the Jewish community in contemporary Scottish society. This fascinating photographic essay shows Scotland’s Jews as firmly rooted in their Jewish identity, but also as patriotic Scots. The photographs are introduced by author Michael Mail, who conceived the project to document Scottish Jewish life. 6.30-7.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets can be obtained from Blackwell’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk. Part of Previously….Scotland’s History Festival.

Interestit in yaising the updatit online’ Dictionar o the Scots Leid‘? Staff from Scottish Language Dictionaries will be available to help and answer questions, and Book Week Scotland publications will be available. 2-4pm, Edinburgh and Scottish Collection area, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets should be booked via eventbrite.

Christmas Wreaths: make your own seasonal wreath, with materials supplied by Bridgend Growing Communities. 2-3pm, Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street. Places limited: please book yours by calling the library on 0131 529 5628.

Advancing Religious Freedom: a lecture and discussion by Dr Kishan Manocha,  Chair of the International Association for Religious Freedom British Chapter. 7.30-9pm, University of Edinburgh Chaplaincy, 5 Bristo Square. Part of Scottish Interfaith Week.

The Seven Professors of the Far North: children’s author John Fardell will be talking about his new book. For ages (approximately) 7-12. 6-7pm, Sighthill LIbrary, 55 Sighthill Road. Free: please call 0131 529 5566 or drop in to the library to book your place. A Book Week Scotland event.

Introducing Weegee: David Hopkins (University of Glasgow) talks about photographer and photojournalist Weegee – an enigmatic figure known for his stark black and white street photography and his ability to beat police to the scene of crimes in post-war New York. The imagery of Weegee’s work sits behind Stan Douglas’s photographic series Midcentury Studio: read The Edinburgh Reporter’s review of Stan Douglas’s current exhibition here. 7pm, Fruitmarket Gallery, Market Street. Tickets cost £5 and are available from eventbrite. Part of Previously…..Scotland’s History Festival.

Keeping Active Over 50: a talk on the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle, including a short exercise taster session, tips and a demonstration. 2-3pm, Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road. Delivered by the Active Lives Project in partnership with Living Well.

Ian Stephen: Poet, Author, Playwright. Ian Stephen is a writer, artist and poet from the Isle of Lewis. His latest publication A Book of Death and Fish tells the story of Peter MacAulay, for whom the writing of his will sets off a compulsive series of reflections on his own life, and how key events in the post-war world filtered through to his Stornaway home. 6-7pm, McDonald Road Library, 2 McDonald Road. Please book via eventbrite. A Book Week Scotland event.

Doug Johnstone The Dead Beat and other writings: Edinburgh writer Doug is the author of five novels, including the acclaimed Gone Again. He is also a freelance journalist, songwriter and musician and has a PhD in Nuclear Physics. 7-8pm, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. Please book via eventbrite.

The Sonics LGBT Basketball Group: a friendly and informal group for beginners and experienced players alike. 7-8pm, Leith Community Education Centre, 12a New Kirkgate. Conact Jules on 0131 523 1100 for more information.

Lunchtime Concert: The Edinburgh Quartet performs Takemitsu Landscape (1960) and Elgar String Quartet in E Minor, Op.83. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square, University of Edinburgh. Free and unticketed.

War Poets Collection Guided Tours: Catherine Walker will provide a guided tour of Edinburgh Napier University’s collection of material relating to the history of its Craiglockhart campus, and will talk about the many interesting characters who have had links with Craiglockhart over the years. 11am-12 noon or 2-3pm, War Poets Collection Exhibition Area, Edinburgh Napier University, Craiglockhart Campus, Glenlockhart Road. Free but numbers are limited to 12 per tour, so please register by calling 0131 455 4260 or emailing events@napier.ac.uk. Also available at same times on Friday 28th November.

FameLab 2015 Edinburgh Heat: How do 3D Glasses Work?  Why do men have nipples? Why is wearing red an advantage in sport? How do cabbages keep warm in winter? These are the types of things you could learn at the Edinburgh Heat of FameLab UK – see the region’s finest science communicators as they battle it out to win a place at the FameLab Scottish Final. For ages 18+. 7-9pm, Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Free.

National Museum of Scotland Annual Open Meeting: find out more about NMS’s work, collections and plans for the future at all of its museums. Hosted by Bruce Minto (Chairman) and Dr Gordon Rintoul (Director). 6-8pm, Auditorium, Level One, (via Lothian Street at rear of Museum), National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free: advance booking essential – email events@nms.ac.uk.

Evergreen: Ideas, Poems, Songs. An evening in the beautiful and historic Riddles Court: celebrate the publication of The Evergreen with poets Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, Richie McCaffery, Ian McDonough, Andrew McDougall, Mario Relich, Nancy Somerville, Jock Stein and singer Kirsty Law. Richie McCaffery will also give a short talk on Patrick Geddes and Hugh MacDiarmid. 7-9pm, The Geddes Room, Riddles Court, Lawnmarket. Free and unticketed: more information from andrew.mcdougall1@btinternet.com.