Friday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Women By The Sea: portraits by Eleanora Scalise. Launch party for this new exhibition of watercolours painted on Eleanora’s recent trip to Southern Italy. From 7.30pm, Sofi’s Bar, 65 Henderson Street. Free refreshments!

Quartermile Christmas Market: street food, local designers, makers and artists, foodie treats, inspiring gifts. 11am-6pm, Lister Square, Quartermile.

Your World War One Family History – Drop-In Session: if you have any diaries, letters, photographs or medals that you’d like to know more about, or if you are trying to discover more about your family’s history in World War One, come along to this session and get some free help from the experts. 11am-1pm, Mezzanine Area, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking required via eventbrite. If these times are not suitable for you, email edwar@ed.ac.uk for an appointment.

Scottish Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: the 117th exhibition opens today. Invited artist: Graham Fagan; invited curators include Pryle Behrman, Mark Daniels and Sarah Cook, who will curate an ambitious film and digital media programme; invited graduates: Marina Burt, Morgan Cahn, Jamie Davidson, Ryan Eeson, Davy Forsyth, Sophie Hopkinson, Liga Kocane, Lola Milne, Laura Mullan and Jess Standfast. 10am-6pm from today (7pm on Thursdays), Royal Academy, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Ends 20th December 2014.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for very young children and babies. 10.30am, Oxgangs Library, 43 Oxgangs Road North.

Katie’s Picture Show: 25 years of bringing art alive. To coincide with his exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery, James Mayhew will talk about all areas of his work, from 25 years of Katie and bringing art to life for children, to other book illustration and beyond.  Find out about his work with musicians, as an educator and as a set designer. With examples from sketch books and other, less familiar, work, he will reveal his inspiration, materials and methods, and his plans for the future. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Edinburgh Napier University Campus Tours: Napier’s Student Ambassadors will lead tours at all three campuses, giving you a chance to see the fantastic facilities. Tours will begin at 2pm and run simultaneously at Craiglockhart  (Glenlockhart Road), Sighthill (Sighthill Court) and Merchiston (10 Colinton Road) campuses. Early booking is essential and can be made here. For further information contact studentrecruitement@napier.ac.uk.

Vive the (R)evolution: Poems in Translation. Madeleine Campbell will give a bilingual reading of prose and poetry by Mohammed Dib, and discuss ways in which her approach to translation is dictated by his very singular style in the broader context of Maghrebi literature of French expression. 7-8pm, Institut Francais Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent. £5/members £3. For more information see website.

Will We Ever Speak to Aliens? Professor Charles Cockell, University of Edinburgh, is this month’s guest speaker at The Astronomical Society of Edinburgh. 8pm, Church Centre, Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge. All welcome: free.

Wildings of Winter: launch of a fantastic collection of art work by designer and illustrator Caroline Halliwell. 7pm onwards, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Refreshments provided!

Uniting for Peace – Scotland: Edinburgh Christian-Muslim Interfaith Event. Global Threats & Global Prospects: Faith Reflections for World Peace. Speakers: a representative from the Pakistan High Commission,  Mark Lazarowicz MP, Ms A Andregeli (Pax Christie) and Rev Brian Cooper (Churches and Interfaith Secretary, Uniting for Peace). The main event will be followed by an informal gathering and refreshments. 7.15-9.15pm, Annandale Street Mosque, Annandale Street (off Leith Walk). Further information from Rev Brian Cooper on 0131 446 9545.  Arranged by Uniting for Peace and Annandale Street Mosque: donations towards costs very welcome!

Illicit Ink: The Company We Keep: a sinister story of capitalism, corruption and office romance gone awry. For ages 16+. 8-9.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets £6/£4, available from the Storytelling Centre on 0131 556 9579 or online here.

It’s In The Bag Christmas Charity Spectacular! Join the award-winning It’s In The Bag for their Christmas Storytelling Spectacular! Snowflakes, jingle bells, elves, little donkey and much more to get families into the festive spirit. It’s In The Bag use songs, creative games, drama and more to bring their stories to life. For children 0-5 years and their parents and carers. 9.30-10.15am or 10.30-11.15am, Whale Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Tickets cost £5 per child, adults free, and booking is essential (25 children per session): call Whale on 0131 458 3267 to reserve your tickets – proceeds will be donated to Whale Arts Youth Projects and The Toybox,  a charity for street children in Guatemala.

at source III: exhibition of works by Lorna Fraser, Fiona Hutchinson, Anna King, Tony King, Gerry McGowan, Teena Ramsay, Carol Sinclair, Robert Balfour Ward, Keiko Mukade and Mark Powell. 5.30-8.30pm tonight, 11am-5pm Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December, Patriothall Gallery, 1D Patriothall, off Hamilton Place, Stockbridge.