Friendship Day: come along, bring a friend (large or small!) and enjoy free mulled wine, tea, coffee and a festive mince pie. 10am-4pm, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road.
Sing a Sang: a relaxed singing session hosted by Leith-based singer Drew Wright, aka Wounded Knee. Drew has a broad repertoire of songs, from big ballads to wee ditties, with plenty of scope for audience participation. Everyone is encouraged to sing, so please share your songs – but if you prefer just to listen, that is fine. The emphasis is on singing, so no additional instruments are required, ‘just bring your lungs and your lugs’! 7-9pm, Area C Coffee House (in the basement), 239-241 Leith Walk. Organised by The Common Weal Edinburgh North and Leith. Free.
Dragons, Selkies and Fairy Princes: An Exhibition of Illustrations from Kelpies Traditional Scottish Tales. Three talented young illustrators, Matthew Land, Philip Longson and Ruchi Mhasane, exhibit the stunning artwork created for Picture Kelpies: Traditional Scottish Tales (Floris Books), a beautiful new series of children’s picture books based on classic Scottish folk and fairy tales. Each book pairs a well-known Scottish storyteller with a brilliant illustrator to reimagine a story from Scotland’s rich treasury of folklore. 10am-6pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Ends 10th January 2015. Free.
Carols at Gilmerton Library: with children from Gilmerton Primary School. 1.45-2.15pm, Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street.
LGBT: visit to Edinburgh Crisis Centre Open Day. Find out about the support available at Edinburgh’s Crisis Centre, a 24 hour, 365 days a year community-based resource offering emotional and practical support at times of crisis. 1.15-3pm, meet at LGBT Health and Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, and travel together to the Centre. Booking essential as places are limited: contact LGBT Health and Wellbeing on 0131 523 1100 or email admin@lgbthealth.org.
Wiff Waff Wednesday: a monthly ping pong night for all ages, with music, drink and great food available to purchase from the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. All welcome – ‘friendship first, competition second’, 6-10.30pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry.
Music Among The Trees: talented pianist Drew Crichton entertains visitors to the Edinburgh Christmas Tree Festival. All welcome, come and go as you please. 2-3pm, The Sanctuary, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free.
The Road to Meikle Seggie: Richard Demarco launches the first formal publication of his pioneering work, ‘an essay in words and pictures’. The essay is accompanied by Demarco’s original drawings, an Italian translation by Silvana Vitale, reinterpreted drawings and an introductory essay by Donald Smith. The Road to Meikle Seggie began in the early 1970s at the Netherbow in the Old Town, journeying to the foothills of the Ochils and spreading out across Scotland and Europe. ‘A defining Demarco endeavour, a fertile source for the arts in all media and a vital expression of shared culture at a time when the European ship is sailing through stormy waters.’ The Road to Meikle Seggie is part of an EU-funded project by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Seeing Stories: Recovering Rural and Urban Landscape Narrative. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article about the 2013 exhibition of Richard Demarco’s prints here. The Festival acknowledges the assistance of the Italian Cultural Institute in the preparation of this volume. 6.30pm, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Please book your free place by emailing linda@scottishstorytellingcentre.com or calling 0131 652 3272.
National Library of Scotland Guided Tour: a tour of the building and an introduction to the library’s collections and history. 10.30-11.15am (approx.), National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking essential, either online or by calling 0131 623 3734. Please inform the library if you have any special access requirements.
Culture Shock Christmas! Seasonal films from the Cameo – today Gremlins (12A): when Billy’s father gives him an exotic pet for Christmas, a horde of gleeful little monsters are soon rampaging across town. ‘Joe Dante’s comedy horror is as scary, funny and subversive as ever’. 9pm, Cameo, 38 Home Street, Tolcross. Book online here or call box office on 0871 902 5723.
Poetry Pamphlet Festive Fair: independent Scottish poetry publishing is going from strength to strength – come along for a glass of wine, meet the publishers, hear the poems and buy the pamphlets! To book a stall contact Graeme Hawley on g.hawley@nls.uk. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. No booking required.
Nordic Film Festival starts today! A diverse mixture of fresh and classic features, documentaries and shorts showcasing some of the most celebrated and emerging filmmaking talents of the Nordic region. This year’s theme is Horizons. Today: I Am Yours/Jeg er din (15) – director Iram Haq’s ‘courageous semi-autobiographical feature, a powerful and moving portrayal of a young woman struggling with love, motherhood and being caught between two cultures.’ In Norwegian, Urdu and Swedish, with English subtitles. 9.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road; book online or call box office on 0131 228 2688. Nordic Film Festival is presented by day for night.
Edinburgh Napier University UK Undergraduate Web Chat: if you are from the UK and have any questions about studying with Napier at undergraduate level, join this online web chat and talk to staff and other prospective students. 4-6pm, register here. For more information contact studentrecruitment@napier.ac.uk.
Chatter and Verse Poetry Group Christmas Party – celebrate Christmas in poetic style! Bring along a Christmas poem you’d love to share, and join in the Christmas Poetry Quiz. All welcome – mulled wine and seasonal refreshments available (and also welcome!). 6.30-8pm, Board Room, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Please book your free ticket via eventbrite. And why not come along to the regular poetry book group sessions, 6.30pm every third Wednesday?
Edinburgh Napier University UK and EU Postgraduate Web Chat: if you are from the UK or EU and have any questions about studying with Napier at postgraduate level, join this online web chat and talk to staff and other prospective students. 4-6pm, register here. For more information contact Ruth Swan (UK) at studentrecruitment@napier.ac.uk or Anna Frankowska (EU) at studyabroad@napier.ac.uk.
Common Policy: Deconsumerisation. Remember Black Friday? Dr Iain Black explains why shopping less will make you happier. 7-9.30pm, Area C Coffee House , 239-241 Leith Walk. Organised by The Common Weal Edinburgh North and Leith. Free.
