Another very busy week in Edinburgh – films, art, Christian Aid Week events, fundraisers for Nepal, book launches, music, talks…and if none of that floats your boat, how about a Scandal in Surgeons’ Hall?  As ever, please check with the venue before setting out for any event; we do out best to ensure accuracy, but inevitably changes sometimes have to made at the last minute.
MONDAY 11TH MAY 2015
Heather Lucchesi: Light Bulb Arts. Local artist Heather has formed a social enterprise delivering accessible art workshops to schools and the wider community, including work with Alzheimer Scotland and Art in Healthcare: this exhibition includes both her own mixed media work and pieces from the workshops, together with information about the projects. 10am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am-5pm Thursday to Saturday (closed Sundays), Charles Smith Room, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. There will be a drop-in Art & Chat afternoon with Heather at the exhibition 1.30-4.30pm on Saturday 23rd May. The exhibition will close on 30th May 2015.
Cameo Toddler Time:  short screenings exclusively for pre-school children and their parents and carers. This week: Toot the Tiny Tugboat Programme 2 (U). Life on the high seas is a whirl of fun and adventure when you’re a little boat with big ideas. 11am, Cameo, Home Street. Membership of Toddler Time is free (ask at the Box Office) and allows you to buy tickets for these screenings for £3 per child, accompanying adults free; tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.  No adult unaccompanied by a toddler will be admitted.
Lunchtime Concert: SINK. SINK are an Edinburgh-based trio [Daniil Doumnov (accordion), Tim Vincent-Smith (violin) and Matt Wright (soprano sax)] who explore the tactile air by means of vibrations, influenced by, among others, Beethoven, Cage, Zorn and Matt’s dog Daisy. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
For Crying Out Loud: special screenings for carers and their babies under 12 months (maximum of two adults per baby). Babychanging, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is Dior and I (12A) (in English, French and Italian with English subtitles). 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 (babies free) and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.
The 42nd Annual Christian Aid Book Sale continues this week: books of every kind (including antiquarian and out of print), paintings, drawings, prints, antiques, printed ephemera, sheet music, stamps, postcards, vinyl, CDs, DVDs, toys and baking, all at one of the biggest charity book sales in the world. 10am-3.30pm Monday to Friday, with late opening until 7pm on Thursday 14th May, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Undercroft Cafe open all day. Sale ends Friday 15th May 2015.
The Holy Corner Christian Aid Book Sale also continues this week: a wide variety of books, antiquarian items, CDs, DVDs, musical scores and much more. This year the sale will be offering a number of Alexander McCall Smith’s books, specially signed by the author for the sale. Donations of books (including any Alexander McCall Smith books for signature in advance), maps, photographs, music, etc are still needed and can be handed in at the side door of Morningside United Church during church office opening hours – or call 0131 447 3152 to arrange collection. 11am-6pm Monday 11th to Friday 15th May and 10am-5pm on Saturday 16th May, Morningside United Church, 15 Chamberlain Road (Holy Corner). Coffee will be available on Saturday 16th May.
Robert Colquhoun’s Monotypes:Â artist, collector and expert on The Two Roberts Davy Brown will talk about the monotypes of Robert Colquhoun and how his own passion for this work began as a pupil at Kilmarnock Academy in the 1960s. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. The Two Roberts exhibition continues at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road, until 24th May 2015.
LGBT Mental Health Awareness Quiz and Police Surger. Two events within the weekly drop-in this time: (1) A lighthearted quiz to mark Mental Health Awareness Week – play by yourself, make up a team, or help hand out the pound shop prizes. Mental health information will be available; (2) An opportunity to seek advice, raise concerns around safety issues, report incidents or discuss policing in your area with an officer from Police Scotland. (To meet with the police outwith the surgery, please contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or at george@lgbthealth.org.uk). Both events take place 6.30-7.30pm (drop-in 5.30-8pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street.
Cameo Culture Shock – dedicated to bringing you the best in cult and genre films. This week’s film is Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (15); when two high school no-hopers are presented with a time-travelling booth, they seize the chance to get out of trouble and start instead to jump in and out of different eras, collecting historical figures and confronting them with West Coast culture. 9.10pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
New Town & Broughton Community Council AGM/Ordinary Meeting: all local residents welcome to attend – if you have an issue you would like to raise at the meeting, please use the contact email form on the community council’s website here to let them know in advance. 7.15pm (AGM), 7.30pm (ordinary meeting), Drummond Room, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent.
Sofi’s Cult Movie Nights: popular classics on the silver screen in the cosy darkened back room – with free poporn. This week’s film is Alien (18). 8-10pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Free.
Old Chain Pier Folk Sessions: a fortnightly evening of traditional Scottish folk music and old favourites with Fozzy and Alistair. 7.30pm, Old Chain Pier, 32 Trinity Crescent.
Broughton History Society: Peter Dryburgh talks on Addresses in Old Edinburgh. 7pm (refreshments), 7.30pm (talk), Drummond Community High School, Bellevue Place. Visitors welcome. For more information please contact broughtonhistsocedinburgh@gmail.com.
Let’s Glow: Popular Music Final Performances: final year Edinburgh College HND students take on their final performance assessments, a culmination of two years of learning and development, in front of a live audience. 5.30pm, The Music Box, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh College, Bankhead Avenue. All welcome: free and unticketed.
TUESDAY 12TH MAY 2015
Stewart Bremner: The Early Days of a Better Nation (or How we laid the foundation for the campaign that will win an independent Scotland). The freelance graphic designer and official artist for the YES campaign discusses his new book, a collection of political posters and other designs (some only previously seen in digital form) created for the Yes campaign. ‘Stewart created an iconic image that the whole Yes campaign could rally around and identify with’ (Lesley Riddoch). 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free; all welcome  – donations also welcome!
Tiny Tales: Peek-a-Boo! Where Are You? Join Ann Pitcher on a journey round the world with Baby Jay and his magic Peek-a-Boo blanket. Helping Ann tell her stories and sing her songs will be some of her menagerie of puppets, and the session will be rounded off with a chance for a ceilidh dance with your child. For children aged 1-3 years and their parents and carers. 10am or 11.30am (40 minute sessions), Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as your child’s ticket.
Lunchtime Concert: Svetoslav Todorov (piano). 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Cameo Silver Screen: if you are over 60, join the Silver Screen Club and enjoy free tea, coffee and biscuits at these special weekly screenings, for which your ticket will cost just £5 (others are welcome to attend these screenings but will need to pay standard ticket prices) – membership of the Silver Screen Club is free; ask at the Box Office. This week’s films are Girlhood (Bande de Filles) (15) showing at 12.45 and 3.30pm, Far From the Madding Crowd (12A) showing at 12 noon and 3pm, The Falling (15) showing at 3.20pm and Marvel Avengers Assemble 2D (12A) showing at 12.10pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets for all screenings may be purchased online or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Alternatives Never Found:Â a new group show of works by Helen Booth, Martyna Borowiecka, Jill Cope, John Franzen, Alastair Gordon, Charlotte Keates, Paul Kessling, Cathy Lewis, Allie Macdonald, Emma Pratt and Rachel Ann Stevenson. Open preview tonight 6-9pm, then 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday, 1-5pm Sundays, Arusha Gallery, 13a Dundas Street. Ends 25th May 2015.
Jennifer Klinec: The Temporary Bride. Jennifer Klinec abandoned a corporate job to launch a cooking school from her London flat; her search for ancient recipes and her desire to explore the links between food and culture eventually led her to Iran. There she not only learned the secrets of the Persian kitchen but also fell in love with an Iranian man; Iranian laws and customs meant the pair had to take huge risks to spend any time together ‘A soaring story of being loved, being fed, and the struggle to belong’. 7-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.
Oxgangs Library: find out about health, social care and other services in your local area. 12 noon-4pm (drop-in) Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. For more information please call 0131 529 6552 or email rachel.howe@edinburgh.gov.uk.
A Calendar of Memories: a monthly session of stories, songs, laughter and reminiscence in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court, hosted by the Life Stories project, whose staff specialise in sharing stories with older people to rekindle imagination, trigger memories and increase communication. 2pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £3 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.
Just for Men: a relaxed social opportunity for men who would like to get to know other gay, bisexual or transgender men in one of Edinburgh’s newest LGBT-friendly bars. For ages 18+. 6.30-8.30pm, Woodland Creatures, 260 Leith Walk. For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or at alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
The Speakeasy: the Speakeasy returns with a cross-section of exciting performances. An evening of insightful humour and  storytelling, mixed with theatre, music, song and poetry – ‘a truly enjoyable night out’. This month: comedy from Stuart Mitchell, poetry from Doug Garry, a true story from Gareth Mutch, an extract from Ross Hepburn’s Bettlejuice’d, poetry from Lewis Brown – and Impro FX: Men with Coconuts. Hosted by Jo Caulfield. For ages 16+. 8pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £7 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.
Picturehouse Documentaries: Heaven Adores You (15). An intimate, meditative enquiry into the life and music of Elliott Smith, who died in 2003 at the age of just 34. Threading his music through the dense yet often isolating landscapes of the three cities – Portland, New York City and Los Angeles – in which he lived, the film presents a visual journey and reviews the singer’s prolific songwriting and its continuing impact on fans, friends and fellow musicians. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Unlocked: Magna Carta or Abroath? Do Scotland and and the rest of the UK share a constitutional past – or future? This debate will seek to chart the next steps in Scottish constitutional and political future, looking back at the Declaration, charting the Independence Referendum and looking forward to what the future holds for Scotland and the rest of the UK. Presentations by Professor Charlie Jeffery (Centre for Constitutional Change), Alastair Stoddart (Democratic Society), Juliet Swann (Electoral Reform Society Scotland) and Adam Ramsay (openDemocracy) will be followed by an open public debate and the creation of a new document expressing the aims and values of Scotland for 2015. 7-9pm, St John’s Church Hall, Princes Street. Free: please register via eventbrite here. This event is organised by Unlock Democracy.
‘For the Inspection of the Public’: the Story of Dulwich Picture Gallery. Ian Dejardin, Sackler Director of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, delves into the story behind England’s first public art gallery, founded in 1811 but with a history that stretches back much further. The story links Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite actor with a French art dealer, his Welsh heiress wife, a half-Swiss artist, England’s greatest Regency architect and Stanislaw Poniatowski, the last king of Poland. Four of these six characters are buried on the site of what has been described as  ‘the most beautiful small art gallery in the world’. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Bookbug: songs, rhymes and stories for pre-school children and their parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Tuesday (and Friday), Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Court. All welcome: free.
Leith Folk Club: Sarah McQuaid with support Trish Santer. ‘McQuaid’s genre-spanning tastes in traditional song, together with her own songwriting, make this a genuine must-see show’. 7.30pm, Leith Folk Club, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £9 and may be purchased online here or via the club’s text booking line on 07502 024 852.
WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2015
Wiff Waff Wednesday: a monthly ping pong night for all ages, with music, drink and great food available to purchase at the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. 6-10.30pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry. ‘Friendship first, competition second’.
LGBT: The Media – Friend of Foe? The quarterly community discussion will tackle the often thorny and sensational issue of ‘The Media‘ and representations of LGBT people and their communities. A panel of media representatives, including Night Editor of The Times in Scotland Katherine O’Donnell, RBS Rainbow Network social media coordinator Steve O’Brien and other special guests, will share views on how various media respond to LGBT issues and portray LGBT+ identities. Questions for the panel may be submitted ahead, but there will be plenty of time for free-flowing questions on the night; you are invited to bring along an article, headline or story that you either love or hate for its representation of LGBT people or issues. 6.30-9.30pm, Serenity Cafe, The Tun, 8 Jackson’s Entry, Holyrood Road. Booking is essential and may be made online here (ie not just by joining the FB page – the form must be completed).
Black God, White Devil (12) (in Portugese with English subtitles). A special screening of the seminal film by Glauber Rocha, one of Brazil’s most revered directors. Black God, White Devil was a radical experiment in film form released during the early period of the military dictatorship that governed Brazil 1964-85; it ventures to the spiritual heart of the country, the arid backlands, to document the political, religious and social upheavals taking place in the country. “By turns surreal and brazenly realist, Black God, White Devil remains a compelling example of international political cinema and an illustration of Rocha’s manifesto for an ‘Aesthetic of Hunger'”. The film will be introduced by Dr Charlotte Gleghorn and followed by a panel discussion with Dr Raquel Ribeiro (both Hispanic Studies, University of Edinburgh). 2-5pm, Project Room (1.06), University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square. Free: all welcome – please book via eventbrite here. This event forms part of a conference Possibilities of Exchange: Experiments in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art, which continues this evening and on Thursday 14th May 2015 (see listings). Possibilities of the Object continues at Fruitmarket until 25th May 2015.
Possibilities of the Object Panel Discussion: artist Rachel Adams, Dr Michael Asbury (University of the Arts, London) and Dr Isobel Whitelegg (LJMU/Tate Liverpool) consider the role of the object in Brazilian art from the 1950s to the present. Dr Catherine Spencer (University of St Andrews) will chair the discussion. 6-8pm, Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street. Free and open to all, but please book via eventbrite here. This event forms part of a conference Possibilities of Exchange: Experiments in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art, which continues on Thursday 14th May 2015 (see listings). Possibilities of the Object continues at Fruitmarket until 25th May 2015.
Lunchtime Concert: Will Pickvance – Piano Speak. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Vera Chytilova Film Season: Vera Chytilova, the leading lady of 1960s Czech New Wave, died last year at the age of 85. A rebel, a feminist, a critic of contemporary society and an innovative filmmaker best known for her work Daisies, Chytilova focused on women rebelling against a male-dominated order, while consistently applying her own moral vision. She was banned from filming by the Czech government. Today’s film is Prefab Story/Panelstory aneb Jak se rodi sidliste (18) (in Czech with English subtitles). Chytilova’s multilevel portrayal of contemporary life is a blunt and aggressive confrontation with the ‘normalised’ society in which she lived. Set against the background of a high rise estate, it examines the nature of contemporary morality and the materialist preoccupations of its inhabitants. 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. The next film in this series is Traps/Pasti, pasti, pasticky on Wednesday 20th May.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents James Runcie: Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins. The author and award-winning filmmaker launches the latest instalment in his Grantchester series, set in 1960s Cambridge and featuring full-time priest and part-time detective Sidney Chambers. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the store’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218, by emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here.
Filmhouse Special Screening: Hinterland (15). When Harvey hears that his old friend Lola has been forced to return home after years abroad, he arranges to take her away to the seaside cottage where they spent much of their youth; what follows is a touching and beautiful story of an old friendship rekindled within a new context. Harry Macqueen’s debut film is ‘a poetic journey of self-discovery and heartbreak in contemporary Britain’. Today’s screening will be followed by a Q & A session with director and star Harry Macqueen. 6.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here. Also showing at same time on Thursday 14th May 2015.
Dementia Information Evening: Pamela MacKay, Development Officer for Dementia Care at Crossreach, will talk about the different types of dementia and what can and is being done to tackle them. 7.30pm, Carlow Room, Annan House, 10 Palmerston Place. All welcome: for more information please contact Linda Cunningham on 0131 3321596.
Jammin’ at Voodoo: monthly live jamming session with some of Scotland’s leading musicians playing lounge grooves from many genres – blues, soul, funk, ska, rock and reggae, jazz and country. Musicians appear by invitation only to set a good standard. 9pm, Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Free admission.
Evenings of Enlightenment: join University of Edinburgh researchers on Wednesday evenings in May and June to celebrate the 2015 International Year of Light. Experts from various disciplines will explore this fascinating area – from historical discoveries to today’s cutting-edge research. Tonight Dr Chris Mowat (School of Chemistry) will talk on Illuminating the Invisible: The X-Ray Revolution. 6.30-7.30pm, Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here.
THURSDAY 14TH MAY 2015
THE BUSINESS: all writers, at any stage, are invited to this free event – talks, Q & A sessions and the chance to meet publishers, editors and agents. 1-6pm, Cabaret Bar, The Pleasance. Free: no booking required – just come along. Organised by the University of Edinburgh and Writer-in-Residence Jenni Fagan.
Voluntary Arts Week: Craft Bombing! Voluntary Arts Week starts tomorrow – and tonight the Scottish Waterways Trust and Re-Union Canal Boats will be craft bombing Leamington Lift Bridge (near the canal basin at Fountainbridge). Last year’s display was fantastic – so if you’d like to contribute your work and/or be involved in the ‘bombing’ tonight, contact Alan on 07768 951 740 or alan@scottishwaterwaystrust.org.uk.
Cameo Big Scream: for parents and carers with a baby up to one year old. Membership of the Big Scream Club costs £5 and lasts until your baby’s first birthday: it enables you to buy tickets for these special screenings at Picturehouse members’ rates. Only customers with babies will be admitted. Today’s film is Cinderella (U). 10.30am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Kirsty Logan: The Gracekeepers. The celebrated author of The Rental Heart and Other Fairytales launches her hotly-anticipated new book, ‘by turns Margaret Attwood, by others Angela Carter’. 6.30pm, Waterstones, 83 George Street. Â Free, no booking required. For further information please call 0131 225 3436.
Spotlight On: Waterloo. 200 years on from Waterloo, Principal Curator Dr Stuart Allan discusses the impact in Scotland of this famous battle;Â a new exhibition about its aftermath opens at the National Museum tomorrow. For ages 14+. 2-3pm (doors open 1.45pm), Auditorium, Level One, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free but booking is required, in person at the Museum’s reception desk or online here.
IberoDocs: the second Scottish Ibero-American Documentary Film Festival opens today with double the number of films shown in 2014, plus a programme of events, discussions and parties! Today’s film is Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America/La voz de Latinoamerica (12A) (in Spanish, French, English and Portugese with English subtitles). This documentary on the life, music and achievements of the great Argentinian folk singer is narrated by Mercedes herself and includes excerpts from her public and private life. 8.20pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here. The screening will be followed by a Skype Q & A session with director Rodrigo H Vila and then the festival’s opening party. The festival continues on Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May 2015.
Spark Greyfriars Lunchtime Concerts: 20th Century British Song. Reid School of Music students Timothy Matson and Amanda McLeod will perform music by Britten, Head and MacMillan. Accompanist: Gina Baker. 12 noon-12.45om, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free: all welcome.
Sue Lawrence: Fields of Blue Flax. The journalist, broadcaster, food writer and champion of Scottish produce launches her first novel, set in Edinburgh and Angus. When cousins Chris and Mags find out something about their Victorian great-great grandmother, their own lives become troubled in a disturbing parallel with the past… ‘A compelling tale of an innocent interest in family history uncovering long-buried dark secrets’. 7-8pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.
Portrait Gallery Curator’s Talk: Heads Up – A Tour of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery through Portrait Sculpture. A chance to chat to the gallery curators about the current exhibitions – this month Imogen Gibbon, Chief Curator and Deputy Director, will lead a tour. 5.30-6pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.
HG Watt: The Importance of Manners. The editor of The Istanbul Review and author of nine books launches her new work, ‘a slapstick, satirical comic novel in the vein of Alexander McCall Smith, Evelyn Waugh and PG Wodehouse’ in which four characters on a cruise ship take an ill-judged excursion into modern-day Benin. 6.30pm, Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson Loan, Quartermile. To reserve your free ticket please email info@frieghtbooks.co.uk.
The Drawing Room: informal. artist-led drawing sessions, each developed by a contemporary artist and reflecting concerns in that artist’s work. The Drawing Room explores the range of possibilities within contemporary drawing practice. All materials are supplied and no experience is necessary! 5.30-6.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free but please book your place by calling the Education Department on 0131 624 6410 or emailing education@nationalgalleries.org.
UNESCO European Literature Night Edinburgh: The Enemies Project. A groundbreaking evening of live contemporary literature: ten pairs of poets present brand new Camarade collaborations, crossing the traditions of sound, performance, art and poetry, and written specially for this unique celebration. 8.30-10.30pm, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. This is a free event with limited capacity: seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, so please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
Live Music Now: Spencer-Strachan Duo. Two of the most sought-after young instrumentalists in the UK, Rachel Spencer and Duncan Strachan, draw on David Roberts’ love of painting great architecture, and perform music by Bach and Ravel, both masters of musical construction. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
WATCHING: a special screening by Music in the Community of the documentary about its recent collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden and Leith Walk Primary School. 6pm, Atrium, Alison House, University of Edinburgh, 12 Nicolson Square. All welcome: free, no booking required.
Possibilities of Exchange: Experiments in Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art. A free international conference organised by Edinburgh College of Art and Fruitmarket Gallery. Coinciding with the Possibilities of the Object exhibition at Fruitmarket Gallery, the conference seeks to develop a broader understanding of the shifts that have occurred among Latin American artistic practices since the 1950s and into the present. Keynote Speaker: Professor Sergio Bruno Martins (PUC-Rio); Guest Speakers: Dr Michael Asbury (University of the Arts, London), Dr Isobel Whitelegg (LJMU/Tate Liverpool) and Dr Catherine Spencer (University of St Andrews). 9.45am-5.30pm, Teviot Row House –  Dining Room, University of Edinburgh, 13 Bristo Square. Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite here. Possibilities of the Object continues at Fruitmarket until 25th May 2015.
Concrete Antenna: Artist Talk. Tom Perman, Professor Simon Kirby and Rob St John discuss their site-specific sound work, commissioned by Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop for the opening of its Creative Laboratories. Concrete Antenna explores the past, the present and the (potential) future of the Workshop’s site, evoking its various histories as a blacksmith’s, a railway siding close to the Newhaven docks, and now a thriving creative workshop beside a wildlife-rich cycle route. 7pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 21 Hawthornvale, Newhaven.  Please book by emailing office@edinburghsculpture.org. The Concrete Antenna exhibition continues in the Tower (part of the new Creative Laboratory development) at Hawthornvale until the end of August 2015 and is open 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday.
European Literature Night at The Forest Cafe: readings on the theme of activism from Ryan van Winkle (curator), Thomas MacColl, Ed Smith, Rachel McCrum (all Edinburgh), Katy Hastie and Calum Rodger (Glasgow) and Anne Cotten (Berlin). 6-7pm, Forest Cafe, Lauriston Place. Free; no booking required.
Electric Circus Showcase Open Mic: an open mic night to scout for new acts in Edinburgh. If you are a solo artist, or can play a stripped-down acoustic set with your band, and are interested in securing a support slot at an Electric Circus show, this is your chance to meet the team and show them what you can do. Slots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis (prepare roughly two songs), and all performers will get a free beer. If you have any questions email nicky@theelectric circus.biz. For over 18s only. 7pm, Electric Circus, 36-39 Market Street. Free admission.
Caesura: a special free event to celebrate European Literature Night. Sound poetry is an art form that explores the sonic and aesthetic possibilities of language; tonight’s event will feature a talk from renowned art historian and Bob Cobbing collaborator David Hopkins and work from three European poets at the forefront of this visceral, playful and innovative art form – Jorg Piringer (Austria), Eduardo Escoffet (Spain) and Martin Bakero (France). 6-7.30pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Free but booking is required and may be made via eventbrite here. For further information please contact jennifer.williams@spl.org.uk.
Christian Aid Week : Quiz Aid. Individuals and teams of up to five all welcome. 7pm for 7.30pm start, Cramond Kirk Hall, Cramond Glebe Road. Tickets cost £4 in advance from the Kirk Office on 0131 336 2036 or £5 on the door (sta).
Cafe Voices: The Princes of Destiny. the Storytelling Centre’s monthly storytelling session, with an open-floor section for storytellers to tell their own tales, all in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. Tonight, inspired by the work of writer and sociologist Reginaldo Prandi, Brazilian storyteller Ana Maria Lines presents tales about destiny, the myths of the Yoruba people and their influence in Brazil and Cuba. 7pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.
FRIDAY 15TH MAY 2015
Crafty Books Time: The Sea. Crafts and stories for the under-10s; this week you can make a Stained Glass Sea Scene. 2.30-3.30pm, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. Free: no booking required. ‘You’ll have a WHALE of a time!’
International Conscientious Objectors’ Day: Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre and friends will hold a vigil to remember the Conscientious Objectors of all wars, past and present, and especially those of the First World War. With songs from the Protest in Harmony Choir, and stories of some of the Objectors; bring your reflections, songs, poems and photos. 5-6.30pm, The Mound. For more information please see the event’s Facebook page here.
What’s Your Poison? Arsenic, asbestos, mercury and lead – today we know these substances as dangerous – even deadly – but throughout history poisonous and fatal materials have been used in very surprising places. From poisonous make-up to deadly dyes and maddening materials, experts from Edinburgh University will explore these dangerous substances, from their origins in nature to their uses throughout history and today. 1.30-2.30pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 2.30-8pm for those who hold tickets to What’s Your Poison? This event forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
WHALE Mini Snappers: an exciting darkroom photography session for young people as part of Voluntary Arts Week. Learn from a tutor and the WHALE Snappers team; come and take photos, then develop them in the traditional way! For ages 8-16 years. 2-4pm, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Free but booking is essential, in person or by calling WHALE on 0131 458 3267.
Steampunk Salvaged Jewellery Workshop: drawing inspiration from Victorian culture and technology, Steampunk is a growing trend in fashion, art and music. Join PhD student and resident Steampunk expert Shannon Rollins for a workshop on the history of this cultural phenomenon, and create your own Steampunk-inspired fashion accessory. This is a BYOB event so bring your favourite tipple! 6-7pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets cost £5 (to include all materials) and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 2.30-8pm for those who hold tickets to the workshop. This event forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Kidnapped: When Kilts were Banned. Discover Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless tale in Donald Smith’s exhilarating, gutsy adaptation; let two actors, a chest and your imagination take you on an exciting, fast-moving and adventure-filled story for all the family as young Davie Balfour leaves home for the first time, only to be double-crossed by his devious uncle and find himself kidnapped. Directed by Gavin Paul. 7pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. In association with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust. Also at 2.30pm on Saturday 16th May 2015.
Capturing the Dark Side: Photography with Dark Edinburgh. A talk on how to create stunning images in Edinburgh, given by the man behind Dark Edinburgh Photography. Please note that the workshop that will follow this talk is now fully booked, but tickets are still available for the talk itself. 8pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets for the talk alone are free and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 2.30-8pm for those who hold tickets to this event, which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Dwelling: Garry Fabian Miller. One of the most experimental and progressive figures in fine art photography, Garry Fabian Miller has created large scale camera-less photographs since the 1980s. With the coming of the digital age in photography and the discontinuation of Cibachrome paper, Fabian Miller has decided to reach out from photography and explore new ways of making work, in particular in this new, long-term, collaboration with Dovecot. This exhibition looks back at his influences and the conditions that led him to produce the body of work he has achieved in a lifetime of practice. Works in Dwelling highlight the importance of Fabian Miller’s home and its landscape, the work and life of Winifred Nicholson, and light in domestic spaces, often emanating from its heart – the fire and hearth. The exhibition will also feature two new gun-tufted hearth rugs created in collaboration with Fabian Miller; a large scale tapestry is also planned. 10.30am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays), Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street. Exhibition closes 4th July 2015.
Bookbug: songs, rhymes and stories for pre-school children and their parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Friday (and Tuesday), Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Court. All welcome: free.
Chesko and Karel: a sensational Spanish duo playing all different styles from Spain, South America and the Caribbean – covers including flamenco, fado, samba, son, salsa, rumba, reggae and world music. 9pm-1am, Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk.
Waterloo: After the Battle. A new exhibition to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo; find out more about the impact of the battle within Scotland, from public celebrations to political unrest, the celebrity of veterans and the birth of battlefield tourism. 10am-5pm daily, Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free. Ends 27th September 2015.
Ratho Adult Colouring Group – come and try the new stress reliever and anti-depressant! 11am-12.30pm today and every second Friday, Ratho Library, School Wynd.
IberoDocs: the second Scottish Ibero-American Documentary Film Festival, continues. Today’s films are:
(1)   Alentejo, Alentejo (PG) (in Portugese with English subtitles). A journey into present-day Portugal, discovering Cante – traditional and new songs sung by dozens of amateur polyphonic choirs who gather regularly in Alentejo. Cante was born in the taverns and fields, sung buy miners and peasants, and transmitted through the generations: UNESCO has now recognised it as Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  Plus short: Spaces of Time #2: Porto by David Hermandez. 6.05pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
(2) Â Â Arraianos (PG) (in Galician with English subtitles): a portrait of a small village trapped out of time and located on the Galician-Portugal border, in which moments of fiction stand alongside the daily life of the Arraianos, now ‘actors’ playing themselves. Reality, myths and dreams merge together in this film, freely inspired by the local play ‘O Bosque’. Plus short Mountain in the Shadow (Montana en sombra) by Lois Patino. This screening will be followed by a Q & A session with Arraianos producer Beli Martinez. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
Tickets for Aelntejo Alentejo and Arraianos may be purchased from the Filmhouse Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online.
Additional films will be shown today at 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh: My Village Doesn’t Live Here Any More/A minha aldeia ja nao mora aqui will be screened at 11am and Through Shadows/Pelas Sombras at 12.15pm. These films will be followed by a masterclass delivered by filmmaker – and director of both films – Catarina Mourao, and the event will conclude with a reception at Tugas Amor, 161 Dundee Street. Please see the Festival’s brochure here for more details.
90s Night @ Boda: a theme night to embrace everything that was fantastic about the nineties – from pen trolls to Buffy the Vampire Slayer! 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk.
Old Chain Pier Friday Nights: soul, funk, motown and more with guest DJ ‘he’s fat, he’s old and he’s bald’ Lenny Love. 9pm-1am (food served until 10pm), Old Chain Pier, 32 Trinity Crescent.
Nobel Ambitions: Rethinking Capitalism II. The Buchanan Institute hosts an afternoon with Graciela Chichilnisky, lead author of Nobel Peace Prize winning intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr Chichilnisky appears regularly on CNN and BBC, speaking extensively on topics including globalisation, global economics and the environment; she is best known for her extensive work in the Kyoto Protocol process, and has served as special adviser to several UN organisations and heads of state. 4-6pm, George Square Lecture Theatre, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. All welcome: free but please register via eventbrite here.
Rally & Broad: Because the Night. To mark Rally & Broad’s 50th event since October 2012, a special partnership gig in collaboration with the Mental Health Foundation and Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival. Because the Night will be a ‘sparkling line-up of utterly delicious lyrical delight’ and a celebration of using the arts to address stigma in mental health. Acts will include ‘prolific and multi-talented’ songwriter Aidan Moffat in a special spoken-word set, ‘prodigiously talented and criminally underrated’ singer Kathryn Joseph, author and ‘captivating live reader’ Anneliese Mackintosh, ‘heartbeaking and hilarious’ songwriter and lyricist Liz Cronin and poet and writer McGuire, whose first collection is entitled ‘As I sit quietly I begin to smell burning‘. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, Cowgate. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased via eventbrite here (transaction fee applies) or on the door sta.
Edinburgh University Music Society Summer Concert. Chorus (conductor Neil Metcalfe): Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music, Biebl Ave Maria and Stanford Te Deum in E Flat; Sinfonia (conductor Peter Keenan): Dvorak Slavonic Dances (7 & 8) and Weber Der Freischutz Overture; Symphony Orchestra (conductor Russell Cowieson): Britten Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. 7.30 (doors open 7pm)-9pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Tickets cost £10/£5 and may be purchased online here (booking fee applies) or on the door sta (please arrive early as this is a very popular event).
Nitekirk: a monthly, creative, drop-in experience of church. Come and go as you like, sit in stillness or join in quiet conversation, songs from the Taize and Iona communities, reading and art. This month’s theme is Wonder. 8-11pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. All welcome. ‘A place of welcome, a space for stillness, a pause on your journey, an open door’.
Isle of Arran Mountain Festival. Here’s your first chance to get away from it all this weekend: from wildlife watching coastal walks to airy scrambles on towering granite ridges, the Arran Mountain Festival offers a wide programme of graded walks over four days, all guided by experienced local leaders, plus talks, music and social gatherings. Meet like-minded people and discover a fascinating island with some of Scotland’s most amazing landscapes. Each walk can be booked separately, and there are discounts for multi-bookings.  Full programme and booking details on the festival’s website here. Ends Monday 18th May. (For your second – and quite different – chance to escape, see Saturday’s listings…)
SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2015
Christian Aid Nepal Earthquake Appeal: An Evocation. An inspiring event seeking to evoke some of the thoughts, feelings, sentiments and consciousness of the years preceding and following the First World War, through words and music of the time from the UK and beyond. Performances, both sacred and secular, will include wind and string ensembles, organ, piano, violin and song, and feature St Mary’s Music School String Ensemble and Sirocco Winds, both award-winning performers, together with readings from the period. 1-2.30pm and 5-9.30pm, St John’s Church, Princes Street. All-day tickets cost £10. For more information please contact Alastair Guild at anevocation@gmail.com.
Polish Bookbug: a special session for the annual Bookbug Week. This year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story. Fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 11-11.30am, Piershill Library, Piershill Terrace.
Scotland’s Open Gardens: Broadwoodside. A garden planted in and around a farm steading, rescued from dereliction. Two sheltered courtyards are encircled by the old buildings; outside the planting extends into the surrounding farmland and woods on an ambitious scale. ‘One of Scotland’s finest contemporary private gardens’ (Scotland for Gardeners 2014). 2-6pm, Broadwoodside, Gifford EH41 4JQ. £5 person, of which 40% will go to Cancer Research Scotland and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries.
Christian Aid Week Coffee Morning: cake and candy stall, tombola, 99p bazaar, potted plant bonanza, books, toys and children’s activities (and coffee…).10am-12 noon, Queensferry Parish Church Centre, The Loan. Admission £2.
Gaelic Writing Workshop with author Martin MacIntyre: one of a series of workshops arranged by the Scottish Book Trust in association with its Journeys campaign to get Scotland writing. Each session will offer advice, writing practice and inspiration to writers of all levels in a relaxed environment. 11am-12.30pm, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunk’s Close, 55 High Street. Free but booking is essential: please email frances.campbell@scottishbooktrust.com or call 0131 524 0170.
Christian Aid Week Coffee Morning:Â hot rolls and home baking. 10.30am-12 noon, St Michael’s Parish Church, 1 Slateford Road.
Kidnapped: When Kilts were Banned. Discover Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless tale in Donald Smith’s exhilarating, gutsy adaptation; let two actors, a chest and your imagination take you on an exciting, fast-moving and adventure-filled story for all the family as young Davie Balfour leaves home for the first time, only to be double-crossed by his devious uncle and find himself kidnapped. Directed by Gavin Paul. 2.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. In association with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust.
The Vintage Kilo Sale: over 5 tonnes of quality mixed vintage fashion and accessories. £15 per kilo, with stock replenished throughout the day. 11am-4pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Early bird admission (11am-12 noon) £3, then £1.50.
150 Years of Alice in Wonderland: activities, games and fun to celebrate Alice’s 150th birthday. Come in fancy dress if you like! The event will be followed by a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which is free but ticketed as places are limited – call 0131 226 2666 for more information, or ask in the shop. From 2pm, Waterstones West End, Princes Street.
Strawberry Tea: tombola, cake and candy, books. 2-4pm, St Mark’s Parish Church, Portobello. £2 per person (children free).
This May Hurt…Medical Procedures from the Thompson-Walker Collection: a talk taking a look at some medical procedures that will make your toes curl and your hair stand on end! The Thompson-Walker Collection, part of the University of Edinburgh Art Collection, was amassed by Sir John William Thompson-Walker (1871-1937), a surgeon and print collector from Newport in Fife. This collection of engraved portraits of medical men is one of the largest of its kind in Scotland; along with portraiture it includes depictions of some ‘interesting’ medical procedures – so sit back, relax and thank your lucky stars that you live in the 21st century! 1-2pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 2-4.30pm for those who hold tickets to this event, which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Fascinating Plants: come and celebrate the wonderful diversity of plants with staff from the Botanics. A rare opportunity to see some unusual plants and discover why they can be so varied in their appearance. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studion, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free and suitable for all ages. Also at same times on Sunday 17th May 2015. This event is part of Fascination of Plants Day 2015.
Rainforest Adventure: jump into the canoe, hold the oar and travel deep into the rainforest with Brazilian storyteller Ana Maria Lines. With tales and songs, Ana will lead you on a magical adventure on the Amazon river, where every flower, bird and fish has a story to tell. For ages 6-10 years. 10.30am, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as your child’s ticket.
IberoDocs: the second Scottish Ibero-American Documentary Film Festival, continues today. Tickets for all screenings may be purchased from the Filmhouse Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online. Today’s films are:
(1)  Viking Land/Terra de Vikingos (15) (in Galician and German with English subtitles).  A found-footage compilation taken from VHS tapes that director Xurzo Chirro stumbled across – tapes containing 16 hours of material shot 20 years ago by a Galician working on a ferry crossing from Denmark to Germany – which he then edited into ‘chapters’ inspired by Melville’s Moby Dick: ‘an elemental journey into the nature of bygone images, and also a chartless navigation into the meaning of creative authorship’. Plus short: Pettring by Eloy Dominguez Seren. 3.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. This screening will be followed by a Q & A session with Vikingland producer Beli Martinez.
(2)  The Salt of the Earth/Le sel de la terre (12A) (in French, Portugese and English with English subtitles): for the last 40 years, photographer Sebastio Salgado has been travelling through the continents, witnessing some of the major events of recent history – he is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of wild fauna and flora, and of grandiose landscapes, as part of a huge project which is a tribute to the planet’s beauty. 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
Morningside Farmers’ Market: fresh, local, seasonal goods direct from the producers. Refreshments for sale throughout the market and in The Merlin. 9.30am-3.30pm, The Merlin (rear car park), 168 Morningside Road.
Nothing But The Poem: Tomas Transtromer. A reading and discussion session about the work of the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish poet, with poet Kate Hendry – no previous knowledge or experience necessary! Please note that the poet will be present on paper only. 11am or 2pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased via eventbrite here.
St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – it’s all here. Choc ices and juice are available to purchase during the interval for 50p. This week’s film is Basil The Great Mouse Detective (U). Please note that all children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. 10.30am-12.30pm (including interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. All welcome: no booking required.
The Storyteller, The Boy and the Road of Legends: Tim Porteous introduces you to the stories and legends that pave the route to Loch Ness, Scotland’s most famous loch. A powerful and moving performance, laced with humour, from this seasoned storyteller, who tells of a journey with his young companion; all is not as it seems as the stories begin to reveal truths for them both – what awaits them at Loch Ness will destroy a world and perhaps create a new one. For ages 16+. 7.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.
Heart and Soul: Living Stones. The Church of Scotland’s large-scale celebratory event to coincide with the beginning of the General Assembly: exhibitors, two stages of featured performances, 60+ congregations from all over Scotland, youth space, kids’ marquee and much more, with a closing worship service at the open-air Ross Theatre at 5pm. 2-6pm, Princes Street Gardens (with some events in St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road). Free: all welcome.
Sofi’s Beatles Night:Â live music with resident pianist Olly Farrell. 7pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.
Edinburgh Society of Musicians: guitar students of Simon Thacker play Bach, Ravel and music from Argentina, Cuba, Peru and Brazil. 7.30pm (prompt), Edinburgh Society of Musicians, 3 Belford Road. The Edinburgh Society of Musicians was founded in 1887; it promotes practical music-making in the city and arranges chamber music recitals every Saturday from October to June. Admission is free.
Loud and Proud: Scotland’s LGBT Choir. A spring concert celebrating ‘a glorious history of glamour performances since 2005’ with special guests the Ostergok Choir (Sweden). 8pm, Stockbridge Parish Church, Saxe Coburg Place. Tickets cost £10/£7 and may be purchased by calling 0131 473 2000 or online from Hub Tickets here.
3 Straight Heads: tunes and fun. 8pm, Skylark Cafe, 241 Portobello High Street.
LGBT: T Time in Edinburgh. An informal social gathering open to all transgender people and supporters. Come along for tea/coffee and a chat in a friendly, relaxed environment.
An optional event runs alongside each T Time – today this will be a screening of a trans-themed short or feature film and time for discussion afterwards. 1-4pm (film 2-3.30pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact Jules Stapleton Barnes on 0131 523 1104 or at jules@lgbthealth.org.uk.
A Scandal in Surgeons’ Hall: an evening of dark entertainment with music, dancing, magic and mystery all included! A scandalous evening of surprise and suspense inspired by the collections from The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh Anatomy Museum. Dance the night away with the ceilidh band, solve a mystery with the Victorian crime scene, let a fortune teller tell you what your future holds, be amazed by the magician – and much more. Expect to see the dark side of the collections…and of Edinburgh itself. You are invited to dress to impress in a Victorian/Steampunk outfit. For over 18s only. 7.30-11pm, Quincentenary Building, Surgeons’ Hall, Nicolson Street. Tickets cost £10 (students £8) and may be purchased via eventbrite here. This event forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Knockhill McRae Rally Challenge. Here’s your second opportunity to escape the city this weekend: a special rally festival to mark the 20th anniversary of Colin McRae’s 1995 World Rally Championship win. This will be the biggest single-venue rally event ever seen at Knockhill; a 30 mile ten stage rally plus – in association with Coltness Car Club – a showcase of some of Colin’s iconic competition cars, including the 1995 Championship-winning Subaru. Knockhill Racing Circuit, by Dunfermline, KY12 9TF. Tickets (for single days, the weekend, camping and caravan parking) may be booked online here or by calling 01383 723 337. Events continue on Sunday 17th May.
SUNDAY 17TH MAY 2015
Raising the Relief Fund for Earthquake Victims in Nepal: Charity Dinner. The Everest Nepalese and Indian Restaurant has organised this special event – and their chef, the wife of the proprietor – is ‘probably the best Nepalese chef in Scotland’, so as well as contributing to this very worthwhile cause, you’ll be able to enjoy a great meal. 2-10pm, Everest Restaurant, 52 Home Street. £12.99 per person. Please book asap by calling 0131 229 1348/07830 982471 or emailing info@everestnepal.co.uk.
Horrible Histories from the Archives: a family event looking back at some of the stranger goings-on from the University of Edinburgh’s archive. Expect gruesome stories and unexpected tales about Edinburgh and its residents. 11am-12 noon, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 12 noon-2pm for those who hold tickets to this event, which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Filmhouse Junior: films for a younger audience. This week: Cinderella (U) (2015), Kenneth Branagh’s live-action retelling of the classic tale. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here.
Bumps in the Night: Edinburgh Blackout Injuries in World War II. What was the impact of the enforced blackout on the Home Front? In this talk, Lothian Health Services Archivist Louise Williams will delve into wartime case notes exploring the injuries caused by these ‘bumps in the night’. 1-2pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 12 noon-2pm for those who hold tickets to this event, which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Bags of Art: cool and creative fun with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. For ages 4-12 years. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of NGS.
Cameo Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today: Federico Fellini’s 8 1/2 (15). Fellini’s semi-autobiographical story – about a renowned film director who has lost his inspiration -is still a mesmerising mystery tour that has often been quoted but never duplicated. 1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Music, Murder and Mayhem: an afternoon of macabre music. Delve into the dark side of music – from instruments made of human remains to songs about murder and crime. Discover what makes music the perfect medium for these murky subjects. The presenters will look at different aspects of music, including grisly musical instruments from the collection and popular murder ballads – there will even be a macabre singalong! 2-4pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will be open 12 noon-2pm for those who hold tickets to this event, which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Fascinating Plants: come and celebrate the wonderful diversity of plants with staff from the Botanics. A rare opportunity to see some unusual plants and discover why plants can be so varied in their appearance. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studion, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free and suitable for all ages. This event is part of Fascination of Plants Day 2015.
Modroc Mirrors (rescheduled): make a beautifully crafted mirror with modroc, inspired by the shore and the woodland. With Margaret Findlay. These workshops are intended for families working together; at least one paying adult must accompany each child and no child should be booked into a workshop alone. 11am-3pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road. Tickets cost £5 per person and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.
Hearing Impaired Tour: Scottish Collection Highlights. A free tour of the exhibition with portable loops, led by artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb. 11am-12 noon, Scottish National Gallery (Gardens Entrance), The Mound. To book a place please contact the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.
Scotland’s Open Gardens: 101 Greenbank Crescent. The front of the house is on a busy road – the back is in the country; a terraced garden, including a water feature, a variety of shrubs and trees, and wandering paths and steps with fine views of nearby hills and the neighbouring Braidburn Valley Park. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, 101 Greenbank Crescent, EH10 5TA (on bus routes). £3 person, of which 40% will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries. For further information please contact Mr & Mrs Jerry and Christine Gregson on 0131 447 6492.
IberoDocs: the second Scottish Ibero-American Documentary Film Festival, concludes today. Tickets for all screenings may be purchased from the Filmhouse Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online. Today’s films are:
(1)  Paradiso (15) (in Spanish with English subtitles). The Duque de Alba is the last remaining adult movie theatre in Madrid, still with a regular clientele. Rafael, the projectionist, works hard to keep the place nice, but now Luisa, the ticket clerk with whom he has worked for over 30 years, is about to retire. 3.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
(2)  Cloudy Times/El tiempo nublado (12A) (in Spanish, German and English with English subtitles): Paraguayan director Arami Ullon has lived in Basel for many years, but when her mother’s health deteriorates, she must return to Asuncion in Paraguay to face her past. This screening will be followed by a Q & A session with Arami Ullon. 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
(3)  Mala Mala (18) (in Spanish and English with English subtitles). A film about the transgender experience and the power of transformation told through the eyes of nine trans-identifying individuals in Puerto Rico. ‘A vibrant and visually striking immersion into the transgender community, Mala Mala celebrates the breadth of experience among a diverse and evolving community, from campaigning for government recognised human rights to working in the sex industry or performing as part of a drag troupe’. Plus short: High Heels Aren’t Compulsory by Annabel Cooper, starring Jo Clifford.  This screening will be preceded by a special performance by Jo Clifford to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and will be followed by the festival’s closing party. 8.35pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
Talking Trees Storytelling: let the RBGE’s volunteer storytellers grow your imagination with tall tales from around the world. For ages 5+. 2-2.45pm, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Teenage Book Group: if you love to read, or just want to read more, join the club to talk about the latest teenage fiction and your favourite books. This monthly group reads everything from classics to contemporary, dystopian to historical – and anything else you fancy; currently reading Louise O’Neill’s Only Ever Yours. 2-3pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. If you would like to join the group (it’s free), please email your details to schools.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.
Scotland’s Open Gardens: 61 Fountainhall Road. Large walled town garden in which trees and shrubs form an architectural backdrop to a wide variety of flowering plants. A collection of hellebores and triliums, several alpine beds and three ponds with a lively population of frogs. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, 61 Fountainhall Road, EH9 2LH.  £4 person, of which 40% will go to Froglife and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries. For further information please contact Mrs Annemarie Hammond on 0131 667 6146.
Big Big Sing Day: whether you sing in the shower or regularly with a choir. you’re all invited to belt out some songs with Big Big Sing. Join hundreds of people for a fun-filled afternoon with inspirational choir leaders Stephen Deazley and Jennifer John, singing everything from gospel and folk to pop, roots and world. You don’t need any singing experience or the ability to read music. ‘Lively, uplifting and guaranteed to put a big smile on your face’. 12 noon-5pm, Usher Hall, Lothian Road. £5 per person: tickets may be booked in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Big Big Sing is a UK-wide project inspiring thousands of people to get singing, enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits it brings, and have fun.
Scotland’s Open Gardens: Redcroft. A walled garden surrounding an Arts & Crafts villa, providing an unexpected haven off a busy road and planted with form and texture in mind. A fine display of flowering shrubs and tulips. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, 23 Murrayfield Road EH12 6EP (on bus routes).  £4 per person, of which 40% will go to New Caledonian Woodlands and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries. For further information please contact James and Anna Buxton on 0131 337 1747.
Sofi’s Nocturnes: weekly open stage hosted by Matt Norris and Arno Blok. Unplugged and intimate – all acts welcome, including music, spoken word and anything else you’d like to perform. House guitar available. A free drink for all performers! 8-10pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.
St Giles’ At Six: Paul Chamberlain (accordion) plays Zolotaiev Sonata No 2, Angelis Romance, Wienawski Scherzo Tarantella, Rachmaninov Vocalise and Weber Konzertstuck in F Minor. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.
