Inseparable: an exhibition of portraits of people in Russia with Down’s Syndrome, aged from 5 to 50 years. The portraits are by award-winning master of photography Vladimir Mishukov. 9am-1pm and 2-5pm, Monday to Saturday, 12 noon-3pm Sundays, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. The exhibition has been organised by the cathedral in partnership with Down’s Syndrome Scotland and the Russian Consulate. Closes 18th July 2015.
Benji The Play Talk Read Bus is in Castle Street today! Free songs, stories and play sessions for young children, their parents and carers. 10am-1pm and 2-4pm, Castle Street.
Gallery Social: Jean-Etienne Liotard. A relaxed and informal guided tour with refreshments for anyone affected by dementia, and their relatives, friends and supporters. 10.30am-12 noon, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound (meet at the Information Desk, Gardens entrance). Free but please book by calling 0131 624 6560. Supported by the Friends of NGS.
LGBT Age: Scottish Parliament Tour. Come and hear about the history, work and procedures of the Parliament, and the architecture of its award-winning building. 10.30am-12.30pm, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Booking is essential and may be made by contacting lynda@lgbthealth.org.uk. LGBT Age is a project run by LGBT Health & Wellbeing for LGBT people over the age of 50; it offers a befriending service, social programme and information sessions. For more information click here.
Edinburgh International Film Festival continues today! For details of all films and other events see the programme here or pick up a paper copy at EIFF venues and many other locations throughout the city. Tickets are available in person from the Filmhouse, Lothian Road, Cineworld, Fountain Park, Odeon, Lothian Road and the Festival Theatre, by calling 0131 623 8030 or online here. Today’s highlights include Kaleidoscope, Telemach Wiesinger’s idiosyncratic, feature-length film poem weaving together numerous journeys across Europe and America, set to an innovative soundtrack, In Person: Malcolm McDowell, in which the actor was to talk about highlights from his career has now been cancelled, and the Festival Awards Ceremony, at which you can be the first to find out about this year’s winners and to see the exclusive trophies made by the Grassmarket Community Project’s woodshop.
Breastfeeding Awareness Week: NHS Lothian’s Infant Feeding Team will answer any questions you may have – plus free gifts and fun goodies for the children! 10.30am-12 noon (after Rhymetime) Muirhouse Library, 15 Pennywell Court.
Leith School of Art Summer Exhibition: a showcase of the work of the School’s students at the end of their year-long and part-time courses. The School has introduced several new courses in 2014-15, so the exhibition will take place over all three campuses: 10am-4pm at St James, North Junction Street and Coburg House Studios; also at same times on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June (please note: St James campus will be only be open 1-4pm on Sunday 28th). For full details see the School’s website here.
Lunchtime Concert: Sacramento Master Singers, California. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
LGBT Women’s Wellbeing Group: an inclusive group that offers the chance to meet other LGBT women in a relaxed environment. Chat, info and activities promoting health and wellbeing. The group welcomes all LGBT women and transgender people who identify primarily as women. Today’s theme is ‘Holiday‘ and the group will take a walk along Portobello Prom before enjoying a well-deserved drink. 2-4.30pm. For information on meeting place and to be added to the group’s email list, please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Robert Louis Stevenson and his Literary Networks: writer and researcher Duncan Milne considers Robert Louis Stevenson’s place in a wider Victorian literary society. Stevenson corresponded and even collaborated with a number of iconic writers, from Thomas Hardy to Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling, JM Barrie and even Henry James; his contacts give a unique insight into a world of inspiration, emulation, cooperation and dispute – a telling portrait of Victorian publication and the world of literature in general. 10.30am, Museum of Edinburgh, 142 Canongate. Tickets cost £5/£3.50 per person and must be purchased in advance from the Usher Hall Box Office, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here (transaction fee applies to phone and online bookings).
Skylark Surf Week: Jake and Rory’s Ocean of Psychedelia. Music, visuals, and possibly some very weird dancing.. 7.30pm, The Skylark, 241.243 Portobello High Street.
LGBT Film Nights: see LGBT themed and mainstream films in a sociable setting. 7pm (film starts at 7), LGBT Health and Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information and to join the mailing list please contact admin@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Bloody Scotland Presents East vs West Scottish Crime Fiction: Craig Robertson and Michael Malone chair an evening with three of Scotland’s leading crime writers, Neil Broadfoot, Frank Muir and Doug Johnstone. 6.30pm, Waterstones George Street, 83 George Street. Free but please book by emailing edinburghgeorgest@waterstones.com, or for more information please call 0131 225 3436. Read The Edinburgh Reporter on the launch of Neil Broadfoot’s latest thriller, The Storm here.
St Margaret’s House/Edinburgh Palette: New Exhibitions: (1) 14.15: Fourteen former Edinburgh College students ‘trying to figure out their place in the world’; (2) 24: Dominic McIvor – large scale works by the recent Gray’s School of Art graduate; (3) From a Horizontal Line: Robyn Benson – new works exploring the structural capabilities of the curve. Previews tonight, then 10am-6pm daily, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. All three exhibitions end 12th July 2015.
The Liar’s Tour of the Scottish Storytelling Centre: a unique and fun tour with storyteller James Spence. It is the stuff of legend, forged from lies, banter, outlandishness and sheer cheek; enter this parallel universe of tall tales, and know that the truth is out there somewhere, but strangely absent from here. See the Centre in a strange new light, through the jaundiced eye of a storyteller. 1pm or 3pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 (includes entry to John Knox House) and may be purchased from the Box Office by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here.
Guid Crack: Eejits and Hissy Fits. Join storyteller Fiona Herbert for tales of stupidity and stroppiness. Join in with a tale of your own, or just come to listen. Edinburgh’s monthly storytelling night: accompanied young adults welcome. 7.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free: suggested donation £3 per person.
Harpsichord Recital: John Kitchen will play Suite in C attrib. Louis Couperin, Handel Overture in Sansom, JS Bach Capriccio on the departure of his beloved brother BWV 992 and Forqueray La Mandoline, La Regente et La Leclair. 8pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Admission is by programme and costs £6, free to Friends of the Music of St Giles’ Cathedral, in association with whom this concert has been organised.
Cream O’ The Croft: your first chance to escape the capital this weekend is a new festival. Although it’s dedicated to Scottish mountain biking, Cream O’ The Croft is aiming to be much more – so in addition to Funduro (‘a mashup featuring multiple timed stages; blue, red and black grade downhills; one hill climb; a head-to-head dual slalom and pump track challenge’ – which presumably makes sense to those of you who need to know…), bike races and challenges for all ages and bike coaching, there will be pedal-powered films, a big bike jumble sale, live music throughout the weekend, lots of children’s activities (water slide, crafts, action, adventure and a pop-up wildlife park) and plenty of local food and drink (including Alchemy’s Bunny Hop ale, brewed specially for the festival). Gates open 3pm today, Comrie Croft, Crieff, PH7 4JZ. The Festival ends at 4pm on Sunday 28th June. For more information, including accommodation options, click here and to book your tickets via eventbrite click here.
