Saturday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Sofi’s Dug Day: bring your dug to Sofi’s for a fun way to socialise your pup and meet other local dugs and owners. 12 noon-5pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.

Grassmarket Picture House – see movies for free at the Grassmarket Community Project! Today’s film is School of Rock (PG) in which Jack Black stars as struggling musician Dewey Finn. Finding himself out of work, Finn decides to take over his roommate’s job as an elementary school supply teacher – and turns the class into a rock band. 11am, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. The Grassmarket Community Project creates community and provides sanctuary to some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens, including the homeless and people with mental/physical health issues and learning support needs. It operates an excellent community cafe, woodwork and tartan social enterprises and a range of social integration and educational activities for members, aimed at enhancing life skills and developing confidence. Although the films are shown for free, any donations you can offer will be much appreciated.

Broughton Primary School Summer Fair: stalls, sausages, have-a-go challenges, noise and fun! A community event to which all are welcome. 12 noon-2.30pm, Broughton Primary School, Broughton Road.

St Bride’s Family Cinema – see your favourite films for free. Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – they’re all here! Choc ices and juice for sale in the interval at 50p each. Please note that all children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. This week’s film is Rio 2 (U). 10.30am-12.30pm (includes interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. Next week’s film is Peter Pan (U) (1959).

Crossreach Queen’s Bay Lodge Summer Fair: teas, ice creams, burgers, children’s games, face painting, bric a brac, plants, bottle stall, books, home baking, live music, dance display  and lots more in the lovely grounds of Charis House. 2-4pm, Charis House, 49 Milton Road East. Free admission. For more information please call 0131 669 2828 or email queensbay@crossreach.org.uk.

The Gruffalo’s Picnic: the Gruffalo’s coming to Linlithgow – and he’s hungry! Come and join him at his picnic, organised by Far From the Madding Crowd bookshop. Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult. 1-3pm, The Town Marquee, Linlithgow Rugby Club, Mains Park, Mains Road. Tickets cost £4/£2: please drop into the shop, call 01506 845509 or email sally@maddingcrowdlinlithgow.co.uk for more information and to book.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for pre-school children and their parents and carers. 11-11.30am, Newington Library, Fountainhall Road.

Braid Bowling Club Annual Summer Fair: produce, books, plants, bric a brac, games, home baking, tombola and competitions, plus the chance to try your hand at various activities on the green or the boules pitch! 10am-12 noon, Braid Bowling Club, Midmar Avenue. Adults £2, children 50p (includes tea/coffee/juice and cake).

Craigie’s Farm Shop & Cafe Open Weekend: tractor rides, trailer rides, meet the farmer, milk the cow, games, food and lots more! 11am-3pm Craigie’s Farm, West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry, EH30 9AR. All welcome: free. Also at same times on Sunday 7th June 2015.

The Power and Beauty of Nature with Frame and Williams: a new exhibition by Jack Frame and Huw Williams, two very distinctive artists who are joined by ceramicist Pierre Williams. Preview today 11am-1pm, then 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, The Leith Gallery, The Shore, Leith. Ends 27th June 2015.

Piershill Library Creative Writing Classes: weekly classes throughout June to help you write a short story. No experience necessary! 2-4pm today and each Saturday in June, Piershill Library, Piersfield Terrace. Free, but places are limited so please contact the library staff if you would like to attend.

Bruntsfield Primary School Summer Fete: crafts, tombola, sponge the teacher, beat the goalie, stalls selling food, toys, clothes, uniform, bikes and much more! 11am-2pm, Bruntsfield Primary School, Montpelier.

Stuart Herd: a solo exhibition of more than sixty new paintings by the Tarbert-based artist. 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm Saturdays, The Torrance Gallery, 36 Dundas Street. Ends 20th June 2015.

Refugee Festival Scotland 2015: Wildlife Women’s Choir Presents Children’s Songs from Around the World. A family-friendly workshop for men, women and children to learn songs from rainforests and rivers, lullabies and silly songs. Bring and share songs from your own experience – snacks provided. Facilitated by Penny Stone. No previous singing experience necessary! 10.30am-12.30pm, McDonald Road Library, 2 McDonald Road. Free: all welcome. Refugee Festival Scotland runs 3rd-21st June 2015: it is centered in Glasgow but includes events throughout the country.

J David Simons: The Land Agent. Working as a land agent for one of the richest men in the world, Polish-Jewish immigrant Lev Sela stumbles on a strategic area of land that doesn’t appear on any map. The resultant struggle for ownership involves the Jews, Arabs, Zionists, British, an ambitious Russian engineer and the local Bedouin, whilst Lev is also drawn into a relationship with a beautiful Scottish pioneer living on a nearby kibbutz. J David Simons is Scotland’s pre-eminent Jewish writer, the author of short stories, essays and four novels. The Land Agent is the third title in his Scottish-Jewish magnum opus, the Glasgow to Galilee Trilogy (following The Credit Draper and The Liberation of Celia Kahn) – but it can also be read as a brilliant stand-alone novel. 2.30-3.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.

Cafe Society: a new exhibition by the Ayrshire-based artist Michael G Clark PAI RSW. 12 noon-5pm today then 10am-5pm Monday to Friday, 12 noon-5pm Saturdays, Doubtfire Gallery, South East Circus Place. Ends 4th July 2015.

The Parish Church of St Cuthbert First Saturday Organ Recitals – Jeremy Cull (St Cuthbert’s Director of Music): L’Orgue Mystique. Music influenced by liturgical and spiritual themes, including works by Tournemire, Hakim and Arvo Part. 12.30-1.15pm, St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road. Free: retiring collection.

Once Upon a Time: weekly storytelling in the Book Bothy with BB the Bookshop Bunny and Hardy the Guinea-Pig! 11am, Far From the Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow. For more information please ask in the shop,  email sally@maddingcrowd.co.uk or call 01506 845321.

St Cuthbert’s Coffee Morning: 10.30am-12 noon today and every first Saturday of the month, St Cuthbert’s Church, 5 Lothian Road.

Meadows Festival: Edinburgh’s free, volunteer-run, music and community festival is this weekend! The line-up will include Eliza Carthy, Tinderbox Orchestra, Sea Bass Kid, Urvanovic, Miracle Glass Company, Monosapiens, Danny Mullins Band, Matatunes, Portnawak and the Woo, Jemima Thewes and Big Fat Panda. Children’s entertainments, Forest Cafe stage and bar, stalls, refreshments, Dogs Trust area, community councils’ information and lots more. 10am-6pm today and tomorrow, The Meadows, Melville Drive.

The Big LGBT Music Jam: a creative and supportive space for making music. Play, sing your own song or just be an appreciative listener; all music tastes welcome. No need to book, just come along. Bring your own instruments, some percussion supplied. 1-4pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact biglgbtmusicjamedinburgh@gmail.com.

Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh Summer Fete: stalls, face painting, live music, lucky dip and refreshments. 10am-12.30pm, Marie Curie Hospice, 45 Frogston Road West.

A Quick Decision Can Be Made – a story of the Detained Fast-Track procedure for asylum seekers. Claiming asylum in the UK, like thousands of refugees each year, Mariam is put into the Detained Fast-Track procedure. An endless questioning begins, one that will strip down her whole life. Is she telling the truth? Can she? A cruel tale written and directed by Marie Yan for Refugee Festival Scotland, to scrutinise the absurdity of a system as it ‘celebrates’ its twelfth birthday. 7.30pm, Discovery 21, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased in advance via Brown Paper Tickets here (transaction fee applies) or on the door, sta (theatre has 35 seats). Also at 2pm on Sunday 7th June 2015. Discovery 21 is a new studio theatre run by local companies Tightlaced Theatre and Black Dingo Productions. Refugee Festival Scotland runs 3rd-21st June 2015: it is centered in Glasgow but includes events throughout the country.

Fraser Urquhart – Solo Jazz Piano: the fast rising young Edinburgh pianist plays a repertoire of neatly arranged jazz standards. 3-5.30pm, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. Free.

Quadrilles and Contradanses: A Regency Ball. Napoleon may have lost the war, but French dances conquered the world! Throughout the 19th century the quadrille was the queen of all fashionable ballrooms. You are invited to a Regency Ball, accompanied by live music of the period. The ball follows on from a day of workshops exploring the origins of dance, but you do not have to attended to workshops to go to the ball (for details of the workshops, please see the centre’s website). 7.30pm, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 (transaction fee applies to online and telephone bookings) and may be purchased online here, by calling 0131 556 9579 or in person at the centre.

Edinburgh Trans Women: a support group aimed at transsexual women at any stage of transition, women who are transgender and live as women full-time or part-time, and those who are questioning their gender identity. 7.30-9.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Please email the group before attending for the first time, as this assists with security and also allows the group to get ready to welcome you: info@edinburghtranswomen.org.uk.

Leith Jazz and Blues Festival: an afternoon slot for jazz fans of all ages, young and old! 4pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Also at same time on Sunday 7th June 2015.

Shetland JAWS: no, it’s not a sealife centre…it’s your second chance to escape the capital this weekend. Shetland Jazz Festival has reinvented itself as Shetland Jazz and World Sounds, and it starts today. Gigs all over Shetland, from the Sumburgh lighthouse to the far north of Saxa Vord; highlights will include Tommy Smith premiering a new piece developed in collaboration with Christine De Luca and Alex Cluness, The Drums Explosion, Eddi Reader, Mousa Sound Stompers and Hayden Hook and his Trio Tarot, workshops, food and plenty more. The festival continues until 14th June 2015. For more information please contact Jeff Merrifield, Da Cutts, Sandwick/jeff@playbackarts.co.uk.