Donald Gorrie Schools Debating Competition: for the third annual competition the motion is ‘This house believes that we can create and sustain communities across the nation of Scotland in the 21st century’. 6.30-9.30pm, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. All welcome: free admission – come along and encourage the teams, all from local schools! Last year’s winners were Craigmount High Seniors and Royal High Juniors.
Edinburgh International Film Festival starts today! The opening film is Robert Carlyle’s directorial debut The Legend of Barney Thomson, starring Carlyle himself as a downtrodden Glaswegian barber whose life is turned upside down when he accidentally turns killer, and Emma Thompson as his hilariously fierce mother Cemolina, plus Ray Winstone, Martin Compston and Tom Courtenay. ‘A deliriously dark comedy to be cherished’. 9pm, Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street. Tickets cost £15/£10 and may be purchased (sta) from the Filmhouse, Lothian Road, Cineworld, Fountain Park, Odeon, Lothian Road and the Festival Theatre itself, by calling 0131 623 8030 or online here.
Read, Relax, Recharge: Wendy Kirk, Glasgow Women’s Library librarian, invites you to bring along your lunch and relax while you listen to a story being read, then join in some lively discussion. An informal and welcoming session for women of all ages, from all walks of life. 12.30-2.30pm, Boardroom, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here. This event forms part of In Their Own Write – Women and Words, a festival of talks, exhibitions and workshops organised by Glasgow Women’s Library, Edinburgh City Libraries and the Bonnie Fechters women’s group.
Chatterbooks: a fun reading group for children aged 8-12 years. If you like books, come along and meet new friends, chat about books and join in games and competitions. 3.45-4.45pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free. For more information please ask in the library, call 0131 529 5617 or email Mohammed.boussabou@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Edinburgh Festival of Cycling continues today! Rides, films, talks, drama, books, photos, workshops and lots more. Today’s events include the Spokes’ Bike Breakfast and talks by Shannon Gilpin, activist and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and Christine Thomson, the Papercut Artist (see separate listing). For more information please see the festival’s website here or its Facebook page here, or pick up a programme from many venues across the city and beyond, including libraries, leisure centres and many shops. Ends 21st June 2015.
Visually Impaired Tour and Workshop – REFLECTIONS: a series of changing displays of Contemporary Art. A free descriptive tour and practical workshop for the visually impaired. 10am-3.30pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road (the workshop will end at Modern Art TWO). Booking is required and may be made by calling the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.
Common Weal Edinburgh North & Leith Book Group: discussing Naomi Klein’s most recent book on capitalism and climate change This Changes Everything. 7.30pm, Pear Tree House, West Nicolson Street. All welcome.
Lunchtime Concert: Will Pickvance – Piano Speak. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Get Organised: Music with Edinburgh Connections. John Kitchen plays music by the blind organist Alfred Hollins, two preludes by Kenneth Leighton, Cecilia McDowall’s new piece Celebration and A Scottish Tuba Tune by Donald Sprink. 1.10-1.50pm, Usher Hall, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 on the door and may also be booked in advance here (transaction fee applies).
The Artist’s Route: Glasgow to Edinburgh via Buckingham Palace – and various stops in between. Born in Glasgow, Christine Thomson DA – the Papercut Artist – has had a passion for drawing all her life, from her first poetry illustration in Primary 5 to a pen and ink of her Raleigh bicycle as a GSA portfolio piece, to designing the Commonwealth Games papercut and an invitation to the Queen’s Baton Relay launch. The commemorative papercut for the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling is her latest piece. 2-3pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here. This event forms part of Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 2015.
Getting Started at the National Library: learn how to get a library card, find your way around the library and request materials from the collections – the workshop includes a tour of the reading rooms lasting approximately 90 minutes. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made online here or by calling 0131 623 3734. If you wish to apply for a library card on the day please bring proof of identity with you (details on NLS website here). For more information about this workshop please email enquiries@nls.uk.
Ewan Morrison: How I Accidentally Invented the Selfie 25 Years Ago. Award-winning author, screenwriter and director Ewan Morrison’s Screen Play: A self-portrait has been recently acquired for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery collection. In this talk Morrison will give a brief history of postmodern art, considering how his own artwork fits into it – and how it really doesn’t. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Picturehouses E4 Slackers’ Club: a monthly free screening for students. This month’s film is Entourage: The Movie, ‘a high octane, Hollywood-set comedy’. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be obtained by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723. To join the Slackers’ Club take your NUS or student photo ID card to the cinema; membership is free and existing Student Picturehouse Members have automatic membership of the club.
Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council: 7pm, Stockbridge Church, Saxe Coburg Street. All welcome. For more information please see the Community Council’s website or contact stockbridgeandinverleithcc@gmail.com
Bi and Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual and non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.
How the Scots Conquered Waterloo: join Owen Dudley Edwards as he discusses his latest book, in which he recollects the battle through the paintings, literature and letters of soldiers and Scottish artists who were there. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made online here or by calling 0131 623 3734.
Leith Festival 2015: CultFusion #1. Poets Nancy Somerville, Jo McFarlane, Angus Reid and Rex Sweeny join forces with singer-songwriter Kriss Robb for a spirited evening of widely contrasting poetry and music. 8pm, Constitution Bar, Constitution Street. £3 on the door. For further information please contact julianjmcenroe@yahoo.co.uk.
