Monday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

The Natural History of Blue John: Blue John is a banded variety of the mineral fluorite, which is only found near Castleton in Derbyshire. It has been worked into ornaments since the late 18th century, and Lauriston Castle houses outstanding collections of Blue John vases, urns, tazzas and bowls. Most veins of Blue John have now been worked out and the mineral is in very short supply, so Blue John artefacts are very valuable and highly collectable. In this lecture Godfrey Fitton, Professor of Igneous Petrology (University of Edinburgh), will show how Blue John formed and acquired its remarkable purple colour; the talk will be followed by a viewing of the Lauriston Castle Blue John collection. 10.30am, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £8 and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

For Crying Out Loud: screenings for carers and their babies under the age of 12 months (maximum of 2 adults per baby). Babychanging, bottle warming and buggy parking facilities are available. This week’s film is The Choir (PG), an uplifting drama featuring Dustin Hoffman in an ‘excellent understated performance’ as head choirmaster, plus Kathy Bates, Josh Lucas, Debra Winger and Eddie Izzard. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 per adult and may be purchased from the Box Office in person or by calling 0131 228 2688.

Explore Learning Children’s Creative Writing Workshop: based around Roald Dahl’s disgusting Mr & Mrs Twit! For ages 6-8 years. 2.30pm, Oxgangs Library, Oxgangs Road North. Please contact the library on 0131 529 5549 to book your child’s free place.

In Focus: Abraham Cruzvillegas’ El Travieso (An Emotional Craft). Frances McKee, Director, CCA Glasgow, will look at the roots of Cruzvillegas’ approach to sculpture, in particular the influence of the pachuco subculture. Cruzvillegas’ El Travieso (An Emotional Craft) is currently on display as part of REFLECTIONS, a series of changing displays of contemporary art at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Adult Book Group: join the group for lively, friendly chatter about a wide range of books – from fiction to non-fiction, classics, contemporary, prizewinners and cult heroes. Currently reading John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. (Next month’s book will be Ian McEwan’s The Children Act). 6-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. If you would like to join, please email your details to events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

David Bailey’s Stardust: Opening Lecture. Tim Marlow, Director of Artistic Programmes, Royal Academy, London, who wrote the essay on ‘Bailey and Portraiture’ for the Bailey’s Stardust catalogue, discusses the photographer’s life and work. Marlow is a distinguished curator, cultural commentator, broadcaster and author. 6-7.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased from the Information Desk at the Scottish National Gallery in person or by calling 0131 624 6560. Bailey’s Stardust is open at the Scottish National Gallery until 18th October 2015.

Picturehouses Culture Shock: the best in cult and genre films. This week: Risky Business (18) – a Chicago teenager is looking for fun at home while his parents are away, but the situation quickly gets out of hand. 9.15pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723 or online here: prices vary.

LGBT Spiritual Space: Maxwell Reay, NHS Mental Health Community Chaplain, offers a supportive space for people to discuss and develop ideas of spirituality and identity. Suitable for people of all faiths and none. Tonight Maxwell will offer opportunities for individual conversations and information regarding spiritual needs. 6.30-7.30pm (within weekly drop-in, which runs 5.30-8pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Grassmarket Free Cinema: Cathy Come Home (PG). In 1966 The Wednesday Play screened one of the most significant pieces of work ever transmitted on British television; written by Jeremy Sandford and directed by Ken Loach, Cathy Come Home tells the bleak story of a woman who loses her home, her husband and eventually her children through the inflexibility of the British welfare system. A grim picture is painted of mid-sixties London, and although realistic, the viewer cannot but realise that a political point is being made. The issues addressed were discussed in Parliament, and one of the consequences of the film was the enormous public support for the housing charity Shelter, whose public launch came shortly after the film was first shown. 7pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome; free – donations to the Project also welcome. The cafe will be open – please use it!

Sofi’s Movie Mondays: popular classics on the silver screen in Sofi’s cosy, darkened back room. With free popcorn! Today’s film is Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas (18) starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. 8pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.