Chatterbooks: if you are 8-12 years old and like books and reading, come along to Chatterbooks and meet new friends, talk about books and join in games and competitions. 3.45-4.45pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. All welcome! For more information please ask at the counter, call 0131 529 5617 or email Mohammed.boussabou@edinburgh.gov.uk
Summer Fun in the Courtyard: free family activities for children of all ages. Today Mrs Mash the Storytelling Cook returns to enthrall all – everyone welcome! 11.30am-1pm, Courtyard, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street.
Visually Impaired Tour and Workshop: The Amazing World of MC Escher. A free descriptive tour and practical workshop for the visually impaired. 10am-3.30pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road – meet and collect at the gallery’s back door. To book a place please call the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.
Origami Wonders! Make a regular sized origami creation, then try a larger one. For children aged 5-12 years: children under 8 must be supervised by someone over 12. 2-3pm, Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drumbrae Drive. All welcome!
Marvellous Messy Monoprints. The grounds at Lauriston Castle are teeming with wildlife – Michael Craik invites you to take this as your inspiration and get messy with a variety of monoprinting techniques, materials and stamps to create a colourful woodland masterpiece. 10.30am-12.30pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. £4 per person: advance booking is essential and must be made via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Please note that these workshops are for families working together: all children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult, and children must not be booked into workshops alone.
Lunchtime Concert: The Choir of Trinity Cathedral, Columbia, South Carolina. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Stamp It: a fun, interactive workshop for children aged 7-12 years, using stamps in games, arts and crafts. Learn about animals through stamps, with Sandie Robb from the Association of British Philatelic Societies. Sandie also works for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. 2-3.30pm, Central Children’s Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here. Please note this workshop is not suitable for children under 7 years.
Treasures from Europe: The Art Collection of James, 1st Duke of Hamilton. During the 1620s and 1630s James Hamilton acquired a collection of paintings which was to rival that of Charles I, and which formed the basis of the renowned Hamilton Collection, including works by Titian, Bellini, Giorgioni, Rafael, Rubens, Mytens and Van Dyck. The collection was sold in 1919 and is now dispersed around the world. Kate Anderson, Curator, Portrait Gallery, will highlight some of these key works, examining the collecting tastes of this important Scottish nobleman and the impact his collection had in Stuart Britain. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Water Bottle Spirals: make a colourful decoration for inside or out. For ages 5-12 years. 3.30-4.30pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace. All welcome.
Getting Started at the National Library of Scotland: learn how to get a library card (please bring evidence of identity with you if you plan to register), find your way around the library and request materials from the collections. The workshop will include a tour of the Reading Rooms and will last about 90 minutes. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.
Moto Madness: design your own record-breaking vehicle. For ages 5-12 years. 4-5pm, Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Court. All welcome.
Record Breakers Physical Fun & Games: challenge yourself and become a record breaker! How long can you hop on the spot? 2-3pm, Kirkliston Library, 16 Station Road. All welcome!
LGBT: Bi & 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.
VSO Comedy Night: enjoy a good night of comedy and help to raise funds for this life-changing charity. 8.30pm (doors open 7.30pm), The Stand Comedy Club, 5 York Place. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be reserved by calling The Stand on 0131 558 7272 or by contacting Cathy Crawford on 0131 620 0552/crawfordcathy@hotmail.com. VSO is an international development charity, creating long term solutions to global poverty by sending volunteers from a range of professions to share their skills with some of the world’s poorest communities.
Girls’ Night In: for ages 12-14 years. 5-7pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace. All welcome.
Grassmarket Community Project Presents Bill McGillivray. Bill was a missioner with Edinburgh City Mission, Pilton for many years, and is a member of the Magic Circle. He has performed all over the world, entertaining people with his blend of fact, humour and magic. 4.15pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome! The Grassmarket Community Project is a charity providing mentoring, training and education to participants, many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable of Edinburgh’s citizens, in a nurturing environment. It operates a 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. To read about The Edinburgh Reporter’s afternoon at the Project, click here.
Jammin’ At Voodoo: monthly live jam 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 play by invitation only to set a good standard. For over 18s only. 9pm, The Ballroom, The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Free admission.
The Long Lost Trio: guitar-led Jazz and Blues, infused with some Funk, Americana and Soul, from Thomas Dibb (guitar), John Pope (bass) and David Carnegie (drums). Influences include John Scofield, Bill Frisell, The Meters, The Band, Medeski Martin & wood, and Herbie Hancock. 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.
Heb Celt 20: It may only be Wednesday, but your first chance to get away from it all starts today! Set in the grounds of Stornaway’s Lews Castle and at various other venues throughout Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Heb Celt offers music from Celtic cultures with contemporary, traditional, indie-folk, rock and world influences. Numerous acts include Salsa Celtica, Raghu Dixit, Idewild, Shooglenifty and Afro Celt Sound System – plus community events, Circus Heroes in the Magpie Big Top, Japanese street theatre with Daiki-san and CHEEKY-san, magic, cookery demonstrations, Blasad dhen Fheis (Taste the Festival), children’s activities, family concerts, Gaelic language tasters, Latin dance workshops, ceilidhs, Highland & Celtic dancing, community concerts, late night sessions – and the Shinty Challenge Cup. Starts today and ends on the evening of Saturday 18th July. Calmac ferries sail daily from Ullapool to Lewis. For more information, including accommodation and travel options, see Heb Celt’s website here.
Boda Bar Quiz: for teams of 4 people. 8pm, Boda, 229 Leith Walk.
