SUNDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2015
Friends of River Almond Walkway Walk: a leisurely walk along the river, pausing at intervals to hear about some of the Almond’s outstanding history and wildlife and finishing with a further opportunity to chat at the Cramond Boat Club. Members and all those who might be interested in joining the group are invited to come along. Meet at 2pm at Cramond Brig – or at 4.30pm at Cramond Boat Club, Riverside, Cramond, if you don’t want to do the walk. If possible (but this is not essential), please let the group you know that you plan to attend by emailing friendsoftheriveralmondwalkway@gmail.com. The Friends of the River Almond Walkway is a registered charity.
Filmhouse Junior: screenings for a younger audience. Today’s film is Minions (U): in this prequel to the Despicable Me films, Minions Kevin, Stuart and Bob travel to the US in 1968 in search of a boss, but end up in England on a dastardly mission to steal the crown of Queen Elizabeth. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and may be obtained from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 6382 or online.
Portobello Village Show: an afternoon of music, crafts, cake, dogs, balls, bats, ducks and lots more. ‘A village show of delights for the people of Porty and beyond’. 2-5pm, Rosefield Park, Rosefield Place.
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home Open Day: stalls, games, refreshments and family fun! 12 noon-4pm, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, 26 Seafield Road East. For more information please call 0131 669 5331.
Art Maker – September. Join the Art Maker Club and make your own masterpieces with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. For ages 4-12. 2-4pm (drop-in), Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of NGS.
PENFEST: a week of celebrating local talent in Penicuik, with concerts, exhibitions, workshops, poetry, music, local studios, trails and talks. Today’s events include a Samba Junk Workshop for adults led by Liz Steven. No experience necessary, all materials provided. 2-4pm, Penicuik Community Arts, 4 West Street, Penicuik. Advance booking is required as numbers are limited to 28: tickets cost £5 per person (£4 for PCA members) and are available from the Craft Shop at PCA. More events follow throughout the week: see website.
Recovery Month Family Picnic: a family event to celebrate NHS Recovery Month. Bring your own food and musical instruments! 2-5pm, The Meadows (near the children’s play area). This event is alcohol-free.
Magic Carpet Mini Diggers: the start of a month of archaeological discovery and stories, with activities taking place at the Museum every weekend in September. At Magic Carpet Mini Diggers young children can enjoy archaeology-themed songs, stories and actions on the Magic Carpet, before putting new skills to the test with the toddler-friendly dig box. 
For ages 2-4, accompanied by an adult. 11am (meet at 10.50am at the green fountain) Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free but booking is required and may be made from 1st September: please call the Museum on 0300 123 6789 for more information. Also at same time each Saturday and Sunday in September.
Garden Sculpture Tours: join Alexander ‘Twig’ Champion for a meditative tour around the Garden’s outdoor sculptures, including the works of John Chamberlain. The tour explores both Chamberlain’s outdoor works, installed as part of the summer exhibition in Inverleith House, and the Garden’s collection of outdoor sculptures, including major works by Ian Hamilton Finlay, Andy Goldsworthy, Barbara Hepworth and Alan Johnston. 2-3pm, meet at Inverleith House reception, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free, all welcome, no booking required. Also at same time on 20th September.
Dig It! At the Museum: Hands on History. The start of a month of archaeological discovery and stories, with activities taking place every weekend in September; explore objects from Scotland, Europe and beyond, all with an archaeological story to discover. Today’s session will be led by Margaret Maitland, Curator Ancient Egypt and Mediterranean, NMS. 2-4pm, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free, drop-in, no booking required. See also Magic Carpet Mini Diggers for activities for children aged 2-4 years.
Scotland’s Gardens: 61 Fountainhall Road. A large walled town garden in which trees and shrubs form an architectural backdrop to a wide range of flowering plants. Hellebores, triliums and a large variety of late blooming flowers, plus several alpine beds and a large collection of Sempervivums. Three ponds, with and without fish, have attracted a lively population of frogs. Refreshments available; plant sales. 2-5pm, 61 Fountainhall Road, EH9 2LH. Admission £4, of which 40% will go to Froglife and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries. For more information please contact Mrs Annemarie Hammond on 0131 667 6146 or email froglady@blueyonder.co.uk.
Art Walk Porty: a new four day art event celebrating the public space and artistic activity of Portobello. Open studios, designer-makers, site specific art in hidden and unfamiliar parts of the Prom and beach, exhibitions, installations, art in shops and cafes, and a makers’ market. 11am-4pm, various locations around Portobello, see the event’s website here for full information. Ends today.
Seaweed for Health: come and meet representatives from the Seaweed Health Foundation and find out how Scottish seaweeds are being harvested and being used as ingredients in food and nutrition products – and exported around the world. Touch and taste the different species! There will also be a programme of talks covering many aspects of the subject; see RBGE website here for details and times. 10.30am-5pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free and unticketed.
Cameo Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today: La Grande Bouffe (18), the most famous film by Italian provocateur Marco Ferreri. Reviled on its release for its perversity, decadence and attack on the bourgeoisie, the film won the prestigious FIPRESCI prize after its controversial screening at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival. 1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723 or online here; prices vary.
LGBT Rainbow Families Summer Picnic: a chance for LGBT parents and their families to get together, meet new people and enjoy the outdoors. There will be a gazebo and some fun games for people to try. 12 noon-3pm, Magnet Play Area, East Meadows, Melville Drive. Please book in advance (using the online form here) so that if there is very bad weather and the event is cancelled, you will receive an update. Free but please bring some food to share. For more information please contact Jules Stapleton Barnes on 0131 523 1104 or email jules@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Muir Wood Park Bat Walk: a wander through the woods as the sun goes down to look and listen for your furry friends with bat detectors. 6-8pm, Muir Wood Park, Muir Wood Road, Currie. Booking is essential as places are limited: email events.fmwp@gmail.com or download a booking form here. £1 per person. Arranged by the Friends of Muir Wood Park.
Made in Prague: the New Czech Cinema UK Tour 2015. The biennial UK showcase of contemporary Czech cinema is back for the fifth time, with five titles capturing the country’s dramatic past and its influence on contemporary life and culture. Today’s film is Honeymoon/Libanky (15) (in Czech with English subtitles): a gripping drama about a rich society wedding thrown into chaos by the arrival of a stranger with a horrifying accusation to make, ‘at once acidly funny and painfully moving’. 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be obtained from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 6382 or online: prices vary.
LGBT Art Workshop: Mandala Making. An opportunity for self-expression by creating your own mandala to represent your unique universe, with a chance to come together and reflect on everyone’s creations from an LGBT perspective. Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle, but it is frequently used as a ritual or spiritual symbol to represent the universe. All art materials are provided, no experience is necessary – just a willingness to participate. 11.30am (doors open 11am)-5pm, Serenity Cafe, The Tun, Jackson’s Entry. Booking is essential and should be made using the online form here. For more information please call Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org. The photograph shows part of a mandala made at The Nomad’s Tent, St Leonard’s Street, to raise funds for Mercy Corps’s work after the Nepal earthquake: to read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article about it, click here.
Professor Thomas Hale: the Associate Professor in Public Policy (University of Oxford) will preach at St John’s Sung Eucharist service today. Professor Hale’s research explores the fair and effective management of transnational problems; he seeks to explain how political institutions evolve – or not – to face the challenges raised by globalisation and interdependence, with a particular emphasis on environmental and economic issues. 10.30am, St John’s Episcopal Church, Princes Street.
Becc’s Bath Club: the first of two 1920s speakeasy nights with 1920s blues from four-piece band Becc’s Bath Club and Hendrick’s Gin cocktails. 6-8.30pm, Joseph Pearce’s, Elm Row.
St Giles’ At Six: an organ recital by Mario Ciferri. The programme will include music by JS Bach, Bossi, Widor and Ritter. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.
