What’s On in Edinburgh this week

Please check details of all events with the organisers before setting out – and have a lovely week!

MONDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2015

Cameo Toddler Time: short screenings for pre-school children, their parents and carers. Today: The Hive, Programme 6 (U) – join Buzzbee and friends in their fun-packed adventures in The Hive! Every day brings something new for the little bee as he explores the world around him with best friends Barnabee, Debee, Jasper the wasp and his sister, Rubee.  11am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets cost £3 per child (accompanying adults free) and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.

Girls Rock Scotland! Ever thought about taking up an instrument and forming a band? What’s stopping you – think you can’t sing or play? We don’t care! Wanting to try something new and having a positive rock attitude is more important than perfect pitch and instruments can be learnt. Girls Rock School will be running group music workshops for girls (including trans*) for 6 weeks on Monday evenings, starting tonight. Come along and have a try out singing or playing guitar, bass, keyboards or drums in a friendly, supportive environment. Instruments are provided, but if you have your own, bring it along. Vocals: 6-7pm, Keyboards: 6-7pm, Beginner Guitar/Bass: 7-8pm, Intermediate Guitar: 7-8pm, Drums: 8-9pm, St Margaret’s House, 152 London Road. Please sign up here; it’s free, but donations are always welcome. Girls Rock School is inspired by the Girls Rock Camp movement which started in the US: it is based in Edinburgh.

Blackhall Knitters: the group meets every two weeks on a Monday evening to knit, natter and help each other with personal projects in knitting or crochet. The Knitters’ most recent project has been warm clothing and small teddies for Syrian families in the refugee camps in Lebanon. They are going to be delivered by Edinburgh Direct Aid which is an all- volunteer charity delivering aid and a hand of friendship in person. 6-7.30pm, Blackhall Library, Hillhouse Road. All welcome; no skill required!

Leith Conversation Cafes: a new initiative for you to meet others from all over the world while learning more about what’s going on in your local community. Today’s topic, chosen by volunteers, is ‘What have you gained from moving here? And what do you miss most about home?’  It will be discussed at both of today’s sessions: 10am-11.30pm, Drill Hall Arts Cafe, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street and 7.30-9pm, Yellow Bench Cafe, 31 Crighton Place (off Leith Walk, opposite Pilrig Street). Everyone welcome!

For Crying Out Loud: exclusive screenings for parents/carers (maximum of two adults per baby) and their babies under 12 months old. Baby changing, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is Steamboat Bill, Jnr. (U): Steamboat Bill thinks his business woes have been solved when he learns that his long-estranged son is returning home from college – but he’s sorely disappointed to find that Bill Jr (Buster Keaton) is not quite the hardy seafarer he expects him to be. And Bill Jr’s sudden affection for the daughter of Bill’s more successful rival isn’t helping matters one bit. Plus short: The Play House (U) starring Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 (babies admitted free) and may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here.

Create A Masterpiece: join artist Erik Petrie to explore exciting art techniques and learn how to become a perfect painter and drawer, taking inspiration from the colours and textures in the gallery’s collection of Scottish art. 2.30-4pm, City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. £4 per person. Places must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Please note that these workshops are intended for families working together: at least one paying adult must accompany your child, and no child should be booked into a workshop alone.

Guid Blethers: come along to Guid Blethers on the first and third Mondays of every month – make new friends, share stories, exchange ideas and views and take a trip down memory lane. We use a computer and projector to illustrate our topics. It is a most enjoyable afternoon for all ages, with lots of guid blethers over tea and cake. Today’s theme is Cards & Postcards – bring along your treasured cards and share the story behind them. 2-4pm, Polwarth Parish Church, Polwarth Terrace. For more information please contact Margaret on 0131 229 2963 or Audrey on 0131 447 5153. The next meeting will be on 5th October 2015.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is The Wanted 18 (12A) (in English and Hebrew with English subtitles): during the First Palestinian Intifada – the unarmed civilian insurgency that included protests, stone throwing, civil disobedience and refusal to pay taxes to Israel – a group of townspeople in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour decide to buy eighteen cows and produce their own milk. Seeking to create an alternative economy as a stepping stone towards self-sufficiency and sovereignty, their venture proves so successful that the collective farm becomes a landmark. Even the cows become local celebrities – until the Israeli army takes note and declares that the cows pose “a threat to the national security of the state of Israel”. Through interviews and playful animation, The Wanted 18 charts a stirring portrait of a community united in defiance. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. Presented in association with Scottish Palestinian Forum.

In Common Cause: Commonwealth Scots and the Great War. David Forsyth, Principal Curator in the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland, explores the relationship between Scottish migration, military traditions and emerging national identities within the British empire.  Emigration has been an ever-present theme in Scottish history.  In 1914, as the world prepared for war, thousands of men enlisted in Scotland for military service, and across the British empire and beyond, thousands more of Scottish birth and descent joined up. 10.30am, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £8 and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

Grassmarket Community Cinema: Glasgow Short Film Festival 2015 Family Animations Touring Programme. Free hot chocolate for anyone wearing their pyjamas to this special one hour session! The films are Zebra, The Little Cousteau, Hopfrog, Grump, Choir Tour, Polar Where? Frenemy, New Species, Avocado Bear, Macropolis and Silent; all are cert. U.  7pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome; free – donations to the Project also very welcome. The cafe will be open – please use it!

The Art of David Jones: after being received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1921, artist and poet David Jones joined the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic founded by Eric Gill, a community where religion and art were brought together in daily life. This exhibition includes a group of engraved sacred images dating from this period, most notably illustrations for an edition of The Book of Jonah.  10.30am-4.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. The exhibition will continue until 25th September 2015 but please contact the church for opening times, which may vary from day to day.

Sofi’s Cult Movies: popular classics on the silver screen in the cosy, darkened back room. Free popcorn! Tonight’s film is Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (15): in the 1930s the Grand Budapest Hotel is a popular European ski resort, presided over by concierge Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes). Zero, a junior lobby boy, becomes Gustave’s friend and protege. Gustave prides himself on providing first-class service to the hotel’s guests, including satisfying the sexual needs of the many elderly women who stay there; when one of Gustave’s lovers (an unrecognisable Tilda Swinton) dies mysteriously, Gustave finds himself the recipient of a priceless painting and the chief suspect in her murder. 8pm, Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street. Free.

Leith Central Community Council: 7pm, Nelson Room, McDonald Road Library, 2 McDonald Road. All local people welcome to attend and participate. The agenda for the meeting and the minutes of previous meetings can be found on the community council’s website here.

LGBT Drop-In: please note there is no drop-in at Howe Street tonight.

Picturehouse Documentaries: new and topical documentaries covering issues around the world. Today’s film is The Closer We Get (12A); after her mother Ann suffers a devastating stroke, Karen moves back home for what will be a long goodbye. But Karen isn’t the only one who comes back to care for Ann in the crisis: her prodigal father – the endearing yet unfathomable Ian, who’s been separated from Ann for years – also reappears. Reunited so unexpectedly, and armed with her camera, Karen seizes this last chance to find out the real story of her family and the truth behind a secret her father had tried – and failed – to keep from them all, before it’s too late.  Candour, warmth and much unexpected humour bring to life both an extraordinary story and a profound portrait of family survival. After the screening there will be a Q & A session with director Karen Guthrie. 6.30pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here; prices vary.

Caritas Public Lecture: What Are We Doing Here? Dr Brandon Carter FRS is famous for the so-called Doomsday Argument, which he first developed in 1983 and which is sometimes known as the ‘Carter Catastrophe’. This is a probabilistic argument that proposes that there is a 95% chance that the human race will be extinct within 9,120 years. Dr Carter was born in Sydney, Australia in 1942 and was a pupil at George Watson’s College from 1954 to 1959. He went on to study Natural Philosophy (Physics) at the University of St Andrews and Mathematics at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He graduated as PhD in 1968. In 1975 he moved to France to work in the Paris Observatory at Meudon and was appointed Research Director in 1986. He retired with the status of Research Director Emeritus in 2009. Amongst Dr Carter’s achievements has been pioneering research on black holes, the mechanics of neutron star crusts and the formulation of the ‘anthropic principle’. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1981. This lecture forms part of George Watson’s Festival of Ideas, a series of lectures and seminars given by distinguished visiting speakers and staff of George Watson’s College, all of whom will address the question ‘What Are We Doing Here?’ in their own individual way. 7.30pm, Assembly Hall, George Watson’s College, Colinton Road. This event is open to the public but tickets are required, and may be obtained by contacting the Senior School Reception on 0131 446 6000.

Cameo Culture Shock: ‘the best in cult and genre films’. Tonight’s film is Alien (15): when commercial towing vehicle Nostromo, heading back to Earth, intercepts an SoS signal from a nearby planet, the crew are under obligation to investigate…. but they do not know the danger they are in until it is too late. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here; prices vary.

The Band of Holy Joy LP Launch: the London-based band, intermittently active since 1984, launches its latest album, Land of Holy Joy. Supported by Edinburgh alternative rock band The Cathode Ray and Glasgow-based Lola in Slacks. For over 18s only. 7.30pm, Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £10 (booking fee applies) and are available from Tickets Scotland here.

TUESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2015

Tiny Tales: Hills and Glens. In a wee little house way up in the glens lives Janie Mells, with her cat and her hen… Ailie Finlay shares stories about Janie Mells and her animal friends, including Marjory the snow-hare. Come and listen to cosy tales and old rhymes from the hills and glens. Lots of toys, puppets and joining-in! For children aged 1-3. 10am or 11.30am (40 minute sessions), Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Please remember to book a free adult ticket for yourself in addition to purchasing your child’s ticket.

Leith Conversation Cafes: a new initiative for you to meet others from all over the world while learning more about what’s going on in your local community. Today’s topic, chosen by volunteers, is ‘If you could meet the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, for five minutes, what would you tell her?‘ 3-4.30pm, Punjabi Junction, 122-124 Leith Walk. Everyone welcome!

Fact and Fiction in the World of Art: A Conversation between Philip Miller and Sir John Leighton. Philip Miller, writer, poet and award-winning Arts Correspondent for The Herald, has recently published his first novel, The Blue Horse, an acclaimed literary noir set in the contemporary art world. John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, has just published his selection of 100 Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland. The two authors interview each other about their recent books and reflect on issues of truth, fiction and the imagination in writing about art. 6-7.30pm, Hawthornden Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

How Do We Create A Fairer Scotland? The Scottish government wants people to have conversations about how we make Scotland a fairer place to live. What are the issues that concern you? Work, health, community, jobs, safety – what changes can the government, local councils and we ourselves make in our communities? Come along and have your say – your opinions and ideas will be fed back to the Scottish government. Coffee, tea and cake in the morning and lunch at 12.00pm when the event finishes! 10am-12.30pm, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court. All welcome but please RSVP via the event’s Facebook page here to assist North Edinburgh Time Bank with catering numbers.

Cameo Silver Screen: if you are over 60, join the Silver Screen Club (it’s free to join – ask at the Box Office) and get tickets for just £5, plus free tea, coffee and biscuits, at these special weekly screenings. Today’s films are Everest 2D (12A) showing at 1.40 and 3.40pm, Legend (18) showing at 1pm and 4.15pm, and 45 Years (15) showing at 1.30 and 3.50pm.  Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online. Non-members are also welcome at these screenings but will be charged standard ticket prices.

Get Organised: Music by Elgar. This programme is totally devoted to music by Elgar, the main work being his colourful Severn Suite in an organ arrangement by Edinburgh-based musician Jeremy Cull.  The concert will also include the Chanson de Matin, Chanson de Nuit, the exquisite slow movement from the Serenade for Strings and ‘Nimrod’ from the Enigma Variations. 1.10pm, Usher Hall, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 and may be obtained from the Usher Hall Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Food Chains (15): in a story whose after-taste is global, producers Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Eva Longoria chart the inspirational fight by migrant US farmworkers to bring supermarket giants to the table over fair wages. Supermarkets have tremendous power over the agricultural system, reaping $4 trillion globally every year, yet countless farmworkers in the EU and US continue to live in poverty and are forced to work in subhuman conditions. Focusing on an intrepid group of tomato pickers, this is a powerful story of justice trumping greed. Plus short: Nasi Lemak. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. Presented in association with Unison Scotland. The screenings will be followed by conversations and opportunities for effective personal action with discussion guests, including author and journalist Joanna Blythman (Swallow This: Serving Up the Food Industry’s Darkest Secrets, Shopped: the Shocking Power of British Supermarkets).

Scrum Down Scotland: a workshop to mark the 2015 Rugby World Cup.  See a selection of the many items on Scottish rugby held in the National Library’s collections; subjects covered include the Calcutta Cup, the Five Nations, club rugby, women’s rugby and great Scottish players. Among the highlights is ‘The rugby football internationals roll of honour’, which includes biographies and portraits of the Scottish rugby players who died in the First World War. 10.30-11.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here. Free. Also 2.30-3.30pm on Thursday 24th September 2015.

Cafe Ceilidh: Changing Seasons. Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for a free afternoon of songs and music in the Storytelling Court. 2-4pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed.

Future Options for Primary Schools in South Edinburgh: the number of children in south Edinburgh’s primary schools is now higher than it has been for 30 years. Local schools are under pressure to find space for all of their pupils. The biggest problem is at South Morningside Primary where pupils are split across three sites, but this consultation looks at options that could ease problems at schools in the wider area. A summary paper with general information about each of the options, plus more detailed information in the full consultation paper, can be accessed via Edinburgh City Council’s website here. Tonight’s meeting is one of four being held during the consultation period. 6.30-8.30pm, Bruntsfield Primary School, 12 Montpelier. The final meeting will be held at St Peter’s RC School on 29th September 2015.

The Stand Comedy Club Gorgie City Farm Benefit Gig: a night of comedy with Keir McAllister, Gus Lymburn, Daisy Earl, Gareth Waugh and host Liam Withnail, in support of this brilliant local charity. Gorgie City Farm is a free entry community resource supporting young people and adults with additional support needs while educating the public about farming and food production. 8.30pm (doors open 7.30pm), The Stand Comedy Club, 5 York Place. Admission £5 on the door, or book in advance by calling the Box Office on 0131 558 7272.

Strengthening Connection: One School’s Story. Headteacher Jennifer Knussen tells the inspiring story of one school’s journey, which grew out of their understanding of the science of connection. In 2013, the staff at Pitteuchar East Primary School in Fife found themselves changing the way they talked about children. They altered one simple phrase in their vocabulary, replacing the common term ‘challenging behaviour’ with that of ‘distressed behaviour’. This single change allowed mindsets to open, empathy to grow, and trust to flourish. Come and hear their story. 7pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free but tickets are required and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here.

Passionate Windows: get together to colour three stained glass windows in these preparatory workshops for the 2015 Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. 1-4pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. All welcome. Also at same times on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th September. For more information please contact Maxwell Reay, NHS Mental Health Chaplain, on 0131 537 6734.

Leith Folk Club: Sheena Wellington. Scotland’s leading traditional singer, Sheena Wellington was born in Dundee into a family of singers and factory weavers. Sheena’s repertoire covers everything from Burns to ballads to the best of contemporary songwriting, drawing from the rich Scottish tradition passed from musician to musician through the ages. She also sang at the opening of the Scottish Parliament. ‘..she can lay fair claim to being chiefly responsible for the seriousness with which her branch of the arts is now taken ..’  (The Herald). 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £7 and may be reserved by completing the online form here or texting the club’s dedicated booking line on 07502 024 852. Reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30pm on the night.

Blackout Productions Presents Proof: Catherine has sacrificed her education and social life to care for her brilliant but unstable father, Robert, during the worst of his mental degeneration. On the eve of her twenty-fifth birthday, Catherine must deal not only with the arrival of her estranged sister Claire, but also with the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father who hopes to find valuable work in Robert’s 103 notebooks. As Catherine confronts Hal’s affections and Claire’s plans for her life, she struggles to solve the most perplexing problem of all: how much of her father’s madness or genius will she inherit? Proof explores the unknowability of love, the mysteries of mathematics, the elusive nature of truth and the fine line between genius and mental illness. Gabrielle Pavone-Clark plays Catherine; Nick Hayes directs. The David Auburn script was winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and the 2001 Tony Award for Best New Play. 7.30pm, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Blackout Productions: blackoutproductions@live.co.uk. Also at same time on 23rd, 24th and 25th September 2015.

Old Chain Pier Quiz Night: with prizes! 9pm, Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent. £5 entry for a team of up to 5.

Henry’s Cellar Bar Folk Club: the third instalment of Edinburgh’s monthly showcasing of folk, roots, trad, and songwriting talent. This Month: Newcastle-based progressively folky sextet Pons Aelius (winners of the Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award) plus Siannie Moodie, Note to Self and Gillespie & Wolfe. 8-11pm, followed by jam session 11pm onwards, Henry’s Cellar Bar, 16 Morrison Street. £3 on the door.

WEDNESDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2015

Balerno Music Festival: the eighth Balerno Music Festival starts today, with a packed programme of concerts, films, cabaret, workshops, children’s events, folk music sessions, the Festival Busk and a jazz party. Tonight’s opening event is a Dinner Discussion with Paul Stubbings, Musical Director of St Mary’s Music School; a renowned organist and music master, Paul took up his post at St Mary’s in 2012 and on his appointment was described as ‘a first rate performer at St Martin-in-the-Fields …….. having an absolute passion for education’. Come along and hear about Paul’s career highlights and what drives his passion for teaching excellence in music. The evening will include a delicious two course meal provided by MacKenzies (of Colinton) with complimentary wine or soft drinks. A friendly and warm welcome is guaranteed. 7.30pm, St Joseph’s Hall, Balerno. Tickets cost £17 and may be purchased from Balerno Parish Church Office (9am-12 noon, Monday to Friday), Balerno Farmers’ Market, by post or online; for full booking information click here. The festival ends on 11th October 2015.

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning: with cake! 11am, Drumbrae Library Hub, Drumbrae Drive. All welcome. In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Donations of baking much appreciated – these may be taken into the library on Tuesday 22nd or early today.

Black Cube Collective Annual Show 2015. The Edinburgh arts organisation brings together more than fifty emerging artists from around the world for its third Annual Show, with contemporary art ranging from installation and film to painting and ceramics. Exhibitors include Rory Laycock, who was recently selected for entry into the 9th International Arte Laguna Prize; other artists from Pakistan, Hong Kong, the United States, Austria, Russia and many other countries will join graduates of Edinburgh College of Art and Glasgow School of Art. The work shown will cover topics as diverse as hyperplasia, gender reassignment and the use of online technology. A public live performance event by artist Jean-François Krebs will take place on Saturday 26th September at 2pm. 10am-5pm, Gayfield Creative Spaces, 11 Gayfield Square. Ends 30th September 2015.

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents Joanna Gruesome: ‘These sublime pop noiseniks provide a masterclass in controlled aggression. Edgy and intense…they pound and pout through violently melodic two-minute songs about satanic rites and psychotic episodes’ (The Guardian). For over 18s only. 8pm-late, The Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and may be booked by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here.

Meet Graham Hancock: the Edinburgh-born author, who specialises in unconventional theories about ancient civilisations, will be signing copies of Magicians of the Gods, the long-awaited sequel to his seminal work Fingerprints of the Gods. 12.30pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. For more information please call 0131 226 2666.

Jandy Nelson: the San Francisco-based YA author will discuss her new book,  I’ll Give You the Sun, ‘a radiant novel that will leave you laughing and crying all at once’. 6pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. Free tickets are available from the shop. For more information please call 0131 226 2666.

LGBT Gay Men’s Book Group: an inclusive group where you can meet new people and read and discuss interesting books. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact info@gaybookgroup.co.uk.

LGBT Bi Visibility Icebreakers: celebrate this year’s Bi Visibility Day at Icebreakers, with an opportunity to find out about local bisexual related resources, groups and meet ups. Most of all, come along for some celebratory fun, whatever your sexuality. If you want to meet new people, are just coming out or maybe don’t feel confident going out on the ‘scene’, Icebreakers is an informal, fun and friendly social group for LGBT people and anyone questioning their sexuality or gender identity. Suitable for those aged 18 and over. 7.30-9.30pm, Regent Bar, 2 Montrose Terrace.  For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Casablanca Calling (12A) (in Arabic with English subtitles): in Morocco, a country where over 60% of women have never been to school, a new generation of women have started work as official Muslim leaders. They are called Morchidat or spiritual guides. The profound story of a quiet social revolution in Morocco, Casablanca Calling follows three Morchidat – Hannane, Bouchra and Karima – as they set out to change their country, starting at street level. Their mission is to teach an Islam based on compassion, tolerance and equality, and to separate its original teachings from prejudice, misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Their work takes them into mosques, schools, homes, orphanages, prisons and out in the countryside; they support the education of women and girls, campaign against early marriage and encourage young people to build a better Morocco rather than dreaming of life in the West. An intimate portrait of three female leaders, a society in transition, and a mission to educate a nation. Plus short: Give. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. The screenings will be followed by conversations with Dr Ebithal Mahadeen, Jordanian feminist and Chancellor’s Fellow, University of Edinburgh, and Dr Kathy Galloway, practical theologian, campaigner, writer and head of Christian Aid Scotland.

Sofi’s Clothes Swap: it’s green and it’s fun! Clear out your wardrobe and get some new clothes for free. 7pm onwards, Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street.

Ben MacDonald Quartet: fronted by one of Scotland’s foremost guitarists, this 4-piece brings intricate, gripping and melodic original compositions influenced by modern jazz while incorporating concepts from folk and rock. Featuring some highly accomplished musicians, all of whom have performed at international level, Ben is with Adam Jackson (sax), Pete Johnstone (organ), and Doug Hough (drums). 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2015

Meet the Glasshouse Staff: come and find out more about the Botanics’ stunning collection of plants from the people who care for them. Each month meet a different member of the indoor horticulture team in one of the ten glasshouses, each with different specialist knowledge. 1-2pm, Glasshouse, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free with Glasshouse entry (£5/£4, children under 16 and essential carers free).

Rannagan Na Chloinne – Gaelic Songs and Rhymes! For young children and their parents and carers. For more information please call in to the library or call 0131 529 5595. 10.30am, Blackhall Library, Hillhouse Road. Next session: 22nd October 2015.

Architectural Society of Scotland Public Meeting: to consider the society’s opposition to the proposed hotel development at the former Royal High School. Find out what you can do if you wish to oppose this application. 6pm, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street.

Cameo Big Scream: screenings exclusively for parents/carers and their babies under the age of one year. Today’s film is Everest 2D (12A), a gripping drama based on a disastrous 1996 expedition when eight climbers lost their lives attempting an ascent on the mountain. 10.30am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.

Women Getting Together – Making A Difference: a follow-up to the conference in June organised by the Women’s International Group. Today’s event will be looking at what the idea of home means, what community action has achieved in the past to support victims of racism, and how we can take action to ensure people are made safe and welcome in our communities. Come and join in the discussion, see films and enjoy a free lunch – all women welcome, creche available (please book creche in advance). 10am-12.30pm, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Pilton Drive North. For more information, for transport or to book a creche place please call Lynn on 0131 552 5700 or Rachel on 07891 525 663.

Edinburgh’s World Heritage: the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. In this talk David Hicks, Edinburgh World Heritage Communications Manager with responsibility for promoting awareness and understanding of the city’s World Heritage Site, will explain why the city has this status and how Edinburgh World Heritage works to conserve, promote and enhance the Old and New Towns. 10.30am, Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate. Tickets cost £5/£3.50 and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

Italian Women Writers: Gender and Everyday Life in Fiction and Journalism, 1870-1910. Katharine Mitchell, Lecturer in Italian (University of Strathclyde), discusses her book with Italian writer and journalist Caterina Soffici. Italian Women Writers looks at the work of three of the most significant women authors of Post-Unification Italy: La Marchesa Colombi, Neera and Matilde Serao. These writers, whose works had been largely forgotten for much of the last century only to be rediscovered by the Italian feminist movement of the 1970s, were widely read and received considerable critical acclaim in their day. In their realist fiction and journalism, they documented and brought to light the ways in which women participated in everyday life in the newly independent Italy, and how their experiences differed profoundly from those of men. 6pm, Italian Cultural Institute, 82 Nicolson Street.

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LGBT Age: What You Need To Know – Lingoflamingo. A tailored and playful foreign language workshop with an LGBT twist – crack open a suitcase-load of tips and tricks to increase concentration and improve memory and communication. 2-4pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Booking is preferred; please call 0131 523 1100. LGBT Age is a project run by LGBT Health and Wellbeing for LGBT people aged 50 and over in Greater Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Lothians. The project aims to promote health and wellbeing and create social opportunities by offering a befriending service, social programme and information sessions. For more information please call 0141 271 2330 or email lgbtage@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Scrum Down Scotland: a workshop to mark the 2015 Rugby World Cup.  See a selection of the many items on Scottish rugby held in the National Library’s collections; subjects covered include the Calcutta Cup, the Five Nations, club rugby, women’s rugby and great Scottish players. Among the highlights is ‘The rugby football internationals roll of honour’, which includes biographies and portraits of the Scottish rugby players who died in the First World War. 2.30-3.30pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.

The Scotland-Russia Forum: Student Welcome Party. Students from Russia and its neighbours, students studying Russian or interested in the history, culture and politics of the area are all invited to meet each other at the Forum’s Student Welcome Party. 6.30-8.30pm, Cafe, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Please RSVP to Jenny Carr on 07846 917 627 or email info@scotlandrussiaforum.org to enable the organisers to cater for all.

My Favourite Tree in the Garden: RBGE’s tree expert William Hinchliffe will give a talk about the five most popular trees in the Garden, chosen by the public in a recent poll. He will give an insight into the history, care and botany of the trees and of the current tree collecting programme. 7.30pm, Lecture Theatre, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Admission £6 (members £5): no booking required.

Blackwells Presents An Evening with Margaret Attwood: on the publication date of her new novel, The Heart Goes Last, the award-winning author of more than forty books (The Handmaid’s Tale, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin) will be in conversation with author and literary critic Stuart Kelly. 7pm, Assembly Rooms, George Street. Tickets cost £10 (or £24 with a copy of the book) and may be purchased from Blackwell’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229 or via eventbrite here.

CAESURA #33: since 2012 CAESURA has been exploring the recesses of poetics, language and sound with a series of stripped-back events that include experimental writing and avant garde miscellany, in intimate performances by innovative artists from across the UK and beyond. This first event after the summer break features a quintet of poets: Michael Farrell, Gavin Selerie, Frances Presley, Jane Goldman and Iain Morrison. 6.30pm, Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be booked via eventbrite here. For more information about this event please contact the Scottish Poetry Library on 0131 557 2876.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is The Divide (15): a moving and urgent account of how inequality impacts our societies, inspired by best-seller The Spirit Level. As Britain today faces yet another round of harsh austerity measures while rising wealth is concentrated in ever fewer hands, what is the true cost of inequality? Director Katharine Round presents moving, personal stories from across the income spectrum. From the carer on a zero-hour contract to the ambitious Wall Street psychologist who aspires to the affluent lifestyle of the burnt-out traders he supports, The Divide successfully articulates how the rising gap between rich and poor negatively impacts people from the bottom to the top of society. Plus short: Hotel 22. Presented in association with Oxfam. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. The director, Katharine Round, and Marco Biagi MSP will join today’s screening. The films will be shown again at 1pm on Friday 25th September.

The King Lot: the critically acclaimed West Lothian-based melodic rock band plays a home turf headline show before heading out on tour. Supported by Welsh rockers Fireroad and heavy rock band Mason Hill. Over 18s only. 7pm, Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £10 (booking fee applies) and are available in advance from Skiddle here.

Ragged University: Evolving for Girls + Power, People and Progress: How We Make Decisions About What We Want for the City and its Communities. In the first of this evening’s talks, Doreen Soutar looks at theories of sexual selection, as mooted in Charles Darwin’s The Descent of Man: ‘This book and the theories it contained were pretty much ignored by mate selection theorists for over a hundred and thirty years. However, since the turn of the 21st century it has been making a come-back. This could be seen as a good move for feminists….’ After a break for food and discusson, Ewan Aitken will suggest that ‘our conflict ridden culture means that much of what passes for public debate is destroyed by point scoring and a serious inability to disagree with condemnation. I see the third sector as a place of hope and change but it too needs to think about how it models that new way of living and working’. 7pm, The Counting House, West Nicolson Street. All welcome; free, but please bring some food to put on the table if you are able to do so. ‘Knowledge is power, but only when it is shared’.

City Link 2015: City Link Festival starts today! An international event celebrating culture and urban life between cities through symposiums, artist exchange, workshops, study trips, city walks, performances and social bonding, inspiration and co-creation, City Link started in 2012 as a co-creation project between cultural communities in Copenhagen and Hamburg. Until 2014, the network primarily consisted of people from those cities, but the City Link Festival in Hamburg in September 2014 kick-started City Link as a global network connecting people, projects and communities throughout the world. This year the festival’s theme is democratic renewal; it will bring together people from Edinburgh and Copenhagen with ideas that could link cities, discuss local initiatives, inspire each other and investigate possibilities of co-creating cities across Europe. The festival opens today with the following events – more follow on 25th, 26th and 27th September:

Hold Me Dear: Four Cities, Four (Extra) Ordinary Places. A co-created gallery and exhibition of stories and photographs of Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Istanbul and Hamburg. Curated by HERE + NOW, the exhibition provides a unique and exciting opportunity for people to share the places that matter most to them, building up a very personal insight into a residents’ view of their Edinburgh – the places that matter personally to local people ­beyond the usual tourist landmarks. From 9am, Rodney Street Tunnel. There will be a launch event at 12 noon on Sunday 27th September – see listing. Ends 20th October 2015;

Classic Copenhagen: Copenhagen Street Art. Danish urbanist and photographer Sandra Høj gives her insight in to Copenhagen’s street art scene with a unique collection of photographs. 10am-5pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Ends 26th September 2015.

Polar Twins: the launch of an exhibition by five Danish and Scottish artists, whose work is part of a six month cultural exchange between Copenhagen and Edinburgh. Curated by Miriam Wistreich and Morvern Cunningham, the exhibition also features as the closing event for this year’s LeithLate festival. Launch 6-9pm tonight, exhibition 12 noon-6pm daily, The Biscuit Factory, Anderson Place. Free: all welcome. Ends 27th September 2015.

Opening Doors: The Urban Revolution in Denmark. The non-profit organisation Givrum.nu involves Danish civil society, the public sector and businesses in neighbourhood development; by literally opening the doors to empty buildings, GivRum allows cultural projects and creative businesses to thrive. Via their City Link Festival initiative GivRum hopes to share best practice with cities around the world. Come to hear Jesper Koefoed-Melson, Director of GivRum, and Sara Melson, City Link Project Manager, explain more, and take part in a discussion on whether this trend could make its way to Scotland. 6-8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here.

Guilty As Sin: get up and dance, or just relax and sing along! 9pm, Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.

FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2015

Inside Out: Samuel Bough’s Edinburgh Castle in Context Walking Tour. Starting inside the Scottish National Gallery, historian Alastair Learmont will take a closer look at Sam Bough’s Edinburgh Castle (1860) before moving outside to look at the castle in the context of Princes Street Gardens and the Old Town. Please come dressed for the weather, and be ready and able to walk at a reasonable pace – tours walk at an easy pace, cover less than two miles of walking and are generally appropriate for all ages and fitness levels, but please use your best judgment. The tours will go on rain or shine, although in cases of severely inclement weather on the day, the tour will remain in the gallery. 12.45-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound . Free but advance booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment as tours are limited to 15 places: tickets may be obtained in person from the Information Desk in the Gardens Entrance of the Scottish National Gallery, or by calling 0131 624 6560 between 9.30am-4.30pm.

Artists Unlimited Coffee Morning: cake, coffee and chat in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. 10.30am-12.30pm, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove.  All welcome!

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – with tombola! 11am-12.30pm, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North.  All welcome. In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Make a Dragonhead Mask: for ages 7-10. 2.30-3.30pm, Charles Smith Room (upstairs), Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. Please contact a member of staff to book your free place or call the library on 0131 529 5654 – and please be on time as a full hour will be needed to complete the masks.

Gallery Social: Bailey’s Stardust. A relaxed and informal guided tour with refreshments, for anyone affected by dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. 10.30am-12 noon, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound (meet at Information Desk, gardens entrance). Free but please book by contacting the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.

The Macular Society: a speaker from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 10.30am, Church Hall, London Road Church, corner of London Road and Easter Road. All very welcome; feel free to bring a friend  The Macular Society was formed to help those with macular degeneration to understand their situation and find resources of help and support; through the society, people can receive information about research, discover their capabilities and discuss problems and solutions with others who have macular problems. The main Edinburgh branch meets on the last Friday of every month except December, and there are also local support groups meeting regularly in Morningside, Stockbridge and Portobello. For more information contact the group leader on 0131 449 7716 or deputy leader on 0131 667 3598. Further information may also be found on the Macular Society’s website here.

A Day of Prayer and Action for Refugees. St John’s Church has for many years fought hard to raise awareness of the refugee crisis and the need for action. Many people feel confused, fearful, upset and uncertain as to how they should act in the face of the many refugee crises the world is now facing. The church will be open for communal and individual prayer and for community organising to respond to the urgent needs of refugees and migrants. 8am-10pm, St John’s Church, Princes Street. All welcome.

The Wild Wild West: a walk along the shore of Harperrig, the largest reservoir in the Pentlands Regional Park, then up the second highest point in West Lothian, West Cairn Hill. A strenuous 6 mile walk, suitable for ages 16+; sturdy footwear and waterproofs will be required. 10am-2pm, Harperrig Car Park, Pentland Hills Regional Park. Booking is essential and may be made by contacting Pentland Hills Regional Park HQ, Hermitage of Braid, 69a Braid Road (0131 529 2401/pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk). Free but donations appreciated.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Democrats (15) (in English and Shona with English subtitles), a gripping political thriller offering an incisive warts-and-all snapshot of a nascent democracy. Shot over three years, with remarkable access to the corridors of power in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, Democrats focuses on two political opponents tasked with drafting a new constitution. Mangwana, a blustery cynic unashamedly buoyed by the might of ruling party ZANU-PF, stands in stark contrast to the cautious Mwonzora, from the barely tolerated Movement for Democratic Change. Director Camilla Nielsson charts the two men’s complex relationship as they travel throughout the country during a nationwide consultation process marred from the outset by corruption and intimidation. Yet as meetings descend into violent clashes and Mwonzora faces imprisonment, Democrats captures unmistakable progress towards more democratic rule – and serves as a vivid illustration of our common struggle for dignity. Presented in association with NIDOS. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. Director Camilla Nielsson and community outreach worker Twimukye Macline Mushaka will join this screening.

Bit-Phalanx Music (in association with The Fruitmarket Gallery) presents: Coppe + Barbara Morgenstern + Special Guest Christ. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of her own label, Mango + Sweetrice Records, Japanese electronic singer-songwriter and music producer Coppe returns to Edinburgh to mark the occasion and showcase her new album ‘20rpm‘. Acclaimed Berlin-based pianst, singer, producer and composer Barbara Morgenstern, will be visiting Edinburgh for the first time in her 18 year career for a full set highlighting her brand new collaborations album ‘Doppelstern‘, whilst returning to Edinburgh once again with Coppe is producer Chris Horne, aka Christ.  6.30pm pre-gig reception (with access to current exhibition), Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street, followed by performance at Old St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 63 Jeffrey Street (opposite the gallery). Tickets cost £8 + transaction fee (£10 on door, sta) and may be purchased via eventbrite here.

Scottish Borders Folk Tales: James Spence launches his collection of folk tales from the Scottish Borders, rich in stories tall and true, ancient and recent, dark and funny, powerful and fantastical. Richly illustrated and enlivened by the rhythmic Scots language of the region, these well-loved and magical stories are retold in a lively and engaging style by James, who will also perform at the launch. 6pm, Storytelling Court,  Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed.

Serenity Cafe Club Night: Pass the Mic. Hosted by Fran Cawkwell and Stevie Paget. 7pm-late, Serenity Cafe, 8 Jackson’s Entry, The Tun, Holyrood Road. Admission £5/£4. Serenity Cafe is Scotland’s first recovery cafe, run by people in recovery for people in recovery, and public customers who want good quality, good value food in a relaxed space. It also offers a wide range of activities for members. All events are drink and drugs free.

Passion: a Postcard Exhibition.  All works are for sale at £15 each. Open preview tonight 6-8pm, then 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays), The Gallery on the Corner, 34 Northumberland Street. Ends 30th October 2015. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2015.

Tabla Alba Presents An Evening of Dhrupad Music: a rare opportunity to hear the oldest existing form of Hindustani Classical music, performed here in Scotland by Pelva Naik (vocal), Baha’uddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) and Vijay Kanguktar (Pakhawaj). 7pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Tickets cost £10 and may be pre-booked by calling 0141 357 2175 or emailing deepchandi108@gmail.com. Tabla Alba has been promoting Indian Classical music in Scotland for over ten years.

Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus Open Day: an opportunity to meet some current students and staff and hear about the student experience at Heriot-Watt University. Lots of information about courses, accommodation, finance, student support, careers and more; some activities will be available on a drop-in basis but booking is essential for academic talks and tours, as places are limited. For full information and a link to the university’s eventbrite booking page, click here. 10am-4pm, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Campus, EH14 4AS. There will be a second open day on 31st October 2015.

Chick Lyall Quartet: the pianist/composer brings in his great 4-piece, playing some of Chick’s originals mixed with some jazz standards, and featuring established jazz names Colin Steele (trumpet), Tom Lyne (bass) and, just back from touring in New Zealand, Glasgow drummer Stuart Brown. 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group Presents Ayotzinapa: Chronicle of a State Crime/cronica de un crimen de Estado (in Spanish with English subtitles). On the night of September 26, 2014, in the city of Iguala, in Guerrero, Mexico, more than a 100 young students of the Escuela Normal Rural of Ayotzinapa, were attacked by police forces, resulting in 3 students dying, more than 20 injured, and 43 kidnapped by the police. The Mexican military is also implicated in this crime. Within a few days tens of thousands of voices, especially young voices, echoed through streets and avenues across Mexico and the world, demanding the safe return of the ‘disappeared’ students, and denouncing this act as a Crime of State – although it remains unpunished to this day. In their testimony and the commentary of other witnesses and experts, two student survivors of the Iguala massacre reconstruct the climate of impunity, corruption, and criminality that exists, not only in the state of Guerrero but in the entire country. This is one of a programme of events organized for the first anniversary of the disappearance of Ayotzinapa’s students. 7pm, The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place. Edinburgh Chiapas Solidarity Group will hold a demonstration on The Mound to raise awareness about this issue and the wider problem of corruption, violence and state impunity in Mexico 11am-12.30pm, tomorrow – Saturday 26th September.

Balerno Music Festival: the eighth Balerno Music Festival has a packed programme of concerts, films, cabaret, workshops, children’s events, folk music sessions, the Festival Busk and a jazz party. Tonight’s event is A Night At The Shows with Balerno Theatre Company: a celebration of wonderful songs from the company’s upcoming pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk plus well known favourites. 7.30pm, Balerno Parish Church, 2 Main Street, Balerno. Tickets cost £5/£3 and may be purchased from Balerno Parish Church Office (9am-12 noon, Monday to Friday), Balerno Farmers’ Market, by post or online; for full booking information click here. The festival ends on 11th October 2015.

Guid Crack: Tales of Whisky – Edinburgh’s monthly storytelling night. Through decades of storytelling Stuart McHardy has developed an affy drouth (great thirst) that can only be properly slaked with whisky; a night celebrating Scotland’s long love affair with the ‘cratur’ – as Burns wrote, ‘Freedom and whisky gang the gither’. Accompanied young adults welcome. 7.30pm, The Waverley Bar (upstairs), 3-5 St Mary’s Street. Entry by suggested donation of £3.

LGBT Film Nights: Bi Visibility Day Special. After a community consultation last quarter, the monthly film nights are being replaced with a series of quarterly events that will include a film screening, guest speaker and time for discussion afterwards. This quarter, to celebrate Bi Visibility Day (23rd Sept), LGBT Health and Bi and Beyond Edinburgh present Appropriate Behaviour (15) and a speaker from SQIFF (Scottish Queer International Film Festival). Refreshments will be available. However you identify, come along and be proudly bi, or show support and solidarity for your bisexual friends. 6.30-9.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Please book online here or by contacting Jules on 0131 523 1104/jules@lgbthealth.org.uk. SQIFF 2015 will take place in Glasgow 24th-27th September 2015.

Das Contras: tightly arranged original funk/soul/reggae stylings from this 7-piece fronted by singer/guitarist and song-writer Sher Watson, with 3-horn trumpet, sax, trombone brass section. Plus Funk DJ. 12 midnight (entry from 11.30pm)-3am, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

Soulacoaster: a night of live music with Edinburgh’s 12 piece soul band; classic hits made famous by legends such as the Blues Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and The Commitments. Over 18s only. 7.30pm, Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Admission £7.

City Link 2015: the City Link Festival is an international event celebrating culture and urban life between cities through symposiums, artist exchange, workshops, study trips, city walks, performances and social bonding, inspiration and co-creation, City Link started in 2012 as a co-creation project between cultural communities in Copenhagen and Hamburg. Until 2014, the network primarily consisted of people from these two cities, but the City Link Festival in Hamburg in September 2014 kick-started City Link as a global network connecting people, projects and communities throughout the world. This year the festival’s theme is democratic renewal; it will bring together people from Edinburgh and Copenhagen with ideas that could link cities, discuss local initiatives, inspire each other and investigate possibilities of co-creating cities across Europe. Today’s events – more follow on 26th and 27th September – are:

democratic renewal: City Link symposium. A day-long symposium comprising a morning of talks at Summerhall + one activity of your choice (in various city locations) in the afternoon. For full details please click here. Talks: 9am (registration from 8.30am)-12 noon, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, afternoon activities 2-4pm, locations vary. Tickets cost £10/£5 and may be booked via the Summerhall website;

This Space Could Be…. an interactive public engagement project that invited users of the Foot of Leith Walk to share their thoughts, desires and ideas for the local public space. TSCB arranged a number of small interventions and consultation events in the space of New Kirkgate; in playful and democratic ways, people of Leith were asked to say what they think the space could be… The findings of the research have been gathered in ‘The report on conditions and potential of space at the Foot of the Leith Walk and New Kirkgate and design recommendations based on innovative ‘on the spot’ public consultations’. Now some of the thoughts gathered in the report will be temporarily turned into something tangible; for the few days of the festival an installation will appear in the Foot of the Walk area. Pop in to the Foot of Leith Walk, look around, ask questions, share stories and comment on the This Space Could Be Facebook page here. From 1pm, New Kirkgate, Leith. Ends 4pm Sunday 27th September.

Jura Music Festival: your first opportunity to get out of Edinburgh this weekend is a well-established favourite for lovers of traditional music. The 22nd Isle of Jura Music Festival (‘6000 deer, 200 people, one festival’) offers ceilidhs and concerts, featuring Finlay MacDonald, Chris Stout, Jenn Butterworth, Manran, Kathleen MacInnes & The Urban Teuchters, Pete Smoke & The Roaches, Skipinnish and the Norrie MacIver Trio. Jura can be reached by ferry or plane; for full information, tickets and accommodation options (including camping), see the festival website here. Isle of Jura, Argyll & Bute, PA60 7XU. Ends 28th September 2015

SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2015

Juniper Green Farmers’ Market: stalls with an extensive range of products, including breads, cakes, cheeses, fish, meat, pies, preserves, coffee, Fair Trade goods, hot snacks and drinks. The market also offers local residents the chance to meet with their local councillors, community councillors, MP and MSP. 9am-1pm, Juniper Green Village Hall, 1A Juniper Park Road. Organised by Juniper Green Community Council.

Waterside Autumn Festival: Garvald Edinburgh’s Waterside Workshop opens its door to let you see its members’ fantastic work. Autumn Cafe with hot soup and home baking, Waterside Garden with plants, herbs, produce and crafts for sale, artwork exhibition, puppets, cards and jewellery, performances of The Dream World and The Fox’s Tale, and the launch of Garvald’s new book, Past, Present and People. 10.30am-1.30pm, Waterside Workshops, 492 Gorgie Road. Garvald Edinburgh is a Scottish Charity offering creative opportunities and support for people with learning disabilities. It is inspired by the ideas of the educator and philosopher Rudolf Steiner and has been operating in Edinburgh since 1969, providing creative working environments focusing mainly around craft, catering and artistic skills. Currently it provides opportunities and support for over 200 people, and in addition it supports around 40 people in their own homes and flats that are made available through links with housing associations. Garvald Edinburgh achieves consistently excellent gradings from the Care Inspectorate.

French Family Saturdays: an all-in-French Saturday session for children aged 4-10, with craft, stories, and food. September is the start of the French school year, and it’s also the time of harvest; come and make a crafty garland with apples and pears before tasting a delicious apple juice from Presqu’île de Rhuys in Brittany. 1-3pm, Institut francais d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent. Tickets cost £7 (£4 members) per child, accompanying parents free. Advance booking is highly recommended and may be made by emailing info@ifecosse.org.uk. The programme for the Family Saturdays season 2015/16 is available here. For details of membership of the Institute click here.

The Treasure Trove Autumn Fair. The Royal Edinburgh Repository and Self-Aid Society’s motto is ‘use your skills to pay the bills!’, its historic purpose being ‘the relief of those in need, by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other hardship’. The lovely Treasure Trove shop in Castle Street sells handiwork – knitwear, baby clothes and shawls, hand-made toys, home baking (including cakes, preserves and tablet) and seasonal goods – made by its members to help them gain an independent livelihood. Come and enjoy this fantastic pop-up fair to help raise money for the members of the organisation; there will be a variety of stalls which will showcase some amazing crafts. 10.30am-3.30pm, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free admission.

Doors Open Day: Edinburgh College’s Milton Road Community Garden. The Garden is part of the College; it provides the opportunity for students, staff, community members, and groups to learn to grow their own food, to reflect about what they are eating and why, to learn about sustainability and how changing our consuming habits can have impacts on local economies and community makeup, as well as on our environment. Participants explore their taste and (re)-discover vegetables and the benefits of diet for wellbeing; they also re-learn how important sharing food is. There will be some workshops related to gardening and preparing ground for the winter, perhaps building raised beds and compost heaps. Guided tours, information, children’s activities, displays, refreshments; free parking. 11am-4pm, 24 Milton Road East.

St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Juice and choc ices available in the interval for 50p. Today’s film is The Nut Job (U).  Please note: all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Subtitles are available on request. 10.30am-12.30pm, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Next week’s film will be Toy Story 2 (U). All welcome.

Doors Open Day: RBGE Botanic Cottage. The Botanic Cottage is simultaneously the oldest and newest building in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has recently been rebuilt after being moved stone by stone across the city from its old home on Leith Walk. Discover the fascinating story of this 250 year old building, designed by John Adam and James Craig, and containing one of the oldest classrooms of the Scottish Enlightenment, now set for an exciting future as a hub for community learning in the Garden. The Botanic Cottage is still a working site, and won’t open to the public until later this Autumn. For ages 16+ only. Please wear sturdy shoes. Entry will be every 30 minutes, and will be on a first come, first served basis. 1-4pm, Botanic Cottage, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Also at same times on Sunday 27th September.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for children aged 0-4 and their parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Saturday, Balgreen Library, 173 Balgreen Road. Free.

University of Edinburgh Undergraduate Open Day: for everyone interested in applying for undergraduate studies. Find out about subjects, accommodation, the careers service, libraries, sport, student disability service and lots more. Meet staff and students; advice sessions for parents too! The Open Day operates across several university sites (including Edinburgh College of Art); a shuttle bus service will be available. 9.30am-5pm (College of Art 9.30am-3.30pm), University of Edinburgh. Booking is required; full information and a link to the booking site may be found on the university’s website here.

Doors Open Day: John Knox House. Dating back to 1470, John Knox House is one of Scotland’s greatest cultural treasures and is associated with the most dramatic events in Scotland’s turbulent history. Located in The Netherbow, the house was the home of James Mossman, goldsmith to Mary, Queen of Scots, and became known as the final residence of John Knox, the Protestant reformer. 10am onwards, John Knox House, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free but timed tickets are required (30 will be issued for each 30 minute slot) and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here.

LGBT ‘Living with….’ Creative Writing and Performance Workshops:  a series of creative writing and performance workshops as part of LGBT Health’s latest arts and mental health project ‘Living with…’. The project aims creatively to capture and give a platform for people to express the impact that living with, or caring for, someone with a long term condition has on people’s mental wellbeing. Established Scottish authors, poets and playwrights will be leading a series of workshops to help to you build confidence in developing or perfecting creative writing and performance skills, with no pressure to take to the stage.  To be followed by an evening performance on Saturday 17th October as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. 2-4pm, Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace. Booking is essential: please email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk to be the first to know when booking and further details for this week’s workshop are announced – or keep an eye on the LGBT Health Facebook page.

Family Ceilidh: come with family and friends to dance well-known Scottish dances. All the dances will be called and there will be easier circles for the littler ones. A fun introduction to sociable dancing with live music for all ages. 2pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6/£4 and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Supported by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland.

People’s Climate Rally Edinburgh: an event to celebrate what people in Scotland are doing to make the necessary changes to our economy and society to protect our climate and create a more positive future. Speakers will include Alison Johnstone MSP (Green Party), Richard Dixon (Director, Friends of the Earth), Eleanor Dow (Medact), Paul Glynn (Mondo Loco/Glencorse Community Garden), Chris McGuinness (Chair, 2050 Climate Group), Jess Pepper and Robyn (Climate Reality Project), renewables expert Keith Barnham (Imperial College, London), Gill Davies (fossil fuel divestment), Alex Robertson (Pedal on Parliament), Lesley Hinds (Edinburgh City Council), Tommy Sheppard MSP (SNP) and representatives from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Interfaith Scotland, plus music from Protest in Harmony, Open Community Singing Group and Irresistible Urges, and stalls from different community groups, NGO’s, businesses and individuals working on relevant projects that you can get involved with. There will also be 20 minutes of ‘Turbo Talk’ slots where you can announce your own campaign or project – email pcm.edinburgh@gmail.com to book your time. 1pm (assemble from 12.30pm), The Mound Precinct, Princes Street.

Lunchtime Concert: Bøneskoret Choir, Bergen, Norway. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Lothian Derby Dolls Clothes Swap: an opportunity to clear out your wardrobe, catch up with friends and make some new ones. The rules are:

1) Everyone must bring at least one item of quality clothing.
2) You will have half an hour to browse before the swish opens.
3) No item may be claimed before the swish opens.
4) As soon as the swish is declared open, everyone may take what they want.
5) Remember no scratching, spitting or fighting.

Any remaining clothing will be donated to charity. This is a fundraiser for Lothian Derby Dolls (roller derby skaters), so please buy some raffle tickets on the day. 1-4pm, Dalriada, 77 Promenade, Portobello.

The Story Kist: Inclusive Storytelling. Stories and brags and fibs and riddles! Come and enjoy some rambunctious multi-sensory adventures with storytellers Ailie Finlay and Marie Louise Cochrane. Journey from the streets of the Old Town to hidden glens in the Highlands and back again with games, songs, props and puppets! Lots of fun for everyone, but particularly for children with additional needs, their families, friends and carers. 11am,  Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Please remember to book a free adult ticket for yourself in addition to purchasing your child’s ticket.

Doors Open Day: French Institute, French Consulate and Free French House. Visit the Institute’s Georgian house on Randolph Crescent and discover the magnificent views of the Dean Valley and the Firth of Forth, the garden at the back, and the beautiful dome; along the way, glean some information about the history of the building and its famous inhabitants, including the Stevenson sisters. The neighbouring office of the Consul General of France will also be open. On the other side of New Town, at 28 Regent Terrace, you will also be able to visit the former Free French House officially opened by General de Gaulle in 1942 and precursor of the Institut français and the French Consulate before their move to Randolph Crescent in 1946. The French Institute and Consulate at 13 and 12, Randolph Crescent will be open 10am-4pm today only; the Free French House at 28 Regent Terrace will be open 2-5pm today and on Sunday 27th September.

Polwarth Nearly New Sale: children’s clothes, toys, equipment and much more. In aid of Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital and Polwarth Parish Church. 11am-1pm, Polwarth Parish Church, Polwarth Terrace.

Doors Open Day: Filmhouse. Enjoy a guided tour of the Screen One Projection Box – normally off limits to the public! 10am, 10.45am and 11.30am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tours must be booked in advance via the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 (early booking advised)

Document Scotland: The Ties That Bind – Photographers’ Tour. Document Scotland exhibiting artists Colin McPherson, Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert, Sophie Gerrard and Stephen McLaren will lead a tour around this new exhibition, which features photographs of and about Scotland and its people at a pivotal moment in the country’s history. 2-3pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. No booking required: free, unticketed, but as places are limited and demand may be high, please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Fergus McCreadie: solo jazz piano from the fast-rising 18 year old Dollar-based pianist, playing original compositions and arranged jazz standards. 5.45-6.45pm, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. Free entry: please note this venue is cash only.

Take One Action! Film Festival: ‘connecting people, world-class cinema and creative action for a better world’. Twelve days of screenings and discussions, in Edinburgh and Glasgow, on issues as diverse as environmental activism, LGBT rights in African countries, cycling, the value (or not) of university degrees, the Arab Spring, literacy, the global financial system, food chains and much more. Today’s film is Landfill Harmonic (12A) (in Spanish with English subtitles); ‘a testament to the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit’. The inspiring true story of The Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a youth music group from the slums of Paraguay. Their choice of instrument – recycled garbage – blazes with hope in the face of inequality and environmental injustice. More than 60% of Paraguayans live in poverty, and in the slums of Cateura, young people have fewer chances than most. Enter Favio Chavez, a musician and teacher who sees boundless opportunity where others see garbage. Working hand-in-hand with local garbage pickers, children and parents, the orchestra is soon catapulted into the global spotlight – but when a natural disaster strikes their country, Favio must find a way to keep the orchestra intact and maintain a source of hope for their town. Plus shorts: The Reinvention of Normal and Remade in Edinburgh. Presented in association with Oxfam. 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online; prices vary. The screenings will be preceded by a fun (and wholly voluntary) 10-minute South American song workshop in the auditorium, led by community singing teacher Penny Stone; they will be followed by conversations and opportunities for creative, effective personal action.

Doors Open Day: Tours of the National Library. A chance to see behind the scenes at Scotland’s largest reference library, which is also a major research centre in Europe. Displays will include archive photos of the construction of the building and key architectural features, along with drawings and plans. Tours last around an hour. 2pm (all other tour times already fully booked), National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is essential as places are limited and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here. Free.

Balerno Music Festival: the eighth Balerno Music Festival has a packed programme of concerts, films, cabaret, workshops, children’s events, folk music sessions, the Festival Busk and a jazz party. Tonight’s events are (1) Pentland Singers – Music for a New Century. A concert of some of the very best of twenty-first century choral music: music that has already gained a much-loved place among amateur and professional choirs alike, including excerpts from Karl Jenkins The Armed Man, alongside music by Howard Goodall, Paul Mealor, Cecilia McDowell and others.  7.30pm, Balerno Parish Church, 2 Main Street, Balerno. Tickets cost £9/£5; (2) Cabaret and Dance to Revival (ABBA tribute act). Relive the fantastic sound of the Swedish stars with this authentic ABBA show, which has been thrilling audiences up and down the country with its spectacular tribute; an ideal opportunity to relive your younger days and sing along! 8.30pm (doors open 7.30pm), Balerno Bowling Club, 5 Ladycroft, Balerno. Tickets cost £10. All tickets may be purchased from Balerno Parish Church Office (9am-12 noon, Monday to Friday), Balerno Farmers’ Market, by post or online; for full booking information click here. The festival continues on Friday 2nd October and ends on 11th October 2015.

Organ Recital: Duncan Ferguson, Organist and Master of the Music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, crosses the road to give a recital featuring organ music from Germany, France and Britain, including works by Buxtehude, Bach, Nicolas de Grigny, Dupré, William Faulkes, Handel and Guilmant. 7.30-8.30pm, Palmerston Place Church, 10 Palmerston Place. Admission free.

National Gallery Highlights Tours – September: an introduction to and tour of the National Gallery’s permanent collection, focusing on key paintings. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound . Free and unticketed.

Out of the Blue Flea Market: over 45 stalls full to bursting with clothes, jewellery, small furniture, music, books, bric-a-brac and so much more. Delicious coffee, cake and light lunches available at the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. 10am-3pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street.

Soulsville: a monthly night of rapturous soul music brought to you by DJs Francis Dosoo, Fryer & Mr Mason. Rugged rhythms & deep blue grooves long into the midnight hours at one of the club’s consistently busiest nights, featuring glowing visuals downstairs plus rotating guests upstairs. 11pm-3am, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. £5. The Bongo Club is owned by local arts charity Out of the Blue; ‘putting the sounds of the underground and imaginative aspirations before the mighty dollar and encouraging the community to get involved and use the space to do their own thing’.

Doors Open Day: RBGE Herbarium and Library. This terrazzo and glass building overlooks the NE corner of the Botanic Garden; opened in 1964 and extended in 2005-6, it houses one of Europe’s largest botanical libraries and a collection of around 3 million preserved plant and fungi specimens, supporting the Garden’s global research, conservation and education programmes. For ages 12+. 1-4pm, Herbarium and Library Building, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Also at same times on Sunday 27th September.

Scots Music Group Ceilidh with Matthew Maclennan Ceilidh Band: the band was formed in 2005 and has played everywhere from Burns Suppers in Germany to accordion and fiddle clubs in Stornoway. Please note that only alcohol purchased at the venue may be consumed at the ceilidh; water will be freely available. 7.30 (doors open – dancing from 8)- 11.30pm, St Brides Centre, Orwell Terrace. Tickets cost £9/£7 in advance (£10 on the door, sta) and may be purchased from St Bride’s Centre Box Office in person or by calling 0131 346 1405 or Scots Music Group on 0131 555 7668 or online here.

Absolut Piano with Olly Ferrell: 7.30pm, Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street.

City Link 2015: the City Link Festival is an international event celebrating culture and urban life between cities through symposiums, artist exchange, workshops, study trips, city walks, performances and social bonding, inspiration and co-creation, City Link started in 2012 as a co-creation project between cultural communities in Copenhagen and Hamburg. Until 2014, the network primarily consisted of people from these two cities, but the City Link Festival in Hamburg in September 2014 kick-started City Link as a global network connecting people, projects and communities throughout the world. This year the festival’s theme is democratic renewal; it will bring together people from Edinburgh and Copenhagen with ideas that could link cities, discuss local initiatives, inspire each other and investigate possibilities of co-creating cities across Europe. Today’s events – more follow on Sunday 27th September – are:

Pecha Kucha: 20 Seconds x 20 Slides. A mini Pecha Kucha event with a series of short and inspiring 20 slide x 20 second presentations by artists, to architects, urban planners, curators and activists, all of whom work in or close to grassroots and community/bottom up initiatives creating change in cities. An opportunity for people to share their work and ideas both in a public platform and with each other and to make some new connections. 5-7pm, Architecture & Design Scotland, 7 Bakehouse Close, 146 Canongate. Sponsored by Studio DuB. Tickets are required and may be obtained here;

Neu! Reekie! Edinburgh and Copenhagen: When Comets Collide. A night of music, poetry and animation from Danish and Edinburgh artists, curated by Edinburgh’s culture-making collective Neu! Reekie! 7-11pm, Pilrig St Paul’s Church, Pilrig Street. Tickets cost £10/£8 and may be purchased via Brown Paper Tickets here. To be followed by an After Party with LeithLate DJs Dai and Martin at Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk.

3 Straight Heads: soulful covers from the Edinburgh-based four-piece. 9pm, The Skylark, 241-243 Portobello High Street.

Shetland Wool Week: your second opportunity for a trip away this weekend is not your standard festival – Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on the islands. Numerous classes and workshops in all aspects of knitting, pattern writing, spinning, colour working, button making, dyeing and weaving, open studios, exhibitions, boat trips to Noss National Seabird Reserve, farm visits, mill and factory tours and lots more. For full details of all events, prices (each event is priced separately) plus travel and accommodation advice see the Shetland Wool Week website here. Ends 4th October 2015.

The Blueswater: fronted by dynamic vocalist Felipe Schrieberg, The Blueswater is the 12-piece band behind award-winning Fringe show ‘Blues!’. Their unique songs, big beefy horn section, old-school R&B, blues, soul, and good ol’ Rock‘n’Roll will fill the dancefloor. Come on down, dance, and get your mojo working! Plus DJ Ahmed. 12 midnight (entry from 11.30pm)-3am, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

SUNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2015

Storytelling: Stories in the Stars. Join storyteller and musician Marion Kenny in the Gallery’s Great Hall as she shares legends of the starry constellations, accompanying her stories with her heavenly harp and ethereal flute. Hear the Greek legend of Andromeda and Perseus, be beguiled with American First Nation legends of the great and little bears and listen to star-studded myths from around the globe. For ages 4-12. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. No booking required: free and unticketed.

Active Archaeology: join the Holyrood Park Rangers at this family day and discover what life was like in the Iron Age – meet people from the past and try out skills from the period. Join a druid for walks into the past where you’ll meet many colourful characters, and have a look at some artefacts uncovered within Holyrood. 11am-3pm, Holyrood Park Education Centre, 1 Queen’s Drive, EH8 8HG. This free event is part of SAHF – the Scottish Archaeology and Heritage Festival, organised by Archaeology Scotland, an educational charity seeking to inspire the discovery, exploration and enjoyment of Scotland’s past. For more information please email hs.rangers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or call 0131 652 8150.

Cameo Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today’s film is L’Eclisse (PG) (in Italian with English subtitles): a 1962 Cannes Special Jury Prize winner, L’Eclisse (The Eclipse) is the conclusion of Michelangleo Antonioni’s informal trilogy on modern malaise (preceded by L’Aventura and La Notte); it tells the story of a young woman who leaves one lover only to drift into a relationship with another, an arrogant young stockbroker. But as the film progresses, her emptiness becomes more obvious, echoed in the Roman architecture that dominates so much of the film, and she finally decides on a life of solitude rather than marriage or a failing relationship. Rich in bold symbolism, L’Eclisse paints a picture of how modern industrial society can obliterate the emotions between men and women. 1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.

Lauriston Castle: Beautiful Bird Boxes. Mike Durnan shows you how to use found natural objects from the grounds of Lauriston, paint and other materials to transform your own wooden bird box into a very special home for your feathered friends. 10.30am-12.30pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £4 per person and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Please note that these workshops are intended for families working together: at least one paying adult must accompany your child, and no child should be booked into a workshop alone.

Doors Open Day: Filmhouse. A free Incredible Inventions Arts and Crafts event to tie in with the Filmhouse Junior screening of Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder – families of all ages are invited to drop in. 9.30-11am (for Filmhouse Junior screening see below); Incredible Inventions Arts and Crafts can be booked in advance – but you can also just come along.

Beyond The Veil: Stories of the Prophets. Beyond the Veil is an Edinburgh-based Muslim Women’s Group aiming to promote a better understanding of Islam on a basic level, and believing that it is through integration and partnership that understanding on a reciprocal basis can be achieved. Since the group’s establishment in Spring 2006 it has been involved in many projects and with partners from across the City and beyond. The group’s next storytelling event will be about Prophet Ibrahim (AS) (part two) and is suitable for children aged 5-10 years. 2-4pm, Munro Centre, 6 Park Grove Street. Booking is essential and should be made by emailing your child’s name, age, details of any allergies, and your own mobile number and email address to beyondtheveil@hotmail.co.uk.

Filmhouse Junior: screenings for a younger audience. Today’s film is Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder (Doktor Proktors prompepulver) (PG) (English language version), based on a series of books by crime writer Jo Nesbø. Shy and lonely Lise and her new neighbour, curious and excitable Nilly, investigate a cloud of smoke coming from the home of reclusive inventor Doctor Proctor…11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here.

LGBT: Me & T Monthly. A supportive space for people who have friends, family or partners who are trans*, non-binary or exploring their gender. An opportunity to discuss experiences, questions or concerns. 2-4pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact the group at any time: me.and.t.monthly.scotland@gmail.com.

Take One Action: Audience Award Winner. The final screening of Take One Action 2015 – as voted for by the audiences from the festival’s host of critically acclaimed premieres. In the last few years, audiences have been treated to The Revolutionary Optimists, Girl Rising and Chasing Ice; this year it could be a darling of the festival circuit or an exciting newcomer. Please note: the screening will be anticipated as a certificate 15 and children may therefore not be admitted. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Present a ticket stub from another Take One Action 2015 festival film at the Filmhouse box office any time up to Saturday 26 September to get your Audience Award Screening ticket for just £4.50. One reduced price ticket per stub; only valid when booking in person by 9pm on Sat 26 September. All tickets bought for this event are non-refundable.

The Tinderbox Orchestra: Edinburgh’s award-winning Tinderbox Orchestra is a 25-piece developmental youth orchestra (ages 14-25) with an amazing array of strings, woodwind, brass, percussion and electric instruments, performing an eclectic fusion of funk, orchestral and improvisational music. Mentored by some of Edinburgh’s (and beyond) leading instrumentalists and composers, Tinderbox is a high-energy, full-spectrum music generator powering its way through all kinds of original and known compositions ‘Rave Culture meets last night of the Proms’  (The Herald). This event is a fundraiser, with proceeds going towards the orchestra’s debut album costs. 4-5pm, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £3 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

Uptown Abbey: Lauriston Castle Above and Below Stairs. Join Edinburgh Living History, the award winning troupe of Living History interpreters at Lauriston Castle; this is a unique chance to observe life in an Edwardian house. Meet the last private owners of Lauriston, the Reids (Mrs Reid gifted the castle to the nation in 1926), their staff  and some special guests as they go about their daily lives. 1pm or 2pm or 3pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £5 (adult). £3 (child) or £12.50 (family) without afternoon tea or £6.50/£4.50/£17 with tea, and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here.

The First World War in Cinema: The Guns of Loos (U) (silent film with accompaniment). The Guns of Loos marked a bold new approach to depicting the war on screen; the striking recreations of the conflict at Loos provide the backdrop to an intense psychological drama about a factory owner faced with the horrors of returning from the war. Combining strong performances with outstanding cinematography, the film received rave reviews on its release in 1928, with many critics declaring it the best war film ever made. Soon forgotten during the emergence of the ‘talkies’, this commemorative screening is an opportunity to see a unique film brought back to the big screen. The film will be accompanied by a brand new musical score by one of the UK’s leading silent film composers and performers, Stephen Horne, commissioned by Dundee Contemporary Arts in association with the Great War Dundee partnership. 4.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £10/£8, or £6 for members of the armed forces with ID, and may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here.

Singers Night with William Young and his Trio: an evening of superb vocals from the ex-Cincinnati Soul/Blues/Jazz vocalist, backed by a top-drawer jazz trio featuring swinging pianist Peter Johnstone. 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is cash only.

Ragged University Film & Curry Night: come along, put your feet up and see a film in the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere of the Serenity Cafe. The screening is followed by food (classic daal recipes, provided free) and a discussion about the film. Tonight: This Film Is Not Yet Rated (18), an investigation into the American film censorship board’s notoriously secretive methods of rating films. 6pm, Serenity Cafe, 8 Jackson’s Entry, The Tun, Holyrood Road. Free, but please make a donation towards the work of the cafe if you are able to do so.

City Link 2015: the City Link Festival is an international event celebrating culture and urban life between cities through symposiums, artist exchange, workshops, study trips, city walks, performances and social bonding, inspiration and co-creation, City Link started in 2012 as a co-creation project between cultural communities in Copenhagen and Hamburg. Until 2014, the network primarily consisted of people from these two cities, but the City Link Festival in Hamburg in September 2014 kick-started City Link as a global network connecting people, projects and communities throughout the world. This year the festival’s theme is democratic renewal; it will bring together people from Edinburgh and Copenhagen with ideas that could link cities, discuss local initiatives, inspire each other and investigate possibilities of co-creating cities across Europe. Today’s closing events are:

Hold Me Dear: Four Cities, Four (Extra) Ordinary Places – Launch Event. Bring a picnic to King George V Park on the grass next to Rodney St tunnel and enjoy live jazz, mural painting, cycle tours and speakers to celebrate the launch of this unique outdoor exhibition, a co-created gallery of stories and photographs of Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Istanbul and Hamburg. 12 noon-2pm, Rodney Street Tunnel. Free. Exhibition continues until 20th October 2015;

Flytte: an evening of poetry and music on the theme of ‘displacement’. Listen to work that explores the theme of cultural displacement and have the opportunity to chat with the performers about the effect place and displacement can have on creativity; discuss how this topic may be explored through literature, and how this can help in our understanding of a widening cultural Scotland. Confirmed poets to date: Bashabi Fraser, Jessica Johannesson Gaitán, Gerd Laugesen and Chris Jam. The evening will finish with music from Edinburgh’s own Dallahan, an internationally renowned touring band with Scottish, Irish and Hungarian members. This session will begin the documentation of Flytte which, after a series of future events, will result in a publication aiming to reflect the ideas of cultural displacement raised by all participants and to assist in a greater understanding of migration, its challenges and its benefits. 6pm, Process Studios, Abbeymount Techbase, Unit 13, 2 Easter Road. Free: refreshments available by donation – all donations will go to Syrian Refugee Emergency.

St Giles’ at Six: Through the Spectrum of Colours. Magdalena Durant (soprano) and Chris Harding  (piano) take a musical journey spanning one hundred years of songs, with lieder by Brahms, Fauré, Debussy and Szymanowski. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

Rosemary Kaye

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