National Library of Scotland Lifting The Lid Exhibition Tour: Manuscripts Curator Olive Geddes leads an hour-long tour of Lifting the lid: 400 years of food and drink in Scotland, in which Scotland’s changing relationship with food and drink is explored using the Library’s rich collections, and the diversity of Scotland’s larder is contrasted against some of the myths and traditions of the Scots diet. 11am-12 noon, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here. Also at same times on Wednesdays 21st and 28th October 2015.
Morningside Justice and Peace: Occupy and Democracy – a talk by Richard Gunn, recently retired lecturer in Political Theory (University of Edinburgh). 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. A contribution of £1 per meeting is requested. The Morningside Justice and Peace Group exists to promote informed opinion on matters of concern to the community at large; meetings are open to all and provide a view on a topic of national, international or local concern followed by questions and discussion. For more information please contact the co-ordinator at b.darcy20@gmail.com.
My Life in Poetry: Edinburgh’s Makar, Christine de Luca, shares the story of her life through the lens of her favourite poems, in conversation with Scottish Poetry Library director Robyn Marsack. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Tickets cost £3/£2 and may be purchased by calling 0131 623 3734 or via eventbrite here.
Edinburgh Quartet Rush Hour Concert: a creative collaboration with Ron Butlin, prize-winning novelist and Edinburgh Makar/Poet Laureate 2008-14. The concert will feature Janáček’s String Quartet No 2 Intimate Letters and readings of extracts from the composer’s correspondence with Kamila Stosslova, who inspired the piece. It is part of the Edinburgh Quartet’s performance project Intimate Voices; many of the greatest composers chose to write for the string quartet because of the medium’s capability for intimate expression, and as a backbone of the new season the Edinburgh Quartet has chosen to focus on works which have intimate expression at their very core. 5.30-6.30pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Tickets cost £10 (£9 for Friends of Edinburgh Quartet; students and children admitted free) and are available from Ticket Source here.
Romanian Film Season: acclaimed director and author Mark Cousins curates a series of Romanian film, revisiting 100 years of cinematic haunting eeriness, delicious sarcasm and groundbreaking miserabilism, which have amassed some of the highest distinctions of the seventh art. Tonight’s film is Aferim! (in Romanian, Turkish and Romany with English subtitles) a Silver Bear winner for Best Director at Berlinale 2015; in the dawn of 19th Century Wallachia a state tax collector, accompanied by his son, searches for a fugitive gypsy slave. The screening will be followed by a Skype Q and A session with the director, Radu Jude. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here; prices vary. The season will continue throughout November and December. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh, a week-long foray into some of the most spectacular facets of contemporary Romanian culture through a programme of classical & electronic music, film, theatre, literature, traditional culture, food & wine. The project is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Peter V Brett: The Demon Cycle. The international bestselling author of The Painted Man and The Desert Spear talks about The Skull Throne, the latest instalment in the Demon Cycle series.’In the grand tradition of George R R Martin and Robert Jordan’. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here.
Boda Quiz: with topical questions, hilarious true or false rounds and the promise of a not so fantastic prize! For teams of 4 people. 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Please book at the bar, by calling 0131 553 5900 or by emailing boda@bodabar.com.
