Five things you need to know today

The Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from 13-29 August 2016 in Charlotte Square Garden. The theme is in Director Nick Barley’s own words ‘slightly utopian’. The theme is ‘Imagine Better’ which can be interpreted differently depending on which word is emphasised.

The refugee crisis will be examined in an event featuring journalist and author Bidisha and Wolfgang Bauer, an undercover reporter, along with Gulwali Passarlay who was smuggled out of Afghanistan aged 12. Many others will be involved in this strand of events discussing difficult, hard topics.

Tickets go on sale online at 8.30am on 21 June 2016. You can either turn up at the Roxburghe Hotel to buy your tickets in person or you can book by phone.

Booking tickets by phone: 0845 373 5888

Opening hours:
Tue 21 June: 8.30–17.00
Wed 22 June to Fri 12 August 2016: 10.00–17.00, Mon–Fri
Once the Book Festival has opened: 9.30–20.45, daily

The Next Colinton Community Council Meeting will be held on  Tuesday 14th June 2016 at 7:30 pm in Colinton Bowling Club – Red Room.

Papers for the meeting are available at the following links
www.colintoncc.org.uk/minutes  or  ColintonCC Papers14th June 2016(240kb)The community council will discuss the village retail position.This weekend The Fruitmarket Gallery throws its annual design fair, in cahoots with their event partner Creative Edinburgh, filling the galleries with all manner of print, jewellery, fashion and homeware goodness.A carefully chosen line-up of more than 30 designers will present their work for sale, and there will be opportunities to try your own hand in Process Studios workshops and designer-led events over the weekend. Come and be inspired. You’ll leave with at least a spring in your step, and perhaps some new design gems too.

10–12 June, Free entry
Preview: Fri 10 June, 5–9pm
Sat 11 June, 10–6pm
Sun 12 June, 10am–5pm

The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling has just started rolling out its huge programme of events about all kinds of cycling. It runs for 10 days till 19 June 2016.

This is Scotland’s greatest celebration of cycling culture now in its fourth year and has something for you whether you dress in Lycra or tweeds.

Edinburgh All-Ability Cycling will take place this afternoon from 13:00 to 16:00 at Bangholm Outdoor Education Centre. This is training for the unsure and will be repeated on Sunday 12 June, Tuesday 14 June and Friday 17 June.

Cycling and the Law will be discussed this afternoon at a free event at Word Power Books and the evening event is called The Way of St James, with my father, his love and a dodgy bike. Scot Whitlock cycled the Way of St James or Camino de Santiago on a folding bike. This event will take place at the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation.

Many more events to come over this weekend and next week. Have a look at the programme here. 

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To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s official birthday weekend the Royal Yacht Britannia has music and cake!

On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June 2016 visitors will be offered complimentary cake and fizz. The cakes will be created by lizzie’s Tea party and are topped with a commemorative chocolate from The Highland Chocolatier.

A jazz trio will provide music from the American Songbook from 1-4pm on Britannia’s Verandah Deck. On Saturday the resident pianist will play on the grand piano once played by Princess Diana and Noel Coward.

If you share your birthday this weekend then you might get on board for free if you have proof of your date of birth.

Buy your tickets here. 

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