What’s on in Edinburgh this week

Once again, we’ve trawled far and wide for school holiday activities – and we’ve found over 40 of them, with none costing more than £4 per child (most are free). If you’re not a child (or a beleaguered parent) there are plenty of options for you too – the Retina Scottish International Photography Festival is in full swing, the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival is on its way, and the Scottish National Gallery offers you an amazing opportunity to hear none other than The Guardian’s Editor-at-Large discussing what President Obama’s legacy might be. And as if that’s not enough, The Mad Ferret Band is at Leith Folk Club on Tuesday. How we spoil you.

As always, please check all details with the organisers before setting out to any event.

MONDAY 11^TH JULY 2016

North Edinburgh Arts Summer Programme: a packed timetable of activities throughout the holidays. This morning’s sessions (10am-12 noon) for ages 5-12 (two age groups) are: Suncatchers and Creative Dance; in the afternoon (3.30-4.30pm) it’s Library Garden Club. North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. £1.50 per session (50p for Good Neighbours card holders), healthy snack provided. No booking required but sessions can be very busy, so please arrive early to secure a place. For details of all activities and events at NEA this summer, click here or call NEA on 0131 315 2151.

Colourful Collograph Printing Workshop: take inspiration from the beautiful grounds of Lauriston to create your own colourful prints by building up a range of textures and materials. With Bragela Hornal. For families with children aged 5+. Please note that children cannot be booked into events alone; at least one paying adult must accompany them. 10.30am, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. £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.

Picturehouses Toddler Time: exclusive short screenings for pre-school children and their parents and carers. Today: Bing Programme 8 [U].  A groundbreaking television series for CBeebies that celebrates the noisy, joyful, messy reality of life when you’re a preschooler. Just as Bing thinks he’s got the hang of something new, life swings back and knocks him over – but with a bit of help from Flop, his constant companion and carer, things work out okay in the end. As Flop always says: ‘Never mind Bing, it’s no big thing.’ 11am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets cost £3 per child, accompanying adult free.

Retina: Refugee Cameras Project. Photographer Kevin McElvaney gave single-use cameras to refugees he met in Izmir, Lesbos, Athens and Idomeni. Three months later, seven of the fifteen cameras came back (one got lost, two were confiscated by border authorities, two are still in Izmir and three other cameras, and the refugees to whom they were given, remain missing to this day). This exhibition is the result of Kevin’s project, in which he tries to give one of the best documented historic events of our time a new perspective – and the refugees the opportunity to document their own journeys. 9.30am-7pm daily, Image Collective, Second Floor, Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Leith. Ends 21^st July 2016. The Retina Scottish International Photography Festival is on now, with events and exhibitions at various venues across Edinburgh; for full information visit Retina here.

For Crying Out Loud: special screenings exclusively for parents, carers and their babies under the age of 12 months, with a maximum of two adults per baby. Baby-changing, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is When Marnie Was There (U): the final release from Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli before its hiatus, When Marnie Was There from Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Arrietty) is a suitably nostalgic and compelling story, as well as another superb artistic achievement. Anna, a keen artist, is sent to live with relatives on the coast to recover from an illness. She meets and befriends Marnie, who lives nearby in an old mansion. Sometimes this strange house looks new, clean and full of guests; but sometimes it’s empty and dilapidated. Which is real? And what is Marnie’s secret? 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 per adult.

Macmillan Cancer Support Information Sessions: information, support and signposting for people affected by cancer. Macmillan are looking to recruit volunteers with good listening skills and an interest in helping people – full training will be given and expenses payable. Come and find out about Macmillan’s holistic and accessible service in local communities. 11am-3pm, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road. For more details just ask library staff or call the library on 0131 529 5597.  Also at same times on Monday 18^th July, and at the Central Library, George IV Bridge, on Thursdays 14^th and 21^st July.

National Museum of Scotland Summer Activities: Sci-Art Summer. The museum is offering lots of drop-in events during the holidays – today it’s Sci-Art Summer: come and explore the fantastic new Science and Technology and Art, Design and Fashion galleries! Take part in craft activities, enjoy live demonstrations and displays and meet some interesting characters. 12 noon-4pm today and every day until 31^st July, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free, drop-in. See also History Happenings (Thursday).

Lunchtime Concert: British Columbia Boys Choir sing in the Cathedral en route to Stirling Bridge Youth Arts Festival. The internationally acclaimed choir was founded in 1968 and is one of the few four-part secular boys choirs in North America. Artistic Director: Tony Araujo. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Spacecrafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 2pm today and every Monday during the holidays, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road. Free.

Summer Sound 2016: a free 4 day programme of music and creative workshops for ages 12-19. Workshops, tuition (drums, keyboard, guitar, bass and vocals), recording studio and rehearsal space. Sessions will include graffiti/stage decoration with #artcore, songwriting sessions with Urban Word, digital DJ-ing, digital photography with Reel Youth Media – and many more! (for the full list click here). 2-8pm today, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, South Bridge Resource Centre, Infirmary Street. Places are limited so booking is essential and may be made here.

Wreck the Rulebook: Reanimate Zombie Books. If you love writing, come and breathe some new life into dusty dead books with Leith Library and Creative Writing students from Napier University. Ripping, scribbling, sticking and even glittering. Anything goes to make a new story. We just need your braaaiiinss. For ages 11-15. With refreshments! 2pm, Leith Library, 28 Ferry Road. For more information and to book your place please email leith.library@edinburgh.gov.uk or ask in the library. There will be further Wreck the Rulebook sessions on 25^th July (Flash Fiction Journeys) and 8^th August (Magazine Mashup).

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Colinton Library throughout the summer holidays. Today (and every Monday & Friday): Roald Dahl Crafternoons – help build volcanoes, design your own fancy dress, create your own Mr or Mrs Twits’ beard and much, much more! For ages 4-12. 2.30pm, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. Free, no booking required – just come along!

Professor Neil’s Incredible Science Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 3pm today and every Monday during the holidays, Ratho Library, School Wynd. Free.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Fountainbridge Library throughout the summer holidays. Today and every Monday throughout the holidays: Roald Dahlastic Challenge! 3pm Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free, no booking required – just come along!

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Stockbridge Library throughout the summer holidays. Explore a Roald Dahl story each week, with fun activities and the chance to make new friends. Today: BFG Dream Jars and all sorts of imaginings! For ages 7-10. 3.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Free, no booking required – just come along! Next week at the same time Easily an Enormous Adventure? – a storymaking workshop. There is also a Dahl-themed event for all ages every Friday afternoon – see separate listing.

Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom: July meeting. All women welcome; come and discuss a response to Brexit, Trident and other issues. Tea, coffee and cake provided. 6.15pm, Engender, 1a Haddington Place. For more information please see WILPF’s Facebook page here.

Michel Faber: Undying. The award-winning author of The Book of Strange New Things, Under the Skin and The Crimson Petal and the White will be in conversation with Chitra Ramaswamy as he launches Undying – a collection of poems written to honour the memory of his wife Eva, who died after a six-year battle with cancer. Bright, tragic, candid, heartbreaking, honest and true, these poems chronicle Eva’s diagnosis, illness and death, and Michel’s mourning process. They are an exceptional account of what it means to find the love of your life, and what it is like to have to say goodbye. 6.30pm, Waterstones, 83 George Street. Free tickets are available from the store; for more information please call 0131 225 3436.

Live at the Café: up and coming DJ’s have a chance to get their foot in the door at these sessions, while the top DJs in Edinburgh ensure nothing but the best tracks are being played. Tonight a late night bar set from Daniel Murphy. 10pm-3am (bar open from 5pm), Cabaret Voltaire, Blair Street.

Grassmarket Community Cinema: Short Term 12 (15). This film’s originality begins with the setting: a foster-care centre for at-risk teens whose troubles run the gamut from depression to substance abuse to self-mutilation. Writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton based Short Term 12 partly on his own experiences working at such a centre, and previously made a short film on the subject.  In drawing the story out to feature length, Cretton takes an abidingly naturalistic, conversational approach to both the complicated issues these kids face and the no-nonsense way their counsellors try to help them. Chief among them is Brie Larson as the twenty-something Grace, a formerly troubled teen herself who now hopes to serve as a guide for others. 7pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome! The Grassmarket Community Project is a charity providing mentoring, training and education to participants, many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable of Edinburgh’s citizens, in a nurturing environment. It operates a community cafe, woodwork and tartan social enterprises, and a range of social integration and educational activities for members, aimed at enhancing life skills and developing confidence. To read about The Edinburgh Reporter’s afternoon at the Project, click here.

Old Chain Pier Folk Night: pop on down and enjoy some traditional Scottish folk music with Fozzy and Alistair. You’re welcome to join in too! 7.30pm, The Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.

Blind Poetics: July’s Blind Poetics features previews of two up-and-coming Fringe spoken word shows: Blair and McCleary’s Panda to the Audience and Beattie and Scratchmann’s Edinburgh in the Shadows 2.  Plus open mic – email blindpoetics@gmail.com to book a 5 minute slot. Hosted by Alec Beattie and Roddy Shippin.  8pm, The Blind Poet, West Nicolson Street. Free.

TUESDAY 12^TH JULY 2016

North Edinburgh Arts Summer Programme: a packed timetable of activities throughout the holidays. This morning’s sessions (10am-12 noon) for ages 5-12 (two age groups) are: Baby Turtles and Creative Dance. North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. £1.50 per session (50p for Good Neighbours card holders), healthy snack provided. No booking required but sessions can be very busy, so please arrive early to secure a place. For details of all activities and events at NEA this summer, click here or call NEA on 0131 315 2151.

Tiny Tales: Shake Your Tiny Tales. Fergus McNicol leads a morning of stories and dancing for little ones- bring some energy and be ready for fun! For children aged 1-3 and their parents and carers. 10am or 11.30am (40 minute sessions), Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Please book in advance: tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here. Please remember to select a free adult ticket when you buy a ticket for your child.

Retina 2016: putting emerging and established international talent firmly in the frame by showcasing the best from the world of photography in a range of venues across Edinburgh. Featured photographers at Gayfield this year include Jason Bell, Kareem Black and Dougie Wallace. 10am-5pm, Gayfield Creative Spaces, Gayfield Square. Ends 30^th July 2016. For full information about The Retina Scottish International Photography Festival visit Retina here.

Tiger Tales: stories and crafts for ages 4-7. 10.30am today and every Tuesday throughout the summer, Balerno Library, 1 Main Street. Free.

Water of Leith Visitor Centre Children’s Summer Events. Today: BUGS!! Track down the mini-creatures which call the river banks home and design your own extreme bug! Children must be accompanied by an adult. 2-3.30pm, Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. £4 per child, accompanying adult free: booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 455 7367 or emailing admin@waterofleith.org.uk. For details of the centre’s summer and autumn programme – which includes events for all ages – click here.

WHALE Arts Children’s Summer Programme: free art, crafts, dance, circus skills and films throughout the holidays. Today Expecting Something: for parents under 25 with a bump or a child under 2. A variety of fun creative sessions geared towards young parents and young children, with space to chat and a free, fresh, healthy lunch. 10.30am-1pm, WHALE, 30 Westburn Grove, Wester Hailes. For more information click here, call 0131 4589 3267 or drop in to WHALE.

Odeon Silver Cinema: if you are 55+ come along to these special screenings for only £3 per person, and enjoy a free tea or coffee and biscuits before the show. Today’s film is Eye in the Sky (15): Helen Mirren leads a cast including Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman and Barkhad Abdi in a pulse-pounding thriller about the complexities of modern war. 11am (doors open 10.15am for refreshments), Odeon Lothian Road, 118 Lothian Road.

Lunchtime Concert: St Marylebone C.E School Choir and Instrumental Ensemble. St Marylebone is a highly successful girls’ comprehensive in central London with specialist status in the Performing Arts and a thriving Music department. Within London, students have performed at venues including the Wigmore Hall, Imperial College and Southwark Cathedral, as well as their widely-attended regular concerts and services at St Marylebone Parish Church. Previous music tours have included Paris, Cardiff & Barcelona, but this is their first time in Edinburgh! 12 noon-1pm, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free: all welcome.

Lunchtime Concert: Wycombe High School Choir and Ensemble. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

LGBT Age Reference Group: the LGBT Age Reference Group has expanded and is welcoming new members. The Group aims to make services more accessible and relevant for LGBT older people; past activities have included providing consultation to Health & Social Care Partnerships and National Galleries of Scotland, and working with Pride Edinburgh to make sure older LGBT were visible and welcomed. If you are an LGBT person aged 50+ and would like to get involved the Group wants you! 1.30-3.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Booking is essential and may be made by contacting Jean Monaghan on 0131 523 1100 or emailing jean@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Picturehouses Silver Screen: if you are over 60, join the Silver Screen Club (membership is free) for discounted tickets at these special weekly screenings, plus a free tea or coffee before the show. This week’s films are The Neon Demon (18) (1.15pm and 3.50pm), Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (15) (2pm), Maggie’s Plan (15) (3.40pm) and Weiner (15) (1.25pm and 4.20pm). Non-members are welcome at these screenings but pay standard prices. Cameo, Home Street.

Around the World Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 2pm today and every Tuesday during the holidays, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road. Free.

A Calendar of Memories: tales, songs, laughter and reminiscence in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. Hosted by Life Stories, who specialise in sharing stories with older people to help rekindle imagination, trigger memories and increase communication. Today’s storyteller is Jane Mather. 2.30pm, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Free. To book contact the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Corstorphine Library throughout the summer holidays. Today Summer Reading Frieze – help get the library frieze started. For ages 4+. 3pm, Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan. Free, no booking required – just come along! Next Tuesday at the same time: Chocolate Factory Cakes (ages 4+).

Traditional Tales: a summer season of traditional tales from Scotland. Hear the truths, myths and legends of Scottish folklore, past and present with some of our nation’s best storytellers. Authentic entertainment and insight, all in one hour! This week’s storyteller is Calum Lykan. For ages 12+. 3pm, Library, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Please book in advance: tickets cost £8/£6/£5 and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here. Also at same times on Wednesday 13^th and Thursday 14^th July.

Xbox Summer Football Challenge. 3pm today and every Tuesday throughout the holidays, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free, no booking required – just come along!

Spacecrafts – Out of This World Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 3pm today and every Tuesday during the holidays, Ratho Library, School Wynd. Free.

Waterstones Teen Reading Group: come and try this monthly group, currently reading Butter by Erin Lange: ‘I can’t take another year in this fat suit, but I can end this year with a bang. If you can stomach it, you’re invited to watch …as I eat myself to death’. Prepare to gasp, laugh and cry at one boy’s journey from lonely outcast to toast of the school as he nears his dreadful deadline… 4.30pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. For more information please call the shop on 0131 226 2666.

Yes, He Tried: Obama’s Legacy. Images of presidential power, such as Gillian Laub’s striking double portrait of the Obamas on show as part of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Prize Exhibition, have been a key feature of Barak Obama’s presidencies. Gary Younge, The Guardian’s Editor-at-Large, will be reflecting on what Obama’s legacy might be. 6-7pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. The Taylor Wessing Photographic Prize Exhibition is on at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, until 2nd October; admission is free.

Einstein’s Gravity: What is it? And can we observe it? In the early 1900s Einstein revolutionised our understanding of gravity with the introduction of General Relativity. To date, it is still the widely accepted interpretation of gravity, passing many astrophysical tests. Join St Andrews astronomer Alistair Hodson to hear about Einstein’s gravitational model, what it is, how it works and how we observe the effects, – and see how General Relativity has influenced our day to day lives. 6-7pm, Upper Hope Park Church Gallery (Summerhall), off Hope Park Terrace. Free. For more information call Summerhall on 0131 560 1580.

Picturehouses Discover Tuesdays: cult classics, art-house gems and riveting documentaries – there’s always a chance to see something different and brilliant in the Cameo’s weekly slot. Today’s film is Evolution (12A) (in French with English subtitles). Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s eerie mood piece echoes many of the themes and preoccupations of her previous film, Innocence, sharing its remote setting, child cast and unnerving imagery, but here the director moves into darker, more supernatural territory with a story of small boys at an isolated seaside hospital, suffering from an unknown ailment and tended to by an enigmatic team of nurses whose motivations may be ominous. A strange, near-wordless and nightmarish film, almost unclassifiable in terms of tone and genre, Evolution is utterly mesmeric, right up until the mysterious and grisly finale. 6pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.

School of Poets: ‘We don’t teach how to write poetry, but we learn by sharing and discussion’.  The sessions begin with the forming of small sharing discussion groups and conclude with a read-around of poems in which all participate. Bring 5 or 6 copies of one of your own poems to share with the other members of the group, where you should get very useful feedback. You will also be able to contribute your thoughts on other people’s poems. 6pm, The Space, Scottish Poetry Library, Crichton’s Close. For further details please contact Angus Ogilvy at schoolofpoets@yahoo.co.uk. There is no need to join immediately – you can come for a ‘taster’; visitors are asked to pay £2 per meeting. If you do decide to join, the annual subscription is £10 (£5 conc).

Blackwells Edinburgh Presents Ian Garden: Battling with the Truth. In his new book, a follow-up to The Third Reich’s Celluloid War, Ian Garden offers fascinating insights into the ways in which both the Axis and Allies manipulated military and political facts for their own ends in the Second World War. By analysing key incidents and contemporary sources from both British and German perspectives, he reveals how essential information was concealed from the public. Asking how both sides could have believed they were fighting a just war, Garden exposes the extent to which their peoples were told downright lies or fed very carefully worded versions of the truth. Often these ‘versions’ gave completely false impressions of the success or failure of missions – even whole campaigns. Ultimately, Battling with the Truth demonstrates that almost nothing about war is as clear-cut as the reporting at the time makes out. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from the shop’s ground floor desk, by calling 0131 622 8222, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here.

Edinburgh Hacklab Open Night: Edinburgh Hacklab is part of the worldwide movement of Hackerspaces – shared spaces for people who mess around with technology for fun. By creating a shared space to do this, the group provides access to better facilities than you could have at home, as well as opportunities to collaborate, learn, and socialise. Anyone is welcome to come along to the weekly Hacklab Open Nights to hang out, discuss, and work on their projects. If you have an idea or a project but you’re not sure where to start, or have got stuck somewhere along the way, then come down and see if anyone can help. Don’t have a project but want to have a chat with some geeks? You’re more than welcome! 7pm, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. For more information email info@edinburghhacklabd.com.

Fringe Preview: Silky & Bruce Fummey. A work-in-progress show from Fringe comedy favourites, before their hotly anticipated shows at The Stand this August… 7.30pm, The Stand, 5 York Place. Tickets £8/£7 (members £1) from the Box Office on 0131 558 7272 or online.

Leith Folk Club: The Mad Ferret Band. With their hard hitting blend of traditional and contemporary folk music, The Mad Ferrets’ lively, energetic performances are packed with ‘blisteringly fast mandolin solos’, tight harmonies, driving Cajon beats and earth-moving guitar sounds. With support: Martin Lennon. 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £8 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.

Jazz on a Summer’s Day (U): acclaimed as one of the best jazz films ever made, Jazz on a Summer’s Day focuses on the Newport Jazz Festival, combining footage from the musical event with highlights of the 1958 America Cup Yacht Race. Director Bert Stern manages to capture, for the first time in colour, some legendary performances by the likes of Thelonius Monk, Anita O’Day, George Shearing, Dinah Washington, Gerry Mulligan and Louis Armstrong, transporting the viewer back to that clear day in 1958. Plus short: A Year Along the Abandoned Road (Året gjennom Børfjord). 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. Jazz on Summer Days (12^th July-2^nd August) is a diverse season of films that celebrate jazz on screen – from portraits of iconic musicians, to improvised soundtracks, to captivating performances that punctuate the cinematic drama; the next film is Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser, showing on 13^th and 14^th July. Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival returns from 15^th July with a host of events across the city and performances from some of the most sought-after names in jazz and blues.

WEDNESDAY 13^TH JULY 2016

North Edinburgh Arts Summer Programme: a packed timetable of activities throughout the holidays. This morning’s sessions (10am-12 noon) for ages 5-12 (two age groups) are: Plant Printed Notebooks and Creative Dance. North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. £1.50 per session (50p for Good Neighbours card holders), healthy snack provided. No booking required but sessions can be very busy, so please arrive early to secure a place. For details of all activities and events at NEA this summer, click here or call NEA on 0131 315 2151.

WHALE Arts Children’s Summer Programme: free art, crafts, dance, circus skills and films throughout the holidays. Today: Build a Band – form a band, write lyrics and perform live! For ages 10+. 10am-4pm, WHALE, 30 Westburn Grove, Wester Hailes. For more information and to book your place click here, call 0131 4589 3267 or drop in to WHALE.

A Guided Tour of the National Library: a tour of the building and an introduction to the Library’s collections and history. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but numbers are limited, so booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or via Eventbrite here.  Please let NLS know if you have special access requirements.

Getting Started at the National Library: learn how to get a library card, find your way around the Library and request materials from the collections. The workshops will include a tour of the reading rooms and last around 90 minutes. If you plan to register for a library card when you visit, please bring evidence of identity with you (for details of acceptable documents see the NLS website). If you have specific access or other additional needs, please let library staff know in advance when you book your place. 2.30pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but numbers are limited, so booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or via Eventbrite here.

Summer Reading Club: 11am today and every Wednesday throughout the holidays, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road. For more details just ask library staff or call the library on 0131 529 5597.

Lunchtime Concert: Belle Canto Women’s Ensemble (Edmonton, Canada). Founded in 1991, Belle Canto is regarded as one of Canada’s leading women’s choral ensembles. Conductor and founder:Heather Johnson. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Explore Learning Creative Writing Workshop: for ages 7-10. 1pm Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. Free, but places are limited so please book by asking in the library or calling 0131 529 5603.

Explore Learning Creative Writing Workshop: for ages 7-10. 2.30pm, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road. Free, but places are limited so please book by asking in the library or calling 0131 529 5609.

Explore Learning Creative Writing Workshop: for ages 7-10. 4.30pm, Balerno Library, 1 Main Street. Free, but places are limited so please book by asking in the library or calling 0131 529 5500.

Professor Neil’s Incredible Science Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 2pm today and every Wednesday during the holidays, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road. Free.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Kirkliston Library throughout the summer holidays. Today: A Swizzfiggling Splendiferous Summer Sensation! Dress up as a Roald Dahl character and play party games. For ages 5-12. 2-3.30pm, Kirkliston Library, Station Road.

Junior Knitting: if you are 7 or over, come and learn knitting skills with the Library staff. 2.30pm today and every Wednesday, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. Free, no booking required – just come along!

Chatterbooks: come along and discuss your favourite Roald Dahl books. For ages 4-12. 2.30pm today and the second Wednesday of each month, Balerno Library, 1 Main Street. Free.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Fountainbridge Library throughout the summer holidays. Today and every Wednesday throughout the holidays: Big Friendly Crafts. 3pm Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free, no booking required – just come along!

Blackwells Edinburgh Presents William Egginton: The Man Who Invented Fiction or How Cervantes Ushered in the Modern World. William Eggington, (Johns Hopkins University) explores  Miguel de Cervantes’s life and times, showing how his life and influences converged in his work, and how his writing – especially Don Quixote – radically changed the nature of literature and created a new way of viewing the world. Professor Eggington explains how that worldview went on to infiltrate art, politics and science, and how the world today would be unthinkable without it. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from the shop’s ground floor desk, by calling 0131 622 8222, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via Eventbrite here .

LGBT Poetry Open Mic: an open-mic that especially welcomes LGBT+ themes – ‘come along with your friends and have a gay ol’ time!’ If you would like to perform, please contact saryawu@gmail.com to reserve a slot. 7pm, Sketchy Beats, 208 Great Junction Street. All welcome, free entry, BYOB – small charge for corkage.

Fringe Preview: Vladimir Mctavish, Fern Brady and The Lost Voice Guy. A work-in-progress show from Fringe comedy favourites; before their hotly anticipated shows at The Stand this August… 7.30pm, The Stand, 5 York Place. Tickets £8/£7 (members £1) from the Box Office on 0131 558 7272 or online.

Thelonius Monk: Straight, No Chaser (PG): Expanding on footage shot of progressive jazz enigma Thelonious Monk for West German television in the late 1960s, Charlotte Zwerin (Gimme Shelter) was enlisted to adapt these raw outtakes – rare in their extraordinary intimacy with Monk – as the focus of a new documentary in 1988. A lively film, with incredible performance footage and newly shot interviews with friends and family, Straight, No Chaser was described by the New York Times as ‘some of the most valuable jazz ever shot’. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. Also showing at 3.50pm and 6.10pm on Thursday 14^th July.  Jazz on Summer Days (12^th July-2^nd August) is a diverse season of films that celebrate jazz on screen – from portraits of iconic musicians, to improvised soundtracks, to captivating performances that punctuate the cinematic drama; the next film is All Night Long, showing on 27^th and 28^th July. Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival returns from 15^th July with a host of events across the city and performances from some of the most sought-after names in jazz and blues.

‘Never Group’: maverick Russian-born, London-based, saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev is fast building a reputation on both sides of the Atlantic for his exhilarating take on contemporary jazz. His live shows are as exciting as they are eccentric, and here he brings his new powerhouse trio, featuring extraordinary US bassist Michael Janisch (Joe Lovano, Miguel Zenon, Gary Husband) and first-call Spanish drummer Marc Ayza (Jason Linder, Greg Osby), with a blend of jazz, funk, rock, electronica and improv – a genre-mash of high calibre interplay and raw emotion.  ‘A typical Strigalev collision of hip jazz virtuosity and surrealism, his alto sax displays bebop agility, shivery lyricism, and sometimes a bluesy Ornetteish swerve’ (The Guardian). 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £7/£5 on the door: please note this venue is strictly cash only. Also at same time on Thursday 14^th July.

THURSDAY 14^TH JULY 2016

North Edinburgh Arts Summer Programme: a packed timetable of activities throughout the holidays. This morning it’s Create Lite: Summertime Trolls for young children aged 0-5 with their parents or carers. 10am-12 noon, North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. £3 per first child, £1 for subsequent siblings, (50p for Good Neighbours card holders), healthy snack provided. No booking required but sessions can be very busy, so please arrive early to secure a place. For details of all activities and events at NEA this summer, click here or call NEA on 0131 315 2151.

Water of Leith Visitor Centre Children’s Summer Events. Today: River Dipping – join staff IN the river for this favourite activity! Children must be accompanied by an adult. 2-3.30pm, Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. £4 per child, accompanying adult free: booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 455 7367 or emailing admin@waterofleith.org.uk. For details of the centre’s summer and autumn programme – which includes events for all ages – click here.

WHALE Arts Children’s Summer Programme: free art, crafts, dance, circus skills and films throughout the holidays. Today: Mini Eco Gardens– fun craft & gardening for families. 10am-12 noon, WHALE, 30 Westburn Grove, Wester Hailes. For more information click here, call 0131 4589 3267 or drop in to WHALE.

Retina 2016: Association of Photographers Exhibition. This exhibition features work by 35 AOP award-winning photographers. The AOP Photography Awards is one of the most prestigious competitions in commercial photography; now in its 33rd year, the competition remains highly regarded by commissioners, art buyers and photographers alike. 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday, Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith. Free admission. Ends 23^rd July 2016. The Retina Scottish International Photography Festival is on now, with events and exhibitions at various venues across Edinburgh; for full information visit Retina here.

The Rannoch Centre and Drumbrae Library Hub Family Fun Day: music, dance, archery, crafts, treasure hunt, Zoolab, Digital Toy Box, toddler play area, community stalls, bike surgery, refreshments and more! From 10.30am, Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drumbrae Drive, and Rannoch Community Centre, 6 Rannnoch Terrace. For more information see the event’s Facebook page here.

Macmillan Cancer Support Information Sessions: information, support and signposting for people affected by cancer. Macmillan are looking to recruit volunteers with good listening skills and an interest in helping people – full training will be given and expenses payable. Come and find out about Macmillan’s holistic and accessible service in local communities. 11am-3pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. For more details just ask library staff or call the library 0131 242 8000.  Also at the same times on Thursday 21st July, and at Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, on Mondays 11^th and 18^th July.

The Fine Art Society in Edinburgh: New Exhibitions. (1) Re-awakenings: Scottish Paintings After the War 1945-1990; an exhibition of vibrant, varied art influenced by both the destructive consequences of the world, and dynamic shifts taking place in modern art; (2) Lair – A Selection of Mid Century Furniture, Lighting and Design. Lair (17 Dundas St) specialises in showcasing the craftsmanship and beauty of mid-20th century furniture and interior design; this exhibition includes pieces, primarily of Italian, French and Scandinavian design, selected to complement the artworks on display in the gallery’s festival exhibition Re-awakenings: Scottish Paintings After the War 1945-1990; (3) Annie Kevans: Seclected Portraits. An exhibition marking the first time that Kevans’ work has been exhibited in Scotland. Kevan’s paintings reflect our distorted perceptions of figures in the public eye. Her works examine the duality of truth and falsehood by creating ‘portraits’ which may or may not be based on real documentation. The subjects here include overlooked female artists, the mistresses of American presidents, and iconic figures whose struggles with mental illness and addiction came under public scrutiny. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, The Fine Art Society in Edinburgh, 6 Dundas Street. All three exhibitions end 3^rd September 2016. Images: Alberto Morrocco Hotel Marina, Rosas; Annie Kevans Kathryn McGuire.

National Museum of Scotland Summer Activities: History Happenings. The museum is offering lots of drop-in events during the holidays – today it’s History Happenings: step back in time and encounter everyday characters from history. A suffragette with her invaluable bicycle, a weaver getting to grips with new technology in 1816 and a 1960s department store worker who dreams of designer fashion – who will you meet? 11am-1pm or 2-4pm today, and every Thursday, Friday and Sunday in July, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free, drop-in. See also Sci-Art Summer.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Currie Library throughout the summer holidays. Today (and every Thursday & Tuesday): Roald Dahl Crafternoons – help build volcanoes, design your own fancy dress, create your own Mr or Mrs Twits’ beard and much, much more! For ages 4-12. 2.30pm, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road. Free, no booking required – just come along!

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: Roald Dahl Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 3pm today and every Thursday during the holidays, Ratho Library, School Wynd. Free.

The Drawing Room – July: The Drawing Room examines the range of possibilities within contemporary drawing practice and explores how mark-making can also be conceived as sculpture, installation, video, performance, writing, sound, textiles and animation. All materials are supplied and no experience necessary. 5.30-6.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free (voluntary donation requested) but booking is required and may be made via Eventbrite here. Image: Emma Bowen.

Dandy Gilver & A Most Misleading Habit: Catriona McPherson launches her latest Dandy Gilver novel, set in Scotland in 1932, in which the aristocratic private investigator and her witty sidekick Alec Osbourne unite to solve sinister goings on at a convent on a bleak Lanarkshire moor. 6pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. Free tickets are available in the store; for more information please call 0131 226 2666.

Blackwells Edinburgh Presents The Crime Factor: Four Men in Search of a Plot. Four Scottish crime writers (Neil Broadfoot, GJ Brown, Mark Leggatt and Douglas Skelton) discuss, and answer questions about, all aspects of crime novels –  plotting, writing… general death and destruction. Author Peter Burnett will chair the discussion and attempt to keep the hilarity and body count under control. 6-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets are available from the shop’s ground floor desk, by calling 0131 622 8222, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via Eventbrite here .

The Scottish Endarkenment: a series exploring a wide range of disturbing and provocative topics, from ever-escalating international conflict, social inequality and unrest to gender identity and sexual prejudice – all fired by the dialectical struggles within the Scottish psyche between good and evil, Self and the Other. Today’s film is The Body Snatcher (PG): the legendary Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi feature in this macabre tale of murder and blackmail in 19th century Edinburgh, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s short story. John Gray (Karloff) is a taxi driver by day and grave-robber by night, supplying fresh cadavers for the surgery of Dr MacFarlane (Henry Daniell), whose predecessor was Dr John Knox – of Burke and Hare infamy…  The film will be introduced by Scottish Endarkenment curator Bill Hare and an invited speaker. 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. The next film in this series is The Brothers on 18^th July. The Scottish Endarkenment is a project by Dovecot Studios, the University of Edinburgh and Filmhouse. Image: Jock McFadyen.

Café voices: Magic and Mystery. Join international storyteller and musician Marion Kenny for an evening of stories against the backdrop of Marie-Alice Harel’s exhibition Omoiyari – Where Stories Come From. The Centre’s monthly storytelling session, with an open-floor section for storytellers to tell their own tales, in the relaxed surroundings of the Storytelling Court. 7pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Please book in advance: tickets cost £5/£4.50 and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here.

Boda’s Harry Potter Big Book Quiz: now on to the 5th book! If you think you are the ultimate Hazza P book geek then come along – there are prizes for second and third place, and if you win the number one spot you will walk away with a £30 bar tab. 7.30pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Call 0131 553 5900 to book a space.

Callum Ramm: live covers from the Edinburgh musician (and rugby player). 9-11pm, The Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.

FRIDAY 15^TH JULY 2016

WHALE Arts Children’s Summer Programme: free art, crafts, dance, circus skills and films throughout the holidays. Today: Under the Sea Playday – for children and young people with additional support needs, and their families. Lots of themed activities for all the family. 10am-12 noon, WHALE, 30 Westburn Grove, Wester Hailes. For more information and to book your place, click here, call 0131 4589 3267 or drop in to WHALE.

North Edinburgh Arts Summer Programme: a packed timetable of activities throughout the holidays. This morning’s sessions (10am-12 noon) for ages 5-12 (two age groups) are Create Your Own Dreamcatcher and Movement with Words. North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. £1.50 per session (50p for Good Neighbours card holders), healthy snack provided. No booking required but sessions can be very busy, so please arrive early to secure a place. For details of all activities and events at NEA this summer, click here or call NEA on 0131 315 2151.

Museum Socials: a series of relaxed and informal sessions offering anyone living with dementia, along with their relatives, friends and supporters, an opportunity to explore a different part of the museum each month with NMS’s learning staff. Sessions are free (booking is required) and include a cup of tea. Today: Romans, Picts, Vikings – explore these people and their impact on Scotland through the archaeology collections in the Early People gallery on level 0. 10.30am-12 noon (meet at the Tower Entrance at 10.15am), National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Please call 0300 123 6789 to book your place. The next session will be on Friday 19^th August.

PDSA: Help a Vet Help a Pet: come and find out how to look after cats, dogs and other little critters! 11am, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road. For more details just ask library staff or call the library on 0131 529 5597.  Free, all welcome.

In Focus: The Vale of Dedham by John Constable. The Chiaroscuro of Nature: The Vale of Dedham (1828) is a landscape charged with the artist’s childhood memories, rooted in traditions of 17th-century landscape painting and yet revolutionary in its emphasis on the passage of time. Art historian Andrew Paterson will explore Constable’s aims and methods, and the meanings his imagery may have held for his contemporary audience. 12.45-1.15pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Adapting Miss Highsmith: described by Graham Greene as the ‘poet of apprehension’, Patricia Highsmith specialised in tightly plotted thrillers exploring the fear, jealousy, guilt and violence bubbling under the surface of outwardly civilised characters. Neurotic men dominate her fiction, antiheroes with a plethora of dark secrets and obsessions, though she was equally capable of studies of great sensitivity and tenderness, as evidenced by one of her few forays outside the thriller genre, Carol. The artistry and intelligence of her work is widely considered to have transcended the thriller genre to rival that of mainstream literature, and has made for much compelling cinema. Today: Plein Soliel (PG); in the same year he starred in Luchino Visconti’s family drama Rocco and His Brothers, Alain Delon took on the role of Highsmith’s most famous character, the eponymous, ice-cold sociopath in the sun-soaked adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley. Although she felt that certain compromises had been made to reach as wide an audience as possible, Highsmith deemed René Clément’s picture – co-written by regular Claude Chabrol collaborator Paul Gégauff – to be ‘very beautiful to the eye and interesting for the intellect.’ 1.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. Also showing on Saturday 16^th July at 3.40pm and 6pm and on Sunday 17^th July at 8.15pm. The next film in this series is The Two Faces of January (12A), screening 20-21^st July.

Lego Club: a new club for all Lego enthusiasts, big or small. 2-3pm today and every Friday, Kirkliston Library, Station Road. Free: all welcome.

Lego Club: for ages 5+. 2.30pm today and every Friday, Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan. Free.

Wildflower Meadow Survey: help survey the wildflowers at Hillend Country Park. The survey began in 2008 – the wildflowers battle for dominance, with new species being found each year; 36 species were identified in 2013. Bring sturdy footwear! 1.30-3.30pm, Hillend Country Park (meet at upper car park), Biggar Road. Booking is essential. For more information and to book, please contact Pentland Hills Regional Park HQ, 69a Braid Road, 0131 529 2401, email pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Roald Dahl Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 2pm today and every Friday during the holidays, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road. Free.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Stockbridge Library throughout the summer holidays. Dahl-lightful events suitable for all ages, with fun activities and the chance to make new friends. Today: Get Foxy – make a foxy facemask! 2.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Free, no booking required – just come along! Next week at the same time: Rhyme Stew – jokes, word games and alphabet crafts.

The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: events at Colinton Library throughout the summer holidays. Today (and every Friday & Monday): Roald Dahl Crafternoons – help build volcanoes, design your own fancy dress, create your own Mr or Mrs Twits’ beard and much, much more! For ages 4-12. 2.30pm, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. Free, no booking required – just come along!

Street Games – with the outreach team from Edinburgh Museums. 2.30pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free, no booking required – just come along!

Around the World Crafts: for ages 4-12 (children under 8 must be accompanied by someone over 12). 3pm today and every Friday during the holidays, Ratho Library, School Wynd. Free.

Mapping Remembrance: ‘Where, Minister, is my consolation?’ A lecture given by the artist Alison King on the background to and making of her artwork, which reflects on the experiences of McCrae’s Battalion and the role of James Black, Chaplain to the Battalion during the First World War conflict. On 17th December 1922 the last remnants of McCrae’s men sat and listened to the words from the pulpit from ‘one who was there with them’ at the terrible Battle of the Somme, July 1916. James Black described how he had lost count of the times he had been asked ‘Where, Minister, is my consolation?’ This large mixed media piece was inspired by the question posed in the sermon and some of the words are reproduced on the panels. 7pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

Washed Up: Flotsam from the Shores of Dance. This month Toxicologist is joined by veteran DJ Andy Unsworth, founder of seminal 90s clubs Carbolick Frolick and Dogtastic. His new venture, Sound Cellar Cafe, is coming soon and will be Edinburgh’s first audiophile cafe and record shop – taking its reference from Tokyo’s high fidelity bar scene with carefully curated music over the last 50 years. ‘An environment where music lovers can shamelessly reconnect and discover again the emotional and magical essence of music’. Andy will be showcasing some of these sounds tonight; expect the usual eclectic mix of dubbed out dance, soulful electronics and finely vintaged party tunes. 9pm- 12 midnight, The Skylark, 241 Portobello High Street.

Picturehouses Culture Shock: Nicolas Winding Refn Presents. A special season curated by Nicolas Winding Refn, director of The Neon Demon and Drive. Today: Carrie (18). Based on the novel by Stephen King, Brian De Palma’s celebrated shocker stars Sissy Spacek as a bullied teenager with telekinetic powers. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.

The Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival starts today! Acts include Colin Steele Quintet, Curtis Stigers, Jan Garbarek Group ft. Trilok Gurtu, Konrad Wiszniewski & Pawel Kaczmarczyk Quartet, Rumba de Bodas, New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, Ole Seimetz, Tommy Smith & Brian Kellock, Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Lucky Peterson and many, many more. Various venues throughout the city; for full details of all events, tickets and venues click here.

*WANT TO GET AWAY THIS WEEKEND?* – after all that activity I’m not surprised…  Here are two ideas:

Lossie Folk Club Festival: ‘an annual gathering of people to celebrate live music’. Unlike most festivals this one is totally free, with performers invited to come and play just for the craic. So there’s no published line up, but it all sounds good! The Beach Bar, whose food looks amazing, describes it as ‘a great weekend of free music (all day), with open concert and music in the bar every night. Featuring local ales, beers, lagers & cider – music, drink, food, fun – make this one weekend not to miss’. Starts 7pm, Friday 15^th July, ends 12 midnight Sunday 17^th July, Beach Bar, Commerce Street, Lossiemouth. Camping is available. For more information about Lossiemouth, including accommodation options, local activities and attractions, visit Lossiemouth Business Association’s excellent website here.

Pandorafest: describing itself as the ‘BEST Independent, Intimate, Underground, Eclectic, Scottish Music Festival this year’, Pandorafest aims to redress the gender imbalance at other festivals and make sure there are enough women onstage. It is not a women-only event – ‘Pandorafest is about music, good times and the joy of being part of the human race. That means that EVERYONE is welcome!’ Acts include Courtesans, Mathilde Santing, Sofia B, Cellista, Caroline Gilmour and many more. The festival is set in a replica Iron Age hill fort at Duncarron Mediaeval Village in the Carron Valley (12km from Stirling); it will have two stages of live music, plus market stalls, vendors, food and drink, local walks and mountain bike trails. Camping/parking is available for the night after the festival, as are Red Kite Yurts. Tickets from £25 (camping extra), children under 12 admitted free; to purchase click here. Tickets should also be available on the day, but please note cash is the only way you can pay, and there are NO cash machines or card payment facilities at all at or near the site. Gates open 10.30am, Saturday 16^th July, music starts 11am and ends 11pm, DunCarron Mediaeval Village, Carron Valley, FK6 5JL. For full details of all acts, site facilities and directions (there is no public transport to the site; private taxis are available to book from Stirling Rail Station), visit the festival’s website here. Pandorafest is hosted by singer-songwriter Candace Cambden.