SATURDAY 9TH JULY 2016
North Edinburgh Arts Summer Programme: a packed timetable of activities throughout the summer. Today: Bioblitz Day – explore wildlife and nature in the NEA garden. Identify as many species of birds, bugs, plants and beasties as you can! Activities for families and children, with experts on hand from RSPB to help out. For all ages – but children under 6 must be accompanied. 9.30am-1.30pm, North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court, Muirhouse. Free, drop-in, refreshments provided. For details of all activities and events at NEA this summer, click here or call NEA on 0131 315 2151.
Superhero Day! Celebrate the release of David Solomons’ new book My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord at Waterstones’ Superhero Day. Come along at any time for some fun superhero-themed activities and take part in a cool comic competition. Feel free to come dressed as your favourite superhero! 9.30am-7pm, Waterstones Fort Kinnaird, 26 Kinnaird Park. For more information please call 0131 657 5493.
Balerno Farmers’ Market: wonderful traders (including Arran Cheese, The Caffeine Fix, Tiphereth Trading, Edward Collins Fish and many more) with a tempting selection of fresh fruit and veg, olive oils, breads, cakes, cheese, fish and meat, game, juices, jams and Scottish Street Food. Harmeny Bikes will also be attending, with a great range of bikes for sale plus bike advice and repairs. Friends of Main Street will be gardening in Main Street’s flower beds, and as always they will welcome help from any volunteers; no gardening experience is required and all tools are supplied by the friendly team – all you need to supply is yourself and a sturdy pair of shoes. All ages are warmly welcomed. Come along and help keep your village centre blooming beautiful all year round. 9am-1pm, Main Street, Balerno.
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 21st 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 Edinburgh Life Drawing & Sketching Group: Marcelline Levicky and Dianne McNaughton. A new exhibition by two local artists. Marcelline is an amateur who has developed her own expressionist style; one of her recent notable accomplishments is having one of her paintings accepted for exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery. Dianne is a self-taught artist who is passionate about painting and sketching in a variety of media. 10am-5pm today, then normal opening hours, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. For mnore information drop into the library or call 0131 529 5616. Ends 15th July 2016.
Bookbug Rhymetime: songs and rhymes for young children (0-3 years) and a chance for you to meet other parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Saturday, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. Free. Also at same time every Tuesday and Friday.
Jennifer Bailey: Will I Make a Good Father, Mother, Sister? A new exhibition by artist Jennifer Bailey, part of Satellites Programme 2016. Jennifer’s practice explores and questions the permeability of art production to patriarchal structures, desire, capital and paid work. Often revealing the conditions of its making, her work investigates the visual codes that constitute authenticity. Expanding from an interest in the productive body at work, a new wall drawing and series of sculptures point towards our bodily experience of materials and residues of work. Image: Jennifer Bailey, That’s Genetic, 2015, courtesy of the artist. 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday (10am-6pm daily in August), Collective Gallery, City Observatory & Dome, 38 Calton Hill. Ends 4th September 2016. Satellites Programme is Collective’s development programme for emergent artists and producers based in Scotland.
Bruncheon featuring Candythief, Callum Easter, Ewan Bush & Artcore Circus. A cracking line-up for the July Bruncheon, put together by special guest programmer Candythief (aka Diane de Caburrus) who will also be hitting the stage! Come along for top-notch live music, great food from the Drill Hall Arts Café, and excellent company! As a special treat this Bruncheon will also feature the brand new show by Artcore Circus. Life’s a Circus is the culmination of an 8 week youth circus training course taught by PyroCeltica and Full Cirqle. Live music 11.30am – 2.30pm, #artcore circus performance at 1.45pm. Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith. Free admission.
Damián Ortega: an exhibition by the Mexican artist, showcasing new sculptures that focus on how the forces of nature – wind, water, earth and fire – act on the earth both independently of and in relationship to humankind. ‘Ortega shows us clay as matter, as energy, as power. His is a restless imagination and the exhibition turns The Fruitmarket Gallery into an arena for the investigation of a world in flux’. 11am-6pm Monday-Saturday, 12 noon-5pm Sundays, The Fruitmarket Gallery, Market Street. Ends 23rd October 2016. There will be a free, informal tour of the exhibition with one of the gallery’s Information Assistants at 2pm today; no booking required, just come along.
Wee Treasures – July: storytelling for early years children and their families inspired by a different portrait each month; come and delve into the magic treasure chest to find out what the story will be! With fun rhymes and songs, puppet characters and lots of opportunities to join in. 10.30am or 11.30am, Scottish National Portrait Gallery (meet in the Great Hall), 1 Queen Street. No booking required: free, unticketed. Places limited – sign up on the day.
A Way of Seeing: a new mixed exhibition including works by Liz Doyle, Shelagh Boyle, Teresa Gordon, Catriona Millar, Sally Anne Fitter, Alan Glasgow, Basia Roszak, Maria Connolly, Lindsey Madden, Susan Reid, Col Dunbar, Christine Clark, Rosalind Walker, Jude Nixon, Brian Ballard and Helen Acklam. Opens today with prosecco and nibbles, then 10am-5pm Thursday-Saturday, 12 noon-5pm Sundays, The Velvet Easel, 298 Portobello High Street. Ends 30th October 2016.
Tiger Tales: stories and crafts for ages 4-7. 11am today and every Saturday, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road. Free.
Edinburgh PrintMAKERS MARKET: this great summer family event will showcase an eclectic mix of talented local crafters coming together to display, sell and promote their beautiful items, including jewellery, ceramics, paintings, zines and much, much more. Each piece has the added distinction of being both unique and hand crafted. This market will have something for everyone, so don’t miss out on this vibrant and child friendly event – browse the stalls, discover handmade wares and relax with delicious delights catered by the lovely Manna House Bakery! 11am-5pm, Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street. Free.
Architecture Fringe: the Architecture Fringe is an independent, contributor-led series of events and projects across the arts which will explore architecture and how it makes a difference to our lives. Inspired by the Year of Innovation, Architecture & Design this new fringe festival has been initiated by a group of architects, photographers, engineers, visual artists, curators and musicians. 
Complementing the Festival of Architecture 2016, the Architecture Fringe will host a number of events, exhibitions, talks and a community self-build, with activity taking place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Beith in North Ayrshire and Farr south of Inverness. The intention is to establish the Architecture Fringe as an annual event across Scotland. Gayfield Creative Spaces is hosting exhibitions by Robb Mcrae, Tamsin Cunningham, Ffion and Steven Blench, and Calum Ross and Andy Hodgkinson of Leith experimental band Hans Klammer. Today at 11am there will be a talk, The Neoliberal City, by Anna Minton and Andy Wightman. The exhibition will be open 10am-6pm today and 10am-4pm on Sunday 10th July, Gayfield Creative Spaces, Gayfield Square.
The Scottish Parliament Architecture Tour: Democracy by Design. A special tour launched as part of The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016, celebrating the innovation architecture and design of the Scottish Parliament. Discover more about the inspiration behind the architectural design which led to the creation of the accessible and award-winning Parliament building, and find out about its purpose, symbolism and uses. 12 noon, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Free but booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 348 5200 or emailing Visitor Services at visit@scottish.parliament.uk.
Picturehouses Culture Shock: the best in cult and genre films. Today: The Witches (PG). Anjelica Houston stars in this fantasy film based on Roald Dahl’s famous novel. In an alternate reality, where the world is plagued by infanticidal witches who masquerade as ordinary women, a boy and his grandmother try to destroy them. 1.20pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.
Grassmarket Matinée of the Month: The Brothers Bloom (12). Twenty-five years of swindling people are too much for Bloom (Adrien Brody) and he wants out of the business. His brother, Stephen (Mark Ruffalo), convinces him to work on one final hustle, targeting an eccentric East Coast heiress named Penelope (Rachel Weisz). The con game fails to play out as planned when Bloom falls in love with this irresistible woman. 2pm, 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.
Scotland’s Gardens: Balerno Lodge. A two acre mature garden consisting of rhododendrons, azaleas, shrubbery and a small pretty stream leading into a pond. Within the walled garden there is a large central herbaceous border and a newly created insect friendly bed. Refreshments, plant sales (Macplants Nursery). 2-5pm, Balerno Lodge, Johnsburn Road, Balerno EH14 7DX – for directions click here. Admission £4 of which 40% goes to Canine Partners and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries.
Tiger Tales: stories and crafts for children aged 4-8, and a chance for you to meet other parents and carers. 2.30pm today and every Saturday, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. Free.
The Big Friendly Read – Summer Reading Challenge Scotland: Roald Dahl Book Club. 3pm today and every Saturday throughout the holidays, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. For mnore information drop into the library or call 0131 529 5616.
The Scottish Parliament History Tour: Democracy by Design. Travel through the award-winning Parliament building and along a timeline from the 9th to the 21st century! Your guide will tell legends, stories and facts specially selected from 1100 years of Scotland’s fascinating history. Inspired by the Parliament building, its location and objects on display, learn about the legend of the Saltire, the lives of kings and queens, the outcome of battles and more. For adults and children aged 10+. 3.30pm, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Free but booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 348 5200 or emailing Visitor Services at visit@scottish.parliament.uk. Image: Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament.
Folk Gaze: A Chinese Language Film Weekend. A two-day screening event curated and organised by two University of Edinburgh MSc Film, Exhibition and Curation students. Today’s first film, showing at 4pm, is 7 days in Heaven (in Chinese and Taiwanese with English subtitles), a dark, poetic comedy centering on a woman’s experience of the death and funeral of her father. Mei, resolutely urban, returns to her rural hometown, where she and her brother arrange a series of arcane and elaborate funeral rites. The second film, showing at 6pm, is Heaven’s Will (in Shanxinese and Chinese with English subtitles), a documentary about Chinese local belief and fear of spirits. Naixiao, who lives in a small village in the bleak region of Shanxi Province, used to be a gangster, but recently has acquired the ability to predict life and death. Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission, but please book your place via Eventbrite here. More films on Sunday at the Screening Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh (see separate listing).
Is The Pale Blue Dot Special? For the last 400 years, scientific discoveries have unseated humanity from the centre of the Universe, from Copernicus’ heresy that the Sun was at the centre of the Solar System, to finally culminating in the astonishing consequence of modern cosmology that the Universe actually does not have a centre. Yet we do not detect human-like creatures or technology in other star systems. See whether St Andrews astronomer and astrobiologist Duncan Forgan can explain this. 4.30-5.30pm, Upper Hope Park Church Gallery (Summerhall), off Hope Park Terrace. Free. For more information call Summerhall on 0131 560 1580.
Surreal Encounters: Monthly Discussion Tours (July): discussion tours of the Surreal Encounters exhibition taking a more detailed look at the collectors and artists featured in the exhibition. 2pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Purchase of a ticket for the exhibition is required (£10/£8 – Friends of NGS free).
Picturehouse Documentaries: Weiner (15). With unrestricted access to Anthony Weiner’s New York City mayoral campaign, this film (directed by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg) reveals the human story behind the scenes of a high-profile political scandal as it unfolds, and offers an unfiltered look at how much today’s politics are driven by an appetite for spectacle. 6.35pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online. Also screening 10th-14th July – times vary.
Celebrating Solidarity with Refugees: a film screening and discussion. Thousands of Belgian refugees came to Scotland during the First World War (1914 – 1918). A 100 years on, a group of refugees and local Scots share what they’ve discovered about this hidden heritage and draw parallels with their own experiences of re-building their lives in Scotland today. Learn about their findings in an inspiring and powerful short documentary film produced by Scottish Refugee Council in collaboration with cinematographer Lou McLoughlan (BAFTA nominee 2015 for 16 Years of Summer). Some members of the group will be at the screening and there will be an informal discussion after the film. 6.30pm, Tribe Porty, 19 Windsor Place, Portobello. Admission £3 on the door.
Re-Act, Refugee Action Scotland Charity Concert: Sijie ‘Susie’ Chen (violin) and Liang-yu Wang (piano) perform Beethoven Sonatas 5, 6 & 7. Sijie Chen is a member of the SCO and has also worked with The Academy of Ancient Music, Manchester Camerata, Halle, and BBC Philharmonic Orchestras. Liang-yu Wang has made numerous concert appearances as a soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the world. She has worked with such artists as Raphael Wallfisch, Thomas Landschoot, Joseph Swensen and world renowned soprano Dawn Upshaw. Re-Act, Refugee Action Scotland is a not-for-profit humanitarian aid project launched in response to the worldwide refugee crisis, working to fundraise and collect vital donations from all over Scotland to transport to the refugee camps in Calais and throughout other crisis areas of Europe. ‘People, not swarms; refugees, not migrants’. 7.30pm, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent. Tickets £15/£10 on the door or in advance from susietickets@gmail.com.
Saturday Night Live & Unplugged: The GTs. A dynamic mix of blues, country, funk, soul and classics from this contemporary duo. 9pm-12 midnight, Dalriada, 77 Promenade, Portobello.
Messenger Sound System: Scotland’s original Roots and Culture Sound System. Messenger has been spreading the word on its own custom built bass-heavy rig since 1987, with a flame burning brighter than ever today. 11pm-3am, The Bongo Club, Cowgate. £7 (£6 before 12).
SUNDAY 10TH JULY 2016
Filmhouse Junior: films for a younger audience. This week: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (U) (1971 version): Mel Stuart’s brilliant musical version of perhaps the most famous Roald Dahl book of them all. Enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious chocolate bars. Whoever finds these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of sweets… 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small.
Picturehouses Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today: Poor Cow (15). Ken Loach’s first feature film, starring Carol White and Terence Stamp (made in 1967), was based on the novel by Nell Dunn, who also wrote Loach’s earlier Wednesday Play, Up the Junction. 1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.
Portrait Detectives: collect your kit, follow clues and solve a mystery from history! For ages 4-12. 2-4pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. No booking required: free, unticketed. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland.
Scotland’s Gardens: Gifford and Broadwoodside. Gifford was laid out early in the 18th century and has retained much of its original charm. The village includes a beautiful church built in 1708, the Lime Avenue of Yester House, the Goblin Ha’ and Tweeddale Hotels and a wide range of gardens, all within walking distance of each other. The garden at Broadwoodside is planted in and around a farm steading, rescued from dereliction. Two sheltered courtyards are encircled by the old buildings; outside the planting extends into the surrounding farmland and woods on an ambitious scale. 
‘This is one of Scotland’s finest contemporary private gardens, with excellent structure, imaginative use of objects, and some of the most eye-catching planting in Scotland … who could ask for more?’ (Scotland for Gardeners, 2014). The Gifford gardens vary in size and types, from the compact and the informal to the large and formal, with a wide range of plants, shrubs and trees. 1-5pm, Gifford, East Lothian – for directions click here. Admission £6, of which 40% will go to local charities and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries.
Reunion Tea and Cake Cruise: go on a return journey from Edinburgh Quay to Slateford Aqueduct on board Reunion’s Lochrin Belle. Enjoy a voyage of discovery and a selection of homemade cakes and tea. 2pm, Edinburgh Quay, Fountainbridge. Tickets cost £18 and booking is essential, online here or by calling Reunion on 0131 261 8529. Re-Union Canal Boats is a social enterprise based on and around the Union Canal; it built and launched its first pilot boat in 2004, which was replaced by a wide beam canal boat in June 2008. Re-Union offers training and support to a wide range of volunteers in crewing (RYA) first aid, hospitality, health and hygiene and a variety of other courses that are identified and driven by the volunteers’ needs and requests, and engages meaningfully with canalside communities from Edinburgh Quay to Wester Hailes through a variety of projects including canoe building, supporting the development of a canoe club, orchard planting (which is now growing into a healthy eating garden project) and co-ordinating community consultations and the Edinburgh Canal Festival.
Strictly Smokin’ Big Band: a full 17 piece Big Band from Newcastle, with 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 4 rhythm, plus two vocalists! You’ll hear Rat Pack to Ella, Miller to Basie, Robbie to Bublé, and lots in between! Bring the family – no under-18 age restrictions on afternoon gigs. 3-5.30pm, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £3 on the door: please note this venue is strictly cash only.
Folk Gaze: A Chinese Language Film Weekend. A two-day screening event curated and organised by two University of Edinburgh MSc Film, Exhibition and Curation students. Today’s first film, showing at 3.30pm, is River (in Tibetan languages and Chinese with English subtitles), telling the story of the relationships between three generations in a Tibetan family. Through a little girl’s eyes, it shows the audiences the spectacular views in Tibet and the story of her family. At 6pm, Taiwan Spotlight, a programme of four excellent Taiwanese shorts, telling stories in various local languages about folk culture, family, history, love and saying goodbye. You will also have the chance to try traditional Chinese snacks! Screening Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. All welcome, free admission, but please book your place via Eventbrite here.
Leith Conversation Cafes: bringing the different nationalities and cultures of Leith together through hosted conversation sessions in local cafés. Join in, speak out, be inspired! 4-5.30pm, Sketchy Beats, 208 Great Junction Street. All welcome! Also held at Out of the Blue, Dalmeny Street, on Monday mornings, and the Yellow Bench Café, Crighton Place, on Monday evenings – full details here. ‘Our ultimate vision is a Leith community where people who have moved here from overseas feel included, informed, recognised and respected’.
Gorgie City Farm Fundraiser: come and enjoy the best views in the city while helping to raise vital funds for the community farm! Stalls with artwork, crafts and handmade goods, sand art for childre and an amazing silent auction with all funds raised going to the Farm. 25% of the bar takings will be donated to the Farm. Free admission, with a welcoming G & T courtesy of Arbikie Highland Estate. 5-9pm, SKYbar, 34 Bread Street. For more information please contact kalindsell@gmail.com. Gorgie City Farm is open free of charge every day (except Christmas Day & New Year’s Day), and works with over 100 volunteers every week through training, work experience, social opportunities and personal support.
Blind Poet Cinema Sundays: with free popcorn! 6pm, The Blind Poet, West Nicolson Street. Free.
St Giles’ at Six: Duo Canto y Piano. Camilla Garcia (soprano) and Jacqueline Urizar (piano) present Alcanzando la Poesía: a programme for voice and piano from Latin American and European composers, with music by Ginastera, Guastavino, Schubert, Duparc, Rachmaninoff and others. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.
Singers Night with US vocalist William Young: an evening of superb vocals from the ex-Cincinnati Soul/Blues/Jazz vocalist, backed by a top-drawer jazz trio featuring swinging pianist David Patrick. 9pm (entry from 8pm), 
The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is strictly cash only.
