Five things you need to know today Edinburgh!

• Sculpture unveiled at Holyrood
• Enter our Competition 
• Neil Lennon relaxes at Musselburgh Races!
• Waverley Mall celebrating the Olympics
• Barnardo’s Children’s Shop on Leith Walk

Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame MSP and Festival Artistic Director Fergus Linehan pictured with an art installation which celebrates the opening of the 2016 Edinburgh International Festival as it was unveiled yesterday at the Scottish Parliament.

The Anything That Gives Off Light installation was the result of a collaborative project between the Edinburgh International Festival and 1000 school pupils from 22 primary schools across the city. It features 1,000 one feet tall yellow figurines which have been placed on wooden plinths inside the Parliament’’s ponds. Each figurine was painted by a primary seven school pupil who also created poetry about how light has inspired them. Their poetry will be placed around the perimeter of the ponds.
The installation will be exhibited outside the Scottish Parliament until Monday 29 August. 05 August 2016.

Pic – Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

Have you entered our newest competition yet? Lunch for two at Malmaison Edinburgh is a great prize so enter now as the competition ends on 15 August 2016 at 12 noon.  Click here to enter. Good luck!

If you want to know about the Malmaison (convenient to get to on the Number 22 bus….) then click here. 

Hibs boss Neil Lennon relaxed before his first game back in competitive Scottish football with a visit to Musselburgh Racecourse yesterday at the first of two meetings this month.

The Easter Road gaffer finished off a last training session before the start of Hibs’ Scottish Championship campaign later today then headed over to the East Lothian track.

However, Lennon will be hoping his Scottish Cup winning heroes will make a better showing against league title opponents Falkirk than his horse Mijhaar, which finished fourth in the day’s big race The Archerfield Cup.

The Hibs manager told Musselburgh Racecourse’s Rob Hogarth: “I’ve got a part ownership in Mijhaar which was running today so it was ideal, I just nipped over from Tranent only 10 minutes away, to watch the race. I was really pleased with him but he just came up a little bit short unfortunately.

“I love my racing and I have had a few horses before and I have a lot of interest in the sport.

“It’s a big game tomorrow with the start of the season. Pre-season has gone really well but we will know more about it tomorrow. We start off against Falkirk, who had a great season last year, so it’s a pretty tough start but one we are looking forward to.”

Waverley Mall will be celebrating the summer Olympics in Rio with a special appearance from two larger than life tropical birds. The avian amigos will be roaming the centre on Sunday 21^st August to entertain shoppers. 

Between 10am – 4pm on Sunday 21^st August, Waverley Mall will be visited by two exotic Rio Birds that have come all the way from Brazil to celebrate the Rio Olympic Games. The cheeky characters will mix and mingle with visitors as they enjoy a spot of shopping in Edinburgh.  The giant animatronic puppets are simply stunning with their bright plumage, realistic range of movement and cheeky personas.

Alongside the event, Waverley Mall is giving one shopper the chance to win a sports outfit, courtesy of Superdry. Shoppers are invited to visit Waverley Mall’s Facebook page between Friday 5^th and Monday 22^nd August to answer the question ‘Who is your favorite Olympian of all time’ and all entries will be put into a prize draw to win the brilliant prize.

Barnardo’s Scotland will re-launch its Leith Walk store as a Children’s Store, the new look shop at 144/148 and 150 Leith Walk will open its doors later today.

The store, which was previously a furniture store, is now stocking babywear, nursery furniture, prams and buggies as well as toys and games.

Shop Manager, Lewis Hush said: “We’re really excited about our new children’s store. Barnardo’s children’s shops are a one-stop shop for your child and we hope the local community will enjoy the new stock.

“As ever we are always looking for good quality stock and volunteers to help out with a variety of jobs.”

The shop is open seven days a week, 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays allowing extra flexibility for the local community.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the shop should speak to Lewis Hush either in person at 144/148 150 Leith walk, Edinburgh or call 0131 554 4099, emaillewis.hush@barnardos.org.uk   Alternatively, check out our volunteering vacancies on our website www.barnardos.org.uk/volunteering

If you are reading this article in print and would like to visit The Edinburgh Reporter website then simply scan the QR code here with a smartphone or tablet.

Sign up here for a daily email from The Edinburgh Reporter

[mc4wp_form id=”169103″]

 

Our photo today shows Hogwallops who are performing at the Circus Hub. Read more here.