EDINBURGH LIFE
SPECIAL EVENTS
International Natural And Complementary Health Exhibition Sat 23 8; Sun 24 Jan. 10am—6pm. Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. 661 5351. See photo caption.
CD 8: Record Fair Sat 23 Jan. lOam—4pm. £1 (70p). Assembly Rooms. George Street. info: ()1360 440 546. Organised by Allander Record Fairs. this is the largest music fair you're likely to see all year in the capital. Top dealers from all over the UK and Ireland will be displaying their wares including specialists in indie. heavy metal. 50s. classical and folk with avast selection of rare vinyl for all those still in denial of the digital age.
Morningside Justice And Peace Group Wed 27 .Ian (Q Wed 3 Feb. 10.30am. 50p. ()pen Door. Morningside Road. info: 445 1628/229 1020. The group's spring programme continues with [Edinburgh '.v Rubbish: Dump 01' It’etjvt'lef' (Wed 27 Jan) followed by Protecting 'l’he Mental/v Dixon/em! In The ('(mtmunitv (Wed 3 Feb).
Iran/Kosova Sat 30 Jan. I lam-4pm. £3 (£1.50). St Paul's & St George‘s Church Hall. York Place. info: 556 31 l I. A debate on the little-reported state of affairs III both Iran and Kosova with lunch provided.
Edinburgh Mela Sun 31 Jan. Meadowbank Stadium. London Road. 661 5351. The city's Asian community get together to mark the end of Ramadan. Phone for a detailed itinerary.
lmbolc Mon I Feb. 7--l 1pm. Free. St Bride's Centre. 10 Orwell Terrace. 346 I405. The St Bride‘s Centre. The Adult Learning Centre and the Beltane Fire Society get together to celebrate the ancient ('eltic festival of Imbolc. using performance and dance. All are invited to participate (bring candles. shells. evergreen foliage and flowers) and a winter soup will he sen ed at the end of the night.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Brass Rubbing Centre
Chalmers (lose. Royal Mile. 5564364. Mon—Sat I0am~-5pm. Housed in the apse of a Gothic church dating back to 1460. the centre contains a selection ofchurch brasses and ancient Pictish replicas.
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T'ai Chi and massage, p
82 THE LIST 21 Jan—4 Feb 1999
THE INTERNATIONAL NATURAL & COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH EXHIBITION Sat 23 & Sun 24 Jan, loam-6pm. £3. Meadowbank Concourse, London Road, 661 5351. For those with a passion for alternative medicine, this two-day exhibition should cure all your ails. There will be stands centrmg on areas such as homeopath , psychology, drugs and AIDS awareness, investment and even hea th foods for your cats and dogs. For the hands-on among you there are workshops and demonstrations in
us lectures on health education and the ideology of the rather inappropriately-named Dr Sickert.
Camera Obscura
Castlehill (Royal Mile). 226 3709. Daily 10atn-5pm. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction. which gives visitors a real-time. 360° image of the city. There is also an exhibition devoted to holographs and photography on the lower floors.
Carberry Candle Cottage Musselburgh. 665 5656. Mon—Fri 9am—5pm; Sat noon-5pm. If you've a passion for candles. then take a drive out to this Pandora‘s box of all things wax. Their factory shop is full of perfumed. aromatheraphy and feng shui candles. plus a bargain clearance corner. Professionals are on hand to demonstrate the art ofcandle-tnaking. or you can have a go at carving your own.
Craigmillar Castle
Niddrie Mains. 661 4445. Mon—Wed & Sat 9.30am-4.30pm; Thu 9.30am—lpm (closed Fri); Sun 2—4.30pm. Forget the palatial stately homes. if you really want to steep yourself in history make your way out to this excellent castle. the scene of much plotting during the reign of Mary. Queen of Scots.
Deep-Sea World
North Queensferry. 01383 41 1880. Daily I()am-6pm. £6.15 (£3.55—£4.25). Mon—Fri |0am~5pm; Sat & Sun I()am—6pm. Famous for its underwater tunnel. which brings visitors face-to-face with a huge collection of fish native to our coastlines. Deep-Sea World also houses an Amazonian rain forest display. a touch-pool and educational facilities.
Edinburgh Castle
Info: 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm. £6 (£ 1 .5()—£4.50). Although much of the castle's medieval character was lost when it was converted into barracks in the 19th century. continuing excavations aim to redress this. Other attractions include James lV‘s famous cannon. Mons Meg. lots of military silverware and. ofcourse. The Stone ()f Destiny. used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Huntly House
142 Canongate. 529 4143. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Packed with historic artefacts. this restored 16th century
mansion tells the story of Edinburgh's past and its people. Also on show Bolti Tasveerein. See Edinburgh Art listings page 78.
Mary King's Close Tours
Meet at Mercat Cross (beside St Giles‘ Cathedral). 225 6591. £5 (£4). Various times. phone for details. Advanced booking necessary. Literally. a trip to Edinburgh‘s underworld: Mary King‘s Close is part of a now subterranean network of streets. walled off in the middle ages during an outbreak of the plague. Visit the restored street and hear the horror stories of the residents left there to die.
Midlothian Ski Centre
Hillend. 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am-9pm; Sun 9.30am—7pm. £6 (£4). Europe‘s longest artificial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone ski-ing and snowboarding skills. The centre also houses a competitively priced ski repair and maintenance facility.
Museum of Childhood
42 High Street. 529 4142. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm. Free. Founded in 1955. the museum has five public galleries with all manner of archive material and old toys relating to childhood through the ages. From antique dolls to 1980‘s computer games. there's plenty here to send you off on a trip down memory lane.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon—Sat I()am—Spm (8pm Tue); Sun noon—5pm. £3 (£1.50); children free. The latest addition to our national museum selection and the only one dedicated solely to Scotland's history and heritage. The building contains five thematically- arranged exhibitions. moving from pre- history. through the Industrial Revolution. to the present day.
Newhaven Heritage Museum Newhaven Harbour. 551 4165. Daily noon—5pm. Free. Memorabilia and reconstructed scenes tell the story of Newhaven and its sea-going heritage. frotn its origins as a naval dockyard to its continued use as a fishing port. Also on show Photographic Memories. See Edinburgh Art listings page 78.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile. 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—4.30pm. £5.30 (£2.60—£ l 3 family). Starting life as a 13th century abbey. the palace has evolved into a sumptuous regal residence crammed full of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the 17th century. Also on show Queen Victoria '.v Family. See Edinburgh Art listings page 78.
Queensferry Museum
53 High Street. South Queensferry. 331 5545. Mon. Thu. Fri & Sat I()am—Ipm & 2.15—5pm; Sun noon—5pm. Free. The natural and historical heritage of Queensfeny are explored. frotn its roots on the medieval pilgrimage trail to the building of the Forth bridges and the wildlife of the Forth estuary.
Rosslyn Chapel
Roslin. 440 2159. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—4pm. Free. What you get out of a trip to the Chapel may depend on your familiarity with the conspiracy theorist genre: a stronghold for the Knights Templar?; proof of pre- Columbian trans-Atlantic travel‘.’; even the final resting place of the Holy Grail? What is certain though is that the chapel contains enough historically fascinating carvings and symbols to hold the attention ofeven the most determined philistine.
Royal Botanic Garden Inverleith Row. 552 7171. Daily 9.30am—7pm. Free. 9.30am—4pm (5pm
from 1 Feb). A sea of tranquillity in the hubbub of the city. the Botanic Garden is borne to a wealth of flora and fauna from all over the world. and glasshouses give you the opportunity to check out tropical plants as well. The gardens are also home to Inverleith House art gallery. see Edinburgh Art listings page 78 for details.
Royal Museum Of Scotland
2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon-Sat IOam—Spm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50). A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history. geology. science. technology and the decorative arts. Also on show Chinese Lacquer and Danish Tapestrv. See Edinburgh Art listings page 78.
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre Blackford Hill. 668 8405. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm; Sun noon-5pm. £2.50 (£1.50). A mine of information on the heavens. the Observatory houses the latest interactive CD-Roms on space and astronomy. with public star-gazing sessions taking place every Friday night until March.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive. Leith. 555 5566. Daily 10.30am—6pm (last entry 4.30pm). £6.50 (£3.75—£5). The former royal yacht has recently opened its doors to members of the public after a £25 million refit. The on-shore visitor centre contains historical information on the boat and its furnishings while. on the yacht itself. members of the public can have a good nosy round the royals' former quarters.
Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre
354 Castlehill. Royal Mile. Edinburgh. 220 0441. Daily 9.30am—4.30pm. £4.95 (£2.50—£3.50). Take a romp through the traditions and history of our national drink at this fully interactive attraction. Highlights include a lesson from a ghost master-blender. a barrel-car ride through whisky history and a well-stocked bar in which to test your newly-acquired expertise.
Witchery Tour
Meet outside The Witchery restaurant. Castlehill (Royal Mile). 225 6745. £7 (£4). Tours at 9pm and 10pm nightly. Take a trip to the dark side of Edinburgh with your guide. Adam Lyal deceased. who will regale you with stories of torture. murder and witchcraft — but watch out for ghosts and ghouls lurking in the shadows.
Writers 'Museum
Lady Stair's House. Lady Stair's Close. 529 4901. Mon-Sat 10am—5pm. Free. A treasure-house of items relating to three of Scotland's most famous wn'ters: Robert Louis Stevenson. Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Also on show Naomi Mire/it'son. See Edinburgh Art listings page 78.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Model Railway Exhibition Sat 23 Jan. 10am—5pm; Sun 24 Jan. noon—4.30pm. £2 (£1); fatnin ticket £5. Town Hall. Countess Street. Saltcoats. info: 01563 533393. The 17th annual Saltcoats model railway extravaganza features Layouts in ‘N‘. 00‘. 'EM‘ and ‘O' Gauges and model railway traders and preservation societies. One for the enthusiastically keen obsessive. Paws For Thought Sun 24 Jan. 1.30pm. North Lanarkshire Leisure Centre. Drumpellier Country Park. Townhead Road. Coatbridge. 01236 422257. Get into detective work of a purely natural kind and look for tracks and other signs to show that there are still some animals out and about in these bitterly brutal winter conditions.