SPECIAL EVENTS

Shows

Antique & Collectors Fair Sat 20—Sun 21 Nov, Sat 10am—5pm; Sun 9am-5pm. £3. Royal Highland Centre, lngliston, 333 3036. Ornaments, furniture and collectibles from one of Britain’s largest antique fair organisers.

Computer Fatr Sat 20 Nov, lOam—3pm. £3 (£2); under 123 free. Royal Highland Centre, lngliston, 333 3036. All your hardware, software and system requirements.

Terratextiles Fri 26 Nov, 8pm. £30. Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. An evening of festivities and fashion design by Belinda Robertson, organised by Imperial Cancer Research Fund to raise funds for breast cancer research. For further information call 01786 446689.

Holistic Health Festival Sun 28 Nov, 11am—7pm. Free. Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street. Information from the Kiyo Collective, 557 2649. Treat yourself to an Indian head massage or perhaps some aromatherapy at this celebration of alternative therapies, organised by the Kiyo Collective. There’ll be demonstrations and seminars all geared towards relaxation and reducing stress.

Sport

Scottish International Badminton Championships Thu 25—Sat 27 Nov, llam-3pm. £2. Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. A European badminton union grand prix circuit event featuring some of Europe’s leading players.

Talks

Cafe Philosophique Thu 18 Nov, 7pm. Free. Institut Francais d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. If you’re keen to voice an opinion on current affairs, fuelled by some fine French wine, then head on down to the Cafe Philosophique. Tonight’s discussion is entitled Poetic Licence or Social Responsibility? The Conscience of Contemporary Art. Confused? You soon won’t be. But don’t worry if your French isn’t “tres bien’ - the proceedings are held in English.

Our City. Our Say Fri 19 Nov, 10am. The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 473 2000. The people of Edinburgh, represented by a range of voluntary groups, outline visions of how the city could be, to an audience of MSPs and councillors. To attend or take part call 0131 5391087.

A Changing Scotland Sat 20 Nov, 3pm. Free. Castle Bar Cafe, 6 Johnston Terrace, 225 7432. This debate, comfortably housed in a bar, looks at how music and poetry have shaped the nation. The distinguished panel includes Jimmie Macgregor and Anne Lorne Gillies.

Morningside Justice 8: Peace Group Wed 24 Nov, Wed 1 Dec, 10.30am. £1. Open Door, 420 Morningside Road, 447 9757. Topics the group will be discussing this fortnight include Trees In Edinburgh with Speaker Eric Hobson of the City Council’s Parks Division on Wed 24 Nov, and Public Awareness Of Science with Christine Thompson of the National Museums of Scotland on Wed 1 Dec.

A Christmas Carol Sat 27 Nov, 7pm. £4 (£3). Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Storyteller Ashley Ramsden narrates this festive tale. Tickets available at the door or in advance from The Mulberry Bush, 77 Morningside Road.

The Vanishing Sculpture Of Robert Forest 1879-1862 Wed 1 Dec, 12.30pm. Free. Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. A series of lunchtime lectures on aspects of Edinburgh’s history. This afternoon, Dr Joe Rock, art historian at the Universit of Edinburgh, gives a talk. Tomorrow. ust You Watt And See

Wed 1 Dec, 1.30pm-3pm. Free. Portobello Town Hall, High Street. Further information from Artlink 229 3555. The results of a six month collaboration between three artists and ten groups of elderly people from around Edinburgh are brought to life through story and song, in this celebration of life in the Lothians in the 20th Century.

Other Events

Living History Displays Edinburgh Castle, 225 9846. Entry to Castle: £6.50 (£2-£5). Three theatrical demonstrations bringing history to life this fortnight: A Tragic Queen & The French Prisons looks at the reign of Mary Queen Of Scots and the Napoleonic Wars respectively on Sun 21 Nov, 11.30am—4.30pm. Life Under Seige recreates the time of the Jacobite uprising on Thu 18 Nov, Thu 25 Nov and Thu 2 Dec, 10am—4pm; and the Jacobite redcoats and Highland clans do battle in All For The Prince on Fri 19 Nov and Fri 26 Nov, 10am—4pm.

Amnesty International Celebrity Art Auction Thu 25 Nov, 7pm. Free. Traverse Bar Cafe, Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, 228 5383. An unusual auction of artworks by famous figures, including Annie Lennox, Richard Wilson, Gail Porter and Iain Banks, on a theme of ‘freedom’. The works have been donated to raise funds for Amnesty, and everyone is welcome to go along either to bid or just indulge in some star-spotting. Christmas Lights Thu 25 Nov, 6.30pm. Free. Princes Street, It’s that time of year when the centre of Edinburgh gets festive, and once again the Norwegian Consulate have kindly donated a spectacular Christmas tree for The Mound. The lighting ceremony includes the Princes Street lights being switched on accompanied by carol singing . Winter Wonderland Fri 26—Thu 2 Dec, Sun—Wed 10am—8pm; Thu—Sat 10am—10pm. £3.50—£4.50 (£2.50—£3.50); family ticket £12.50. Princes Street Gardens, East Princes Street, 226 2151. Indulge in some open-air ice skating as Princes Street Gardens are transformed into a winter wonderland. See photo caption.

World Aids Day Events Wed 1 Dec, Royal Museum, Chambers Street, 247

4219. The Royal Museum is the first venue for a UK tour of the Names Quilt, a massive tapestry made up of panels for people who have died with AIDS. At 6pm there will be a candlelit vigil with speakers including Margo McDonald. The vigil will then begin a procession across the city. For further information on events call SOLAS on 661 0982.

PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS

Brass Rubbing Centre

Chalmers Close, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 556 4364. MonnSat 10am—5pm. Free, but there is a charge for making a rubbing. Situated in the apse of a Gothic church dating back to 1460, the centre houses a selection of church brasses and ancient Pictish replicas - as well as lots of crayons so on can get rubbing.

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Castlehill (Royal Mile), Edinburgh, 226 3709. Daily 10am-5pm. £3.95 (£1.95—£3.15); family ticket £11.50. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction, which gives visitors a real- timc, 3609 image of the city. There is also an exhibition devoted to holographs and photography on the lower floors.

City Of The Dead's Haunted Graveyard Tours

Meet by St Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 0790 1970672. £5 (£4). Thu—Sat 8.30pm. Join this spooky tour if you dare, and you’ll be guaranteed all manner of paranormal frights, including the infamous McKenzie Poltergeist. You have been warned.

Dynamic Earth

Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, 550 7800. Mon—Sun 10am—6pm. £5.95 (£3.50); family ticket £16.50. With volcanoes erupting beneath your feet, a tropical rainstorm pouring down, earthquakes and tidal waves at every turn, the history of the earth has never been more interesting. Edinburgh’s brand new visitor attraction uses stunning new developments in interactive technology to piece together the history of the planet, creating a thoroughly modern way to step back in time.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh, 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm (last admission 4.15pm). £6 (£2-£5). Although much of the castle’s medieval

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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, of course, The Stone Of Destiny, used to crown Scottish kings since time began.

Museum Of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh. 247 4219. Mon—Sat lOam—Spm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 free. Devoted solely to the history and heritage of Scotland, the building contains five thematically- arranged exhibitions, moving from pre- history, through the Industrial Revolution, to the present day, at which point national heroes such as Billy Connolly and Elaine C. Smith get involved. See Art listings page 96 for temporary exhibitions.

Royal Botanic Garden

lnverleith Row, Edinburgh, 552 7171. Daily 9.30am—4pm. Free. A sea of tranquillity in the hubbub of the city, the Botanic Garden is home to a wealth of flora and fauna from all over the world. The glasshouses give you the opportunity to check out tropical plants as well. The site also hosts art exhibitions, horticultural courses and various countryside events. See Art listings page 96 for temporary exhibitions.

Royal Museum Of Scotland

2 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, 247 4219. MonmSat lOam—Spm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history, geology, science, technology and the decorative arts. See Art listings page 96 for temporary exhibitions.

Royal Yacht Britannia

Ocean Drive, Lcith, Edinburgh, 555 5566. Daily 10.30am—6pm. Last entry 4.30pm. £7.50 (£3.75—£5.75); family ticket £20. (last entry 4.30pm). The former royal yacht has 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.

Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin’?

Why is there a block of ice in Princes Street Gardens? It’s an ice-rink, by golly, making our fair city even more of a

festive paradise.

Is it for budding Torvil & Deans only? Certainly not. If you’re brave enough to hoist on some skates, then you’ll have a whole hour to brush up on your triple axels.

Any other entertainment? If the sight of your nearest and dearest falling on their bottoms then having their fingers sliced clean off by speed skaters isn’t enough, you’ll be pleased to know there will be carol singing, pop bands at weekends, ice

sustain you.

margarita, in fact.

hockey tournaments and performances by ice dance champions.

How will I keep my energy up? There will be hot soup, roasted chestnuts, mince pies and mulled wine on hand to

Words of wisdom? Just remember kids, if you’re planning on - going to one of the late night pre-club party sessions, alcohol and ice can be a potent cocktail. Sometimes known as a

I Winter Wonderland, Fri 26 Nov—Sun 9 Jan (not 25 Dec); Sun-Wed 10am-8prri; Thu-Sat 10am-10pm. £3.50—f4.50 (£2. 50—8. 50); family ticket £ 12.50. East Princes Street Gardens. 226 2151.

18 Nov-2 Dec 1999 THEN“