lfi
listings
SPECIAL EVENTS
Festivals
Conservation Week Until Sun 22 Oct, 9am—5pm. £7 (£4). Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. Special events and activities looking at wildlife conservation.
One World Festival Fri 20—Sun 29 Oct, various venues, 220 6350. This festival features workshops in capoeira, drumming and forest medicine, along with a Fairtrade fashion show, talks and poetry.
Scottish international Storytelling Festival
Earth, Air, Fire, Water Fri 27 Oct, 7.45pm. £6 (£4). Netherbow Arts Centre, 43-45 High Street, 556 9579/2647. Launch of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival featuring stories and music from David Campbell, Bea Ferguson and John Hamilton.
Streams Of Lore Mon 30 Oct, 7.45pm. £6 (£4). Netherbow Arts Centre, 43—45 High Street, 556 9579/2647. A Gaelic treat from Marion Craig, Martin Maclntyre and local children as they present a lively journey through the Gaelic tradition.
Out Of The Woods Sat 28 Oct, 1.30-3.30pm. £3 (£2). Royal Botanic Garden, lnverleith House, 552 7171. There’s some strange goings-on in the woods, as told by storyteller John Hamilton.
Hallowe'en Tales Tue 31 Oct, 7.45pm. £6 (£4). Netherbow Arts Centre, 43—45 High Street, 556 9579/2647. An ancient alchemy of stories, rituals and traditions make this a Hallowe’en to remember. Fundamental Glasgow Wed 1 Nov, 7.45pm. £6 (£4). Netherbow Arts Centre, 43—45 High Street, 556 9579/2647. A humorous and far-fetched look at Scotland’s other capital city.
Shows
Homes Overseas Exhibition Sat 21 & Sun 22 Oct, 11am—6pm. £2.50. Royal Highland Centre, lngliston, 333 3036. That dream house in the sun could be one step closer as the holiday homes exhibition returns with more information and seminars on everything you need to know about buying a house abroad. Dolls House Fair Sun 22 Oct, 10am—4pm. £3 (£1.50—£2.50). Hopetoun House, Shore Road, South Queensferry, 331 2451. Sale of dolls houses, miniatures, dolls and teddies for collectors.
Scottish SPCA [Wilson's 'Wonder Dog Of The Year' Sun 22 Oct, Royal Highland Centre, lngliston, 333 3036. Man’s best friends compete to be named ‘Wonder Dog Of The Year’.
Fair Trade Fashion Evening Thu 26 Oct, 7—9pm. Free. Cornerstone Cafe, St John’s Church, 3 Lothian Road, 229 0212. The new autumn range of Fair Trade clothing and accessories is on display, with the chance to try on and buy with discounts on selected items. Scottish Country Lifestyle Autumn Fair 2000 Fri 27—Sun 29 Oct, Royal Highland Centre, lngliston, 333 3036. Experience the comforts of country living at this exhibition.
Self Build 8: Home Improvement Show Sat 28 & Sun 29 Oct, 10am—5pm. £4; children under 16 free. Corn Exchange, New Market Road, Gorgie, 443 2437. Create your own dream home from scratch with the help of over 50 exhibitors including architects, builders merchants and mortgage companies.
Talks
The Beatle Daze Lecture Tour Fri 20 Oct, 8—10pm. £6 (£4). St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, 346 1405. Ex-Beatle member, Pete Best, recounts his
edi_nburgh@list.co.uk
experiences with the most popular group of all time.
Geir Lundestad Mon 23 Oct, 5.30pm. University Of Edinburgh, Old College, 228 1155. The Director of the Nobel Institute considers the reasons why the Nobel Peace Prize is the most prestigious peace accolade in the world.
Kenneth White Tue 24 Oct, 6.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). Centre For Human Ecology, 12 Roseneath Place, 624 1972. The geopoct from Sorbonne University gives a talk entitled ‘Land, Mind, Kind’. Robert Beattie Wed 25 Oct, 6pm. The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 473 2000. The chairman of the Scottish Education Funding Council asks who should be responsible for lifelong learning, especially in areas of deprivation. Camilla Toulmin Tue 31 Oct, 6.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). Centre For Human Ecology, 12 Roseneath Place, 624 1972. Toulmin considers ‘Is There A Future For Africa’s Wetlands?’. Ian Baxter also gives a talk. Languages — Is English Enough Wed 1 Nov, 10.30am. Open Door, 420 Momingside Road, 447 9757. Debating the importance of varied languages in schools with George Reid, an advisor to the City of Edinburgh in Languages and Communication.
Sport
National Junior Badminton Championships U15—19 Sat 21 & Sun 22 Oct, £1 (50p). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. Cheer on the badminton stars of tomorrow as they compete in singles and doubles tournaments.
Edinburgh Rocks Sun 22 Oct, 5pm. Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. The Rocks tip off tonight against Geordie giants Newcastle.
Other Events
Popular Observing Until Sat 31 Mar, 7.30pm. £1. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8405. View Saturn with its rings and Jupiter and its moons from one of the telescopes of the Royal Observatory.
It's A Small World Sat 21 Oct, 11am—4pm. Free. Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, 477 2780. A day event featuring talks and workshops to help build awareness of people and communities around the world. Speakers include George Foulkes MP, George Reid MSP and Amnesty lnternational’s Rosemary Burnett. Part of One World Festival.
A Tragic Queen Sun 22 Oct & Sun 29 Oct, 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm. £7 (£2-£5). Edinburgh Castle, 225 9846. Heritage Events Company relive the time of Scotland’s most famous monarch as Mary Queen Of Scots greets visitors in her Royal Apartment.
Old Town Guard Thu 19 & Fri 20 Oct, Thu 26 & Fri 27 Oct, 10am—4pm. £7 (£2—£5). Edinburgh Castle, 225 9846. Alba Adventure Company take you back to 1743 when rumours of a Jacobite rising were rife.
Astronomical Journey of Discovery Fri 20 Oct & Fri 27 Oct, 7.30pm. £1. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8405. View the observable universe through the centre’s six-inch telescope, exploring the moon, planets and stars. The evening is complemented by a presentation on a different topic each week. On Fri 20 Oct Dr Omar Almaini gives a talk on ‘The X- ray universe’ and Fri 27 Oct Dr Suzie Ramsay-Howatt gives a talk on ‘Big Telescopes’.
Your Record Requests Fri 20 Oct, 7.30pm. 70p (35p). Harry Miller Hall, The Pleasance, 332 2758. Charles Inrtes presents a musical evening.
East of Scotland UFO Conference Fri 27—Sun 29 Oct, £5—£17. Templar Lodge Hotel, Main Street, Gullane, 01620
842275. A weekend dedicated to the latest research and evidence of UFOs, including talks and rare video footage. Holyrood Haunting Sun 29 Oct, 4—6pm. Holyrood Park. Take a stroll through Holyrood Park with a witch and a druid, and meet some of the less savoury residents. Meet at Holyrood Lodge, and bring along a torch.
City Of The Dead Hallowe'en Tour Tue 31 Oct, 7—10.30pm. £5 (£4). City centre, 447 2230. Are you brave enough to enter Edinburgh’s most haunted cemetery on the night the dead rise? One section of the cemetery is permanently locked due to repeated attacks from the McKenzie poltergeist. Tonight it will be unlocked. Tours eve half hour.
Fun For A I The Family Tue 31 Oct, 4.30—7.30pm. £1 (50p). Royal Museum, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Advance booking advised. Family festivities based on Hallowe’en and the Mexican Days of the Dead festival featuring music, dancing and traditional games.
Life Under Seige Thu 2 Nov, 10am-4pm. Free. Edinburgh Castle, 225 9846. Every Thursday and Friday the Alba Adventure Company present a re- enactment ofJacobite rebellion in the historic setting of Edinburgh Castle.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Camera Obscura
Castlehill, Royal Mile, 226 3709. Mon—Sun 10am—5pm. £4.25 (£1.95—£3.40); family ticket £12. Pick up a pedestrian in your hand at this attraction, which gives visitors a real- time, 360° image of the city. They most recent addition to the venue is the Magic Gallery, giving hands-on experiences of the art of visual trickery. There is also an exhibition devoted to holographs and photography on the lower floors.
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Mon—Sun 10am—6pm and in Nov Wed£un 10am—5pm. £5.95 (£3.50—4.40); 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 latest 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.
listings EDINBURGH LIFE
Edinburgh Castle
Castlehill, 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—6pm and open to 5pm from Nov. £7 (£2—£5). 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, the One O’Clock Gun with its own exhibition, lots of military silverware and, of course, The Stone Of Destiny, used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Museum Of Scotland
Chambers Street, 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm; 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.
Palace Of Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile, 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—4.30pm. £5.50 (£2.70—£4); family ticket £13.50. 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.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive, Leith, 555 5566. Daily 10.30am—6pm. £7.50 (£3.75—£5.75); family ticket £20. 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.
Shaping A Nation
Fountainpark, Dundee Street, 229 1706. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am—5pm. £5.50 (£4); family ticket £16. The newest addition to the Fountainpark complex provides a fresh look at Scotland’s heritage. Interactive displays and computers give a ‘hands-on’ feel to the attraction, exploring the inventors and innovators who have made Scotland great. The finishing touch is a themed journey on the Turbo Ride.
Samhuinn Festival
Haven't we seen all this before at Beltane? Admittedly there are similarities. But this event sees summer’s Green Man being replaced by his winter equivalent, the
Holly Lord.
And that's supposed to mean what, exactly? Okay scholars, Samhuinn ‘equals Celtic New Year. Say goodbye to summer and hello to winter, but before that
happens, enjoy one last night of revelry.
So it's an excuse for a piss-up? Should you need an excuse, then yes. But you'll also witness pyrotechnics, colourful costumes, juggling and acrobatics as the Beltane Society wind their way down the Royal Mile.
That's it? Should you need more stimulation, the partying will continue at the Bongo Club, with drummers and DJs keeping you going until the wee small
hours.
Samhuinn Festival, Tue 37 Oct, procession departs Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at 9.30pm, finishing at Parliament Square, 0731 228 5353, wwwbeltaneorg; Samhuinn celebrations continue at the Bongo Club, 74 New Street, 558 7604,
1 lpm—3am.
19 Oct—2 Nov 2000 THE MW 91