We welcome submissions for this section, but cannot guarantee inclusion. Send details to our offices at least ten days before publication. Edinburgh Life listings compiled by Maureen Ellis.
Edinburgh lie
Thursday 29
Book events
Esther Rantzen: The Autobiography Festival 'l'heaire.
l3 2‘) Nicolson Street. 52‘) 600“. lpm. £3 t£l.5()l. The TV personality gives a candid account of her life in front of. and behind. the camera
lsla Dewar Waterstone's. I23 l’l'lllL‘c‘s Street. 226 2666. 6pm. Free. A chance to meet the popular lidinburgh author of Iv'i'c/rmu ('p Bil/r Hirer/u. ll'mm'n 'lii/king Dirty. 'lim Kim/s ()f' llortrlr'r'lii/ and I! ('nuli/ Ila/rpm 7}) You (all Headline £6.99).
EnVironment
Edinburgh Midweek Group various venues. 332 S7()(). ‘).3(lam. Help BTC\' Scotland in Riverbank re- enforcenient with the Mid l.othian Rangers. Meet at Waverley Bridge.
Spons
Musselburgh Races Musselburgh Racecourse. l.inklield Road. 665 235‘). £7 £l2 (£4). Family race day with children's entertainment.
Talks
Audiovisual Show On The Sarthe liistitut Francais d'licosse. 13 Randolph Crescent. 225 5366. 7pm. Free. An introduction to the l.oire region tisiiig a synchronised presentation. The area is
edinburgholist.co.uk
best known for the 24-hour races in its capital of Le Mans. but the show will illustrate its many castles. wine-growing areas. and afterwards. there will be a chance to try regional specialities and cider.
Astronomy
Astronomical Journey Of Discovery Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. 7.3()pm. £ I. View the observable universe through the centre's six-inch telescope. exploring the moon. planets and stars. The evening is complemented by a presentation by Russell liberst who gives a talk on ‘The Night Sky In Summer". Popular Observing Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. 7.30pm. £l. View Saturn with its rings and Jupiter and its moons from one of the telescopes of the Royal Observatory.
Political
Process Of Black Communities ('omiiiunication Workers l'nion Club. l5 Brunswick Street. ‘)46 6851. 7.30pm. The Colombian social movement who were involved in the Seattle and Prague demonstrations discuss the CS militarization of Colombia and its effects on local communities.
Shows
Book Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 22() 434‘). Noon 7pm. A
large selection of second-hand books for sale.
Talks The Feast Of Herod National
r.t' .
(iallery of Scotland. The Hound. 624 62()(). l2.45pm. Free. Aisla Turner ptits Peter Patil Rubens' painting under the spotlight.
Guid Crack Club The Waverley. St Mary's Street. 556 ‘)57‘). 7.30pm. lidinburgh's regular storytelling club.
Book events
Ian Rankin ()ttakar's Bookshop. l'nit l6. Cameron Toll Shopping Centre. 6 Lady Road. 666 1866. l—-2pm. Free. Rankin will be signing copies of his new Rebus novel The l-iills (Orion Publishing £l6.‘)‘)).
Shows
Scottish Breeds Dog Show Royal Highland Centre. lngliston. 333 3036. Best of breed competitions.
Book Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 22() 434‘). 10am 5pm. See Fri 3().
3D/2D Craft 8. Design Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 66] 6600. 10.30am 4.30pm. ‘)()p (60p). The very best in contemporary and traditional craftwork sold direct by the makers.
Spons
Hearts v Motherwell 'l‘yneeasile Stadium. (iorgie Road. 2()() 72()l. 3pm. £l6 (£8). It‘s always a tough clash when this pair meet so expect a flurry of cards before you see a torrent of goals. Edinburgh Rocks v Manchester Giants lVleadowbank Sports Centre. 13‘) London Road. 661 535T. 7.30pm. £7 (£5 l. BB]. championship clash.
Spons
Edinburgh Reivers v Cross Keys Myreside. Myreside Road. 226 6262. 3pm. £4»-£7. The Reivers' Celtic league campaign continues with a welcome home game.
Other events
Car Boot Sale Western (ieneral Hospital Car Park. Crewe Road. 537 3130. l 1am 2pm. £7 per vehicle. Car boot sale in aid of Maggie‘s Centre.
Book events
A Question Of Rebus Waterstone‘s. I28 Princes Street. 226 2666. 6pm. Free. Quiz for Rankin fans set by John Skinner. Ten teams of a maximum of six players can take part. so book early to avoid disappointment.
Talks The Head Shot: A Good Portrait? The Dean Gallery. Belford
Photographer Jason livans discusses the work of David Bailey. the subject of a major e\hibition at the gallery.
Book events
The Life And Times Of Inspector Rebus The Quad. ()ld College. South Bridge. 226 5 l 38. 6pm. £5. Advance booking required. Follow in the footsteps of Ian Rankin's famed detective on this walking tour around St l.eonard's police station. Salisbury Crags and his fictional home in Marchinont.
Wednesday 4
Book events
The Water Of Death Water of l.eith. 557 6464. 6pm. £5. Another Rebus walking tour led by John Skinner. this one focusing on the Water of l.eith and culminating at Rebus‘ favourite pub. the Oxford Bar. The walk commences at the corner of Kerr Street and Saunders Street.
EnVironment
The Smallest Kingdom - Flora And Fauna Of The Cape Of Good Hope Royal Botanic (iarden. lnverleith Row. 552 7l7 l. 7.30pm. £3. Mike Fraser discusses the natural heritage of the Cape of (iood Hope.
Spons
Edinburgh Rocks v Leicester Riders Meadowbank Sports Centre. l3‘) London Road. 66! 535 |. 6pm. £7 (£5). BBI. championship clash.
Talks
James Maxton by Sir John Lavery National Portrait (iallery. | Queen Street. 624 62()(). l2.45pm. Free. Molly Donachie gives a talk on Sir John Lavery’s portrait.
Book events
Robert Rankin Watersioiie‘s. I344 Princes Street. 556 3034. 6.30pm. Free. Creator of his own genre of fiction. Far- Fetched Fiction. Robert Rankin has amassed a huge following for his books Waiting For (indulming and his latest Web Site Story (Doubleday £ | 6.‘)‘)). Described as a ‘techno-gothic blockbuster‘. the novel deals with the fictional mutation of the millennium bug into a disease that affects humans.
Out Loud Athletic Arms. Angle Park Terrace. 337 3822. 7.30pm. £I. Monthly open mic night of poetry. prose and song run by the Phoenix Writers' (imup. Performers and readers welcome. For more information contact
Audiovisual Show On The Sarthe, lnstitut Francais d’Ecosse, Thu 29 Mar
Permanent
attractions
Camera Obscura Castlehill Royal Mile. 226 3708). 10am—5pm. $34.25(92.10—36.40); lainily ticket 2‘12. Pick
up a pedestrian in your
hand at this attraction. which gives Visitors a real-time. 360 image of the City. Craigmillar Castle Craigiiiillar Castle Road. 661 4445. Mon-Wed 8. Sat 9.30pm—4pni; Thu 9.30am-12pni; Fri
closed; Sun 2piii—4pni. £1.80 (€1.30): children 75;). For a real taste of history. take a drive Out to this ramshackle old castle. which although not quite as intact as Edinburgh Castle, is far more atmospheric and the scene of much plotting during the reign of Mary. Queen of Scots.
Dynamic Earth Holyrood Road. 550 7800. Wed—Sun 10am—5pm. €6.95 (£3.95—‘2495l: family ticket $218.50. With volcanoes erupting beneath your feet. a tropical rainstorm
90 THE LIST 29 Mar—l2 Apr 200i
Witchery Tour $5.
pouring down. earthquakes and tidal waves at every turn, the history of the earth has never been more interesting.
Edinburgh Castle Castlehill. 225 9846. Daily 9.30ain—5pni. £7 (‘22—‘25). AlthOLigh much
Road. 624 62()(). l2.45pm. Free.
of the castle's medieval character was lost when it was converted into barracks in the 19th century. contintiing excavations aim to redress this. Every Thu and En (iOam—4pm) the Alba Adventure Company present a re-
enactment of Jacobite rebellion.
Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour
Meet at The Beehive lnn,18—2O Grassmarket. 226 6665. Fri 7.30pm. £7 ($25). An excellent way to imbibe culture by visiting the favoorite watering holes of Scotland's literary heroes. including Sir Walter Scott. Robert
Burns and IrVine Welsh.
Huntly House
142 Canongate. 529 4143. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Packed with historic artefacts. this restored
words(a outloud.org.uk
16th century mansion tells the story of Edinburgh's past and its people and houses important collections of Edinburgh silver and glass. Scottish pottery and shop Signs. Midlothian Ski Centre
Biggar Road. Hillend. 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am—9pm; Sun 9.30am—7pm. £6.30 for a one how seSSion (under 188 £4.20). Europe's longest artitiCial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone skiing and snowboarding skills. Mountain bikers can