Edinburgh life
Wednesday 23 continued
Exhibiting The Scottish Disapora National Portrait Gallery. 1 Queen Street. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. David Forsyth. curator of the Museum of Scotland gives a talk.
Book events
The Bastard Sons Of Burns Cafe Royal Bistro Bar. 17 West Register Street. 557 4792. 8pm. £2 (£1). Writers' Bloc present their alternative tribute to Burns. See photo ca tion.
Big Word erformance Poetry Gilded Saloon. 233 Cowgate. 226 6550. 9pm. £4 (£3). Scotland's first poetry slam champion Annie Wallace performs her vulgar ditties at the first Big Word of the New Year. Ditsy Elspeth Murray and Jem Rollsjoin in with tnore high-energy poetics.
Talks
Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. l 1.30am. Free. See Thu 17.
The Orange And The Green City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3993. 12.30pm. Free. Dr Bob McLean assesses the impact of the banners of the Orange and Hibemian Orders on Scottish society. Memory Protection In Old Age: Science fact or science fiction? Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 6.30pm. £3 (£2). Mental health professor Lawrence Whalley on the preservation of memories.
Talks
Virgins, Venuses And Cold, Cold Stones: Part One National Gallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. Lecturer Matthew Wellard gives a talk.
The Blue Planet - Beneath The Waves The Hub. Castlehill. Royal Mile. 228 1155 (Usher Hall). 6.30pm. £3 to reserve seat. free tickets may be available on the day. The Blue Planet’s producer
Alastair Fothergill on life under the sea. See
preview.
Other events
Searching For The Holy Grail City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3963. 10am—4pm. £6. See Fri 18.
Burns Supper Harry Miller Hall. Kirk 0' Field Church. 332 2758. 7.30—10pm. £5 (£2.50). Full supper accompanied by speakers and artists throughout the night.
Saturday 26
Talks
Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. l 1.30am. Free. See Thu 17.
The Bastard Sons Of Burns
Thursday 24 g
Surely not. .\’o. bttt in tlte irreverent spirit of performance group Writers‘ Bloc. this is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Scotland's bard.
What is it exactly? Contemporary Scottish writers will be getting together to pay
homage to Rabble on the eve of Burns night and will showcase some of their more
offbeat fiction.
What can we expect? Hard to say. really. but it‘s described as ‘an evening of spoken word with no poetry and sortie swearing'. so the parameters look pretty broad. Andrew Ferguson will share his story of a little helper your mother wouldn‘t like. Gavin Inglis assesses the threat ol‘ poly bags. and Andrew Wilson recounts his tale of genius. madness and all points in between. Beats neeps and tatties any day.
I The Bastard Sons Of Bums, Cafe Royal Bistro Bar. 77 West Register Street.
557 4792. Thu 24 Jan. 8pm.
Flora Of Bhutan Royal Botanic
Garden. lnverleith House. 552 7171. 2pm
& 3pm. Free. An illustrated lecture to celebrate the completion of. the Flora of Bhutan.
Spons
Hearts v Inverness Caley Thistle 'l'ynecastle Stadium. (iot'gtc Road. 200 7201. Fourth round Scottish
Cup tie.
Other events
Wedding Exhibition Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. 10am 5pm. £tbc. Help and advice for the blushing bride.
Spons Edinburgh Rocks v Newcastle Meatlowbank Sports Centre. 139
London Road. 661 5351. 5pm. £7 (£5). BBL Championship basketball match.
Other events
Wedding Exhibition Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. l lam—5pm. £tbc. See Sat 26.
Monday 28
Talks
Fart For Peace: David Shrigley’s Hmmm . . . Selection National Gallery of” Modern Art. Belt‘ord Road. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. .\'eil Mulhulland. a lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art talks about David Shrigley‘s selection from the National Gallery of Modern Art's permanent collection.
Tuesday 29
Talks
Guided Tours Royal Mtiseum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. l 1.30am. Free. See Tint 17.
Edinburgh - At The Frontiers Of Medicine L'niversity of Edinburgh. Playfair Library. ()ld College. South Bridge. 6pm. Free on day; £3 in advance. Christopher Haslett discusses lidinburgh's position in the medical world.
The Revolving Universe Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackt'ord Hill. 668 8405. 7.30pm. Free. Mark (‘asali on rotation and the physical laws governing its existence.
Wednesday 30
Talks
Disposal Of Bodies ()pen Door. 420 Morningside Road. 447 9757. 10.30am. £1. A talk by George Bell of the City of Edinburgh Cemeteries and Crematoriu.
Castle Or Country Seat: The Power Of Snobbery, Nobility, Myopia And Myth National Portrait Gallery. 1 Queen Street. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. A talk by Charles McKean. Professor of" History. University of Dundee.
Thursday 31
Spons
Kelso Races Kelso Racecourse. Kelso. 01573 224767. 1.30pm. £7 (£4); under 16s free. See Fri 18.
Talks
Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 1 1.30am. Free. See Thu 17.
Nine For The Days In The General Strike (‘ity Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3993. 12.30pm. Free. Terry Brotherston assesses the lessons of the General Strike ot‘ May 1926.
Mary King’s Close Tours
Meet at Mercat Cross (beside St Giles“ Cathedral). 557 6464. £5 (£4; children 23. 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 to die.
82 THE LIST 17—31 Jan 2C”?
Midlothian Ski Centre Biggar Road. Hillend. 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am-9pm; Sun 9.30am-7pm. £6.30 for a one hour session (under 18s 24.20). Europe's longest artificial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone skiing and snowboarding skills. Museum Of Scotland Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon—Sat
'1 Dam—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. Free. Devoted solely to the
histOry and heritage of Scotland. the building contains five thematically-arranged exhibitions. moving from pro-history, through the Industrial Revolution, to the present day.
Palace Of Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile. 556 1096.
Daily 9.30am—445pm.
$26 (ES—$34.50); family ticket 5:13.50. Starting life as a 13111 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. Mon—Fri 10.30am---3.30pm; Sat
81 Sun 9SOain—4.30pm.
$27.75 (51375—52595); family ticket C20. The former royal yacht has Opened its doors to members of the public after a $32.5 million refit. St Giles’ Cathedral Royal Mile. 225 9442. Mon Sat 9.30am—5pm;
Sun 1-5pm. Founded in the 1 1005. this church has witnessed executions. riots and celebrations. With spectacolar stained glass windows. ornate stonework and guided tours it's a good starting point for exploring the Royal Mile.
The People’s Story Canongate Tolbooth. 163 Canongate, 529 4057. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Situated in the Canongate Tolbooth,
the sights. $0unds and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithfully reproduced.
Witchery Tour
Meet outside The Witchery Restaurant. Castlehill (Royal Mile). 225 6745. £7 (£4). Take a light-hearted look at the dark side of Edinburgh with your gurde. Adam Lyal (deceased). who will regale you with stories of torture. plague. murder and witchcraft.