Edinburgh life

CAPITAL CHOICES

Cosmic wonders, butterflies and penguins

I Royal Observatory Visitor Centre This fascinating observatOry is undoubtedly one of the capital's best kept secrets. As well as offering information. from the latest interactive CD— ROMs on space and astronomy to the observatory's on-gomg work in Hawaii and Australia. the centre also hosts Tuesday night talks and spectacular Friday night star gazing sessrons. See listings for more information. Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon-5pm. £2.60 (£77.85).

I Edinburgh Zoo Widely accepted as one of the finest zoos in Britain. there's plenty here to wile away an afternoon. or even a whole day if you take yOur time. Go and play with the wonderful range of animals on show including the 200's newest recruit. Lizzie. a baby pygmy hippo. Better still, in conjunction with good old St Valentine. the 200‘s offering a great selection of activities for all the family. See listings for more information. Corstorpliine Road. 334 9 l 7 I. Daily 9am—430pm. C 7.50 (£4.50); family ticket £22.

I Butterfly and Insect World Bask in the wonderful world of all things butterfly as they fly. sip nectar, court. egg lay or simply show off their beautiful colours. Marvel at the industriOLis leaf-cutting ants. handle weird and wonderful minibeasts and witness deadly scorpions as you wander through this realm of exotic rainforests. tropical plants and streaming waterfalls. Dobbies Garden World. Lasswade. 663 4932. Daily 70am—5pm. £4.35 ($3.35).

I Camera Obscura Visit the Outlook Tower and the Camera Obscura. one of Edinburgh's oldest attraction. for a uniquely entertaining experience. Try lifting a car or a bus onto the palm of yOur hand as your guide gives y0u a fascinating 360 degree tour of the city then explore the wonders of light and illusion in the wonderful Magic Gallery. Cast/ehl/I, Royal Mile, 226 3709. Daily lOam—Spm. £4.95 (£2.50).

100 THE LIST '37,.“ For

Thursday 20 continued

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival l.C\llL'l‘. Ralt’llllc ‘lt'l'lat‘c. llain ll.3llpin l'rcc ’\ U‘llll‘lt‘llclhnt' \clcclion of malt \\lll\l\lL'\ lioin tht~ l\l.lllil tlhllllL‘l‘lL‘S. ical .llL‘ li‘oni \‘t'alt l‘l'C\\CllC\ on the l\l.llltl\ and trcc Musk} taxting ax pail ol llll\ popular lt‘\l1\;ll.

Big Word Performance Poetry lllC 'l‘ron. ‘) Hunlcr Squarc. High Strcct. 555 I“)... ‘l I lpln. 2.5 it'll Big \Voitl lll.l\lL‘rlllllltl Jcni Rol1~ inarlu tcn _\t‘tll\ ot pcrl'oi‘ining pcrlorinant‘c pot-ti} \\ ilh .i lit-.itllinc \pol. Support (\llllL'S lioin ('ilaxgou \ldlll chainp Milton lialgoni. l)unilcc digital duo lialrucw .intl .\lwiilccn poctr} champ Stow \Vchh .-\nita (imali L‘itlllpt‘l'm.

Book events

The World’s Child \clhcrho“ (\rtx ('cntri‘. 43 ~15 High Stu-ct. 55o 05“) “50pm. to 1 Hi. Scc 'l‘hu Ill

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival l.L‘\lIC.\. Rttlt‘llllt' llt‘lt'at't'. llain ll.3(l.iiii. l‘rcc. Scc 'l'hu Ill.

It’s in the Stars l<l‘};ll ()l‘\L‘l'\;llfll} \‘ixitor ('t'nti'c. Blackloitl Hill. ooh S-llll " ‘lpin. {3.50 i £2.5lli. (‘onii' along and prcparc to by ila/Ili'il h} llll\ int‘i'i‘ilihlc rool'top \icuing cwr} l'ri night. No hooking iit‘t‘i'\\;ir_\. Scc (‘apital (‘hoit‘iw

Book events

Selected Works St‘olllxll l’ilL'll') librar). 5 ('rit‘hton‘x ('loxc. ('anongatc. 55" 2876 2pm. [-1 itll. Duncan ('rlcn \clct‘lx lll\ pcrxonal \Clt'L‘llUIIS li'oin lllL' librar).

The World’s Child \cthcrhou .-\rt\ (‘cnli‘ia 43 45 High Strcct. 556 05“). 7.30pm. to it‘ll. Scc 'l'hu Ill.

Talks

Artists’ Talk l‘ruitinarkct (ialli‘i'). 45 Market Strcct. 335 3383. 3pm. l‘rcc. .'\l'll\l\ \\ ho li‘atui‘i' in thc .-lrl tor Strum-Lt whilntion giw a talk on that \xork. Scc Art lixtingx l'oi' inorc tlL‘lilllS.

Workshops

Public Playwriting Workshop

‘l‘rax crxc lllL‘illl'L‘. (‘ainhriilgc Strccl. SIS lJllJ. ll;|lll~-lplll. to MS). l)ui‘ to popular tlcmanil a \L't'tllltl lxalwl \Vi‘ighl p|a_\\\i‘iting \xorkxhop Scc Sat 15 for inori‘ LlL‘ltlllx.

Other events

Cashmere Sale .-\\\crnhl_\ Roomx 54 (icorgc Strcct. 2le 434‘). 0am 5pm. 'l‘hc (‘axhincrc ('cnti'c pi‘cxcntx llll\ wk of lu\ur) knimcai:

Guided Tour: Naked Tree Walk Rinal Botanic (iarilcn. lnwrlcith Houw. .553 "llal. llll5atn. £5. Still} Hcron and Stcphanic lulgcr talk about thc tlixtinclixc trcc cliarat‘tcrixtit‘x that arc m itlcnt \ihcn ll'CL‘\ are laid hart to thcii’ natural l'mllx. l’laccx arc linntcd. \o hook in athancc on (ll 5| 34S :05". .\lccl at lllL' 'l'ct'i'at‘c (Kilt. Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival l.L‘\l|L'.\. Ratclilli‘ 'lt'llilt‘k'. l lain ll..“ll;llll. l'rcc. Scc 'l‘hu Ill.

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival l.C\llL‘.\. Rttlt‘llllc lt‘l‘l'tlt‘c. l25ll l 1.30pm. l‘rcc. Scc 'l‘hu Ill.

Monday 24

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival l.c\lic\. Ratcllllc 'l‘crracc. 1 Iain l lpin. l-"rcc. Scc Thu it). Monday Lizard 'l'rawrw 'l‘hcatrc. ('ainhritlgc Strcct. 328 1-104. 8pm. Join a pancl of mpcrtx in the first of thc tic“

FES‘ AL

ED‘ BUR Bands, authb

Billed as the St for every young go

of all that is dark and scary. Not only is there a tasty the Screaming Banshee Aircrew. Meya29, the Sepi also a selection of the best darkwave DJs Edinbur

And there‘s plenty more for the black of heart: a met runs Waughout the weekend with stalls for all your gothic requirements. On Saturday, keep ‘em peeled for an appearance from author Willie Meikle as he presents a sneak preview of his new book. Watchers: The Coming of the King, while Sunday offers the unique Goth Zoo, packed with creepy critters. And lest we forget the truly terrifying goth karaoke.

Best of all it’s for charity. tundraising for Cancer Reseach, Shelter and a few other local charities. Just remember the strict dress code: goth, cyber and fetish only. Who says goths don't know how to have fun?

(l-lenry Northmore)

I Marco’s Leisure Centre, 228 2141, Fri 14-Sun 16 Feb.

l.i/ai'tl ilchali‘x antl conxiilci‘: him far should \i‘icncc go in thc naini- ol inctlit‘al rcxcart‘h" lxalwl \\ i‘lght'x no“ \Htl'k. .lll' I’lili‘i‘lm l\ lllC lilt‘lh til lllL' tlL‘l‘ttlt‘.

Tuesday 25

Book events

Conversational EFL Classes Hoi‘tlcrx liookx. l'nit 2ft. l'Ul'l Kinnairil Rctail l’ark. (i5~ MN 1. 5pm. Si'c 'luc l.\ The Tuesday Turtle \t-ilit-ihim .‘\l'l\ (‘cnti'in 43 -15 High Strut-l. 550 05“). " ‘lpin. L5 tlonation. Si-c luc IS

Talks

Telescopes: Observing and Photographing the Sky l{i)_\;il ()hxcrxator} \ixitoi' ('t-nti'c. lilackloitl Hill. ooh Skill-I. ".3”pnt. l'icc. \\'ho iliiln't \xanl onc uhcn the} new a kiil' (‘rct \UlllL‘ llillltlS on c\pt'ricncc ol tclcwoptw ax l)otigl;i\ ('oopt'i talks about thc cquipincnt axailahlc to ttllltllt'lll‘x. \U l‘itillxlllg‘ I'L'qllll't'tl St't‘ ('apilal (‘hoict‘x

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival l.t-\lic\. Rtllt'llllt‘ ’l‘crrat‘c. l lain l lpiii. lit-c. Scc 'l‘hii Ill

Wednesday 26

Book events

Isla Dewar \Vatcrxtonc's. 13S l’iint'cx Strcct. 33o loot». opin. l'i't'c. 'l'hc author i'catlx ll'olli hcl' lalcxt hook. l/It’ lltlHltUl iiliu ’iimli'i/ lii'r Hui/rm.

Women’s Discussion Group liordcrx Hooks. [int 30. l-oi‘t Kinnaiitl Rotail Park. 65" 404 1. "pm. This ltlitlllll'\ tllxt‘thxlnll lik‘lluN on “till Siminiu' h} Andrcxx (ircig.

An Evening with Henryson SCUllhll l’octr} l.ihrar_\. 5 (‘rit‘hton‘x

(low. (linongatt‘. 55‘ ISflli :lll‘lll ti till. .\n cwning ol pot'li} \'llllllt'\_\ ol

thi- Ht'ni‘} \on Sogii't}

Talks

Language as Freedom? l nut-mix ol lztlinhuigh. l’l.i_\l.iii l ihiai}. (lltl (‘ollcgix Sotith lititlgi'. SIS II55 o Hllllll t5 \\ lllL'l \ll\l.tll Rt'itl picwnlx Hll\ talk .i\ part of thc l tlinhuigh l ct llllt‘\ \l'llk" The Future of Edinburgh Zoo l'.tlllll‘lll_‘_‘ll /oo, ("oitiiiiplnm- ler ::.i ‘ll-'l ~ Hll‘lll L: ll'lt't" lllll\ll.tlk'\l talk lit (‘hii'l l'wt’ulm- l).l\l\l \\lllilllllH highlighting lllt’ Ill )t'ai Hl.l\lt'l plan loi St‘otl.intl\ national /oo St't' (Lipilal ('ll‘ll\~\.\

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival lt'sliiN. |\'.ilt’|illt' lt'llilxt'. llain llpiii lit-c Si't' Ihu Ill

Thursday 27

Book events

Scottish Lives \t‘lht'ihov. \ll\( \‘llllk'. 41 -15 High Slit't'l. 55“ ‘l5fl‘l .‘piii lit-v SL'L' lllll l5

Reading Group Stillllxll I'ot-iij. l.il\l.ii\. 5 (‘iit’hton'x ("loan (".iiionz'alt: 55" 357"“ (i :“put LES H5 St't' Hill I;

Talks

Blood Scotland \alional (rallt-t} ol \liklt‘lll \ll. llt'lli'lil Rikiil. “3-; “3”” (rpm l'lcc \ HL'\‘. writs ol nionthlj. laHm introducing Lillllt'lllpill.ll:i art to .i iii-v. .iutlicnt’c

After Hours \.lllllll.ll liallt-i} of Scotland. tht' \lountl. “3-1 lilllll "pin l'icc St'c Hill I‘

Other events

Scottish Islands Whisky and Real Ale Festival lcxlit-k. kart-lint- 'lcirat-c. llaln ll Illpln l'lcc Si‘i‘ 'l hii Ill