www.list.co.uk/aroundtown

Around Town

5856. Want 5pm. A large book sale ot Used and nearly iiew books All very reasonably priced at either 50p or £ l. l’roceeds w Ill go towards conservation work at the property and book donations are welcome. Ceilidh Culture l'ntil Mon l4 Apr. Various Venues. 22 l 3390. Times vary, Prices vary. A iiionth-long celebration ot Scottish traditional ans. including name. dance and storytelling. building on the legacy ol' the lzdinburgli l‘olk l'estival. Ceilidh Club 'l‘tiesday s. The lot. 4 (irassmarket. 225 ()022, h’pm. £6. tlpen- to-all ceilidh dancing. w ith lurious liddlers tpresunung they mean "energetic v ioliii players' and not anything else. herei and callers to lead you through the steps. l‘etlltlrlll}: Norman Mackay 's ('etlidh l’.\[X‘flCllL‘c t l5 Aprt and l-ree Ran 'e (22 Apri. Inspired? Get Writing! Thu t7

Apr. National (iallery ol Scotland: llawthornden lecture Theatre. The Mound. 024 6200. NH” | l.3tlant. l..l0 3pm A; 5.30 7pm. llear winning entries born the National (ialleries ol Scotland. linglish-Speaking l'iiion and Scottish l’oetry Library ('reative Writing (‘otiipetition 2007/th in the primary. secondary atid adult categories.

Beltane Masked Ceilidh Sat It)

Apr. Rudoll Steiner Hall. 60 Spy law Road. 337 34“). 7pm. £l0 t£6.50l. Scottish dancing with live music from the (‘osmic ('eilidh Baiid with the Beastie l)i'utiimers. raising lunds tor the Beltane liire Society. (iiven that these Tolls dress tip as goblins atid primeval spirits every Solstice. you might want to make a wee bit ol' el'l’oi't with your mask. We’re just saying. See l.istpicls's.

Exhibitions

nu European Follies: Architectural Extravaganzas Royal Botanic (iarden. liiverleith Row. 552 7l7l. Sat l2 Apr Sun 4 May.

l0am 4.45pm. Photographs by Nic Barlow that illustrate litiropean lollies from the Baroque period to the present dav.

first In a Dilferent Light Scottish l’oetry library. 5 (‘ricltton's ('lose. ('aiiongate. 557 2876. Sat l‘) Apr Sat l‘) Jul (not Sun). I 5pm; I lam 6pm. An exhibition or new works exploring short phrases. comprising hand-bound books. cards and screen-prints l‘rom Julie Johnstoiie's lissence l’ress imprint. FRI! It Didn’t Happen Here Museum of lidinburgh. lluntly llouse. I42 (‘anongate. 52‘) 4|43. t'iitil Sat 2‘) Nov tiiot Sun). Mon Sat l0am 5pm. lisliibition examining lidinburgh's links witlt the slave trade.

FRI! Local Heroes: The Art of the Graphic Novel National library of Scotland. (ieorge l\' Bridge. 025 3845. Until Stiii l Jun. l0am ts’pm: 10am 5pm; 2 5pm. lloly' comic book e\liibition.s. Batman. it's a range of artwork and writing by Alan Moore. Art Speigelman. l-‘rank Miller. Alan (iraiit. (‘am Kennedy and (irant Morrison showing the Scottish inlluence on the maturation of the graphic novel form over the last 40 years. with The Browns. Marvel comics. “min and la ianese Manga represented.

Museum on the Mound Museum ()n The Mound. The Mound. 243 5464. tlntil Sun 2‘) Jun tnot Mon). ltlant~5pm1 l~5pm. Smell the colour of money at this exhibition where you can see what a million pounds looks like. discover Scotland's oldest banknote and have a go at cracking a sale.

Royal Museum Project: Your Museum is Changing Royal Museum (‘rat‘t Gallery. 2 (‘hambers Street. 247 4219. Until Sun 27 Apr. ltlam~5pm. An exhibition detailing the I50 year history of the Royal Miiseum building and the planned renovations. A computer generated ‘tly-through' will deliver you to 20] l for a preview of the revamped museum. but getting back again is down to the DeLorian. your own ingenuity and a chance lightening strike on the clock tower. That last bit was a lie.

‘lhelast

Sad times indeed, as it falls on us to announce the last ever night of Edinburgh’s spoken word

cabaret institution The Big Word, which was started ten years ago by the now-mythical performance poet Jem Rolls. Over the last decade the night has proved vital in establishing a stand-up poetry scene in Scotland, offering emergent poets a platform and producing several new

stars of the scene along the way.

Organiser Jenny Lindsay, who has been running the night for the last six years, is not letting it go out with a whimper. ‘I've put together a line- up of the best performers we’ve had over the last ten years - like a tribute,’ she says. ‘This last night is going to be the best line-up ever. We

are definitely going out on a high!‘

I Thee/(1.7.2 Bar. Hamburg/i, Thu 77 Apr. 7.30;)m.

Silver: Made in Scotland National .‘vluseum of Scotland. ('haiiibers Street. 247 4422. l'iitil Stiti 27 Apr. 10am 5pm. £6 (£5; members and under l2s tree). All manner ol’ silversmithed objects are on display at an exhibition to mark the 550th anniversary of halliiiarkiiig in Scotland. (iuided tours available.

Fairs

Antique and Collectors Fair Sat It) Apr. Freemasons llall. Ob (ieorge Street. 225 5304. l0am 4.30pm. £1.50 taccoiiipanied children l'reei. A variety ol stalls with clocks. coins. stamps. silver. plate. china. paintings. gold. silver. costumes and jewellery. Try not to break anything. and watch out for Day id Dickinson lurking behind the china tigurines.

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Food & Drink

Wine Tasting Thu l0 Apr. lidinburgh Zoo. ('orstoi'pliine Road. 334 ()l7 l.

7 9pm. £lS. Now a lew ('liilean and Argentinean bouquets with the help iii an evpert. And try some wine out while you're at it? Yeah. we know. We crack ourselves tip. too. Ages lS+. Booking essential.

FREE Edinburgh Farmers’ Market Saturdays. ('astle Terrace. 652 5940.

(lam 2pm. More local. quality. ethical produce than you could shake a locally - produced organic multigrain \ttperlood breadsttck at.

Jolly Toper Whisky Tastings Thu 24 Apr. The 'l‘olbooth Tavern. I67 (‘anongate. 556 5348. 7.30pm. £l7 £20. long-running bi-monthly whisky tasting session at one ol the best-stocked bars tn tow n. typically including live malt

w liiskies at cask strength. Tickets mast be booked in advance: call 0| 3| 556 5864 or email chwstrr w iiicadenhead.ctmi to

Talks

Challenges of Climate Change Thu l0 Apr. National Miiseum of Scotland. (‘hambers Street. 247 4422. 6pm. £5

«tree £4t A panel ot eypens discuss the possible courses ot action that can be taken to tight climate change Please use I othian Street entrance I'll! BP Portrait Award: Artist‘s Talk - Gareth Reid l‘iie l5 Apr. \ational (iallery ot Scotland llawthornden l ecture Theatre. The Mound. 624 6200 l2 4.5 1 input The (ilasgow -based .iittst talks about the work he produced as a result ot his Bl’ Travel Award 200" trip to Scandinavia FIE! Getting to Grips with Graphic Novels, Comics and Manga Tue I5 Apr. National library ot Scotland. (ieorge l\' Bridge. 62“ 4675. lpiii llytiutia' Bol' l)r Mel (iibson tno. not that onei talks about the history ot graphic novels. as part ot the National library 's comic book season. Need: Fashioning the Big Cloth l‘ri IS Apr. National Museum ol' Scotland. ('haiitbers Street. 225 753-1 3pm. £5 t£4. titeiiibeis treet. llarris tweed. It's not lust tor yei' gi'anddad. you know. l-iona Anderson. Setuor ('urator ot' |)ress and Teytiles at the Museum.

es ilams why. * nu Metaphnog in Conversation Wed 23 Apr.

National library or Scotland. (ieorge l\' Bridge. 62.1 4675. 7pm. As It says. a conv ersatioii with Metaphrog. That's graphic novelists Sandra Maris and John ('haltiiers to their triends. See l.istpicks.

Workshops

nu The Drawing Room in April Thu l0 Apr. National (iallery ol~ Modern Art. 75 Bellord Road. 624 6200.

5.30 6.45pm. lisplore ditlerent methods or making your mark in these monthly evperimental drawing sessions. led by a contemporary artist and inspired by the modern collection. l)o try and colottr within the lines. won't you. dear'.’ To book a place call 0| M 624 64l0.

Fl!!! Musical Marketplace Sat 12 Apr. St Georges West. 58 Shaiidw ick Place. 555 7668. l0.30am 4pm. A day ol demos. workshops and drop-m taster sessions on liddle. mandolin. whistle. mootliie. pipes and more with Scots Mitsic (iroiip, Part of ('c'ilirl/i ('ulrim'. arid w e're pretty sure it's more hygienic than it sounds.

Weekend Dance Workshop Sat 12 t- Suii l3 Apr. (‘olumcille ('eiitre. 2 New battle Terrace. 447 7404. Want 5pm. £20 per day; 35 hit two. l)aiice leader Brenda (iodrich will take you through a wide variety ol dances. hooking advised via w w w.iiiciilasbrtiardbridgeciim. l’urr u/‘(ir'i/l’r/h (.ll/Itlrt'.

Words on Canvas Mon l4 Apr. National (iallery ol Scotland. The Mound. Princes Street. 624 6534 l0.30am 12.30pm. £5. A l'ortnightly creative writing group iii the ‘superlatively inspirtng' surroundings ot the National (iallery complex. All levels ol experience welcome. Booking required.

Inspired by Warders’ Choice Tue t5 Apr. National (iallery ol Scotland: ('lore liducation ('entre. The Mound. 624 6560. l0.30am l.30pm. £40 11235). A tour— week practical art course led by artist l)av id Forster. Booking required.

Shoe Swing Wednesdays. (‘ountmg llouse. \Vest Ntcolson Street. £4.50 singles 7 £8 couples t£2 social dancing oiin t. A swing dance workshop run by lzdiiibop every Wednesday night. Tutored classes from 7pm aitd social dancing from 9pm. at which point the hip daddies trom Vegas? will open their record boxes. And play some records. Swing dancers. lindy-hoppers and jivers ol all persuasions very welcome: no need to book. and you don't even have to have a partner.

Masterclass Five: Cath Read Sat 1‘) & Sun 20 Apr. Royal Botanic Garden. 20a lnverleith Row. 552 7l7l.

10am 4pm. £l20 t£l08i. A masterclass lead by popular anist ('ath Read. including group work and individual tutoring. Aimed at intermediate to experienced artists.

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