www.1ist.co.uklaroundtown

Around Town

444 6062. 9.15am- 5pm. £10, (irve me a ‘C'l (irve rrie an 'H" litc. Yet riiore all- American (yeah. they 're really Scottish. tool entertarnrnent. as squads of toothy. er. totty from all over the country try and out- pep each other.

Workshops

FREE The Spirit of the Story

Mon 9 Mar. (ilasgow Women's Library. 2nd Floor. 81 l’arnie Street. 552 8345. 10.30am 12.30pm. See Hitlist. After-Work Yoga Class Tuesdays. Sloan's. Argyle Arcade. 7pm. £5. De- stress and slough off the ‘)-5 with a mixture of dynamic and yrn yoga. Contact chery'lm yogahelles.Co.uk to book. FREE The Merchant Sinfonia Tue 10 Mar. City Halls. ('andleriggs. 353 8000. 7.30 7‘)pm. The Merchant Sinfonia is an orchestra for all those mUsicians out there who feel they‘re too rusty. too inexperienced. too busy. or too nervous to play. It provides a great opportunity to get back into music. or start for the first time. and is led by cellist and conductor Louise Martin. Clothes Customising Workshop 8. Swap Sun 15 Mar. Che Camille. Floor 6, Argyle Centre. Buchanan Street. 07862 720215. 2 5pm. £10. See picture caption. page 28

Edinburgh

Activities & Events Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace 2009 L'ntil Sun 15 Mar. various venues. 331 446‘) . Times at prices vary. A celebration of all the aspects of spiritual peacernaking. with a wide range of events including spiritual retreats. workshops and conferences. See wwwrnesporg.uk for full listings Public Evenings Fridays. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 6688404. 7—8.45pm. £4 (£3). See the Royal ()bservatory"s telescope dome. go on a journey through the Solar System. and hold a meteorite. Telescopes available for public use if it‘s a clear night. Get in The Groove Fri 6 Mar. Queen Charlotte Rooms. 56a Queen Charlotte Street. Leith. 555 6660. 7pm. £10. Retro qui/ tiight with disco. All proceeds to charity. Dr Sketchy‘s Anti-Art SchoolSat 7 Mar. The Jan. Bar. 1 Chambers Street. 220 4298. 1~3pm. £7 (£6). (iet your pencils round some nipple tassles at the burlesque life-drawing classes. They're not tquite) as dirty as that sounds. FREE Sustrans - Launch of ‘Year of the Woman Sun 8 Mar. Royal Botanic Garden. 20a lnverleith Row. 552 7171. 10am-—4pm. livent encouraging women to get on their bikes. And quite right too. FREE Reclaim the Night Festival Square. I.othian Road. 6.45pm. See preview. page 27.

FREE International Women’s

Day Community Festival Fri 6 Mar. North Edinburgh Arts Centre. 15a Pennywell Court. 315 2151. 9am-5pm. See Hitlist FREE NLS Film Night Thu 12 Mar. National Library of Scotland. George 1V Bridge. 62.3 4675. 7pm. Ruth Washbrook digs nuggets out of the Scottish Screen Archive. including Laurel and Hardy. the last day of Edinburgh's trams and the open air pool at Ponobello. FREE Jean Muir . . . After Hours National Museum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 225 7534. Fri 13 Mar. 7pm. Inject a touch of Jean Muir-esque sophistication to your evening with a visit to a special opening of the exhibition. Glasses of tiny stuff. fashion shows and vintage make-up demonstrations. Darrrrrling. Places are limited so please book in advance. Scottish Motorcycle Show Sat 14 a Sun 15 Mar. Royal Highland Centre. lngliston. 0870 730 0194. 9am—5pm. ' £12—£15 (£7; under 15s free). Vroom. j vroom! Stands from top manufacturers. ' live shows. bike trials and celebrities. Try

not to fall for the leader of the pack. though. he'll only break your heart

Tall Tales Oscar Sat 14 Mar. Scottish Storytelling Centre. 43 45 High Street. 556 ‘)57‘). 7pm. £7 «£5». A nrglit to remember as some of Scotland‘s finest storytellers compete to see who can tell the best fable w rtli the audrerice deciding the winner. Hosted by last year‘s winner. Michael Kerrns.

FREE Mindful Peace Walk Royal Botarirc (iarden. 20a lnverleith Rovv. 331 446‘). ‘),30 10.30am. A silent walking riieditatron led by the lidinburgh Sarigha of the Community of lnterberng This is not a protest or campaign. so please do not bring banners. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please call 0131 331 446‘) or email

mesp200‘)(“ hotmail.co.uk for details. Meet at the liast (iate at ‘)arii.

Meadows Marathon The Meadow s. Melville Drive. 1 lam. £15 to enter. A half marathon or 5km fun run to help raise money for many local and riatrorial charities. See vvww.meadtiwsriiarathonxirg.uk for more info.

Sunday Splash 2009 l)rumbrae Leisure Centre. 30 l)rumbrae Terrace. 312 7‘)57. 4pm. £15 min sponsorship. Alternatively. if you're a publically - minded water baby. this sponsored sw irii raising ftrrids to support children living in families affected by HIV might be more your thing. All age groups welcome. and free swimming assessment available for school age swimmers. Contact 0131 226 2206 or admiriw w av erley care.org. FREE The Golden Hour Wed 18 Mar. Forest Cafe. 3 Bristo Place. 220 4538. 8pm. Loose cabaret evening with words. riiusic and video madness hosted by the splendidly-named Ryan Van Winkle. with readings from Rosie litherington. l.awrie Clapton. Robin J Thomson and lirica Duffy. and music from Billy Liar and others. BYOB.

FREE Janice Galloway and James Robertson Thu 1‘) Mar. National Portrait Gallery. 1 Queen Street. 624 6200. 6 7pm. Janice (ialloway and James Robertson select poetry and prose to match favourite portraits in the gallery.

Exhibitions

FREE Dreams on Wheels Royal Botanic (iarden. 20a lnverleith Row. 552 7171. l'ntil Sat 21 Mar. 10am 5.30pm. Denmark's unique cycling culture has inspired all those interested in greener transport systems. The Danish Institute presents an exhibition which promotes urban cycling with innovative bicycle designs.

FREE Jean Muir: A Fashion Icon National MUseum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 2257534. [Tritil Sun 15 Mar. l0am~5pm. Your last chance to catch the excellent retrospective of the legendary designer. Hurry? Hurry? Superscurry? FREE Scots Music Abroad National Library of Scotland. (ieorge 1\' Bridge. 62.3 3845. Fri 6 Mar—Sat 23 May. 10am—8pm: 10am—5pm; 2 ~5pm. lixhibition about the influence of Scots and their music in the Commonwealth and how that feeds back into music within Scotland.

FREE The Bard at the Writers’ Museum Writers‘ Museum. l.ady' Stair's Close. Law ririiarket. 52‘) 4901. t'ntil Sat 18 Apr (not Sun). Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Read a collection of Robert Burns' intimate correspondence. it's the 18th century equivalent of peeking at Russell Brand's inbox. Sort of.

Vive Ia tapisserie! French tradition, Scottish tribute lristitut Fraricais d'iicosse. 13 Randolph Crescent. 225 5366. L'ntil Thu 9 Apr tnot Sun). Mon—Wed & Fri 9.30arn—530pm; Thu noon—5.30pm: Sat ‘).30am—2pm. Scottish Tapestry Artists Regrouped tSTAR: we like this acronym). all graduates frorii the Edinburgh College of Art. have exhibited all over the world. 72 miniature pieces will be on display. A talk by Joanne Soroka. a Canadian tapestry artist. will be held on 17 March.

International Scottish Student Festival

A student party with a bit of a twist. This day long festival has been specially put together to celebrate the diversity of international students coming to Scotland. Crammed into the programme of events are various musical workshops (pictured), exhibitions created by art students about their cultures, diversity seminars, international five-aside football, and a fashion show featuring local and international textile and fashion students, who have recreated the looks of their various countries using high street clothes. See www.issfest.co.uk for full listings.

I Sat 7 Mar. AI/e/i Glen '3 Campus. Central Coflege, G/asgow.

Food & Drink

Sensory Dining Fri 6 Mar. Sheraton (irarid Hotel. 1 Festival Square. 22‘) ‘)l3l. £60. In order to take part in this special dinner. to benefit Scottish (iurde Dogs for Blind. diners are blindfolded and giv en no prior knowledge of the live gourmet courses put in front of therri. Sensory dining has become increasingly popular around the world in recent years. with whole restaurants devoted to it. Find out what all the fuss is about. and do your bit for charity at the same time.

Georgian Evening Tue 10 Mar. l’arii Solinska. 73 Broughton Street. 7pm. £28. An evening of (ieorgian food. song and dance (space permitting? 1. Traditional (ieorgian food cooked by two visiting (ieorgian singers. with song at the table. Proceeds in aid of humanitarian work in (ieorgia.

Talks

FREE The Work of RSPB Thu 5 Mar. Royal Botanic (iarden. 20a lnverleith Rovv. 552 7171. 7.30 ‘).30pm. Hear about the work of the RSPB. which extends from the wetlands and meadows in Scotland to rainforests and albatrosses further afield. Ages 12+.

Peace and Democratic Education at the Hope Flowers School, Bethlehem. Mon ‘) Mar. The AugUstine Church. 41-43 (ieorge 1\' Bridge. 668 201‘). 6.30pm. £5 (£3). The 200‘) Middle liast Festival liducation Lecture by lbrahirn lssa. Followed by a forum discttssion. I’url oft/Iv Middle Eastern Festival or Spirituality and Pt'llCt’ 200‘). Dinosaurs, Feathers and Ferns Wed 1 1 Mar. National Museum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 2257534. 7pm. £5 (£4; members freer. Nick Fraser. Keeper of Natural Sciences. shares the exciting Chinese fossils he discovered while examining the feathered dinosaurs of Liaoning province. ()h Nick. You had Us at ‘dinosaurs‘. Ages 16+.

Nenty Years on the Road Fri 13 Mar. Assembly Hall. New College. Edinburgh l'niversity'. 1 Mound Place.

7pm. £15 (£10 Royal (ieographrc Society Scotland members £51. Lovely old l’y'thon Michael l’aliri talks about his life as a traveller. Yay! ()ur mums totally fancy him?

FREE Scottish Independence Mon 16 Mar. National Library of Scotland. (ieorge lV' Bridge. 623 4675. 7pm. The editors of The Indt'pt'm/wrt‘t' Book. Harry Reid and Paul Scott. talk about the future of Scotland in terms of its constitutional status.

Workshops

Dance Base Drop-in Classes tintil Sat 28 Mar. Dance Base. 14—16 (irassrnarket. 225 5525. Times vary.

£3 £7.50 t£3~£51. l’ut those New Year's resolutions inaction with one of the Dance Base's drop-in classes. The current season runs Mon-Sat until Sat 28 Mar. Please see www.dancebase.co.uk for full details.

FREE Our Back Green Tue 10 Mar. North lidinburgh Arts Centre. 15a Pennywell Court. 315 2151. 1- 3pm. Turn your thumbs a nice shade of chartreuse as you potter in the centre's back garden. FREE Discovering Family History at NLS Wed 1 1 Mar. National Library of Scotland. (ieorge 1V Bridge. 623 3845. 2pm. Look for family secrets or royal blood in a practical workshop. Email events(a n1s.uk or phone 0131 623 4675 to book.

Shoe Swing Wednesday's. Counting Home. West Nicolson Street. 667 7533. 7pm. £4.50~£7 t£3.50—£6). A swing dance workshop run by' Edinbop every Wednesday night. Tutored classes from 7pm and social dancing from 9pm. Swing dancers. 1indy-hoppers and jivers of all persuasions very welcome. No need to book. and you don’t even have to have a partner.

Jeffrey Jones Drum Clinic The Jan. Bar. 1 Chambers Street. 220 4298. 3pm. £5 (£31. Brush up your beats with the US drumming star (and double bass drum specialist). as Jones leads this special workshop.

5—19 Mar 2009 TH! LIST 29