www.list.co.uk/aroundtown

Around Town.

2009: A Space Odyssey II - Galileo‘s Big Bang Ceilidh Sat its Apr. 'lcsiot Debating Hall. Bristo Square. 553 0322. 7.30pm midnight. LS. .-\nd wc haxc a winner lot out cosetcd l:\cnt 'litlc ol the l'oitnight award' A (ialilean ceilidli with music lrom 'l‘hc ()ccasionals Ages lls'+ Part of lit/INIIHI'L'II International

St tt‘ltt (‘ I‘(’\lli (1/.

FREE The Golden Hour Wed 22 .-\pr. l'oresl (Kile. i Hrlstti l’lacc. 22“ 4555' 3pm. l.oose cabaret esening with words and music hosted b} Rian Van Winkle. with readings b} Andrew l’hilip. (‘liris l.indorcs and Sandra Alland and music trom liarl (ire) and the l,tmsc leases. \tidtilttiticssico and Mellow Mood. BYOB.

Firewallt Challenge in 24 Apr. lidinburgh Zoo. (’orstorphiiie Road. .314 0350. (i.30pm. Spectators £5 tmcludes warm drink l. Raise L' I 50 tor the Roj.al Ztmlogtcal Societ} ot Scotland arid sou'll hasc the pleasure ot walking ox er a bed ol hot cinders. ()ne ol those otters _\oti can't reltise. this. Register at 0l3l 3l4 0374 or email tlL'\cl0pltiL‘iit(” i‘/ss.org.uk Spectators: ages l0+.

Bark in the Park Stiii 2o .\pr. liixerlcith l’ark. Arboretum l’lace. 55l 77.3l. 9.30am. £5 per dog to enter (£20 minimum sponsorshtpi. Sponsored dog walk: till}llilllg ot a canine persuasion tincluding dog-shaped ctiddl} to} s, apparentl}. btil w crewohes has c been politcl) ads ised to sla} awa} i welcome at this hall or one-mile walk to raise ttinds tor St (‘oluniba's Hospice. The last I00 dogs to enter will rccci\c a tree goodic bag.

Beltane Fire Festival Thu 30 Apr. ('alton Hill. Waterloo Place. 47.3 2000. 0.30pm l..3(lam. £5. See picture opposite. The World Famous Regent Bar Quiz 'l'ue 28 Apr. the Regent Bar. 2 Monti'ose 'l‘ei‘t‘ace. (ibl SWS. 9pm. {I50 per person tor esent. ’l‘op pri/es lor contestants and all proceeds go to l,( iB’l‘ Youth Scotland. We hasen't actuall} double-checked that ‘wot‘ld latiiotts' assertion.

Exhibitions

Molecular Machines (‘it) Art ('entre. 2 Market Street. 52‘) 3003. l'ntil Sat lS’ Apr. 9.30am 4.30pm. £2 l'oi‘ all the (':\(’ exhibitions. lniagcs ot' \ irtises in an exhibition created iii collaboration between scientists l'rom the Medical Research (‘ouncil Virolog) l'tiit and Murray Robertson. l’art ol’lz'rlt'rilitaicli International Science I-estli'al.

FREE Scots Music Abroad National l.ibt'ar} of Scotland. (ieorge l\' Bridge. 62.3 3845. l'ntil Sat 23 Ma}. l0am 8pm; l0am -5pm; 2pm 5pm. lixhibition abotit the influence of Scots and their music in the ('ommonwealth and how that has led back into music within Scotland.

FREE Tieasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories National Museum ol‘ Scotlatid. (‘hambet‘s Street. 225 7534. l'ntil Sat l Jan. l0am 5pm. .-\ diserse treasure trove ot‘ items from various dit‘l‘ei‘ent centuries and civilisations. from ancient t‘ossils to ro_\al possessions. Victorian corsets. a Sumatran tiger and even a Martian meteorite. ()pen for the duration ot‘ the refurbishment of the Rtwal Museum building.

FREE Unity Principle Rtwal Botanic (iarden. 20a lns'erleith Row. 552 7l7 l. l'ntil liri l Ma} (not Sat/Sum.

l0am 4.30pm. Drawings. photographs and notes associated with field work undertaken in Belize b} llamer Dodds in January 200S.

Fairs

FREE Boden Clothing Sale Wed 22 Apr. Ro_sal Highland Centre. lngliston. .335 6200. A chance to browse or bus from items in the online catalogue.

J 8. J Antique and Collectors Fair Sat 25 Apr. Freemasons Hall. 96 (ieorge Street. 225 5304. l0am. £l.50. .-\ sariet) of stalls with clocks. coins. stamps. sil\ er. plate. china. paintings. gold. silver. costumes and jewellery.

Food <3 Drink

Pudding Night 'l‘hti lb .-\pi. \\otd ot Motitli. 3a .-\lbett Street. l.eith. 554 4344 " 30pm L" 50 .-\ cake and pudding indulgence atid tasting cxeiiing (io on. get stuck in You'll need tleetiiig moments ol pudding} to} to get _\oti through the coming recession. .\"U know

St Columba‘s Hospice Wits Dinner Thu 30 \pi'. the Stables. l’icstoiitield Honse. l’ricstlicld Road. ~piii L55 l‘ood. coined} and chant}. togethci at last. at this black tie dinner tor St ('oltimba‘s Hospice Speakers include Julie (‘oombe and local pantomime enthusiast (iiaiit Stott; \Villic Hunter is the chaii 'l'ickets both 0| 3l 55l "3t or

llllitll" stctiluiiilmshospice orgiik

Talks In the Mood for Dancing 'l‘hu lo x\pr. lidinbtit'gli l'nnct‘sit} lntoriiiatics l~orum. l0 (‘i‘ichtoii Street. 55 3 0.322 bpm. LS tL'oi, \Vh} _\cs. we are. actuall_\' l’i'ot Richard \Viseman and l)l' l’eter l.o\att conduct ati e\pei‘iiiient about dancing. \o dance skills are necessar} btit sou ma} tind that _\oii lust can‘t help sour teet. I’art at Iztllnliurgli International St It'Il( e I'eiltial. Hot-Bed of Genius: The Future of Innovations in Scotland 'l'liii Io .-\pr. lidinburgh l'nisersit} lnlormatics l'ot'um. lt) ('richtoii Street. 55i 0322. Spin. if 05 i. Quentin ('oopei' chairs a paiiel discussing Scottish intimation. with a ke}note speech b} liittirist and strategist Rohit 'l'alwai'. ’art of tlie Ixtlin/ita'gli Internattonal Site/ii e I'esttial. Ghost Universe: the Greatest Challenge to Modern Science l‘I'l l2 Apr. lidinbtii'gh l'nnersil} liilormatics l‘orum. l0 ('richton Street. 553 0322. Spm. L7 025 l. ()nl} tour per cent ot. the tini\erse is \ isible. l)r l'i‘ancsico l)icgo talks about the remaining per cent atid wh} it is tliotiglit oi as an ‘imisiblc transparent ghost’. We didn't understand an} (ii that. but w c't‘e \er} e\cited nonetheless. I’art ot the Ifrlinlntreli International Site/it e I't‘Ult’tlI. The Finger Book Sat Ix Apr. lidinbtirgh l'nnersil} liil'orniatics l'orum. l0 ('i'ichtoii Street. 55.3 0322. 2pm. £7 ([5). Hot John .Maiitiiiig reads our t'utui'es iii our hands. His book. The linger Ratio. uncoxers what the lengths ol our lingers sa) about our other attributes. We‘ll let sou insert _\our own snigget'iiig here. Part of the lat/tri/iurgli International Science I-estt'i'al. Looking Back to a Sustainable Future Sat IS Apr Ro_\al Botanic Garden. 20a lnserlcith Row. 55.3 0322. 2pm. £6 (£4i. Malcolm l'rasei' and Martin 'l‘urner pioneered the l5intr} communit} wind pow ct“ pt‘tiicct. Here the) discuss their L‘\pct‘iL'ticcs. Ages l4+. I’art of the Iz'rlt'rilitajglt International Science I'estii'al. Sex, Drugs and Chocolate: The Science of Pleasure Sat lts’ .-\pl' lidinburgh l'nisersit} lnt'oriiiatics l-‘orum. l0 ('richton Street. 55.3 0322. 4pm. £7 t£5 i. Hello. You have our attention. A look at changing attitudes to pleasure o\ er the centuries b_\ Paul Martin. Part of tlie ['ltIlllI’tll‘g’II International Science I'i’slli‘tll. Richard Dawkins: The Purpose of Purpose Sat IS Apr. lidinbtirgh l'nisersit} lnl‘ormatics liorum. l0 (‘richton Street. 553 0322. 3pm. L‘S‘ (UH. Sec lliIlisI. FREE Simon Groom in Conversation with Charles Asprey .Moii 20 Apr. Scottish National (iallei') oi Modern .-\t't. 75 Belt’ord Road. 624 (i200. 12.45pm. Simon (iroom. director ol' modern and contemporar} art. talks w ith (‘harles .-\spre_\. one of the contributors to the THU IIoI‘tfom e\hihition.

Beltane Fire Festival

What’s that coming over Calton Hill? Yes, it’s the annual Beltane Fire Festival,

complete with fire, frolics and lashings of body paint. Celebrating the beginning of the summer season, the unique festival draws inspiration from ancient Gaelic traditions and the age-old Beltane festival. Look out for the variety of characters on show, like the magisterial May Queen and the red men, who give the event a wholly otherworldly feel. Once their story is played out, a bonfire is lit and the dancing commences, gleefully ensuring a mass celebration of the death of spring and the birth

of summer. (Chris Cope)

I Ctr/tori Hit. [fit/ritairgli. llio (£0 fail. '.'.'L'»"'.‘.’.I)tflitlllt),{Vt}

FREE Turner’s Romance with Italy Tue 2! .-\pr. \Veston l.ink. Hawthorndcn lecture 'l‘liealre. National (iallet‘). the Mound. (i24 (i5o0. l2.45pm. James Hamilton. guest curator ot' the Illl'ltt'l' A'- Ital\ e\liibitioii. e\p|ot'es what it was about Ital} 's histor}. light and landscapes that so captured 'l'tii‘ner's imagination and transtormed British art.

FREE Artist Rooms: Damien Hirst Mon 2" :\pi'. Weston l.ink. Hawthorndcn lecture 'l‘heatre. National (ialler). the Mound. (i24 o5(i0. l2.45pm. l’ati‘tck lilliotl. senior curator at the (iitllL'l’) oi Modern .-\it. discusses the work ol Damien Hirst. w hose work is curt'entl} on

displa} as part ol the .lrI/sl I\’rmnt\ protect.

An Evening with Gareth Hoskins National Miiseum ot' Scotland. (’haiiibers Street. 225 7534. 7pm. L5 W4; members t'i'eei. (iai'eth Hoskms discusses the architectural challenges he litts laced tilt the Rtwal Museum l’roiect. what has inspired him the most and what he eiisisagcs tor the museum iii 20l l. Please book in adsaiice.

Workshops

Role-Play and Improvisation: A Pathless Path to Peace. 'l'hu to Apr Quaker Meeting House. 5 Victoria 'l‘errace. 225 4S25. (i30piii. L'S rem. Workshop series run b} l.ee (iersliun). artistic director ot' the lilements World Theatre. aimed at enabling participants to make a culture ot' peace sustainable in their own lises.Sce w w weicsporg for more into.

Ulpan: Gaelic Learning Taster Course Scottish Stor) telling ('entre. 4345 High Street. 55o 057‘). l2.30pm.

{00. .\ ten-week course in conlident (iaclic speaking led b_\ l)eirdre .\'i Mliatlitiiia. Held on Mon and lit. no class Mon 4 Ma}. The Influence of Japan Weston link. Hawthorndcn lecture 'l'heatre. National (iallct'). tlic Mound. (L24 (i560, 2pm, £40 1‘; Vii. :\I‘llsl ('aiiipbell Sandilands takes a tourwcek course csploring the Japanese inlliiciicc on Western art and introduces \arious Japanese art lorms. To tie in with Japan I'I\' I50. marking _\ou guessed it l5” )L‘ars til lt'lcndslilp betw cell the countries. Please book in adsance. Going Green - Reduce your Carbon Footprint Mon 20 Apr. Rtwal Botanic (iarden. 20a lmet'leith Row. 24X 293". 7pm. £70 imembers Ui3i. l‘ind out how to make significant changes to sour lil‘csl} lc mer llils ten-w eek course. emering areas such as encrg}. traxel. tood atid shopping. And quite right too. Please book in aduince. Shoe Swing Wed. ('ounting House. \Vc'sl \lcnlstin Street. 007 75.55. 7W0. {450 {718.50 UH. A swing dance workshop run b) lzdinhop exer} \Vcdtiesda} night. 'liutored classes lroni 7pm and social dancing trom ()pm. Swing dancers. lind} hoppers and Jivcrs til ttll persuasions \er) welcome. No need to book. atid )tiii don't exen hate to ha\c a partner. Slippery Herbal Sunday Sun 26 Apr. Ro}al Botanic (iarden. 20a lmerleith Row. 552 7l7l. 10am 4pm. £45 tinembers £40.50). A one-da} workshop exploring the medicinal properties ol the elm tree. Learn about dil’l‘ercnt \arieties and create _\our ow ti herbal remedies. .\'o booking required. ’x’i': THE LIST 33