www.list.co.uk/aroundtown

FREE Burrell’s Tapestries: It’s All in the Detail Thu 6 Aug, 12.30–1.30pm. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. Helen Hughes, Textile Conservator, discusses the tapestries from a conservator’s viewpoint. Workshops FREE Adult Art Workshop Sat 25 & 1 Aug, 1–3pm. St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, 2 Castle Street, 553 2557. A series of introductory drawing classes, making use of traditional and experimental materials. FREE Peddlers of Pleasure Mr Punch and his International Cousins Events Tue 28 Jul & Thu 6 Aug, 1pm. Springburn Exhibition Space, Springburn Leisure Centre, Kay Street. The Open Museum presents a series of free talks and workshops relating to everyone’s favourite puppet couple, Punch and Judy. FREE The Spirits of Sounds at the Teenage Fair Tue 28 Jul, 2pm. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Simon Yuill leads a workshop in his interactive composition system. Email jo- paragon@btconnect.com for more info.

Edinburgh Activities and Events Public Evenings Fri 24 & 31 Jul, 7–8.45pm. £4 (£3). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668404. See the Royal Observatory’s telescope dome, go on a journey through the Solar System and hold a meteorite. If it’s clear, observe the skies using the telescopes which are available for public use. FREE Lothians Conservation Volunteers Sat/Sun, 9.30am–5.30pm. St Andrew Square, 229 0463. Weekly volunteering on outdoor conservation tasks. Book in advance to ensure a seat on the minibus. FREE Storytellers at Home Until Sat 1 Aug (not Sun/Mon), times vary. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Meet the storyteller who is making the centre their home for the day for a chat about spinning yarns, with storytelling sessions at noon and 3pm. FREE Come Fly With Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jul, 10.30am–noon & 1–2pm. Holyrood Park Ranger Service, Holyrood Lodge, 652 8150. Training from the rangers followed by the opportunity to be part of the annual survey of the butterfly population in Holyrood Park. Booking essential. Living History Sat 25 Jul, Sat 1 & Wed 5 Aug, 2.30–5.30pm. Included in admission: £5.50 (£4.50; family ticket £10–15). Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square, 0844 493 2117. Learn about the lives of rich and poor 200 years ago.

✽✽ FREE Amarula’s African Festival Until Sat 25 Jul, St

Andrews Square Gardens. See Hitlist. FREE Bugs and Beasties on Patrol Thu 23 Jul, 1–3pm. Cammo Estate, Cammo Visitor Centre, Cammo Road, 447 7145. Join a countryside ranger for a walk through the fields and forests of Cammo Estate while searching for beasties. Deacon Brodie’s Old Town Tour Fri 24 Jul, 11am & 2pm. £5 (£3). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Peer into the murky world of Deacon Brodie as this storytelling walk explores the wynds of the Old Town while telling tales of Edinburgh’s most infamous criminal. Lore of the Land Fri 24 Jul, 7pm. £10 (£8). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stuart McHardy and Claire Hewitt lead a musical tour through the Scottish glens. National Museum of Flight: Airshow 2009 Sat 25 Jul, 10am–5pm. Prices vary. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, 247 4238. Annual air display with over two hours of high- octane aerial displays ranging from historic warbirds to contemporary military jets.

Around Town

The Gathering This is it folks, the biggest event of the Year of Homecoming. The Gathering is essentially a gigantic Highland Games aimed at enticing lost clansfolk from throughout

the Scottish Diaspora back home for an action-packed weekend of athletics, piping, dancing, and tartan-tinged revelry. Over 120 clans will be out in force, whether you fancy tossing a caber or relaxing at a whisky master class, here’s something here for Highland enthusiasts of all inclinations. On Saturday night, clans will parade up the Royal Mile for a pageant on the Castle Esplanade. Make sure and pack your sporran. Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jul

✽✽ The Gathering 2009 Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jul, times vary. Highland

games tickets: £15; both days £27 (£10; both days £18; family ticket £45-£52; both days £85-£95). Holyrood Park, 561 1323. See picture, above. FREE River Almond Ramble Sun 26 Jul, 10am–2pm. River Almond, Outside Cramond Brig Inn, 447 7145. Discover the industrial heritage of the River Almond and the fascinating history of Cammo followed by a walk to Cramond Foreshore. It’s Funtime Sun 26 Jul, 8–11pm. £5. The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. A game show / pub quiz hybrid with compere Wilson and his glamorous assistant Betty. Register at www.its-funtime.com FREE Climate Change and the Garden Mon 27 Jul–Sat 1 Aug, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Find out how to reduce your carbon footprint. Truckfest Scotland Sat 1 & Sun 2 Aug, 9am–6pm. £10 (£5; family ticket £25). Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 01775 768661. Scotland’s largest truck festival with plenty of entertainment for all the family. Second World War Scottish Soldiers Sat 1 & Sun 2 Aug, 10am–4pm. Free with admission. National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, 225 7534. Military re- enactment of Scottish soldiers’ exploits in WWII. FREE Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust Sun 2 Aug, 1.45pm & 2.45pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Enjoy the sounds and spectacle of a variety of Scottish traditional dances. FREE A Wander with Bugs and Butterflies Thu 6 Aug, 1–3pm. Cammo Estate, Cammo Visitor Centre, Cammo Road, 447 7145. Enjoy a walk in the old Cammo Estate and discover the creepy crawlies and butterflies that like to live there. Minibeast Safari Thu 6 Aug, 2–3.30pm. £3. Newhailes, Newhailes Road, Musselburgh, 0844 493 2124. Search out the bugs of woodland and meadow with the help of sweep nets, pooters, pots and the on-hand ranger. Booking recommended.

Exhibitions ✽✽ FREE Votes for Women Fri 31 Jul–Sat 9 Jan (not Sun), 10am–5pm.

Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. See Hitlist.

Fairs FREE The GrassMarkets Sun 2 Aug, noon–6pm. Grassmarket. The Grassmarket is coming over all crafty

with stalls for organic, home-grown and farmers’ produce, plants and flowers, crafts, collectibles and bric-a-brac as well as live music. See www.grassmarket.net for more info. Food & Drink FREE Edinburgh Farmers’ Market Sat 25 & 1 Aug, 9am–2pm. Castle Terrace, 652 5940. More local, quality, ethical produce than you could shake a stick at. FREE Glenfiddich to Hobart The Great Malt Whisky Race Fri 24 Jul, 5pm. University of Edinburgh, Old College, South Bridge. An open forum examining the history of the globalisation of malt Scotch whisky. For a free place, reserve through www.glenfiddich.co.uk by noon Fri 24 Jul. FREE Berry Festival Sat 25 & Sun 26 Jul, 10am–5pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Find out what’s new in the science of berries and get involved in some berry fun with the Scottish Crop Research Institute. World Café Fri 31 Jul, 5.30–7pm. £5 (£2.50). North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Eat food from around the world and meet members of the local community at this monthly night. Booking advised.

Talks FREE The Scottish Diaspora Forum Sat 25 Jul, 10am–6pm. The Scottish Parliament, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh, 0800 092 7500. Join fellow Scots from around the globe to discuss what it means to be Scottish, and what the future holds for the country. Hosted by Alex Fergusson MSP, Lord Steel of Aikwood and Rt Hon George Reid. Part of Homecoming Scotland 2009. FREE National Gallery Highlights Tour Sat 25 Jul, 2–2.45pm & 3–3.45pm. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. An introduction and tour of the key paintings in the National Galleries’ permanent collection. Meet at the main entrance. FREE The Cult of Velázquez Tue 28 Jul, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Dr Paul Stirton discusses James Whistler’s revolutionising of British painting by taking inspiration from Velázquez. FREE Mexican Social Movements Thu 30 Jul, 7.30pm. The Augustine Church, 41–43 George IV Bridge. Ruben Valencia Nunez from Oaxaca, Mexico gives a first-hand account of Mexican social movements. FREE The Spanish Portfolio of David Roberts Fri 31 Jul, 12.45pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The

Mound, 624 6200. Susanna Kerr gives a talk on the Scottish artist’s pioneering journeys through Spain and the effect they had on the imagination of 19th century Britain. FREE The Bunk Collages of Eduardo Paolozzi Mon 3 Aug, 12.45–1.30pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. Dr John-Paul Stonard discusses Paolozzi’s controversial and groundbreaking series of Bunk collages. FREE ‘Singing the Alhambra’: Spanish Culture and Flamenco Tue 4 Aug, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Ethnomusicologist Dr Jan Fairley explores the traditions of this quintessentially Spanish musical form, with reference to paintings in the exhibition The Discovery of Spain. FREE Portraits in Focus Wed 5 Aug, 12.45–1.15pm. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. Nicola Kalinsky, Chief Curator at the Portrait Gallery, discusses Sir Francis Grant’s work. Dumfries House is Perhaps the Homeliest of All Thu 6 Aug, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. So said the third Marquess of Bute about his Ayrshire home. Simon Green discusses. Book in advance. FREE The Art of Spain Thu 6 Aug, 11am–1pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Weekly screenings of the acclaimed BBC Four series, in which art historian and critic Andrew Graham- Dixon talks about the influence of Spanish art across Europe. Workshops Scotland’s Stories Fri 24 Jul, 2pm. £17.50. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Explore Scottish roots and ancestry through stories with David Campbell. Dusky Pink Roses Sat 1 Aug, 10.30am–3.30pm. £15. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Spend a summer afternoon in the rose garden at Lauriston learning how to use oil paints. Ages 16+. Book in advance. FREE Life on the Lion Sun 2 Aug, 11am–3pm. Holyrood Park Education Centre, 1 Queen’s Drive, 652 8151. Meet birds of prey, handle monsterbeasts and more with Artist in Residence. FREE Discovering Family History at NLS Mon 3 Aug, 2–3.30pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3845. Look for family secrets or royal blood in a practical workshop. Email events@nls.uk or phone 0131 623 4675 to book.

23 Jul–6 Aug 2009 THE LIST 33