www.list.co.uk/aroundtown

society, with a focus on the life of a young girl of noble birth, Isabella, who placed the crown on the head of Robert the Bruce when he was crowned in 1306. Life Stories: Family Tales Fri 12 Mar, 2pm. Donations. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Father and daughter pair Noel and Marie Louise Cochrane focus on family stories for Mothers’ Day. Duke of Gordon’s Soldiers 1689 Sat 13 & Sun 14 Mar, 11am, noon, 1.30pm & 2.30pm. Included in admission: £11 (£8; children £6). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Find out about the siege of 1689, when the Duke of Gordon’s soldiers held the castle in the name of James VII. African Extravaganza Sat 13 Mar, 7pm. £8 (£7; under 13s free). Roxy Art House, 2 Roxburgh Place, 477 5567. African music, poetry and storytelling with Bhundu Boy, Risa Kagona, Samba Sene & Diwan, La Boum, Mara Manzies and Kokumo Rocks as well as African food and an exhibition of Kangas and Maasai photos. Women of Ireland Tue 16 Mar, 3pm. £6 (£4). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Stories from three Irish voices Nuala Hayes, Clare Muireann Murphy and Liz Weir. Across the Water: Scotland and Ireland Wed 17 Mar, 7pm. £8 (£6). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. John and Noreen Hamilton, Clare Murphy, Audrey Parks and Donald Smith look at Irish attitudes to Scotland and vice versa. An Evening of Clairvoyance in Meggat’s Cellar Thu 18 Mar, 6.15pm. £17. Mercat Cross, High Street, 225 5445. Join Ada Donaldson for an evening of communicating with the spirit world. Includes glass of wine or soft drink. Part of Mary King’s Ghost Fest. The Burke and Hare Murder Tour Thu 18–Tue 23 Mar, 7pm. £8–£10 (£7; children £5). Various venues, 07754 247158. Tour displaying the story of the serial killers. Meet outside Edinburgh’s High Court. Tour will visit Edinburgh Medical School on Thursday and Friday only. Ages 12+. Part of Mary King’s Ghost Fest. The Ultimate Supernatural Tour Thu 18 Mar, 7.30pm. £12.50. Outside St Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile, 225 9044. Public tour from Damnation Alley to Greyfriars Graveyard. Part of Mary King’s Ghost Fest. An Initiation into Investigation Blair Street Vaults Thu 18 Mar, 10.30pm–1am. £15. Mercat Cross, High Street, 225 5445. An event for sceptics or those new to the paranormal to learn more and take part in an investigation. Part of Mary King’s Ghost Fest. Fairs Eric Liddell Centre Spring Fayre Sat 6 Mar, 10am–1pm. £1.50 (children free). Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road, 447 4520. Children’s crafts for Mothers’ Day and Easter with tombola, lucky dip and face painting. FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 6 Mar, 10.30am–4.30pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. A new monthly boutique craft and design market held on the first Saturday of every month with artists, crafters and designers offering ceramics, jewellery, glassware, photography, textiles and art. Scottish Game & Angling Show Sat 6 & Sun 7 Mar, 10am–5pm. £5 (under £16s free). Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Country sports equipment, clothing, advice and supplies will be showcased at the SGA’s inaugural Game & Angling Show. Wedding Fair & Fashion Show 2010 Sat 6 & Sun 7 Mar, 11am–5pm. £5. Corn Exchange, 11 New Market Road, 477 3500. Tips and advice for the blushing bride, including catwalk shows and featuring the latest bridal gowns. Free glass of bubbly, complimentary canapés and a free copy of the Scottish Wedding Directory for every bride. Brides and

Around Town

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Here at List Towers, we love a party. And so it is that this fortnight sees not one but two of our favourite things realised courtesy of Scandinavian

fashion house Kakao by K and tea-boutique Eteaket. As part of a one-off special event, Kakao will launch their new jewellery collection, Design by K, with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the Hanover Street hangout. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, the new line includes everything from gold watch fob brooches to dinky porcelain tea cup charms. Expect demonstrations, food, drink and much, much more. The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Eteaket, Edinburgh, 10 Mar.

grooms can register for free entry in advance at www.ece.uk.com/weddingfair FREE FrameWork Wed 17–Fri 19 Mar, Wed 8–11pm; Thu–Fri 9am–5pm. Adam House, 3 Chambers Street, 650 8058. Charity art sale with proceeds going to The Princes Trust. See frame.work@live.com Festivals Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace 2010 Fri 5–Thu 18 Mar, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 331 4469. A celebration of the aspects of spiritual peacemaking, with a wide range of events including spiritual retreats, workshops and conferences. The festival welcomes guests from across the UK and further afield to enrich conversations and the spiritual and cultural exchange. Mary King’s Ghost Fest Thu 18–Tue 23 Mar, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 0845 070 6244. Edinburgh’s dark tales and strange paranormal activity will once again come to the forefront for Mary King’s Ghost Fest.

Food & Drink Hidden Italy Mon 15 Mar, 6.30–8.30pm. £25. Inverarity One to One Edinburgh, Montrose House, 1 Montrose Terrace, 661 8816. The Monday Night Wine Club with award-winning drinks journalist Tom Bruce-Gardyne focusing on some of his favourite Italian tipples matched to a selection of antipasti. Politics FREE Join Me on the Bridge Mon 8 Mar, noon–2pm. Princes Street Gardens, Princes St Gardens. Speakers and entertainment in the gardens to raise the profile of Women for Women International, which helps women who have survived war and other conflicts.

Talks David Skinner Memorial Lecture 2010 - Günther Vogt Thu 4 Mar, 7pm. £5 (Students Free). Edinburgh College of Art (Main Lecture Theatre), 74 Lauriston Place, 221 6000. Günther Vogt, Professor for Landscape Architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich,

presents the David Skinner Memorial Lecture. FREE ‘Come, Gentle Spring!’: Images of Spring Fri 5 Mar, 12.45–1.15pm. National Gallery Complex, The Mound, 624 6200. The colour and vibrancy of spring after winter’s bleakness has long been an inspiration for artists; Dr Patricia Andrew examines a selection of depictions of the season. Mary, Queen of Scots and the Birth of James IV Sat 6 Mar, 11am, noon, 1.30pm & 2.30pm. Included in admission: £11 (£8; children £6). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 668 8858. Hear about Mary, Queen of Scots and the birth of her son, James, who was to become the first King of a United Kingdom of England, Ireland and Scotland. FREE The Traverse Theatre Mon 8 Mar, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. A panel of experts takes a closer look at the Trav’s 1985 productions, including Losing Venice, Elizabeth Gordon Quinn and White Rose. The European Extremely Large Telescope Mon 8 Mar, 7.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Chris Evans talks about the world’s largest optical- infrared telescope, which is in the stage of advanced planning. FREE Diane Arbus Opening Lecture: Portrait of the Artist as a Journalist Sat 13 Mar, 2–3pm. National Gallery of Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Many of the late New York photographer’s striking images were created for magazines during her time as a photojournalist. Peter Crookston worked with Arbus during this time and here he describes how she came up with and approached magazine assignments. Einstein and The Universe Mon 15 Mar, 7.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. The appropriately-named Alan Heavens talks about Einstein’s equations of gravity. FREE Who Else Was Who? Tue 16 Mar, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of

Scotland: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, The Mound, 624 6200. Dr Sara Stevenson tells the stories of some of 19th century Scotland’s everyday people, which sheds just as bright a light on life back in the day as more significant people or events. FREE Understanding Technology: Museums of Machinery Thu 18 Mar, 3pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Bristol University’s Professor Christine MacLeod explores how technology took shape in Edinburgh, London and Paris. Booking required. Electronic Voice Phenomena 50 Years On Thu 18 Mar, 7pm. £20. The Real Mary King’s Close, 2 Warriston’s Close, High Street, 0845 070 6244. Ghost finder Mark Turner discusses Electronic Voice Phenomena research. Part of Mary King’s Ghost Fest. Workshops Storytelling Sun 7 Mar, 1–5pm. £25 (members £20). The Big Red Door, 10 Lady Lawson Street, 228 4567. Workshop in the spinning of yarns with Kenn Musso. Jenny Littlejohn’s Drawing Class Wed 10 Mar, 6–8pm. £5. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. A life drawing class with a difference. Each class is based on a theme from the current exhibition and you bring whichever materials you wish to draw with. Suitable for all levels of experience. Email lyoung@rbge.ac.uk to book. Ceremony & Celebration Workshop Sat 13 Mar, 10am. £17.50 (£15). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Claire McNicol leads a workshop in storytelling during life’s transitional moments. Beginners Stilt Walking Sat 13 Mar, noon–4pm. £25. The Big Red Door, 10 Lady Lawson Street, 228 4567. Wish you were a little bit taller? All equipment is provided in this workshop. Book at jl@brightnightinternational.com FREE Exploring Ceramics with Fran Priest Sun 14 Mar, 1pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Hands-on sessions to explore pattern and ornament and create mini- collections. Booking recommended.

4–18 Mar 2010 THE LIST 31