www.list.co.uk/aroundtown AroundTown

interested in learning languages. Mary, Queen of Scots and the Birth of James VI Sat 12 & Sun 13 Mar, 11am–3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; under 16s £7.50). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Hear about Mary, Queen of Scots and the birth of her son, James.

✽✽ FREE Bruncheon! Featuring The Sound of Muesli Sat 12

Mar, 11.30am–3pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. If you can have a dinner dance, why not a breakfast dance? See Hitlist. FREE Highlights Tours Sat 12 Mar, 2pm & 3pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. A tour of the permanent collection. The Living Legacy of John Muir Wed 16 Mar, 7pm. £5 (£4; members free). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Find out about the work of the Trust founded in the memory of East Lothian conservationist John Muir. Curtain Raisers: Marilyn Thu 17 Mar, 6pm. £5 (under 18s free). Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay Street, 248 4848. An insight into the current production, Sue Glover’s imagined encounter between Marilyn Monroe and Simone Signoret, and the chance to ask questions. Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show Fri 18 Mar, 7.30pm & Sat 19 Mar, 7pm (meal at 8pm). £20 on opening night; £100 (students £70) on VIP night. Mansfield Traquair, 15 Mansfield Place, edinburghcharityfashionshow.com. This accomplished student-run show has a student night on the Friday, while Saturday is a black-tie VIP night with charity auction and three-course meal and, of course, each night includes a show of top fashions, with the work of up-and- coming designers being showcased alongside pieces lent from top labels. This year's nominated charity is Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

FREE Remembered Remedies Sat 19 Mar, 10am. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. Ethnomedica wants to know all that herbal medicine lore your granny told you. A Great Escape Sat 19 & Sun 20 Mar, 11am–3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; under 16s £7.50). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Living-history event about one of the rare few who have ever managed to escape from Edinburgh Castle. FREE Artist Rooms: Jeff Koons Curator’s Tour Mon 21 Mar, 12.45pm. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6200. A tour of the new Artist Rooms exhibition given by one of the curators. Wild Flower Conservation in the National Trust for Scotland Mon 21 Mar, 7.30pm. £5. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. With National Conservation Adviser Lindsay Mackinlay. FREE Sofi’s Clothes Swap Wed 23 Mar, 7pm. Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street Leith, 555 1979. It’s like shopping, but it’s free and there’s a bar what could be better? Edinburgh Laugh-In Fri 25 Mar, 1.30pm. £8. The Melting Pot, 5 Rose Street, 247 1424. Loosen up your chuckle-muscles with laughter yoga, games and relaxation. Prisoner of the Crown Sat 26 & Sun 27 Mar, 11am–2.30pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; under 16s £7.50). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Meet an American prisoner. Charity Firewalk Sat 26 Mar, 7pm. Minimum sponsorship £150. Edinburgh Marriott Hotel, 111 Glasgow Road, 01236 794513. Fundraising event for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association. Walk barefoot and untoasted across 20 foot of smouldering embers. FREE Victoria’s Singles’ Night Sat

26 Mar, 8pm. Victoria, 265 Leith Walk, 555 1638. A bit of light hearted matchmaking fun, with speed dating and the intriguing postman game. Barnardo’s Big 5k Sun 27 Mar, 9am. £10 (children £5). Inverleith Park, Arboretum Place, big5km.co.uk Family charity fun run with a 5k course for adults (and bold children) and a 1k for the kids. Exhibitions Humanity in War Until Jan 2012, daily 9.45am–4.45pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; under 16s £7.50). National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, 225 4413. New photography exhibition featuring images from the American Civil War right through to present-day conflicts. FREE Shining Lights: The Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses Until Sun 3 Apr, daily 10am–5pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. The story of Scotland’s lighthouses told through giant optics, models and interactive exhibits. FREE Childline Art Exhibition and Auction Mon 7–Thu 10 Mar, 10am–5pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Artists including Damian Callan, Emily Hogarth and Mark Nicholas Edward have donated their work for this exhibition in aid of Childline. The work will be auctioned off at an event on the evening of Thu 10 Mar, 6pm. FREE Spring Flower Show Children’s Exhibition Sat 26 & Sun 27 Mar, 10am–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. See entries for the children’s Eco Schools Daffodil Competition and take part in some hands-on activities.

Fairs FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 5 Mar, 11am–4pm.

Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Boutique craft and design market. Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair Sat 5 Mar, 11am–4pm. £2 (£1). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Vintage fashions and handcrafted accessories from the 1920s to the 1980s. FREE Edinburgh Book Fair Fri 11 Mar, 12pm–7pm. Sat 12 Mar, 10am–5pm. Radisson Blu Hotel, 80 High Street,557 9797. Antiquarian and secondhand books, maps and prints. Scottish Motorcycle Show Sat 12 & Sun 13 Mar, 9am–5pm. £12–£16 (seniors £7–£10; under 16s free). Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Restored bikes, manufacturers’ displays, a classic bike pavilion, a wall of death, kids’ events and the first round of the Scottish Supermoto. Car parking £4. FREE Ghillie Dhu Makers Market Sat 19 Mar, 10am–3pm. Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. Designs by independent makers and artists. FREE Out of the Blue Flea Market Sat 19 Mar, 10am–3pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Bargain buys including furniture, clothes, books and music.

Sport Scotland v Italy Sat 19 Mar, 2.30pm. £33–£77. Murrayfield Stadium, Roseburn Street Murrayfield, 346 5000. RBS 6 Nations international match. Talks FREE Artists’ Books in Focus Thu 3 Mar, 11.30am. Dean Gallery, 73 Belford Road, 624 6200. Explore the works of Miró, Léger and Le Corbusier. Booking essential. FREE Textile, Silver, Wood: Artist Talk Thu 3 Mar, 5.30pm. Danish Cultural Institute, 3 Doune Terrace, 225 7189. Artist talk.

3–31 March 2011 THE LIST 41