list.co.uk/aroundtown
Leith, 555 1979. It’s like shopping, but it’s free, it’s recycle-y and it takes place in a bar. Which makes it pretty much perfect in our eyes. Fairs & Markets ✽ FREE The Grassmarket Festival Fri 29 & Sat 30 Apr, noon–8pm; Sun 1 May, noon–6pm. Grassmarket, grassmarket.net See Hitlist. FREE The Food Market & Tinker Tailor Sat 30 Apr, 10am–2pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. A weekly local shop plus friendly fixers to help mend broken items. FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 7 May, 11am–4pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Monthly boutique craft and design market. FREE Ghillie Dhu Makers Market Sat 21 May, 10am–3pm. Ghillie Dhu, 2 Rutland Place, 222 9930. Monthly craft market. Sport FREE World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Event Sat 30 Apr, 9.30am. Cluny Church Centre, 1 Cluny Drive Morningside, 447 6745. Taster session from instructor James Connachan. Donations to Parkinson’s UK. FREE Port Edgar Open Day Sat 30 Apr, 10am. Port Edgar Marina and Sailing School, Shore Road, South Queensferry, 331 3330. Try out sailing, motor boats and kayaking, plus bouncy castle, face painting, mountain bikes, a climbing wall and golf target practice. Spring Step Walk Sat 30 Apr, 11.30am. £10 (£5). Edinburgh, 020 7386 4006. A family-friendly 5-mile walk through Edinburgh in aid of Bowel Cancer UK. FREE Joseph Pearce’s Jogging Club Tuesdays, 7–8pm. Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row, 556 4140. Weekly running club with a welcome bar at each end. Water of Leith Walk Sun 8 May, 9.30am. £10 (£5; families £25; teams up to 6 £40). Water of Leith, mbauld@ stcolumbashospice.org.uk Charity walk for all ages (tackle the full 12 miles or a shorter route) raising funds for a new St Columba’s Hospice, with refuelling stations and a treasure hunt along the way. Step Out for Stroke Sun 15 May, 10am. £5. Holyrood Park, 555 7243. A sponsored walk around Holyrood Park. FREE Walk Edinburgh Week Fri 20–Thu 26 May, times vary. Various locations, activcity.info A week of walks to get you out and about in the springtime city. Edinburgh Marathon Sun 22 May, 9am. Prices vary. Route tbc, 01620 890444. The city-based race rolls round again. Talks FREE Sunday Sermon Sun 1 May, 2pm. The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. Alternative preachifying from Edinburgh Skeptics. FREE Understanding Technology: Sketches of Another Future Thu 5 May, 3–4.30pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. A talk on the history of cybernetics. Booking essential. The Fabulous Life of Mr Universe Mon 9 May, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. A biography of the universe. FREE Sexing the City: Berlin Photographs by Marta Astfalck- Vietz (1920–1936) Tue 10 May, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Katherine Tubb examines Astfalck-Vietz’ erotic and surreal images of Berlin. FREE IET Battery Technology Talk Wed 18 May, 6pm. University Of Edinburgh, Old College, 650 9746. Recent advances in battery technology and their uses in hybrid and electric vehicles. FREE Edinburgh Skeptics Thu 19 May, 7.30pm. The Bongo Club, Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. Meeting for rational thinkers. Gomel: A Belarusian Town at War Fri 20 May, 7.30pm. £5. Scotland-Russia Institute, 9 South College St, 668 3635. A talk on the wartime experiences of Aberdeen’s Belarusian twin town.
FREE Jeff Koons – ‘To be critically gone in the mainstream’ Tue 24 May, 12.45–1.30pm. National Gallery of Scotland, The Mound, 624 6200. Artist John Beagles discusses Koons’ art and legacy. FREE David Hume: Philosopher and Historian Wed 25 May, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Nicholas Phillipson explores Hume’s status as a historian and philosopher. Workshops Paradigm Quintet Workshop Fri 29 Apr, 4–6pm. £10. The Jazz Bar, 1 Chambers Street, 220 4298. Advice session with the respected jazz players. Open Workshop with Aria Alba Opera Sat 30 Apr, 2pm. £2. Corstorphine Youth & Community Centre, 14 Kirk Load, 07593 316284. Opera workshop for all, including an end-of-day performance. Under 15s must be accompanied by a participating adult. FREE Discovering Family History at NLS Wed 4 May, 2pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Delve into your family’s past. Grow Your Own Vegetables Sat 7 & Sun 8 May, 10am–4pm. £45 (members £40.50). Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2937. Two day-long GYO workshops (attend either Sat or Sun). Booking essential. Rona Munro – Imaginary Worlds Sat 7 May, 2–5pm. £10 (£5). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Playwriting workshop with Rona Munro. Soothing Sundays Sun 8 May, 1–2pm & 2.30–3.30pm. £10. Royal Botanic Garden, Arboretum Place, 248 2979. Relaxation session featuring the ‘Sound Bath’, health tips and a walk in the garden. Holiday Language Classes Mondays, 7–9pm (Italian & Spanish) & Tuesdays, 7–9pm (French), 9 May–14 Jun, 7–9pm. £38.50. Leith Academy, 20 Academy Park, 553 2810. Pick up essential foreign phrases. Finger-Lickin’ Summer Cookin’ Wednesdays, 11 May–15 Jun, 7–9pm. £43.50. Leith Academy, 20 Academy Park, 553 2810. Cooking classes with a barbecues and parties theme. Improve your Summer Snaps Wednesdays, 11 May–15 Jun, 7–9pm. £38.50. Leith Academy, 20 Academy Park, 553 2810. Brush up on photography skills before you jet off. FREE History, Art and Fun at the Edinburgh Cast Collection: Drawing the Human Form Sat 14 May, 10am–noon. Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, 221 6000. A tour of the ECA cast collection, followed by a drawing session. Part of the Festival of Museums. FREE Workshop: Beyond Google Wed 18 May, 10.30am. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Advanced online research workshop. Saturday Could Be Creative Writing Day Sat 21 May, 10.15am–1.15pm. £12 (£10). Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 75 Belford Road, 624 6560. A tour and creative writing workshop.
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AroundTown Reel Syria and Lebanon
The team behind 2009’s Reel Afghanistan and Reel Iraq in 2010 have decided to focus their attention on Syria and Lebanon this year. For the uninitiated, the format is simple: in an attempt to bridge cultural understanding, the festival of films (including Lebanese award winner Every Day Is a Holiday, pictured), poetry, discussion events and music begins in Damascus, moves to Beirut and then finishes in Edinburgh. Well, relatively simple. ‘With all the current changes and attention on the Middle East we felt it was prime time for a festival looking at these two neighbouring countries and celebrating their cultural works,’ explains organiser Dan Gorman. ‘We’re particularly excited about bringing filmmakers, poets and the irrepressible techno dabke music of Daraa’, southern Syria along with Lebanese breakcore to Scotland for the first time.’ ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, Mon 16–Sat 21 May. See reelfestivals.org for full listings.
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28 Apr–26 May 2011 THE LIST 35