AroundTown EVENTS
✽FREE Scottish Archaeology Month Event Sat 15–Mon 17 Sep,
12.30–4.30pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. A long weekend of digging, sorting and exploring as part of the nationwide festival of archaeological fun.
Exhibitions FREE Eric Liddell Exhibition Until Wed 5 Sep, Mon–Fri 9am–9pm; Sat 10am–4.30pm. Eric Liddell Centre, 15 Morningside Road, 447 4520. Exhibition celebrating Eric Chariots of Fire Liddell. FREE Going to the Pictures: Scotland at the Cinema Until Sun 28 Oct, Mon–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 2–5pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Learn about Scotland’s relationship with the cinema.
Fairs & Markets FREE The West End Craft, Art and Design Fair Until Sun 26 Aug, 11am–6pm. St John’s Episcopal Church, Princes Street, 221 2273. Up to 100 craft, art and design stalls. FREE Out of the Blue Flea Market Sat 25 Aug, 10am–3pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Furniture, clothes and music. The Indulgence Show Sat 25 Aug, 11am–6pm. £5 (£4; under 16s free). Corn Exchange, 11 New Market Road, theindulgenceshow.com Live demos, workshops and tastings. Edinburgh Printmakers Summer Fayre Sun 26 Aug, 11am–4pm. £1 (under 5s free). Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Browse stalls selling quality artists’ multiples, watch printmaking demos and relax with tea and cake. Vintage Market Sun 26 Aug, noon–4pm. £2. Corn Exchange, 11 New Market Road, 07796 905986. Clothing, accessories, hair styling and make-up. FREE West Pilton & Muirhouse Community Gala Sun 26 Aug, noon–4pm. West Pilton Park, West Pilton Avenue, 07971 939624. Community gala with performances, activities and all manner of family fun. FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 1 Sep, 11am–4pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Craft and design market. The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition Sat 8 & Sun 9 Sep, 10am–5pm. £5 (group ticket £15). Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Planning the big day made easy. Market Tree Craft & Gift Market Sat 8 Sep, 10am–4pm. £1. Café Camino, Parish Centre, 1 Little King Street, 523 0102. Crafts fae Scotland. Edinburgh Antique Fair Sat 15 & Sun 16 Sep, 10am–4pm. Sat £5; Sun £3. Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6200. Antiques and vintage items. Sport Jam Time Sat 25 Aug, 3pm. £15 for riders; £5 for spectators (under 5s free). Transgression Skate Park, 10b Kings Haugh Road, Peffermill Industrial Estate, 661 4769. A day of BMX-related fun and demos from pro riders like Harry Main. Emily’s Big Walk Tue 4 Sep, 6–8pm. £5 (under 5s free). The Meadows, Melville Drive, 668 4949. Charity walk in memory of a wee girl who lost her fight with cancer, part of a nationwide series of walks raising funds for children’s cancer care units. The Edinburgh leg is supporting the Sick Kids hospital.
Talks Edinburgh International Festival Talks Until Sat 1 Sep. Times vary. £6 per talk. The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, 473 2000. The EIF’s programme of talks continues, with highlights including poet Liz Lochhead and Robyn Marsack of the Scottish Poetry Library on myths and fairy tales (Tue 28 Aug, 2.30–3.30pm), an exploration of journalism’s role as the first draft of history (Thu 30 Aug, 2.30–
36 THE LIST 23 Aug–20 Sep 2012
Edinburgh Mela An annual weekend celebrating international diversity, with family- friendly events and activities encompassing everything from professional dancing to fashion and design. Dance, food and music – with everything from Nepalese folk, dhol funk and Ghanaian drumming to classical Indian and Iraqi fusion – are the big draws. See dance feature, page 122. (Lauren Mayberry) ■Leith Links, Edinburgh, 31 Aug–2 Sep.
3.30pm) and a discussion of ‘Nationhood Today’ (Thu 30 Aug, 5–6pm). 2012 Invades Popular Culture: Mayans, Memes, and the End of a World Era Thu 23 Aug, 6.30–7.30pm. £5. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Apocalyptic culture researcher Kevin Whitesides discusses how the end of the world has become a hot topic. EAF. FREE Stuart Ritchie: IQ for Dummies Thu 23 Aug, 8.30–9.30pm. The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, 558 8209. PhD psychologist Stuart Ritchie explores the IQ: whether it exists, whether it matters, and if it’s in the genes. FREE The Ellie & Oliver Show Fri 24 & 31 Aug, noon–12.30pm. Edinburgh Art Festival Pavilion, St Andrew’s Square, ellieandoliver.co.uk Artists Ellie Harrison and Oliver Braid broadcast live from the Pavilion. EAF. FREE Festival Detours: Gary McNair Fri 24 Aug, 3.30–4pm. Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, 221 6000. Theatre maker McNair presents a personal response to the Rachel Mayeri installation. EAF. FREE The Art Particle Fri 24 Aug, 7–8.30pm. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. We barely understand what this talk is about, but if you’re into art theory and quantum physics, it’s for you. FREE Frank Swain: How to Start Your Own Zombie Apocalypse Fri 24 Aug, 8.30–9.30pm. The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, 558 8209. Join the Edinburgh Skeptics to learn how to make your very own zombie using real life science (!). FREE Artist Talk: Katri Walker Sat 25 Aug, 11am–noon. Edinburgh Art Festival Pavilion, St Andrew’s Square, edinburghartfestival.com Hear about Walker’s commission from EAF to create portraits of people involved in NVA’s Speed of Light. EAF. Barbara Hammer: Incorporating ‘The Lesbian Museum’ and ‘The Hidden Hammer’ Sat 25 Aug, 3pm. £5 (£4). Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Queer cinema pioneer Hammer holds court. FREE Paul Zenon: Mediums at Large Sat 25 Aug, 6.30–7.30pm. The Jam House, 5 Queen Street, 226 4380. Magician Paul Zenon, following a run-in with ‘psychic’ Sally Morgan, reveals some tricks of the trade that
might be behind her apparent feats of clairvoyance. FREE Rhythmic Transport Sun 26 Aug, 3pm. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Christopher Fynsk opens up a philosophical discussion on jazz, driving, art, life and rhythm. The Natural History of Blue John Tue 28 Aug, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Godfrey Fitton lectures on a rare and beautiful mineral. FREE The Scandinavian Landscape Fri 31 Aug, 12.45–1.30pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6200. Christina Lodder explores Scandinavian landscape painting. EAF. Scottish Enlightenment Geniuses in the Royal Mile Mon 3 Sep, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. David Dick investigates the Enlightenment figures who hung out on the Royal Mile. FREE Ragged University Thu 6 Sep, 7–10pm. Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 667 7533. Free, democratic learning on varied topics. FREE The Story of I J Mellis Cheesemonger Fri 7 Sep, 2pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Find out about the history of Edinburgh’s foremost cheesemonger. Wine and cheese included. FREE Smollett, Smith and Scrooge Sat 8 Sep, 10.30am. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 3963. Illustrated talk on famous and infamous past residents of the Canongate. The History of Photography in Edinburgh Tue 11 Sep, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Peter Stubbs introduces the Edinburgh Calotype Club, the earliest photographic society in the world. FREE Behind the Scenes: The Cinema Collection of the National Library of Scotland Tue 11 Sep, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, Causewayside, 623 3918. A talk on the NLS’s cinema collections.
✽The Makar’s Choice – Liz Lochhead Sat 15 Sep, 2pm. £20.
Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Our national poet reads from some of her work and answers audience questions. Afternoon tea included. FREE On the March: Roman Camps in Scotland Thu 20 Sep,
1–2pm. RCAHMS, John Sinclair House, 16 Bernard Terrace, 662 1456. A talk on Rome’s Scottish encroachments. Catherine and Potemkin Thu 20 Sep, 6.30–7.30pm. £6 (concessions and members £5). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses the relationship between Catherine the Great and her statesman, diplomat and sometime lover, Grigory Potemkin. FREE Edinburgh Skeptics in the Pub Thu 20 Sep, 7.30pm. The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, 07896 745991. Breaking down doctrine with pints and chat. Workshops FREE Landscapes in Oil Sat 25 Aug, 10am–4pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3962. Study expressive colour in landscape painting with artist Jacqui Pestell. FREE Saturday Life Drawing Class Sat 25 Aug, 10.30am–12.30pm or 2–4pm. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 624 6560. With artist Graham Flack; suitable for all. Russian Art Workshop: From Realism to Abstract Sat 25 Aug, 2–4pm. £5 (materials included). Scotland-Russia Institute, 9 South College St, 668 3635. Painting workshop inspired by Kandinsky and Soviet Art. FREE Sharing Your Story: Blogging Thu 30 Aug, 5.45–7.30pm. Stockbridge Library, 11 Hamilton Place, 529 5665. Informal workshop on blogging. FREE Cult of the Body Beautiful: Life Drawing Class Sat 1 Sep, 10am–4pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3963. Life drawing workshop featuring the human sporting body. FREE Discovering Family History at NLS Mon 3 Sep, 2pm. National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, Causewayside, 623 3918. Delve into your family’s past at NLS. FREE Still Life in Acrylic Sat 8 Sep, 10am–4pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3962. A workshop inspired by Leslie Hunter’s still life paintings. A World of Paper-Cutting Sat 8 Sep, 10.30am–3.30pm. £18. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Explore papercraft techniques from around the world. Mosaics Sun 9 & Mon 10 Sep, 10.30am–3.30pm. £30 for two days. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make beautiful mosaic panels, inspired by late-summer colours. St Andrew Speakers Forum Tue 11 Sep, 7.30–10pm. £3. Boroughmuir Rugby Club, Meggetland, Colinton Road, 01786 462363. Friendly forum for practising public speaking. Cosy Autumn Hat Sat 15 Sep, 10.30am–3.30pm. £18. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Create your own beanie hat. FREE Introduction to Maps at NLS Tue 18 Sep, 2pm. National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, Causewayside, 623 3918. Explore the Maps Reading Room.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES Activities & Events Forest Pitch Sat 25 Aug (note rescheduled date), 10am–6pm. £5 (£3.50; under 5s free; family £15). Forest Pitch, Clarilawmuir Plantation, Selkirk, 01665 833751. On a football pitch created from trees by artist Craig Coulthard deep in a Borders forest, two amateur football matches are played and local performances are on all day as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Park and ride service from Selkirk available. Blue Moon Picnic Fri 31 Aug, 6–9pm. £25. Jupiter Artland, Bonnington House Steadings, Wilkieston, 01506 889900. Jupiter Artland hosts a lovely late-summer picnic amid the sculpture. They’ll provide the food, all you need to bring is a rug or a chair. EAF.