AROUND TOWN | Events Edinburgh Burlesque Festival Spring Ball Thu 23 May, 7pm. £18.50–£29.50. The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. A large array of local and international burlesque entertainers are shipped to Edinburgh to do their sultry and cheeky thing. Performers include America’s Moana Santana and Glasgow’s own Vendetta Vain.
✽ Edinburgh Zoo Nights Fri 24 May, 6–10pm. £20 (members £17).
Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 314 0340. The zoo opens its gates for an after hours, adults-only extravaganza featuring dancing, music, champagne and Pimm’s bars, tapas, sushi, BBQ, facepainting, street performers and – wait for it – animal handling. See preview, page 48.
✽ FREE Meadows Festival Sat 1 & Sun 2 Jun, times vary. The Meadows,
Melville Drive, meadowsfestival.3st.org. uk. Edinburgh’s festival season kicks off with the Meadows Festival, which offers local bands, dance groups, quirky performers and workshops amidst lots of family-friendly activities. See preview, page 29. Sun Bear Birthdays Sat 1 Jun, 9am– 6pm. Included in admission. Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine Road, 334 9171. The zoo’s two Sun Bears hit double digits! Stop by and help the little guys celebrate their big day. FREE Kings and Queens of the Royal Park Sun 2 Jun, noon–3pm. Holyrood Park, 652 8150. Take a walk in the park with Scotland’s Kings and Queens and learn how each left their mark on the park’s landscape. Booking essential. Leith Festival Sat 8–Sun 16 Jun, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, Leith, 629 1214. The vibrant community of Leith shows off its festival skills with a fun-packed programme of events. Among the line-up of exhibitions, concerts, walks, talks and films is the highly anticipated Leith Festival Gala Day on Leith Links. See preview, page 26. Festival of the Erotic Arts Mon 10–Thu 13 Jun, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, 0844 487 7102 . After a successful first outing last year, this festival specialising in all things naughty and arty returns for a second week of big- time sensuality in the form of performance, visual arts, film and more. See preview, page 29.
Fairs & Markets FREE Bruntsfield Markets Sat 18 May & 1 Jun, 11am–4.30pm. The Edinburgh Bookshop, 219 Bruntsfield Place, 447 1917. Indoor market selling food, crafts and gifts. FREE Stockbridge Market Every Sun, 10am–5pm. Saunders Street, Stockbridge, 551 5633. Artisanal food and craft market set by the water of Leith. FREE Sofi’s Clothes Swap Wed 22 May, 7pm. Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street, 555 7019. Swap your tired (but clean and non-holey) old items for someone else’s new and exciting threads. FREE Out of the Blue Flea Market Sat 25 May, 10am–3pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Bargain buys including furniture, clothes, music and more. FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 1 Jun, 11am–4pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Boutique craft and design market. Sport Cherry Pop – Lothian Derby Dolls v Bairn City Rollers Sat 18 May, 12.30–2.30pm. £5 (under 14s free). Jack Kane Sports Centre, 208 Niddrie Mains Road, 669 0404. Lothian Derby Dolls take on Central Belters in their first public roller derby bout. Featuring an all-round family atmosphere. Edinburgh Wolves v Gateshead Senators Sun 19 May, 2–5.30pm. £3 (children free). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 661 5351. American football bout with plenty of kitsch Americana (think hot dogs and cheerleaders) to enjoy on the sidelines. FREE Pedal on Parliament Sun 19
52 THE LIST 16 May–13 Jun 2013
THE EDINBURGH DUNGEON The Edinburgh Dungeon has recently undergone a revamp, utilising new cinematic techniques to unleash its trademark style of fear and fun. Bringing life to the dungeon’s new features for 2013 is makeup artist Sam Norman, who has previously worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Together with New York- based cosmetics company MAC, he’s helped train the Dungeon performers to use new makeup to produce a film-quality appearance. (Michael Behr) ■ The Edinburgh Dungeon, Market Street, Edinburgh.
May, 3–5pm. The Meadows, Melville Drive, pedalonparliament.org Massed bike ride from the Meadows down to Scottish Parliament to raise awareness of the need for proper provision for cyclists on our roads. Followed up with a picnic in Holyrood Park. Edinburgh Marathon Sat 25 & Sun 26 May, times vary. Prices vary. London Road, edinburgh-marathon.com A mass run-along from Holyrood Park down the East Coast. Run for the charity of your choice. Kuk Sool Won Scottish Championships and Masters Exhibition Sat 25 May, 8am–4.30pm & 5.30pm. £8 (children £5; under 5s free). Meadowbank Sports Centre, 139 London Road, 07743 885719. Martial arts championships all day with a masters exhibition in the evening. Edinburgh 7s Festival Fri 7–Sun 9 Jun, times vary. Day ticket £10; camping £20. Meggetland, Boroughmuir RFC, edinburgh7sfestival.com A multi-sports festival featuring seven sports: rugby, touch, netball, hockey, football, volleyball and dodgeball. Watch from the stands or get out on the playing field(s).
✽ The Edinburgh Moonwalk Sat 8 Jun, 8pm–midnight. £32.50–£72.50.
Leith Links, Leith, 01483 741430. A sponsored nocturnal power walk to raise funds to combat breast cancer. As an added bonus, all participants are invited to walk in their bras (men included). FREE Wiff Waff Wednesday Wed 12 Jun, 6–10.30pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Monthly evenings of food and beer, eclectic music and the age-old game of Wiff Waff (aka ping pong).
Talks FREE Julie Brook in Conversation Thu 16 May, 6–7.30pm. Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, 550 3660. The multi-media landscape artist discusses her practice with a number of different cultural workers. Tonight it’s with Ben Tufnell of Venison Gallery, London, and author of Land Art. Booking essential. Enhancing the Human Body Mon 20 May, 2.30–4pm. Included in admission. Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, 527 1649. A guided tour, discussion and drawing event intended to spark debate about the ethics surrounding the medical improvements that can be made to the human body (think: super powers).
FREE Ian Mitchell: Scotland’s Mountains Before the Mountaineers Tue 21 May, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Author Ian Mitchell talks about the Highlands back in the days when bandits, poachers and illicit distillers camped out in the mountains. FREE If I know that something unknown transcends me . . . Wed 22 May, 3pm. University of Edinburgh, Minto House 20 Chambers Street, 650 1000. Artists talk about the complexities of communication. FREE Bronwen Sleigh: Artist Talk Sat 25 May, 2–3pm. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. The printmaker discusses her practice. Booking essential. FREE A Conversation in the Library Sat 25 May, 3–3.45pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Artist Ilana Halperin talks to Bryony Bond about her current exhibition, The Library, as the pair lead a tour of the works. FREE A Pride of Lions Mon 27 May, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Former Scotland internationals John Beattie and Peter Wright talk about life on the rugby team. Author David Barnes also gets in on the chat. Edinburgh Lectures: Ecology of Place Mon 27 May, 7pm. £5. Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Road, 550 7800. Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion, of Dundee-based art studio Dalziel + Scullion, talk about creativity’s role in challenging, reflecting and shaping the future. Bright Club: Edinburgh Tue 28 May, 8.30pm. £5. The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. The hardworking staff at Edinburgh’s universities are let out for the night to share their tales about the weird and funny world of research. FREE Julie Brook in Conversation Thu 30 May, 6–7.30pm. Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, 550 3660. Tonight the artist talks with Scottish poet, writer and musician Don Paterson, focusing on language, poetry and artistic practice. Edinburgh Lectures: Scotland’s Forgotten Cats – A Tale of Two Kitties Thu 6 Jun, 6.30pm. £5. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Dr David Hetherington looks at Scotland’s two native feline species – the Scottish wildcat (endangered) and the Eurasian lynx (extinct) – and local
conservation efforts. FREE Behind the Lines: Women, Writing and Warfare Thu 13 Jun, 7–8pm. Central Library, 7–9 George IV Bridge, 242 8100. A panel event featuring novelist Sue Reid Sexton, lecturer and critic Faith Pullin and historian Yvonne McEwen. Chaired by historian Jenni Calder.
Workshops Summerhall Life Drawing Every Mon, 10am–noon and 6–8pm. Every Tue, 6–8pm. £10. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 07972 767281. Stephen Thorpe shows artists of all skill levels the finer points of drawing. Monday morning classes are project-led and experimental, while the evening classes feature a new life model each week. Booking essential. FREE Don’t Be Shy, Have a Try Tue 21 May, noon–4pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 209 7700. Outreach outfit Crisis Skylight Edinburgh presents this indoor learning market in honour of Adults Learners’ Week. There’ll be hands-on learning activities, t-shirt printing, card making and informative stalls. FREE Bright Night International Workshops Wed 22 May, 5.30–8.30pm. Duncan Place Resource Centre, 17 Duncan Place Leith, brightnightinternational.com Young people (aged 16–25) can learn circus skills, urban dance, and performance at this tryout workshop. From this, there is the chance to be a part of a 12-week training programme and perform at Edinburgh Mela.
✽ Drink’n’Draw at Summerhall Wed 22 May & 5 Jun, 7–9pm. £5. Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. A life drawing workshop with beer! Booking essential. FREE Bright Night International Workshops Sat 25 May, 11am–2pm. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. See above.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES TweedLove Bike Festival Fri 24 May–Sun 2 Jun, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, Peebles, 555 0044. Now in its fourth year, TweedLove is ten days of bike riding and good times in the iconic Tweed Valley. Along with all things cycling – from races for pro cyclists to informal jaunts into the hills – there’s also photography and film competitions, music gigs and barbecues. See preview, page 24.