Join us this Thursday 9 Novemberfor the launch of:asweetseaby Liza Sylvestre and Johnby Thomas Abercromby.
asweetsea explores what it means to communicate. As an artist who is deaf, and whose child and partner are both hearing, Liza Sylvestre seeks to locate where her disability lives within their family structure.
Sylvestre has collaborated with her 6 year-old child to reimagine her fond memories of the 1985 TV show ‘Sweet Sea’. The works shown at Collective as part of asweetsea were originally commissioned for Liza Sylvestre | asweetsea, John Hansard Gallery (2022).
John explores the intricate ties between family, grief and the multifaceted layers of social class.
The exhibition is centred around a film installation that juxtaposes childhood paintings made by Abercromby’s late father with opulent gallery interiors, painterly images of urban landscapes, and behind-the-scenes moments of the film’s all-working-class cast and crew.
Refreshments will be served from our Play Shelter outdoors, so please dress for the weather.
Santa Claus is coming to a different part of town for Edinburgh’s Christmas this year, bringing with him an incredible contingent of over 80 market stallholders that will be stationed across the Scottish capital to ensure visitors can find the perfect gift for their loved ones this festive season.
Edinburgh’s Christmas, presented by UniqueAssembly on behalf on City of Edinburgh Council, officially opens Friday 17 November, with Santa and a bunch of helpful elves taking over St Andrew Square from Saturday 18 November – 6 January 2024, with a letter writing station for kids, Santa Stories, a 10m tall Christmas Tree and Social Bite’s Gift Donation point.
While Santa has migrated this year, Christmas markets will still take place in East Princes Street Gardens and George Street, featuring a host of local and continental food, drink, art, craft, and gift vendors. LocalMotive’s Christmas Market will also return to Castle Street 25 November to 22 December. With plenty of old familiars returning for another year of festivity, Edinburgh’s Christmas is proud to also welcome a cohort of brand-new vendors to the Christmas Markets.
Deck your halls with Christmas decorations from Glasgow locals Hairy Fairy Gifts, give your tree the wow-factor with embroidered hangings from Christmas Wow, grab some colourful ornaments from returning favourites The Christmas Nutcracker Shop, or make lasting festive memories with an interactive Snow Globe photo.
For an artisanal and handmade year-round gift, be sure to visit returning gems include Isle of Skye Leather, World of Baubles, and The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company as well as newcomers to the markets, Westmount Art, Solid Cologne UK and Paraffle, offering 100% handmade art and crafts, sustainable solid perfumes, and embroidery kits and gifts respectively.
For moments when the weather outside is frightful, there are a host of stalls to keep you toasty and warm with handmade wool jumpers, scarves, shawls and gloves from LOUD elephant, tweed and woollens from local suppliers Macraes of Edinburgh, or something fun for the wee ones from Joe Cool’sincredible collection of colourful socks and gifts, amongst others.
For the foodie in your life, there are plenty of stalls offering take-home food and drink, ingredients and gifts. Pick up something for the gin-lover in your life from Scotland’s smallest craft distillery Great Glen Distillery; boast the best cheese board of the season with the help of Cherry Tree Preserves; or grab those essential Christmas day treats from The Fudge Company.
The gourmet experience isn’t reserved for the home; the Edinburgh’s Christmas markets host a wide variety of delicious local and continental street food and drink to enjoy during your visit.
Fresh off the back of opening their first London restaurant, Scottish favourites Ting Thai will bring their award-winning Pad Thai to East Princes Street Gardens; Edinburgh Street Food resident The Peruvian will be serving up traditional South American dishes; along with Pies from the Jarvis Pickle Kitchen. There’s no shortage of sweet options from Spanish Churros to Crepes and Waffles, or warm up with something mulled from the bar or a luxury hot chocolate from Hector and Harriet.
Family-run Soctopus, locals Brownhill Whisky, Native Handicraft and many more make George Street a must-see stop on your Edinburgh’s Christmas trip; while LocalMotive takes over Castle Street Christmas Market from 25 November, with 22 stalls selling quality made local, fair trade and ethical gifts; arts and crafts, food and drinks.
Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations will run for seven weeks, Friday 17 November 2023 – Saturday 6 January 2024.
The city centre will become a circle of Christmas cheer with four locations to explore – the East Princes Street Gardens Christmas Market which opens early evening on Friday 17 November, the Festive Family Funfair in West Princes Street Gardens, Santa’s Workshop and Social Bite Festival of Kindness at St Andrew Square, and the Ice Rink on George Street West which all open from Saturday 18 November, and then LocalMotive’s Castle Street Christmas Market which will open from Saturday 25 November.
REVELRY AND JOY IN HOLYROOD PARK FOR SAMHUINN FIRE FESTIVAL
THOUSANDS of revellers gathered at Holyrood Park last night to take part in an ancient Celtic celebration to observe the end of the warmer months, and welcome in the start of the winter season.
Samhuinn Fire Festival is inspired by the Celtic tales of the turning of the wheel. Witness the epic battle between the Summer and Winter Kings unfold as the Cailleach prepares for transition into winter.
More than 5,000 people gathered at Holyrood Park, in the centre of the city to watch the revelries and welcome in the colder season. We were very grateful for the break in wind and rain that seems to persist over Edinburgh at this time for a moment that we could collectively take to celebrate the turning of the wheel into the winter months.
Sammi Searle, Chair of Beltane Fire Society, said: “Last night’s Samhuinn Fire Festival was truly spectacular and a hearty welcome to the winter season.
“Our festivals are living, breathing entities that bring together both the community and the landscape and it’s always so inspiring to see how our incredible volunteers come together as the seasons turn to unite us all with their passion and talent.
“Enormous and heartfelt thanks go out to everyone involved who gave it their all and made this night so special, and to our audience who never fail in helping us create such a magical atmosphere. We hope this was truly a night to remember.“
The modern Samhuinn Fire Festival has been running since 1988 and is the autumn and winter counterpart to Beltane Fire Festival, which is held at Calton Hill on 30th April.
The events are immersive experiences, which involve modern re-imaginings of ancient Celtic festivals to mark the turning seasons, and the turning of the wheel.
The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient Celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.
PICTURES: Alessandra Fais, Clarissa Gurd, Matt Scott, Beltane Fire Society
St James Quarter prepares to cast a bewitching spell on guests in the run up to Halloween, with fun-filled activities, live entertainment, and wickedly good offers from the Quarter’s eateries.
On Saturday, 28th October from 12pm to 4pm, local DJ, Mairi B Pots, will provide the perfect soundtrack to this year’s celebrations with a Halloween themed DJ set. The Quarter is set to be filled with spooky classics including Ghostbusters, Time Warp and Monster Mash.
For those looking to reveal their inner ghost or ghoul, there’ll also be Halloween face painting on this date, from 11am to 4pm on Level 4. From witches and wolves to friendly pumpkins, the Quarter’s talented artist will be on hand to transform the faces of guests.
The popular LEGO store will be bringing the Halloween fun, with activities for families to enjoy. There’s a spooktacular ghost hunt around the store with treats on offer until 31st October, and you can build your own LEGO Black Cat at set times on 28th and 29th October. In John Lewis, kids and families can challenge themselves to a spooky treasure hunt throughout the department store until 31st October.
And that’s not all! St James Quarter’s dining destinations will also be embracing the Halloween spirit with a range of exclusive offers available via the St James Quarter app. Bonnie & Wild is inviting families to partake in a fun-filled “dooking for apples” activity, where children can enjoy extra treats, while some of the Scottish Food Hall’s kitchens will be offering Halloween specials alongside their regular menus. Hotel Chocolat will tantalise taste buds with Halloween-themed chocolates, a chillingly delicious Cherry Scary Sundae and an exclusive competition via the St James Quarter App, offering the chance to win some tempting Halloween goodies.
For adults celebrating during the eerie festivities, The Alchemist is offering a special Halloween cocktail available from the 27th – 31st October as well as an exclusive 20% off food via the St James Quarter app. Meanwhile, Ka Pao is offering a complimentary cocktail or mocktail when diners book in advance using this link. Other dining destinations will offer exclusive Halloween deals including Gordon Ramsay Street Burger, The Real Greek and Maki & Ramen.
Download the St James Quarter App HERE to access the exclusive Halloween dining discounts and to stay updated on this Halloween event.
Susan Hewlett, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “This spooky season is the perfect opportunity for our guests to experience our impressive retail, hospitality and leisure offering as well as enjoying some Halloween themed entertainment and fun activities in the Quarter.
“This Saturday, the celebrations will be in full swing with Halloween inspired music filling the Galleria for all to enjoy and spooky themed face painting – you don’t want to miss out!”
Edinburgh Women’s Aid, (EWA), which marks 50 years of supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse, unveils ‘A Source of Strength’ exhibition in partnership with Stills: Centre for Photography in Cockburn Street and the University of Edinburgh, which runs until tomorrow (28 October).
The exhibition is part of the Economic Social Research Council, (ESRC), Festival of Social Science, building on research that finds the relationship between children and mothers can help improve the impact that domestic abuse has on children.
It offers visitors the chance to view photographs created by children and mothers about their relationships together and the importance of them, and the role they play in protecting and supporting children to recover from domestic abuse.
Dr Fiona Morrison, Programme Director for Childhood Practice, University of Edinburgh, said: “These beautiful photographs were taken by children and women, which celebrate the strength that children and mothers find in each other when living with and recovering together from domestic abuse.”
Over the past two years the charity has provided support to 440 children and young people in Edinburgh who have experienced domestic abuse with everything from giving them a safe place to stay in a refuge, specialist housing support, legal advice and help securing employment.
Linda Rodgers, CEO at Edinburgh Women’s Aid, said: “This exhibition is a great opportunity to honour and showcase the strength of the relationship between mothers and children experiencing domestic abuse.
“Thanks to everyone who helped bring it together including the families we have been working with, Stills Centre for Photography and the University of Edinburgh.”
The free exhibition at Stills: Centre for Photography is on from11-5pm at Cockburn Street until tomorrow – Saturday, 28th October.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is hosting TWO unmissable Halloween events on Saturday 28th October
From 12pm, guests can enjoy a drag villain brunch with appearances from iconic fairytale villains before being entranced by a spooky but fabulous Rocky Horror drag show, 9pm til late
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is set to get Edinburgh trembling through TWO Halloween events on Saturday, 28th October.
Starting from 12pm, Virgin Hotel’s all-day dining destination, Eve, will set the stage for a Halloween brunch like no other. Hosted by DJ Zac from Bolton and Mystica Glamoor, guests can sink their fangs into brunch favourites including mouthwatering crispy chicken burgers and fluffy pancakes all whilst enjoying a spellbinding drag performance from Mystica, who will be channelling looks of some of the most iconic fairytale villains.
The spooktacular drag villain brunch is free to attend, with guests only required to book a table to enjoy the experience in the fabulous surroundings of Eve.
And that’s just the beginning! Those who dare to stay out after the sun goes down can enjoy a spine-chilling drag rendition of the iconic Rocky Horror show from 9pm ’til late.
Hosted by Klarity Productions, theatre diva, Krystal Klear and DJ Jasper Noir will be welcoming star-studded guests onto the stage, including resident performer at Kabaret KweerDaddy Delight, who are ready to infuse this Halloween classic with an extra dose of glitz and glamour.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s expert team of mixologists will also be serving specially curated Halloween-themed cocktails all day for guests to enjoy. Those looking for some nibbles before The Rocky Horror drag show can tuck into some delicious small plates off the new Autumn menu in Eve, including Scottish farm buffalo mozzarella with pumpkin seeds as well as mouthwatering chicken thighs.
Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager of Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: “We are bringing a Halloween extravaganza to Eve this year with two fabulous drag events.
“Starting with the drag villain brunch through to an iconic Rocky Horror drag show, guests will be in for an experience like no other on offer in the city this Hallo-weekend.
“With our expertly curated Halloween-themed cocktails through to our delicious bites, there won’t be a need to step foot outside Virgin Hotels Edinburgh all day. So, join us on Saturday 28th October for a Halloween party you won’t forget!”
To join Edinburgh’s very own Rocky Horror drag show from 9pm til late, tickets can be booked here.
This Halloween spooktacular is just one of many events hosted at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. To stay up to date with the latest news and events, follow along on social media here:
Social Bite announces new location for Pay It Forward meals service that allows people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh to ‘dine with dignity’
A VITAL service that has served thousands of free meals to homeless people in Edinburgh for more than seven years has unveiled a new location in the capital.
The Social Bite Pay It Forward programme, which was set up in 2016 and has since provided more than 11,000 meals allowing homeless people to ‘dine with dignity’, will operate from The Bon Vivant, in Thistle Street, from January 2024.
The move follows the closure of Vesta, on Queensferry Street, after the sale of the building it is based in.
The Bon Vivant will open its doors on the last Tuesday of every month between 2-4pm to people experiencing homelessness in the capital who will be provided with a two-course meal funded by Social Bite and diners at the restaurant who choose to ‘Pay it Forward’ by adding a donation to their bill.
The Bon Vivant Pay It Forward service is just one of Social Bite’s many programmes to support people experiencing homelessness across Scotland and the UK, which includes the provision of daily breakfasts and lunches to vulnerable people in each of its cafes in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and London.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, co-founder and Executive Director of Social Bite, said:“Since opening in 2016, Vesta has served more than 11,000 two-course meals to people experiencing homelessness in a setting where they can dine with dignity, a fact we are incredibly proud of.
“Whilst Vesta will be closing following the sale of the building, the vital work will continue, and even expand, as we take it to the new location of The Bon Vivant. A big thank you to everyone who has supported Vesta over the years as we look forward to this exciting new partnership.”
Antonia Jackson, Managing Director of The Bon Vivant Group, said: “We all recognise the important work carried out by Social Bite in Edinburgh and beyond, and The Bon Vivant Group is delighted to support the charity’s aims through this new partnership.”
Vesta will close on Sunday, October 22, and Social Bite is working with a range of restaurant partners to provide new employment opportunities for Vesta team members.
The new Pay It Forward service will kick off from January 2024 at The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street. If you are in a situation of homelessness, you can register interest in dining at The Bon Vivant in January by visiting the charity’s cafe on Rose Street, Edinburgh.
For more information about Social Bite and how to get involved, please visit social-bite.co.uk/.
Would you know what to do if you were accused of being a witch in the 17th century? How would you cope if your castle came under siege in the Scottish Wars of Independence? Wouldn’t life be easier if it came with an instruction manual?
Thankfully, Gillian Paterson and Nicola Wright have found just such a book for their show at this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival, A Girl’s Own Guide to Surviving History.
Told in the style of a Boy’s Own adventure book, A Girl’s Own Guide to Surviving History is filled with hot tips about surviving life as a pirate, fighting the system, and being a master (or mistress) of disguise. Told using silly songs, and a ridiculous amount of props this show presents a light-hearted look at the serious subject of the challenges faced by women through the centuries.
Gillian Paterson originally from Arbroath has worked as a costumed historical storyteller at museums and events around the country. She has a knack for finding the funny side of history, taking irreverent approaches to subjects and bringing them to life through her passion for history and storytelling.
Nicola is equally passionate about history and delivers entertaining and engaging workshops to primary and secondary schools on subjects ranging from castle life and the cursed Stewarts to Jacobites and WW1.
Gillian Paterson said: “I love history and entertaining audiences with stories of derring-do, fighting the system and life across the ages.
“It’s a chance to tell all the best bits and I really hope that this new show about women’s history, particularly all those great feisty women that have been buried in the history books over the years, will be as fun to listen to, as it is to tell.”
The Girl’s Own Survival Guide to History with Gillian Paterson and Nicola Wright is on TODAY Sat 21 Oct at 4pm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR,
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs until Sunday 29 October. Tickets to each event in this year’s programme cost a maximum of £10, with family events costing just £5 per ticket. For those planning on attending multiple events, the Festival Pass (£20/£10) offers discounted tickets to many live festival events, online and at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, as well as a discount at the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s bookshop and Haggis Box Café.
