Days out

Off the Page

Stirling's book festival

Book lovers are set for a treat this month as a flurry of leading authors make the trip to Stirling. A week-long jamboree of literary lovelies, this year’s line-up includes Ian Rankin, Rodge Glass and ex-WPC Karen Campbell. The kids should be kept…

Milkshake Live!

Gently lure your wee ones away from the telly … by taking them to see their favourite telly types live. The idea is to induct the little ‘uns into a love of theatre at an early age, with all-singing and dancing appearances from the loveable likes of…

Hitlist: Around Town

The best events, books and LGBT

Sheep Heid Inn Summer’s End Beer Festival, Launch of SEEDBOM, Bletherheads, Jeffrey Lewis’ Watchmen, Handmade Heaven, Mary Brennan, Dead Girls’ Dance Club

Side Dishes

More culinary treats

The old Claremont Bar at 133-135 East Claremont Street (near Powderhall) is now a bar/diner called Elbow. Behind it is a team including Wendy Schofield (aka Trendy Wendy of club Tackno) of The Street on Broughton Street. It’s serving breakfast from 9am…

Fair Trade on the Fringe

A fair day out at the Grassmarket

Every feel like the Fringe was eating a little bit of your soul? Yeah, us too, hon. Restore your karmic balance this week at the Fringe’s first all fair trade market, which features stalls selling homeware, fashion, food and books, as well as free…

Subject in process

Symposium on feminism and art set for CCA

Lizzie Mitchell finds out about an upcoming day of film, music and vigorous discussion on feminism and art.

Poorboy Playrooms

Stealthily, and behind the backs of paying customers, some of the most exciting companies and performers on the Fringe have been experimenting together. As we reported at the beginning of the month, the Poorboy Playroom project, set up by Scottish…

Around Town Hitlist

Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School, Late Summer Yard Sale and Cafe Aww, Philippa Gregory, The Peat Cutter’s Ball, Liam McIlvanney

Kids Events at the Book Festival

The events and authors for the younger generation

Old favourites for kids include Michael Morpurgo (22 Aug), Malorie Blackman (22 Aug), Jacqueline Wilson (23 Aug), Anne Fine (23 Aug), Julia Donaldson (24 Aug), and Terry Deary of horrible history stardom (28 Aug), but there’s a whole lucky-dip of events…

Days Out Hitlist

The best books, talks and LGBT

Fringe in the Park, Alien Wars, Bratchy and the Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz, Anja Kirschner and David Panos ‘in conversation’ with Francis McKee, Critical Applause 6: Will Holder.

Site Specifics - Alien Wars

What is it? Imagine stepping into the world of Alien and Aliens (as created by Ridley Scott and James Cameron respectively) as you are guided round the Arches’ basement with extra terrestrials leaping out to scare you at every turn. ‘A ghost train on…

Minibeast Safari & A Wander With Bugs and Butterflies

Ugly Bug Ball

If you’re already bored of staring at comedians, why not spend a little time investigating a very different kind of wild and unpredictable beastie? Summer is excellent bug-spotting time, as both Cammo Visitor Centre, who are offering A Wander With Bugs…

Piping Live! – Family Fun Day

As this little lady ably proves, you’re never too young to pick up a pipe. ‘Come and try’ sessions are just one aspect of the Family Fun Day, organised as part of this year’s Piping Live! You can also try your hand at drumming and Highland dancing…

Glasgow homegrown events round-up

So, apparently there’s this … festival thing, happening in Edinburgh? Whatever. While the gallons of international acts pouring into the Capital at the beginning of August do traditionally tend to hog the headlines at this time of year, with loads of…

Gallery Of Modern Art Family Festival Day

Letting your kids draw on an historical building is usually frowned upon by the powers that be. But at GoMA Family Festival Day, things are a little more relaxed. The floor of the Gallery of Modern Art’s Portico becomes a giant canvas just waiting to be…

Your Healthy Living Show

Ah, the great Scottish diet. (You can make up your own joke involving the words ‘deep’, ‘fried’ and possibly ‘Mars Bar’ here, or just recycle one of the thousands already out there.) People who like to mourn such things will often mourn the fact that we…

Site specifics: Deep Sea World

What is it? Dah-duh. Dah-duh. Dah-duh dah-duh dah-duh … That was a textual rendering of the Jaws theme, right? Right! Because this fortnight we’re focusing on Scotland’s own shark haven, Deep Sea World! You’re chipper today We just really…

Creativity vs Destruction: Stories of Iraqi Art

The closing event of this year’s excellently curated Reel Iraq festival, this exhibition explores not only major artworks coming out of Iraq, but also the tribulations and obstacles that artists from that country have to go through in order to create…

More Gathering tickets available

Tickets for the dress rehearsal for the centrepiece of The Gathering 2009 weekend are now on sale. Entry to the world premiere of Aisling’s Children: Tales of the Homecoming on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade was previously only open to weekend passport…

Comics in Scotland: Oxfam Bookfest

Whack! Bang! Wallop! There’s ample reason to don the lycra this fortnight as Oxfam’s Bookfest celebrates comic writing in Scotland. Ferg Hadley (Spiderman, Marvel UK) and Dave Bishop (ex-2000AD and Dr Who) talk comic book writing and graphic novels…

Homeless World Cup Charity 5-a-side Tournament

A charity footie tournament for teams of 5–7 players in aid of The Homeless World Cup Foundation (the cup takes place in Milan this year). Email: info@powerleague.co.uk or call 0141 847 5565 to enter. Powerleague, Kennedy Street, Glasgow, Sun 19 Jul.

West side story

For decades, the West End has meant one thing to non-WEndies: Byres Road, and while that esteemed thoroughfare is still geographically pivotal, its tributary roads have formed little communities of their own, each with an increasingly distinctive…

Burlescape

What is it about burlesque just now? There’s a new club or class popping up every day, hundreds of dancers queuing up for slots at nights like Club Noir and Rockaburley, and now here comes the Glasgow Cabaret Festival, a week-long festival all over the…

Pride Scotia

Scotland’s bi-annual LGBT celebration, Pride Scotia is returning to the capital with its usual array of provocative and outrageous happenings. Revellers are asked to assemble at noon on Sat 27 Jun at the City Chambers for speeches from local politicians…

Site Specifics: The Falkirk Wheel

Occupation? The world’s only rotating boatlift. There are two canals which run through Falkirk but don’t connect, see? The Wheel lifts boats from one to the other. And commemorates the millennium. Aye, nine years ago it was millenniums as far as the eye…