The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 25 - 27 October 2024
The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 25 - 27 October 2024
Corstorphine LTN to stay, Gorgie City Farm update, unis merge student services + local band wins Scottish Album of the Year Award
🌤️️️ Good morning Edinburgh. A record number of reader-entries in the noticeboard this week. That’s 1,100+ this year. Thanks so much to everyone who contributes those and brings this sometimes quiet newsletter to life. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by the weekend guide for paid-subscribers. (If the newsletter is too long to read and gets cut off in your emails, you can read it online here.)
🚧 After an 18-month trial that sparked crimes, hundreds of fines and internet trolls wasting their time, a bus gate in Corstorphine has been scrapped. Councillors voted yesterday to end the trial scheme. But they agreed to keep the rest of the area’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter, in Midlothian View.
⮑ Council transport leader Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m satisfied that the right decision was reached today based on evidence, data and listening to local residents.”
⮑ His predecessor Scott Arthur said: “This will only mean more traffic cutting through the area on the way to somewhere else along on a key walking route (inc to school) where the pavement is a little more than two feet wide.”
🎭 Arts leader and co-founder of the Traverse Richard Demarco has spoken of his fears for the future of his 'invaluable' 4,500-piece archive after the sale of Summerhall. - Brian Ferguson, The Scotsman.
🏆 Social entrepreneur Mel Young got this year’s Edinburgh Award at the City Chambers yesterday. The co-founder of the Homeless World Cup was chosen after a public vote. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.
🌱 A member of the Gorgie Farm Garden Volunteer Group, who last month handed back the keys to the council, has shared some insights into challenges the group faced. Writing on Substack, Gardener Johanna Koen said: “With adequate support we could’ve been creating more safe community gardens and greenspace for community. Instead we ended up fighting to exhaustion to keep hold of this place and losing it anyway.”
🏋️ Edinburgh Leisure today launches its 1p joining fee month. They sent this message: “From 25th October to 10th November, you can join any of Edinburgh Leisure’s fitness, climb or golf memberships for a joining fee of just one penny. This limited-time offer is your golden opportunity to experience the benefits of being a part of Edinburgh Leisure.”
🎸 Edinburgh band Redolent won last night’s Scottish Album of the Year Award for their debut album Dinny Greet. - BBC Scotland News.
⮑ Picking up the £20,000 prize, Redolent's Danny Herbert said it felt like a childhood dream: "I’m potentially also gonna greet right now which is ironic.”
⮑ The judging panel included some familiar faces. - The List’s Kevin Fullerton has more details.
⚽️ It’s the first mens’ football Edinburgh derby of the season on Sunday, with Hibs hosting Hearts for a midday kick-off at Easter Road. - John Greechan previews the game in the Evening News.
🔎 An address in Marchmont’s Spottiswoode Street is the latest featured stairwell in an excellent ongoing series by local historical storyteller Diarmid Mogg. You can read it on Twitter here or on Tenement Town here.
⮑ If you’re interested in researching your own family history, there’s a special event on Monday 27 October at the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge. - More details here.
⮑ Find more local history events on Andy Arthur’s Threadinburgh events calendar.
🔺 The students’ associations of Napier uni (ENSA) and Edinburgh uni (EUSA) have announced a partnership starting later this month. It will mean Napier students get full access to EUSA spaces, events and hospitality. - Khushi Parekh & Jamie Calder, The Edinburgh Tab.
⮑ More merger news: Start-up business services from Edinburgh Napier University’s Bright Red Triangle are now available to budding entrepreneurs at Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College. - The new partnership is covered in North Edinburgh News.
🍸 Manahatta, described as a ‘super-glam New York-inspired cocktail bar’, opens on Rose Street on Saturday. - Quine magazine took a look inside.
🚦 Volunteers will be on hand to meet anyone interested in The Causey road safety project on Saturday morning from 10am. They said: “The future of the project is uncertain but we aren’t giving up.” - More details about the ‘Sit Oot’ here.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
📌 “Leaf clearing scheme organised by Merchiston Community Council encourages residents to help clear roads and pavements in their area. Shovels, bushes and large collection bags all supplied free of charge, and filled bags collected from your front gate. Email merchistonleafclearing@gmail.com” - Thanks to Merchiston Community Council for sharing this.
📌 “If you're trick or treating in the Morningside area stop by The Eric Liddell Community centre at 15 Morningside Road. Free candies all day on Halloween for anyone showing up in a costume!” - Thanks to Fiamma Curti, Community Engagment Coordinator, The Eric Liddell Community, for sharing this.
📌 Friday: “Recitals for Wrigglers bring their Halloween programme for babies and toddlers to Stockbridge.”
📌 “TMI Friday - at the Stockbridge Music Hub presents the Bass Clef Trio. Cellists Su-a Lee, Clea Friend are joined by Jamie Kenny on the double bass for a varied programme to fill your lunch hour - admission free!” - Thanks to Stockbridge Music Hub for sharing this.
📌 “Following the success of the inaugural Gringo Supperclub as well as all 2024 dates now being sold out, we have released our 2025 dates. We would love to welcome you to our home for a Latin American culinary experience.” - Thanks to Kevin & Paulina, Hosts, Gringo Supper Club, for sharing this.
📌 Saturday: “BANZAI (Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative) is pleased to be launching our free-to-use Community e-Cargo Bike Library with an event on Bruntsfield Links (near Leamington Terrace), 2-5pm, on Saturday October 26th. Try a cargo bike, find out about the loan scheme, enjoy a cake and hot drink, and let the kids enjoy some Halloween-themed activities. We think it’s better for a community to share assets that aren’t continuously needed by any one person, than for only certain folk to have access to them, due to expense and/or storage space.” - Thanks to the team for sharing this.
📌 “Get ready to scream with laughter at Screen Porty’s latest film – Young Frankenstein, starring Gene Wilder and Marty Feldman, showing at The Wash House, 3 Adelphi Grove, Portobello EH15 1AP on Saturday 26 October. Bar opens at 6.30pm, film starts at 7.30pm, tickets £6 on the door. Please wear black and white!” - Thanks to Screen Porty volunteer Wendy for sharing this.
📌 Sunday 3pm: “The Corstorphine Trust is delighted to welcome independent researcher Helen Kay in a discussion of the life and work of Chrystal Macmillan. A leading figure in the women’s movement, this historical talk will introduce Chrystal Macmillan’s remarkable career, enduring legacy, as well as her familial connection to Corstorphine.” - Thanks to the Trust for sharing this.
📌 Sunday 6pm: “Choral Evensong with the Choir of St John's Princes Street, including music by Radcliffe, Walmisley and Clara Schumann.” - Thanks to a member of the choir for sharing this.
📌 “This opportunity closes on Thursday 31st October. There's still time to apply! We know there are many brilliant, important ideas that don’t get the chance to be brought to life. That’s why we want to make it happen. We’re offering our creative services, up to the value of £10,000, to individuals, businesses and charities seeking to make a positive impact. Your idea might need a brand, video content, a website, a social media campaign or an app. This is an opportunity to tell us all about it!” - Thanks to the Edinburgh-based Daysix team for sharing this.
📌 “The Edinburgh Ableton User Group is a free regular meet-up for users of this popular DAW. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you make, we would love to see you at the Leith Depot on Leith Walk on Monday, 28th October, from 7-9 pm. We have a range of regular attendees from complete beginners to experts so if you want to learn a bit more or share what you know please come along.” - Thanks to subscriber Alasdair for sharing this.
📌 “Anna Fedorova benefit concert for Ukrainian refugee music students, Queen's Hall 28th October. One performance by this amazing lady has racked up 45 million Youtube views - Elton John stuff!” - Thanks to concert organiser David J Black for sharing this.
📌 “Two part time JOB OPPORTUNITIES in Drylaw area. Working for Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre where there are two nearby fruit orchards between Nov 2024- March 2025. Recruiting now with initial note of interest by 31st Oct with good hourly rates.” - Thanks to Drylaw and Telford Community Association for sharing this.
📌 Calton Hill Litter pickup, Saturday 26 October, 10am - noon. Organised by the Calton Hill Conservation Trust, the Litter Pickup will start from the doors of the City Observatory/Collective. All are welcome — members and non-members. Litter picks and plastic bags etc will be provided, as well as refreshments. More information about membership and activities at caltonhilltrust.org. Thanks to Simon Preston for sharing this.
📌 “Join in with the latest workshop and events programme from Earth in Common on Leith Community Croft. There is something for all the family! Time for outdoor exploration and play, learning new skills, meeting new people and supporting an exciting local social enterprise committed to building resilient communities and fostering environmental sustainability. Tickets bookable via Eventbrite. We can't wait to welcome you to the Croft!” - Thanks to the Croft for sharing this.
📆 Here’s your weekend guide, including: new exhibitions, gigs, club nights, film, theatre, family-friendly events and all the food market details.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Edinburgh Minute to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.