The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 13 - 15 December 2024

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers.

🏠 Former council leader Cammy Day is being investigated by the local authority following a claim he was acting as an unregistered landlord. Day has not made any public statement since resigning on Monday. - Exclusive by Chris McCall & Paul Hutcheon, Daily Record.
⮑ Some inside the council are ‘scared about what's going to be uncovered next’, reports Donald Turvill in The Herald.
⮑ “The council is now in full crisis,” writes Mike Small in Bella Caledonia.

🚨 A woman was attacked in an attempted robbery at Leith Links at around 11.30pm on Tuesday. Police said two men pushed her to the ground but failed to get any items from her. - Detectives published this appeal for witnesses.

🪧 Staff at Crewe Toll’s Leonardo site were met by a blockade of protesters yesterday morning. This time the Pro-Palestine campaigners urged staff to get organised and join a picket line. - Katie Williams & Ryan Thom, Daily Record.

🏥 The health secretary says he believes mothers can still have confidence in Edinburgh’s maternity unit despite a report earlier this week outlining concerns from whistleblowers about an alleged a ‘toxic culture’ between management and midwives. - Matthew Fulton & Gordon Chree, STV News.

🏠 Shelter Scotland has criticised the council's homelessness policy, claiming it is ‘stripping people of their rights’. The council denies the claim. - Paul Reilly, Forth 1 News.

👷 Around 50 new green energy jobs will be created after Forth Ports announced it has secured its largest ever offshore wind contract, with a £50 million investment in the port. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.

🖼️ TV host Lorraine Kelly was at the Portrait Gallery yesterday to announce the winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2024. Brogan Bertie’s portrait is now on display. - If you’re a fan of people in comments sections angry about ‘spoilers’, click here.

🚴‍♂️ A new e-cycle hire scheme for Edinburgh took a step forward yesterday. Councillors on the Transport and Environment Committee agreed a on report calling for for a dockless e-bike pilot at no cost to the council. Next steps: they’ll have a workshop in ‘early 2025’ to asses possible options of bikes and infrastructure. - More details are in the council report and in this Bluesky thread by Spokes.

🚴‍♀️ Porty Active Travel Hub founder Hazel Darwin-Clements has been named as a ‘Community Champion’ on the Cycling UK list of 100 Women in Cycling 2024, a ‘celebration of trailblazers and change-makers’ in the cycling world. - Read more here.

⚽️ A young Hearts fan had a surprise last night when he was picked out of the crowd and asked to be a mascot. Eight-year-old Leo Barbirou had traveled to Denmark with his family to see the Edinburgh team play against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Conference League. The home side had reserved one spot for a visiting fan to walk out with the teams before the game kicked off. - Here’s how it happened.

📌  Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

📌 “The New Leaf Co-op is crowdfunding to refit our shop and launch a cargo bike delivery service across Edinburgh! Our workers' co-operative needs your help to upgrade our Marchmont home and reach even more people with fresh, local produce. Any donations and/or shares are much appreciated!” - Thanks to Sally, Member at The New Leaf Co-op, for sharing this.

📌 Friday 13 December:

• “Tick off your gift list with exclusive discounts and festive fun. Enjoy free embroidery, live music, MOTH cocktails and surprises on the night.” - Thanks to TBCo for this.

• “The Get Down Pay Back! The successful Leith Local Event TheGetDown, that counts Irvine Welsh as one of its regulars celebrates their support, by offering local business a limited number of tickets for just £5 1/3 the current price... As always when we approach sell out we give back and release our £5 +bf Local Business Tickets. So If you are a business based in Leith use hit the Link and use the code ILUVLEITH and save yourself £10 on one of the hottest tickets in town. Over 18's only.” - Big thanks to Ricardo, Founder Luvin'Leith Events, for sharing this.

  

• “"Opening" at WHITESPACE GALLERY, of the first ever Painting Show by Kenny Brown and Andy Brannan, on 13th of December. Both of us inspired by the West Coast of Scotland. We've painted the Sea + Skies in a variety of media and everyone welcome on Friday.” - Thanks to Kenneth Brown, Artist, for this.

📌 Saturday 14 December:

• “The New Edinburgh Orchestra's Christmas concert is on Saturday the 14th at 7.30pm at Inverleith St Serf's Parish Church. Come along to hear some fabulous classical music by composers including Rachmaninoff and support your local musicians!” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

• “The Phoenix Community Choirs' Christmas Concert - Three uplifting choirs from Leith, Newington & the Carers Choir join together for a soulful celebration! Sat 14th in Central Hall, Tollcross - at 2.30pm AND 7.30pm. Vibrant songs from Say She She to Des'ree, Sharon & the Dap Kings and Rudimental - with singers from your local Edinburgh communities. Profits from the concert will be going to support Social Bite Charity, to help homelessness at Christmas.” - Thanks to the organisers for this.

• “5pm Saturday 14th December Canongate Kirk Calton Consort performs a candlelit concert for advent from Renaissance and 21st century composers including Byrd, Tallis, Palestrina, L’Estrange& Marsh. Directed by Rory Wilson Tickets from Ticketsource in advance or on the door £15(£12) U18 free.” - Thanks to Calton Consort for sharing this.

• “Edinburgh Royal Choral Union will hold their annual Christmas concert on 14 December at 5pm in Morningside Parish Church, Cluny Gardens. Featuring pieces by the choir as well as carols for all to sing, it will be a lovely way to spend a couple of seasonal hours. Festive refreshments are included in the ticket price of £15 (£5 students and children).” - Thanks to a choir member for sharing this.

• “Join us for a magical evening of festive music at the Pitchcraft Christmas Concert, Saturday 14th December at 7:30pm at Broughton St Mary’s Church! Experience the joy of the season with an enchanting performance that will warm your heart and lift your spirits. Don’t miss this wonderful celebration—bring your family and friends to make it a night to remember!” - Thanks to Pitchcraft The Edinburgh Choir for this.

• “Edinburgh folk and roots community choir Castle Chorus return to the beautiful St Vincent's Chapel to share old and new songs for the season. We're singing along the theme of Winter skies with warmth and joy for the end of the year. Saturday 14th December, 15:45 to 17:00. Please register online, and pay on the door. Suggested £5-10. All welcome and nobody turned away for lack of funds. Money goes to cover the costs of the concert and to helping the choir run all year round. St Vincent's Chapel has step free access and a physically accessible toilet.” - Thanks to Joe Gair, Castle Chorus, for sharing this.

📌 Sunday 15 December:

• “Join the "Chocolatada Peruana," a delightful Christmas gathering celebrating Peruvian traditions! Enjoy a cup of warm hot chocolate and a slice of Pannettone. There will be activities for the kids, a children christmas Choir and amazing Latinamerican products on sale by Casita Latina Ltd. Join this event on 15th December at 13.00 in The Wee Hub at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, 1st Floor. Get your tickets in Eventbrite.” - Thanks to Tatiana Barros, Founder and Director, Latinamerican Community Association of Edinburgh (L.A.C.A.E), for sharing this.

• “Christmas Market this Sunday - FUNDRAISER for GAZA Sunday December 15th, 1pm - 5pm! Food, local vendors, music, activities for children, pop-up bar! Showcasing children’s artwork and voices from Gaza! The Wash House, 3 Adelphi Grove, Portobello.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

• “Cat's skate club are putting on a fundraiser event at the Pitt market on Sunday the 15th. Raising funds so that we can continue to run our indoor skate sessions over winter. Music, art, skating and more!” - Thanks to Cat for sharing this.

📆 There’s more in your weekend guide, including: new exhibitions, gigs, club nights, theatre, family-friendly events and all the food market details. It’s for paying subscribers only, so please support this newsletter for just a fiver a month to read on. Thanks!