The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Friday 1 - 3 March 2024

🌤️  Good morning Edinburgh. I never thought I’d say this: there are now 8,000 of you subscribed to this simple wee newsletter. Thank you for sticking with it.  Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers. 

🎞️  Plans to reopen the Filmhouse cinema on Lothian Road have been delayed until at least October. It’s due to refurbishment plans becoming ‘more ambitious’ than originally anticipated. - The team behind the revamp talk to Brian Ferguson in The Scotsman this morning.

🚦  The council is trying to get new powers to fine motorists for breaking 20mph limits. Transport leader Scott Arthur says police are too busy and is trying to get the Scottish Government to change legislation ‘for the powers to be held at the right level’. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🚎  Changes to several Edinburgh bus services will come into effect as works begin to restore Cameron Toll roundabout next week. - Details of changes to the 33, 49, 24, 38, 12, X33 are explained by Neil Johnstone in the Evening News.

🛀  A Canonmills flat with bath in the middle of a living room features in a newly published list of ‘The 10 best Airbnbs in Edinburgh’ by Jessica Burrell in Cosmopolitan.

🏗️  Plans to demolish Atik nightclub in Tollcross and replace it with 145 student flats have been approved by councillors. - Brian Donnelly, The Herald.

🐋  An Edinburgh historian fighting to stop the Meadows’ Jawbone Arch from being ‘thrown into a garbage tip’ says he has been ‘stonewalled’ by the council. - Donald Tuvill reports from a ‘heated exchange’ at yesterday’s culture and communities committee.

🍕  Volunteers cleaning the Water of Leith have found a Dominos delivery scooter in the river. - Katie Williams, Edinburgh Live.

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🧠  Gallery-goers will have a chance to see art’s impact on their brain in real time when ‘brainwave viewer’ headset technology arrives at the National Galleries of Scotland in July. - Art Fund.

🗞️  Responsibility for defects along the Leith Walk to Newhaven tram route is discussed in this month’s new edition of the Broughton Spurtle.

🧴  The Body Shop stores at the Gyle Centre and Princes Mall have been confirmed for closure in the next six weeks. - Julia Kollewe, The Guardian.

🛒   Margiotta, the local independent convenience retailer, has installed solar panels at its Newbridge HQ thanks to a £300,000 funding boost from HSBC. The family-owned business opened its 11th store in December on Colinton Road. It also plans to open a new food hall in the Shandon area in April. - Fiona Briggs, Retail Times.

☕️  The barista equipment has barely had time to cool down since Brew Lab announced its closure on Wednesday, but Origin Coffee’s PR team have already cranked into action, spreading the word about their plans for the South College Street premises. - More details via Dram. Origin Coffee Founder Tom Sobey said:

“We’re excited to be part of the next chapter of this incredible coffee shop which has been such an instrumental part of the speciality coffee scene in Edinburgh over the years. We’re lucky enough to have an existing network in the city of incredible wholesale partners, working with The Milkman, Stuart Ralston’s portfolio of restaurants as well as Gleneagles Townhouse, Ondine, and The Fishmarket. As well as creating a beautiful coffee shop for the local community to enjoy, our new café will be a hub for education, allowing us to offer an even better level of service to our wholesale partners in Scotland and deliver a range of ‘how to brew’ courses for home enthusiasts.” 

🥯  There’s a ‘bagel-shaped hole’ in central Edinburgh and a new shop aims to fill it. 71 Steps is the new Rodney Street store from The Bearded Baker.

🍱  Maki & Ramen branches at West Richmond Street and Nicolson Street are due to close after this weekend. - The company still has four other shops in town.

🏠  A 24-square-metre flat on Thistle Street has gone on sale. The £135,000 property is reported to be ‘the smallest flat available on the market in the city’, reports Kirsty McLuckie in The Scotsman.

💃  ’A study in style: Mastering midterm fashion trends in George Square’ - Roni Sharp, The Edinburgh Tab.

🪑  Edinburgh-based writer Sarah Wood has written for Vogue about how Scottish designers including Edinburgh’s Colin Parker, Dieny Itoe and Gunnar Groves-Raines of Custom Lane are key players in a new ‘Scandi-Scot’ interior design trend. - Sarah Wood, Vogue.

“Scotland is in the process of stepping onto the global stage for its unique contemporary culture of craft and design, with help from budding design communities in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Highlands. One of those is Custom Lane: With hotly-demanded studio space for makers, a tool library, regular exhibitions, robust programming, and a welcoming cafe, it’s made Leith a destination for design since its launch in 2016, though it’s slowly but surely become more widely known. Just last month, Uniqlo hosted its spring 2024 collection preview at the gallery ahead of opening its first Scottish store in the spring. (It’s also worth noting that Bard, the Scottish interior design hotstop with a cult following, is Custom Lane’s neighbour.)” 

🍭  Glasgow has been getting plenty of attention this week after a Willy Wonka-themed ‘experience’ disappointing paying punters. Here’s Creative Edinburgh’s take on the saga: 

🔊 Sneaky Pete’s also joined in on the memes at Glasgow’s expense:

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📌  There’s a community litter pick planned on the cycle path near Ferry Road on Sunday. Meet at the Ainslie Park carpark from 10.30am. - Thanks to reader Heather for sharing the poster.

📌  “With spring most definitely on the horizon, take advantage of Edinburgh Leisure’s new Spring Pass to kickstart your fitness regime. A short-term alternative to a full-time membership, the two-week pass costs just £20 for 14 days. Available to buy online or in venue from 1^st – 31^st March.” 

📌  “fitandhappy and The Joshua Nolan Foundation are coming together to offer a FREE menopause walk on Sunday 3rd of March at 11am. Come and join us for a walk in nature, chat with other women who are going through perimenopause and find out how to ease symptoms and have a happier menopause transition. All body shapes and fitness levels are welcome. No experience required. Meeting point is at the The Lodge Coffe House 69B Braid Rd, Edinburgh EH10 6JF. The walk will be 1 1/2 - 2 hours.” - Julia McCabe, founder and menopause transition coach.

📌  “New March 2024 issue of volunteer-led FREE community magazine C&B News, serving communities in south-west Edinburgh, is now available: digitally and in print from this weekend in selected retail outlets across Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton Mains, and Colinton. (See website for list.) Contents include: latest news on Colinton’s Cuddies Lane mural, stadium visits by young Currie footballers, and the joys of the great outdoors. Plus updates from local groups, politicians and community councils. And lots more.” 

📌  “Join Edinburgh’s Mothers* Rebellion as part of #globalmothersrebellion - Mother* Rebellion Edinburgh will be sitting peacefully in a circle in solidarity with the children all over the world already impacted by climate breakdown. This action is inclusive for all those who care about children’s future in the time of climate chaos, regardless of age, gender or whether they have children of their own. Bring a friend & something to sit on. We will gather outside The Scottish Parliament//Date: Saturday 9th March 2024 - Time: 11am - 12. Children are very welcome to join the circle too ⭕️.” 

📆  Things to do this weekend: 

🏰  Locals can access Edinburgh Castle for free on Sunday. - You must book in advance here.

🌮  It’s the first Saturday of the month, which means its vegan day at Leith Market tomorrow from 10am to 4pm. - The traders are listed here.

  ⮑  Saturday’s Grassmarket Market traders list is here. Open 10am to 5pm. 

  ⮑  Saturday’s Castle Terrace Farmers’ Market is on from 9am to 2pm.

  ⮑  Sunday’s Stockbridge Market traders list is here. Open 10am to 4pm.