The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 22-24 September 2023

☀️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s your Friday Edinburgh Minute. 

🪧 School staff in Edinburgh have confirmed walkouts next week over a pay dispute. - James Delaney, STV News.
⮑ The strikes will cover staff in all roles including cleaners, janitors, classroom assistants and kitchens, all walking out for three days from Tuesday, forcing the closure of primary and secondary schools. - Dale Miller, The Scotsman.

🎓  University staff have also confirmed strike plans next week. Members of the UCU voted in favour of a week of protest starting on Monday 25 September. It could continue for the rest of the year, warned UCU's Scotland official, Mary Senior, who told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme: 

"Employers need to know that we are not going away. We’ve got more universities in Scotland next week and across the UK that will be taking five days of strike action before the month is out. They risk real disruption ongoing in this sector to the end of this year and into 2024. We feel we are being forced to take action against employers who present themselves as word leading but they oversee a sector that is riddled with casual, fixed-term, hourly paid contracts."

  ⮑  The University of Edinburgh published a strikes FAQs page here.
  ⮑  The Edinburgh Youth In Resistance student group produced its own guide to the strikes.

💰  The Omni Centre has been put up for sale for £65m. - Daily Business.

🍸  ‘Victorian era graffiti’ has been found at the Voodoo Rooms. - Sarah Campbell, The Herald.

🍾   A 'closing down party' is planned at Festival Village on Waverley Market roof before it has to be dismantled. It lost its licence after councillors said it ‘has an adverse impact on the setting’. - Cara Blackhall, Edinburgh Live.

🎞  The new ‘Filmhouse - Open the Doors’ crowdfunder has passed £70,000. The first target is £250,000 by the end of next month. More famous faces have added their voices to the campaign, including director Mike Leigh and actor Timothy Spall.

🏠  An Edinburgh businessman behind plans for the city’s first Muslim school has said the council’s decision to refuse planning permission is ‘strange and bizarre’. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.

🎸  Edinburgh writer, journalist, DJ and music programmer Arusa Qureshi is set to take over from Jamie Sutherland as the new Music Programme Manager at Summerhall. - Tallah Brash, The Skinny.

⚽️  Former Evening News Hibs reporter Patrick McPartlin has started as Editor of the Hibs Observer. It’s a new subscription-based publication and they’ve written about their mission here.

🚲  The council has published updates about the Corstorphine Connections project in its latest newsletter, including phase two construction plans for the rest of the year.

🦪  Native oysters have returned to the Firth of Forth for the first time in 100 years following a restoration project. - STV News.

🍄  Fountainbridge-based farm Rhyze is looking for a new home. The cooperative founders outline their hopes for the project’s future here.

🔉  As EHFM celebrates its first five years, The Skinny spoke to DJs, producers and some of the station's founders to talk community spirit, building a platform, and hopes for the next five.

“There's a real depth to the programming and the quality of the sound is amazing. Considering that for everyone involved this is a side hustle, a labour of love, the way it has developed in such a short space of time is really impressive.” 

🛤  The story behind Scotland Street tunnel is fascinating. Andy Arthur digs into it on Threadinburgh. 

🚧  The Holyrood Park ranger service is moving into its autumn hours, meaning changes to the weekend road closure times.

🍽  The winners of the annual Scotland Asian Restaurant Awards were announced this week. Edinburgh eateries won 16 of the 50 awards. - Gary Flockhart, Evening News.
⮑ See the full Scottish winners list here (it’s more easy to read than the Evening News site too)

🍟  Finalists in the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards have been announced. The winner will be revealed in November in Glasgow. Gary Flockhart of the Evening News looks at Edinburgh’s 13 finalists.

📆  Things to do this weekend: 

🚪  Doors Open Day is this weekend. I’ve heard some people say the website could be clearer, so to save you time, this is the direct link to Edinburgh Doors Open Day events this weekend.

🏊  The Royal Commonwealth Pool is holding a taster weekend on Saturday and Sunday, offering the chance to access its fitness classes, pool and gym for £3 for the entire weekend. - Phyllis Stephen, The Edinburgh Reporter.

🎭  Matthew Bourne’s Romeo + Juliet at the Festival Theatre is among the highlights of the All Edinburgh Theatre weekend round-up.

🛍  Quine Magazine has five things to do in Edinburgh this weekend, including two markets. Thanks to Gemma Meek for sharing.