The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 6 - 8 December 2024

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Plenty happening! Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute followed by the weekend guide.

🌧️ The Met office has yellow weather warnings (the lowest of three warning levels) in place for wind and rain this weekend for Storm Darragh. - The forecast is here.

🚨 Police are investigating reports of items thrown at moving buses in Gilmerton and Liberton this week. - John Hislop, The Edinburgh Reporter.

🏥 The Scottish Government has confirmed it will fund a replacement to the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion. - Angie Brown, BBC Scotland News.
⮑ This week’s Scottish Budget statement by Shona Robison also contained news that the council will get government help ‘to unlock over 800 new, net zero homes at the Granton Waterfront development site.’ Local MSP Ben Macpherson said it was ‘a very significant step forward towards tackling Edinburgh’s housing emergency and realising all of North Edinburgh’s remarkable potential’. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🔊 The Bongo Club will raise money tonight for the family of 20-year-old Henry Farron, who died on Sunday after being hit by a car in Fountainbridge. The venue said: “We sadly and tragically lost our good friend Henry at the beginning of the week. For anyone regular to The Bongo Club, you will have probably seen his cheeky and contagious grin lighting up the place. Henry always attended every event of ours, and his presence, humour and vibes were always massively appreciated. We had many good laughs and times, on and off the dancefloor. Genuinely one of the most down to earth people.”

🤝 Edinburgh Castle hosted the first day of the 42nd British-Irish Council Summit yesterday. First Minster John Swinney welcomed leaders, with Sir Keir Starmer due to arrive in the capital today. - BBC Scotland News.

🏰 Two activists have avoided jail sentences after damaging a glass cabinet containing the Crown of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny during a protest against food poverty at Edinburgh Castle. - Sarah Ward, Forth 1 News.

🚔 A driver caught 'holding a phone with both hands' while driving past a serious crash on the City Bypass near Dreghorn last month has been charged. - Kris Gourlay, Edinburgh Live.

🏉 Today’s planned ticket launch for the upcoming rugby Men’s Six Nations tournament has been postponed. Pre-sales ‘were targeted by a bot attack’, said Scottish Rugby.

⚽️ Hibernian’s ‘oldest fan’ said she cried with happiness after being gifted a VIP visit to Easter Road by her care home. - Calum Loudon, STV News.
⮑ Hearts Chairman Ann Budge, alongside first team squad and staff attended a City Chambers Civic Reception this week to celebrate the club’s 150th Anniversary.

🏠 The first stages of major residential development at Edinburgh Park are begin around March next year. The area is ‘no longer a sleepy abandoned lot, hosting a French bakery, sport courts, and a bar and restaurant’, reports Nicholas Malizia in Edinburgh Live.

🎄 Knitters at the Heart of Newhaven centre have finished what they’re calling the Tallest Knitted Christmas Tree. - North Edinburgh News.

📌  Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

📌 All weekend: “A fantastic opportunity to do some festive fashion shopping in the iconic Robert Louis Stevenson House! The Beatrice von Tresckow brand has come to town, prepare to be inspired by sumptuous jackets, hand embroidered garments and accessories galore. All are welcome and entrance donation to the wonderful Teenage Cancer Trust!” - Thanks to Felicitas Macfie, owner of The Stevenson House, for sharing this.

• “Caring Christmas Trees Christmas Market is on in Comely Bank on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December. Buy a tree and raise money for local homeless charity Bethany. There will be local craft stalls and kids activities.” - Thanks to the organisers for this.
• “Explore illustrator Jonny Hannah's latest exhibition, 'More Darktown Chartbusters', featuring a series of hand-painted record sleeves, painted banners and limited edition prints. From 11:00 until 18:00 on Sat 7th and Sun 8th December at Whitespace Gallery, 76 East Crosscauseway, EH8 9HQ.” - Thanks to Simon Lewin, Founder, St Jude's, for sharing this.
• “Visit the 3D2D Christmas Craft Fair at Assembly Rooms on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December - we are open 10:30 AM until 5PM daily. Find that unique gift this festive season!” - Thanks to Tiana Wilson-Buys, Co-owner, 3D2D Events for this.

📌 Friday 6 December:

• 📌 From Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith: “Across three market days, over 100 of our hand-picked local independent artists and makers will be selling their work, with different stallholders each day. As well as our usual Saturday and Sunday markets, due to demand there will be an extra market on Friday 6th December (5pm - 9pm). From paintings, prints and homewares through to jewellery, textiles and ceramics, there’s something for everyone. Friday 6th December (5pm - 9pm), Saturday 7th December (11am - 5pm), Sunday 8th December (12pm - 5pm). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Leith.” - More details here.
• 📌 “Come in from the cold and join Edinburgh's leading student Opera company at our concert in Augustine United Church on Friday December 6th at 3pm. Enjoy stunning solos, duets, and a snippet from our 2025 production, Cendrillon, along with some carols to finish! A fantastic way to support young artists this winter - tickets are just £5 for students/concessions and £7 general admission!” - Thanks to Lily Hodge Edinburgh Studio Opera for sharing this.
• “Morag and Lewis Duo perform at Stockbridge Music Hub as part of the Thank Music It's Friday series. Admission free.” - Thanks to Clea Friend for sharing this.
• “UoE Christmas Charity Craft Fair 2024 at Inspace - 6th December Come and explore this year’s stalls and stock up on Christmas presents crafted by University of Edinburgh staff, students and alumni. Stalls will include a mix of original art, zines, jewellery, home accessories, greetings cards, Christmas decorations and much more… Come and support us! Friday, 6th December 2024, 10pm - 4pm InSpace, 1 Crichton St, EH8 9AB” - Thanks to a subsciber for sharing this.
• “Come join us for the final community meal of 2024 at the Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative Basement! Volunteers at ESHC will be teaming up to bring you an evening filled with delicious home cooked food and great company. This event is FREE and open to all! Date: Friday December 6 Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm” - Thanks to Edinburgh Student Housing Co-Operative for sharing this.

📌 Saturday 7 December:

• 📌 “Join us on Saturday, December 7th, for a Creative Monoprinting and Collage Workshop with Georgie Fay at The Heart of Newhaven from 1:30–4:30 PM. Led by an experienced printmaker, this session will guide you through experimental techniques using your own sketchbook ideas, found images, and step-by-step demonstrations. Perfect for beginners or those refining their skills, this workshop offers a hands-on opportunity to create layered, textured prints in a supportive environment.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
• “Santa's coming to the Christmas Fair at Cramond Kirk Hall on Sat 7 Dec, 11am-1pm. Loads of festive stalls including well-stuffed Hampers, with fun for all the family. £2 entry, kids free. All proceeds go to Fresh Start & Scran Academy.” - Thanks to Cramond Kirk for sharing this.
• “We are delighted to announce that we will be holding our first Yule Market at the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, 25 Palmerston Place. We have a great selection of independent and local makers who are keen to showcase their fun and unique products on the 7th of December for a festive celebration.” - Thanks to Matt Hamer, one of the makers, for sharing this.
• “Wojtek Kutyla, a photographer and visual artist from Leith, will open his studio for the Leith Creative Trail tomorrow, Saturday, December 7 (11-6PM). It is your chance for a free photographic portrait from one of the winners of the Portrait of Britain competition. And Wojtek will have some nice prints and postcards for sale, plus he's never short of an engaging chat!” - Thanks to Wojtek Kutyla for sharing this.
• “Everyone is invited to the LifeCare Christmas Fair in Stockbridge this Saturday 7th Dec, 11-3pm at the LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street. Free to enter and lots to do including Santa’s Grotto, craft stalls, delicious festive treats, merry tunes and unique gifts to buy from fantastic stallholders including Inspired by Tweed, Boozie Troozies and Purple Sage Soap. Hope to see you all there ho ho ho.” - Thanks to The LifeCare Team for sharing this.
• 📌 “There’s a mini Christmas market happening on Saturday at the Pilot Brewery featuring the local sellers in the post here. There’s also going to be free beer samples and tours. There will be a raffle with varying prizes where money is donated to the food bank. Finally, there will also be a food bank donation point should anyone be able to spare any donations such as tinned food, sauces and pasta etc.” Thanks to Fraser from EH Retro Kits for sharing this.

📌 Sunday 8 December:

• 🎨 The Warehouse at Fruitmarket is hosting 40 independent creatives for a Winter Makers Market on Sunday. Free entry. - A full list of the traders is in the caption here.
• “Come and visit Edinburgh's Sistine Chapel, and see the beautiful mural scheme by celebrated Arts and Craft artist Phoebe Anna Traquair at Mansfield Traquair Centre. Open day this Sunday 8 December, drop in anytime 1.00-3.45pm, free entry, donations welcome. Friendly tour guides available.” - Thanks to a Friend of Mansfield Traquair for sharing this.
• “The Fruitmarket gallery hosts 40+ artists this Sunday for a market with Endless Love Creative from 10am - 5pm. Expect local ceramicists, illustrators, textiles and more!” - Thanks to Lucy for sharing this.
• “With Clouds Descending:...Readings and Music for the Season of Advent: Sunday 8 December: 6.30pm: St Vincent's Chapel, St Vincent Street, EH3 6SW. Howe Street Voices, Director: Les Shankland: Admission Free; Retiral Collection” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📆 THERE’S EVEN 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!