The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition: 4 -6 July 2025
Grad students' protest, flights cancelled, the 'United States Apologies Desk' + castle concerts begin
☔️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, including the Community Noticeboard + the weekend guide for subscribers. Thank you to the paying subscribers who make this newsletter possible, and everyone who shares it and those who send something in. It’s your newsletter!
🌦️ Weekend weather: Cloudy and wet today, a bit drier on Saturday, then sunshine and showers on Sunday. Highs of 18C and lows of 12C. Next week is looking warmer and sunnier. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
🎓 Students walked out of a University of Edinburgh graduation ceremony yesterday to protest against what they called ‘shameful complicity in the mass starvation of children and genocide in Gaza.’ - They shared this video from the McEwan Hall.
⮑ Last month the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said the University of Edinburgh ‘partners with firms aiding Israeli military operations… sharing research that directly links it with assaults on Palestinians’. - The report is here.
⮑ The uni says: “We continue to listen to concerns relating to the recent events in Israel and Palestine and we are engaging directly with student groups on the matter of our investments.”
✈️ Flights from Edinburgh to France were cancelled on Thursday during French air traffic control strikes. More could be affected this weekend. - Rachel Fergusson, The Scotsman.
🏥 Waverley Care’s pioneering AIDS hospice at Milestone House in Oxgangs is set to change hands. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.
☄️ A meteor was spotted on CCTV from Edinburgh Airport yesterday morning. - The airport shared video on Twitter and Facebook.
🇺🇸 A ‘United States Apologies Desk’ will pop-up at the Mound today. American-born, Edinburgh-based artist Joseph DeLappe plans to set up his one-day public art intervention titled ‘SORRY’ from 9am. There will be a chair opposite Joe for anyone to come for a chat and ‘to offer his apologies for many of the USA’s failings’. He will move the desk to different sites throughout the day. More details on Joe’s website here. Thanks to subscriber Sara for sharing this.
“On America’s Independence Day, I want to reclaim the act of speaking plainly, and humbly, as an American. How we can move beyond feelings of helplessness and dread while also extending an invitation to consider what creative resistance to the Trump regime can look like. To make an apology as one American citizen – to highlight all the damage the USA is inflicting upon the world, and to show that Trump’s regime and actions are not condoned by this American, and many millions of my fellow citizens.” - Joseph DeLappe.
🐾 A new secure dog park called Unleash The Dogs is due to open on Saturday near the Highland Showground at Gogarburn. - Roderick Holly, Deadline.
🛝 For family-friendly things to do this weekend, this week’s edition of Gayle’s Guide includes: creative networking event you can bring your kids to, a pay-what-you-can Nearly New Sale, outdoor cinema at Dalkeith Country Park and more.
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📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard - news you can use:
📌 "Join The Treecreepers for our next birdwatching session Sunday 13th July, 1-4pm at Cramond. We are a birdwatching and nature group for people aged 18-35, come meet like-minded people, share knowledge and spend time outdoors - no experience needed! Check out our Instagram or Substack newsletter for more info." - Thanks to El, Founder of The Treecreepers, for sharing this.
📌 "Burin, a community in the Occupied West Bank, Palestine, invite people around the world to fly kites with them as part of the campaign to END THE OCCUPATION. Portobello Beach outside the pool Sunday 6 July 2pm -4pm. Bring a kite if you can. Some available there." - Thanks to ProgressiveJews forJustice in Israel Palestine for sharing this.
📌 "So very sorry for the short notice! The Pregnancy and Parent Centre, 188-190 Pleasance, are hosting their Nearly New Sale to raise much needed funds for the support they provide to upcoming and new parents across Edinburgh. Come on down to pay-what-you-can for toys, maternity wear, reusables, parenting tools, and mountains of baby and toddler clothes!" - Thanks a supporter of the centre for sharing this.
📌 "Portobello Pop-up Photography Gallery - My first ever pop up gallery featuring photographs from Portobello, Musselburgh and the surrounding area. This Saturday and Sunday (5th & 6th July), 10-5pm at 288 Portobello High Street EH15 2AS." - Thanks to Paul Fuller, Photographer for sharing this.
📌 "INTO THE WILD An exhibition hosted by Edinburgh-based artists Dani Cleeland, Dee Raspin, & Jim McGregor. Featuring work from three Edinburgh-based artists 'Into the Wild' explores the natural, mystical and dark aspects of the world around us. Dani, Dee and Jim use different mediums to portray the theme in unique ways." - Thanks to Leith Makers for sharing this.
📌 "Hi, I'm Rosie, I run Social Appetite - connecting like minded foodies. We go to new restaurants each month for new people to meet and try new food. The next event is coming up on Wednesday 9th July at 6.30pm at Shish, an amazing Turkish restaurant and I'd love to see you there!" - Thanks to Rosie Maddocks, Founder of Social Appetite, for sharing this.
📌 "Tickets for the Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival (26-27 Sept) go on sale TODAY, July 4! Authors include Lotte Jeffs, Emma Cowing, Rosie Hewlett, Lucy Vine, Laura Wood, Lucy Mangan, Jenny Colgan; workshops for writers and an agent speed date event. We are a nonprofit, inclusive festival and welcome anyone who wants to celebrate writing for, by, and about women." - Thanks to the organisers of Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival for sharing this.
📌 "This Friday, Pick & Mix album club returns to Boro. We're on a loose synth tip this time, think Hancock to Kraftwerk. Swing by for art, sounds and drinks from 6pm." - Thanks to Rob Swain for sharing this.
📌 "Get ready to dance the day away at The Big Day Disco, a celebration of self-expression, at Tynecastle Park on Saturday 5th July! Join us for an afternoon of feel-good fun with entertainment from DJ Danny Mason and drag performances by Groundskeeper Fanny and Giselle Chance. All funds raised will go towards supporting Big Hearts' That's Me! project which enables young people to socialise, make new friends, boost their confidence and be themselves without any judgement." - Thanks to Big Hearts Community Trust for sharing this.