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Inspiring Edinburgh Blog...blogging about the 'inspiring capital'...


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  • The Winners of the First Edinburgh Sparkles 2011 Treasure Hunt..., Friday November 04 2011

    Congratulations to Lorraine and Grace who won the amazing #EdinTreasure 8 personEdinburgh Twitter Follow Us VIP Edinburgh Castle experience (tour of the Castle, VIP lunch, a souvenir photo pack, goodie bag plus they'll get to meet the Edinburgh icon that is the One O'Clock gunner) on last night's very first Edinburgh Sparkles treasure hunt.21st Century Kilts Logo

    And thanks to Howie, pictured below with Lorraine and Grace, at 21st Century Kilts, for keeping our Edinburgh Sparkles Angel hidden during the hunt!

    Here are last night's clues. The location was cracked after only 4 tweets.

    Clues

    1. Sounds like Bill, Zone and Command are wanting for tea (Hidden Meaning: Phonetically, ‘kill’ with an added ‘t’ = kilt)

    2. Where a dinosaur male would undoubtedly dress in the future (Meaning: T-Rex – 20th Century Boy)

    3. Lithest street in the city with a mixed-up view (Meaning: Mix-up ‘lithest’ to get ‘thistle’)

    4. This jumbled tune/cry is of age (Meaning: Un-jumble tune cry to get ‘century’)

    Each week we will be running a treasure hunt around this city's inspiring streets. Clues will be posted on our Twitter acount andEdinburgh Castle all you need to do is...

     

    and decipher them to find out where the treasure is hidden.

    Then, on your marks, get set, GO!

    The first person to get there and approach our Edinburgh Sparkles Angel with the phrase "Edinburgh Sparkles" wins....Sound exciting? Well there are some fantastic prizes to be won including:

     

    Prizes

    * Michelin-star cooking session from 21212 chef Paul Kitching plus lunch for four people

    * return flights to anywhere courtesy of EasyJet

    * diamond pendant from our friends at Lime BlueEdinburgh Sparkles 1st Treasure Hunt Winner

     

    Dates of this year's treasure hunt are as follows:

    * Thursday 3, 10, 17 and 24th November 2011

    * Thursday 1st, 8th and15th December 2011

    * Sunday 4th, 11th, 18th December 2011

    * Monday19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd December 2011

     

    More at:

     

    www.edinburghsparkles.com

    www.twitter.com/edinburgh__

    #edintreasure

  • Student Insider's Gude - I Want to Ride My Bike - Agnieszka Gryczkowska, Saturday May 28 2011

    I want to ride my bicycle!

    There’s not many things quite as pleasurable and easily obtainable as the adrenaline kick, weightlessness ad the sensation of a gentle Scottish summer breeze on your face whilst riding a bike! Your ears burn with the instant esteem of your peers as the machine works beneath you without a whimper. You pass by all those dull pedestrians to realise how much you differ from them, you become elevated far beyond! You bask in a glow whilst you pass by staying aboard this single-track bit of ecstasy.  

    Edinburgh mighty hills and steep roads may fill a cyclist with dread, especially when carrying a bag full of heavy tomes nevertheless it somehow hasn’t stopped the thousands which you see on the streets every day. For the city is small and compact enough to enable you pedal to pretty much any destination  and you can relatively easily get from its one end to another within about an hour. Bike

    In order to purchase a human-powered vehicle  it would be highly recommended to hit Edinburgh’s famous Bike Station on Saturday morning especially if you’re aiming to buy a second-hand bike or a cheap vintage two-wheeler  another good spot for that is Eastside Bikes. I you have enough pennies to treat yourself to something new and luxurious, then head to Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative. They have an offer of those wonderfully graceful Pashleys with high, swept-back handlebars, sprung leather saddles from Brooks and wicker baskets. 

    A bike is a good investment, especially if you’re a student. To quote any parent or grandparent, a dose of fresh air is always of benefit during those long hours spent burying your head in this and that tome. There is indeed something about the increase of oxygen to the brain while riding that inspires peddlers to pick up a notebook and a pen, it generally increases one’s creativity. It had an significant effect on works by big scribes such as Twain and H. G. Wells, and film-makers - Tati’s ‘Jour de Fete’ is a hilarious compendium of how to ride a bike with a postman’s grace, or Makhmalbaf’s ‘The Day I Became a Woman’ where a push bike becomes a symbol of freedom, after all the bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else!

    Certainly, the most essential accessory for the urban cyclist is something to keep your beloved wheels from disappearing, not that Edinburgh is a dangerous city, yet it is always better to secure your mode of locomotion with some devilish chain, and (just a little advice from an experienced bike mourner) do never leave it overnight in areas which seem peaceful and pleasant during the day, yet turn into devilish spots once the sun goes down, e.g. West Port triangle…If you do so, you may find yourself pick your beloved bike’s parts on Lothian Road the morning after…

    If this happens, go home and cry or … laugh over De Sica’s ‘Bicycle Thieves’!

    Agnieszka Gryczkowska

  • Student Insider's Guide - Get Involved! - Amy Shields, Thursday February 24 2011

    University can be a drag sometimes, and it is really easy to fall into the cycle of school, dinner, TV,  bed - repeat. Besides intoxicating yourself in the pub at the weekend, it can be hard to break circle and feel like you’re making the most of your time as a student.Fashion Show

    The best advice I can give is to simply get involved. There are loads of creative projects going down in the city, and you don’t need to be an art student to participate. Take for instance Edinburgh Charity Fashion Show, and entirely student coordinated event.  It’s a high profile affair, and they are always looking to keep the show alive each year with new committee members, choreographers, graphic designers and visual effects technicians.

    (http://www.edinburghcharityfashionshow.com/)

    It can also be difficult to juggle a part time job and university. If you can make some money during the summer then it will give a few extra hours to spend in the library (or the pub) during term time. Applications to work at the Edinburgh Fringe festival will be open from this month onwards. There will be positions available in the bar and in the box offices, ideal for those with little or no experience of festival work. You’ll make great friends, and if your degree is in the arts or events management, it can be a useful way to make connections in the industry. If you are a prospective Edinburgh student, then it is a ntastic opportunity to experience the city at its liveliest.

    Amy Shields, Edinburgh College of Art

  • Student Insider's Guide - On the hunt for a tome - by Agnieszka Gryczkowska, Monday February 07 2011

    Every student can relate to the excitement of opening a book and getting lost in the novel world which it can create…or quite often the dread one gets filled with while opening a massive tome of a proper academia writing which needs to be digested within a week?

    Wouldn’t it make it even better, or just slightly more bearable (in the second case), if you could have a pleasure of hunting for a volume in a wild antiquary before galloping through its pages?

    Second-hand bookshops are perfect for those booklovers who are struggling with a post-Christmas credit crunch, winter melancholy, the beginning of a new semester at university or an upcoming dissertation, and Edinburgh is brimming with them.second hand books

    Darting through the West Port, one will find an unusual combination of places, both sacred and profane, literally… but be brave for the comfort of a good book is close at hand.

    “Edinburgh Books” has been the landmark for book lovers for the past twenty years. The shop provides a wide range of second-hand and antiquarian books of fiction and non-fiction. Local patriots will find indulgence in ‘the Scottish room’ and those with sensitive ears can get lost in the underground labyrinth full of sheet music.

    To the right, on Lauriston Street, there is “Main Point Books”. This bookshop is a home to various tomes, from Poetry and Philoshopy, through Travel and Military, to various hobby books. Your wallet will seem miraculously bulging, since you can get as many as three books for £2.00 from the ‘sale’ selection.

    The marathon along West Port continues. Just as you pass the crossroad, you’ll see another oasis for those thirsty for the splash of more ink on paper. There is a generously stocked “Armchair Books” and implacably well-organised “Peter Bell Books”.

    The final destination or little whistle stop tour is situated on the quirky Victoria Street. "Old Town Books" specialises in Art and Architecture. It also boasts an impressive collection of Scottish prints and maps dating from 1620s.

    Enjoy the opportunity of venturing into the magical world of second-hand bookshops that Edinburgh offers! But remember, chasing the right tome requires time as well as wide-open eyes and mind. Nevertheless, once you’ve got it on your lap, you’ll be widely satisfied.

    Agnieszka Gryczkowska, Edinburgh Napier University

  • Kayak To Work? That'll Be £1 Billion Please, Friday October 22 2010

    Edinburgh AerialSome promising news in terms of investment in Edinburgh broke this week with the announcement of the proposed creation of a £1 Billion ‘canal quarter’.

    Formerly the location of the McEwans Fountain Brewery, the 13-acre site has been earmarked for a re-vamp which will hopefully see it become a hub for the creative industries, including architects, designers, arts and computer game developers. As well as housing and hotel accommodation, it’s envisaged that the development will also include a host of canal-side restaurants, cafes and bars.

    The area, which was the birthplace of Edinburgh’s most famous milkman, Shir Sean Connery, is very different to how it used to be. It will be the latest in a series of redevelopments in Fountainbridge, which have included the FountainPark leisure complex Springside,Edinburgh Quay and the overhaul of the canal and its walkway.

    So if all this comes off, perhaps Kayaking to work along the canal could become all the rage – it’s eco-friendly, healthy, and could even save you time showering in the morning...

  • This Is My Edinburgh. And Yours, Yours and Yours. Ooh and You Too., Monday June 28 2010

    If you’re thinking we’ve been a bit quieter than usual, well you’re probably not wrong. TIME LogoWhy? You might ask. Well, it’s simple really; we’ve been busy playing with our new, more exciting friends. Aw, don’t look sad – we’re just kidding. We’ve actually just been super busy putting the finishing touches to our spanking new website, part of our summer campaign, This Is My Edinburgh. It’s the place to find out what’s happening in and around Edinburgh over the summer months.

    We’ve even got our own blog over there, so for the next few months, you’ll be able to do lookings at some shiny new blog ideas, including guest posts from a variety of Edinburghers as well as our new talent-spotter feature where we’ll be meeting some of the trendiest peeps around town.

    Don’t worry, we’ll still come back here and keep you informed of various Edinburgh things though, but you’re more than welcome to join in the fun over there too.

  • Mamma Mia! Castle Street or Castello Strada?, Thursday June 03 2010

    Leaning TowerWith the lovely weather out today, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’d suddenly been transported to the Mediterranean. And if you happen to stumble upon Castle Street over the weekend, chances are you’ll be very confused as to your location. That’s because La Dolce Vita Italian Market is in town from today until Sunday.

    Open each day from 9am-6.30pm, the market has a whole host of Italian produce on offer, ideal if you’ve been pretending to friends that you’ve been jet-setting abroad.

    You can get your hands on all sorts of goodies from gifts and accessories to an array of fabulous foodstuffs including cheeses, breads, cured meats, olives, coffee and pastries, perfect for rustling up some authentic dishes just like Mamma used to make (unless she was like our Mamma of course. She could burn cornflakes).

  • Get Ready To Gorge Yourselves - Mmm Tasty Treats!, Thursday May 27 2010

    If you like your food, and let’s face it, who doesn’t, then this weekend is a veritable feast for foodies in and around Edinburgh, especially if we get the sort of weather we enjoyed last weekend.TASTE OF EDINBURGH

    The big dog is obviously Taste of Edinburgh, which we had a lovely chat with you about last month. Well, the time is nigh, and along with all the celebrity chefs (Jean-Christophe Novelli, Nick Nairn, Rachel Allen and Tom Kitchin) making appearances, there will be loads of demonstrations, samples and much more.

    But if seafood is more your bag, then you’ll want to make tracks for The Greenbelt at Prestonpans for the 3 Harbours Seafood Festival, one of only two of its kind in Scotland. For the chance to win some great prizes, become a Facebook fan.

  • Spa in the City. Perfect Sunday Recovery, Friday May 21 2010

    Hmm, Sundays. What better way to recover after a late Saturday night throwing some shapes than to chill out, relax and be pampered by somebody else. What’s that you say? This Sunday it’s free? Well, OK, that probably does make it better. Spa in the City, the capital’s biggest beauty event, returns this weekend, transforming St Andrew Square Garden into one huge urban spa.

    SASQFrom 10am til 5pm, the city’s top fashion and beauty outlets will be offering complimentary treatments, goody bags and a whole variety of other treats from top brands from home and abroad, including Smashbox, Clarins, Decleor, Clinque, Boobi Brown and much more.

    If all that rug-cutting from the previous night hasn’t completely exhausted you and you’re feeling energetic, then you can also try your hand at dance craze Zumba. Just don’t blame us when you can’t get up for work on Monday.

  • Edinburgh in World's Top 25 Cities. Next Stop, World Domination, Wednesday May 05 2010

    Well, well, well. Of all the tens of thousands of cities around the world, it turns out that Edinburgh is one of the best. Not just in the top 1000 or so, or the top 100. In fact, not even just the top 50 – oh no, we’re in the top 25, according to a poll by TripAdvisor. That puts in league with the likes of Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Tokyo, Rome, Sydney and San Francisco, which is rather illustrious company, don’t you think?

    Edinburgh Aerial

    All in all, Edinburgh ranked 21st in the world, and 17th in Europe, and was the only British city to feature, which, by a logical deduction that even Watson could fathom, also makes us the best city in the UK. Again. Come on the rest of you, at least try to keep up, eh?

    Of course, it’s probably not fair that we have world-class attractions, fabulous architecture, stunning natural features, beautiful open spaces, a rich culture, terrific shopping and an ace nightlife. But hey, we’re not perfect.