Edinburgh chat thread

NoCrackHaving

Anyone head to Hidden Door this weekend?

We popped down after getting some food in Pitt Street market.

Unfortunately we only went in the daytime but all the art installations etc. were quite cool and the old Leith theatre is something else, can't believe it's been lying empty since 1990, would be a great gig venue and far enough away from residential areas that it wouldn't have the noise issues the city centre venues are being forced to shut down for.

jimmii

razorblunt wrote: »

Ah jeez I wouldn't be doing anything for time!
I'd be running for the sake of running!

I think I'll bite the bullet and just sign up this week while the early bird offers are out.
I have no interest in the Half again but the 10k could be the job.

September is the Scottish Half isn't it? Starts off at Meadowbank and heads around Musselburgh race course too?
That might be an option too.

Yeh that's the one. Heads out to Longniddry then back through port seton and Prestonpans then ends in Musselburgh. There's a 10k on the Saturday of that run too.

Fysh

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

Anyone head to Hidden Door this weekend?

We popped down after getting some food in Pitt Street market.

Unfortunately we only went in the daytime but all the art installations etc. were quite cool and the old Leith theatre is something else, can't believe it's been lying empty since 1990, would be a great gig venue and far enough away from residential areas that it wouldn't have the noise issues the city centre venues are being forced to shut down for.

I was along for the Kinoclub screening and Anna Meredith performance last Friday and Idlewild on the Saturday, and have to say the venue blew me away. I don't know what exactly has motivated the various clowns in the city council to enact its ongoing war on live music, but that theatre is an amazing venue and it's ludicrous to have had it sitting empty and unused for so long. Hopefully it'll be revitalised now and come back into regular use soon.

Fysh

As part of the film festival there are several "enhanced" Edgar Wright film screenings - sort of like what Secret Cinema do in London, except without the ~£100 price tag. Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.

jimmii

Fysh wrote: »

As part of the film festival there are several "enhanced" Edgar Wright film screenings - sort of like what Secret Cinema do in London, except without the ~£100 price tag. Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.

That looks fun. I went to a big lebowski one in London it was brilliant!

NoCrackHaving

I wonder how many festivals Edinburgh hosts in total - this (http://www.edinburghfestivalcity.com) would suggest 12 !

jimmii

Only 12? Assume that's just in August is it link isn't working for me.

Fysh

I ended up going to see Melt Banana in the Caves on Niddry Street South last night, and was pretty impressed with it as a venue for live music. I'm not sure how often they have gigs on, but it seems worth keeping an eye on.

Michael D Not Higgins

jimmii wrote: »

Only 12? Assume that's just in August is it link isn't working for me.

Everything is a festival in Edinburgh. Having an event? Have 3 more similar events and call it a festival.

ems_12

Hi all, I've just found this forum hidden in the "Abroad" section, brilliant   Living in Edinburgh about 6 years or so.  Just looking forward to the Fringe at the minute.  Judging by the posts, some of you may be interested in the EH6 festival in October; lots of live music, across various venues around Leith - looks good!
Fysh, I'm trying to do more cycling, particularly trying to cycle in and out to work but it's a bit hit & miss at the moment!  Cramond or Portobello is my usual relaxed cycle if I head out in the evenings.  Check out the Innertube map, or Spokes have a map to purchase online, which shows lots of different cycle paths & networks for inspiration.

Michael D Not Higgins

The city really feels dead the last couple of days with the post-festival exodus.

jimmii

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

The city really feels dead the last couple of days with the post-festival exodus.

Yeh its so weird you get used to the crowds then all of a sudden they are gone overnight! It is nice to get back to normal at the same time though.

cloudatlas

jimmii wrote: »

Yeh its so weird you get used to the crowds then all of a sudden they are gone overnight! It is nice to get back to normal at the same time though.

Brace yourself.... The Students are coming.

Michael D Not Higgins

Fuuuck missed the aurora last night. It was supposed to be pretty intense too.

jimmii

Dam didn't hear about that at all!

Michael D Not Higgins

jimmii wrote: »

Dam didn't hear about that at all!

I have an app that warns me of high activity which causes auroras but I woke up this morning with an alert from 3am. No good to me now!

Michael D Not Higgins

This was the activity recorded last night. Usually above the orange line you might see something. This was well into the red.

Michael D Not Higgins

The graph has pushed into the red again, pity the forecast for this evening is total cloud cover.

Fysh

On the cycling front, I ended up joining Sustrans there, and one of the things I'm looking forward as a member to is the choice of a couple of free cycle route maps. I tend to be a fairweather cyclist so as we head inexorably towards more feeble weather, I need new routes to try out to keep my interest.

On a different note - there are a couple of things coming up in Edinburgh including the Tequila festival (bit spendy for my tastes, since I'm not sure how much I'd get out of trying a variety of tequilas) and Oktoberfest (11th-15th October). Anyone spotted other events worth looking out for in the near future?

razorblunt

In the market for a bike myself now, will probably wait for the cycle to work scheme to open in work before I get one. Nothing fancy, a hybrid will do. Just bought a house in "the sticks" aka past the bypass so it's back on the rothar for me.
Looking forward to the snappy January mornings already!

ems_12

Fysh wrote: »

 Anyone spotted other events worth looking out for in the near future?

There's an "Edinburgh Irish Culture & Heritage Day" coming up at the end of September. And a cocktail weekend in October. 

The Krafty Brew EH6 Festival in Leith looks good for live music   & there's an Outdoor Film Tour in the Hub at the end of October.

razorblunt

Got my bike on Saturday so it's the canal out and in for me now, what a beautiful commute though, has the urban side and then rural before and after the bypass.

Went to The Bridge Inn in Ratho too over the weekend, just off the canal itself, definitely worth stopping for a tipple if you fancied a weekend cycle, food is very, very good too, you can order the restaurant menu in the bar ... I think!

cloudatlas

Red sky at night.

razorblunt

Looks like The Dome's Xmas Decorations went up (at least externally) over the weekend.
I always thought it was in November they went up?

jimmii

razorblunt wrote: »

Looks like The Dome's Xmas Decorations went up (at least externally) over the weekend.
I always thought it was in November they went up?

They always seem to one of the first. I saw some street decorations up in one town already too.

NoCrackHaving

The Beer Kitchen on Lothian Road have their 'trees' up but no lights yet.

razorblunt

Massive installation going up on Castle Street/George Street too.
Probably that Street of Lights.

jimmii

Northern lights might be viewed in the lothians tonight apparently. Pretty cloudy though be lucky to get to see much by the looks of it.

Fysh

Anyone had any issues with the snow today? I'm not too bad so far but tomorrow's walk to work looks set to be an adventure, of the "try not to break my face off the floor" variety...

jimmii

Fysh wrote: »

Anyone had any issues with the snow today? I'm not too bad so far but tomorrow's walk to work looks set to be an adventure, of the "try not to break my face off the floor" variety...

I was driving home about half nine and the main roads were grand but some of the side roads were like ice rinks! I'm glad I'm not heading out into it today!!

razorblunt

I was stuck at home yesterday, the estate is on a hill, some houses didn't bother clearing outside their own place if the neighbour's part was clear. This meant we could get down one hill but not up another. Selfish kants.

2 hours clearing the road then yesterday morning, salted it, another quick clear at 6pm another salting and we were able to get out this morning.


The footpaths in the city center are a disgrace, I saw only one place on George Street out trying to de-ice the front of their building.

Fysh

razorblunt wrote: »

I was stuck at home yesterday, the estate is on a hill, some houses didn't bother clearing outside their own place if the neighbour's part was clear. This meant we could get down one hill but not up another. Selfish kants.

2 hours clearing the road then yesterday morning, salted it, another quick clear at 6pm another salting and we were able to get out this morning.


The footpaths in the city center are a disgrace, I saw only one place on George Street out trying to de-ice the front of their building.

I had yaktrax on for my entire walk to work, although I saw plenty of folks powering along in normal business footwear (which I have to assume was both gripless and cold). Heck, I even saw two cyclists commuting to work, and of course neither of them had a helmet on because of the current fad of arguing that cycle helmets don't make a difference to injuries.

razorblunt

Fysh wrote: »

I had yaktrax on for my entire walk to work, although I saw plenty of folks powering along in normal business footwear (which I have to assume was both gripless and cold). Heck, I even saw two cyclists commuting to work, and of course neither of them had a helmet on because of the current fad of arguing that cycle helmets don't make a difference to injuries.

I walked from the tram stop to my office in my work shoes, I will NOT be doing that tomorrow morning. I pretty much skated up the street.

I was just out at lunch, most of its gone now so footpaths are a lot better having been heavily salted.

Rex Manning

Been a while since I had a look here, how are ye all? Survive the snow ok?

Grand stretch to the evenings, get to see daylight before and after work now

jimmii

Yeah nice to be able to see the evenings getting longer! Fingers crossed the freezing temperatures don't materialise next week can't be going back to that again!

Is anyone going to own up to going to see Harry and Meghan :pac:

biketard

Rex Manning wrote: »

Grand stretch to the evenings, get to see daylight before and after work now

I was just thinking that on my walk home from work yesterday. Put a smile on my face.

Rex Manning

jimmii wrote: »

Is anyone going to own up to going to see Harry and Meghan :pac:

If there was a bank holiday to be had from the wedding I'd have been there, maybe

razorblunt

Yes, I was the donkey that bit Harry!

It's great seeing the light in the evenings now, its definitely making me get out of the office in good time too.
Should be back on the bike soon too, need to go on a reccy run down the canal paths to see what its like!

Rex Manning

Yep, it's that wonderful time of the year where I pump up the tyres on the bike and maybe use it about 4 times

Michael D Not Higgins

So how much snow are we expecting next week. Everyone in Ireland seems to think the end of days is upon them.

Fysh

razorblunt wrote: »

Yes, I was the donkey that bit Harry!

It's great seeing the light in the evenings now, its definitely making me get out of the office in good time too.
Should be back on the bike soon too, need to go on a reccy run down the canal paths to see what its like!

I still find it a bit too cold to be cycling, I've taken up running to keep me active over the winter months. The light in the evenings is great though, lovely to be leaving the office before it's dark.

jimmii

Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »

So how much snow are we expecting next week. Everyone in Ireland seems to think the end of days is upon them.

Guessing there will be a fair bit. Looks like it could be one of those rare occasions where Edinburgh gets it worse than Glasgow what's that about ffs! I thought the whole point of Glasgow was to keep the bad stuff away from the night place!

Rex Manning

That's the snow starting, time to crack out the rosary beads and hope for the best

jimmii

Rex Manning wrote: »

That's the snow starting, time to crack out the rosary beads and hope for the best

Nothing to the east of Edinburgh quite yet. It tried to snow around lunchtime but wasn't able to get anywhere.

biketard

Yeah, I opened the curtains this morning expecting a blanket of snow. Nothing at all.

You can see it's trying, but nothing of substance so far.

razorblunt

A dusting out my direction. I'd gritted the "Loan" last night though, but it would still have been passable anyway.
Ingliston P&R was really quiet so I think many folk may have stayed at home. Tell ya what, its a lot harder scattering salt from a shovel than I thought it'd be!

Looking at yr.no I think tonight and tomorrow morning might get interesting.

crushproof

See how it forms overnight and cross my fingers it paralyses the tram and bus network

biketard

So I'm sitting at work and we've got a good, albeit thin, base of snow outside. Wind's picking up too. Kids are at home instead of school, happy as Larry, and I just got a text that schools are off tomorrow too because of a red weather warning.

Still waiting for the big snow to hit.

Michael D Not Higgins

I made an early exit from work after lunch. The roads look bad if you're driving, saw a few fender benders on the way home. Careful out there!

Rex Manning

got away from the office a while ago, took 1.5 hours to get the bus from Corstophine to Meadowbank. Mighty value for £1.70