Elrec’s cool chill out zone

“It’s cool”

What more can you say? Elrec’s Youth Zone has the seal of approval from the young people who use it but it is not just for fun. The Youth Zone in Forth Street is the only space in Edinburgh and Lothians where young people from ethnic minority communities can meet to make new friends, mix music, share ideas or get confidential advice on all kinds of issues.

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Granny Barron’s Irish Wheaten Bread

Starting a series of World Kitchen recipes, Sam Barron passes on a family treat:

The recipe was never written down. Over generations the technique was simply a handful of this and a pinch of that.  Then one of Granny Barron’s daughters watched her mother as she made some bread.  She carefully measured the quantities and came up with a recipe that gets close to how it tasted when her Mum made it. Continue reading “Granny Barron’s Irish Wheaten Bread”

Grandmothers’ footsteps

Granny Barron at 100 – can’t guarantee eating wheaten bread will give the same results for all.

Every member of the World Kitchen has a food story that goes back generations, every meal has an aroma that stirs memories.  Many  of the stories  and memories cross continents and somehow grandmothers are a recurring theme. Continue reading “Grandmothers’ footsteps”

Art for art (therapy) sake

One of six designs raising money for art therapy in Leith.

No, it’s not too soon.  Christmas card brochures are already coming through the letter box but here’s a local charity well worth supporting.  Multi-Cultural Family Base (MCFB) has set up a social enterprise selling cards to fund some of their vital work with vulnerable families in Leith.

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The Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning (in Leith)

No such thing as a free cake: but make your own with the recipe below…

Smell the coffee (and make the cake).  This Friday is the biggest event on the calendar for MacMillan Cancer Research and once again Mark Lazarowicz and Malcolm Chisholm are taking part in The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.  We are all invited to join them at Vittoria Restaurant, courtesy of Tony Crolla,  on the corner of Brunswick Street and Leith Walk from 10am on Friday 24th September.

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Opening Doors to the 2011 election

Congratulations to David ng Hop who has become the first member of our Opening Doors shadow scheme  to put himself forward for election to the Scottish Parliament.  David has been nominated as a Labour candidate for Lothian Region in next year’s Scottish elections.  A lot of work lies ahead but if he was successful, David could be the first Scottish Chinese member of the Scottish Parliament (unless of course anyone knows differently?). Continue reading “Opening Doors to the 2011 election”

Opening books not burning them: Edinburgh’s first Urdu literary week

In the end there was no Quran-burning but with the so-called clash of civilisations still rumbling around the world news, this is a good time to explore the great riches of Urdu literature. Edinburgh’s first International Urdu Literary Week begins on Friday 17th September with a round table conference in St Mary’s Church and continues over the weekend in McDonald Road Library.  Whatever you do, don’t miss the Mushaira on Saturday. Continue reading “Opening books not burning them: Edinburgh’s first Urdu literary week”

Louder than words: actions of the News Group

Confrontation – how the media simplifies a complex story [pictures by George Lamb]

Every now and then a surprised face peered through the window: this was not business as usual in the Scottish Parliament, not even during the Festival of Politics.  For once the emphasis was on actions rather than words.  And actions can speak volumes. Continue reading “Louder than words: actions of the News Group”

Stage struck at Redbraes, Parklife in Montgomery Street, DIY pop in Pilrig Church

Grassroots at Redbraes two years ago, this year they have a stage

Is this the fringe of the Fringe, or the fringe of the fringe of the Fringe?  As the big circus moves out of town this weekend there’s an eruption of music, poetry, fancy dress and food (in no particular order)  in streets and gardens all around our part of town.

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