This is London, in Edinburgh the living books wore black T shirts
Multicultural Leith produced some of the best read books on offer at Scotland’s first Living Library. We don’t yet have any pictures of the event which was probably the highlight of the Edinburgh Festival of Libraries, but these excellent images from the Living Library website give you some idea of the atmosphere. What’s a living book? Read on!
Continue reading “Open books, open minds”
Circling the square…
Do you walk through the square on your way home? Do you pause by the benches and wonder what the space is for? If so then Elric Honor would like to hear from you. Elric is carrying out a public consultation for Port of Leith Housing Association to discover what people think of Boundary Square in the pedestrian area of Buchanan Street. And workshops starting on Wednesday 19 November give you a chance to take an active part in improving it. Elric explains why …
Continue reading “What’s your view of Boundary Square?” 
Everyone has a story to tell though not everyone is willing or able to tell it. That’s why it takes both courage and imagination to volunteer to be a Living Book. But plenty of people are doing it and you can find out why when Scotland’s first Living Library opens in Edinburgh on Saturday 8 November. Continue reading “You can read me like a book”
When the cold wind blows in my face
And I see the orange and yellow autumn leaves fall
It is then that I am bewildered here
and I gather all my sighs,
but when the first snow flakes fell on my shoulder
it was like shining stars falling from the sky
This extract is from the poem Edinburgh by Shaista Asad who is one of the poets taking part in Mushaira, a celebration of Scottish Asian poetry, in McDonald Road Library on Saturday 18 October. Mushaira encourages participants to write and perform in their own language but Shaista has sent us this poem in English written while she was sitting in Princes Street Gardens. Click on more to read the full poem. Continue reading “Stars falling from the sky”
Definitely not racist, FOUND loving music at Cabaret Voltaire
Red Eye is the great name for a new film club opening in Leith on Friday 5 September (great whether you are suffering from four long weeks of festival or not). Don’t miss the first night’s screening of Who Shot the Sheriff with fantastic footage of the Clash, Misty in Roots, Estelle, Ms Dynamite and Hard-Fi among others. This history of Rock against Racism (now Love Music Hate Racism) kicks off at 7pm in Pilmeny Youth Club, 44 Buchanan Street. It’s just off Leith Walk and it’s free! Continue reading “Red Eye opens on Friday”
Natural Progression: 600 pieces of black bamboo set the scene for dance in the Botanics on midsummer night.
Poetry, politics and planting: we can look forward to a long hot summer, if events in this month’s newsletter are anything to go by. Get involved in environment politics through our Leith Open Space Opening Doors shadow scheme, and learn about an inspiring intercultural summer school. Don’t miss Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo midsummer’s event in the Botanics, look out for Poet’s Corner in Dalmeny Street, and watch Redbraes community garden grow. Come and help us plant some tatties in Persevere Garden on 21 June and relax in the Botanics on midsummer eve.
Women of all faiths, and none, are invited to take part in a discussion about faith and feminism at YWCA Roundabout Centre, Gayfield Place on Wednesday 14 May, 7.00 pm. If you know anyone who would be interested, pass on the news. Continue reading “Faith and feminism”
Changing views of Leith: artwork by Tommy Perman
Are developments in Leith meeting the needs of local people? Deborah Cameron is keen hear your views of plans for Leith. Continue reading “Onwards, upwards and outwards?”
Nahid Aslam of Leith Open Space attended the launch of a new community project based in Leith targeted to help people affected by poverty. Here she explains what the project does and how you can get involved.
Time to dig out our wellies and head for the opening of the new Perseverence Community Garden at 11am on Wednesday 5 March. Leith Open Space is looking forward to sharing a plot with Greener Leith and we will be marking the spot by planting one of the fruit trees Alastair Tibbitt has ordered for the occasion. With any luck they will come with good weather.
Behind the walls, Perseverence Community Garden waits for planting
