Sadly there’s no truth in the myth that Inuits have 87 words for snow (according to yesterday’s radio there are just as many English words for the white stuff) but who has more words for rubbish? On Saturday while snow covered much of the UK, the sun shone on volunteers picking litter out of Pilrig Park. That’s litter, rubbish, trash, garbage, junk, detritus, gubbins, yuk…you name it, Greener Leith volunteers found it. And filled 48 bags full of it. Continue reading “What a load of rubbish”
Fortune-telling in shoes: The Shape of Things to Come was one of our best read stories last year.
In Homecoming year Leith Open Space will report more stories of remarkable new and old Leithers. But first news of our multicultural discussion event for women who care in March, a campaign to get women into politics and a fascinating glimpse of Scottish politics from Opening Doors ‘shadow’ Francis Kahembwe. Then treat yourself to a quick world tour without leaving Leith, travel back in time to the Lost World, and pick up a free book on the way.
While we are looking forward to an eventful new year we couldn’t resist taking a look back. During 2008 we travelled far and wide, visiting parts of Africa, China, India, Pakistan and Poland. All without moving out of Leith and North Edinburgh. To celebrate the most vibrant and exciting part of the capital city here is our world tour in pictures, with thanks to the many welcoming communities of Leith. Continue reading “Around the world without leaving Leith”
Callum McLeod (on the left) tries his luck at Polish St Andrews night.
What does the future hold? Who will I marry? Will I be rich? No-one really claimed to know the answers but people of all ages had a lot of fun looking to the future through old traditions at a Polish celebration of St Andrews night in Fort Community Centre. Why not try some yourself… Continue reading “The shape of things to come”
At 9.30 am there is only one film showing at the Vue cinema in Ocean Terminal. Sunshine beams across Leith while people stream into the warm dark for the first screening. Parents, teachers, community leaders and local politicians have turned out in force to see an extraordinary celebration of local life. But the red carpet is reserved for the kids starring in Hold the Fort. Continue reading “Hold the Fort: world premiere”
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 Honoré 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”
