As the month of empty pockets creeps up behind us, silent but deadly like an owl with a grudge, what distractions can we find in Spurtleshire to ease the pain that is January?
Well, for those who want to exercise their minds in the New Year, Smithie's (49–51 Eyre Place) will be running their regular Thursday night pub quiz from 9:00–11:00pm. This tried and tested method of checking whether your brain has been addled by too many Sound of Music viewings over the festive season is guaranteed to mean you spend an evening in a pub going 'Damn, I knew that'.
Or perhaps you want to take up photography in the New Year? That being the case, why not pop along to Tribe Tattoo (80 Broughton Street) for some inspiration? They have an exhibition of photography by Vivienne Lowe, also known as Dirty Laundry Photography, which combines beautiful shots of Edinburgh with some of sinister-looking dolls. How could you say no to this winning combination? There are also prints on sale.
Staying on a sinister theme, there are still a few spaces available on the ‘Dead Haunted’ tour of Mary King’s Close on 22 January from 9:00pm–2:00am. Hosted by Phil Whyman of TV’s completely credible ghost-hunting show Most Haunted, this is a chance to see whether the Close by night lives up to its formidable reputation.
For something a bit more lighthearted, The Playhouse (18–22 Greenside Place) is showing Hairspray until 9 January, then has Swan Lake on Ice from 18–22 January. Because everything seems better on ice, doesn’t it? Alternatively you can head to The Stand (5 York Place) to see the whimsical Andrew O’Neill: Occult Comedian on 18 January.
Aspiring rock stars who received a new instrument at Christmas might want to head along to Banana Row (43–7 Eyre Place), where they are running a 'Make it Big in 2011' offer. You can get a full day’s rehearsal in the studios for £50, or a day of recording for £200.
Finally. if you want to splash some cash around in aid of those less fortunate, Children 1st are hosting a black-tie Robert Burns celebration at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange (10–11 New Market Road) on Saturday 22 January. Tickets are a snip at £50, for which you get a three-course meal, speeches from comedian Susan Morrison and after-dinner speaker (yes, apparently that’s a job) Peter Brown, musical performances, a prize draw and the inevitable ceilidh. All the usual nonsense, essentially, but with the added moral bonus of 'tak-ing a cup o’ kindness for Scotland’s vulnerable children'.