February already – oh, how time flies! No doubt there will be many private celebrations of Groundhog Day around Spurtleshire on the 2nd, but what lies in store for the more general of the public this month?
The Six Nations Rugby Championship begins on Friday 4 February with Wales vs England (KO 7:45pm), and for those who can’t bear the thought of watching at home Broughton Street's Cask and Barrel is on hand as always to show every game with decent beer in easy reach.
UNESCO’s annual reading project returns with a host of local events around the theme ‘Let’s Get Lyrical’. The Botanic Gardens have created a ‘Naturally Lyrical’ display, looking at how stories of the natural world and the future of the planet itself have been told through song lyrics. This runs from 10:00am–4:00pm, 1–28 February. They’re also holding a one-off event: Garden Music and Stories, with music from Frieda Morrison and stories from David Mitchell – the curator of the Glass House, as opposed to the author of Cloud Atlas or the comedian. Do you know of any other David Mitchells? If so, feel free to keep this information to yourself.
In an unusual move, local indie pop band Come On Gang! host an all-in-one goodbye gig and album launch in Pilrig St Paul’s Church on Leith Walk at 7:00pm on 12 February. You can support their bold ‘release the debut album and promptly split up’ strategy by spending a mere £5 on a ticket from Avalanche Records in the Grassmarket, and turning up. Support will be provided by Cancel the Astronauts and Over The Wall, neither of whom have any immediate plans to disband.
N.B. Do not allow all this sport / music excitement to make you forget that February is the month of 'buy me a present or it means you don’t love me' day, also referred to by Hallmark as the Festival of St Valentine. Narcissus on Broughton Street will cheerfully make you up a special bouquet to mark the occasion, and if you order online using the code SPURTLE they will give you a 10% discount. Meanwhile, the Informed Edinburgh website have just named Stac Polly on Dublin Street one of the city’s top romantic venues. For those unsure of the all-important date, it’s the 14th.
McDonald Road Library have taken it into their heads to invite a ceilidh band round to help with a ‘Scottish Songs For Everyone!’ (whether they like it or not) event. This would never happen in Morningside. Be there from 2:00–3:30pm on 16 February for singing shenanigans. For those whose attendance may be swayed by a little light bribery, refreshments have been promised.
And finally, you have a last chance to take a peek at Broughton Deli’s #4 collection (featuring work on an animal theme by Eleni Kalorkoti, Libby Walker, Aurora Cacciapuoti and Kevin Sim) before it is replaced on 15 February by a brand new display of staff picks. This new Barony Street exhibition will feature an eclectic mixture of work including film and paintings from recent Edinburgh College of Art graduates.