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PREVIEWED BY RHYS FULLERTON

Last year was a fantastic one for art in (or near) Broughton, and 2015 has already started strongly. Here I preview some of what’s on offer locally over the first few months.

As always, January begins with a flourish at the Scottish National Gallery with Turner in January. The Henry Vaughan bequest has been exhibited each January for over 100 years, free of charge, as stipulated. I’ll be writing about it shortly, and recommend making time to see this wonderful exhibition.

L’Escargot Bleu on Broughton Street has won a prestigious 2015 AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

The award, announced yesterday, recognises ‘high standards, consistency and precision, serving food prepared with care and with evident selection of fresh, seasonal, quality ingredients’.

Only about 10 per cent of British restaurants reach the standard.

‘I’m delighted,’ writes chef-proprietor Fred Berkmiller. ‘This achievement is a true testimony to our fantastic team who work hard to deliver exceptional fresh, local, Scottish produce.’

Yesterday's coverage by the Edinburgh Evening News of Council plans to revise 20mph speed restrictions across the capital has received short shrift.

A curt letter from Transport and Environment Convener Lesley Hinds – sent after EEN reported a 'huge backlash' against the proposal – takes issue with the paper's repetition of various 'misconceptions'.

In particular, Hinds remarks:

For the last few days we've been challenging Spurtle readers on social media to guess the mystery location shown right. David Sterratt now reveals all.

Long-time Broughton resident Neil McLeod has kindly allowed us to publish this picture of four workers beside the Beaverbank Works office of Thomas Symington & Co., 'Manufacturers of Coffee Essences', on Logie Green Road.

DAVID HILL ON LIGHT AND THE NOCTURNAL CITY 

Much is made of the uplifting qualities of sunlight.

I recall my own first year in Edinburgh as a desperate, mostly futile, search for Helios.

But while a street soaked in delicate, mid-morning, golden sunshine has a certain charm, this predilection for the uncomplicatedly solar now strikes me as immature.

Tesco on Broughton Road is now awash with chocolate eggs and bunnies. 

This despite the fact that Easter Sunday is not until 5 April: a good 12 weeks distant. 

Tesco would, if we bothered to ask them, doubtless reply that they are only responding to customer demand and some customers like to prepare for major Christian festivals well in advance. 

Easter is, in any case, something of a flexible feast.

Here’s a sight that hasn’t been seen for some time, and probably won’t be seen again soon. 

It’s the rear of Baxter’s Place viewed from Marshall’s Court, where demolition behind Nos 1–2 has freed the Category A-listed structure of its 1970s 4-storey office appendage. 

A Report to go before the Finance and Resources Committee next week sheds interesting light on the disposal of Council-owned and inalienable Common Good land to the developer of the St James Quarter.

The Report (dated 15 January and attached as a pdf below) recommends delegating authority for negotiating these deals to CEC’s Director of Services for Communities (the current Acting Director is John Bury), in consultation with the Head of Legal, Risk and Compliance.

The Left-Handed Tea Drinker stood outside, looking nervous. He was twitching and shifting his eyes in every direction as if he didn’t want to get caught. He looked left and right, took a deep breath and then stepped inside … 

After a recent minor disagreement with Mrs Left-Handed Tea Drinker, she told me I should seek professional help. A tad extreme but it did get me thinking. 

Extending the tramline beyond York Place looks increasingly likely now that TIAA Henderson Real Estate (THRE) has released more detail on its plans for the St James Quarter (Breaking news, 7.1.15).