A huge food festival in the park mere minutes away from my house? Yup, i'm super ok with that…read more However, despite their close proximity to home base, I didn't make it out to Foodies until the final day. The space was great - with lots of room to move around, though each stall was quite busy. There was a collection of stalls serving home made goods, rows of food stalls and an impressive amount of places selling alcohol - it's an expat thing, i'm still so surprised (and delighted!) that you can eat outside. Food samples, being outdoors and £5 doubles from Pickerings Gin? I'm generally going to be quite the happy camper. The only downside of the festival is how busy it gets, especially to take in any of the tastings. Though I got there quite late, the last few tastings had big line ups and I had been told that a lot of the earlier sessions filled up. Plus, I know it was the last day, but a surprising amount of stalls started packing up as early as mid afternoon and heading home. I know they were likely sold out (at least I hope, because that's happy!) but I always find that at festivals, the vibe can be a bit strange when you're walking along and there are empty booths. Next year, i'll make it to opening day and take more advantage of sitting on the grass with a meal and listening to the live entertainment. When it swings around again - Foodies is definitely something worth exploring.

I much prefer Foodies to Taste of Edinburgh…read more Why, you ask? 1. They don't make you change your money into non-refundable crowns that can't be used at most of the stalls anyway 2. They don't charge an extortionate amount of money for a tiny sample plate of grub 3. You're not restricted to a certain session: you can just turn up whenever you want during the weekend. Both festivals have their downpoints, notably the amount of time you have to spend queueing and fighting through crowds to actually taste any food or drink. Foodies feels a lot more laid back than Taste, and if you choose to buy food from one of the many purveyors of scran you'll find that your fiver gets you a full portion instead of a piddly wee platter. If you're only going to go to one food festival during the summer, make it Foodies.

Weird and wonderful and I'm so glad I got to experience this. Make sure you buy your tickets in…read moreadvance and come prepared for a possibly chilly/windy night in the darkness with few places to sit and only a few options for food and drink that will be very busy. There is a rough schedule but there are things going on in multiple places at once and you will end up missing some things, not being able to see some things and that's OK! It's basically a volunteer run event so don't expect a clean and set experience - go in with your perspective open and enjoy! The ground is very uneven and it is very dark so be very careful walking around.

Beltane is genuinely one of the highlights of my year. Not only is it utterly magical, it makes me…read morefeel like the rest of the year is magical too. It's the perfect opportunity to shed the last vestiges of my lingering winter blues before the first true rays of summer. All while on top of a Scottish hill positively wreathed in flame. The dozens upon dozens of folk who volunteer for this event put so much work into everything from the costumes, to the drums, to the performances themselves: It's completely self evident that it's a labour of love. I think that's ultimately what makes Beltane so spectacular. Not just for the retelling of some ancient rite, but for the opportunity to keep that ritual alive and dancing from one year to the next. Often half naked, buck-wild, and hovering a handful of degrees above freezing. If you ever have the opportunity to see the May Queen and the Green Man (along with the Whites, the Reds, the Processional Drummers...), dress up warm, grab a few of your closest friends, and hike up Calton Hill on the last evening of April. If you have even a trace of wonder in your heart, you'll not be disappointed.

The venue is magnificent - Mansfield Tanquair is just a beauty of a building that once was a church…read morenow a venue that hosts weddings and other events like cocktails in the city. As you enter the event you get given a token, to which you can purchase more later - £6 per token = token per cocktail. Ok £6 isn't that expensive considering it's a cocktail event. With that entry fee you get a small booklet telling you who's there in regards of bars and what their cocktail is. In one way it helps you figure out which one you prefer to go to first. It does get busy so ordering might take a minute or two. My favourite cocktail of the night was Voodoo Rooms' "Darling Ruby". They do some food, which is great if you need to absorb the alcohol as you may have a few cocktails to test them! I never tried the food but it looked OK. They have talks on by bars as well, which is pretty interesting and entertaining too, to which you get a couple of tasters of certain spirits. All in all a good night - defo will think coming along again next year!

I have a special place in my heart for Cocktails in the City, as the 2014 edition was the first…read moretime I bounced offline and met up with local Edinburgh Yelpers. Now well into #TeamNinja shenanigans, I look forward to CitC every year so I can relive where it all began. The event is a great concept in a truly breathtaking setting. They bring together pop ups of some of the best bars in the city for two nights (they expanded to the second night this year), plunk it in a beautiful room and add music... nothing wrong about that combination. Especially if you can't go out on the regular, it's an amazing way to try multiple spots in one swoop in the hopes of uncovering your very own cocktail gurus. Very simply: near foolproof idea. But though I love nothing more than bouncing through this place, there are a few things that could use a little polish. So here's the rundown of CitC 2015: Love: - Clouds & Soil... definitely a great little find. - Milk Money Cocktails' masterclass - the non-alcoholic mocktail booth! - Head & Tales anything and everything - Eteaket throwing down tea/spirit combos - the addition of hot food bowls - alcoholic ice cream Miss: - the photobooth shenanigans from last year - Panda & Sons, Paradise Palms, Sligh House (last year, Bar Kohl) Wish: - MORE food! Only little bowls = 6+ cocktail danger zone - Whisky!! Whisky based cocktails were few and far between. - More tables or less folks (it's always a smokin' busy event, which gets dangerous when you're carrying a cocktails and trying to weave through a wall of people. More places to stop and put down your glass would be great, or doing an early bird/late night shift in tickets (cheaper for the first and last hour maybe?) - Live music... this is just a personal preference, but in that room, it would be great. Especially since the masterclass stage has been moved. All in all, I looked forward to it this year and i'll look forward to the next. They seem to finesse year on year, so bring it on 2016!

This pottery situated on the further edge of New Town is more an artists studio than just a shop…read morethat sells pots. It was started by a Janet Adam about twenty years ago, and along with several other potters, she makes and sells the most beautiful pieces! I've been aware of the more typical clay pottery, but the finished products are so expertly done and refined, it's difficult to believe they've been wholly hand made. The pots vary dramatically from one potter to another, and they're so intricate I couldn't imagine them actually being used for anything practical! We're now on the verge of the festival period, and for the next month or so, it'll be possible to head over there and see exhibitions of the artists at work! However, I'm more keen to get some one on one tuition, which they offer, as I can imagine it would be heaps of fun!

There are 6 potters working out of this little shop and all with different mediums and styles so…read moreyou are sure to find something you will want to take home. Their price are not bad and they even have a seconds area. Good place to find something for a gift or new for your own home.

historically the oldest of it's kind in europe. meeting room and office.read more

When it was originally the gay centre for Edinburgh it was great,one could frequent the gaff 7…read morenights a week,have a good natter with ur mates,go on the pull :) etc etc. But that all changed when it was sold for a song to the lot that run it now. The gay mafia a bunch of pretentious queens who only now offer a very restricted telephone advice service and literally f..k all else. No popping in for a chat with ur mates. no way! If u go in you are accosted at the door,literally to find out what you want. A drink (outrageously expensive),or one of their camp meals that are as appetising as a Macdonalds! No,the whole place is now run by lower middle class,left wing has been's who couldn't hack it in the real world so they have descended on Edinburgh's gay scene to try and create a sort of clique. Of what god alone know's. My advice to any gay visitor to our lovely city is to avoid this dump where all you will get is a sore wallet and not much else. If u are on the pull might i suggest one of the local straight bars where,if you are gonna pull,at least ur money will be better spent than lining the pockets of the local gay mafia! I say this in all seriousness but make ur own mind up. A "straight"young Edinburgh lad is within every mature and young gay man's reach if you try but please don't waste ur hard earned dosh at the gay centre because unlike it's name it is anything but.

I only found out about this festival through my work with Fest Mag. Which makes sense since I've…read moreonly spent two festivals here and wasn't here at all last year. The year before that I was working too much outside the festival to keep track of everything that was going on, but this year I plan to attend it as much as I can. The Edge Festival has a combination of big bands such as the Phantom Band, Phoenix and Eels playing this year, as well as many bands I've never heard of, but am looking forward to seeing live. Their gigs will also be held at a variety of venues, from the Wee Red Bar, to Cabaret Voltaire, and the HMV Picturehouse. Prices range all the way to 20 pounds, which considering the Edinburgh International Festival is not too bad.

The Edge Festival has, since 2008, taken over from T on the Fringe and has cemented itself as…read moreEdinburgh's number one music festival! I loved T on the Fringe where I saw one of the best gigs I have ever seen in my life - The Raconteurs at the Corn Exchange! Across August, bands and solo artists play at a number of small and larger venues in Edinburgh. Normally gigs are played at the Corn Exchange, the HMV Picturehouse, the Liquid Room, Cabaret Voltaire and the Queens Hall, but there are other much more intimate venues. Edinburgh is absolutely buzzing in August with the festival season, and the Edge Festival manages to add to the already brilliant festival scene. The festival manages to fill the line up with major chart topping acts, with indie bands and new upcoming bands. A brilliant music festival, however it is sadly probably overlooked currently due to the fact that it does not have the same name recognition as T on the Fringe. But who cares about the name! Good gigs, good venues....good experience! Give it a shot!

Worth a visit if you need a splash of greenery and nature to complement the history, architecture…read moreand man-made majesty of the Scottish capital, which we did. Walking the beautiful grounds on a picture perfect day, after visiting Edinburgh Castle, Old Town and The Royal Mile, we rejuvenated ourselves for more sightseeing and gallery viewing. Pro-tip: get drinks, sandwiches and snacks to-go from one of the famous bakeries in old town and enjoy them on a bench at the Royal Botanic Garden.

Beautiful garden wish we could have seen it all but our time and energy was running out. Love it…read morewas no cost. botanical gardens and nature. There was some wierd art but can't say we liked the art ... art is of course subjective. Did see some plants hadn't seen before and there were some birds in a pond.

Aunty Donna Gilded Balloon (Venue 14)…read moreAug 12-25 22:00 £10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVwbmdq_y7c I took some time out to meet the Melbourne, Australian trio, Aunty Donna to find out what they had in store for this years debut at Edinburgh Fringe Festival. These friendly 'awesome' guys met three years ago while at Acting School and soon came to realise they were actually quite funny! The curiously named 'Aunty Donna' was coined after they found out they all had an aunty named Donna. Fresh from San Francisco 'Sketch Fest', they now embark to conquer the Fringe. When asked to describe their show in three words they claimed it is 'Fast Paced Mayhem'. In their opening sketch Broden Kelly, Zachary Ruane and Mark Samual Bonanno take to the stage, landing us in a hipster coffee bar, their witty scrutiny is taken to ludicrous limits as they act out the scene in outrageous physical comedy. Oozing with energy, the fast paced trio speed us through original, slightly surreal, big and brash comedy all executed in suit and tie. Each working in balance with one another: complimenting their different strengths. We are taken on a singing and dancing journey of men who flight like kangaroos, a widowed husband who deals with grief through puns, loose rope walking, beat drops at a funeral and fatherly love that goes all wrong. Of course a comic show visiting Edinburgh would not be the same without the obligatory Scottish accent gag. It's noisy, it's daft, it's filthy, but in all the right places. Just beware of the great audience interaction. I do hope you like popcorn. Their show goes a bit off kilter at the end when they perform a parody of a TV show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which isn't actually aired in the UK, which seems a bit irrelevant but you still get the joke. Four stars.

It's a tough call to not give this event a 5 star rating…read more.. Axis of Awesome totally rocked the Gilded Balloon, with songs of modern living and social commentary; songs about KFC and teenage drinking, Harry Potter and writing floppy guys off as a tax deductable item. Reviewing an Axis of Awesome concert has an element of "situational humour" (you had to be there), and the musical stylings go beyond the obvious comparisons of Flight of the Conchords or Tim Minchin - each are doing their own individual homage to musical parody with totally different styles. But the sheer....intelligent idiocy? of Axis of Awesome achieves some real belly laughs, sprinkled with a little well-timed cringing. It's hard to pick favourites but the KFC song, the pimped-out parody of "Can you hear the $%^&* music comin outta my car" and the medley of the four-chord song had me in stitches. Well worth the ticket price while Axis of Awesome are at the Gilded Balloon, or finding out if they're coming to a theatre near you..!