After walking across the Meadows to go to those early morning tutorials at university for a good…read moreyear, I had become familiar, as does everybody who walks that way, with the local Big Issue vendor. A cherry and friendly man, after a few months I decided to finally purchase a copy of the Big Issue. And since then, I have frequently bought it and enjoyed it. At first, you might not think much of it, but after a while you will appreciate what a great read it is. It has a range of interviews with stars (There was a brilliant interview with Amy MacDonald recently!) and also has a lot of in depth reporting on local issues. Indeed, I have found the Big Issue to be a brilliant hub of knowledge for reviews of local gigs and shows, and also a great source for adverts for jobs, events etc... Most of all, the majority of vendors I have come across are really friendly and are happy to show you directions as some know the city so well. If you fancy supporting a good cause and want a magazine which has the big interviews intertwined with local issues then the Big Issue is a great read! (Also, it reviews the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, an added bonus!)

If you are student in Edinburgh or have been you would of come across those lecturers and tutors…read morewho always like to advertise the fact that they have some books available to buy (and that they are crucial for you passing that course!). Well, one place which publishes the books of these very people is Edinburgh University Press! Yes, this publishing press have books which cover most academic interests. They also publish academic journals as well. I have read books from this publishers mostly related to Scottish affairs, and they seem to have a good selection of experts in that field writing for them. One word of warning though, academic books are quite expensive, so enquire into the price before you buy!

It's always a bonus if you find yourself sitting down in a pub or a coffee shop and see copies of…read moreThe Skinny lying about. Compared to the double glazing ads and out of date non-news you get in most free papers, it's journalistic heaven. Compared to papers you'd actually pay for it's not that bad either, It's a bit up it's own arse at times, but if you're interested in what's going on slightly left of centre in the music, film, media and art scenes across Scotland, then it's probably the best publication currently available, free or not. Granted, some of the content an writing will appeal only to the most insufferable arseholes who bore you senseless by wittering on about the latest no-mark band they've found on Myspace, but even taking that into account there's plenty of reading to be had here.

The Skinny is a great free music newspaper. It is a great source to find new upcoming local bands,…read moreand it also has extensive listings for upcoming gigs, clubs and comedy shows. I always enjoy reading music publications, and compared to many main stream music magazines, the Skinny certainly provides a better range of coverage on a broader spectrum of music. Indeed, it recent years, the Skinny has gone further and now features articles on theatre, books, art and fashion. Apart from the emphasis on local new bands, the paper also focuses on the alternative-indie music scene. Indeed, it recently had a headline interview with the American band The National. If you want to know what is happening in the latest music circles, then the Skinny is essential reading for you. It might not come in a glossy magazine format, but its content is head and shoulders above other publications.

Edinburgh's profile as a city has increased dramatically over the past couple of decades. Twenty…read moreyears ago it would be the last place on Earth you'd expect to find designer shops, trendy bars and boutique hotels, and while it may lose some of it's charm in the transformation, there's no denying that the city has very much moved with the times. Pick up a copy of the Evening News however, and you really wouldn't know it. Surely the last bastion of Edinburgh's old fashioned curtain-twitching mentality, it really is a small-town read at it's worst. Actual news, such as the recent discovery of dismembered human remains in someone's fridge, is shunted in favour of "cat stuck up tree" stories and pictures of local businessmen holding up oversized charity cheques. Worst of all however, is the opinion column, which day in day out, regardless of subject, descends into the usual favourite hobby of the city's more militant types, venting ill-informed hatred at Glasgow and it's residents. Showcasing a peculiar mix of anger, snobbery, and oddly enough jealousy, it's an attitude that tellingly isn't replicated in the West where in general they show little interest in the capital city. In fairness the sports coverage isn't too bad, and gives better coverage of the Edinburgh teams than most of the Old Firm dominated Scottish national media. That's about as good as it gets, but the comedy right-wing opinions of suburban Neighbourhood Watch members on the letters pages is also not bad for a laugh.

As with every major city, Edinburgh to, has its own local city newspaper. The Edinburgh Evening…read moreNews isn't a paper I always buy but when I do the quality throughout the paper is always mixed! The best part of the paper has consistently always been the sport pages. If you want the gossip of the city's two main football clubs, Hearts and Hibs, then the Edinburgh Evening News is a must. No other paper can match the reporting of these two clubs! On top of the sport pages, this paper also provides surprisingly good coverage of the on goings at the Scottish Parliament for a local paper. However, with the rest of the paper a flick through is all that is required. The local news is presented in a more professional manner than other local papers but at times can be quite mundane. However, its local coverage of the tram debacle has been first class! Better than most local papers, the Edinburgh Evening News is a decent buy every so often to keep on contact with Edinburgh news.

This magazine markets itself as a 'monthly mini guide to Edinburgh' and covers a months' worth of…read morefood and drink in Edinburgh. They have several reviews of restaurants and bars as well as longer features that make it more interesting than just a reviews magazine. To tie in with the launch of the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film they ran a section called 'Cocktails- Movie Inspired Madness', I tried their variation on iced tea (The Mad Hatters Iced Tea) which included a chopped red chilli but was very, very tasty! The magazine also includes articles written by local food/drink producers, chefs, or restaurateurs. If food is your passion this magazine is the one for you. Oh, and did I mention that it is free?! So even if you don't like it, you haven't lost out on anything!

I love this handy pocket sized Edinburgh Guide for lots of reccomendations & the best places…read morearound! I stumbled upon one of the editions in a pub, and i thought how great is this! Its always an interesting read and im a fan so much so I am now friends on facebook with Sharon ' Bite Mag' Wilson :) Pick it up peeps!

Good basic newsagent that sells all essentials food. Also has some nice looking fresh fruit and…read moreveg. Prices are good and the staff are all friendly. Shop is kind clean and tidy and it is not off putting to visit. Also sells some mobile phone sim cards.

I bought the book Guantanamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi directly from Canongate via their…read morewebsite, as they were offering a discount offer with the release of the book. I am delighted by their service: not only did the book arrive extremely quickly, but they offer a free extra book with every online purchase! Not only did I receive a handpicked book to go alongside my purchased title (Redeployment by Phil Klay), but they also wrote me a lovely and thoughtful handwritten note (by Jo) with it! Such high class service in this day and age!! I am delighted. PS - the two books were also excellent too, five stars for each of those also! (for my full review visit the relevant titles on Goodreads).

Throughout my time in Edinburgh I have obtained a habit of visiting old second hand book shops,…read moreinfluenced by my habit of reading. And through my reading I have come to appreciate one of the most well known publishers in Edinburgh, Canongate Books. Set up in the 1990s, it is not as large as the mainstream publishers, but through time Canongate has emerged as one of the best places for writers to publish their books. The company promotes new writers as well as old ones, whilst also keeping that distinct Scottish character. They have also branched out by publishing books by Nick Cave and soon will publish the first book by Dizzee Rascal! (Not bad for small independent publishers). If you want a read, then Canongate will have a lot to offer!

I strolled passed SignAge the other day and being nosey as I am, I decided to have a closer look…read more As you would expect, SignaAge sells signs so depending on what kind of sign you need, you can get it made here for you at SignAge. Perfect for people looking to start a new business and needing a logo made. One thing that caught my eye was a mahoosive red teapot plonked smack bang in the middle of the shop, it reminded me or The Singing Kettle and took me right back to my childhood. I wonder what kind of advertising it was being used for...

Highly recommend Adrian at Signage. Thanks to him for my salons signage and A-board and for dealing…read morewith my indecisiveness when dealing with fonts- good work Adrian!!