Award-winning French inspired afternoon teas in Edinburgh

Ross Baxter is a very talented young man. Growing up in a family of traditional bakers and pastry chefs, he perfected his pastry and baking skills from the likes of Albert Roux and Michael Caines. We first tasted Ross’s patisserie delights during the time he worked at the famous Greywalls in East Lothian.

Dark chocolate choux eclair

2011 was a great year for Scottish-born Ross as he scooped a Gold Medal Scottish Hotel Award for his patissier skills, but this year has seen Ross start up his own business. The award-winning patissier is now providing pop-up afternoons teas to residents of Edinburgh and beyond in the comfort of their own home or venue of their choice.

It’s not just an ordinary afternoon tea though, it’s a bespoke French afternoon tea bringing together all his savoury and sweet patissier skills onto one magnificent stand.

You can indulge your guests with an exquisite afternoon tea, lovingly prepared by Ross and delivered to your home. Lashings of tea and coffee provided by the Howdah Tea and Coffee Company are also included in the price, which is currently £22.50 per person (minimum numbers apply). Having sampled several of Ross’s both savoury and sweet creations, we think this is extremely good value for the outstanding quality that’s delivered.

An example of the French afternoon tea menu can be found here.

Praline feuillete noisette, dark chocolate cremeux, toasted hazelnut dacquoise, almond sponge cake & dark chocolate & bourbon vanilla mousse

Celebration cakes

Fresh from making his own wedding cake and favours, Ross is also available to design and create an amazing cake for your special occasion whether it be a wedding, birthday or christening cake. Just contact him to discuss your requirements.

He is more than happy to provide wedding favours; create dessert canapés and modern French Entremet cakes for any event or special occasion.

Patisserie classes

Ross is also offering one to one patisserie classes, that include skills such as perfecting macarons, a tarte au citron (aka lemon tart) and hand-made chocolate lessons. Or perhaps you would like some bread lessons in the comfort of your own home? Whatever you require, you can learn the professional techniques with plenty of hands-on practical demonstrations.

Why not gather a group of friends together and learn from a patisserie expert. The lessons would be perfect as an alternative birthday treat or a fabulous way to start a hen weekend.

Ross will also be utilising the kitchens at Humble Pie in North Berwick so keep an eye out for classes.

There are several occasions that would be perfect for the Ross Baxter afternoon tea experience such as birthdays, baby showers, office parties or just friends catching up over exquisite food. Whatever the occasion, we think the recipients of Ross’s afternoon teas will be glad he’s branched out on his own.

Information

You can contact Ross via his website .

Telephone: 07545 021 828

He is also on Facebook and on twitter @RossPatissier.

His services are currently offered in Edinburgh, East and West Lothian. Ross will also cover the Glasgow area if required.

Raspberry charlotte - raspberry mousse, pistachio, raspberry & poppy seed biscuit cuillere, red fruit glacage

Tart chocolat au lait’ pate sucree - milk chocolate ganache, mou salted caramel, salted peanuts

It’s Good 2 Give,  helping young cancer patients in and around Edinburgh

Lynne McNicoll's charity

Lynne McNicoll is an amazing Edinburgh woman.  We have featured her on the site before, but since her charity motto is ‘”it’s good 2 give”, we though it would be good to give to her.  

We took Lynne out for afternoon tea earlier this week and spoke about all that’s she’s achieved so far in her charity work.  

She sure is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to hosting fund-raising events.  Her excellent Blingo event is a sell out every year and her legendary afternoon teas at the Caledonian Hilton Hotel are always a roaring success.  Amidst the snow and traffic chaos last December, every single attendee made it to the popular event sporting an array of wellington boots and ski clothing!  

The Christmas Afternoon Tea on Sunday 4th December 2011 has already sold several tables and after recently announcing a glam charity ball to be held in 2011, Lynne managed to sell 12 tables before having a date or venue!  You can read about all the events coming up here.  

All of the It’s Good 2 Give event are a whole lot of fun whilst raising money for an excellent cause, but there’s always room to hold more.  Lynne runs the registered charity from her home and takes no payment for doing so.   She does have a rather excellent team of volunteers behind her and every penny raised, goes straight into the fund and helps reach the £1 million target to build a retreat for young cancer patients and their families.  

The gorgeous Lynne McNicoll (pic courtesy of photonbrush)

Since Lynne is fully booked with event organising for this year already, she is encouraging anyone that can host an event to go ahead and do so.  She explains, “I am happy for anyone to raise money for It’s Good 2 Give in any way they can”.   

“It’s an excellent way to gain experience in running events for hospitality students, or just  to have an excuse to get together with friends whilst raising money for such a worthy cause.”  

We couldn’t agree more and held our own charity cake party last year to raise funds for Lynne which was a most enjoyable event.  You can read more about fundraising for the charity here.  

Monthly business sponsors needed

On asking Lynne what else is new in the world of It’s Good 2 Give, she explained that they now supply boxes of nutritional snacks for the kids on the ward at the Sick Kids hospital.  “I’m looking for businesses to sponsor this donation every month.  It costs around £200 – £250 to provide these much needed snacks to the children and the parents, who never have time to eat properly whilst looking after their child”.   

So far, Flavour catering from Drumsheugh Place has sponsored April and City Cabs are lined up to sponsor May.  Lynne tells us, “we tell all of our supporters through the website, email and blog which business has helped us this month.  It’s a great way for people to learn about your business whilst providing a much needed service”.  

As much as Lynne is great in the charity world, she’s not so good at finishing her afternoon tea.  We scoop up her left over piece of tablet and bid farewell to this remarkable woman.  

Further information 

If you can offer Lynne any help at all with events, admin work, contacts or donations – please drop her an email , she would love to hear from you.   

Keep up to date with forthcoming events.  You can donate to the cause and follow Lynne’s blog.  The charity is also on twitter and facebook.  

Our afternoon tea

Adam in training with windswept hair

“In The Blink of an Eye”

Adam Bojelian is an amazing young Edinburgh lad.  Not only is he a gold Blue Peter badge winner, he is an amazing poet who also plans to raise money by riding his tricycle for Contact a Family.  

The eleven year old first came to our attention after Emily Dodd from Greener Leith had blogged about him on their website.  

Adam is unable to speak or write with a pen. He blinks to spell words creates wonderful poems.  

He’s received messages of congratulations for his work from Alex Salmond, David Cameron and even the Queen!   

We love seeing his updates through his social media channels and how he’s excited about moving into a main stream school for the first time.  

At the time of writing, Adam has 46 days until his bike ride on 28th May 2011.  As you can imagine, the ride will take quite a bit of effort on Adam’s behalf, so it would be great if the people of Edinburgh could spare a wee bit of cash for this inspirational boy.  You can sponsor Adam’s tricycle ride by making a donation here.  

You can find Adam’s page on facebook and follow him on twitter.   

We particularly like his Charlie poem which is from a couple of years ago, but still of an amazing standard considering he was only 9 at the time.  

My name is Adam and I am nine,  

And I own the smartest, funniest dog in town,  

His name is Charlie and he is a clown.  

He is small and white with a waggy tail,  

Two sticky up ears and an eye patch of brown.  

Round and round my room he’ll race,  

Wagging his tail and licking my face,  

Shaking wet fur all over the place.  

“Oh Charlie” mum cries  

“Your muddy paws all over the floor.”  

And Charlie darts straight out of the door,  

Only to return when the coast is clear.  

Beside me he lies whether I’m poorly or well,  

He is as wise as can be and I’m sure he can tell,  

Nudging and pawing to snuggle away,  

Close up beside me, he’ll stay there all day. 

Adam the poet

Edinburgh skyline

“I have an idea. Let’s move to Edinburgh!”

By Victoria Bamber 

Leaving university and taking tentative steps towards growing up is a landmark that many students find more terrifying than expanding overdrafts and approaching deadlines. I was no different. After graduating from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and Broadcasting I was fully aware of my next move, although whether the decision was a wise one was more than debatable. 

I arrived in Edinburgh city centre, friends and worldly belongings in tow, with – it is fair to say – an apprehensive outlook. What had started out as a throwaway comment had ended up with 5 school friends relocating to a city where they had few contacts, no source of income and collective savings of around £23. Oops. For the first few weeks I cried – a lot. Jobs were scarce, family were worried and the household mice had begun to take over. Yet for some reason, we couldn’t stop smiling.   

Victoria Street

A man wanders down the royal mile in a cloak. He rings his bell and shouts ‘gardyloo’ down Advocates Close. A gaggle of tourists follow him, eager and impressed, two teenagers keep a tight grip of each other, fearing their separation may result in sacrifice. The sound of bagpipes drifts up from Waverley Bridge, the muffled voices of a choir sound from St Giles Cathedral and snow settles itself at the summit of Arthur’s Seat. 

This is Edinburgh. 

I think it is fair to say that local residents are astoundingly complementative about their home town. People who live in Edinburgh love Edinburgh. You can see why. I didn’t understand this, but I wanted to. I have never lived anywhere that people praised, and this bothered me. I suppose my friends and I took drastic measures to change our situation. My nana asked me: “If you wanted change, why didn’t you just redecorate your bedroom?” I guess we took it one step further… 

View from Calton Hill

After a few weeks surviving off noodles, rice and fear, things started falling into place. After traipsing around, endlessly handing out CVs and enquiring for jobs – we found them. We started exploring, wandering, asking questions about our new home town and were always greeted with enthusiastic answers from locals. We were accepted, encouraged and happy and each one of us feels a different sense of belonging in a city which was once so alien. Before relocating to Edinburgh I had visited it only twice – I’ve visited Italy more than that and never had a desire to live there. So why here? 

For me it’s the history, the scenery, the culture. I love the cafes, the parks, the ghosts. I love the fact that when people visit we have too full a schedule to get through. I love the fact that when it’s August we laugh, at Hogmanay we dance in the street, in June we watch films and in January we stagger through knee deep snow. I have become accustomed with Scottish tradition, folk lore and life, but as much as I like it here and as much as I feel I belong, I will never, EVER understand the love, desire and passion for the drink that is whisky. Maybe I haven’t been completely converted after all…

Thank you Victoria.

We often search the internet and our twitter stream for new sites on the web relating to Edinburgh and was delighted to discover The Edinburgh Sketcher.  Intrigued to find out more about the person behind the wonderful daily sketches, we asked him a few questions.

Edinburgh Castle

We were delighted to discover your website, can you tell us a little more about yourself?

My name is Mark Kirkham, I have been living in this beautiful city of Edinburgh for the last 15 years and Edinburgh is now definitely home.

I grew up in Lancashire, within a very creative household, my father a keen painter and my mother a talented photographer and professional florist. One of five children I have brother and sister who still paint and create works of art.  Throughout my school years art was my favourite class, which I took into further education with the more computer based graphic and magazine design. I currently work full time at the Scotsman Newspaper as the Saturday magazine designer.

What inspired you to first sketch?

Growing up in such a creative family I had little choice! To be honest I can’t remember not drawing and have always enjoyed using different mediums, from paint to collage, to charcoal of scraper board, there are plenty of ways to create a picture.

In recent years painting had become more of a hobby, time limiting me to the occasional holiday scene of commission of a family pet.

Alfie

Often I would take my oils/watercolours and canvas on holiday together with great intentions of creating some beautiful landscapes, only to return home time having flown by and with only photographs to remind us our holiday.

I wanted to be able to sketch a scene almost as quickly as I took a photo, which is where the idea of a ‘daily sketch’ came about. Forcing myself to make a quick illustration of a scene in 15 or 20 minutes. I am still trying to master this and I almost always want to spend longer on it, but on my lunch break I do not have a great deal of choice, I have to get back to work!

Also there are a lot of written blogs, and also photo blogs on the web but the idea of a sketch site excited me, and living in the most beautiful city in the world I knew people would be interested in my vistas, plus I am no wordsmith!

Are your sketches all of Edinburgh?

No, not at all. Although I am EdinburghSketcher the sketch blog was always intended to be ‘one life living in Edinburgh’, I think this is more interesting than just a series of images of scenes of the city, that would be more a gallery. A recent trip to the Isle of Arran features in my sketches as do any days away we take from the city. I also like to mix in the everyday items that don’t get noticed, that are sometimes taken for granted. It can be anything that catches my eye that day, from a mug of coffee in a cafe to a creme egg waiting to be devoured.

Creme Egg

What is your favourite view/place in Edinburgh to sketch?

How can I pick a favourite view, we are so spoilt in Edinburgh, and the whole of Scotland for that matter. Plus there are so many yet to discover, if pushed though Arthur’s Seat imediately springs to mind. The impressive crags that rise high into the sky, and the breathtaking 360 degree views from the top. Looking across the city to the Castle and Carlton Hill is sure to be hard to beat.

I also love the view from Silverknowes across the Firth of Forth, with the road and Forth bridges in the distance and beyond them the Kingdom of Fife. But I think many of my favourite views lie within the Old Town, the many alleyways, closes and hidden passageways which show a glimpse of a narrow skyline in the distance. These are the places which surprise me, stop me in my tracks and make me reach for my pad and pen.

I like to include a little history of such places along with my sketch, hopefully telling a viewer something they did not know, and perhaps causing them to take a second look at the buildings and sculptures they pass everyday.

Wee Kiss

Your sketches would make an excellent and original present, do you do commissions?

I am a keen photographer also and if a client hasn’t got an image already I can include a photo shoot with their commission.

Available for commissions

What advice would you give to would-be sketchers out there?

My top three pieces of advice to budding sketchers would be:

1. Get Sketching
I was thinking about a sketch blog for about a year before EdinbughSketcher was born, you can plan and plan but in the end you just need to get out there and do it!

2. Don’t be shy
You can feel very self war pulling out a pen and pad in a busy street, especially on the Royal mile during the festival. Don’t let that put you of, once I begin I get into  the zone ad usually forget people are passing by, even when they come up and have a look!

Coffee

3. Be Prepared
I always carry a pad, pencil, pen, eraser and sharpener, the bare essentials. But sometimes being creative can add some detail to the illustration, I have sketched on napkins and receipts before, like this one from a popular coffee shop.

Where can we see your daily sketch and previous work ?

You can follow my Daily Sketch on twitter  @edinsketcher, flickr and facebook, don’t forget to ‘like’ my facebook page to receive the Daily Sketch on your news wall.

Also visit my website Edinburgh Sketcher to see all my charactor commissions along with the Daily Sketch. Coming soon to edinburghsketcher.com will be items for sale incorporating my sketches of life in Edinburgh. I am thinking of mugs, t-shirts and canvas bags, but if readers have any other suggestions of items I can use my sketches on then please get in touch at contact@edinburghsketcher.com or @edinsketcher.

Arthur's Seat

Website http://edinburghsketcher.com/
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/edinburghsketcher
Twitterpage  http://twitter.com/edinsketcher
Flickr page  http://www.flickr.com/photos/edinburghsketcher
Email  contact@edinburghsketcher.com

St James Centre

Whilst passing through the St James Centre this morning, I saw this lad rowing his heart out in the middle of the mall.

Along with his mate Ant, the pictured John,  are rowing on the machine to the ‘point of no return’, half way into the Atlantic Ocean (1456 miles / 2345km) in preparation for the future water-based expedition.

They’ll be there until Monday, 24 hours a day.  I imagine it’s hard to get through the night with no shoppers to focus on, so if you’re passing through the centre over the next few days, drop a few pounds in their bucket or donate here.

Money raised is going to Baps Charities and Cancer Research.

You can also look at their website and youtube channel.

Helen Raw

Like a one-woman force of nature, this vibrant and enthusiastic performer and businesswoman has her finger in so many theatrical pies she’s soon going to have to use her toes as well.

Helen runs The Raw Talent Company, a recent consolidation of the previously separate Raw Talent Training, Raw Talent Education and Raw Talent Productions companies.

By bringing everything under one umbrella, she not only hopes to provide a one-stop service for anyone’s dramatic needs, but to also realise her goal of setting up Actors Centre Scotland, a hub for the theatrical community.

“I’d like it to be a centre for all schools and disciplines,” she explains, “as well as a social hub and somewhere where people can meet and network.”

“There’s a real demand in Edinburgh and central Scotland for something like that.”

And she’s well placed to see her vision become reality. Not only does her Raw Talent Company provide everything from tuition for kids to fully-fledged film & theatre production, Helen is also the Secretary and Vice Chair of the East of Scotland general branch of Equity; and Artistic Director for the New Victoria Project (the campaign to transform the old Odeon cinema on Clerk Street into a cutting-edge performance space).

It’s safe to say theatre runs in Helen’s blood. Born in Darlington, she moved to Fife with her parents when she was a baby, growing up with a love of performance.

“I put on my first show when I was eight!” she says.

By the age of 17, Helen had set up a successful children’s theatre company; then became an after-school drama teacher at Inverkeithing High School.

In 2001, the lure of a life on the ocean wave proved irresistible and she became a cruise ship entertainer and singer, frequently receiving critical acclaim from the ships’ directors. Then, after her acting training in the States, she returned to Scotland where she has racked up acclaim as an actress, singer and all-round performer.

The Raw Talent Company

“Then last year I appeared in a Fringe show, as well as recording children’s songs and nursery rhymes for Twinkle Trax.”

“This year, I’m really thrilled to be appearing in The Vagina Monologues as part of the V-Day initiative.” [a global movement to stop violence against women]

“And I’m also writing a one-woman show based on my recent personal experiences – A Wife Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas!”

“Oh, and I’ll be resurrecting my cabaret shows too – me singing songs by Streisand, The Carpenters and Eva Cassidy with a full live band.”

It’s a wonder she has any time to sleep, let alone drive forward all her other plans and ambitions.

“It certainly stops me being bored!” she says, laughing. “Though if I was forced to pick one thing, it would be the shows. I’m a born performer!”. “Having said that, I’ve another couple of exciting meetings about new ventures coming up, so watch this space!”

Fortunately, no-one’s forcing Helen to choose. With her passion, experience and acumen, we’re pretty sure she’ll make a success of whatever she turns her hand to.

And we’re also confident that before very long we’ll be running a feature on the Actors Centre Scotland too.

Photo courtesy of Two Fat Laddies

Iain Pope and Shaun Milne call themselves “two lardy Scottish lads” and are using 2011 to lose some weight.  Five stone in fact.  Each.

Iain starts the year weighing in at 291lbs and Shaun at 238lbs.  Documenting their journey via their website and other social media methods, the pair are promising to be completely honest about their food and fitness for the next 12 months.  Having read their first few entries, we reckon it’s also going to be a pretty humorous journey as they use their journalist skills to articulate what is sure to be a painful and emotional time.

The pair of them are losing weight for health reasons, but also to raise some money for charity.  Have a look at Iain’s charity page for Macmillan Cancer Support and Shaun’s charity page for Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland.

We will be following Iain and Shaun’s progress and will interview them periodically as their weight drops.  They already have a personal trainer, but if you think you could offer any help or motivation, feel free to drop them a line.

Good luck lads!

You can find the Two Fat Laddies on twitter, look at their photos on flickr and subscribe to new entries on their website.  You can also follow their youtube channel including their video of their first run up the Royal Mile.

Panto season is about to begin in Edinburgh once more, but Jack and the Beanstalk at the King’s Theatre is our firm favourite.  Rehearsals have started and I was lucky enough to speak to director and lead members of the cast over dinner at Gusto in George Street.

With a spring in their step, the foursome walk into the restaurant and greet one another like they haven’t seen each other for months: but in reality it’s only been a couple of hours.  There’s no hiding the firm friendship between Allan Stewart, Andy Gray and Grant Stott as they bounce off each other all evening, with director Paul Elliot chipping in with memories and one-liners that had everyone in stitches.

Andy, Grant, Allan and Paul

I had intended to ask a series of set questions, but that plan soon went out the window as they started recalling stories from previous pantos, the overgrown boys trying to show each other up with outrageous tales of what really goes on behind the scenes.

This year sees Paul produce the panto for the 9th time and he is extremely happy with the script which he has been working on since April.  Nothing is repeated in panto land, with all ideas fresh and current.  It’s certainly going to be interesting to see a 40 foot beanstalk and a 30 foot giant grace the stage.

Baby-faced Allan

Holding my hands over my ears, I try not to listen when they talk about specific scenes they are rehearsing – I want everything to be a surprise when I go and watch it.  It’s been a firm fixture in our family for years and despite my 30 something years, I wouldn’t miss it for the world – it’s not just for children, adults can enjoy a trip to the panto too.

Allan Stewart who is playing Dame Trot,  looks at least 15 years younger than his age of 60 and puts it down to his healthy lifestyle.  He tells me: “It’s hard work performing for 7 weeks with very little time off, so I’ve been walking everywhere and watching what I eat to build up my stamina.”  

It was the first time I had met Stewart in person and was strange to see him out of a frock and not speaking like a woman.  His skin is the envy of women across the land and he lets me into the secret that as well as good genes he’s using Keihl’s Face Fuel.  

Allan tells me that he was as gobsmacked as anyone when Susan Boyle turned up at a performance at last year’s pantomime and joined him on stage as he impersonated her.  I asked him if there was a chance that this year’s ‘target’ could turn up and he winked at me and said “it’s rumoured that she’s a local now, so who knows?”

Andy Gray is delighted to be back in Edinburgh as King Crumble and I’m shot down in flames by the others when I said it would be excellent this year, now that the trio are back together again (insinuating it wasn’t excellent before).  I quickly justify myself, but my cards are marked.  Andy does no special training prior to rehearsals apart from a ‘vitamin regime’ but he adds, “I just give up my galaxy caramels and the routine of the panto keeps the weight off anyway.”

Andy's back

He’s genuinely delighted to have returned to work with his friends.  “It’s like I’ve never been away” he tells me as Allan and Grant look on and express how happy they are he’s back.  When asking all of them what they do on their few days off during the panto run, spending time with family is the answer.  Andy and Allan live in Edinburgh for the duration with director Paul returning to London to keep his eye on his many other theatre projects.  “When the directors away………” they all laugh, nudging each other to say that everything goes to plan in his absence.  I’m  not convinced with this trio and their power to ad lib.  Paul continues to eat his food and keeps quiet, he knows after 9 years of working with them what they are truly like.

Although Grant Stott lives in Edinburgh with his family he almost has us reaching for the violins when he tells us he doesn’t get a single day off apart from Christmas Day and New Year’s day.  “Aaaaawwwwww” we all tell him, but as Edinburgh people know, he’s got his daily Radio Forth show to do as well as his many charity events he helps out with.  Sporting a dodgy-looking Movember moustache, the ardent Hibee says, “there won’t be a Hearts strip on my body ever again in panto, I’ve still got the rash from last time” he jests.  “But there’s certainly a few references to that part of town this year, shall we say”.  

Taking on the role of Fleshcreep the baddie, I ask him if he’s booed when spotted in the flesh. “Yes, I am and it took me a while to work out a few years back that it was because of the panto”.  He recalls a booing incident at a charity event and says “it must’ve been because I play the baddie” as Allan nudges me and says “that’s the story he’s going with”.

Grant with his Movember moustache

There’s no doubting that trio are firm friends and bounce ideas off each other to produce the best pantomime they can under the watchful eye of their director.  “We’re so lucky to have a job to wake up to in the morning that we genuinely love” Allan states, as Andy says “yes, yes” and goes off on a tangent quoting his own catch phrase “I’m no very well”.

I certainly knew it wasn’t going to be a straightforward interview as they jostled to see what notes I made when they went slightly ‘off the wrong direction’ shall we say.   It was a pleasure to meet Paul, the talented director of this venue’s Pantomime and tell him how much Edinburgh people love his work.  I inform him that the mini-Spotlight members quote from the panto all year round and he smiles and acknowledges that he loves his job too.

The King’s Theatre pantomime is not to be missed in the Edinburgh calendar  and is guaranteed to leave the theatre beaming after sharing in an extravaganza that has delighted audiences for years.

Break a leg boys!

You can buy tickets for the pantomime through the King’s Theatre box office.  Jack and the Beanstalk runs from  Saturday 4 December 2010 to Sunday 23 January 2011. Start your vocal warm ups of ‘he’s behind you’ and be prepared to hold your sides with laughter no matter what your age is.

Thank you to the staff of Gusto, George Street for hosting us all and supplying the excellent food and service.

Where's ma wine? The trio back together

Afternoon tea event

Baxterbear

Did you know there was a super friendly bear living in Edinburgh?  His name is Baxterbear and he helps out at charity events, providing support and cuddles for those in attendance.  You can see when he’ll next be appearing in person on his events page.

Baxterbear has lived all over the world, but is calling Edinburgh his home at present.  He’s a very up to date bear in that he has a facebook page,  a twitter account  , a flickr page and his own youtube channel.  He even has his own online shop for all things Baxterbear.  Edinburgh Spotlight were lucky enough to catch up with Baxterbear (and his PA Daisy Tate) for a chat about Edinburgh.

Tell us a bit about yourself in a couple of sentences. 

I’m Baxterbear.  I’m a positive bear with a mission to make the world a better place.  I love shortbread and flying all over the world.  www.baxterbear.com
 
What do you love about Edinburgh?

I love Edinburgh for its history.  It is one of the oldest planned cities in Europe.  When the sun shines it is glorious.  I love the Edinburgh festival which creates such an amazing atmosphere every year.

What would you change about Edinburgh if you could?

I would put in a request that it didn’t rain quite so much.  And I’d make it bigger.  You can never have too much of a good thing.  Also, more places that sell shortbread would be much appreciated!   

Princes Street Gardens

What are your must sees in town for visitors?

My favourite building is the Scott Monument.  The view is amazing because it is 200ft and six inches tall.  My favourite place is Edinburgh Castle Esplanade!
 

Favourite Street or area and why?

My favourite streets are Princes Street, which was named for the then King’s George’s sons, George Street for himself, Queen Street for his Queen, then he named Rose Street for the English and Thistle Street for the Scots.  I like streets that have a story.  I also like the Royal Mile or High Street, even though it is confuddling that a street should have two names.

Where would we find you relaxing in Edinburgh ?

I would go to Edinburgh Castle to take in the views on a quiet evening or perhaps, visit Princes Street Gardens (which I call the magical Gardens) during the day.
 

When you are out of town, what do you miss about Edinburgh the most?

Aside from my favourite buildings, I miss the good friends I have in the city.  I have many friends all over the world, but I still believe that no matter where you travel, coming home is the best journey you can make.
 

If you had 24 hours in town before you had to leave forever, what would you do?

I would go to Edinburgh Castle, visit the zoo, especially as they’ve just got two new sunshine bears.  What could be more positive than a sunshine bear?
 

Edinburgh Castle

Any interesting stories you know about Edinburgh ?

Back in Edinburgh in the 1930s, there were trams just like the ones being put in now, but more exciting was that many people had milk delivered in a cart pulled by horses.  Once a week, early in the morning, the Milkmen used to race their horses along Princes Street to give them exercise.  The horses very much enjoyed this and the police on point duty used to stop the traffic for it to happen!
 

Sum up Edinburgh in 5 words or less.

Home city, Edinburgh Castle, Shortbread!  (Especially shortbread)

Thank you Baxterbear

Baxterbear

We consider ourselves lucky to be covering the Edinburgh music scene at a time when bands and promoters are not so much giving it a much-needed shot in the arm, as wiring it up to the mains and injecting it straight in the heart with adrenaline.

Get Loose Promotions

Run by the enthusiastic Paul McJimpsey and his committed staff, Get Loose Promotions has been in existence for around 5 years, putting on a string of gigs in the West and beyond, including selecting acts for the 1800 capacity Scooter Tent at 2008′s Wickerman Festival; and getting bands on the bill at legendary London venue The Dublin Castle, situtated in the heart of Camden Town.

“It’s all about getting bands exposure,” says Paul, now firmly settled in Edinburgh and itching to get his work here started.

“In Glasgow, I’ve put on gigs at venues like the ABC2, O2 Academy and Maggie Mays where I’ll select local bands to play on the bill alongside some great touring acts’s – that way, they get to play with bands they might not otherwise have had a chance to, and their fans get exposed to music they might not have heard before.

Everyone wins, really.”

Paul McJimpsey of Get Loose Promotions

Now he’s made the trip east, Paul has big plans for Get Loose Promotions in the city.

“I’ve been spending the last few weeks meeting people and getting to know the scene,” he says. “I’ve got the first gigs lined up now, with some great bands involved.”

He’s already secured gigs at Cabaret Voltaire, Bannermans and Henrys Cellars Bar, which he explains are designed to get exposure for everything from bands just starting out, through to big-name touring acts.

“The more fans the bands bring the better, it really adds to the overall atmosphere of the night if a band has a full house to play to” he says.

“And because I’m still promoting over 25 gigs a month in Glasgow, I’ll be giving bands the chance to play through there too. So bands who help me out with my Edinburgh gigs and make them succesful, will be taken care of when they venture out of Edinburgh to play for me in Glasgow/London.

“If a band goes down really well here, I’ll put them on 3rd on the bill at one of the gigs in Glasgow – giving them exposure through there, where the music scene’s pretty legendary.”

Though Paul hopes Edinburgh’s not too far behind.

“There’s some cracking bands here – Pose Victorious, 10;04′s, OK Social Club, The Void, CryOverBillionares…loads more too.”

“I’ve already got some of these bands gigs down in London through my connections there too,” he says.

“Basically, I’m all about getting bands out there. If they are a good band who put on a show for the audience, I’ll make sure they get the chance to play to a new crowd and increase their fanbase , whether it’s here, Glasgow or down south.”

And that can only be a good thing. Over the past few months, we’ve seen some great bands here that we’re confident could easily make it beyond the capital.

With the forward-thinking and well-connected Get Loose Promotions setting themselves up to give them that chance, we might just see some of our favourites hitting the big time…

Check out Get Loose Promotions on Facebook to be kept up to speed with the latest news and gig details.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself in a couple of sentences.   

My name is Michelle Thompson and I moved to Edinburgh 3 years ago.  I work in the city centre and love everything that Edinburgh has to offer.
 
2.  What do you love about the city?

I actually like the climate here!  Of course it can be miserable when it rains, but it’s not horrendously hot that you need air conditioning or too snowy in the winter that you spend your life shovelling snow.  I love the changes in the seasons in Edinburgh, everywhere looks so different depending on what time of year it is.
 
3.  What would you change about Edinburgh if you could?

Nothing, I like it the way it is, warts and all.
 
4.  What are your must sees in town for visitors?

All the beautiful green spaces as well as the tourist places.  Edinburgh is so green for a city – where else in the world can you nip out of the office for lunch and sit in beautiful gardens with a Castle backdrop?
 
5.  Favourite street or area and why?

Canonmills.  There’s such a lovely atmosphere down there and so close to the Botanics and Water of Leith.  There is also a wonderful selection of places to eat and hang out.

6.  Where would we find you relaxing in Edinburgh ?

I often relax in Moo Cafeteria at the weekend, but love spending an evening at The Orchard Bar before or after a walk in the Botanics.
 
7.  When you are out of town, what do you miss about Edinburgh the most?

Its size.  It’s small enough to get from A to B by walking and you can navigate around town by landmarks such as the Castle and Arthur’s Seat. 

8.  If you had 24 hours in town before you had to leave forever, what would you do?
 
I would go for a walk in Inverleith Park and the Botanics, followed by a huge lunch at The Orchard.  I would do all the tourist things on the Royal Mile that I’ve been meaning to do for years and catch a musical at the Playhouse.

9.  Any interesting stories you know about Edinburgh ?
 
Edinburgh is twinned with my home city of San Diego.

10.  Sum up Edinburgh in 5 words or less.
 

Exciting, vibrant, compact and my home.

Thank you Michelle

Julie and Emily of Miss Fitz-Poste's Modern Mixers

Emily laughs as her business partner Julie nods in agreement.

“So we have high standards,” says Emily. “We want our events to be special and different – but above all, to be very high quality.”

Together, Emily and Julie are the masterminds behind Miss Fitz-Poste’s Modern Mixers, a fast-becoming unmissable event in Edinburgh’s social calendar.

Held monthly in Ghillie Dhu, these Sunday afternoon ‘tea dances’ certainly are special and different. Each is packed full of entertainment and is lovingly themed around a particular historical decade: recent examples include the 20s-based Deco Dance and Blitz Ballroom, which conjures up the spirit of 1940s Britain during WWII. Julie and Emily’s aim is to provide an environment for people to enjoy themselves – whether they like getting involved or simply sitting back and watching the fun.

“We want it to be like a private party in our home,” says Julie. “One where everyone’s invited.”

“We don’t want it to feel exclusive or cliquey,” says Emily. “We’ve had feedback that people were a little bit scared to come, but when they did they loved it.”

“It’s open to everyone – we want you to feel like part of the family. ”

The most recent Blitz Ballroom certainly had that ‘something for everyone’ feeling, with a joyful and welcoming atmosphere that was easy to relax within. From the wartime posters dotted around the room to the event tickets in the form of ration books: the attention to detail was impressive and created an immersive yet tongue-in-cheek experience.

Most attendees entered gleefully into the spirit of things: vintage dresses and hairstyles, military uniforms – one even dressed as an evacuee. And “Miss Fitz-Poste” returned the favour admirably, providing themed food and drink, entertainment and the hugely popular dance sessions where people could trot those foxes and swing that thing; or simply sit back and watch the experts.

Put your best foot forward at Miss Fitz-Poste's Modern Mixers

Modern Mixers

Julie and Emily met at a charity event, where they each had stalls selling fashion accessories and vintage clothes. They soon discovered a common interest in the glitz and glamour of bygone styles – as well as a knack for organising social events and a meticulous attention to detail.

After several months of planning, Miss Fitz-Poste emerged on the social scene. Word quickly spread about the events and now they are proving extremely popular, attracting a mix of curious guests and eager regulars to their Sunday afternoon shindigs.

“The timeslot was carefully chosen,” says Emily. “It’s great for people from outside Edinburgh who want to come – and it also doesn’t clash too much with the rest of their weekend plans.”

“And they still have their Sunday nights to themselves,” says Julie. “And hopefully some great memories to take them into Monday morning!”

So, what next for Miss Fitz-Poste and her Modern Mixers?

“Our aim is to become a well-known name – a recognised brand like Vegas where everyone knows what to expect,” says Emily. “We’d also love to do some site-specific events, something even more immersive.”

“Blitz Ballroom is our most popular theme,” says Julie. “But we’re constantly researching new ideas, so you never know what we might unveil next!”

Hello to Berlin

So – unique? Yes. Special? Definitely. And high quality? Unquestionably so.

But you needn’t just take our word for it: head along to the next Modern Mixer event and experience some of that good-time entertainment and magical glamour that one of their fabulous parties provide.

Edinburgh hero Mark Cooper starts his challenge of running 50 marathons in 56 days in Amsterdam tomorrow.

He’s doing it in aid of the local charity Edinburgh Headway Group, and hopes to raise at least £25,000. You can read more about Mark in our feature article and follow his progress on his website.

Here at Edinburgh Spotlight, we wish him all the best – we know he can do it!

Good luck Mark!

A brief stop for dinner in a very busy Kebab Mehal this evening (full review to follow) led me to sharing a table with 2 Swedish men, Anders and Adam who had just arrived in town.  It was their taxi driver who had suggested eating there and the meal did not disappoint.  We talked about Edinburgh and what they should see and do in the 24 hours they had in the city.  I was technically ’off’ Edinburgh Spotlight duty – but as Keith pointed out the other day, I am always working. 

We finished our meal and I offered them a whistle stop tour of Edinburgh and we snapped tourist pictures on the Castle Esplanade, down the Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat.  I explained that no visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to the Grassmarket to sample a fine Scottish ale, so we had a quick drink before leaving them to take in all the Edinburgh architecture in its’ evening-lit glory (with a few more drinks along the way). 

It was a pleasure to meet them and give them a warm Edinburgh welcome and I’m sure they’ll be back again. 

Great meal in town

Anders and Adam from Sweden

Sunset over Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat

 

Haste ye back. 

This week our Reader in the Spotlight is Aurora, who is the creator of the excellent Nekocherry. We also love her drawings of her life in Edinburgh.  You can buy her work in her Etsy shop and follow her on twitter.

Tell us a bit about yourself in a couple of sentences.  

I am from Sardinia (Italy), but at present I live in Scotland.  Ever since I was a little girl, I drew.  My first passion is comic strips, and when I was very young I attended Sardinian Comics School in Cagliari.  After I moved out to Milan where I took a  MSc in Psychology and attended a School of Theatre; I was also a freelance journalist.  I am really interesed in Autobiographical comics and I am organizing a workshop about this here in Edinburgh.  Moreover, I am trying to organize a creative group in Edinburgh, but in the meantime, you can visit my website or my facebook fan page.

At present I am attending some course in ECA and collaborate with a collective of artist based in Edinburgh called KnockMySocksOff.

What do you love about the city?

I have a special feeling about Edinburgh; I fell in love with it at the first glance.  I love fog in the meadows, the look of the buildings and also the way the city is able to surprise you:  just turn the corner, Edinburgh can become a forest, or a little lovely country…and it is like living in a fairytale land.   And it is also related in some ways to my Sardinia.   And I can’t forget to mention the people….People are lovely and warm and know how to welcome you.  I love Edinburgh People. 
 
What would you change about Edinburgh if you could?

Sometimes the weather, but this is part of the charm of the city.
Maybe It could be nice to have sea water warmer, I would love to take a bath in Edinburgh sea, but I am too scared about the temperature of the water…brrrrr
 
What are your must sees in town for visitors?

Craigmillar castle, Calton Hill, Hermitage of Braid, Forest Cafè, Morningside shops, Greyfriars churh, Rosslyn Chapel and…could anyone stop me?  I have too many places to suggest. 
 
Favourite Street or area and why?

Difficult difficult difficult question, I love Water of Leith and the Botanic gardens.  I would love to live in Dean Village, near the river.  This is a very magic place, it is soaked with poetry and mystery. Visiting this place is like to jump in Alice in Wonderland book.   I drew an episode of my comics about this, but I would like to write/draw more.

Where would we find you relaxing in Edinburgh ?


Clarinda’s tea room, Anteaques tea house or in the Meadows.  It is like to live for an afternoon in 1800, I love this sensation and it is also so good for inspiration.

When you are out of town, what do you miss about Edinburgh the most?


The people. The green, in particular the trees, trees in Edinburgh have a special soul; and the sky. Like a friend of mine once said: look at Edinburgh Sky, in every season, with every weather, it is always beautiful….and that’s absolutely true.

If you had 24 hours in town before you had to leave forever, what would you do?


Go on the top of Arthur Seat very early in the morning to see the dawn, then spend the morning in farmer’s market near the castle, have fish lunch in The Ship on the Shore, a stroll in the Botanic gardens and near the river in the afternoon, have a tea in Stockbridge and then have a great dinner in the Witchery with all the people that I love.  I have never tried this place, I am so curious!  And then dance ceilidh until midnight!  I would take also a lot of Polaroid pictures.

Any interesting stories you know about Edinburgh?


Edinburgh has so many stories to say, some of them are inside my comics “My life in Edinburgh”. I arrived just 8 months ago, I let this city surprise me day by day.

Sum up Edinburgh in 5 words or less.
 


Magic, mystery, poetry, alchemy, hail

Your twitter stream is probably full of updates from friends, the latest celebrity gossip and tweets from companies promoting their wares.

Lothian & Borders Fire And Rescue

@LBFire is the brainchild of an operational firefighter for the service and the Corporate Comms Manager (“I do the firefighting in the office!”). They spotted an opportunity to use the medium to provide a useful service to people in the area, and submitted a proposal to their senior management.

They were given the green light and now use Twitter in a number of ways. Whilst some of the updates are informational – such as a recent series of updates publicising their free smoke detector fitting service – others are topical and reactive.

The operational tweeter is able to send out updates about incidents and jobs after the event; the account is therefore able to provide timely updates on local emergencies. Together, the pair are also able to scan the account and answer any questions that people may have regarding fire & safety.

They’ve been asked to report back to management after six months with their findings and are both optimistic: in a few short weeks, they’ve built up nearly 200 followers, with many retweets and a lot of positive feedback.

The ‘anonymous’ partnership also seems to work well (something we at Edinburgh Spotlight can relate well with!) with informal coordination between the two ensuring they cover and respond to as much as they can – without stepping on each others’ twitter toes.

If they get approval for their ‘experiment’, they are keen to explore how they can use twitter and other social media channels in even more innovative ways.

For now though, they will continue to use @LBFire to tweet out local fire & rescue related news, information and services – we encourage you to follow them and help this forward-thinking pair show how Twitter can be used as a valuable public service.

We are pleased to welcome Tom Allan as our reader of the week today.  He is currently the Guardian’s Edinburgh beatblogger and you can also follow him on twitter.

Tell us about yourself. 

I’m a freelance journalist, a young dad, and a wannabe gardener.  I’ve lived in Edinburgh about ten years – I studied history here, and fell in love with the place.  I started out as a journalist at the same time, starting a student magazine, and later getting into community radio and youth work in Leith.  We’ve left to work and live in other places – South America, London, Cornwall, but we always find ourselves drawn back here.   I’m currently the Guardian’s “beatblogger” for Edinburgh, writing and curating the Guardian Edinburgh website.
 

What do you love about the city?

Being able to walk and cycle everywhere.  And all the layers – the stories buried in the place in the buildings and the landscape.  You can walk around and read it like a book.  It appeals to both sides of my character – the beautiful buildings and the green spaces, and the grittier sides to the city are really close together.

What would you change about Edinburgh if you could?

Nothing. I even like the weather – when the sun comes out, everyone drops everything, because they know it won’t last.  It’s like a gift from the gods!
n.b. There is one thing – bring back Suzie’s Diner.

What are your must sees in town for visitors?

When I go to a new city, I like to just wander and get lost.  I’m not really interested in the main sights (I still haven’t been into the castle after ten years!) Try somewhere different, like the Mosque Kitchen, Wordpower books, the Canny Mans, Sandy Bells, the Royal Oak or Portobello promenade.

Favourite Street or area and why?

Tollcross.   Great local fruit and veg, Saunderson’s Butchers, the Cameo Cinema, Lupe Pintos Deli.  Cooler, cheaper and more down to earth than nearby Bruntsfield.

Where would we find you relaxing in Edinburgh?

Blackford Hill or Arthur’s Seat if I have the time (I love walking.)  The Cameo bar for a pint.

When you are out of town, what do you miss about Edinburgh the most?

The feel of the place.  It has just the right amount of things happening, right at your finger-tips.  But it’s not hectic or stressful like London.  It’s a capital city with the feel of a big village.
 

If you had 24 hours in town before you had to leave forever, what would you do?
 
A swim and a Turkish bath in Portobello; climb Blackford Hill; a film, popcorn and a pint at the Cameo, and get Suzie’s Diner to re-open so I can have a farewell meal there!

Any interesting stories you know about Edinburgh?

Yes. But you’ll have to read my blog to hear about them.

Sum up Edinburgh in 5 words or less.

Light, turrets, towers, trees and…trams!

We agree with you about Susie’s Diner.  Thank you Tom.

One of Tom's favourite pictures of Edinburgh

Tell us a bit about yourself in a couple of sentences.

I was born and raised in Canada, and have lived in Scotland for five years. I’m a total foodie and am a member of Edinburgh Slow Food. A year ago I started my blog, Scotland for the Senses, as a venue for my creativity and enthusiasm for Scotland.   You can also find me on facebook and twitter.

What do you love about the city?

It is both vibrant yet reserved, posh yet proud of its dark underbelly, with genteel architecture perched atop tales of gruesome murder. I love the continuous Jekyll and Hyde façade that has stretched through time.

What would you change about Edinburgh if you could?

Like many people, I remain unconvinced that these trams are going to be any use to the city. And the cost overruns make me seethe with anger.

What are your must sees in town for visitors?

It depends on how long you’ve got! Definitely a walk through the old town, including one of the underground tours if you can. Lauriston Castle is worth the trip, and St. Mary’s Cathedral doesn’t get enough attention, so take some extra time for a visit. One place few people see is the Surgeon’s Hall Museum, which is wondrous. And if you’re here in August, you cannot miss the Tattoo.

Favourite Street or area and why?

I live in Gorgie and I love it because it is unassuming and straight forward. But if I could dream a little dream I would live in Bruntsfield in a heartbeat. Being a foodie, Bruntsfield is a land of wonders – delicatessens, restaurants, chocolate shops, a German bakery and S Luca ice cream. What’s not to love?

Where would we find you relaxing in Edinburgh ?

You would find me on a Saturday morning wandering through the farmers’ market, buying too much cheese. Then heading to the Chocolate Tree in Bruntsfield for a piece of cake and a cup of tea.

When you are out of town, what do you miss about Edinburgh the most?

The skyline of the old town when you stand on Princes Street, or the view of the city from the high curve of Ramsay Lane.
 
If you had 24 hours in town before you had to leave forever, what would you do?

Morning at the farmers’ market (during the summer so there would be jubilee strawberries available).  A long walk starting from Calton Hill, then through the old town and the Meadows to Peter’s Yard, for a piece of cake and a mocha. Dinner at Thai Lemongrass (oh, the monkfish!), followed by a play at either the King’s or the Lyceum.

Any interesting stories you know about Edinburgh?

Many years ago during the Tattoo, the performers from the massed pipes and drums stood on the Esplanade during the finale. As a less-than-subtle dig at the daily, unchanging ration of an orange with their lunch, all the performers, having hidden that day’s oranges in their kit, dropped them at the same time. All those oranges rolled through the ranks down the slope of the Esplanade. No more oranges after that…

Sum up Edinburgh in 5 words or less.

Vibrant, mysterious, refined, enigmatic

Thank you, Sophia

Sophia's picture of Lauriston Castle