Date: Sun, 11 Jun 1995 13:59:52 +0100 (BST) From: Rhys Burriss Subject: The Edinburgh International Festival [last week in August] Subject: the gaying of the edinburgh festival 1995 would it not be a good idea to designate one of the weeks [eg the last, which is normally around the last week of August] as 'gay-week' at the Edin Festival? I realize it's a very gay-friendly place anyway during the Festival [and great fun for those who've never been, by the way] but it would add another dimension if we agreed on a particular week when we could all descend on the place, particularly if given widespread publicity on the internet. Also, by doing this in advance people could book accomm at one or two places I can recommend which are reasonably priced [like, eg if they open it again this year the annex to the youth hostel which charges around 10 pounds per night -incredibly cheap for Edinburgh at Fest time - but where you get your own room - and in the centre of town too. perhaps the Scottish net -ites could help out with arranging meets or whatever.... YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE......... Subject: THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL more on the above: the Festival is from 13th August to 2nd September; thus the last week[now designated as gay-queer-les-net-week] is from Saturday 26th Aug to Sat 2nd Sept. There are many artistic and cultural delights to partake of and anyone remotely interested should request the full programme free of charge from the Festival Office: tel 0131 225 5756 from within the UK fax 0131 226 7669 tel / fax 44 131 etc from outside the UK perhaps someone with the equipment and know-how could scan the whole programme in, but just to mention a few of the events: DANCE Bill T Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Co Mark Morris Dance Group Pina Bausch "Nelken" THEATRE The Illusionist / Lets Dream - Sacha Guitry Merchant of Venice - Berliner Ensemble Dans la Solitude des Champs de Coton - Bernard-Marie Kolt`es MUSIC Mozart / Schubert / Haydn / Bruckner etc etc; plus Portuguese Fados, Spanish / Latin American / Russian songs FIREWORKS 10.30PM tHURSDAY 31 The Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concert The above is just a brief selection of the OFFICIAL Festival; It is important to realise [for those who have not been] that the great atmosphere at Edinburgh during Festival time is created largely by the influx of FRINGE THEATRE AND OTHER GROUPS from all over the world who put on plays and other manifestations of varying worth in all kinds of ad-hoc venues : churches / schools/ pubs etc etc. The Programme for the Fringe Festival is not yet finalized but the point is that the only people who would not derive SOME enjoyment / mental stimulation from some parts of it reside six foot underground. There is a strong gay presence on the Fringe, particularly but not exclusively on the comedy front. BOOK FESTIVAL Coinciding with the International Festival is a Book Festival in which various publishers set out their latest wares and readings / discussions with a number of authors are organized FILM FESTIVAL The annual Film Festival takes place during the same period. ART EXHIBITIONS These are many and varied and take place all over the City. EATING OUT There are many places to eat at all budgets - some very atmospheric, eg by the waterside at Leith. The Pierre Victoire chain is superb value. At the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art you can eat well at reaonable prices in a delightful sculpture garden filled with Giacommettis [?or was it Paolozzis?] The City of Edinburgh is a gem - surprisingly different in feel from any English city. There's loads to see. It is the second most visited city in the Uk after London Gay Scene Quite a bit in the way of bars / clubs/ restaurants - read all about it in the online version of Scotsgay available by tuning into ukmotss or ukles-bi-gay. Bookshop West & Wilde, Dundas Street [in the New Town]. Probably the best les/gay bookshop in the U.K.. Accommodation Various les/gay hotels/guest-houses advertise in Pink Paper / Gay Times. Reasonably priced. Cheapest accomm I'm aware of is at the Youth Hostel - about 10pounds per night as I recall. Particularly good value if they re-open the ANNEX in the centre of town where you get your own room for the same price as a bed in a dorm at the main building. If you can't get in at the Youth Hostel [but you ought to be able to if you book now by fax or phone] the the next best value is the student halls of residence just outside the centre of town known as Pollok Halls. One of the Residences is in fact right in the centre of town on The Mound known as Patrick Gueddes Hall, Milnes Court. Tel 0131 650 1000 and ask to be put thru to Reception at Patrick Gueddes Hall. In 1994 it was about 24 pounds per person per night bed and breakfast [breakfast so grotesquely Gargantuan that you don't need lunch]. I'm not sure whether they do double rooms - you could ask. Anyone with a flat somewhere desirable such as New York / San Francisco etc might like to try swapping with someone with a flat in Edinburgh by advertising here or on the noticeboard of West & Wilde etc.. IN GENERAL: the point is that Edinburgh is a great place to spend time in during the Festival and this will only be enhanced [in my view] if loads of ppl reading this arrange to enjoy it during the same week with the chance to meet up and stuff as well as just enjoying what Edinburgh has to offer.