Café culture in Broughton is thriving, as evidenced by three venues visited today during moments of meteorological crisis.
We began with Bon Papillon on Howe Street, where artist/proprietor/caterer Ingrid Nilsson’s imaginative and playful portraits feature in the gallery at the back.
We particularly liked the gentle wooing of ‘Goldie’s Progress’, which brought to mind the meandering prose of George Cavendish:
After all thes Solempnytes and Costly tryumphes fynesshed And that our naturall yong, lusty, And Coragious prynce And souerayn lord kyng herre the viiith entreng in to the flower of pleasaunt youthe had taken vppon hyme the Regall Septour and themperyall Dyademe of this fertill and plentifull Realme of Englond wche at that tyme florysshed in all aboundance of welthe & Riches whereof he was inestymably garnysshid & furnyshed called than the golden world such grace of plenty Raygned than wt in this Realme.
We prefer the succinter sentiments of Sir James Mackintosh, and so does our spell-checker:
Henry VIII perhaps approached as nearly to the ideal standard of perfect wickedness as the infirmities of human nature will allow.
The ideal standard – or high noon – of sheer bloody awfulness is achieved in this only partially relevant performance, which once seen is never forgotten. Surely, the audience was screaming to get out?
Also admirable was ‘Nancy at the Met Ball’. We would happily wear a hat like that on our rain-sodden peregrinations if only we could find one.
*****
Next to the Roamin’ Nose on Eyre Place, where a stunning exhibition by local photographers Paul and Lynn Henni (Issue 244) has been extended and refreshed and will now continue until 6 December.
The mysterious figure depicted here is walking towards the camera, head bowed, not – as we first thought – walking away from the camera, head up. No wonder we keep bumping into people.
*****
And finally – first dripping, then gently steaming – to the Blue Bear on Brandon Terrace.
Jemma and Ben Blake will be exhibiting the work of nine local artists here over the next six months, with all pieces available for purchase.
‘We feel Edinburgh is host to an abundance of artists,’ says Jemma, ‘and it's a privilege to be able to showcase original artwork, especially when it relates to the area you live in.’
There's a wide variety of styles to enjoy here, but we were drawn to the clear skies and strong linear flow of 'Eddscape' ...
and to Paul Lovering's watery and insightful 'Hey Mr Tambourine Man'.
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