The more astute of you may have noticed that it is May already. We’re not sure how it happened either. Still, let us make the best of things by noting in our diaries the more salient social engagements going on in and around Spurtleshire over the next month.
First off, art. A new exhibition by Perthshire-based artist Jane Melrose opens at the Union Gallery (45 Broughton Street) on 5 May. Her paintings and drawings explore themes surrounding the natural environment and childhood memories, which seems ideal spring viewing.
We consider it our civic duty to champion the principles of democracy by reminding you that on 5 May between 7am and 10pm you can head along to your local polling station to vote on the small matter of who you want to represent you at the Scottish Parliament for the next four years, as well as the potential introduction of the AV voting system to choose Westminster MPs. This counts as an event because you’ll need to go ‘Oot’ to do it – unless you live in one of our local primary schools or church halls.
Ceramic designer Lara Scobie has the wonderfully alliterative title of May Maker of the Month at Concrete Wardrobe (50a Broughton Street). The Edinburgh-based designer is fresh from February’s Ceramic Art London showcase, and has been short-listed for the 2011 International Mino Ceramics Festival in Japan. Get her.
Saturday 7 May sees the launch of No Colour Too Strong to Paint, a charity CD raising funds for the Sick Kids Foundation. Bands from all over the city have donated tracks for free, including Leith acts Frantic Chant and the 10:04s. The launch gig will be held in Maggie’s Chamber from 6.30pm and tickets are £5 from Ripping Records (61 South Bridge) or Elvis Shakespeare (347 Leith Walk).
Between Monday 9 and Sunday 15 May the Imaginate Children’s Theatre Festival takes place in venues across the city. The North Edinburgh Arts Centre hosts several shows that have been specially developed for 0–4-year olds, including The Attic, First Light and Oops A Daisy. For more details, see the website.
However hard you try to block it out, May is Eurovision month, and this year the UK entry is a startlingly dull number by boy band Blue. However, compere Graham Norton has said that all the other entries are of a surprisingly low standard this year too, so we may be in with a chance. Hooray! To find out how we get on, you might want to attend the Eurovision Party at the Victoria Bar (275 Leith Walk) on 16 May.
We have festivals for everything in Edinburgh, including, apparently, the marathon. On 21 and 22 May you can take the family to Holyrood Park for a series of sporting events including a junior race and a Hairy Haggis Team Relay. The main marathon, meanwhile, leaves from London Road or Regent Road (entrants are told which one when they apply) on the morning of Sunday 22 May.
BBC 6 Music darlings (yes, that’s a thing) The Lovely Eggs bring their UK tour to Limbo (Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street) on Tuesday 24 May with support from Broughton-based bands Kid Canaveral and Cancel the Astronauts. Doors at 7.30pm, tickets £7 in advance or £8 on the door.
And finally, 25 May is Towel Day in honour of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams. The basic premise is that you carry a towel around with you for 24 hours, on account of the fact it’s 'about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitch-hiker can have'. If you know of any other Edinburgh events that are going on (Vogon Poetry Slam, anyone?) let us know.