Do you remember Ainslie Henderson from the first series of Fame Academy? He was the slightly intense, jumpy Scottish singer songwriter who was tipped the win the contest but ended up finishing 4th. He went on to enjoy a mildy successful music career throughout his twenties before deciding that the life of a pop star was not for him. He then studied animation at Edinburgh College of Art and has
Handy for both Fife & Edinburgh, the dog-friendly Cramond Falls Cafe is five miles from the centre of capital and about 10 miles south of Dunfermline. Owner, Elaine Stuart has made sure there’s a welcome all year round – there’s lots of outdoor seating by the scenic River Almond for the warm weather and log burning stoves inside for the winter walkers. After seven years building up the custom at the Cramond
The houseboats on the Thames in London or on the canals of Amsterdam are not something you’d expect to see in the centre of Edinburgh but tucked away in the Lochrin Basin is the Four Sisters Boatel, moored on the Union Canal and close to the city centre and restaurants and bars such as Cargo, Hyde Out & Zizi’s. You can access the boat from Lower Gilmore Street or Fountainbridge. At
The always excellent Craft Scotland Summer Show 2014 gets underway in Edinburgh on 1 August. It’s a chance to see top quality work and meet some very skilled craftsmen and women. Products are available to buy at the show as well as online through Culture Label. Items that cost over £100 are available to buy through the Own Art scheme, spreading the cost over a period of ten months. Buying
Mary, of Mary’s Milk Bar in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, graduated from ice-cream university. Naturally, Italy tops the University league tables when it comes to making ice-cream and Mary Hillard, originally from Yorkshire, studied at the prestigious Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna. However, childhood visits to milk bars in Scarborough and Whitby – both of which are still open today – provided the inspiration for the Edinburgh store. Mary has introduced
They say that golf spoils a good walk. At Jupiter Artland a beautiful walk is enhanced tenfold by the artworks that now seem integral to the landscape. The surprising thing about this sculpture park, which is just outside Edinburgh, is that it was one individual who came up with the grand idea, Nicky Wilson. Not only that, but she and her husband, Robert funded it from their own income. When
Just when you thought it was impossible to improve on Tunnock’s teacakes along comes these bad boys. Space teacakes are from Zukr Boutique, who also produce an enticing range of marshmallows including the whisky and orange confection (pictured below). Harvey Nichols ex-pastry chef David and designer/photographer wife, Maggie whip up these ‘edible clouds of joy’ from their premises in the Pentland Hills. Luckily the space teacakes will be coming in
Drambuie and Filmhouse Edinburgh are offering 2 lucky Avocado Sweet readers the chance to win tickets to a screening of Tunes of Glory starring Alec Guinness. The screening is on the 30th of April. Drambuie is supporting a series of film seasons over 2014 to bring ‘A Taste of the Extraordinary’ to Edinburgh cinema audiences. Winners will be entitled to a free Drambuie cocktail at the Filmhouse Bar. Tweet ‘Tunes
If Anna Karenina and Paloma Faith need to go hat shopping then South Queensferry is where they should head. Joyce Paton opened Paton, the unexpectedly exotic store in the historic Scottish town at the end of March 2014. Fur pill box hats with beautiful plumed feathers, which were created for catwalk shows and photoshoots, are on display alongside less extravagant pieces. For weddings and events Joyce can create low key
If you’re not already a fan of Tom Gauld’s cartoons in The Guardian here’s a small selection to convince you. He’ll be at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival on 23 August. In April he published a book of the cartoons, You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpacks, available from The Guardian bookshop.