After the recent news that the pandas were coming to Edinburgh zoo, I asked on our twitter stream for people to place their bets………….on which would arrive first in town, pandas or working trams.

The responses were overwhelmingly in favour of the black and white creatures, but some of the answers were really funny and I thought I’d share them here again.  We also asked on our facebook page so it’s a mixture of answers from both.

– pandas arriving on trams would be a sight worth seeing!

– Arriving in Edinburgh in this order 1. Static trams 2. Pandas 3. Flying pigs 4. Working trams.

– I thought they were bringing the pandas in to finish the trams?

– the trams will be in Leith long before the Scottish cup ever makes it that far again!!!

– Marty Mcfly just returned from 2015 and says that it isn’t looking good for the trams.

– Baby Pandas then Trams

– The pandas as yet unconceived kids & grandkids will arrive in Edinburgh b4 the trams & we no how bad pandas r @ procreating.

– perhaps the pandas could live in the tram carriages as there won’t be working tram lines. Or is that cruel to the pandas?

– Rolling in unlike the trams, huh? (Trams dont have wheels, right? I hate when facts ruin puns.)

– The pandas’ newborn babies will arrive before any tram runs anywhere near let alone in Edinburgh!

– we should have a sub-bet on what will arrive first; flying cars or trams.

– Pandas! Also: they rock more than trams, and will be more useful than those benighted people carriers will ever be.

– Pandas that can drive the trams.

– Pandas for shizzle!!!

– Actually get the pandas to build the trams they would do a better job than ECC could only ever dream of!

– lesser spotted flying pandas

The fact that we were talking about them on twitter made it into today’s Guardian round up for Edinburgh.

No matter how hard I’ve tried to keep this blog up to date, I always ending up writing another article for the site instead.

I must write more blog entries in 2011.

I must write more blog entries in 2011.

I must write more blog entries in 2011.

I must write more blog entries in 2011.

You get the drift.

Exciting changes ahead for Edinburgh Spotlight, all to make your visit to our website even more worthwhile.

Dear blog.

Please let me apologise for nelgecting you so much, but the pre-Fringe frenzy took over in July, I barely slept August and September I spent sleeping.

I promise not to neglect you again for that length of time.

Yours sincerely

Miss Edinburgh

Fringe 2010

The Edinburgh Fringe is well and truly on its way.  The atmosphere around town is gathering momentum and we’ve resigned to the fact that we wont have a day off until September.

All of our coverage is in a special section of the website – Fringe 2010.

We welcome all of our reader’s opinions on shows they’ve seen that we’ve reviewed since the official Edinburgh Fringe website doesn’t have a place for public comments this year. 

I’ve been to over 20 Edinburgh Fringes, but this one is going to be the busiest yet.  Our crack review team have scheduled many shows in all genres to bring our readers honest opinions of what they’ve seen.

We’re not paid by any company to give them a glowing review, we’ll be telling it as it is. 

I have gathered my fringe survival pack together, including wet-weather gear, spare pens, scooby snacks, extra batteries and comfy shoes.  What else does a girl need?  Some sleep in August would be beneficial, but then where’s the fun in that?

Cover me, I’m Fringe-bound!

This past week saw the launch of the Fringe 2010 programme and I grabbed my highlighter and had a pink-ink frenzy over everything I wanted to see.  Some 4 hours later, it dawned on me, that I would not be able to see every show I had highlighted, unless the Fringe was 3 months long (what a great idea!)

Keith and I have made our initial picks for the Fringe 2010 but this will be revised, updated and added on a weekly basis from now until August.

We have some very exciting things in store for our coverage of this year’s Fringe and have recruited a full review team to bring you our thoughts on shows every day in August.

It’s going to be a mad one – but I love it!

Press photographers (and two Japanese tourists) at the photo call

This week I have mainly been stuffing my face with food from all over town.  I had an afternoon tea at IKEA where my promised cupcake was switched for a cream scone.

Food at Taste of Edinburgh

I had another lunch in Avoca, Stockbridge with Mr Melbourne and popped along to Taste of Edinburgh festival at Inverleith Park on Friday afternoon where I joined several woman to ‘learn’ cooking techniques from Jean Christophe-Novelli.  If you asked me to tell you what he said, I probably couldn’t, but he did look good!

Edinburgh lad Mark Cooper completed 25 marathons on Friday, only 25 more to go. Go Mark go!

We are counting down to the launch of the official Edinburgh Fringe 2010 programme, but already have the shows we want to see planned out, but there’s nothing like getting the paper copy in your hands, a pad of paper and a highlighter before putting it all into a spread sheet.  Watch the website for all our previews and suggestions.

Have a good week.

Mmmmmmmm

I am glad to be back in Edinburgh after a recent trip to Morocco – thankfully the ash cloud held off for me to fly home.  Full steam ahead in Edinburgh this week for me, lots more interesting articles coming up on the site.

The most read article on the site recently has been the Edinburgh Cake Trail which thousands of people have read and it’s an ongoing project.  Another food related gems recently discovered is the Spice Pavilion in Dundas Street which is fantastic.

We are also getting ready for Edinburgh’s summer festivals – a busy time ahead.

I had a fairly quiet week on the Spotlight front, as I was busy with many (many) other things. Still, I did manage to cover the by-now-legendary Free Burrito Day at Illegal Jacks; and go on very pleasant and relaxing walk along the Water of Leith.

Water of Leith

By contrast, next week is bonkers.

On Tuesday, I’ll be heading along to Whistle Binkies to catch local indie kids Who’s Edna, then on Wednesday it’s off to the Lyceum to see The Cherry Orchard.

More theatre on Thursday with The Goat or Who Is Sylvia at the Traverse, which looks very interesting. Then, if I have time that same night, I’ll be heading off to see Spotlight faves The Nature Boys play their last gig before guitarist Mark Cooper sets off on his marathon adventure.

Friday night and it’s the next We Luv Musik gig at the Voodoo Rooms. I loved the last one and this lineup features local heroes the 10:04s, who I’ve heard great things about.

On Saturday, I sleep…

See you around,
Keith D

Managed to get a few Easter eggs yesterday, thanks to the overflow from the mini members of the Spotlight family.

This past week has seen me visit Sonic Dreams at St Andrew Square and have a sneak peek at the City Art Centre Science Festival offerings.

Foodwise, I have had a busy couple of weeks, eating for the second time at many restaurants which will allow me to review them shortly.  I had another breakfast at Moo Cafeteria including a piece of cake!   I have lunch or afternoon tea at least twice a week and have recentlyenjoyed the new Leo’s Beanery, another visit to Loop Lorna’s and look forward to trying Tony Crolla’s latest venture, Taste of Italy beside the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Our current Spotlight feature, Stephen Green  flew off this week to Nepal to embark on his amazing effort to summit Mount Everest.  The first day of the month saw readers question our article on the plans to build a funicular railway on the Royal Mile.

Your Healthy Living show is heading to Edinburgh again this year in June.  If you visit their website, you can register free tickets, but you only have until the end of April to take advantage of this offer.

And finally, this week sees my more-than-one-day birthday celebrations with family and friends, so am choosing to eat out at some of my favourite Edinburgh restaurants.  Now all I need is the weather to get better so I can get out and exercise the additional calories off!

Attended my first We Luv Musik gig last night, and it was a good one. The Stone Roses Experience were solid; The MixUps were fantastic; but I was a bit gutted to miss half of The Nature Boys’ set, as I’m a big fan of their chaotic punk. Still, at least I caught the second half, long enough to see Cammy get up to his usual ‘hang myself with the mic’ antics.

The Nature Boys

Off to another gig later this week: The Black Sea Sailors. Featuring Sean from previous interviewees Night Noise Team, I’m consoling myself with no more Plays, Pies and Pints next week with live music.

I also plan to visit and review the new exhibition at Axolotl – it looks an excitingly daring and interesting one, so I’m looking forward to that.

Beyond that, I’ll see what the week has in store. Of course, the Science Festival is in full swing by now, so I’ll try and catch something at that.

Or maybe you’ll just find me in the Traverse Bar, crying into my empty pint glass (but revelling in my Foursquare mayorship of the place, which I stole from someone earlier this week…)

See you next week
Keith