September marks the 20th anniversary of Doors Open Days, Scotland’s annual festival celebrating its outstanding buildings and constructed spaces.

Over the course of four weekends this month, more than 900 sites across the country that normally are either closed to the public or that charge an admission fee will open their doors for free.  In Edinburgh, the event is set for the weekend of 25th – 26th September;  participating locations include historic sites, theatres, churches, museums, private homes, gardens, a police station, and even the Lothian Buses Central Garage.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to discover our country’s rich built heritage. I would encourage everyone, young and old, residents and visitors, to make the most of this fantastic free event,” says John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust, which coordinates the overall project.  Individual events are organised locally (in Edinburgh by the Cockburn Association) and depend on the efforts of over 5000 volunteers across Scotland.

By granting easy access to a variety of sites, some of which may otherwise escape public notice, the festival aims to foster appreciation and respect for Scotland’s built heritage and thereby to encourage its preservation and care.  Each participating venue will offer a range of talks, special tours, and exhibitions to acquaint visitors with its unique story, and many of the venues have organised special activities for children and families.

“Regardless of whether your motivation is an appreciation for architecture or just nosiness, Doors Open Days offer a once in a year opportunity to get behind the scenes glimpses at a whole host of buildings,” says Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs.

Doors Open Days is Scotland’s contribution to European Heritage Days, a larger movement with similar aims that began on the continent in the mid 80’s.  The idea has since spread to North America, Australia and beyond.  Scotland was the first part of the United Kingdom to come on board, with events in Glasgow and Ayr in 1990, and the project has expanded every year since.  The festival now runs alongside Scottish Archaeology month, which also celebrates the country’s rich material heritage and strives to make it more accessible to the public.  Last year the programme attracted  around 260, 000 visits.

25th-26th September; various locations around Edinburgh

For more information, visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk/opendays/

or view the Cockburn Association’s brochure at www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/upload/File/DOD%202010%20Brochure.pdf

The fair was set up in 2005 by former Selfridges stylist Judy Berger – a lady who most definitely knows her vintage. The goods on offer date from the 1920s to 1980s, and include Mad Men style 50s dresses, vintage Barbour jackets and elegant 40s evening gowns, as well as a huge range of bags, purses and jewellery.

Whether you’re obsessed with all things vintage, or you’d just like to add a bit of old fashioned glamour to your wardrobe, get yourself down to George Street from 11am. We’ll see you by the handbags.

Saturday 18^th September
The Parish Church of St Andrew and St George, 13 George Street, Edinburgh
11am til 4pm
Entry: £2 (or £1 concession)

You couldn’t help but feel lucky to get a table at Seadogs during the “silly season” that is the Edinburgh Festival; the place was bursting at the seams with culture vultures engrossed in planning their show schedules at every table.  With two glasses of very quaffable, if not memorable, rosé in front of us we scanned the menu which detailed such delightful combinations as trout and spiced veg crisps and seafood potage with bulgar wheat.   In the end my lunch partner and I both plumped for the tomato seafood chowder.  What arrived was different in every way from the wallpaper paste that all too often is branded as “chowder” by many Scottish restaurants.  Instead Ramsden’s capable team have come up with a hearty, robust stew of a chowder which means serious business and has flavours that jostle for position in all the right ways.  Succulent squid, moist coley, plump mussels and chunky vegetables, seasoned to perfection and with a hint of chilli that adds interest but doesn’t overwhelm  – this was a  chowder to remember.

With Ramsden’s history of a previous restaurant having gone belly up 5 years ago its perhaps not surprising that he is keeping this and his other canine culinary ventures on a tight lead.  On our visit he was in charge front of house, with whippet like intensity he could be seen bounding from one to table to the next and his efforts are paying dividends; service was unflappable and efficient despite the festival crowds, and the low key efficiency allows for a relaxed atmosphere.   Where other restaurants have been known to let standards slip during the Festival frenzy the Seadogs appears to be winning through, with an approach which allows good ingredients to shine in simple but well executed dishes.

The restaurant is kitted out in basic bistro style, with odd tables and chairs and simple lighting.  Ultimately a visit to Seadogs is about pleasure of the stomach rather than fancy décor – this worldly wise seadog is both confident and self assured.

Peanut butter chocolate cheesecake completed the meal and proved to be an admirable encore, a crispy base with an unctuous creamy filling.  With coffees to follow the bill came to less than £30 and left you feeling you’d eaten quality without the hefty price tag.

It appears that with Seadogs Ramsden, who it has to be said has something of the old seadog about him, has pulled off what many restaurateurs in central Edinburgh and beyond have found a difficult mix, good quality food at an affordable price.  In this, “time of austerity” this has to be a winning combination.  If Ramsden can keep to these standards the Seadogs will be busy long after the fringe goers have departed.

If you like Seadogs, then venture out to the other Dogs in the fast growing chain:

(A)more Dogs – Hanover Street
The Dogs – Hanover Street
The Underdogs – Hanover Street

43 Rose Street
Edinburgh
0131 225 8028

www.seadogsonline.co.uk

Catherine Henderson

The Laing Boutique Crowd

Many thanks to all those who attended the Informed Edinburgh & Laing Boutique event last night! It was lovely to see so many of you there.

A great night was had by all, with lots of interesting chat, and tasty wine and food provided by 56 North. People enjoyed browsing the gorgeous jewellery from Laing Boutique, including their collections of Troll Beads, Lulu Guinness and TOY watches.

Congratulations to Audrey Fairgrieve who is the winner of the Michael Kors watch worth £200.

Thanks again for coming along! We look forward to seeing you at the next one.

Trying on the Michael Kors watches

Browsing the jewellery

The lovely waitresses from 56 North model the TOY watches

Residents of this fantastic city may not be surprised to find that Edinburgh has won the ‘Favourite UK City’ award in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2010.

The capital, known for its outstanding architecture and vibrant cultural scene, was also awarded high scores for user-friendliness and aesthetics. Readers of the magazine were asked to score each city out of a maximum of 100 according to criteria such as service, culture and value for money.

It’s not the first time that Edinburgh has been on the receiving end of such an award – in fact, in 2008 it was voted as one of the world’s top ten cities by travel mag Wanderlust, as well as voted the UK’s favourite city break destination by the readers of Guardian/Observer for 10 years in a row.

Council Leader, Cllr Jenny Dawe, said: “This result is great news for the city and confirms what we all know: Edinburgh is a great place in which to visit, invest, live, work and study.”

“The city truly has the best of everything; historic buildings and great atmosphere, a vibrant leisure and retail offering, abundant green space, outstanding schools and universities – the list goes on. Little wonder, then, that people continue to think of Edinburgh as a must-visit location.”

Images from www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com

We spoke to Katherine about the power of food, why you should network with an open mind, and her top tips for making a great impression…

What’s your professional background?

Good question… and I’m not entirely surely I can give you an easy answer.  I trained as a chef when I was young, then studied business, specialised in marketing and have worked across a variety of sectors including leisure, academia, hospitality, catering, and IT in over nine locations across the UK. At the moment I have an IT company and property company that I co-own with my business partner, and Lemon & Dine is my own venture. Variety, I believe, is the key to great experience and I love to learn new things and visit new places – I’ve been lucky to do both in my career. I am keen to work in Europe more from this point forward…and maybe somewhere with a little more sunshine!

Where did you get the idea for Lemon & Dine?

It’s been in my head for a number of years but the timing was not quite right.  The catalyst occurred while temporally living in Zurich – I knew no one, but was convinced there must be more people like me who wanted to get out there and make the most of the city.  So I decided to set up a dinner club, purely for fun. We ended up meeting for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, and I loved the cultural diversity, variety of age ranges and experience.   At our last event we had 14 nationalities at one table and the party went on all day!  What struck me was the fact that the people all had busy lives, were successful in their careers but all wanted to fast track building their social and professional networks in a relaxed non-pressured environment.  The whole experience got me thinking that maybe I needed to do something positive for other people using my past experience.

What kind of networking events do you offer?

Our vision is to create a community of people who are likeminded, intelligent and accomplished, and who want to share their experience and expertise with each other. I prefer to call it network building, as our objective is to build people’s social and professional networks. It is a proven known fact that the degree of success in your professional life is correlated to having a strong professional and social network.  Traditional networking is limited, and our approach is to create a variety of events to facilitate a mixture of personal development, skill sharing, socialising and fun.  We have some exciting events planned for 2011 but I can’t talk about them just now as we are still finalising plans – but we have partnered up with some great venues including MacDonald Hotels,  Gleneagles and The Scotsman Hotel.

What types of people come along the events?

Ambitious, confident, sociable and intelligent! They are usually looking for something a bit more substantial than pushing business cards or making polite conversation, and in my experience are all genuinely nice people.

When is the next one?

We had our soft launch at the Scotsman Hotel recently, and that was designed to be just like one of our drinks party events. It was great to see people getting to know each other and I hear that some good business was done too. I believe that socialising without any agenda is the best way to build networks, and so we have decided to have regular after work drinks nights.  We have teamed up with the Roxburghe Hotel who provide us with a dedicated private bar which is exclusively ours and we are keeping the numbers restricted to ensure our hosts get our guests and members circulated.  You are guaranteed to meet one person you like! Our first event is on Friday 10^th September, but you must book.

Why does food play an important part in the networking process?

A long time ago I trained in a commercial kitchen with a Southern Italian chef and that experience, combined with my upbringing in the Yorkshire Dales, has firmly placed food as a focal point in my life.  Sharing food is a naturally social experience that people are comfortable with regardless of age, background or sex.  It should be enjoyed, celebrated and restorative and bring joy!  Interestingly, recent research is suggesting that people that spend most of their meals eating alone in front of the TV are far more prone to depression than those who share their food with friends or family. That’s food for thought!

Would you recommend networking to everyone?

I recommend building networks as opposed to networking.  It is a subtle, but fundamental difference.  Building networks is without agenda, takes longer and requires an open mind and a degree of effort but the benefits are more long term and go to a greater depth in my experience.

So what is the difference?

I think we have all suffered at the hands of the ‘professional networker’ who is talking ‘at’ you, and has a mental tick box approach to whether you are worth knowing. Building networks is a more open-minded, less focused approach to meeting people and requires more give than take. It is harder work, as some people are easier to get to know than others, but a small extra investment in time with people is much more rewarding in the longer term. It also requires you not to expect a ‘result’ instantly.

What are your top tips for making a great impression?

STOP, SHAKE, LOOK AND LISTEN

STOP and take a look at yourself – perceptions count, so make an effort with how you look.

SHAKE hands at the introduction stage – I am always amazed when people don’t do this as I do feel it establishes a connection.  Maybe a bit old-fashioned, but I don’t think there is a suitable alternative that is globally recognised…yet!

LOOK interested – even if you not thrilled by the conversation. Everyone has something interesting about them and you just never know…

LISTEN – actually quite hard to do ‘properly’ but if you really listen to someone else you can learn a lot.

www.lemonandine.com

Even at the best of times it can be difficult to make ends meet, and in the current economic climate, it can feel like a constant uphill struggle.  Fortunately, there are solutions for times when you need money quickly and simply don’t have sufficient funds available.

Cash Brokers is a highly reputable chain of stores dedicated to assisting with temporary financial crises.  The friendly staff at the Edinburgh shop (centrally located on West Register Street, between Princes Street and St. Andrew Square) are committed to offering service that is reliable, accommodating, and discreet to suit their customers’ needs.

Cash Brokers offers a range of services to assist with your money issues, from cheque cashing and payday advances, to pawnbroking and a buy-back service.  They purchase a variety of items, and specialise particularly in buying gold.  Gold objects can be everything from jewellery and watches to coins and cigarette boxes, in all shapes and sizes – nothing is too big or too small.  Even scrap gold and broken jewellery are acceptable, which means that unwanted pieces currently gathering dust at home can be traded in for instant cash.  It’s like being paid for recycling – reusing materials and getting money for it!

“ I was pleasantly surprised at getting almost £500 for what I thought was a small pile of jewellery that I no longer wear… [They're]  nice people and very pleasant to deal with.” Sheila Addison, Blackhall, Edinburgh

Selling your gold is a quick and easy process.  Drop into the shop for a free valuation based on your gold’s weight and quality, then you can decide from there.  There is never any pressure to sell, and you can rest assured that you will receive the best possible prices from their professional service.  Cash Brokers also offers a convenient online service if you can’t make it to the store’s location, or if you wish an extra degree of privacy in your transaction.  Simply fill out the form on the company’s web page, describing the item you’re considering selling, and Cash Brokers will send you a provisional offer on which you can base your decision.

“ I rather foolishly posted my gold to a company that advertises on TV.  They made a derisory offer, which they kept raising, and it took me nearly six weeks to get my gold back.  I called Cash Brokers initially without telling them about my previous experience.  I was advised that they would need to inspect the jewellery but if the weight I had given was correct I could receive around £600.  This was more than six times more than I was offered by post.” Arlene Stewart, Loanhead, Midlothian

Even if you’re not strapped for cash, Cash Brokers also offers some excellent deals on travel money for your next holiday.  Most major currencies are readily available, and with zero commission charges and better rates than several major high street providers, you’ll have more money left to spend when you reach your destination!

For more information, contact:

Cash Brokers
9 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH2 2AA (behind Burger King, and beneath the Penny Black)
Tel:  0131 623 6213
E-mail:  edinburgh@cashbrokers.co.uk
www.cashbrokers.co.uk

Shoppers traversing Princes Street merge with tourists setting out from one of the area’s several high-end hotels, while office workers from the financial district west of Lothian Road keep pace with commuters changing buses or making their way to Haymarket station for the train journey to Glasgow and West Lothian.

Originally built as a swanky extension of the New Town, the massive villas once occupied by members of Edinburgh’s professional elite now rub shoulders with contemporary constructions of glass and steel owned by banking, insurance and legal firms.   Meanwhile, away from the bustle of the main thoroughfares, the area around Stafford Street and William Street has a quirky, slightly bohemian feel bolstered by the presence of a range of independent boutiques and businesses that go well beyond standard high-street offerings.

On and off the beaten track, it’s a brilliant location for people-watching, and there is no shortage of pubs, cafés and restaurants offering sustenance and shelter to the crowds.  Here are just a few highlights of the many establishments on offer.

La P’tite Folie

Tudor House, 9 Randolph Place EH3 7TE, 0131 225 8678
www.laptitefolie.co.uk

Within the walls of its distinctive timber-framed Tudor building, La P’tite Folie (“The Little Madness”) offers an airy escape from the stresses of city living.   The traditional French fare on offer here is hearty, simple yet delectably satisfying, served by amiable staff in spacious surroundings that still manage to feel cosy and inviting.  While its sister restaurant on Frederick Street has adopted the eclectic decor of a bustling French bistro, the emphasis here is on the grace and elegance of the dining experience, enhanced by the addition of a separate wine bar on the ground floor.

Arkangel & Felon

4 William Street EH3 7NH, 0131 226 4466

www.arkangelandfelon.com

This fashionable boutique offers a glittering array of quirky and lovely pieces that are unique but still highly wearable.  Recently refurbished and renamed, the shop stocks unique pieces by Lilith, Ilse Jacobsen, and Wilbur & Gussie, and will soon be featuring a line of jewellery by Fiona Paxton, as well as clothes from Lolly’s Laundry, Ruby Jeans, and Winter Kate, among others.

The Cupboard

10 William Street EH3 7NH, 0131 226 6580
www.thecupboard.co.uk

The tone at this boutique is decidedly understated and highly chic.  In fact, The Cupboard specialises in low-key elegance.  The clothes here are sleek, contemporary, yet with just enough edge to make them stand out from the crowd.  The look will particularly appeal to seasoned fashionistas who are beyond the stage of obsessively following trends, while the staff’s non-pushy sales philosophy will come as a breath of fresh air to jaded shoppers.  A quick browse in the Cupboard uncovers designs by Ischiko, Annette Gortz and Absolut, among others.

The Rutland Hotel/The One Below

1-3 Rutland Street EH1 2AE, 0131 229 3402
www.therutlandhotel.com

Commanding a prime position with panoramic views of the castle, The Rutland Hotel, Restaurant and Bar provide a setting that is at once sophisticated and comfortable.  With a sumptuous contemporary baroque decor, the ground-level bar and first-floor restaurant offer a simple yet stylish and very tasty take on modern Scottish cuisine, including pleasingly presented bar food and seasonal cocktails.  Meanwhile, the twelve individually-decorated bedrooms in the boutique hotel provide a classy yet cosy base from which to explore the city.  For after-hours entertainment, The One Below is the Rutland’s underground lounge bar, a luxurious den of intimate opulence featuring twelve vaulted booths (each with their own iPod dock) as well as the UK’s first iBar, an interactive bar design that responds to touch by changing colour.

Songkran Thai

24a Stafford Street EH3 7BD, 0131 225 7889

This easy-to-miss eatery is a lunchtime haven for an army of devoted regulars addicted to its flavourful, good-value Thai cooking.  Less formal than its sister restaurant in Stockbridge, the original Songkran is an understated affair.  Its single room, decorated in a traditional Thai theme, is tucked away at the bottom of a narrow stair from the street.  With cheerful staff and a popular takeaway menu, this is a true local gem offering a solid selection of Thai favourites, ranging from duck and pad Thai to stirfries and curries, plus a generous array of vegetarian options.

Helen Bateman

16 William Street EH3 7NH, 0131 220 4495
www.helenbateman.com

A treasure trove for lovers of funky and pretty footwear, designer Helen Bateman’s designs are distinctive and striking yet still reasonably priced.  With a sharp eye for exquisite detail and fabric, Bateman produces two stylish collections each year, as well as a handy permanent collection of basic designs.  The shop is this year celebrating its tenth anniversary, and has recently expanded its floor space and its range to include a small collection of clothing carefully selected to complement its shoes and accessories.

Jewellery by Liam Ross

51 William Street EH3 7LW, 0131 225 6599
www.jewellerybyliamross.com

Specialising in wedding bands and modern Celtic designs, Liam Ross’s graceful, fluid compositions are rooted in tradition yet possess a sleek contemporary appeal.  He also offers a bespoke service, working carefully with clients to create a unique work of art that perfectly expresses their own personal vision and taste.  With twelve years of experience working as a jeweller in Edinburgh, his exquisite work is available to view in this workshop-cum-boutique in the West End.

Noir! is a celebration of art, fashion and creativity, centred around a glamorous, experimental, catwalk show.

Now making its seventh appearance, the event was started by Anna Freemantle, a Dutch model, and her husband Jonathan, a South African painter, who had the idea of throwing a party that they themselves would want to go to. Noir! has gone on to become one of the highlights of Edinburgh’s cultural and sartorial scenes, with its reputation for pushing creative boundaries and seeking out new talent.

‘It’s certainly escalated a bit,’ admits Anna. ‘It started out quite small. We began by having exhibitions for my husband’s artwork, and then we thought that we would make it a bit more fun, more like a party. We decided to involve some other artists, filmmakers and designers. And since my background is fashion we decided that the night would centre around a show. And now it’s turned into this, which is very exciting.’

Noir! takes place in Hawke & Hunter’s Green Room – a cavernous space with high ceilings and lots of dark wood, which lends a slightly gothic air to the proceedings. Artwork by recent ECA graduates hangs on the walls, and the night starts with a live set from Edinburgh guitar band, Black International. Each Noir! is slightly different, and Anna describes the vibe for this seventh show as ‘couture with an edge’. ‘Each show has a dark side to it,’ she says, ‘the effect is quite flamboyant, and has almost a freaky circus feel.’

This dark theme creeps into the styling of the fashion show, with enchanting results. The models are made up to look like ethereal, ghostly creatures, with their hair slicked back and white around the hairline and their eyebrows painted to match. The clothes for this show have been provided exclusively by Jane Davidson boutique on Thistle Street, and include a selection of flowing evening gowns, glamorous cocktail dresses and leather leggings. Highlights are the beautiful, sculpted Herve Leger bandage dresses, the silky Jenny Packham gowns, and the vibrant Diane von Furstenberg scarves, all of which are innately wearable.

But the real star of the show is the collection of surreal headpieces by artist Evelyn Morrison. These huge, black, wearable sculptures are worn by Anna, and are inspired by the artist’s eerie childhood visions of monsters and nightmares. They completely obscure Freemantle’s face and vision, so the Amazonian model has to be led down the catwalk by a smaller model in bare feet and a black hooded cape. The overall effect is like something out of a sinister fairytale, and gives the event an extra level. This isn’t just a fashion show; it’s a carefully constructed performance.

It’s exciting to have a regular night like this in Edinburgh, and word is gradually starting to spread further afield, with talk of future Noir! events planned for New York and Cape Town. Plenty of big names seem to be getting in on the act too: Diane von Furstenberg has been in touch with the Freemantles about getting involved in future shows and the director of the Spiegeltent is considering collaborating with them next year.

You get the feeling that this striking, charismatic couple can do no wrong when it comes to organising a fabulous event. As Anna says, ‘the most important thing is to keep doing it.’ I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the next one.

www.noiredinburgh.blogspot.com

Photos: David Anderson

Win 5 free personal training sessions for you and a friend from Xplosive Fitness!

This unique, Edinburgh-based company provides personal training and sports massage treatments to people who expect something extra from their workout session. Doing the same exercise routine every week can quickly get boring, and it’s easy to become less motivated as time goes on. But at Xplosive Fitness a fully trained instructor will tailor each workout session to your needs and help you achieve your fitness goals. No matter what your fitness level is, Brendon from Xplosive Fitness will work with you to help you achieve the best results.

Xplosive Fitness is a mobile personal training company – so you can work out in the privacy of your own home, or, if you’d prefer, you can do your session in the wide open space of the local park. You can choose whether to attend the sessions alone (for a workout which is entirely focussed on you), or you can attend with a small group of friends for a relaxed, sociable session. Up to four people can split the cost of training, so this option is the most economical (prices start from £8.75 per person) while still retaining that personal touch. Brendon has a dynamic, fun approach to your training sessions, and is skilled at creating a friendly, comfortable environment.

Testimonials from Edinburgh-based clients

Brendon is a joy to work with. After my initial sessions with Brendon I quickly noticed the difference and I had much more stamina. His PT services have been invaluable in helping me keep fit and healthy – essential when you are your own boss. Furthermore, Brendon has been incredibly flexible, a real plus when meetings are put in the diary at short notice. In short 100 x more effective than a gym membership. Lynn Anderson

I had got to the stage where I thought I would never get fit again. Like many women I found working out at a gym all too boring and too disheartening. Brendon’s help has changed all of that. He worked with me to develop an exercise programme which is challenging, fun, suited to me as an individual and which he takes me through in the comfort of my own home. He is a great motivator, has understood when I have had problems and his sense of humour means the programme is never boring. Exercise has become the highlight of my weekly routine. I feel fitter, firmer and healthier – the only “drawback” has been the need to replace clothes that have too much room in them!
Lindsay W.

I was referred to Brendon by my Physiotherapist who recommended that I embark on a rehabilitation training program after suffering a bulging disc in my back. Brendon initially concentrated me on exercises which strengthen the body’s core muscles to help support my spine. Once I was stronger, he began to work with me on exercises to improve my general fitness. After only a few sessions I felt that I had greatly improved and also gained confidence to move around more and do more normal activities again. As well as providing fitness expertise, Brendon is also very supportive and always willing to consider his clients’ views. Stephanie Russell.

Special Offer

If you’d like to try out Xplosive Fitness you can book a half-hour taster session with Brendon for only £17.50.

Xplosive Fitness would like to offer Informed Edinburgh readers a special introductory deal on personal training sessions. Book five personal training sessions and a free consultation for only £150! Please note that this is an introductory offer, and is exclusive to Informed Edinburgh readers. Call Brendon on 0776 495 0493 and mention Informed Edinburgh at the time of booking.

Before your sessions begin you will have a consultation to discuss your lifestyle, nutrition, health and goals. Brendon specialises in many areas of personal training, including strength and conditional, kettlebell training, injury rehabilitation and pre/post natal exercise. Each session will be personally tailored to suit your lifestyle and fitness needs.

About Brendon Hartt

Brendon set up Xplosive Fitness in 2005 to provide Edinburgh residents with the best possible mobile personal training services. He is a fully qualified personal trainer, kettlebell instructor and sports massage practitioner, and holds a Level 3 (the highest level obtainable) on the Register of Exercise Professionals.

To find out more about Xplosive Fitness visit their website, or call Brendon on 0776 495 0493.