A Dragon Boat Race that will give competitors and spectators a real fun day out in aid of charity.

Leith Rotary Club have partnered with The Retail Trust and Ocean Terminal to host a Charity Dragon Boat Race on Saturday 23rd June at Ocean Terminal.  The Race will feature up to 50 boats (with as many as 1,000 participants) competing over a 250-metre course throughout the day.  The event hopes to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charities such as The Bethany Trust, The RNLI, St Columba’s Hospice and many others.  It is sponsored by Harviestoun Brewery and supported by Dragon Boat Events Ltd.

Thousands of spectators who will be able to view the action from the quayside and from within Ocean Terminal itself. They will be a range of other attractions; with stalls, a tented village and local bands.  Cron Mackay, Chairman of Leith Rotary Club, believes it is going to be a really fun day out: “Our trial run last year proved to everyone that Dragon Boat Racing is really exciting. As a result, we have now been joined by Retail Trust and Ocean Terminal to run a much larger event this year. Most of last year’s teams will be competing again this year and it promises to be a really noisy, colourful, and exciting day.”

Michelle Macleod, Deputy Centre manager at Ocean Terminal is also excited: “It’s a great pleasure to welcome the Dragon Boats back to Ocean Terminal and to be involved again as sponsor.  Last year’s event was one of the highlights of the year at Ocean Terminal and we hope that our customers and the people of Leith will support the event as they have before, both by taking part and by turning out to cheer home the crews.”

Each team is asked to nominate a crew of 20, comprising 16 paddlers, a drummer and reserves. Each boat will have an experienced helmsman, provided by Dragon Boat Events Ltd. The company will also supplying the vessels. At 40ft long they are the largest flat-water racing canoes in the world.

It costs £120, including VAT, to enter a team of 17-20 people and each participant is expected to raise personal sponsorship of at least £100. Two-thirds of the funds raised by each team will go to the charity of the team’s choice, with the remainder going to Rotary and other local charities.

Teams wishing to take part in the event should complete the relevant forms.Information on how to enter is available on the website www.leithdragonboats.com

104 steps in different marble, this is an inspired and sympathetic public art piece by Turner Prize winner Martin Creed.

The enclosed stairs that run from the Scotsman on the bridges down to the Old Town and Waverley Station is a public art statement that is as subtle as it is ingenious. Creed is well known for his taking an item and looking at possible variables, in this case stairs and different types of marble for each step.

Creed was commissioned by the Fruit Market Gallery to transform the space, this is Martin Creed Work No 1059. Go and have a look, there aren’t many art works you are encouraged to walk on.

A cultural hub with a cafe and range of public events from art sales to flea markets.

This former army drill hall has become a centre for artists studios and community events. The large inside hall is home to a range of events including art sales, theatre, dance, flea markets, vintage fairs and a food market.

To see an up to date calendar of events visit their website Out of the Blue

The cafe serves good coffee, tea, breakfast, lunch and daily specials which are well balanced and tasty.

A local working pottery ceramics studio and gallery exhibiting an inspired range of work.

Founded by Janet Adam in 1983 the basement space was formerly a bakers; this is not an awkward gallery spaces its all very relaxed here. Janet is the owner and a maker and surplus space is let out to other makers that today include  Michelle Aitken, Chris Donnelly, Lara Scobie, and Fiona Thompson. The pieces being made at the studio are both functional and design led using a range of traditional and modern techniques. There is a gallery space, studio spaces for the makers and the studios often have open days where they invite the public in to have a play with clay and to see them at work.

If you are in Edinburgh its well worth a trip to Stockbridge to see the Adam Pottery, it’s just around the corner from the art strip on St. Stephen Street. Lots of places to go for a coffee close by its well worth a visit to see a working ceramics studio and gallery. They are a friendly bunch!

The best big screen experience in town, relax on a comfy chair or sofa to watch your movie in style.

A cinema that is different from all the big flick houses, showing a mix of mainstream big shows and some that are off centre. The building has an art deco styled facade and is a delightful place inside, no garish signs and excessively priced hot dogs here, its relaxed, comfortable and refined.

There are a number of seating options which include having your own arm chair, a sofa for two to share with side tables and a number of more standard options. Paying the extra for a sofa is well worth the cost and makes an evening at the cinema very special one.

One of the best real ale pubs in Edinburgh with a bar carved in Mahogany and an ornate Jacobean ceiling.

Located on Rose Street this is one of the best real ale pubs in Edinburgh, both for the variety of ale, whisky, food and for its unchanged interior. From the outside there isn’t much to see, you could be forgiven for passing; open the door all is revealed.

An island bar carved in Spanish mahogany, a Jacobean ceiling that is one of the finest examples of decorative ceiling and cornice work you will see in Edinburgh. Walls that are half clad in wood panelling with plentiful bench seating, chairs and stools at the bar.

The range of real ale on tap changes regularly with a few local staples, there is a good whisky selection and food on offer both in the bar and upstairs in the restaurant. If you are looking for a traditional bar to drink some local real ale look no further.

The Dogs do good honest food in a quirky setting, woof woof!

The menu is good British food, mains from £8-12, and options such as Cumberland sausage, home made baked beans and chips £17 for two people. A star gazey pie with a sardines head poking out of the pastry, visually appealing, homely and tasty.

The main restaurant room is light and themed with dog pictures and the odd ornament, the tables and chairs are mix and match. Don’t be turned off by this doggy stuff its contemporary kitch, it works.

It serves good honest food that has been well cooked. The service was well tuned in to our slow approach. The deserts were huge especially the chocolate cake and ice cream for two, the waitress was more than happy to get more plates and spoons at our request so we could all taste. Worked out at £20 per head including wine. Water put on the table in a jug at no cost, always a nice touch. Will be going back.

The death of IPA? Serving good real ale in Edinburgh, Brew Dog does bark loud about its beer and with good reason.

Located in Cowgate the Brew Dog bar hides behind a concrete facade, the bar itself has an industrial style with a touch of retro cool. The bar is attended by a mixed audience from the punk tattoo crew to mature beer lovers, and its all fine, everyone is there for the same thing! Good beer.

The beers all have a distinct taste and are reasonably priced, some of the very strong brew is served in a 1/3 pint measure and for good reason. They sell salty snacks and pizzas to help keep the wolf from the door. What more to say, go try.

Auctioning a range of antiques, collectables and household goods with the fun and drama that goes with a live auction sale.

Located on a small industrial estate off Leith Walk this auction house is friendly and fun whether you are a buyer or a spectator. On Thursday there is a lane sale which tends to more on the side of house clearance. On Saturday there is a collectors and valuables orientated auction which is worth a browse and can be interesting to watch or indeed participate in the actual bid sale.

Check the Ramsay Cornish website for times and special sales.

Old town setting, unspoilt decor and a range of real ale’s and whiskies that keeps em coming back.

Foremost the bar has a great range of real ale, guest ales and 150+ malt whiskies on offer. Bow Bar is one of Edinburgh’s best and unspoilt pubs, no music, no machines, a TV reserved for rugby. The interior has lots of old wood cladding, a dark red ceiling, typical bar seating, old metal enamel advertising signs, mainly beer and associated as well as some lovely IPA marketing mirrors.

Whether you are going out for a quiet drink, a night of it or a pint before or after a gig this place is superb. The house ales all come from local and regional breweries such as Stewart Brewing, Cairngorm Brewery and of course The Caledonian Brewing Company, and the many guest ales. Have a pint of real ale in a real Edinburgh pub.