December is upon us and Snowmaggedon is in full swing, but with our intrepid Council working around the clock to clear the roads there’s no reason to stay indoors!
Thursday 2 December sees the launch night of a collaboration between the Edinburgh Spotlight website and Great Junction Street’s Bainbridge Music to provide a live platform for unsigned bands. Edinburgh Spotlight on Music at The Caves features performances from The OK Social Club, The Nature Boys, Underclass, Cancel The Astronauts, and Maydays. And what makes this different from other band nights in the capital, you ask? I should have thought it obvious! Edinburgh groups without an animal in their name are like gold dust these days. Was this creature-free lineup a deliberate choice by the organisers, or was it mere coincidence? Cue wild speculation.
Doors are at 7pm and tickets are available from the bands if you can find them, Tickets Scotland on Rose Street, or online at: http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=5694.
Remaining on a musical note, 6 December sees the triumphant return of student favourite Dr Karl Kennedy, aka actor Alan Fletcher from Neighbours. He’ll be rocking the Walkabout bar at the Omni Centre along with his band The X-Rays and special guest Tommy Rando from 7:00pm. What they lack in quality they make up for in being Australian.
Fitness enthusiasts and people who like wearing fake beards will surely welcome the return of the Great Santa Run on 12 December in Princes Street Gardens. Registration is from 9:00am and – according to Informed Edinburgh – includes hats! If only the same could be said for registering to vote. Meanwhile, if you are the owner of a child under 12, there is ice-skating at Ocean Terminal from 3–12 December for £5 a session.
The Jekyll and Hyde pub’s B-Team film nights will be running as usual through December. They’re planning a tribute to the late Leslie Nielsen on Monday 6 December, a splatterfest '60s double bill on 13 December, and a Christmas triple bill party on the 20 December. This will include a raffle and some mince pies, although not necessarily in that order. Entry is free and doors are at 7:00pm in the Crypt Bar (112 Hanover Street).
If you fancy something a little more artistic, McDonald Road Library are running Christmas craft sessions every Friday between 3:00 and 4:00pm. On the 3 Decenver they will be designing cards; on 10 December, decorations for the library tree; on 17 December it's make your own Christmas tree; whilst on Christmas Eve they will be creating gingerbread decorations. The only alternative to attending these sessions is spending time at home talking to your loved ones, so get out there and have fun!