Who's gonna be in Edinburgh during Festival time?

(although, OTOH, the good thing about August was that my local pub extended its closing time from 1am to 3am.)

Anyone else going to be there and grit their teeth as the various tourists make life hell?

I used to love acting in the theatre though. It's great fun. I have no grudge with people who love doing it. But as a spectator thing - why not see a movie instead? Movies have made theatre outdated.

(For your info, Calum, when someone says he's going to theatre, even though you'd hate it, the first thing you should say isn't: "Eww, I hate the folks who go to the theatre, they should DIE!!". There are informal rules to conversing with people, though you wouldn't probably know anything about them.)

Put up a FAP thread when you get somewhere on this and maybe I will be able to turn up. That is if the pub isn't shit.

The festival would be great, if it weren't for all the tossers who perform in it, and the people from out of town who come to Edinburgh for that and - as observed above - random stopping in the street antics.

It's not as bad as people make out, but it certainly isn't far off. I have been known to be quite unfriendly to people handing out flyers who don't really understand that people live in Edinburgh, rather than it being their Amateur Dramatics holiday of a lifetime.

I take it back. It is exactly as bad as the people make out.

I'm dropping an email to some of you fine folks anyway. If you fancy a pint at least you have my email address and it would be nice to meet up.

Good venue last year was the Spiegel Tent in George Square - a nice bierhaus in the square, with blankets and things for people to borrow. I liked it there - it felt like a festival.

I am in a bad mood with something else now - I will clarify my point. I am kind of confused how I ended up agreeing with Calum, and in a state of shock! There are just so many performers in shows who see it as a joint trip to Edinburgh - a lot of Uni footlights groups and stuff, and they do annoy me, whether I am wrong or not. At times it is really fun, but I have been here for eight years now and it has worn to being the occassional peak, and a lot of annoyance. I really wish everyone who comes to the festival was as considerate as a lot of people I meet, but it doesn't really hold up that way. I know this is a tarring with a brush, but....well, why not.

I can live fine with tourists in Edinburgh. It is when the population of the city increases by 25% or more with them that, strangely enough, it begins to bother. The random stopping in street isn't flyers - it is the endless supply of people who stop to look at something in front of you. Either I am exceptionally unfortunate and need a new walking strategy, or it happens to everyone!

Anyway - I hope everyone who visits enjoys it. And considers before they stop to admire a building, the likes of which are...everywhere (world heritage city, dontcha know, hence noone has sky as you aren't allowed dishes). And - if you are performing - don't flyer people in suits, clearly at work, for a 3.30pm show!. I am calm now.

Anyway, maybe it isn't cool to say this, but as an embruh lad born and bred, I've always loved the influx of tourists. Then again, that might just be because the hot-tanned-spaniard-to-schemie ratio turns on its head.

And regarding the subpar lineup at the Pleasance - hasn't their svengali chap stepped down this year? Maybe that's why...

All my neighbours in Edinburgh seemed to have Sky; then again, I did live on the Dumbiedykes estate.

I don't live in Edinburgh, but I visit the city a lot and always have done. For all intents and purposes, I consider it home. Like many, I do dislike the rise in population and the knowledge that I can't walk from A to B without it taking a lot of time and involving a fair bit of problems. The flyers I just ignore. Some of the studenty street acts really piss me off. I remember three years ago two goth girls sat in the middle of A PUBLIC WALK WAY pretending to be dead while someone asked for money for them. They were "the end is nigh" or some such shit. I almost tripped over them, and so I softly prodded one girl with my umberella and said "this is the stupidest thing I've ever seen" very loudly. There are always crowds and crowds watching the street performers too, so it can be a hassle getting anywhere.

Princes Street is a nightmare too, invitably - especially with the stopping and starting although it is good to see the stereotype of the Japanese tourist with a camera lives on!! That always makes me chuckle, bless them.

I'll be covering the film fest, and I love that every year. I love being able to go to some cool concerts in Edinburgh too, instead of having to make the trek to Glasgow and worry about being beat up in the Barrowlands by some ned.

And, yes, if you've never been it is still the most beautiful city I've laid eyes on. I don't say that with any bias, it just honestly still makes me feel rather happy with my homeland. A lovely place. Especially by night.

I have considered getting flyers made for a fake show - pick a non-existant venue number at a fictitious address, and everything, and go around handing them out.

Sadly we'll miss all the festivals except the fringe this year. If anyone knows any good shows to see in the afternoon, post 'em here. I'm short on afternoon shows and they can sometimes be great.

As a former stand up performer myself, the Stand Cafe (I've forgotten the address off hand) usually has a variety of good comedy acts. I don't know if he'll be there this year but my old mentor Allan Miller is still the funniest live act I've ever seen.

2046 - that's a film at the festival I believe. MY must see films this year are The Machinist, Trauma, The Motorcycle Diaries and Hero - but I'll see a lot more than that. Also, try and catch 70s classic O Lucky Man on the big screen if you can.

c-man, I'd say any time you're in glasgow, next, drop me an e-line and we can arrange something, hopefully.

pete, let us know when you're up, too!!

Indeed it is. It has a second venue on St Andrews Street, which will be round to corner, on the road up to the square (near the bus station).

Simon Munnery (sp?) and Daniel Kitson are on there this year....

OK so I am a tourist but I promise to behave and not stop in the sidewalk (a huge pet peeve here in London too). Or maybe I can claim some sort of Edinburgh-cred because of my mum (although she did actually grow up in Linlithgow before moving to Edinburgh). It is indeed a beautiful city, and I can't wait to see it again.

a) work
b) finally booking a holiday from work (which would be my first this year)
c) a blatant disregard for keeping a diary, agreeing to things and not turning up.
d) the selected pub is shite.

All of these are pretty equal. You can work on the pretend logic that I will turn up though.

(I don't know anything about Bert's but I trust Mr. B.)

They do good pies. They do ales, and it is off the beaten track for Edinburgh. I am, however, wondering how old Dave B is now.

I am not a old man geezer. Is it possible to maybe make it Sunday? I have checked my trains and can get cheapy ticket but not get into Waverley until 9pm. Amd investigating going up Thursday too, so maybe say at some point that weekend, with date confirmed ASAP?

It is my little paradise, and very cheap.

Upsides of the Auld Hoose - has a darts board, opened later than the pub I used to work in so I could get a pint.

(although it was one of my closest pubs anyway)

(xpost)

are you part of the mission/ascension/vain axis ?

Haven't booked any shows at all, frankly overwhelmed with the amount on offer, will probably mainly hang around the Pleasance though. All tips greatly appreciated!

I guess all the hype this year is over Cuckoo's Nest, but I expect it now sold out.

That's if you want stand up. I don't really know anything about anything else.

I haven't killed anyone yet, and we are heading into the second week. this is quite an acheivement I think.

Festival doesn't seem quite so bad this year. so far.

August 6-21 Edinburgh Fringe Festival [Pleasance Theatre]

TICKETS ON SALE June 15

(I haven't used a bus in Edinburgh for about 2 years, and have no car)

Anyone up in late August? Can you recommend any decent comedy or clubnights or whatnot?

Yeah, AlexT and I (and our friend Ed) are doing a night in the Southern on South Clerk Street on Friday the 24th (I think).

I'm going with my sister and dad to some benefit which features Alan Carr and Phil Jupitus among others, at least it's in a good cause .

BUMP

hello! i'll be arriving in embra about 10.30 tonight and hanging out til monday lunchtime or so. any tips for any tips comedy/theatre/etc-wise?

Oh, I'm around tomorrow, so, I think, is Andrew F. Bit late for plans unless you're still checking ILX (in which case, try and get in touch - I've just friended you on Facebook so you can get my mobile if you don't have Andrew's) but, er, I'm guessing we will be hanging around Pleasance Courtyard for some time tomorrow late afternoon/evening. I have no idea what I am going to see at all, but we'll see.

I'm doing overtime tomorrow till about two but could be up for a FAP afterwards.

so i'm going to be in edinburgh for two weeks, leaving on tuesday. don't know if i'll be able to FAP given the company i'll be keeping during my visit, but what's good in town from like the 10th to 24th?

would love & appreciate a local low-down on the festival & night life. somewhere to buy some records, maybe see some live music. this drunk australian dude i talked to the other night kept reassuring me that edinburgh was "the tits of the uk" and my hopes is high

bump 4 flight tomorrow

I'm not a local but I've been to the Fringe festival twice (mainly theatre/stand-up comedy/performances), not sure if that's what you're after. If you're even vaguely into that kind of thing then Daniel Kitson's show is one of the things I'm most gutted about missing at the festival this year, he's bloody excellent, more of a stand-up/storyteller.

Don't know if you can download a copy of the Fringe guide, but if so it might be worth spending an hour with a highlighter pen and seeing what takes your fancy. No idea about nightlife or whatever, but it's not exactly short of pubs.

Went to see a few shows yesterday but this fella was the pick of the bunch http://www.mundojazz.co.uk/Mundo_Jazz/Edinburgh_Festival.html Normally I'm averse to comedy 'characters' but I was actually crying with laughter.

Edinburgh is a fucking nightmare during the Festival, makes London seem almost bearable.

Oh its bad but I wouldn't go that far actually.

More than worth the trade off imo

Smh at these folk that eschew the whole thing and moan about how the extra traffic makes it harder for their drive to the gyle

('These folk' being mainly my extended family on facebook, in case that sounded like i was trying to have a pop at tom d's post)

Tbf to Edinburgh, my post was prompted by trying to get back to civilization Glasgow today while severely hungover, my mood not helped by having to queue for train tickets and have a German couple jump the queue in front of me and have a group of timorous "we don't want to get involved" middle class ninnies say the Germans had been behind them in the queue all along, when they plainly hadn't.