Profil von Lil

Hip yet relaxing, sophisticated yet brimming with a laid back cool, Blonde offers a modern Scottish menu with a twist of the European. It’s clientele stretches unsurprisingly straight across the board …appetizing dishes, reasonably priced in a nifty little setting all looked after by a team of friendly and competent staff. Careful it doesn’t become a home from home.

Stumble into this little book haven and you may just have to battle your way through stacks of random books, twist around tables loaded down with diaries bursting with uplifting words of wisdom and insight and flick through newspapers screaming out against injustices, discrimination, government wrong doing and basic inhumane acts that can’t be tolerated. Described as an independent and radical bookshop, Word Power Book is unique to Scotland and a place where inspiration is to be found with every flick of a page. Step inside and learn something new or pick up the perfect gift for that “booky” friend in your life…they’ll be amazed by your literary insight.

The Bongo Club is somewhat of a clubbing institution and a prime Edinburgh spot to check out the latest Beats, Funk, Hip hop, House, live percussion, Disco and Jazz. Owned entirely by an Arts charity, The Bongo Club is available for hire both day and night be it for exhibitions, conferences or rehearsal space. The intimate café is open daily from 1 – 7pm and offers free internet as well as being fully licensed. Truly an innovative space where live music meets theatre meets clubbing and a good time awaits for the hip kids.

This small, rather quaint, atmospheric pub is home to the well known “Wee Folk Club” held every Sunday from 8:30pm. Acting as one of Edinburgh’s top notch live folk and blues venues, The Royal Oak attracts a diverse and interesting crowd for it’s quality music and good banter accompanied by a decent pint. Known to play host to traditional music playing musicians who regularly stroll in after playing gigs elsewhere in the city, there’s never a dull moment to be had. And with it being located just a short walk from the Royal Mile it’s surely worth checking out for the random music sessions. Feel free to pull up a pew and belt out a tune on the old piano in the upstairs bar!

The family run liquid deli that is Demijohn on Victoria St. offers a unique delight to the senses. Stocking products from around the world, customers have the chance to sample the liqueurs, rare spirits, olive oils, thrilling vinegars and the distinctive spices before purchasing. Everything is bottled before your eyes in one of the eyecatching bottles and labels are personalized – a homely touch that keeps the punters coming back time and time again. The fact that everything is recycled also adds to the attraction in today’s fickle, throwaway material world.

Fancy dress parties and students have had a longstanding close relationship, so could the Edinburgh Fabric shop be better located than by the Edinburgh Uni, I think not. Fabrics, material, fur, wool, strings, bows, sequences, iron on patches and all sorts of glittery, shining, inspiring treats of all shapes, sizes, colours and textures await to be plucked and draped and tuckered to the desired effect for that all elusive, memorable party outfit. Or indeed should you just require a ball of wool to crochet that beanie, it’s all to be found in this magical maze of bright artistic wonder. Let the creative juices flow!

Forget Blockbuster and all the huge DVD store chains, it’s now all about shopping local and doing your bit within the neighbourhood and Vogue Video on South Clerk St. is definitely where you want to be checking out the latest movies, boxsets and getting your sugary, salty snack fix. £1.50 for all movies, be it a new release or cult classic, friendly banter fro the lovely owner who knows where each and every dvd lies (test him!), a satisfying stash of nibbles and munchies and that good sense of wellbeing that comes from knowing your not further lining the pockets of the highflying corporate giants. What more could you want from your Tuesday night home movie date. Oh and a twenty minute delay returning dvds isn’t frowned upon and considered the crime of the century which is always nice!

A haven for the lazy shopper that calls out for every occasion…be it the all-important Christmas stocking filler, the thoughtful birthday present for the impossible to buy for, or the sweet loved-up pressie bought just for the heck of it. Halibut and Herring will satisfy any gift buying dilemma with its creative and imaginative ware to choose from. Bright, colourful and spilling over with ideas or indeed a treasure chest to merely indulge in for oneself…a fluffy, cute eyemask? Why every gal ought to have one!!

Full to bursting with all things made for dress up, Platform Soul calls to the exhibitionist in each of us. Stocking fashion from across the eras you’ll find everything from the beautiful and precious to the down right weird and ugly. Dresses, sweaters, jeans, chords, tops, scarves, shoes to battle for and jewelry to top off any outfit, this second hand vintage shop is definitely worth checking out if your wardrobe needs to make a statement. Staff are quirky and the tunes equally so!