Around town: Packed diary for pub's fifth birthday bash

The West Maitland Street pub's weekend of celebration kicks off on Thursday with a quiz night and culminates on Sunday afternoon with live music from the Caledonian Brewery Pipe Band, Bleeker and Andy Chung.

Owner Graham Blaikie said: "The bar will have a hog roast on the balcony to keep us all fed and there will be great entertainment for all. The theme is Hawaiian."

Freshers' Fayre welcomes students to Capital

EDINBURGH'S Telford College is to hold a Freshers' Fayre to welcome new students at the Hub on the Granton waterfront on Tuesday.

Students can visit the stalls of a range of groups, societies, gyms and nightclubs.

On the morning of Freshers' Fayre, at 11am, the new principal Miles Dibsdall OBE will also be holding a "meet and greet" with the students.

Sam Lamond, customer services team leader, said: "We have organised this to help students settle into college life."

Cuban writer tells her tale

AIDA Bahr, a prize-winning writer, literary critic and screenwriter from Cuba will speak on "Culture and the Cuban Revolution" at Edinburgh University's David Hume Tower next Friday at 6.30pm.

Ms Bahr is one of the organisers of the Havana International Book Fair and director of a publishing house.

Great artist's early works are reunited

THREE paintings from Johannes Vermeer's early career will be reunited for the very first time as part of an exhibition at the city's National Gallery Complex.

The Young Vermeer will show three paintings created between 1653 and 1656, including the National Galleries of Scotland's Christ in the House of Martha and Mary.

The exhibition will run from December 10 to March 13.

Schools talk tough issues

Craigleith and Blackhall Community Council is organising its second Inter-School Debate. On September 16, teams from Royal High school, Mary Erskine, Stewart's Melville College and Broughton will debate the topic: "This house believes that style is more important than substance in politics."

Get teeth into carnivore talk

ANIMAL lovers are being invited to Edinburgh Zoo to listen to a carnivore talk.

The event will take place at the zoo's education centre on September 16, from 7.30pm to 9pm. Tickets cost 6 for non-members and 4 for members.