Community News: Seminar on the public finances and Scotland

Carl Emmerson, acting director of the authoritative Institute for Fiscal Studies, will speak at a seminar at 6pm tonight staged by the David Hume Institute at the Royal Society of Edinburgh in George Street on "The Public Finances and Scotland."

The event comes just five days after the UK spending review.

Also speaking at the seminar will be Professor David Bell of Stirling University, special adviser to the Scottish Parliament's finance committee.

Space for new restaurant on North Bridge

A NEW restaurant could be opening its doors on the Bridges following the departure of clothing retailer Cult.

Cult is to open a larger flagship store in Princes Mall, leaving their spacious North Bridge store vacant.

The unit's owner Aviva Investors Pensions Ltd has now lodged an application to convert the store to a food and drink establishment.

Aviva has yet to secure an operator.

Zoologist set to give first lecture for trust

Distinguished zoologist and broadcaster Professor Aubrey Manning will tonight formally launch the Fred Edwards Trust with the first annual lecture in honour of the respected social work director and ecologist.

A packed audience of more than 200 is expected at the Playfair Library at 6pm.

The trust aims to encourage and support active citizenship in Scotland based on the principles of social justice, ecological integrity, economic literacy and a global world view.

College to hold beauty event

The hair and beauty department of Telford College is offering a night of pampering at the college's Beauty Spa and Hair Studio tomorrow.

It will be held at the West Granton Road campus from 5pm-7.30pm.

Beauty lecturer Nicola Paterson said: "We hope people will join us for beauty tips."

Help to plant bulbs in Leith

Volunteers will plant 3000 crocus bulbs in Montgomery Street Park, off Leith Walk, on October 31, from 10am. The event will be followed by a Hallowe'en lantern parade at 6pm, with prizes for the best costume and scariest lantern. In the event of rain, the bulb planting will be postponed for a week.

Author launches Ocean book

AUTHOR Dorrik Stow will introduce his book Vanished Ocean at Blackwell bookshop on October 28 at 6.30pm.

The book tells the story of the ocean of Tethys, which vanished from the earth six million years ago. Tickets are free from the shop on South Bridge.