Local News: Book-making course bound to be a success

A BEGINNERS course in traditional bookbinding will be held at the Owl & Lion Gallery in Grassmarket next month.

No experience is necessary for the course, which runs on February 26 and 27 from 10am to 3pm.

It will teach the rudiments of making books by hand, including paper-cutting, sewing and covering with three materials - buckram, book cloth and leather. For more information see www.owlandliongallery.com.

Exhibition takes root at Botanics

AN exhibition by artist Ian Westacott will open at the Royal Botanic Garden on January 15. The show, called Venerable Trees: Etchings, will go on display at the Gateway Gallery, on the first floor of the John Hope Gateway until March 6 as part of International Year of the Forests.

Hotel serves up wine class

A WINE-TASTING workshop will take place this Saturday in the Scotsman Hotel from 10.30am.

People will get the chance to compare 15 white and red wines from different regions and learn about their characteristics. Bookings can be made through the Wine Unearthed website.

Weight-loss challenge call

A WEIGHT-LOSS coach is urging people keen to shed a few pounds to sign up to an Arriba Community Weight Loss Challenge.

People taking part in the challenge will meet every Tuesday for 12 weeks at the Corn Exchange.

For information, call Fiona Savage on 07880-788 759.

Storytelling supper offers taste of Burns

A GENEROUS helping of Robert Burns' stories and songs will be served alongside haggis, neeps and tatties as part of a special event to celebrate Scotland's bard.

Supper with Burns will run from January 24 to 26 at The Tass bar on the High Street, from 7pm. The event, which is part of the Storytelling Centre Burnsfest 2011, will be hosted by David Campbell and Linda Bandelier.

Tickets cost 17.50. For details call 0131-556 9579.

City pupils roll out innovative tyre reuse ideas

MORE THAN 30 pupils from Broomhouse Primary School have taken part in a drawing competition to come up with creative ideas for how car tyres could be used once they are no longer roadworthy.

The pupils impressed judges with their creative ideas, including suggestions that tyres be used in everything from the soles of their trainers to rubber gaming chairs.

Students went head-to-head with pupils from Giffnock Primary in the art contest run by Bridgestone and McConechy's tyre dealerships.