[HDNG]CITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E3[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.50 [BULL] Glass of wine: ú1.20[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Festivals: [EBOLD][ITAL]Edinburgh is never short of entertainments,[EITAL] but there is [ITAL]a positive glut[EITAL] during August when the city is overrun by Festivals, not just the main Edinburgh Festival (in itself the largest arts event in the world), but at the same time the Fringe (which includes hundreds of student productions), Film, Dance, Jazz and Book Festivals (and probably many others; the whole thing has been described by Robert Llewellyn (aka Kryten from 'Red Dwarf') as the 'Festival of theatre, music, dance, poetry, opera, jazz, film, television and shagging'). [ITAL]The city springs into life with buskers and performers and it's impossible not to enjoy it, even if all you do is walk (slowly) around the streets.[EITAL] Of course, this is outside term time, but students should take advantage of their situation at least 1 year out of their 4-year stay. (See 'Accommodation' for a money-making idea for students who don't stick around for the Festivals).[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] There are 6 cinemas around town with a total of 28 screens. The Filmhouse and the Cameo are both fairly arty and host the Edinburgh Film Festival.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] Strictly speaking there are 13 theatres, but each year the Festivals find literally hundreds of performance venues. The Festivals have a knock-on effect for the rest of the year and Edinburgh brims with exciting and experimental theatre and dance, as well as mainstream arts, throughout the year. The Royal Lyceum and King's Theatre are among the hardy perennials. The new Traverse Theatre is the first theatre dedicated to new writing since Shakespeare's Globe.[PARA][BOLD]Pubs:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Quite apart from being as popular as Take That's pants[EITAL], most pubs are open till 1am. [ITAL]Students who want to make the most of an Edinburgh education will develop a taste for whisky. The best places to do it are Maggie Dicksons (good grub), Sneaky Pete's (for the serious quaffer), Black Bo's (cheap) and Rekties which has a back wall mirror - beware.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Just because there's so much fun to be had watching and listening, Edinburgh doesn't slack on more active entertainment. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: Pure (industrial techno at The Venue, ú3-ú5); Shaft at Moray House (funky fun student venue, ú2.50); indie/studenty goings-on at Wilkie House and the Vaults (ú2-3). For the perverse, there's Misery at the Venue, where the point is to have a foul time, with crap music. [EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] [ITAL]The remarkable thing about the number of live music venues is how they can all continue to make a profit. Maybe they don't. Maybe they do it for fun[EITAL]. Apart from the following, live music spills out from many a pub, club and meeting place. [PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs: [EITAL]Usher Hall (classical, including the Scottish National Opera); Queen's Hall (classical and jazz, converted church); Playhouse (Proclaimers, East 17); The Venue (dancey stuff); Rocking Horse (metal mayhem).[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Among the many other [ITAL]endless [EITAL]entertainments, [ITAL]it's worth mentioning the phenomenal amount of cabaret and[EITAL] the Tattoo, a military parade at the castle. [ITAL]Americans like it.[EITAL][HDNG]UNIVERSITY:[EHDNG][PARA][GRPH]E2[EGRPH][STAT][BULL] Price of a pint of beer: ú1.15 [BULL] Glass of wine: 80p[ESTAT][PARA][BOLD]Bars:[EBOLD] There are 11 bars in the various sites of EUSA (see below) and at the King's Buildings Union.[PARA][BOLD]Theatres:[EBOLD] There are 3 theatres around the University and its students staged more shows at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival than any other university, but then, it does have a geographical advantage. Edinburgh students never let a little thing like a lack of a venue stop them putting on a show.[PARA][BOLD]Cinemas:[EBOLD] The University film club - the largest in the country with more than 2,500 members - shows 140 films a year, a [ITAL]broad range beyond the usual pap[EITAL]. Recently, for instance, Cross of Iron, Night on Earth.[PARA][BOLD]Clubs/discos:[EBOLD] There are dance venues all over the place in EUSA's various centres, with capacities ranging from 400 at Potterrow to 1,800 at Teviot Row, hosting the [ITAL]highly popular [EITAL]Juice on Fridays. (The Teviot Debating Hall, cap 500, has the largest disco lighting rig in Scotland). [ITAL]Students never have to go to bed without their legs aching from dancing for hours and their throats sore from shouting over the music which still pounds in their ears.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Music venues:[EBOLD] The Teviot Debating Hall and Potterrow (cap 400) feature regular live bands including recently One Dove, Jools Holland, Catherine Wheel, and many, many smaller bands.[PARA][BOLD]Cabaret:[EBOLD] At the Pleasance, weekly cabaret nights keep those tums vibrating with chuckles, featuring recently Bob Downe and the Doug Anthony Allstars.[PARA][BOLD]Others:[EBOLD] Regular quiz nights and a couple of balls a year (ú15 to ú25).[HDNG]EATING OUT:[EHDNG][PARA]The University itself doesn't actually provide any eateries, but there are cafeterias in all EUSA's main sites open from 8.30am till late at night. In total, there are 13 EUSA food outlets, but, if that's not enough, local pubs often serve snacks with the ever-flowing drinks. [ITAL]Some of Scotland's best restaurants are in Edinburgh,[EITAL] serving everything from cordon bleu cuisine to brown sauce cookery. [ITAL]The only drawback is that eating out in Edinburgh will unfill students' pockets faster than it fills their stomachs. [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL]plugs (among many others): Henderson's Salad Table (vegetarian hang out); Dario's (value Italian); Kalpna (gorgeous Indian veggie); Howie's (French/Scots - a scrummy marriage).[EITAL][PARA][PARA]
