West Port

With all of these looming deadlines and dreaded exams, my flatmates and I decided it was time we took a break from our hard work.

So, taking advantage of our 'clever intellectual student' mode, we caught some of the closing events of West Port Book Festival.

 

First we headed to Edinburgh Books for our first event! 

We admired their healthy, not to mention ageing, stock.
Deliciously embellished spines filled every shelf and we were left feeling slightly nostalgic after discovering their generous selection of Ladybird Books!

 

We settled down amongst an intimate audience to hear extracts from 'The Locked Ward' read by the writer himself - Dennis O'Donnell.

A memoir of his time as a psychiatric orderly, his novel gives insight into the lives of a selection of people suffering from various mental illnesses and re-establishes them as human beings rather than products of their condition.
Following an intense discussion, this book has made its way onto my wish list and promises to be a worth read.

Now we were left to explore this little store some more!

 

Edinburgh Books' answer to a guard dog.
We were told he comes alive at night.
We won't argue...

 

Heading downstairs to the music department.
We got distracted by their antique typewriter and couldn't resist a little play!

 

 

 

For our second, and unfortunately, last event -a very short festival for us- we trekked all the way to Love Crumbs, a lovely cafe just two doors down from venue number one!

After that little burst of exercise we felt we deserved a warm drink (and a sneaky cake or three), to keep cosy as we absorbed the history of the book, given to us Sara Sheridan, an Edinburgh based writer.

 

 

Very refreshing.
Now, back to those deadlines and exams...



 

 

A Little Birdy

For the past month or two a few friends and I have been lusting after the menu at The Blackbird and after a productive day at uni, we finally gave in to temptation. A recent addition to Edinburgh's endless list of places to wine and dine, this bar and bistro has settled in very nicely!

 

 

The brick walls and mismatching furniture give the place a strong rustic feel which left us all feeling right at home! Not one wall is bare. The sense of creativity is strong and The Blackbird clearly takes pride in its exhibition of artistic and quirky features.

If you look closely, that geometric pattern covering the ceiling is actually a flock of blackbirds circling overhead.

 

 

Testing the drinks menu first was inevitable. It will take months to work our way through that list. Whilst waiting for Nathan and Christine to arrive I went for a herbal tea; Apple Loves Mint - a blend I will definitely treat myself to again. Becky indulged in the Coffee Coconut Flip, a creamy cup with an unmistakable kick of liquor, topped with chocolate sprinkles!

 

Along came Nathan and Christine and then came the food!

 

A Deli Selection sharing board to start was just the thing to get ourselves warmed up. We dealt with that in no time at all. If only we had the same enthusiasm when it comes to our essays. (Note to self: Next time get a sharing board just for you! Too good not to and you won't fall out with anyone over the delicioiusness!!)

 

After admiring the presentation of our dishes I tackled half a roast chicken seasoned with thyme and lemon served with crispy potato wedges and an apple and raisin coleslaw whilst Nathan worked his way through what seemed like a bottomless bucket of fresh mussels. Becky opted for a venison steak served with a sweet potato mash and haggis. Devoured almost instantly, the time it took her to clean her plate is unbelievable and very impressive. You can't go wrong with the classic beef burger and with all the staple sides that accompanied it, Christine was a very happy little ... blackbird!

 

 

Although so full a few belts needed to be loosened, who can say no to dessert? Since it was a chilly autumn night the rhubarb crumble with vanilla custard was the obvious choice for myself. Mind, the generous helpings of Eton Mess, Crème Brûlée and Vanilla Ice Cream scattered around the table looked just as tasty!

 

You can visit The Blackbird at 37-39 Leven Street or online here. Their website should be in full flight soon!