by Jess Taylor |
August 16, 2016
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Starting in 1947, Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now one of the largest arts festivals in the world. Performances include theatre, comedy, dance, musicals, exhibitions.. the list goes on. Many of the shows are ticketed, however there are lots of free events to enjoy too!
The Fringe began when 8 theatre companies turned up uninvited to Edinburgh International Festival, and showcased their performances at alternative venues. This saw the birth of two of the key defining features of the Edinburgh Fringe:
- the use of unconventional venues
- no official invitations to performances
Fringe performers now make use of any viable space available to them, such as theatres, function rooms, pubs and schools. Some more unusual spaces have also been used in the past including a public toilet, the back of a taxi and even the audience's own front room.
With such a variety of shows available, including those by performers just starting out in their careers to world renowned acts, the Fringe is definitely not one to miss. Catering for all ages and tastes, this year the festival is running from the 5th to the 29th August.
Shows to watch:
Dance - Scottish Ballet
Enjoy a double-bill of pieces by the marvellously talented Crystal Pite and Angelin Preljocaj, performed by Glasgow's finest ballerinas. Festival Theatre, Aug 18-20
Comedy - Nish Kumar: Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Unless You Shout the Words Real Loud
You may recognise him from Have I Got News for You and Live at the Apollo, Nish is one of Britain's rising comedy stars. If you enjoy political satire then this is definitely not one to miss. Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 3-28
Theatre - Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons
After a great success at the 2015 Fringe, this love story is set in a world where the government has implemented a law limiting people to only speak 140 words per day. Roundabout @ Summerhall, Aug 5-28 (not 9, 16, 23)
At the weekend we enjoyed a free comedy show at the Hanover Tap called 101 Comedy Club; Zahra Barri in particular made us laugh. Tonight we're off to see Sigur Rós at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
Let us know if you've been to the Fringe this year and what shows you've enjoyed.
With love, And Mary
Posted in
2016,
Edinburgh,
Fringe
by Jess Taylor |
August 11, 2016
|
Here at And Mary there is nothing we love more than a great cup of tea. So when we heard it was Afternoon Tea Week we jumped with joy!
Afternoon tea - a brief history..
Afternoon tea became a British tradition in the early 1840s, and was primarily associated with those in higher society. During this period of time only two meals a day were consumed (breakfast and dinner), therefore a small snack and tea was taken around mid-afternoon in order to bridge the long gap between meals. This became increasingly popular and fashionable, until the tradition we know today was created.
A traditional afternoon tea normally includes finger sandwiches, sweet pastries, cakes and, of course, tea. Scones were not introduced to the tradition until the twentieth century.
Our top 3 spots for Afternoon Tea:
1. Roseleaf, Edinburgh
If you fancy a traditional afternoon tea with a mad twist then this is the ideal place for you. Enjoy a mad hatters tea party - crazy hats provided! Enjoy a cup of loose-leaf tea, or if you fancy something a bit stronger Roseleaf's Pot-tails (cocktails served in teapots) will not disappoint.
Booking advised as it's a popular spot.
2. Bettys, York
Booking advised again - otherwise you may need to queue for your cakes! If it's a traditional afternoon tea you're after, Bettys is the place to go. Promising a "quintessentially English treat", afternoon tea at Bettys offers you a cake stand full of traditional sandwiches, fresh scones and delicious fancies. There are six Bettys cafes spread across Yorkshire, catering for a variety of occasions.
3. sketch, London
Combining food, art and music, sketch provides a unique dining experience not to be missed.
Offering a traditional afternoon tea with a modern flair, including caviar and quail egg sandwiches. The best bit is that everything is unlimited!
Let us know how you will be celebrating Afternoon Tea week!
With love, And Mary
Posted in
2016,
Afternoon tea
by Jess Taylor |
August 08, 2016
|
If Monday morning is leaving you feeling a bit like this..
Cheer up because it's International Cat Day! And we've got lots of cat-related styles at And Mary to help you celebrate our feline friends. Why not treat yourself or the cat lover in your life to one of our beautiful porcelain cat pieces.
If you really love cats, then what better way to spend that day than at a cat cafe! Our local cat cafe in Edinburgh is called Maison de Moggy, where you can get your daily fix of cats and cake at the same time. Here are some pictures from our recent visit..
Don't worry if you're not a cat person, we've got animal styles to suit everyone at And Mary.
With love, And Mary
Posted in
2016,
cats,
Maison de Moggy
Booking advised again - otherwise you may need to queue for your cakes! 
