In Praise Of: riot grrrl

Carrying on with In Praise Of, I have been transported back to my musical youth with an excellent book Riot Grrrl: revolution girl style now, edited by Nadine Monem.

This is a thoughtful and scholarly look back at the 'movement' that was riot grrrl and discusses its legacy today. Focusing on the literature and art of the early 90s scene, it's the music that I'm most interested in. Bands like Bikini Kill in the US and Huggy Bear in the UK are widely credited with encouraging girls with guitars everywhere, hence the foreword by Beth Ditto.

The story of empowered and enterprising female artists is as inspiring now as it was as it was 20 years ago. Mainly though, the thing to note key is that riot grrrls rocked!

This vid keeps the riot grrrl dream alive - a homemade tribute for one of Bikini Kill's bangers. Enjoy!

In Praise Of: Ski Sunday

January is a tough month in which to stay positive. We all know it. I'm going to try in 2012, by running a wee series In Praise Of. The first installment is dedicated to the joy of Ski Sunday, BBC2's winter sports show.

For decades, the iconic theme tune has heralded the arrival (for 6 short weeks at least) of a taste of the drama of alpine sports. Now, clearly, I'm not a skier, so why do I care? Let me tell you:

1. Ed Leigh - A UK snowboarding legend, the onetime Whitelines Magazine editor is now firmly snowboard establishment. In a good way. He got involved with Ski Sunday years ago now, much to the chagrin of many alpine purists and his mischievous influence has improved the show no end.

2. Downhill is insane - These guys hurtle down sheet ice at like, loads of km/hr. The crashes are epic. For a few weeks every year, I remember who the big names in downhill skiing and hang on their every turn. Current faves remain the US guys - Bode Miller for his wild inconsistency and Ted Ligety, for some reason.

3. Mountains - every week a beautiful, fresh alpine backdrop, contrasting acutely with the soggy, wind-ravaged slopes of Scotland which are mine to savour.

4. The theme tune - c'mon it's a classic!

5. Snowboarders ruling it - in the first episode of the new series, 2 UK snowboarders were featured extensively - Jenny Jones who has 3 X Games golds(!!!) and is a realistic medal hope for the next Winter Olympics and Billy Morgan who recently landed the first backside triple rodeo ever (this means you go upside down 3 whole times, while spinning horizontally at the same time).Watch here if you are confused. So proud!!

Full info on the season is here: -http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/ski_sunday/8366920.stm

The Last Post (for 2011)

The last book read in 2011 was Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns).

This witty look at Mindy's life tells the often-funny story of how she got the amazing job of being a writer on the American version of The Office which is one of my favourite TV shows ever. Smart, funny and very warm, this book was a great way to end my literary explorations of 2011.

Other good things from 2011's cultural experiences include (but aren't limited to) - the Stag and Dagger Festival (Glasgow, May 2011), Yuck by Yuck, Bridesmaids, The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins and the Galleria Borghese, Rome and hellogiggles.com.

Edinburgh's secret spots for sparkle

There are plenty of interesting places to enjoy the festive season in Edinburgh if you are willing to explore a little.

Here are my top tips on how to discover Edinburgh’s festive sparkle.

Tree trimmings - Nestled in the West End Village in Stafford Street, Remus Interiors has a magical array of unusual decorations for your tree. A smart interior design shop, there are lots of displays to browse through until you find your must-have accessory.

Shopping heaven - For a charming alternative to the main drag, shoppers can scour the small, independent retailers of the Old Town. Here the shops are bursting with unusual gifts. For quirky accessories and artworks visit the Red Door Gallery on Victoria Street, for a unique selection of books try Analogue in its new home in Candlemaker Row and for some expert advice on hotly-tipped bands for 2012, pop into Avalanche Records.

Calming Christmas - If the bustle is becoming too much, St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile provides a perfect spot for some time out to gather your thoughts. The stunning stained glass and peaceful air will help restore equilibrium before heading out into the throng once more.

Festive food - Avoid the mass catering of the usual George Street haunts and opt for a cultural experience instead. The Scottish Café in the National Gallery complex at the Mound serves up first-class Scottish food in comfortable surroundings. At £24.95 for lunch, the prices are on a par with most other local venues. Best of all, there won’t be any office parties loudly doing Noddy Holder impressions. Unless it's me...