Local Round-up: Furniture maker carves out victory

A FORMER student at the Chippendale International School of Furniture in East Lothian has won the Best Student Design Award 2010 from the Scottish Furniture Makers' Association.

Alasdair Easton won the prize for his dark, fumed oak chair with intersecting arcs and subtle, sycamore pinstripe running through the arms and legs.

The prize includes the right to exhibit at the SFMA's prestigious New Scottish Furniture show in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Drink in a bit of improv

Comedy group, To Be Continued, will perform at the Canons' Gait pub in Canongate on Thursday.

The group perform improv like that seen on TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway?

The night begins at 8pm, tickets are 5/4, with two for one available from www.tbcimprov.co.uk

Children's day kicks off Muslim culture festival

A FESTIVAL celebrating the culture, traditions, writing and history of Muslim people will be held in Edinburgh this month.

Taught by the Pen is organised by Radio Ramadan Edinburgh and aims to bring together people from different communities in the Capital. It begins with a children's day at the Nelson Hall, MacDonald Road Library, with storyteller Michael Williams, from 2pm on February 19. The festival runs until February 27. For the full programme see www.radioramadanedinburgh.com.

DJ's fresh spin on lecturing

AN Australian DJ and broadcaster is to give a lecture in the Capital.

The Disco Lecture with The Schuff will take place at the Bongo Club next Sunday, from 7pm to 10pm.

There will also be a post-lecture disco club night.

The event is part of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature campaign.

Burger staff have appetite for learning

FORTY-FIVE McDonald's staff in Edinburgh have completed an apprenticeship programme as part of the fast food giant's investment in local people.

They are among the first in the country to complete the qualification.

The qualification, which is equivalent to five GCSEs, sits in the middle of the McDonald's learning ladder, which ranges from work experience for 16-year-old students to a foundation degree in managing business operations.