Five things you must do this week…

On The Rocks: Watch out for keen volunteers hawking free bags, programmes and arty postcards around the town, all promoting Scotland’s best arts festival taking place this week. Entirely student-run, highlights include performances of Sweet Charity and Julius Caesar, lots of student written pieces, a Ceilidh in the Castle, art exhibition, a’capella concert, film festival and of course the huge closer, Big Top Ball. Box office running from Our Story on Bell St, 2 – 5pm.

Close Encounters – Bringing Anthropology Home: Our dear University has been chosen to host this student-led Anthropology Conference this year, bringing two entire days filled with workshops, debates, undergrad paper presentation, films, exhibitions, and socials. Have a look at the programme here, an absolute must for any Anthro students, as well as anyone even a little bit interested in the world around us. The excitement begins on Thursday, and watch out for highlights such as the pub crawl and photo exhibition.

Pimms 2013 Tickets: The lovely ladies of Lumsden are busy preparing for their annual hotty totty event, and it’s named after an alcoholic beverage so we know it’s going to be good. This year, they’re channeling the swinging sixties at an all-new location with live bands, DJs and plenty of cucumber and mint. Get your tickets this Tuesday outside the library, £36 with free drinks included. Rule Britannia!

Holi 2013: Everybody’s favourite Hindu festival is being celebrated on Castle Sands this Saturday, with the Eastern Religions Soc inviting all religous denominations, genders and hair shades down to throw buckets of colour around. Dress in white to really see the effects, but remember your clothes will get ruined! Perhaps if we welcome the season in with enough power paint enthusiasm the sun might start shining a little more…

Our Story: I am, in fact, writing this from the afore-mentioned 12 Bell Street, the home of the latest cute little café to hit the town. Run by local hero Gillian Gamble and her husband Stephen, this creative little hub boasts a ridiculously hipster environment, complete with oversized teapots, interestingly shaped glass bottles, luggage labels and granny cake stands. This is THE place to pull up a chintzy armchair and write haikus on your typewriter, plus you can get a beautiful brew exclusively from the St Andrews Tea Company, fresh sandwiches, soups and homemade cake. Smell before you buy – the tea comes in flavours such as Spicy Apple Delight, Amaretto and Mint Chocolate. Nom.

image  © Holi 2013