About Tartan Week

Tartanweek.com edited by Magnus Orr and published by Momedia

Gaelic Exhibition opens Tartan Week at Ellis Island

Tartan Day on Ellis Island” – the nation’s largest Tartan Day celebration – returns for its 11 annual observance with the opening of “An Leabhar Mòr” (The Great Book of Gaelic.) The exhibition, organized and produced by Pròiseact nan Ealan, the Gaelic Arts Agency, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, opens on Sunday, March 31 and runs through Sunday, April 8. The exhibition celebrates the art and poetry of the Gaelic-speaking people of Scotland and Ireland. 
 “Tartan Day on Ellis Island” is produced by the Clan Currie Society – one of the country’s leading Scottish heritage organizations. 
Ellis Island
March 31 – April 8 
www.tartandayonellisisland.com
“An Leabhar Mòr” is the 21st-century equivalent of the Gaelic masterpiece, the “Book of Kells.” It brings together the work of more than 150 Gaelic poets, visual artists, and calligraphers. Scotland and Ireland share a mythology, a rich music tradition, languages and some very formative history. Irish Gaels, known as Scoti, invaded Scotland in the 5th century and gave it their name. 
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Scotland Unfiltered – distilling music, malt & fashion

Scotland Unfiltered is a special one-off fundraising event in association with 21st Century Kilts and Scots-based charity Developing World Health. Offering a unique take on Scotland’s diverse culture and heritage at one of New York’s most stylish venues, The Parlour Midtown, kilts and cocktail attire are requested for the opening champagne reception at 7.30pm followed by cocktails, malt whisky and beer tastings. There’s also a preview screening of cult Scottish feature film Electric Man and a special guest appearance by one of the hottest Scottish bands to emerge on the electro rock scene.

Brian Cox, the esteemed actor and Marshall for this year’s Tartan Parade is joining the celebrations as ambassador for the Charity and four-time award-winning personality Ross King will host a live auction to help raise funds for some of sub-Saharan Africa’s most vulnerable children affected by preventable neglected tropical diseases. It’s estimated that a sixth of the world’s population is affected by NTDs with 600,000 people, mostly school children, dying as a result. For under a dollar, the Charity can treat a child for up to a year against them through its Life Change Appeal.

Howie Nicholsby, founder of 21st Century Kilts will launch a bespoke Harris Tweed for the charity with a collection of kilts unveilled on the night. Scottish DJ James Thomas of Melange FM, one of Edinburgh’s flagship live music events, Melange Thursdays is also appearing.

Tickets on sale now for $50 per person. Book online via www.scotlandunfiltered.com. Limited availability.

Thursday 12 April 2012
The Parlour Midtown
247 W.30th St
New York 
(between 7th & 8th Ave)
7.30pm onwards

Join the Parade: over 1,000 signed up already!


Parade Route:  45th street to 55th street, Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas).
Formation areas: 44th Street and 45th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues
Form-up Time: 12:30
Parade Start: 2:00

Parade line of march (positions) will shortly be published.

Support for New York’s Famous Tartan Day Parade is gaining momentum with over 1,000 players and supporters registered so far! Bring your friends and family and fly the flag for Scotland along Sixth Avenue on the April 14th.

Parade Registration Form

Tickets are now on sale for the shindig of the year: the Stout Post Parade Parade Party – order your tickets here!

Pipes & Sticks on Route 66

A new Kickstarter campaign has been started by renowned documentary maker John McDonald. PIPES & STICKS ON ROUTE 66 will feature the 5 superstars from the pipe band world play their way across America.

Goodies available from supporters of the Kickstarter campaign include: event t-shirts, signed-postcards, Ezeedrone reeds, credit on film, Route 66 replica roadsign signed by players and more!

In April an all-star cast of bagpipers and drummers is taking to the road on a historic tour down Route 66, performing concerts and teaching workshops in what is being dubbed PIPES & STICKS ON ROUTE 66.  Pipers Stuart Liddell, Willie McCallum, and Angus MacColl and snare drummer Jim Kilpatrick, all from Scotland, are being joined by bass drummer and percussionist Mike Cole from Chicago.   Continue reading

From Scotland With Love: Scotland’s biggest fashion show is back!

Hot Scots and bold-faced names from Glasgow, Edinburgh, New York City, Los Angeles, London and around the globe will again take over Manhattan at the very high profile annual charity evening of Scottish fun and fashion. The team that created and brought you 9 years of successful fashion events is pleased to announce that their 10th Anniversary Show is now confirmed for Monday night, April 2, 2012 in New York City, helping kick off Tartan Week in the USA.

“From Scotland With Love” - highlights the special anniversary and it reflects the new partnerships, collaborations, beneficiaries and theme. It will still have the incredible line-up of celebrities and high profile individuals, but it will be an entirely new and different show with higher levels of couture, more live entertainment, and many surprises. The organizers assure us that when you leave this year’s show you will again will feel proud to be Scottish, and if you are not Scottish, you will wish  that you were!

The Honorary Chairmen and Hosts of this year’s show will include Sir Tom Hunter, the founder of the Hunter Foundation; Lord McConnell, the current head of the Cash for Kids charity and the longest serving First Minister in Scotland’s history; Ian Grabiner, COO of the Arcadia Group; Brian Cox, Scottish actor and Rector of the University of Dundee; Kevin McKidd, Scottish actor; Geoff Day, Senior Executive with Mercedes Benz USA  and many other distinguished Scots from both sides of the Atlantic.

Lord McConnell, Chairman of Clyde 1 and Cash for Kids, commented: “This incredible event shines a light on the Scottish fashion industry, but there is also a strong philanthropic side to it. This event raises funds for causes that are close to the hearts of the people of Scotland and I am delighted that this year Cash for Kids will benefit. The fun in New York will deliver happiness for vulnerable children in Scotland. Because all of the running costs are met by the Hunter Foundation, every single penny that is donated to the Cash for kids goes straight back to help change children’s lives for the better. I look forward to being part of this world class event and helping more Scots kids as a result”

Dr. Geoffrey Scott Carroll, the NYC-based Founder and Chairman of “From Scotland With Love” stated: “we are delighted to be working with Lord McConnell again on our charitable event. While First Minister,  he attended a number of our shows in both New York City and Los Angeles where he actively supported the Scottish textiles, fashion, and design industries”. Dr. Carroll continued, “we are anticipating that this year’s show will be the best ever. We will be taking a fresh and new approach to the subject and in addition to the good looking lads and lassies and stars that grace our runway, there will be new and bold initiatives which have been our trademark”.   Peter Morris, the co-host and Los Angeles-based Vice Chairmen of the previous Dressed to Kilt events stated; “ the goal of our efforts and our event has always been, and will remain, to promote Scotland as a country, its culture, its talent, creativity and innovation and the age old Scottish values of education, exploration and enlightenment. In these difficult economic times for so many people, we want to refocus our efforts so that the next generation of Scots get the opportunity to make their contributions to those areas and further Scotland’s reputation around the world”.

Robin Galbraith, Founder and Chairman of the Calzeat Group of Companies, a member of “The Scottish Textiles Group”  and also an Honorary Chairman of “From Scotland With Love” stated; “ There is no question that this annual event is a major asset for our industry which raises our profile in the USA and throughout the world. It is a unique global shop window for Scottish textiles proving once again that in addition to tradition and quality, we also have style. It is a great honour to be involved in this 10th anniversary year”.

For further information please visit: www.fromscotlandwithlove.net

Cash For Kids is an organization that makes a significant difference to thousands of sick and underprivileged children in Scottish communities and provides the neediest with a better and brighter future.

The Game of Kings: The Lewis Chessmen in New York

Don’t miss the opportunity to see one of the most significant archaeological discoveries ever made in Scotland: thirty four of the Lewis Chessmen are in New York!

Discovered in early 1831 in a sand bank at Uig Bay, on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, as part of a hoard of walrus ivory; they are some of the largest and finest group of medieval chessmen to survive.  Continue reading

The Walkers Family – Over a Century of Classic Shortbread

The Walkers story begins over a hundred years ago in 1898, when the twenty-one year old Joseph Walker opened the doors of his own bakery with a loan of £50 and the dream of making the finest shortbread in the World. In the first year of business, Joseph used every spare moment to perfect his shortbread recipe, and it was time well spent. Soon, shooting parties from the local estates were making detours to Joseph’s bakery.

As his fame spread, and demand increased for his quality shortbread, Joseph took the first steps to expanding the business by moving to a larger shop in the Speyside village of Aberlour and investing in a horse and cart to deliver his baking further afield.

114 years later, the company is a highly respected international bakery under the guidance of the third and fourth generation of Walkers. The founder’s grandchildren and great grandchildren. The original retail shop is still in operation today. The emphasis now, as it was over a century ago, is in producing the very best quality baked goods, using the freshest and finest quality natural ingredients available.

Walkers shortbread is enjoyed in over 80 countries and have helped the family company win the coveted Exporter of the Year Award from Food from Britain Award a record four times and three Queen’s Awards for Export Achievement.

Today, Joseph would be proud to know that his great grandchildren are carrying on the family tradition and are now the fourth generation of Walkers to make ‘The world’s classic pure butter shortbread’.

Visit www.walkersus.com for an exclusive offer to visitors to this site. Use coupon code TARTAN2012 for 20% Off Walkers Shortbread! Sale items excluded. Expires April 30th 2012.

What a glorious sight: GPS enabled Burns app launched on the bard’s birthday

Robert Burns

A new app is launched today on iTunes dedicated to Scotland’s famous poet, Robert Burns. The app presents the life and work of Robert Burns in a new context and has been divided into five main sections: Quotes, Locations, Works, Timeline and Characters. Together they provide a great resource to discover more about Robert Burns.

• Find out quotes for different occasions.
• Discover the nearest Burns’ landmarks, wherever you are in the World.
• Have some of Burns greatest works at your fingertips!
• Use the timeline to find key dates.
• Learn more about the characters in Burns’ life and works.
• The Robert Burns app is an ongoing project with new content added on a regular basis.

The app was developed by Momedia and a number of Burns fans – it is their ambition over time to include every significant location associated with Burns in order to provide a valuable resource for enthusiasts seeking to explore where the poet and his friends and family played out their lives”. All feedback and insight greatly appreciated.

Special thanks: Robert Brown, former curator of Irvine Robert Burns Museum for helping compile content for this guide. Grace Brown for work compiling information on characters.

The app can be found on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/robert-burns/id489279949?mt=8