Edinburgh cyclists may have more than their fair share of hills, wind and rain to contend with. But they do enjoy the advantage of an extensive off-road cycle path network considered to be among the best in the UK.

Last month the network gained an important new section, dubbed by some as its 'missing link', when the Rodney Street Tunnel to the north of the New Town area re-opened as a cycle path and walk way. The re-opening came forty years after trains stopped using the tunnel.

Edinburgh's most iconic concert hall has at last re-opened its doors to the public. The saucer-shaped roof of the Usher Hall is no longer hidden under scaffolding; earlier this month it emerged from its dust, tarpaulin and ladders. Just in time for the Edinburgh International Festival. Inside the Grade A-listed building are wonderful new facilities. Perhaps most notably, the vast spiral staircase that connects - for the first time - all the levels. The massive refurbishment project - not yet quite complete, as the Portakabins remaining outside can testify - is turning the well-loved Victorian building into a state-of-the-art facility for the 21st century.

The Edinburgh International Festival ended last night with a fantastic firework display over the city. Over 200,000 spectators braved the Edinburgh weather to see over 100,000 fireworks explode over the iconic Edinburgh Castle.

If you missed this years festival why not book for next year or see the next  firework display on Hogmanay. Many of the properties featured on www.letinedinburgh.co.uk have panaramic views over the city so why brave the cold when you could be sitting back in a beautiful lounge ,glass of champagne in hand, and do it in style. One such apartment A Merchiston apartment still has stunning views across the city landscape

http://www.letinedinburgh.co.uk/directory/properties/view/28474-a-merchiston-apartment

Nineteenth century painter Henry Raeburn may well be the man responsible for giving the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh its bohemian charm; Raeburn lived all his life in Stockbridge's cobbled streets, just north of where Edinburgh's Georgian New Town now stands, on the other side of the Waters of Leith, that for centuries separated the village from the city centre.

The first batch of Scotsman Fringe Firsts has been awarded. These prestigious awards help visitors narrow down a handful of the best shows to visit out of the many thousands taking place each August in the Edinburgh Fringe.

Article here in the Edinburgh Evening News saying it might be 2013 before the city's new tram network is up and running. If you're visiting Edinburgh, you can't have avoided noticing the city's streets are being ploughed up for the thousands of miles of cabling required for the new project.

Now it seems contractor disputes mean the £545m project may not be up and running for another four years. The network was originally meant to be ready next year. The eleven-mile route is meant to run from Newhaven, on the city's coastline, to Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Leith up to Princes Street then out to Haymarket and, from there, to Edinburgh Airport. However there is talk the route might be shortened because of spiralling costs. Should still be good to see Edinburgh with a state-of-the-art tram network.

Great to see Twitter being put to some good use with the launch of Edtwinge, a site that tracks tweets and provides information about which shows are worth checking out.

The project has had some great coverage on the BBC News website. Also worth checking out is FestBuzz which works on the same idea.

Luckily, Edinburgh festivals don't stop at the end of August. The 20th Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs from 23 October to 1st November - good news for anyone who fears withdrawal symptoms after the end of the Fringe and Festival in August.