April 2007 sees the 9th Tartan Week - a celebration of all things Scottish to take place each year in New York City and across the USA. For details of all the events, please go to http://www.tartanweekny.com/

This year promises to be one of the biggest and best to date, showcasing all aspects of Scottish culture and promoting Scotland.

In New York, an ambitious programme of events is taking place to showcase Scotland's arts, culture, sport, history, business and musical prowess. There is something to appeal to everyone - from kids stuff at the Scotland Run to the intellectual theatre piece 'Did you used to be R. D. Laing?'. And there's the fantastic Scottish Village at Grand Central - if you are passing through, spare a few minutes to visit us and get your Scottish fix!

Here's a little taste of what's on:

DID YOU USED TO BE R.D. LAING?

The compassionate Scottish psyche opens up to New York City. From March 30-April 7

SILVER OF THE STARS

Scottish celebrities and Scottish silversmiths created a striking silverware collection centred around the theme of 'a drink with a friend.' The exhibition displays them all, from Sean Connery's traditional 'quaich' to zany Billy Connolly's 'tricycle teapot' and Ewan McGregor's 'chunky coffee set', alongside personal photos and stories from each of the "stars".

THE SCOTLAND RUN 10K - WIN A TRIP TO SCOTLAND Simply run the 10k fastest! 7000 runners, music, pipers and your chance to contribute to the largest 'Strip the Willow' dance to take place outwith Scotland all need your support.

DRESSED TO KILT

Celebrate Scottish fashion with a catwalk show of traditional and highly contemporary kilts - from leather kilts to cashmere.

JOHN PAUL JONES - AMERICA'S HERO, SCOTLAND'S PIRATE An expert from the John Paul Jones Cottage Museum in Dumfries, Scotland, recounts tales of the famous seafarer's boyhood and life.

SCOTLAND WITHIN THE BRITISH MEMORIAL GARDEN A free outdoor community concert of Scottish music celebrating the nearby British Memorial Garden. Featured performers include Scottish musicians' Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Pipe Band and violinist Laura McGhee.

WE-ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH EVENT IN NEW YORK A business event where international high growth entrepreneurs share knowledge and experiences. Richard Tait, the founder of Cranium, is one of the keynote speakers.

JOHN MUIR - THE ORIGINAL 'WILD CHILD' AND HIS LEGACY Learn about Muir's Scottish boyhood days and what inspired him to establish the world's first national park system.

SCOTLAND ROCKS NEW YORK

Sons and Daughters and 1990s - with DJ sets from trailblazers of the Scottish music scene, Belle and Sebastian and Mogwai. Local support from Nicole Atkins and The Sea.

THE ISLAND TAPES - A NEW WAY TO A NEW WORLD An evocative blend of music, poetry, archive film and audio clips exploring emigration and the lives of Scottish islanders in the mid 20th Century.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GEORGE ORWELL: THE ISLE OF JURA WRITER RETREAT Hear the chosen US recipient for the 2007 retreat, Philip Gourevitch, writer and editor of The Paris Review, discuss his work, and what George Orwell and Jura will mean to him, with John Freeman, President of the National Book Critics Circle.

WHISKY LIVE!

A Tartan Week favourite - a cornucopia of whisky to delight all varieties of whisky lovers - there is plenty going on to get this Scottish party started.

NEW SCOTLAND NEW YORK LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY An evening of multicultural music - with toe-tapping fiddle music from Laura McGhee, the brothers behind Tigerstyle bring their inimitable form of Bhangra to one of New York's revered music venues. The hip beats of DJ Mash end the night.

VICKI FEAVER, KATHLEEN JAMIE AND DON PATERSON: POETRY FROM SCOTLAND A rare chance for New York to hear three of Scotland's most accomplished, award-winning poets.

THE MUSEUM OF PIPING - OVER THE ISLES TO AMERICA Hear the fascinating tales of pipers who left Scotland for the US including one who piped for Davy Crockett and another who created a pipe band with Native American girls.

TARTAN DAY ON ELLIS ISLAND

A celebratory "family friendly" heritage day featuring Scottish pipes and drums, storytelling and dance.

RASH

Scottish born playwright Jenni Wolfson wrote and stars in this solo performance, which chronicles her incredible experiences in war-torn Rwanda. The light touch of Scottish humour cleverly invites the audience in on this heart-rending tale.

ANDREW O'HAGAN AND JAMES ROBERTSON WITH COLUM MCCANN Both Andrew O'Hagan and James Robertson were recently longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction with their latest novels 'Be Near Me' and 'The Testament of Gideon Mack'. Don't miss this lively discussion with these charismatic and intelligent writers.

ALLAN GUTHRIE, DENISE MINA AND IAN RANKIN: TARTAN NOIR / SCOTTISH CRIME FICTION Allan Guthrie, Denise Mina and Ian Rankin are three of the most exciting voices in crime fiction today. Come to this panel event to hear them talk about 'Tartan Noir' and the Scottish crime writing perspective.

UPSTAIRS AT THE SQUARE WITH AIDAN MOFFAT AND IAN RANKIN Tonight marks the US launch of Ian Rankin's new book 'The Naming of the Dead' and showcases the unique new album, 'Ballads of the Book' - a collaboration between Scotland's leading writers and musicians - including Rankin and Aidan Moffat.

TARTAN DAY ****TAIL RECEPTION

Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York salutes National Tartan Day with a ****tail reception starting at five-thirty. Reservations are required and limited. Please call 212-223-4248 for details or e-mail office@standrewsny.org. Business attire or ****tail (jacket and tie required for gentlemen) $50.

SECOND ANNUAL TARTAN ARMY FOOTBALL MATCH Last year's inaugural match was a great success with the NYC-based Scots hammering the visiting Scots 4-2. Players wanted!

KIRKIN OF THE TARTAN 10AM

This non-denominational event will be followed by a brunch in the Church Hall.

TARTAN DAY PARADE - 6TH AVENUE 2PM

Join in the celebration of Tartan Week - come and wave the saltire flag and marvel at the spectacle of pipers and drummers parading on Manhattan's Sixth Avenue. An annual event since the first Tartan Day in 1999, this year's Parade promises to be bigger and better than ever.

THE KGB BAR 7-8PM

Tonight is a chance to meet two of Scotland's newest, and brightest, literary stars reading from and discussing their acclaimed debut novels - McNay's bitingly funny thriller, 'Fresh' and Miller's thought provoking, and powerful, 'Demo'.

For further details, please go to http://www.tartanweekny.com/