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LANs Top 100 Squares series has been inspired by the recent events in Cairo and Taksim Square.   These current demonstrations show the world the power of people and the power of public space. As such, public squares or plazas are the centre of the urban world and of huge resonance in our daily lives. Whilst the two above events have been on a very serious note, public spaces also provide enjoyment for the everyday individual. What better way to celebrate life, freedom and city life than in a festival?   So read on to see ten of the best festival squares…. 10. Bristo Square, Edinburgh, Scotland Bristo Square, Edinburgh, Scotland Although the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival is dotted around the city, it would be fair to say that Bristo Square is the hub, with the adjacent George Square forming a hybrid festival square. Situated in the centre of Edinburgh Old Town and surrounded by three venues – the magnificent Teviot House, the grandiose McEwan Hall and the ...

By idcrome Sorry for the absence eCoolers. We've had some IMPORTANT things to take care of here in the Compound over the past week or so and that's kept us from blogging as faithfully as we'd like. But, we're back and we're bad! So stay tuned for some Rome ultra-coolness over the course of the next few weeks. We're kicking off our Summer Coolfest with some sand sculptures from Jesolo Lido, a city near Venice on the east coast of the boot-shaped peninsula. Seems that Jesolo Lido has a thematic sand sculpture festival each year and that this summer they've asked a team of professional sand sculpture artists to illustrate Dante's Inferno (note to Compounders: possible alternative career). In particular, artists were asked to take their inspiration from verses 1-9 of Canto III of the Inferno , words that Dante reads as he stands at the edge of the world of the damned souls: Through me is the way into the woeful city; through me is the way into eterna...