Gregg Beever wants to do, and don’t, you
Good news Edmonton, it’s March!
Christmas is over and St. Valentine has packed his chalky candy hearts away for another year, meaning a flood of suddenly singles will soon be prowling the city’s nightlife looking for love.
Wait…what?
I’ll bet that’s what you are thinking, but lets face it, Edmonton, this is time of year when a lot of people become single. We’ve all been there, no one wants to dump their boyfriend or girlfriend before Christmas, or on Valentine’s Day, so we gut it out. Sure, it’s cowardly, but breaking up is hard; we can hardly be blamed for not wanting to make it any harder. So we wait.
Then in late February – BLAM! – pull the trigger, execution style!
So to prep you for Edmonton’s forthcoming 2010 spring singles season I’ve compiled a list of dating dos and don’ts. Once you’re finished reading I guarantee you will be ready to sow your wild oats, or whatever bad prairie analogy you want to use. (more…)
World Class? Expo 2017 and growing Edmonton smarter
(Editor’s note: This post was sparked by debate about smart growth, infrastructure investment and whether a World’s Fair is needed to convince the population to spend the money.)
We’ve seen our economic growth in the West spawn climate change, resource depletion, social unrest, terrorism and global poverty via our consumption over the last century. It’s now clear that if we are to survive the next 100 years, we need major course correction by 2020, as the East is following our fossil fuel footsteps.
With over half the world’s population now booming in urban areas, the solutions to our global problems will be found and forged locally through smarter land-use and mass transit. The free market cannot address our problems alone, as the answers lay beyond the bottom lines of businesses who profit from the plights they’ve provided us. Broader, bolder leadership from governments is needed worldwide to reduce footprints and conserve energy, which is to say, doing more with less.
It’s in this context that Edmonton’s proposed EXPO 2017 theme, Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet, while well intentioned, seems vague and slightly off the mark.
By sharpening the focus on sharing solutions, we could issue a five-year challenge in 2012 to nearly five hundred cities with populations of more than one-million, inviting them to bring delegations of engineers, bureaucrats and politicians to showcase their greenest projects and proposals.
Edmonton would then become an energetic nexus of cutting edge urban planning in the summer of 2017, when we would again be a logical host for the ICLEI World Congress, as well as other events like the World Social Forum. It’s against this backdrop that broader discussions of renewable energy, scientific research, technological innovation, as well as progressive provincial and national policy-making should take place. (more…)
Help a fellow citizen, a public servant
(Reprinted with permission from Adam at The Unknown Studio.)
I’m sure many Edmontonians heard and were disgusted by the vicious, unprovoked attack on a City bus driver this week. According to passenger accounts, someone boarded the bus, got miffed that the driver wouldn’t allow him to ride unless he paid, and even when passengers fronted this guy the change to ride, he started punching the driver, dragging him off the bus and mercilessly beating him.
When I heard this story, I felt sick to my stomach. Of course it was a random act of violence. That’s what made it so terrifying.
Thankfully, as City Councilor Don Iveson pointed out in a recent tweet, the alleged perpetrator was apprehended:
“An ETS bus operator was assaulted very seriously this morning. Police caught the guy. Assholes beware, buses have cameras http://is.gd/5bMXA“
But now an Edmonton-area family has to worry about a father and brother who did nothing but his job. I asked the City of Edmonton on Twitter if there was somewhere people could donate money to help the family out. Hey, it’s the season of giving, and I don’t know about you but if my dad were in a condition like that I would be so grateful to have the community rally behind me and help out.
That’s what it means to be part of a society. Helping others.
The City responded this afternoon:
“Trust fund has been established @ River City Credit Union (any branch) for ppl who wish to donate to driver Tom Bregg’s recovery.”
I know it’s not a whole pile of cash, but I’m going to be donating $50 to this fund, and hopefully Tom Bregg’s family will have one or two less things to worry about this holiday season.
I challenge each and everyone of you readers out there to throw some money toward the Bregg family as well. Pledge your donation in the comments, and get to any River City Credit Union branch and donate to the fund.
And stay safe out there, everyone.
Nuclear Power: Not green but not that scary
By Gregg Beever
It’s winter, isn’t it? Kind of tough to tell these days.
Winter brings shorter days and shorter days mean the lights stay on longer. Our winter heating bills double as we jack the thermostat in an effort to combat hypothermia. It’s the time of year our already rabid consumption of energy becomes insanely intense.
Edmonton, like many other city around the globe, is growing along with its insatiable energy needs. So how is Edmonton and the rest of Alberta going to fuel the future?
Before you answer, remember, we have to do it cleanly and greenly. You know, that whole global warming thing.
A few months back I was at the Greyhound Bus Station on a delivery errand. As my package was being processed a young woman cycled up to the door carrying several large, bound stacks of paper. Dressed in earthy tones she had natural, mid-length hair, wore no obvious make-up and was equipped with the kind of proper cycling gear that suggested her bike was her main mode of transport. In short, she was the type of girl that makes my hippy heart flutter.
It came as no surprise, then, that the stacks she placed on the conveyor belt beside me were posters for an environmental advocacy group. The poster read “A Truly Green Future…Does Not Include Nuclear Power,” a slogan belonging to the Coalition for a Nuclear Free Alberta (CNFA).
It occurred to me, as I was driving home, that I should have picked her brain about it. Why should Alberta be nuclear free? What makes nuclear power not “truly green?” Would that girl have given me her phone number?
These were all questions that demanded answers. Since I’ll never get the answer for that last one, I’ll have settle for answering the first two. (more…)
DEDfest: Thrills, chills, laughter and booze make for a great night!
It is that time of year again. Halloween is right around the corner. Horror films are beginning to take over the cinema world for a few weeks and if you live in a city big enough, you probably have a horror film festival that you could attend. Some are world famous, others, not so much. Last Friday night I attended DEDfest (Day 2 of 4), Edmonton, Alberta’s horror film festival. To be fair, this is the first year of the festival, although it is run by some of the same group that ran last year’s Deadmonton festival.
The Friday showing consisted of two big showings: Neighbor and Return of the Living Dead. It is the first time since 1985 that Return of the Living Dead has been seen in Canada on 35MM. Like many horror fests, short films were spread throughout the two marquee films. Here is a quick review for each film I saw that night.
To get the crowd in the laughing mood, Clowning Around was unleashed on us. It was a terrible looking trailer that really just played off the title of the film, essentially it was just like the faux trailer Don’t, in front of the Grindhouse double feature. I am still not sure if this is an actual film or just a trailer made for laughs.
Next up was the short film, Thirsty, based on a Joe Knetter story. It was directed by Andrew Kasch and stars Wrong Turn 2 director Joe Lynch, Michael Bailey Smith (The Hills Have Eyes) and Tiffany Shepis (a scream queen herself of many horror films!). Lynch is on a cross-country drive when he starts to crave a frozen slushy. His destiny seems to not want him to get his slushy, as it keeps providing complications attempting to thwart his slushy efforts. This is full of laughs from the start and was one of the best shorts at the festival.
Next up was a few trailers of older films, Savage Streets, Punk Rock and another I cannot recall. These looked terrible but the Linda Blair exploitation/revenge flick Savage Streets is supposed to be quite good.
Every year Adam Green makes a Halloween short film. The Tiffany Problem, King in the Box and last years The Tivo are fantastic. This year’s film is Jack Chop. It is a real short short, running just over two and a half minutes, but it is so entertaining. Jack Chop is just a parody of the Slap Chop infomercial but I can say I was laughing (and so was most of the audience) for the entire two and a half minutes. Take a gander at it here!
Finally we reached our first feature film, the debut (at least to Edmonton) of Neighbor. This movie prides itself, with the tag on one of the posters, as the film that “caused its own editor to vomit.” (more…)
Save Local TV. No, Save Local Cable. Or the CRTC?
This really has nothing to do with the story.
By Gregg Beever
Fall is upon Edmonton and with it the onset of a brand new season of television. What a great time of year to plunk yourself down in front of your TV! The days are getting short, it’s cold outside, your couch is warm and inviting, it’s the perfect occasion for a little escapism.
Every time I turn to bask in TV’s warming glow, however, I get caught in a shouting match between Canadian broadcasters and the cable and satellite TV providers. You’ve probably witnessed yourself the Local TV Matters spots where a little wormy guy talks to people (read: actors) on the street about the state of local television programming.
The conversation goes something like this:
“Did you know that cable and satellite providers hate local television and want to drive it out of business?”
“No, that’s horseshit!”
“They also said they slept with your Grandmother.”
“Gram gram?”
You get more of the same when the cable providers step up to the soap box, wailing about an unforgivable tax on TV.
I decided that neither ad campaign was helping me, in any way, understand the issue. If the Canadian broadcasters and cable providers ran dueling campaigns comprised entirely of wet fart noises I would be just as informed. That being the case, I thought I’d try and figure it out with the best investigative journalism Google could provide. (more…)
Fashion’s a stranger
We’ve had some great help with Edmonton Fashion Week from two fashion experts (here and here), both showing off their designs this week.
Now, Gregg Beever channels my own lack of fashion sense and looks for some really old school inspiration.
Hey again, Edmonton, what’s the haps?
Abbreviating words like “happening” signifies what a hip and cool dude I am. As such a “with it” fellow I have my finger placed firmly on the cultural pulse of the city.
How do I manage to keep myself so current? Why I read the edmontonian of course, Edmonton’s only online magazine that delivers hard hitting journalism written by handsome, sexy authors. Thanks to the edmontonian, I know that this week is Fashion Week in E-town.
Admittedly, I’m never all that up to date on fashion. Remember at the turn of the century when That 70’s Show was at it’s peak, Ashton Kutcher wasn’t (creepily) married to Demi Moore and Topher Grace wasn’t helping to ruin Spider-man? There was this brief revival of 70’s fashion. I was the guy in 2005 decked out in bell bottoms and dangerously wide collars going “this is still cool, right?”
If a lesson is to be learned, it is that fashion is cyclical, sooner or later everything that was old is new again. It creates a frightening precedent. Some fashions don’t deserve another go around. (more…)
Edmonton Fashion Week – Cottage Industry
A first-person look at Edmonton Fashion Week. By new fashionista Lauren MacDonald
I am really just a baby when it comes to this industry. I am scrambling to learn as much as possible, and get my career started while I am still in school.
Lately I have given up my social life in exchange for long nights gathering meters of bias cut chiffon ruffles. Parties and pubs have been replaced with drafting and draping, cutting and sewing, snipping threads and putting zippers into the last few pieces.
I have really enjoyed every moment of it though, and after 2 and 1/2 months, dozens of meters of fabric and trim, and several hundred cups of coffee the collection is just about finished.
(Photo: Erika Atkey)
This season I concentrated on using a lot of texture, in laces, velvets, fine silks and faux leathers. The richness of the fabrics is contrasted by the colour palette which I left fairly neutral, featuring mostly blacks, greys, creams, and browns, with pops of burgundy and red to spice it up a bit.
My inspiration came from a variety of different places, I accidentally ended up referencing the 1950’s a lot, I like the silhouettes of that decade, and so they managed slip into the collection. I also kind of did my own version of some classics that have been in style for a while. There are leggings, but made of velvet and quilted pleather, pencil skirts with fringe, ruffles, and studs (not all in the same one, it’s not THAT textured), and some classically cut cocktail dresses with extra low backs, bows, or interesting fabrics like sheers.
I also collaborated with JEX jewelry for the collection. The lovely Miss Amanda Jex did some beautiful original pieces to correspond with the garments, and we worked together on some head pieces as well.
I am excited to show at fashion week for the first time. It provides a really great opportunity for young designers to show their lines and gain industry experience. It also provides a great venue for local musicians as well. On Wednesday, local singer/songwriter Sans Aids will be playing, as the models walk.
Hopefully fashion week will help me reach a larger market than I otherwise would, and get people interested in my brand. I am hoping to sell the majority of the clothes on my blog, but if I don’t at least I will have a killer fall wardrobe.
What’s coming to Gariepy Block?
[Have I told you guys how much we love it when we get guest bloggers? And not just because it means we get to play Brickbreaker for like 8 extra minutes instead of working. Don't get me wrong, that's great - but it's so cool to see what you guys have to say. It's especially cool when someone like our buddy Mack D. Male contributes because, as he's proven here, he's quite the super sleuth. You're a regular Magnum P.I., Sir! - sally]
By Mack D. Male
If you’ve been downtown near Jasper Avenue and 100th Street lately, you may have noticed the signs – something is coming this fall:
I’ve done some sleuthing online, and I have some information to share. But first, it’s time for a history lesson!
The building in question is known as Gariepy Block. Here’s what the Edmonton Historical Board plaque near the front door says:
In 1893 Joseph H. Gariepy built his first frame building here at the northwest corner of Jasper Avenue and McDougall Avenue (100 Street). Later a three-story brick building was added just west of it. The telephone exchange was located on the third floor of this latter building. The C.N.R. also had the property under lease for a number of years. The Gariepy and Lessard Store is remembered as one of the outfitters that supplied Klondikers for the 1897-1898 Gold Rush. The block was replaced by this existing building in 1961.
Joseph Gariepy went on to play a prominent role in Edmonton’s history. He was a founding member and president of the Edmonton Board of Trade, and served as an Alderman on Edmonton Town Council in 1896. He died on July 6, 1927.
Now then, what’s launching this fall? Is it something that Joseph Gariepy would have been proud of? (more…)
THE UGLY TRUTH with Cherie Bucy
Got problemz? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The Ugly Truth is a new advice segment we’re featuring, written by a very good friend of mine who can find top notch answers to even the most difficult questions. We want you to write in or tweet with your questions about anything; dating, welding, geography, performing minor surgery, escaping criminal prosecution….you name it, Cherie Bucy* can help you with it.
*Not her real name. Uh d-uh.
dear cherie,
I wish more people in edmonton would read my multi-authour web log. What should I do?
signed,
the schmedmonschmonian.
Dear schmedmonschmonian,
The ugly truth is…that i don’t know the first thing about blogging. So, to help you with your quest, I employed an age-old, time-honored method for finding much-needed information: I Googled it.
See? Real website.
Now, admittedly, I became a little distracted when Google suggested similar searches, like ‘Successful Blonds’ and I discovered that there is an ENTIRE WEBSITE dedicated to this subject. However, eventually i got down to business and found a couple blog articles you might find helpful. they are:
http://www.avivadirectory.com/successful-blog-launch/
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/06/10/successful-blogging/
Ironically, the first link, about how to launch a successful blog, had crashed by the time I sat down to write this. But when I first found it, it worked for several whole minutes, and though it seemed a little technical for me, it may be useful for your purposes.
Understand, I’m a little old school and have yet to completely embrace the wonderful world of the internet (to drive my point home, I should tell you that i still use the yellow pages…yes, the paper ones).
Guest Blogger: Derek Clayton, ‘the dedmontonian’
[We're thrilled to bits to welcome our very first guest blogger to the edmontonian! We hope to do this weekly, so if you're a blogger and want to write something for us, send an email. Since not all posts are for all people (read=Sally is scared senseless of horror movies), we're rating this post 18A for hilariously racy humour and references to very scary movies...which is undoubtedly just going to make you animals want to read it all the more.]
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Hello fellow freaks and sicko-fants.
The Dedmontonian here, guest-blogging on the edmontonian! Thanks to Sally and Jeff for the chance to spill my twisted seed on yet another online avenue foolish enough to give me a soapbox.
As you probably guessed by my lame attempt at Cryptkeeper-ish puns, I’m a horror fan. Back before George Lucas stole my attention (and my parents’ wallets) with the “star war”, I was a little ghoul delighting in the creepier side of life. I had my little Mego Frankenstein and Dracula on me at all times. I loved Hilarious House of Frightenstein and thought the Gruesomes were the best thing about the Flintstones. I didn’t want to be in the Scooby Gang; I wanted to be the crazy old guy in the glow-in-the-dark pirate costume chasing those meddling kids around the harbour.
And this is where I tell you a bit about my plans for world (or at least civic) domination. I’m promoter/programmer/organizer of DEDfest: Hellberta’s Horror Festival. Our goal, besides bringing the best new independent horror movies to Edmonton’s movie screens, is to champion our city as the “horror capital of Canada”. And if you dig around in Edmonton’s past, you’ll find we’ve been quite the little hub horror film and TV shows over the years. (more…)
