Fork Fest is back!

Local restaurants are offering up special menus and deals to get you out of the usual chains and into something just a little different. It’s a great way to try out a new restaurant you’ve been thinking about eating at, or have heard about recently. It’s also a nice way for me to pretend I’m fancy and eat somewhere like the Blue Pear. It’s also a reason to head back to old favourites like the Blue Plate Diner and Wild Tangerine.

All of the restaurants involved (most are downtown or in Old Strathcona) have their Fork Fest lunch and dinner menus online at the Live Local Alberta site.

Here are the restaurants (all links take you to the Fork Fest menus):

• d’Lish Urban Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Royal Coach Dining Room (at the Chateau Louis Hotel)
• Sabor Divino
• Leva Cappuccino Bar
• Red Ox Inn
• The Blue Plate Diner
• Wild Tangerine
• The Blue Pear Restaurant
• Accent European Lounge
• Moriarty’s Bistro and Wine Bar
• Jack’s Grill
• Von’s Steak House & Oyster Bar

Which ones do you want to hit up?

Summer 2011′s Fork Fest runs until this Thursday (July 21), then takes a few days off, and July 24-28.

So, if you have been around here for a while you know we enjoy a coffee or seven. And you probably know some of the best coffee and conversation in Edmonton is found at Luzzara Coffee Bar, on Whyte Avenue – specifically, East Whyte.

But owner Sarah (who until recently was the only employee) is closing up shop after the building’s owners decided to try and rent out the old Top Gear Scooters AND Luzzara space together. It’s going to be East Whyte’s loss. And, really, Twitter’s loss. Since anyone on Twitter knows it’s the place to grab a free cookie on Friday and meet folks offline.

We’re going to miss Luzzara. So, we’ll be there, live, from noon until 1pm. Chat with us live at Livestream or on Twitter. Then get down there for a great coffee before it’s gone for good (at 4pm).

Oh, and you can watch us live below.

Many of us know and love Whyte Avenue’s Luzzara Coffee Bar.

So obviously, it was really a buzzkill when Sarah announced earlier this month that she would be closing up shop. The role both she and Luzzara have played in revitalizing East Whyte Avenue is not to be understated. Certainly, Sarah is on to bigger and better things – but until then, we want to commemorate the role of this beloved coffee shop in our community. So we’re going to do a one hour live webcast from Luzzara on its last day of operation (on our Livestream Channel, from noon-1 pm).

Here’s where we need your assistance. We’ll happily provide the livecast – but we’d like you to take a second and contribute a little something. Do you know Sarah? Did you frequent Luzzara? Will you miss it being gone? Did you always plan to go there but never get the chance? Take a second, flip on your webcam and record a message (you can send large files through YouSendIt.com) – or send a drawing, a letter, an animated gif – perhaps compose an original song, etch a piece of glass, perform a monologue, create a scrapbook or carve something from sandstone. Basically, just help us fill an hour of time, and help us thank Sarah for providing us with so much excellent coffee and conversation.

We expect this finale to rival all the greats – Lost, Cheers, So You Think You Can Dance Canada 2010 – and we can’t do it without you. Send your submissions to submit@theedmontonian.com, or come down to Luzzara at noon this Sunday to be on our show.

Summer is the time to get out and walk around Edmonton.

I’m all about the random walk. The kind where you end up seeing stuff you didn’t know was down the street, or in a nearby park, or in Edmonton at all. But I can enjoy a walk with purpose, or destination, as much as the next walker.

Have you checked out the Walkable Edmonton maps? They’re handy little maps that show you what to watch for, and check out, in a number of neighborhoods. Put together with neighborhoods groups and organization, they give you a good idea of where to go and what to look at.

There are a dozen maps, covering ground in more than 40 neighborhoods.

Speaking of walking…I’m not sure if I’m walking way more than shoes are made for, buying crappy shoes, or have weird feet that simply destroy shoes in a short period of time, but I find I’ve got to buy new shoes every year or two.

Am I doing something wrong? Am I a walking machine? Do I just need to buy more expensive shoes that can hold up to feet that don’t just sit on gas pedals and couches?

What are the best spots in Edmonton to get high-quality shoes that are going to stand up to me walking through all of those maps?

There are few things funnier than putting on wigs and hats and trying to look ridiculous.

Edmonton-based salon EvelineCharles is making both dreams come true.

The chain of salons has a new iPhone app that acts a virtual stylist. And they know you and I will also use it to make hilarious Facebook profile pictures. (They are totally cool with the app being used for entertainment purposes!)

Once you download the app you can plug in any photo of yourself and try out a number of hairstyles. If you find one you like you can use the app to find the nearest EvelineCharles, where they will be ready to provide you with any of the looks in the app, and even book a hair appointment right from your phone (or iPad). You can also show off your photos at an EC salon to receive freebies.

You can also tweet, e-mail, and share photos of yourself on Facebook from the app, so there’s no delay in letting everyone know you look good.

Now I’m just waiting for the next update of hairstyles…

(Yes, I am fully aware, this one’s really more for the ladies.)