#MackAttack Headlines
Happy Twitter Birthday to Edmonton’s first tweeter, Mack Male! Five years I go I wasn’t even on Facebook.
Now on with the news!
We were talking yesterday about a push to lock up your car.
All that rain slowed down road construction. Thanks a lot, rain.
My guess is that plan B to find $100-million for the downtown arena involves a whole lot of busking by Mayor Mandel. Meanwhile…at our current arena…new seats may or may not happen…
David Staples makes a good point in his latest column in favour of government money for a downtown arena. The Alberta government shouldn’t put so much money into horse racing. (I’m pretty sure that was his point, anyway.)
Ethan Allen is moving downtown. Wait. After a downtown arena is built, right?
No more downtown arena after the jump. I promise. (more…)
Monday Requires Comedy
Why, yes, that is a turtle eating mashed potatoes.
The week is only beginning, so we can all use a few chuckles to get through this. (Even if the Easter Bunny is making this a short work week for us all.)
So, you might want to mosey on over to Wunderbar this evening (say about 8pm) for a night of laughter from some Edmonton funnymen funny men funny guys comedians.
A lovely lineup of hilarity awaits you at the “Delicatessen of Jokes and General Funnery,” including Jon Mick, and Highwire Films’ Arlen Konopacki and Mike Robertson. And Wunderbar is home to Whyte Avenue’s finest beer selection.
If that combination doesn’t cure your case of the Mondays, well, it’ll be Tuesday soon enough.
March Lamb Headlines
I guess we should be happy that March decided to come in and go out like a lamb. I still don’t trust Mother Nature thought…
The Katz Group, and Oilers, are trying to jack up support for a new downtown arena with videos played in Rexall Place. Remember when the Katz Group brought that video with Morgan Freeman narration to City Council? They sure love videos. I’m not sure about that giant yellow font though.
I wonder if anyone will create a response video…
Speaking of the arena…we hear more from City administration on how to make it happen what documentation and information will be going to city councillors next week. You know, April 6, when the mayor says make a decision, regardless of whether questions are answered or we have a clear idea of how to pay for Katz’s new arena.
Oh, and here’s two really rich guys talking about hockey.
Alright, enough of that arena for today. (more…)
Breakfast Beer
The newest Alley Kat beer, Three Bears Oatmeal Stout, was just tapped (as I write this) over at the Sugarbowl at the brewery.
Hurry!
If you don’t make it, you can pick up a big bottle (650 mL) for a limited time. Basically, I’m saying you need to hurry to get the good stuff. (But never drink and drive, that’s not hurrying, that’s dumb.)
Remember to watch the Alley Kat website and Twitter account to keep on top of all the special brews, beer nights, and good times.
Update: This post originally told you to go to the Sugarbowl. I have no idea why I did that. I’m better at maps than that, I think.
Update 2: If you went to the Sugarbowl last night, let us know. We’ll take you out for a beer.
Final February Headlines
It's so hard to read a newspaper with mitts on.
It’s cold. It’s been snowing. It’s Monday. So let’s start with a new place to grab a drink.
Good points in this Metro column, about asking the downtown arena questions in a proper order.
Speaking of arenas…Northlands hired someone to look at the downtown arena situation. While this paper doesn’t necessarily shoot down the idea of what the Katz Group is proposing for downtown Edmonton, it sure sets some contractual benchmarks that would likely reassure any worried taxpayers.
City Hall is trying to get better at listening. Really, they are.
It’s not always easy to figure out why a city has a lot of homicides.
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Since the provincial budget came down Thursday, there are a few spin-off stories from the weekend…The provincial government is spending the money need on an expensive breast cancer drug. It’s not going to spend as much money on immigration and teaching English though…teachers are worried that cuts will mean fewer teachers in September…
It’s tax time and you’re being warned not to donate to shifty charities or tax shelters.
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The Alberta 55 Plus Winter Games (sports for those over the age of 55) ended on a sombre note in St. Albert, after an athlete died.
Wanna help the Alberta government put together a new trail map?
Hey antiquers, Mildred’s is closing at the end of March, so get your shopping on.
Wunderbar
(Editor’s note: We love Wunderbar. Just thought you should know that.)
A lot of things are different at Wunderbar lately; a snazzy new website, slick new bench seating, a tasty new limited-run whiskey lager from our friends at Ambers Brewing. But the big change at the Whyte Ave. drinking hole, the one at the root of Wunderbar’s current popularity, are owners Levi Christensen, Chris Janke, and Craig Martell.
The three guys worked at another popular Edmonton bar for years before deciding to venture out on their own.
“We were like ‘We have an idea,’” explains Craig. “And everybody wants to open a bar, but not everyone has an idea.”
The idea in question? To create a bar that was community-based and thoroughly accessible to all.
“When people come here,” says Craig “[We’re] making them feel comfortable – making someone who doesn’t drink feel comfortable. You can come here and not have a beer and we’re okay with that. There’s not many bars in town where someone who doesn’t drink feels comfortable.” (more…)
December 17 Headlines
It’s not your imagination (or your blind anger at how your tax dollars are spent) the City of Edmonton isn’t getting the help it needs, from private snow removal experts (or, Mr. Plows), indeed they are behind in clearing streets.
We were talking, not too long ago, about the cost of winter tires keeping people from putting them on their cars. Edmonton police officers feel that.
The City wants you to steer clear of “bandit cabs.” They’ve got reminders on what a legitimate, licensed, taxi should have.
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The Journal’s rolling out its year-end interview with Mayor Stephen Mandel in chunks. Yesterday we heard about how he thinks the arena decision will be made in the spring. Today he’s talking about Northlands and the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation becoming one. (Which might just take Northlands out of the arena business, if you ask me.) David Staples has some of his own thoughts on the talk with Mandel.
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There’s a fight brewing between neighbours and the U of A, over its South Campus plans.
Outside of the city… (more…)
Snowmonton Headlines
Good morning to you, Edmonton.
Have you already dug out your driveway and sidewalk? It sounds like the main streets are in pretty good shape already. Side streets (the ones most of us live on) will probably take longer to clear after our snowstorm.
As I mentioned yesterday, I’m digging this snow. I was even checking out snowshoe rental options. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for a couple of winters. Any snowshoe spots in the city I should think about hitting?
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Over at his blog, Mack’s been going over the CRL. The Community Revitalization Levy is a tax the city may use on a downtown arena district. Mack’s got a good, straightforward look at just what a CRL is, where it came from, where it’s being used in Alberta (just Edmonton and Calgary), and he will finish up with how it might play into a new arena.
Speaking of that arena…over at SEE, Maurice Tougas seems to be falling in with my idea that neither the Katz Group nor Northlands looks like the best option for a new arena, because nobody appears to have anything but their own interests at heart.
SEE’s also talking about the LRT expansion, including looking at proposed downtown stations. (The boys over at The Charrette have also been looking at LRT. Man, I love that new blog.)
Back to the arena, Mayor Mandel thinks a decision will be made in the spring.
On a somewhat related note, the new EPCOR office tower is soon to open and will increase the vacancies in other downtown buildings. That’s somewhat related because the Katz Group’s arena proposal includes more office space. That’s part of where Daryl Katz wants to put half of his $200-million. It’s just interesting to think about if that much office space will be needed in the downtown this quickly.
Let’s see what else is going on… (more…)
The Fall
As the caption to today’s picture in the Headlines mentioned, I was at “The Fall” last night.
It was a mix of Guru Digital Art College graduation, tech networking, tweetup, and general goodbye to summer. Though, this great weather does mean we can still cling to the hope of summer.
Images of the evening after the jump. (more…)
The Black Sheep has arrived
I’ve been meaning to mention this one for a week…
The Black Sheep Pub is open. It’s at 111 Street and Jasper, where Prohibition was. Which used to be The Stonehouse.
Hopefully they can resurrect the wing goodness of the Stonehouse.
They officially opened last Wednesday.
International Beer Day
Have a drink on, er, for me
In all the excitement of Edmonton’s greatest modern day moment we forgot that August 5 is a time to celebrate beer.
Could this be closer to a made-up Internet holiday than a U.N. sanctioned kind of “day.” Yes.
But Smithwick’s is the beer of 2009 and you should track some down tonight because fake holiday or not, it’s beer we’re talking about.
Here is a list of places to start your hunt:
Ceili’s (watch your speaker volume on this one)
Devaney’s, Rose and Crown, Sherlock Holmes
My kingdom* for a photo of the aforementioned Smithwick’s this fair evening.
And where can I find Smithwick’s in Edmonton? Heck, where are the best places for beer in Edmonton? Let me know in the comments.
(Kudos to Ceili’s and The Sugarbowl for having beers on their websites.)
*I won’t give you anything but praise.
Bottoms up, folks.
Uh, like I need to say any more.
Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door, venue is Mayfield Inn & Suites (16615 109 Ave).
