Internet on your TV
We have broken free of our Internet tubes and will be on ShawTV (channel 10 for Shaw subscribers) tonight at 9pm. (Again at 9:30.)
Consider this blog post a safe place to let us know how you feel about that. And what you think of the program we call a “local news variety show.”
I think the kids call this a live blog. Let the conversation begin!
Here’s where we’ll be watching the show (until 9pm please enjoy our municipal election special):
Rock ‘n’ Roll Slumber Party
I’m listening to the new Falklands EP “Slumber Party” as I type to you, Edmonton. Totally worth the $3.
It’s a little slower, maybe more mellow, than their album “Think About It.” It’s a good mellow.
Wait, $3?
Wow! Those Falklands know how to have a good time. (They also love backgammon. Ask them about that some time.)
Speaking of good times…Falklands will be throwing one heck of a hall show this Saturday, with Ben Disaster & The Cosmonauts, The Group Sound, and The Dizzies. You get all of that great, Edmonton, rock ‘n’ roll for just $10. Bands start at 7pm for this all ages show at Idylwylde Hall.
How about we give you some free tickets? Yeah, that sounds about right. Let me know in the comments what delicacy I enjoyed with Falklands guitarist Mark Budd and you’re in the draw.
This is the kind of fun you could be having. Tambourine fun:
p.s. To spread the love you can’t have won anything from us in the last 30 days.
One Way State Giveaway
Do you guys remember One Way State? We met them last May; since then, they’ve put out a new record and are about to embark on their second tour – it kicks off this Thursday at Brixx.
“This is our second tour since we’ve been a band,” says lead singer Cody Mack. “After our first tour in November 2010, we were already itching to get back on the road.”
“We seriously can’t wait to hit the road again. We’d love to do this full-time, but day jobs get in the way. Nick is a supervisor in a warehouse, Charley works in television, I’m a server, and Brandon is a mechanic, which comes in handy on the road. All of us would quit everything for a chance to make a living playing music.”
Cody explains that their first tour was paid for by money from past shows and ticket and merchandise sales – and they’re hoping to do the same this time around.
Anyway, despite the fact that, as Cody explains, “Each t-shirt sold is 1/4 tank of gas, so touring bands like ours REALLY appreciate it when you buy their merch,” One Way State is giving away a t-shirt AND a pair of tickets to their tour-opening show this Thursday. To get into a draw for the t-shirt and tickets you just have to leave a comment naming a One Way State song.
“Edmonton has been very kind to us…we know that Edmontonians love live music and love supporting homegrown talent. We’ve been very fortunate to have the family, friends, and fans that we do. They’ve all been very supportive, and we are in deep appreciation if this.”
Nathan could be the Coldest Canadian
This pretty much sums up most people's attitude to biking in the winter. Forget about it!
A proud, bicycling Edmontonian thinks he’s the Coldest Canadian.
And after watching the icicles build-up on Nathan Smith’s beard, it’s hard to argue with him.
I mean, this time of year you’re going to find most bikes tucked away in garages, buried in snow, or just plain abandoned.
Nathan, however, is one of the growing number of Edmontonians who are outfitting their bikes, and themselves, to ride just about 365 days. The video you see above is Nathan’s entry to a contest from Air New Zealand called “Coldest Canadian.” Those wacky Kiwis are giving away airfare, accommodations, and island adventure to a chilly Canadian.
So, go vote for Nathan, so he can enjoy a little beard-defrosting fun in New Zealand.
Uncle Pauly’s got more prizes
The Christmas fun, and your charitable spirit, Edmonton, just keeps going.
Before we get to the new prizes Paul has dug up, let’s meet our current entrants to Uncle Pauly’s Christmas Challenge. And thank them for all their good work, donating to charity.
Deja’s been a busy fella. He donated a karaoke toy to Santa’s Anonymous (as he says; perfect for annoying your parents!)
Hope Mission received $20 in honour of The Hilarious Comedian Carrot Top
SPCA got $50 in memoriam of The Hilarious Comedian Carrot Top (a pet)
Thanks to Deja for his three entries. That’s right, each photo of a donation is an entry. He also says his “…beard is a donation to all the ladies of the world. *wink*”
We aren’t counting that as an entry.
Greg dropped a toy into the Santas Anonymous box before their big toy delivery. Nicely done!
And the Edmonton Food Bank got a nice little late season surge thanks to a Friday tweetup at Original Joe’s Varisty Row. Thanks to Kat for snapping photos of everyone.
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(Holy loss of formatting Batman!)
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Now, here’s what we’re adding to round out the contest. (more…)
The Provincial Archive: An overdue album review, show preview, and giveaway
The Provincial Archive is playing at Teddy’s this Friday. So this is the perfect time to talk about their summer album.
Craig Schram’s voice will make you think of John K. Samson of The Weakerthans. And it only gets better from there. The group also evokes The Decemberists (it’s the accordion, and banjo, that does it for me). The Provincial Archive’s got a heartfelt rootsy-folk sensibility. I’m sorry it’s taken us so long to finally talk about the band in a larger way.
Gregg’s been talking about them before this year’s album, Maybe We Could Be Holy, even came out. That was the first clue they were a big deal. Then, they packed their show at SOS Fest. You’d think we’d have figured it out by then.
Maybe We Could Be Holy is the kind of album you listen to while the snow quietly falls or when it’s a rainy day to curl up on the couch. Maybe I’m thinking that because weather is in songs like A Smouldering Epilogue: “It’s just the weather that’s blowing through/it’s stirring up the dust” and songs with titles like Guided By Sundogs. (The band, by the way, is Schram, and Ryan Podlubny, Nathan Burge, Dave Meagher, Bramwell Park.)
The album would be fantastic as you’re driving across the prairies, winding your way around the Great Lakes, or hiking to a cabin in the woods. It’s emotional, it’s lyrical, it’s great Canadian storytelling.
You’re going to think about your past, your friends, relationships, and mistakes, as you listen to Maybe We Could Be Holy. It tells stories while getting into your head. And the lyrics are clear enough to play out a movie before your mind’s eye.
Needless to say, you’re going to want to catch the band this weekend at Teddy’s with Mass Choir. (more…)
Uncle Pauly’s Christmas Challenge
By Paul Poulsen
WAY back in the day, I had an after school job where I worked as a mechanic at a local garage. I did basic things like fix tires, and oil changes, but I also performed whatever odd jobs the two owners didn’t feel like doing themselves.
One of the owners had just finished re-shingling his roof. As he pulled off the old shingles, he threw them in the box of his pickup. He brought the truck to work on a Saturday morning and informed me that it would be my job to go to the dump and unload the shingles. I was unimpressed.
The truck was so full, it was bottomed out. There was a metric fuck-tonne of shingles for me to dispose of.
When I arrived at the dump, I tried backing up as fast as the truck would go and then slamming on the brakes, in an attempt to harness the power of momentum, to rid myself of my cargo. I was unsuccessful. After a half-hour of scheming, I finally made peace with the fact that the only way to empty the truck was to start unloading the truck by hand.
While the thought of unloading 1,000+ pounds of shingles was overwhelming, the task became much less daunting when I realized that I didn’t have to do it all at once. I only needed to work steadily and unload a few handfuls at a time. The work went much faster than I anticipated and what started as the shit job from hell actually turned into a formative experience for me.
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According to a story in Tuesday’s Edmonton Sun, Edmonton Christmas charities are hurting this year. The Christmas Bureau isn’t even a third of the way to meeting its goal and this means people could go hungry. Santas Anonymous is about halfway to its goal and that means a bunch of unfortunate kids could go without a present. (The Sun’s Adopt-a-Teen, and the Salvation Army are also struggling.)
That’s bullshit. (more…)
Nothing’s Taboo
We know you like sex, Edmonton.
Whether it’s in chatting with Little Miss Curious, filming your own porn for Vue Weekly’s Blue Revue, or just general sexiness.
So, we shall reward you with a pair of tickets to this weekend’s Taboo Sex Show, thanks to a friend of the website, Brenda, and the crew at The Traveling Tickle Trunk.
Let’s get topical with this giveaway…drop your best Brett Favre zinger/innuendo into the comments, tweet at us, or Facebook us. We’ll draw for the free tickets.
Taboo runs October 14-17 at Northlands. The Traveling Tickle Trunk has all of your needs covered 365 from their location on Whyte Avenue.
Sexy time
Hi, Edmonton. Didn’t see you there. Wait, come on in here for a minute.
Would you like a glass of wine? How about you sit down here, on the edge of our bed, and talk with us for a minute…
You have to go? Can we get your number?
Yes, Edmonton is a sexy place, full of sexy people. And Vue Weekly knows all about the sexiness that is Edmonton. They do publish an annual sex issue.
But it seems that just wasn’t enough for those insatiable alt-weekly folk. They wanted more of you. And they’re going to get it.
Next Wednesday night. (more…)
Free sex*
Hello again, Edmonton.
Have you heard about the Taboo show this weekend? It’s “the naughty but nice” event happening at Northlands Agricom starting Friday.
Anyway, we’ve got a pair of tickets (retail value $30) thanks to a friend of the website, Brenda at The Traveling Tickle Trunk.
All you have to do is tell us you want to get your sexy-on and I’ll throw your name into our sexy draw. Then you’ll swing (get it?) over to Brenda’s store to pick up your tickets.
Hey, if you win, could you bring a warm winter item or two for HIV Edmonton? Brenda’s been collecting such items in exchange for tickets and it would be a swell thing for you to do.
*free sex meaning entrance to a sexually-themed trade show
Make Jason’s dream come true
Go, go, go (and vote)!
This one falls under a total bias alert, but you like voting for stuff online so we’ll call it a draw.
A good friend of the website, Jason Bouwmeester, is trying to win his way to photography glory at the 2010 Olympics.
Jason has entered the Globe and Mail’s content to be a guest photographer at the Vancouver games. (There’s a also a contest running for a guest journalist.)
You may have seen Jason’s photo work here, or in other fine establishments. He’s no hack behind the lens and you should head over to the Globe’s contest page, sign up (to vote and to have a chance at your own prizes) and help an Edmonton boy get to the big show.
The contest runs until the 22nd, at which time the top 10 vote getters will be judged (by what I can only imagine is an esteemed panel) on merit and not just Internet popularity.
Oh, and if you spot any other Edmonton and Capital Region entries, let us know.
But wait, there’s more!
Extra prizes: Jason says if you want one of his photos for yourself, he’ll be drawing names over the next 3 Saturdays. Just e-mail him at jbouwmeester@gmail.com to be included in his daily vote reminders, and the draw. Now you know why we want you to help with his dream; he’s a nice guy.
Time to (ironically?) subvert capitalism
I know that Michael Moore’s new movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, isn’t actually about how great capitalism is. But it still feels like we’re doing something tricky to be giving away tickets.
A movie about capitalism and we’re going to make sure you DON’ T pay? Clearly we’re commies.
Google's #1 image for "capitalism."
We don’t have a lot of time, the movie is tonight, so let’s make this quick and easy, comrades.
If you’re on Twitter, I’ll ask you to RT a message about the movie tickets, if you’re here at the website just slap something in the comments of this post, and if you’re at our Facebook page, just “like” or comment on our link.
Everybody who does one of the preceding will be entered into a draw for 11am (again, time is tight) and we’ll hook you up with sweet, free, tickets.
Remember, the movie is TONIGHT, at 7pm (get there early) at the Westmount Shopping Centre Cinemas.
Who wants to see Green Go at the Hydeaway?
I occasionally get e-mails from record labels/PR folks letting me know that one of their bands are in town and may be of interest you guys. Most recently, it’s Guelph, Ontario’s Green Go, who are playing here tomorrow, twice – first, during the day over at Grant Mac’s back to school festivities, and then again tomorrow night at the Hydeaway, alongside Warrior Music, The Rivals and Protocol.
Now believe me, I need to fill a page as much as the next guy – but when it comes to music, I try to be as discerning as possible. Hats off to all you musicians out there, but some of you are terrible. (I can say that because I am also a musician, and sometimes, I am terrible. But let’s not make this about me). And if I go sending you guys to terrible stuff all the time, you’ll never believe me when I say anything.
My point here is that you should believe me when I say that Green Go is great. They sound kind of like a cross between the Go Team! and Electric Six. They have a song called Danger Bay, you guys. They’ve also been remixing a bunch of songs by other Canadian artists, including my favorite favorite favorites the Rural Alberta Advantage.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY – they are so pumped about their first tour out west that they’re giving us a pair of tickets for tomorrow night’s show at the Hydeaway AND and a song for you guys to download and check out.
So here’s an mp3 of Brains for Breakfast. Don’t say we never get you guys anything.
And if you would like to win the pair of tickets to tomorrow’s show, send an e-mail info@theedmontonian.com and tell us; Who the Mayor of Guelph is!
Gamer
Alright gang, it’s time for us to have a contest.
We have two double guest passes for the Thursday night showing of “Gamer,” which officially opens Friday.
Now, normally, we would give these away to two very lucky people – but since a) I think we’re all adults and can admit this movie looks like it might be a catastrophe and b) I hadn’t heard of “Gamer” until the passes fell into my hands – we’re giving one person both passes. Because the best way to enjoy a potentially terrible movie you haven’t heard of is with a posse of friends.
If you would like to win these passes and take 3 of your lucky friends to the Thursday, September 3rd showing of ”Gamer” (it’s at Empire City Centre Theatres at 9 p.m., btw) – please make up your own alternate tagline ( the real one is “Who’s Playing You?”) for this movie, and post it in the comments. We’ll throw all (read=any)of the entries into a hat and draw at the end of the day.
Also, if you win, it would be nice if you could send us an e-mail and let us know if the movie’s any good. I’m just sayin’.
AGA – 1 Minute of Real Life Contest
Were I to create a 1-minute movie of my real life, it would probably be little more than 60 seconds of myself sitting at a keyboard, going through various stages of torment as I try to find new ways to tie the same seven pop-culture jokes to a seemingly endless stream of local news and/or events. My God, what do I have to do for you, Edmonton, OPEN A VEIN…?!
But I digress. Your lives, my attractive and dynamic friends, probably consist of richer fare than eating, sleeping, blogging and watching 30 Rock reruns. Perhaps it would make a compelling movie.
Do you have an exciting hobby or career? A family of hilarious and interesting characters? Maybe you’re a firefighter! Maybe you’re a race car driver! Maybe you’re Batman!
Well, if you’re any of the above (or something else I haven’t thought of, though I’m pretty sure all humans can fit into one of those five categories), here’s your chance to get the attention you so richly deserve. The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) is currently running a contest where you make a one minute movie about one of three themes: REAL LIFE, REAL BABY or REAL FAMILY (sadly, no REAL BATMAN).
Hurry, though, the submission deadline is drawing neigh – you gots to get your videos in by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 2.
You can say you're not interested in 60 seconds of this guy's life, but I will call you a liar.
From the AGA’s website:
Each video will be posted on the AGA’s YouTube channel for the public to review. After the People have commented, favorited, mentioned, linked-to and dished out coveted YouTube stars, the results will be tallied by a jury of experts. An awards ceremony will be held on September 3 to screen the best videos and present winners with fabulous prizes.
The Grand Prize Winner will be invited to Citytv for an interview with host Bridget Ryan and a screening of their winning video on Breakfast Television. Winners in each of the three categories will also be awarded a Fuji FinePix F100fd digital camera (courtesy of Don’s Photo), an AGA gift basket and a trophy.
You can submit a hard copy of your opus on CD or DVD, or you can upload it to their youtube group. And if I have any advice for all you Martin Scorceses out there, it’s when in doubt, deep-fry.
We have a winner!
This robot likes to party on Whyte.
This image of Xeldon, the “Telus repairman of the future,” can be found in the window of the old Edmonton Telephone Historical Centre (Telus), on 83 Avenue, between 104 and 105 Streets.
Congratulations to Deja Springfield for being first with the answer. We’ll be by with your Greenwoods’ gift certificate, and for your wacky winner’s photo, soon.
Also fun, you can find more Xeldon at his new home, the Prince of Wales Armoury (10440 108 Avenue), where he’ll tell you about the history (and future?) of the telephone in Edmonton.
Thanks for testing your Edmonton knowledge with the edmontonian. We would have also accepted an answer of Xeldon being in “2003.”
It’s a contest. So win already.
You can win!
It’s time to test your knowledge of Edmonton.
The reward will be the right to brag about how you know more about Edmonton then the rest of us. And there’s a $25 gift certificate from local book experts “Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe.” Books go great with sunny weekends in a lawn chair.
Ready? Then let’s do this thing!
Somewhere in the city you’ll find this fellow.
Where is he?
You’ve seen the robot. Now, the first person to e-mail us at info@theedmontonian.com and tell us where to find him wins that $25 gift certificate from Greenwoods’ Bookshoppe.
Please don’t give away the location in the comments, it’s a contest after all. But feel free to make hilarious remarks.
(In order to win you should be ready to pose for an awkward winner’s photo.)
ATTENTION, INTERNETS: WIN FREE BEER (& more)
Well, I hope you’re proud of yourself, internet. I’m sure you all think you’re very clever for keeping the R U Amber contest from Amber’s Brewing Company off the radar and away from me, in the hopes that you get to claim what brewery owner Jim Gibbon calls “the best August in history” for yourselves. But I’m on to you. And I’m not mad. Mostly just disappointed.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I feel like I should tell you that I would probably take a bullet for the folks at Amber’s, not because I know any of them AT ALL, but because they are David Adjey-style VISIONARIES who combined two of my favorite things – maple syrup and beer – to create another of my favorite things: their Sap Vampire Maple Lager.)
So anyway, the deal with Amber’s web centric contest is this: you have to create something, anything that shows why you embody the spirit of Amber, the fetching, free-spirited, motorbike-riding gal featured on the contest site’s main page. Then, make a video of your creation and submit it via either email or by uploading to youtube. If your entry is deemed best, you win a bevy of local prizes: your face featured on a limited run of Amber’s Pale Ale, dinners from Fife n Dekel, Koutouki, Culina, and Skinny Legs and Cowgirls, tickets to the Theatre Network and the Varscona, two month use of a scooter from Top Gear, two dozen cupcakes from Flirt Cupcakes, a cut, colour and products from The Beauty Parlour – and so many more local prizes, we couldn’t possibly list them all here. Check the website for details - and yes, one winner will get everything listed.
