That would be because I never get to mention lunchtime performances of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO). Today, that changes!

At lunch (doors at the Winspear open at 11:30) you can hear organ duets (on Canada’s largest concert organ), from Duo Majoya (Marnie Giesbrecht and Joachim Segger). Update: The ESO is sponsoring this performance, not a part of it.

Tickets are free and can (still?) be picked up at ATB locations in the downtown. (City Centre, ATB Place, Oliver Square).

Keep your eyes on the ESO and Winspear, since they do this free music at lunch thing every so often. It’s a more nutritious option than a hot dog.

(Of course that thing about the hot dog isn’t true. You still need to eat.)

And our stomachs are already begging us not to order this 1kg hamburger:

But, before all the excitement at Northlands really gets going, it begins with a parade.

Now, just like last year, we’re going to put out the call to you, the good readers of the edmontonian, to provide us with a photo (or video, we’re not picky) of some sweet, parade action.

We do this for two reasons: you do good work and Sally is banned from the parade due to that one year she wore a costume of fresh mini donuts, only to have the hot oil sear her skin, forcing her to run screaming, and fairly nude, frightening children and adults alike.

If, like last year, we don’t end up having any Capital Ex parade pictures to post, we can always depend on our buddy Ryan giving us a play-by-play of Shaw TV’s play-by-play.

Don’t forget, the parade is going to cause downtown traffic mayhem, Wednesday night,  Thursday morning, and Thursday afternoon.

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And, if you don’t want to work your way through all those links (but they’re worth it…) you can read Ryan’s 2009 parade review at his blog.

On twitter, folks are like, “Oh yeah, that’s just the party tent they put up downtown every year.” WHAT?! This is a thing? And not only is it a thing, it’s a thing that has apparently been around so long, you guys are all jaded and blase about it?

Well, call me Pollyanna, but IT’S A GIANT TENT DOWNTOWN. A GIANT TENT CONSTRUCTED PURELY SO THAT IT MIGHT BE FILLED WITH PARTIES. That impresses me. (Incidentally, it also impresses me that our buddy Rene went out of his way to provide photographic evidence that a tent is indeed being erected (hee hee) in the downtown area. Thanks man!)

Obviously, my interest is now piqued, and I would like more information about this “party tent”. I visited its website and its facebook page, but it doesn’t really explain who built the tent, where they came from, or what their motives might be. There is, however, a list of upcoming tent performances, and opportunities to apply for jobs inside of the tent. There are also photos of girls inside the tent in bikinis, girls inside the tent kissing, and musical performers. And Dennis Rodman…wait, what?

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON INSIDE OF THAT TENT?!

Anyway, the party tent is on twitter, and it has recently tweeted that there will be a kickoff party going on inside of it tomorrow night. Any more details you guys could give me would greatly appreciated.

It’s time once again for francophone music stars to shine. Edmonton Chante kicks off its 6th year Thursday.

There are plenty of Alberta artists in the mix. Check the schedule to find out when and where everyone is playing.

Checking out french and French-Canadian music is a central affair, as the venues are on Whyte Avenue, near Whyte and downtown.

I’m going to stop you before you tell me that you don’t speak French and this wouldn’t be your kind of thing. Music (like food and love) is a universal language, thus eliminating excuses not to embrace Edmonton, and Alberta’s french heritage.

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? I suppose we’ll never know, though we can certainly speculate! What we do know is that the newest tenant of the Gariepy Block is called Gossip Vodka Bar Inc.

A quick Google Search revealed this SkyscraperPage Forum post:

Job No 86833509-001: To change the use from a Professional, Financial, and Office Support To a Restaurant/Bars and Neighbourhood Pubs and a General Retail and Convenience Retail Use.
10004 – JASPER AVENUE NW
Plan F Lot 11
GOSSIP VODKA BAR INC

Sounds like Edmonton is getting another downtown nightclub, and our first vodka bar. (Editor’s note: Whyte Avenue had The Backrooom Vodka Bar previously.) My own experience with vodka is pretty limited, so I’m probably not the best person to suggest whether or not we need a bar devoted to the drink. Who knows, maybe there are a bunch of closet vodka lovers in #yeg!

Further searching led me to two PDF files (here, here) that provided some additional details. It turns out that Gossip Vodka Bar Inc. got its name on January 29, 2009. Prior to that it was known as Ghost Bar Ultra Lounge Inc. That name was registered on April 11, 2007 with the following address: 10529 116th Street. Local print & design shop Rayacom Inc. has been at that address since March 1, 2007, according to their website.

Is there a secret connection between print & design and vodka that I’m not aware of?! The plot thickens.

Here’s where you take over, Edmonton. Have any other details on Gossip? Let us know!