May Days
Don’t let your seasonal allergies get you down, Edmonton. There’s plenty to do out there! (Ignore that if I am the only one suffering from season allergies.)
There’s some great music around Edmonton this weekend. Tonight…Old Man Luedecke is at the Blue Chair Cafe…Cameron Carpenter plays the organ with the ESO…Jeremy Fisher at Haven Social Club…Carrie Day at The Carrot… and Freshman Years at Wunderbar…
Saturday…Raygun Cowboys are at the Starlite Room…The Provincial Archive plays at the Provincial Archives (they play the Pawn Shop on Thursday, before heading out to play more Canadian archives, libraries, and concert venues)…The Sumner Brothers are at the Haven Social Club…One Way State plays Filthy McNasty’s…
In theatre…Chris Craddock’s one-man play “Public Speaking,” finishes its run at the Roxy…”True Love Lies,” is at the Citadel, as is the musical version of “Little Women.”
Writers are learning about publishing in the digital world this weekend, at the “At The Edge of Print” conference.
HIV Edmonton has a fundraiser called Artists for Life, at the Catalyst Theatre.
The summer blockbusters have begun! There’s also the Reel Waste Film Festival.
Bouncing of Reel Waste, there’s a Reuse Fair in my neighbourhood; at the Strathcona Centre Community Hall. And the City’s Big Bin Events begin this weekend. So dump that couch.
Biff! Saturday is Free Comic Book Day. Bam! Sunday is the Pop Culture Fair. Pow!
You can find six different “Jane’s Walks” in three different Edmonton neighbourhoods this weekend. The walks are named for urbanist Jane Jacobs, and are about exploring and talking about what makes neighbourhoods tick.
And if you’re into basic cable you can watch episode 2 of the edmontonian presents this Sunday at 9pm (again at 9:30) on ShawTV (channel 10 on Shaw cable). We’re also in iTunes.
A Smashing Weekend
This weekend in Edmonton will be punctuated by a federal election and Earth Hour.
While you may start seeing election signs popping up, if the Conservative minority is brought down by the opposition parties, you will get at least a one-hour reprieve from attack ads during Saturday’s Earth Hour. The City of Edmonton will get into the darkness of things with a power-saving party at Churchill Square.
It’s a big roller derby Saturday in Edmonton (fitting, since the federal election could get ugly). You’ve got the E-Ville Roller Derby in Xanaduel and the Oil City Derby Girls All Stars taking on All Stars from Saskatoon. E-Ville plays at the Hangar on Kingsway and Oil City is at the Grindhouse.
The big Edmonton music event this weekend is the 2011 Edmonton Music Awards, at Haven Social Club. It’s a two night affair, Sunday and Monday, with plenty of live performances from plenty of local musicians and bands.
Also in music…Tonight, Sonic Band of the Month, The Red Threat, is playing at the Pawn Shop…You can also saunter over to Metro Cinema for “Edmonton Tonight,” a live talk show of sorts…Tonight and tomorrow, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (fresh off announcing their 60th season performances) and messzo-soprano Anita Krause, and Da Camera Singers, present Durufle’s Requiem…Tomorrow, why not head over to Wunderbar for B.A. Johnson (and The Moby Dicks and The Mitts) at Wunderbar? Why not indeed.
Western Canada Fashion Week continues over on Whyte Fashion Avenue.
Maybe you want to check out a movie. Good idea. (I hear Hobo with a Shotgun comes out this weekend…)
The Edmonton Rush and Edmonton Oilers are both at Rexall Place this weekend.
Celebrate 60 years of music with a free concert
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is launching its 60th season today, with a free lunchtime concert.
At the Winspear Centre at noon, you can catch a free concert from the ESO, as a celebration of 60 years of music. There will be seven selections from the 2011-2012 concert season played for your enjoyment. This also means we’ll know what’s coming in the new season today.
*****
The Citadel’s 2011-2012 season has also been revealed recently. As was the Alberta Ballet’s. It’s arts’ season unveiling season in Edmonton! Edmonton Opera fully reveals their 2011-2012 season April 9.
Thursday Night Looks Alright
First of all, I have to mention Twestival. That’s tonight’s big Twitter meetup and fundraiser. It’s a chance to have a drink, enjoy the coolness of the Red Star Pub and meet some people you’ve only known in 140 character bursts. Edmonton Twestival 2011: The greatest night of your life. (I hear there will be mini-cupcakes and a fantastic assortment of door prizes and silent auction items too.)
(If you can’t make it, but would like help us raise money for the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation – think of the children! – you can do that on the Internet.)
Now, if you don’t want to come to Twestival, or maybe you just want to swing by for a drink and bid on an item in the silent auction before jetting off, there’s plenty for you to do tonight. (more…)
End of February Events
I’m going to kick things off with something I’m planning on attending; Gargamel at the Varscona. It’s a new play from Mostly Water Theatre’s Trent Wilkie (a friend of the website since at least October) about a man who’s lost his girlfriend in a horrific car crash, sustained a head injury, and is being pushed around by a ghostly Louis Riel. Then he fights God.
There’s just something about the ghost of Louis Riel that sealed this for me.
Sticking with theatre, Concrete Theatre presents Jeremy Fisher, a play for younger audiences, at the Stanley A. Milner Library, Friday and Saturday. Fringe Theatre Adventures and Edmonton Opera are wrapping up The Barber of Barrhead this weekend. Legally Blonde: The Musical also wraps up over at the Jubilee.
Sunday, you can help out the Brian Webb Dance Company at their art auction at the Sutton Place Hotel. Or party a little Saturday night, and help out Latitude 53, at 53 Ways to Leave Your Lover: Factory Party Edition.
You might have recently watched Adaptation and be into orchids. Good thing The Orchid Society of Alberta presents Orchid Fair this weekend.
In music… (more…)
Melted Events
We did not forget about events. We were just, uh, distracted thinking about which ones we’d most like to do this weekend.
Winter Light keeps the good (winter) times going with MELTDOWN! It’s a winter arts party at the Jubilee Auditorium.
Awww...
The World’s Longest Hockey Game goes this weekend, and it just so happens to be a fundraiser for the Cross Cancer Institute.
Tailz is having a Valentine’s pet wash for HART (Humane Animal Rescue Team). I bet Sally is already there, waiting for cute puppies to arrive.
You might be able to Skate, Rattle & Roll Saturday at City Hall. But if this warm weather continues, it doesn’t look promising.
You might want to bring your great, tech, ideas to Startup Weekend.
In sports news…the Edmonton Rush are home to the Washington Stealth tonight. Then the Edmonton Oilers are home Saturday to the Ottawa Senators and Sunday to the Anaheim Ducks.
In music news…a couple of bands that helped us out with music for our election show are going to blow up Wunderbar tonight. It’s Van Gohst’s album release and they’ve got help from N.N. (who safely made it back from Japan Music Week at the end of 2010) and The Blame Its.
There’s a crazy good show at the Myer Horowitz Theatre: The Provincial Archive, Wool on Wolves, and The Deep Dark Woods. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.
Over at The ARTery, tonight is Rockin’ Robin’s Rockin’ Sockhop, with Kaley Bird, Sidney York, and Beekeeper.
On The Rocks has something called Seven String Sunday, with Shane Philip and Jeff Morris this Sunday.
Our friends over at S.I.R.E.N.S. have a Bouquet of Blues for your Valentine’s weekend. It’s a great bluesy show with Bruce Conte, Amos Garrett, and Jimmy Guiboche and the Fender Benders.
Speaking of Valentine’s, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s got Love Will Keep Us Together.
You could always go to the movies. Though, Gregg says you’re better off renting this month.
Back to Winter, Back to Fun
Looks like a pretty good weekend ahead, Edmonton.
The weather’s pretty much returning to normal, but it should still be great for Freezing Man and Winter Light’s Illuminations. Freezing Man is a day of electronic and alternative music, while Illuminations is all about turning Churchill Square into what winter is all about, with entertainment, skating, and free hot chocolate. And a snowball fight.
The Edmonton Rush host Calgary for their home opener at Rexall Place. Go Rush!
The Edmonton Oil Kings are also home this weekend.
In music…Gorgon Horde is at Wunderbar… There’s a wine tasting auction featuring the ESO…CKUA presents Leeroy Stagger…the Sonic Band of the Month is Feast or Famine, and they’re at the Pawn Shop…Jordan Norman has a CD release at the Haven, with Christian Hansen (and no Autistics)…Ann Vriend is at the museum…yes, the actual museum.
Global Game Jam Edmonton is going to be all about putting together a video game (or working on a game) this weekend.
Tonight is Hip Hop on the Wall, a fundraiser for Hip Hop in the Park.
This weekend is the 1st birthday of the new Art Gallery of Alberta. Happy Birthday, you crazy, beautiful building.
And, on Sunday, watch for LRT delays north of Churchill (again).
The Weekend
With the kind of temperatures we’re expecting this weekend there are no excuses not to get out and enjoy some Edmonton.
The Winter Light Festival continues with Ice on Whyte’s final weekend and Flashpoint event at the Edmonton Ski Club. There’s even music for Ice on Whyte, at the nearby Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park. Also, Ice on Whyte might melt, so check it out now!
I’ll be trying to keep Sally away from the Pet Expo, so we don’t end up with an office full of animals. On Sunday, Northlands turns things around for a bridal show.
The Edmonton Oil Kings are at home this weekend, to Moose Jaw and Medicine Hat. The Oilers are home too, hosting the Predators.
It’s a great weekend for music in Edmonton. The Sound and YEG Live have another local showcase at The Haven Social Club, with The Wheat Pool and Trent Buhler & The Lucky Pennies. Gregg Beever wouldn’t let me forget if I fail to mention our late-night pizza friend, Carrie Day, is at the Blue Chair Cafe, with David Shepherd. The ARTery has The Jon Cohen Experimental, with Smokey. Pawn Shop’s got Owls by Nature, Fire Next Time, and The Weekend Kids.
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is staying up late this Friday, with percussionist Colin Currie for one of their Late Nights with Bill Eddins. This is a great way to check out the ESO in a more relaxed environment.
On Saturday…you can catch one of the final shows at Axis Cafe (yes, they’re closing) with Lisa Nicole Grace. There’s nothing like a hall show, and Big Hank & Friends will be at Queen Alexandra Hall. (Side note: Big Hank designed the ad you now see in the sidebar for S.I.R.E.N.S.) Wunderbar’s got Jessica Jalbert. And Great Big Sea is at the Jube.
If you’re up for some dance, Brian Webb’s got relay, at the Timms Centre for the Arts.
The Fringe isn’t waiting for summer. Mozart: Ze Komplete Hystery is at the TransAlta’s Westbury Theatre all weekend.
Frozen Events
Yeah, it’s stay-in-the-house-under-three-blankets-with-the-heat-cranked-cold. But there’s plenty of Edmonton to explore, even in the cold. You just have to bundle up and try not to spend too long outside when it’s dangerously cold.
Ice on Whyte began this week. While wind chills in the -30s aren’t the best atmosphere for checking out the ice sculptures, it won’t be this cold forever.
The Joe is releasing Float or Flail, an album five years in the making, at The Haven Social Club (now home to Pharos Pizza), with fellow Old Uglians Bike Month, Mitchmatic, and Racoon Suit along for the ride. The Haven is going to be nice and warm.
In other musical notes…Ingrid Gatin is playing at The Carrot, with Michael Reinhart, before hopping on a train to Winnipeg. Playing her all the way across the prairies…The Wheat Pool, Michael James Band, and audio/rocketry are at the Crown & Anchor Pub…Bluebird North is at the TransAlta Arts Barns…and The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is playing for the kids on Saturday. They’ll be playing behind a performance of Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood.
I’m hearing good things about the Spiral Dive trilogy at La Cite Francophone Theatre (all three run in a marathon on Sunday, January 23).
In movies…Charlie Chaplin is at Metro Cinema. His films anyway. The short film High Level Bridge is headed to Sundance. Help the film’s makers have a good time by throwing them a few bones. While having a heck of an evening at The ARTery. (They will be screening the short as well.) And there’s always regular movies too.
Meet the Edmonton Public Library’s Writer in Residence for 2011. To get in you need only bring a book for the swap. It all goes down Saturday afternoon at the Whitemud Crossing branch of the EPL.
Latitude 53 has two new shows this weekend.
And the Edmonton Motorcycle Show is this weekend up at Northlands’ Expo Centre. If you actually ride a motorcycle to the show in this weather you are indeed a brave soul.
Oh, and if you plan on using the LRT Sunday, it’s likely not your best option.
Did I miss something? If I did I’m blaming winter.
Uncle Pauly’s Big Finish
That’s all folks! There’s still time to donate to needy Christmas charities, but our extra push is coming to an end.
Thanks to you, generous Edmontonians, some of the fears that those charities would fall very, very short of their holiday goals is being alleviated. We just wanted to remind everyone that your help, whether it’s $10 or a small toy, really does go a long way.
Before we announce the winners, we want to thank the businesses, individuals, and organizations that donated a prize to help us help others make the season a little brighter for those less fortunate.
- We’ve got a $25 Chapters/Indigo/Coles card, a $25 iTunes card, a $25 Empire Theatres card, and a $25 Zellers/HBC card thanks to Paul “Uncle Pauly” Poulsen, InvestInEdmonton, Edmonton’s BEST Landlord and Five by Five Creative.
- 2 mugs, and buttons courtesy of The Unknown Studio.
- Marilyn Kontz crafted two coffee sleeves (I keep referring to them as coffee cozies) and Transcend Coffee is giving one donor a 6-month subscription of coffee.
- The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was immediately helpful, offering two tickets to the first performance of the new year, Saint-Saens’s Second Piano Concerto.
- One lucky Edmontonian will be receiving the Viking Weekly Review delivered to their home, as well as a toque and scarf, thanks to Lorraine Poulsen, editor.
- We’ve got a treasure chest of goodies, literally a little treasure chest, thanks to the Katz Group.
- Gord Lacey has offered up Season 1 DVDs of The Cleveland Show and Cougar Town.
- And we have a $100 Future Shop gift card thanks to Richard at Global Analyzer System.
I assure you the draw was random and I couldn’t see the names I was choosing, until placed beside the prizes. On top of those warm, fuzzy feelings they got for donating to worthy charities at Christmas the following people will be enjoying something extra thanks to Uncle Pauly.
Greg gets to eat at great Edmonton restaurants with his Original Fare gift card (the edmontonian donated that prize). Jill will have a little extra to spend at Chapters, Empire Theatres, iTunes, and HBC stores. John will be sipping his lattes from Unknown Studio mugs, well regarded in the mug world. Sarah will be sipping new and exotic coffees from Transcend, while keeping her hands burn-free with coffee sleeves by Marilyn. Chris will be attending the first ESO concert of the new year. Joseph gets to stay warm in a new toque and scarf from the Viking Weekly Review, a newspaper he’ll become familiar with in 2011. Karen gets golf balls, chocolate, and other goodies I couldn’t identify in a treasure chest. Joanna will be watching the first seasons of The Cleveland Show and Cougar Town again and again. And Deja will be buying electronics at Future Shop.
We’ll be contacting the winners soon.
Thanks to Paul for coming up with the idea. Thanks to everyone that sent us a photo, to everyone who donated because of our contest, and to everyone who donates time, money, and stuff, to charities and non-profits the whole year through.
Your kindness made our heart grow three sizes, Edmonton.
Christmas prizes for you
Hey, again, Edmonton.
It’s time for another reminder to help out those struggling Christmas charities (and any charity doing a Christmas thing) this holiday season. Today it sounds like Meals on Wheels is really having a tough end to 2010.
And to reward your good deeds we shall enter your name into a draw for prizes.
You already know about the $100 Original Fare gift card (good at about 20 restaurants), Unknown Studio mugs and buttons, $25 Chapters/Indigo/Coles card, a $25 iTunes card, a $25 Empire Theatres card, and a $25 Zellers/HBC card, and a scarf and one-year subscription to the Viking Weekly Review (It’s a newspaper in Viking, Alberta, not about vikings. I think.).
But we really, really want you to help those charities you’ve maybe been thinking about helping, but felt like your one gift of $10 or a $10 toy wouldn’t help. It will help.
And to help you help them we’re adding more prizes to the draw.
If you don't send in photos, Jeff and Paul will gorge themselves on truffles and golf balls.
Today we add:
A Rexall gift basket (thanks to Katz Group) worth $80, though Paul says that’s got to be a low-ball estimate for the goodies inside.
2 tickets to the first ESO show of the new year – Saint-Saens’s Second Piano Concerto – (thanks to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra).
Oh man, you better send in some photos of you donating to charities, because otherwise this Christmas is going to be me, sitting in a pile of awesome prizes, drinking egg nog until I pass out.
Just e-mail us, or drop a comment with a link to a Twitpic or Flickr of you doing good.
Mostly Christmas Stuff
Another week has wrapped and it’s time enjoy a few days off. Likely that is the scenario for you. So, here’s some stuff that I know about that’s going on.
This is happening too.
That snow and cold may be putting you off the idea of even leaving the comfort of your home. You can also avoid the outdoors at the movies.
With Christmas approaching, gifts can be a priority. So, why not hit up the Butterdome Craft Sale or the Handmade Mafia? Or both.
If you’re in that gift-giving frame of mind, remember to send us photos of you donating to a charity.
This will be the last Christmas you can shop at Nokomis. So, enjoy it while it’s still here to spread clothing love.
On Christmas…Candlelight Christmas a the John Walter Museum…Candy Cane Lane opens…The Salvation Army’s Festival of Carols is over at the Winspear – the ESO is also collecting for the Edmonton Food Bank at all events right now…It’s Christmas music to the max in Edmonton: Check out YEG Live for all your options. (And there are a lot.)…A Christmas Carol continues at the Citadel…ETS is back with Christmas light tours.
The City Market is back at Churchill Square this Saturday. If you’re into slow food, or want to be, check out Slow Food Edmonton’s Terre Madre Day (and holiday brunch on Sunday).
The Fringe, yes that Fringe, is finishing up a family-friendly run of Jack and the Beanstalk.
And the Oilers and Oil Kings are both at home (not at the same time of course).
The Days of Christmas
I like Christmas, but sometimes I need something to kick-start my spirit.
We’ve already put up the tree, and I’m thinking that a few free tickets to tonight’s holiday extravaganza with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) will put me right into holiday mode.
The ESO is playing holiday favourites with singer-pianist Michael Kaeshammer (called The Days of Christmas…now the headline makes sense). Things get started with Jill Barber. This oughtta be good. (Both artists are making their debuts with the ESO.)
The show starts at 7:30, and there are still tickets left.
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If you’re not up for a trip to the Winspear tonight, you can catch the Edmonton Public School Board’s meeting tonight. The board will be discussing Ward G trustee Sarah Hoffman’s motion to place a two-year moratorium on school closures. Man, with all this healthcare stuff I almost forgot about the trouble in Edmonton’s schools. Watch the whole thing live tonight.
Some Edmonton Events
There’s some good music happening in Edmonton this weekend.
CJSR’s FunDrive benefit show is tonight at The ARTery.
Todd Snider is at the Myer Horowitz. (Thanks to hi54lofi for the heads-up on this one.) Kat Danser is playing the Arden…you know you like swamp blues. Michelle Wright is bouncing around the capital region. Homefest is also this Sunday.
Lyve on Whyte gets Old Ugly Saturday night with Doug Hoyer and Mitchmatic. Oh, and Emily is going to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
Also happening this weekend…Farmfair International (kind of a precursor to the Canadians Finals Rodeo, or CFR), the Oilers host the Red Wings, politicos are trying to Reboot Alberta (3.0) at the Delta South, there’s an open house at MacEwan University, it’s a Handmade Mafia weekend, and the Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is holding a kick-ass book sale.
Thanks to Leanne for reminding us about the Edmonton Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival.
Don’t forget there are always new movies and November is Shop Local month.
Peace!
Symphony Under the Sky
As we mentioned Friday, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) kicked off its 2010-2011 season with the annual “Symphony Under the Sky,” at Hawrelak Park over the long weekend.
It’s a great way to put your feelers out for the ESO, since it’s in such a relaxed environment. (Check our Friday preview of the season for other “relaxed” options for the new symphony-goer.)
We were happy to be invited back to the Symphony Under the Sky to blog about it. Here’s some of what we saw: (more…)
Enjoy it
Last weekend I got rocked by Edmonton bands N.N. (pictured), The Mystery Ponies, and touchitandyouwillsayow. The first two are playing again this Sunday, at Brixx, with a couple of local rappers.
We hinted, in today’s symphony post, and movie previews, that summer is ending. So we might as well enjoy the unofficial end of summer with a long weekend full of good times.
It will be even better if the weather cooperates.
As mentioned, this weekend heralds new movies, and is the annual Symphony Under the Sky at Hawrelak Park.
There are more movies, on the square, with How to Train Your Dragon tonight and Toy Story 3 tomorrow night.
There’s more music festival, Saturday, with Sonic Boom back at Northlands.
Also at Northlands, all weekend, is the WPCA Dodge World Chuckwagon Championships.
One event I hadn’t heard of, before checking ShareEdmonton, is the Raas Garba Festival, which looks to be colourful, and features events with people from Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, and Vancouver. The festival is a celebration of the culture of people from the west Indian province of Gujurat.
Almost ABBA is at the Century Casino. Bobby Curtola is playing the Arden Theatre, in St. Alberta.
Alright, now back to young, hip kid stuff. (With some help from YEGLive.ca.)
Like Cam Penner, playing the Blue Chair Cafe tonight.
This weekend is also the Beaumont Blue Fest. That will see bands such as Jimmy and the Sleepers, Boogie Patrol, Gordie Johnson (from Big Sugar) and Amos Garrett bring down the party, rock things out, and and spill their souls, just southeast of Edmonton.
There’s even more great blues music all week at Blues on Whyte, with Winnipeg’s Big Dave McLean.
Bluebird North is showcasing songwriters this long weekend too.
You could always get lost.
Don’t forget:
The LRT will not be going beyond Churchill Station. That starts Friday night and continues through all of Monday.
You probably don’t have to work Monday.
Beautiful Music
Thanks to The Choir Girl I found this video with conductor Bob Bernhardt.
As we head into the Labour Day long weekend, we recognize the end of festival season here in Edmonton.
There are still festivals to be had through the fall and winter, it’s just not the same as our end-to-end festivals of the summer. This weekend, however, we get one more summer festival. It’s the Symphony Under the Sky (SUTS).
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) kicks off its 2010-2011 season with SUTS tonight. There are performances all weekend in Hawrelak Park (which is pretty much the summer festival park), including two with fantastic violinist Karen Gomyo, and everything culminates Monday with artillery fire (and the 1812 Overture).
I figured this would be a good time to talk about the entire ESO season, so I dropped an e-mail to Philip Paschke, the ESO New Media Specialist.
There’s plenty of choice in the new season. So I asked what would be of note. First, for those of us that aren’t necessarily regular symphony-goers. (more…)
Music for lunch
We’re going to flip things today, and give you an event before the headlines.
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.)
August 18 Headlines
Bah!
I bet some of these fine people would be more than happy if you wrote about their play.
You ever have one of those days where you’re all ready to do something and can’t help but be distracted? That’s where I am this morning.
I wanted to write about something news-related, and I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually, but my mind keeps coming back to the social media Fringe fiasco. (Which, I guess, is sort of news-related.
If you haven’t heard (you’re clearly not on Twitter or trawling Edmonton Internet for Fringe info), a local food blogger – and lovely person – also writes about theatre. She especially enjoys enjoyed Teatro La Quindicina.
Well, it sounds like at least one member, high-ranking at that, of the theatre group could care less about her enjoyment of their plays, her money, and her online reviews of their work.
Some may say this is what a reviewer has coming; vitriol from the reviewed.
I don’t quite agree.
Sharon Yeo is blogging out of passion and interest, she’s not being paid by a newsroom to review anything. She can take her money wherever she pleases. She can write about what she pleases.
People can certainly take issue with what she said, pointing out why she may be incorrect about a certain actor, the set, or something in the play, but to simply attack her (and then Mack, checking on authenticity of the comment) is no better than being a comment troll.
I’ve taken my share of angry newsroom phone calls, I’ve even had people upset with something I’ve written or said (here, and previously). To a small degree I’ll admit it can come with the territory of “media.” But it better be justified criticism, or you end up looking like a crank.
This, however, just sounds like a local business (regardless of arts grants, theatres need people in the seats) that doesn’t understand there’s not one or two “proper” places for reviews anymore.
The conversation that Sharon would have with people at the coffee shop or restaurant can now be taken to the Internet via blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and more.
Of course, what’s not understood by Jeff Haslam, the angry actor, is that he needs this conversation to put people in his theatre. Outside of the Fringe you’re pretty much stuck with theatre reviews and previews in the Journal, SEE and Vue. Newsrooms are stretched thin. They’re not talking about you on a regular basis. But people online can. They are.
Why not embrace the growing online conversation, like the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra or Art Gallery of Alberta does, by inviting some bloggers to talk about their events? Or, invitation aside, at least not attacking someone who would talk about what they’ve been up to, what they’ve seen.
That’s why I say this only is sort of newsy. This is more about the conversation shift that’s continually occurring.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Public debate should not be a mudslinging free-for-all (Where’s the fun in that?)
Airport lobby group keeps donors under wraps
Gov’t backs off on price of warranty (Remember earlier this week when it seemed like the government was kowtowing to some in the housing industry, well, now it’s just a little more obvious.)
Liberal report critical of oilsands development
Eco groups back First Nations call to protect boreal caribou
BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 available for Playstation3 in January
from the Edmonton Sun:
Motorcycle noise bylaw working, claim police
Bedbugs horror in Edmonton (I’m sorry, but the landlord can’t shirk responsibility on tenants bringing in used furniture. That’s a risk, and cost, of being in the business or providing homes.)
Massive train derailment near Fort Saskatchewan
Monster on way out (Anybody ever eat at The Motoraunt?)
from The Canadian Press:
‘Rethink Alberta’ group brings anti-oilsands billboards, ads to UK
President’s Choice Chocolate Chunk Cookies recalled, may contain metal pieces
from CBC Edmonton:
Viral meningitis cases rise in Edmonton
from CTV Edmonton:
New bill to make clear true cost of credit cards
Vigil aimed at raising awareness of abuse faced by people with disabilities
And I think everyone had the crashed CF-18 pilot who vows to fly again.
June’s first kick at the can
The first June weekend of the year is here and let’s see what’s in store for us.
You could see a movie. There are four new ones in theatre this weekend.
Nextfest has begun. It’s the annual celebration of young, youthful artists in Edmonton. There will be plays, dance, films, visual art, music and lots more. And it’s all from young, and up-and-coming Edmonton artists.
Pay attention, some of these names will be in arts and culture coverage for years to come. Plus, you can check things out right now and be able to say you saw so-and-so’s first show back in 2010.
This weekend also marks the beginning of the month-long Edmonton Community Challenge. 20 21 of Edmonton’s community leagues will be eating pancakes, cleaning neighbourhoods, fixing bikes, collecting food for the Food Bank and recyclables for YESS, and scavenging for photos, all to try and win $15,000 for a capital project in their community. I’ll be reporting more on this, from the front lines, as captain of the Strathcona Centre team.
Dreamspeakers Film Festival is still going on. So is the International Children’s Festival.
Tonight, at the Avenue Theatre, Christian Hansen & The Autistics will impress you with their musical talent. You’ll be there at 8pm.
Is that all I’ve got? Yes.
But that’s not all ShareEdmonton’s got:
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is going to the Oscars this weekend.
It’s Movies on the Square time again! Tonight you can watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on a giant screen in Churchill Square. Tomorrow it’s Alvin and the Chipmunks 2.
If you head to Naked on Jasper, Saturday night, you can support aspiring musicians, including one of our favourites, Lyra Brown. Lyra is also going to be playing Nextfest on Tuesday. See what I said about the best and brightest young stars?
Eddie Vaan Shaw Jr. will be at the Yardbird. (This is one of those newfangled yeglive.ca tie-in events I mentioned last week.)
If you’re in the centre of the city this weekend you might want to check out the Heart of the City festival. It’s two days of music, music and music. All at Giovanni Cabot Park, and all free.
Edmonton Twitter music notables Erica Viegas and Lisa Nicole Grace play Saturday night.
Think of the Children
Today sees the beginning of the 2010 International Children’s Festival in St. Albert.
Splash 'n' Boots will be performing.
If you’re not familiar with the Children’s Festival you probably don’t have kids, haven’t lived here long, or ignore everything St. Albert. But you know what? It’s a pretty big deal.
The festival starts today and runs through the week, wrapping up Saturday.
Since children aren’t always known to have the best attention you know there will be lots of fun stuff happening. There are plays, amazing feats, and, of course, children’s performers. And you’ll see stuff from across Canada and around the world. There are also lots of games, arts and crafts and interactive activities to keep little minds busy.
Check the schedule and know that your kids will have plenty to take in this week. Most of the action happens during the day but Friday night does see some events. Oh, and it should go without saying but, everything is happening in that little city to our northwest, St. Albert.
Also, happening tonight, for those of you without children, or at least who can get a babysitter, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra has a special guest. International organ sensation Cameron Carpenter is making his Canadian debut with the ESO.
And the Edmonton Capitals have their home opener over at Telus Field.
May 31 Headlines
How’d your weekend go, Edmonton?
After the classics it was time for some jazz.
As we talked about Friday, there was plenty to do. I did end up going to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s Late Night Paris and it was, as always, a good time.
Bloggers who’ve covered the ESO during the 2009-2010 season were invited out, and we met beforehand at Moriarty’s. I’ve been trying to get in there to try it so I was happy to have the chance to check out this hip, new wine bar in Rice Howard Way. I’ll be back.
I took in the show from the choir loft, which is quite a different way to enjoy the music. The music itself sounded pretty good, though it was really tough to hear the conductors when they were speaking to the audience.
But I got to quietly people-watch most of the audience from the loft, so that’s pretty neat.
The Late Night series is a little shorter than a usual night at the symphony, but then takes to the Winspear lobby for jazz and martinis.
Saturday, well, Saturday I freaked out about the snow. May 29 and it’s snowing.
Gosh!
Redemption for the evening came in the form of videogames. And a party. You could call it a videogame party.
Videogames are even more fun when you have a DJ.
Our friends over at User Created Content were celebrating two years of podcasting (Happy Birthday, guys!) and had a night of competitions over at Hitech Gaming, on Stony Plain Road.
People got to compete, for videogame prizes, in Street Fighter, Rock Band, and retro games Super Mario Brothers 3 and Bomberman. After all the fun, and pizza and cake, I got in a little classic Bomberman action in some battle royales.
Hitech itself is a pretty neat place, with multiple rooms to play X-Box games. Right now the venue is available for groups to rent out, but eventually should be open regular hours for your gaming convenience.
I spent Sunday hiding inside in case it snowed again.
from the Edmonton Journal:
Lobbyists dig deep for Conservatives
Tory gov’t pretends to ignore Wildrose while stealing their thunder
Small town values still key in big cities (Live local.)
Library a powerful draw for newcomers
Derelict hospital a project going nowhere (I blame the ghosts. Old hospitals always have ghosts. Savvy real estate ghosts.)
Discovery could help treat spinal injuries
Resource-based economy spells doom for grizzlies (Because the grizzly bears refuse to work in resource jobs.)
Leader of citizens action group steps down, ponders politics (Michael Walters lead the Greater Edmonton Alliance.)
Tour exposes industry’s hold on heartland (Aren’t we going to call areas outside of Edmonton the Industrial Heartland?)
Second-degree murder charge in Alberta foster child death
These next three stories are about Edmonton’s tech community and our big brains: Edmontonian’s app wins Montreal competition – Putting gaming advances to work – Edmonton student comes in second at National Brain Bee
Paul Tracy set to race in Edmonton
from the Edmonton Sun:
Three levels of treatment for wastewater
Political alternatives coming out of the woodwork (The Alberta Party’s Big Listen. More on this party from the Journal.)
Police tactical section needs training grounds
Indy a good deal for Edmonton (Will it stick around?)
Man charged with sexual assault at Edmonton daycare
from Metro Edmonton:
Make the Transit Challenge an Everyday Challenge (Four councillors will ride ETS this week. Surely the rest won’t because they are already taking it…And this is also a week for you to challenge yourself while commuting.)
Young performers will take centre stage at Nextfest
from The Canadian Press:
High-tech way to limit gambling addictions (Scanning your eye? Futuristic problem-gambling fighting.)
from 630CHED/iNews880:
‘Change your giving’ campaign begins in Callingwood (I’m a fan of this.)
City councillors try to rally support for EXPO 2017 (In Toronto.)
More pregnant women needed for study
Phillips to retire on “Classic” note (Rod Phillips is retiring and will call just a few games this coming season. Not sure who’s replacing him yet.)
from CTV Edmonton:
Man dies after being dragged nearly 30 blocks
Street racers allegedly involved in southside crash
Maddox returns home (But he’ll head back to NYC in July for another surgery.)
from Vue Weekly:
Vue’s new website is ready! Go check it out and stuff. We, obviously, love the 5-image rotator on the main page. ;)
Here’s what they had last Thursday: No easy answers (about the Somali community), City with a plan (The Way We Grow) and A councillor’s dozen (Dave Thiele’s 12 years at Edmonton City Hall).
Oh, the things you’ll do
I’m not messing around when I say there is a lot of stuff to do in Edmonton over the next three days.
There is A LOT of stuff to do in Edmonton over the next three days.
Tonight, I’m making it about music. And you could too.
I’ll be at the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (9:30), taking in a “Late Night” performance. Tonight is Late Night Paris. After the performance there’s live jazz in the Winspear.
(There’s more Parisien Charm Sunday afternoon.)
The Late Night series is another way the ESO is trying to reach new audiences. They’ve got the Symphony Under the Sky in Hawrelak Park for the Labour Day weekend, matinees, pops, Broadway, kids’ shows, and the classics. A performance at 9:30 on a Friday night makes it feel like a real night on the town.
As the season winds down (it’s over in mid-June) I applaud the ESO for their versatile lineup and can’t wait for 2010-2011 to kick-off in the park.
If you don’t want to spend the evening at the Winspear Centre you can still make tonight about music.
We mentioned earlier that One Way State is playing Friday night with Maurice. Too Slim and the Taildraggers are still at Blues on Whyte too.
Our old pal Jerrold Dubyk is playing this weekend. He’s got a show tonight, at 6:30, at Victoria School. Then The Jerrold Dubyk Quartet takes to the Haven Social Club stage Saturday night with Althea Cunningham and Dawn in the City.
Dance!
Back to Friday music…You could see The Neil Young Trunk Show over at Metro Cinema. Or catch punk legends The Buzzcocks at New City. The U of A’s Convocation Hall has Classic Broadway via Opera Nuova.
And Disney’s Beauty and the Beast finishes its Edmonton run this weekend.
Now…what about the rest of this busy weekend?
Did somebody ask for a Dance-a-Thon? Good. Because Mile Zero Dance is doing just that, Saturday night. It starts at 7:30 and while it says it ends at 1:30 am, I hope it goes until the last dancer drops.
It could be a weekend of shopping for new things. You can swing by Make-It Edmonton! and buy some cool, handmade goods. If you quickly find yourself with buyer’s remorse you can get over to the Winspear and trade that stuff away at the Over the Top Swap, which also happens to be a spa for the day.
You can celebrate videogames with local podcast User Created Content. They’re throwing a 2nd birthday party Saturday. It starts at HiTech Gaming (15219 Stony Plain Road) and finishes at Union Hall (Argyll and 99 Street).
If you’re still in the gaming mood, Sunday sees the monthly GamePub over at Original Joe’s Varsity.
Edmonton’s own Ann Vriend is playing the Myer Horowitz Theatre Saturday night. She’s kind of a big deal.
We are in the midst of summer movie blockbuster season. I think Sally is trying to drag Gregg Beever to Sex and the City 2. I feel bad for him.
Our event-loving friends over at Share Edmonton have something to say about the next few days too. Share has also teamed up with YEG Live.ca to keep us all updated on live music!
They’ve got details on all the running around you could be doing at the Little Big Run and the Subway Coronation Triathalon. I wonder if everyone eats a giant sub after the race?
Saturday sees a Highlands Street Festival over on 112 Avenue.
And don’t forget the Edmonton Energy play at the Butterdome tonight, they’re hosting the Bellingham Slam.
Don’t tell me you can’t find something to do.
