A rollicking weekend
You’re in for one of those, Edmonton. And the weather is even
I guess we know which one of us will be watching movies for free.
supposed to be nice. So let’s all remember to take advantage of that.
The Edmonton International Film Festival is underway tonight. There’s an opening night movie and gala, then it’s a week+ of movies, movies, and more movies.
The Old Strathcona Foundation is hosting A Taste of Old Strathcona, tonight at the Arts Barns. It will be food and a silent auction, all the with flair of Edmonton’s funnest neighbourhood.
Speaking of the Old Strathcona neighbourhood…Edmonton Chante is back for another year of the city’s best French music. The shows are free. Free I tells 
ya!
Speaking of music…Falklands is, of course, playing New City. It’s the first show of their national tour. We think they’re great.
The ARTery continues its fundraising Happy Hour Fridays. This month’s charity is Room to Read. Plus, there are rumours of a new nacho treat.
Danny Michel is playing the Arden Theatre. He’s also great. And he’s following up his show tonight with a songwriter’s session with U22.
Chopin 2010 begins this weekend. It’s months of music and events to celebrate the 200th birthday of Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin. (You probably recognize some of his work.)
Speaking of classical music (more…)
An Edmonton Weekend
It seems there’s always something to do in Edmonton.
This weekend, I tried to catch a few events and take in some Edmonton fun.
Friday night, I waited in this line to see the Edmonton International Film Festival’s 24/One selections. This was a choice selection of short films made in 24 hours.
Anticipation!
Saturday saw the monthly Handmade Mafia show at Orange Hall and Savoy Lounge, in Old Strathcona.
Crafts!
Saturday night was all about the music. First, Van Funk & The Lebarons at Wunderbar. Then, The Wheat Pool at the Pawnshop. I even had the will power to avoid eating 12 hot dogs at Fat Franks.
It's The Wheat Pool!
And if you didn’t notice all those pink shirts Sunday, it was the Run for the Cure. Lots of money was raised for breast cancer research in Edmonton.
Sally caught these runners post-race.
See you next weekend, fun.
Weekend Party Time
Bye, summer.
Just because the sun is setting on the week, Edmonton, doesn’t mean the fun is over. Heck, the weekend is the fun part.
I’ve said it before but this weekend looks super-busy and jammed with goodness.
As usual, there’s no preference or order to this stuff. It’s just stuff that’s going on. You can always let me know if there’s something cool happening and I can include it.
Campus chaos is probably going to rock some student faces off tonight. There’s a high probability, anyway.
Edmonton Chante is all about francophone music and artists. It’s mostly in Whyte Avenue venues, but pops downtown too. Check it out already.
The Edmonton International Film Festival begins this fair evening with opening night movies and a gala.
Metro Cinema is also showing local filmmakers this weekend.
Art by Chris Reid
Manitoba artist Chris Reid is rocking Latitude 53 with angry toast (right). And other wonders.
Sunday is the City of Edmonton’s free admission day. Free. ‘Nuff said.
Do you like potatoes? There’s this little thing called The Great Potato Giveaway. I hope you can lift 50 pounds of potatoes.
You what is pretty fun, and will probably be the big deal of late ’09 and 2010? Roller derby. Get on that bandwagon tonight with the E-Ville girls.
The revitalization of 118th Avenue continues with a weekend of family arts fun, between 92 and 94 Streets.
More movies
As you can see below (I’m guessing you’re on our main page, if not, go there and look below this story) the film festival is about to blow our minds with movies.
Suspense! Romance? Comedy!
But Metro Cinema is taking things up a notch during the Edmonton International Film Festival by showing Local Filmmakers.
The cats over at HighWire Films (also behind the CJSR Fundrive videos) have Beartrap for your viewing pleasure this weekend.
This looks to be a bit dark, but funny too. They call it Silence of the Lambs meets the Odd Couple. Which is enough to make it worth checking out.
The movie has local talent, crew, and even boasts some great local (and Canadian) music from Colleen Brown, The Famines, The Joe and Rah Rah.
Also local and showing is The Mysteries of Kinematic Inversion: The Old Man and the Oloid.
Metro Cinema is in Zeidler Hall in the Citadel Theatre, 9828 – 101A Ave. (Hey, I didn’t know until the first time I went, so I’m guessing other people don’t know where it is.)
They’re reel and they’re fabulous
That headline remains my favourite Edmonton International Film Festival tagline.
Ignore the man reflected in the glass and focus on the MOVIES.
The EIFF has been busy picking and choosing films for your enjoyment and education.
They’ve got more than 150 movies, so you better hurry and start planning your schedule. Something to note; it sounds like they’ve got more international films than ever before.
There’s also the 24/ONE challenge. This is where people try to create a short film in just 24 hours. A juried selection of 10 will be screened October 2.
Being a film festival there are screenings and showings and parties and galas and more. So hit up their website, poke around the ONLY venue, City Centre Theatre, and get into the glam of movies.
If you’re looking for a handy hand-held Film Fest guide you can pick one up at Second Cups, TIX on the Square, the aforementioned Empire Theatre in City Centre and in the lastest SEE Magazine.
Don’t forget to tell us what’s good and what movies we should be seeing. Drop us a line in the comments or tell everyone on Twitter with the hashtag #eiff.
Let’s kick this weekend’s ass
Fresh off Thursday night's Starlite Room 5th birthday, Ben Stevenson is playing The Artery tonight. Go. (Photo: Jason Bouwmeester)
I don’t know if it’s all the double-americanos I’ve had today, or the delicious bacon I ate for breakfast, or the Fringe, or what, but I think we really need to get amped up and take this weekend on.
I’m feeling good about this, Edmonton.
I think there’s enough going on, across the spectrum of event-styles, that everybody has something to do. Heck, everybody could have three or four things to do. (If you work this weekend, I feel sorry for you. But only a little bit.)
Let’s begin with an interesting one. It might be a little bit cooler than MADE had hoped for, but the group is showing the modern classic doumentary King of Kong downtown tonight (9pm). On the side of a wall. Bring your own chair.
If you’re looking to get out of the house Saturday (and who isn’t?) maybe you should head over 118 Avenue way and check out EastwoodFest. It’s part of the revitalization efforts over yonder.
Of course, there’s the big one: the Fringe. ‘Nuff said.
#yegIceCream 3 is a fundraiser for Royal LePage’s Shelter Foundation. Ice cream and helping people go together nicely.
Back to Friday night (sorry, I’m all over the place), you’ve got the Silversun Pickups playing the Edmonton Events Centre.
How about you give your Irish beer-loving self a reason to drink said Irish beer at Celtic Festival?
You can get your punk-on at Unrest Fest (because I love face-melting music now, I guess).
The Swiftys play the Pawn Shop (with Darrek Anderson, the Roger Marin Band and Gordie Tentrees). Spoiler alert: they’re good.
Oh, and while I don’t recommend you run in marathons without training, you can always head out and cheer on the runners. The running room has a map of the weekend race routes. There are races Saturday and Sunday. The maps will give you an idea of where to stand and cheer, and where to avoid traffic delays.
If you’re wondering where I get some of my sweet ideas, why not check out a certain radio station’s event calendar. I talked about it yesterday…
Now get out there and make me proud!
