End of August Events
Yes, Edmonton, summer is winding down. But, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of great stuff going on to lift your spirits. (And pretty good weather recently too.)
On the festival circuit this weekend, there’s DEDfest, In/stall/ed, East Meets West, and Open Sky.
DEDfest is Edmonton’s annual horror film fest. In/stall/ed is is a unique performance and visual art display, happening in the McCauley neighbourhoods in parking spaces. Yeah, public art baby! Latitude 53 is running this, and there will be 17 performances and installations on Saturday. East Meets West continues up in Little Italy and the McCauley neighbourhood, and there’s Mercury Opera performing Madame Butterfly in Giovanni Caboto Park. The Open Sky Music Festival is packing Hawrelak Park with bands and bands and musicians and more musicians.
If you’re into walking, the Highlands neighbourhood is kicking off their walking map this weekend. These maps are great ways to get to know an Edmonton neighbourhood.
I haven’t heard a whole lot about MEAET but it sounds like a cool idea. A bunch of people get together, have some food, enjoy themselves, then vote on who to give some money to for a project.
You can also Show What You Grow, at Fort Edmonton Park.
In music, there’s the earlier mentioned Open Sky Music Festival, with plenty of bands and artists down in Hawrelak Park…Wunderbar’s got Fire Next Time tonight and The Joe and Doug Hoyer triumphantly returning to Edmonton (after a national tour) on Saturday night. Also on Saturday, Hale Hale, Southroot, and Zero Something play the Starlite Room. Back to Friday night, Warped Tourers Inner City Elegance are at Expressionz Cafe. Now back to Saturday (surely I should have done this in chronological order) there’s live music at Ricky’s in Mill Woods (with Consilience and Tyson Skakun).
Oh, and if you walk by CKUA on Jasper Avenue tonight and it seems like something cool is going on it’s because they’re celebrating their amazing record library and have a live performance from 100 Mile House.
Down in the river valley, the Edmonton Capitals host the Calgary Vipers through the weekend.
And over at Clarke Stadium (beside Commonwealth) the Edmonton Huskies are home to Saskatoon Hilltops in Prairie Football.
August 3 Edmonton Headlines
Some days you really aren't getting anywhere.
Good Wednesday to you, Edmonton. Yes, it’s already the middle of the week.
We were talking yesterday, and last week, and when annual crime statistics came out, about context in crime stories. Today there’s a story about a suspicious death investigation at a senior’s home fire in Old Strathcona. Some of the news stories are hinting at the fact police are looking at a suicide as the centre of the crime, which involves another’s death. This CBC story is a little more open about it.
While that wouldn’t make it anymore pleasant – it’s terrible to see people die and others forced out of their home by a fire – this little bit of context as to what might have happened helps people outside of the story know they’re safe. It’s that fear of random crime which is truly scary. And I think that’s where a lot of “tough on crime” talk comes from. Let’s put the context in EVERY crime story, not just as a smaller add-on somewhere else in the newspaper or newscast.
Unfortunately, in a lot of crime stories, without much detail as to what happened you can be left with a feeling that you’re in danger just being in Edmonton, or a certain neighbourhood. It shows how reporting right now (RIGHT NOW!) is fraught with the chances of fearmongering. Police have to be forthcoming with details, and they aren’t always. Sometimes, police are still investigating as newsrooms are working on their second, third, umpteenth version of the story.
We’re more likely to get details, information, and context, at a court case. But, by that point, people usually remember the first story or two about a crime as chosen by newsrooms (make no mistake, there’s no objectivity about selecting one crime over the dozens that happen each day). And, since not every newsroom has a constant presence at the courts, the initial stories usually get more play.
Working on a breaking news story for a day or more might be the best way newsrooms can get out information in a timely manner and avoid leaving any danger up to the imagination. It also means they have time to seek out good, reliable sources of information, challenge people who only seem to be trying to get into the news for a quote, be more careful with sidebar and spin-off stories, and truly be a part of the community they want to serve.
You don’t go around trying to frighten your friends and neighbours, nor would they talk to you a whole lot if you were vague about everything. Why do we allow our news coverage to be vague?
It’s time for you and me to ask newsrooms for a better level of crime coverage. We don’t need them to slap together a story, we need them to dig in and tell us why the stories are important, why the story matters, who and what is shaping our city. We need to demand a better discussion about crime in Edmonton.
Now, let’s see what’s happening in the rest of a pretty safe Edmonton. 
(more…)
End of the Week Headlines
This is the largest puddle I’ve had to jump in our current melt:
I’m going to need a high jump pole soon.
Edmonton transit security officers are busy, especially north of Churchill Station. ETS is asking for more money to hire an additional 10 officers. The ETS is also reporting an increase in tickets to people who didn’t pay their fare. While turnstiles, and similar systems, would cost more in the short-term they’d solve that problem on the LRT.
Edmonton police are using their Tasers, batons, and police dogs less, and just going with good old-fashioned hand-to-hand takedowns for arrests that don’t go smoothly.
People trying to end homelessness in Edmonton say they are making progress.
Should the federal government toss money into sports arenas and stadiums? If we’re talking about Edmonton’s downtown arena, I’d agree if we saw people stepping up to build projects around the arena. Right now I’m only certain we’ll have an arena for the Oilers and a refurbished Baccarat Casino. Northlands is making me wonder if a new arena would even house the majority of our major concerts, since they may try to keep Rexall Place open if they’re cut out of the downtown plan.
Preserving history is not cheap.
The Medicentre we heard about earlier this week, when a patient was allegedly refused help, may see some complaints filed against it.
How timely for Fraud Awareness Month: Edmonton police arrest four people found with numerous stolen IDs.
The team charged with investigating police when there’s an injury or death is busy right now.
The NAIT Ooks men’s basketball team is at the national championships this weekend. It’s more basketball to pay attention to during March Madness.
Forget about it Lowe’s, it’s Totem town.
Whew. This is a busy day. And we haven’t even gotten to healthcare yet. (more…)
Ghost Mayors …on City Services
A historical satire by actors who did little research, from the EdmontonPolitics.com team.
From garbage collection to policing, recreation to power generation, the City of Edmonton provides a lot to its residents. Our city’s former mayors sure have some thoughts on what could be done better. And what they’d rather just take care of without you sticking your nose into it.
In this forum:
Mayor Matthew (Mat) “Warden” McCauley – Edmonton’s first mayor
Mayor William J. McNamara – First mayor to defeat a sitting incumbent, in the city’s closest race (still the closest race to date)
Mayor William “Wild Bill” Hawrelak – 3 time mayor, twice had to leave office because of land deals, eventually died in office
After the jump you’ll find out what they think. Hopefully Fightin’ Joe Clarke doesn’t show up to settle the score with Mayor McNamara… (more…)
Weekend 2.0
Welcome to weekend 2.0 Edmonton.
I really don’t know what that means, but everybody slaps 2.0 into their stuff and it just sounds so cool.
Sally mentioned The Joe’s big show, this Saturday at The Hydeaway, in her new feature “Welcome to the Beat Laboratory.” So, to reiterate, The Joe is playing a big show Saturday at The Hydeaway. With lots of other great rappers. At The Hydeaway. Saturday.
I hope they have bike-powered smoothies again.
Hey, this Saturday is Bikeology, and we’ve never missed a Bikeology festival yet, here at the edmontonian. Alright, we’ve only had one to cover. But I plan on being there tomorrow, so that will make us 2/2.
It’s happening in tandem with the City’s Park(ed) event on 102 Avenue. So, park the car, hop on the bicycle and take in our city at a slower, more enjoyable, pace. There’s also a rock show over at Churchill Square.
And they say our downtown is dead…
One event that Sally will be going on and on about is the release of Toy Story 3. Check with our resident sass-machine for other movies coming out.
Rent begins a run at La Cite, a theatre in Edmonton’s French district.
Improvaganza is still providing laughs. That’s two major festivals already mentioned today.
FC Edmonton is playing. While I initially thought it was something to do with a Coca-Cola sponsorship, it turns out they will be taking on one of Chile’s best soccer teams, Colo-Colo. This could be the cure for your World Cup fever.
Also in sporting news…the Edmonton Prospects are home (home being John Fry Park) to Swift Current and Okotoks this weekend.
The WhitSundays are playing the Pawn Shop tonight.
(I think this is the least amount of music I’ve ever mentioned for a weekend.)
National Aboriginal Day is Monday, but the events begin before that.
Our good friends at ShareEdmonton (and their friends at YegLive.ca) have some ideas of their own about this weekend. That makes it sound nefarious, but they’re actually just good ideas.
You know, it’s almost summer. The real summer. Which makes Summer Solstice sound like just the right kind of event.
At ShareEdmonton they always know when the Edmonton Energy are playing. The Energy are on the hardcourt this weekend, against the Yamhill Flyers. I did not make that up.
Luke and Tess Pretty are releasing a CD. If you don’t know who Luke and Tess Pretty are you haven’t spent a lot of time on Whyte Avenue in the summer.
Maybe you just want to watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog again? There’s an event for that.
Tim Allen is at the tent at River Cree.
Sunday is Father’s Day. Fort Edmonton Park has “Dad vs. Wild,” which disappoints me only because it’s nothing like Survivorman.
Extra events
Normally I talk about stuff happening Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But, of course, this is a long weekend and we get one more day to do stuff that isn’t work.
We are so lucky.
I believe I may have hinted in the Headlines this morning that I will be watching the Lost series finale this Sunday. Hey, even if you haven’t been a Lostie, there’s still enough time to grab the DVDs and watch enough key episodes to get in on the fun. Otherwise, good luck avoiding everything about the show while you spend weeks trying to catch up after the show ends.
I wonder if its DVD sales will be awful for a few years, until it’s been wiped pretty clear of pop culture?
Anyway…
You have to ride the streetcar at least once each summer.
It doesn’t look like it’s going to be a great weekend, weather-wise, so maybe you’ll ust hit the movie theatre. It’s totally a good couch weekend too.
If you are looking for some of your first taste of BBQ, maybe hit school board candidate Michael Janz’s campaign kick-off party, Saturday afternoon. It’s right by the McKernan-Belgravia LRT station.
Henry Rollins is at the Winspear tonight. Let Sally know how that goes.
Fort Edmonton Park opens its 2010 season this long weekend. Too bad they didn’t have time to put in the log flumes and historically accurate laser tag.
I’ve learned, through the power of the Internet, that Saturday is the International Day of Biodiversity. So, head on over to the courtyard behind the Stanley A. Milner library and learn about plants, bugs and stuff.
Victoria Day weekend means the High Level Bridge streetcar starts running!
Public Enemy playing the Edmonton Event Centre Sunday night. We should have ordered an edmontonian clock for Flavor. It really is a weekend of hip hop, since you’ve also got Hip Hop in the Park (Louise McKinney, that is) Saturday afternoon. Hip Hop in the Dark goes tonight.
The Uncas rock the Pawn Shop Saturday.
And thanks to our good friends at ShareEdmonton I can remember to mention that the Edmonton Energy are home tonight for IBL action.
No matter what you’re getting up to, if you’re leaving the house remember that there are LRT closures this weekend. The train won’t be running between Churchill and Clareview stations.
We called it!
(A tip of the hat to Stephen Colbert for the headline.)
Back in July (July, Edmonton!) we had a contributor put forward a plan that would revolutionize Fort Edmonton Park. It included rides, mazes, virtual realities, interactive pictures, videos and exhibits.
They all laughed.
Well, today the laughing stopped.
(The laughing at us and Janine I mean. You can feel free to laugh at the idea of a high-tech old timey park.)
If only we had predicted the log flume.
What if I told you the horses were actually holograms? (Photo: Fort Edmonton Park)
Free to be you and me
As Jeff mentioned here, Sunday was the City of Edmonton’s Free Admission Day, which meant everybody could go check out all kinds of Edmonton leisure and recreation facilities for no charge, including Fort Edmonton, the Valley Zoo, the John Janzen Nature Centre, and others. Unable to be everywhere at once, I elected to visit Fort Edmonton to catch a show by my bellydancing friends in Vibe Tribe (look for the story later this week), and also, admittedly, to see if I could get my hands on some bannock (No luck).
While I was more than prepared for there to be massive crowds, I was kind of bowled over by just how many people there actually were. In fact, “waiting in line” seemed to be an even more noticeable theme than “Edmonton”,”free”,”brought to you by ENMAX”, or even “things that are old time-y”: (more…)
