A Sister Gray Giveaway
What are you doing Friday night?
Sister Gray are having a single release party at New City Legion. And they want you to join them. (You might remember them from a previous post, and they being Sonic’s Band of the Month earlier this year.)
They really want you to be there. So, they’re offering up a pair of tickets to the show. It’s going to be a good one too. With Cygnets, The Frolics and a new band; Very Dangerous Animals. That’s an all-Edmonton lineup.
What? Two tickets isn’t enough to convince you?
Fine.
How about two tickets to the show, two download cards of Sister Gray’s new single, AND two t-shirts? Yeah, now we’re talking.
The new single, by the way, will prepare you for the new album, likely to come at the beginning of 2012 according to the sisters Graling.
Drop us a comment to be entered into a draw for the prizes. We’ll draw a winner at 5pm today. You can’t have won anything from us in the last 30 days and must be ready to have a good Friday night. The winner will be contacted by e-mail.
Happy Slurpee Day!
Today is July 11, 7-11 if you will, so the 7-Eleven convenience store chain is celebrating an unofficial birthday.
Every location of 7-Eleven in Edmonton (and everywhere else) is giving away free (FREE!) 7.11 ounce Slurpees today.
Each store will give away 1,000 Slurpees. So get out there and get some icy fun.
Late Headlines
Good day, Edmonton. As Sally mentioned earlier, I was out and about and got hung up. But, fear not, I still love me some Headlines.
Hundreds of Edmonton teaching jobs could be cut, as the Edmonton Public School Board tries to balance a budget that’s not getting any extra love from the Alberta government. The same Alberta government that’s going to be asked to put in up to $100-million for our city’s new downtown arena.
I guess education and teaching degrees do make one qualified to work an arena concession stand.
Speaking of provincial education dollars, Beaumont is getting a pair of new schools.
Meanwhile…the closed-door, after-hours vote to approve the arena deal isn’t getting a whole lotta love.
Starting with the arena again…you’d think that was some kind of big deal or something. (more…)
Your Lucky Weekend
Welcome to another weekend, Edmonton. Don’t let today being Friday the 13th throw off your vibe.
This weekend just so happens to be a Make It! Edmonton weekend. The craft and design show is back at the Alberta Aviation Hangar, with all kinds of great handmade goods. You can also help out the Canadian Kidney Foundation while you shop, by bidding on the silent auction – which will include items from the Make It! designers.
Tickets are $5 at the door, but we can get some of you in for free. Would you like that? Let us know if you want to go to Make It! this weekend.
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On Saturday, at the Russ Barns Arena, E-Ville Roller Derby wraps up the season with the Gage Cup between the Slice Girls and Berzerkhers. Sticking with roller derby…the Oil City Derby Girls become the “Knicker Kickers” to take on the Red Deer Belladonnas (who become the Whale Tails) in an Underwear Affair on wheels.
In music…you’ve got Rammstein at Rexall Place tonight. I expect it to be roofless by tomorrow. The Bridle Party and Van Funk & The Lebarons are playing an early show at Brixx tonight. Captain Tractor has a CD release at the Roxy Theatre (they play in Permanent Records tomorrow at 5pm). Over at New City Legion it’ll be Black Mastiff with Field & Stream and Morals. Men Without Hats are at the Century Casino. Buddy Guy is at the Polish Hall. Tomorrow’s Hair of the Dog is a good one; with Caity Fisher (you may remember her from our most recent episode of television). Saturday night The Empress has Howlin’ Dan, with John Woroschuck. And on Sunday Jimmy Rankin is at the Haven Social Club.
Capital City Burlesque “Unleash the Geek” this weekend, at the Starlite Room.
Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? (It had to be since it’s the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibians 2011 Spring Show & Sale.)
Biodiversity Week (it’s a thing) kicks off in Edmonton at City Hall. Earth Alive will be a family-friendly event, and you could learn how to increase the wildlife population in your backyard.
The third annual #yegHelp event is Saturday night at Lux. Proceeds of the event will go to La Salle women’s shelter.
If you’re into helping, you might have already known that the sixth Homeless Connect Edmonton is this Sunday at the Shaw Conference Centre. Homeless Connect is an interesting event, it provides all kinds of services to Edmonton’s homeless community; everything from mental health assessments and immunizations to haircuts and laundry.
For you fans of reading, this is a good weekend. The Edmonton Public Library’s Books to Eat fundraiser is Saturday night, while Audrey’s hosts An Afternoon with the Authors Sunday.
Sunday afternoon, The Pure Speculation Festival is holding Mini Spec!: a fundraiser for the big deal (which happens later this year).
Still on Sunday, there will be an Open House at ENTS. That’s the Edmonton New Technology Society; a cool little collective workspace in Oliver. E-mail them to get in on it and check out their space.
You can always see a movie, now that blockbuster season has begun (does it feel like it’s starting earlier to anyone else?). Oh, and get rid of your old couch at the City’s Big Bin Events.
Let’s Talk About Text, Baby
Hey you, sexy, swinging Edmontonians. When the good people at WIND Mobile had a few Blackberries to give away, they knew you guys were the ones to talk to (and we were the ones to offer up the provided phones).
Recently, Textuality opened in select theatres (not in Edmonton to my knowledge). It’s a Canadian movie starring starring Jason Lewis (Smith Jerrod to you Sex and the City fans), Canadian actors Carly Pope (Young People F**king, Popular), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace, Lonesome Dove), and Liam Card (also the film’s writer). The movie looks at dating in the age of smartphones. And texting (obviously).
It looks like this:
Now, just because Edmonton wasn’t on the movie’s release schedule, doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun. (That might just be a double-entendre.) Details on getting you a new phone after the jump. (more…)
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.
The Winspear Presents
Edmonton loves its folk music festival. There’s no denying that when you see how quickly the weekend (though it’s starting to stretch out to most of the week) sells out each summer.
So I’ve been meaning to write about The Winspear Presents series of concerts happening this spring. Programmed by Edmonton Folk Music Festival producer Terry Wickham, it’s a selection of folk, troubadour, and world music, well in advance of the annual pilgrimage to Gallagher Hill. (more…)
Orgasm Inc. (safe for work)
I know you like a good freebie, Edmonton, and a free movie is pretty sweet.
Over at at the University of Alberta tonight you can watch Orgasm Inc., a documentary about the pharmaceutical industry’s push to cure female sexual dysfunction, medical marketing campaigns, and, of course, sexual pleasure. Following the screening there will be a discussion and presentations from smart folks from places like CJSR’s Adamant Eve, and our friends at The Traveling Tickle Trunk.
Documentary and discussion? Smartest Tuesday night ever.
While the movie is free, donations will be accepted for local feminist group the Edmonton Rebelles.
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.
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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…)
Spring Fashion
Photo: Amanda Diaz (thanks to Mode Models and Ponytails & Horseshoes too)
Spring is, technically, in the air, Edmonton. And spring means new fashions.You may have noticed we were getting into the mood earlier this week.
It’s not just time to (hopefully) dump winter garb for spring fashions (of which I can tell you very little, since my fashion knowledge is comprised of not very much) but time for Fashion with a capital F. In fact, it’s fashion with a capital W, C, F, and W, which spells Western Canada Fashion Week. (Spelling is also something I know little about.)
Yes, one of our favourite events is back for its biannual extravaganza. (more…)
Angela (back) in the city
(Editor’s note: Remember Angela? One of our intrepid fashionistas, and always looking on the bright side. She’s back.)
Life indeed has been hectic since I got back from backpacking around South America but, for once, I’m happy to be here. You would think that switching from 14-hour days of summer to 9-hour days of winter would be hard, but not this time. One of my New Year’s resolutions, made as I watched fireworks from my balcony in Bolivia, was to figure out my city. I had traveled and trekked around the world, but Edmonton still remained a mystery to me.
No sweat though, I’ve figured out my way around foreign lands so this should be a snap. (more…)
Yo..ga…Yoga…Yoga!
Hey, Edmonton, if you’re looking for some yoga, of the free and entry-level variety, the City of Edmonton’s got you covered.
Active Edmonton is offering free yoga on Wednesday (and Wednesdays through June 29) to try and get you moving. So, head on over to the City Room at City Hall tomorrow at lunch. I guarantee yoga will pack on fewer calories than a midday poutine.
A couple of the Wednesday sessions will take place at CBC Centre Stage, in City Centre Mall, so you may want to check the schedule so you don’t freak out a City committee that’s had its meeting run into lunch. Although, that would probably liven up the meeting…
The Winspear Presents: Martin Sexton
The Edmonton Folk Music Festival is not always the easiest to get a ticket to. People freakin’ love that thing. So, thankfully, the Winspear Centre is going to give us all a dose of folk and world music through the spring.
I plan to write a little more on their Winspear Presents Series but things do get started tomorrow night with troubadour (I’m becoming a big fan of that word) Martin Sexton.
Soulful and poignant, Sexton is going to make that great building hum.
You want a couple of free tickets to the show?
Sister Gray Giveaway
You are in luck, dear Edmonton.
I know you were eyeing up tonight’s Brasstronaut/Sister Gray/Aidan Knight show at The Haven Social Club. Because we know that, we’ll offer you a pair of free tickets. Heck, we’ll throw in a Sister Gray EP too. Because we know what you like.
Vancouver’s Brasstronaut brings their funky-pop groove to Edmonton tonight. They’ve brought along Victoria songwriter Aidan Knight. When they thought about playing Edmonton they probably thought “We should add a local act to our bill.”
Enter Sister Gray.
Millet’s Graling sisters, who now call Edmonton home, lead the pop-rock band. Jenesse and Brittany are both grads of MacEwan’s music program too.
Sister Gray’s debut EP Close the Night was released last year, and it’s the material you’ll hear them touring on right now. Tonight’s a good night to hear them.
Drop your name into the comments if you want two free tickets to the show, and a copy of Close the Night. We’ll draw a winner at 2pm.
If you don’t win our free tickets, you can snag some with money by hitting up YEG Live. The show’s at Haven Social Club at 7:30.
Floating for Five Years
Five years ago, when you and I were just young whippersnappers staring at the big, bright world, Joe Gurba was throwing down award-winning rhymes and becoming a name in the local hip-hop scene. The name he was putting out there was The Joe, and we still know it today. He not only continues to rap, he runs the Old Ugly Recording Co. label here in Edmonton.
Gurba began working on an album called Float or Flail in 2006 and we’re finally getting to hear it. Between then and now we’ve heard another album (Ut Oh) and mixtapes (like the fantastic Playfight) but not that earlier album.
“The significance of the title Float or Flail hinges on my inability to swim,” Gurba writes in an e-mail. But the title also relates to what he felt his circumstances were in 2006.
“It came to me that my life had been a desperate dichotomy between flailing and floating,” he says “Float or Flail became this phrase that invaded my thoughts very often, particularly when I was seeing myself as if from outside myself, schmoozing and remembering names, and wanting respect for something or other…All the while the true desire of my heart was to be alone with God and pursue deeper more elusive truths.”
The struggle to reconcile these parts of his personality left Joe depressed.
“I was at a major turning point… I was wondering if I was going to continue rapping at all,” he explains. (more…)
Hot Chocolate and Ladies (not in the same place)
We’ve got a two-pronged attack for an events post today.
Prong the first: There’s free hot chocolate for you at the Alberta Legislature tonight.
Actually, you can grab free hot chocolate every night (6-9pm) through December 23. It’s all part of “Celebrate the Season” at the Legislature.
There will also be choirs (they sing during the lunch hour too), Christmas trees in the pedway (decorated with love by students of Edmonton and area), lots of lights and decorations outside on the Legislature grounds, and ice skating on the south grounds. That is a lot of Christmas and winter to celebrate. No wonder they need most of the month.
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If you’re not into all that holiday and seasonal stuff, you can check out the Oilers game tonight. They’re home to the Leafs.
Now, that might not sound all that exciting (insert Maple Leafs zing here), but tonight is a special night for your Edmonton Oilers.
Tonight they unveil their new cheer team (insert scantily-clad girl, re-building hockey team zing here).
Ready for your close-up?
If you’re anything like me, you don’t tend to leave the house without a camera.
But, if you’re anything unlike me you have a fancy camera and are very much into professional tips and ways to take better photos.
Either way, how about some free tickets to the Edmonton Photographic Tradeshow? Yeah, that sounds nice doesn’t it? Now, I can’t just give you these two tickets to the Saturday show without making you jump through a hoop or two.
Lucky for you, my actual hoops are in the shop.
(Also lucky, that McBain Camera is cool enough to give us these tickets to give to you.)
So I’ll just ask you for a hilarious caption to the photo below. This is so arbitrary I’m going to go with the caption that makes me laugh most.
And…
Go!
Caption Me!
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.
Are we having fun yet?
For those of you that have tracked down the TV show “Party Down,” that headline is all sorts of funny.
For the rest of you, it certainly leads us to a list of events that could fill your fun quota for the weekend.
Dogapalooza. You couldn’t name an event much better. This is all things dog, at the Westlawn sports fields. It’s really everything you could think of, even a dog blood bank. There will also be plenty of businesses and services on site (like our friends from Tailz) so you can get all the information you need to be the best dog owner in the world.
The Kaleido Family Arts Festival is celebrating five years on the ave (the 118 Ave). This is an all-weekend explosion of arts, with every type of art represented. Should be no need to ask if you’re having fun yet.
The Marketplace at Callingwood has Cornfest and Family Fun Day. Saturday.
There’s free yoga at the The Yoga Loft (10309 82 Avenue) Saturday and Sunday.
The Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon is this weekend. The non-stop improvising begins tonight at 7pm and runs until Sunday at 9pm.
Corn Maze. There’s the corn maze.
Sally already told you about the CD release and show with The Provincial Archive at the Roxy Theatre. This is a band you need to start liking now, before they’re huge.
The ARTery has a neat new idea. They’re holding Friday Fundraising Happy Hours from 4-7 PM. Finally, your end-of-the-week drinking can help a good cause. In September it’s Room to Read.
Donations also get free popcorn!
The Bohemia Cafe is hosting a bandapalooza of sorts, Saturday. They’ve got Jason Myatt, Nick Watt, Micelli, The Party Martyrs, The Mystery Ponies, Brash Tax, and Animal Men of the Northwest. Whew.
Paul James is at the Blue Chair Cafe tonight. He’s a little more electric tomorrow at the Bonnie Doon Hall. Sally keeps thinking he’s Colin James’ brother or something.
It’s been Canadian Country Music Week in Edmonton this week. The big finale is at Rexall Place, Sunday.
Starlite Room has Capital City Burlesque Friday night.
There’s a Handmade Mafia, Saturday at the Orange Hall.
Oh, one more thing, the YWCA is holding its first “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” next Tuesday. That’s when men are going to walk around Churchill Square in high heel shoes. There’s still time to donate and be a part of this event, which is all about helping victims of domestic violence. Can you believe this is still such a problem in 2010?
Fast, Football, Festivals, Free, and Fantastic
Longboarders are going to have to be brave to tackle the race through our river valley. Yikes!
As for our headline…when the alliteration shoe fits…
This weekend sees the end of another year of fringing. But, fret not, the 29th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival lives on in our hearts.
Oh, and in these holdover plays.
Hope this smoke clears out because there are a few outdoor movies this weekend. Finding Nemo (another F!) is playing tonight at the Valley Zoo. (Oops! It was last night. Thanks for the heads up, Mike.)
Movies on the Square is back too, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid tonight, and Fantastic Mr. Fox Saturday night. Stony Plain has an outdoor movie too.
It’s Free Cookie Friday at Luzarra. Get over to Whyte Avenue and buy a coffee so you can get a cookie. That caffeine and sugar will only help you start the weekend better.
The tune-ups are done and the Prairie Football Conference is into the real stuff this weekend. The second-best team in the country, the Edmonton Wildcats, begin their season home to the Regina Thunder. Sunday at Clarke Park (beside Commonwealth Stadium).
The winless Edmonton Huskies also begin the regular season this weekend. They’ll take anything they can get after going 0-8 last season. They host the Calgary Colts Saturday night at Clarke.
This is actually quite a decent level of football if you can’t bear to watch the Eskimos embarrass themselves anymore. Tickets are also reasonably priced.
Another non-Eskimos option is the Edmonton Capitals. Tonight’s game is also chock full of diabetes info, courtesy of the Canadian Diabetes Association. (The Capitals are ALSO showing a movie outside, after their Saturday game. It’s The Rookie.)
DEDfest is back to scare the crap out of you, and generally make you squirm.
DEDfest may get you thinking about Hallowe’en, which may get you thinking about fall, which may get you thinking about farmers harvesting their crops, which leads me to mention the Corn Maze is open.
Let’s dip into the ShareEdmonton calendar for some fun.
Clearer air would also help the participants in the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, happening at Louise McKinney Park.
As mentioned earlier this week, Saturday is the Canadian Derby at Northlands. It’ll be all fancy hats, fast horses and…bikini girls…
Hawrelak Park’s got the blues. Dun, dun, dun da, dun…The Edmonton’s Labatt Blues Festival…Dun, dun, dun da, dun…
Don’t forget you can always seek shelter from the smoke in a nice, cool movie theatre. Gregg can tell you what’s likely worth your money.
And on Monday, we’ll be celebrating our first year alongside another one-year-old, The Unknown Studio. Come on out to Wunderbar, throw us a toonie, enjoy some fine beer, and hear life-affirming passages from celebrity autobiographies. Party pants not required.
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While messing up the Finding Nemo showtime I also forgot to mention The ARTery’s kick-ass weekend. The Get Down is playing Friday night (there’s still time, it’s still good) and Saturday is an artists’ garage sale/pancake breakfast/bbq/block party. Told you it was kick-ass.
Milkshakes = Boys to your yard
Today. 2-4pm. Get yourself a free 
milkshake.
I’ve been meaning to write about the fun milkshake machines at my local Mac’s (and possibly the one by your house too), and now I’ve got my reason.
Mac’s is giving away free milkshakes this afternoon. Go get one.
They also have smoothies, I think. I can’t say for sure because I love my fatty chocolate milkshakes.
(Ignore the fact that the Mac’s looks like a 7-11 in that Google Maps link.)
Update: Sally has sent in a photo from the milkshake front lines:
People love their free milkshakes.
Searching for sunshine
365 Days of Sunshine, by Angela Ostafichuk
Hello Edmontonians, and welcome to summer.
In between teaching, hosting, hula-hooping and watching football it seems like the summer is melting quicker then the popsicle I forgot in the sun. As we all know, summer is truly the best time to be in Edmonton. The weather is good, the days are long and we have a million things to do in July and August.
Here is what’s cheap (or free) in this city this week.
Until July 18, the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival is running in Churchill square. Come on down and see some wonderful entertainment from around the world. Although the cost is free, donations are more then accepted as nobody *really* wants to be a starving artist.
Tuesday night check out “Much Ado About Nothing” in Hawrelak park, part of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. As it is pay-what-you-will night, it makes for an entertaining, low cost evening. The festival runs until the end of the month and tickets usually are priced from $15 to $22.50.
For those women who are interested in spicing it up a bit (and I always say, an educated woman is not only smart, she’s happy) there is the “Orgasams 101″ workshop running out of the Traveling Tickle Trunk. Although people may complain that $25 is a bit much for a few hours, I say it is not. This workshop is priceless. It’s for women only, and you can check out their website for more education opportunities. (July 25 offers a Penis Pleasing workshop….These classes fill up fast though so make sure you register ahead of time.)
Thursday, July 15 gives a few opportunities to work on your inner artist. The AGA is back with their summer adult art classes. This week focuses on the Group of Seven and how to do acrylic landscape painting. At $12 a class these aren’t free, however, they are a wonderful way to try something new. A few blocks away, at Latitude 53, the rooftop patio series is still running, with the 15th featuring JCI.
Friday, the Fava summer party is at the Ortona armory and, being a potluck, means plenty of food and fun. Kick it back here, or enjoy one of Edmonton’s many patios with a walk, after, through the valley, while the sun sets.
And as for Saturday and Sunday… I’ll leave that up to you. For me it means farmers market, hooping at the Leg grounds and coffee at Credo! But who am I to tell you what to do?
Any ideas for what other Edmontonians do? Please leave a comment, or Twitter me at artstylelove.
Take this, it’s free
Mornin’ Edmonton. 
If you want a free hat. (That free hat, over there, to the right.) Then you should toss us a photo from the Edmonton International Jazz Festival.
I’ll accept any of your jazzy photos though, since this is all about jazz appreciation.
Slide it into our Flickr group (which sounds just a little dirty) and that hat is yours.
Then we just have to figure out how to get the hat onto your head.
