Lunch Gets the Square
Photo: Paul Poulsen
(I already apologize for my weak Hollywood Squares attempt in the headline.)
We’re coming up on lunchtime here in Edmonton, so I think it’s the perfect time to mention that Churchill Square will be “Live at Lunch” this week. (Which will be lots of fun when it’s sunny.)
Today, there are supposed to be puppets and plays (for the kids).
Wednesday you can learn about sustainable food options and solar power, while listening to Canadian Idol finalist (and Edmontonian) Martin Kerr.
Thursday is when it gets crazy, with Zumba, storytime for grown-ups, stand-up paddleboarding in the City Hall fountain, and chess. Friday will be mix of activities for all ages, with more puppets, Snakes’n'Ladders in the Square.
There’s also wifi in Churchill Square, and should be food trucks (plus Three Bananas has great pizzas and coffee). Get out there and enjoy your public square, Edmonton!
Meet the Press’d
So, I was wandering around downtown Edmonton’s mall district the other day (which is just City Centre Mall) and came upon a new sandwich place in the old Cargo & James spot.
Being an enjoyer of a good sandwich, I stopped in to see what Press’d had to offer. My first question, after ordering their take on the club with a potato soup, was whether this was a chain. One of the owners informed me this was an Edmonton deal. Good for them.
You can see all kinds of bread stacked high in the corner, by the cash. It appears quite a bit of food is prepared on the fly too, since it took a few minutes for my sandwich and soup.
I opted for a half-size because I wanted to pair it with a cup of soup (full-size sandwiches and bowls of soup are also options). That was a good call since the sandwich was piled high with turkey meat. I think it was just your standard lunchmeat, and the bacon was really thinly sliced, leading me to believe it was that microwavable kind. The soup was pretty good though, and they’ve got a handful of regular choices. The sandwich iteself is BIG. Did I mention that? I feel like I should mention that.
I would tell them to lose the bread cup next time I get a sandwich with my soup. Too much bread.
Press’d is probably going to be a decent choice for you downtown lunchers. It’s not deep-fried, and that’s always a step in the right direction.
Plus, they have rules on how to order, Soup Nazi style, which can only add to the experience. I wonder if they’ll deny sandwiches to those who break form…
Check out Press’d and let me know what you think. It’s in City Centre West.
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.)
Free stuff!
From left: Alvin Lowrey (image: U of A) Joachim Segger, Marnie Giesbrecht (photo: Majoya.com)
If you like music, free stuff or the Winspear Centre, Wednesday is your kind of day.
If you like all of the above, you probably already know where this is going.
The Winspear Centre is inviting you to a free (free!) lunchtime concert Wednesday, noon-1pm.
Below are the musical details:
You get acclaimed organ and piano team “Duo Majoya” (Marnie Giesbrecht and Joachim Segger) with revered Edmonton trumpeter Alvin Lowrey performing Mussorgky’s Pictures at an Exhibition arranged by Lowrey. The program begins with Bédard’s Capriccio for Organ and Piano, and Duo Majoya’s arrangement of Elgar’s Salut d’amour.
Have fun!
