A Look Back: Noooooo! (gregg)
How necessary was it to have Darth Vader yell “Noooooo!” when he thows the emperor down some random bottomless pit in Return of the Jedi? Did George Lucas worry the audience might not understand Vader experienced a poignant revelation watching his son, Luke, get tortured by Palpatine’s finger lasers? We need an auditory clue because the scene’s inherent tension and emotion didn’t spell it out enough for us? I mean, come on, George!
Look, George, the special editions really don’t bother me that much. Cleaner special effects and cool rings around explosions get me clapping like a seal turning tricks for fish, but when you change fundamental moments in a classic film, that is just irritating! It’s bad enough we have to watch Greedo shoot first, ruining an age old sci-fi debate for nerds (while also making Han Solo less cool), but now, if we want a hi-def version of the original trilogy in our collection, we have to listen to the same cringe worthy dialogue James Earl Jones was forced to utter in Revenge of the Sith? Fuck you, buddy!
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got to say to you, Lucas, your antics are distracting me. I’m supposed to be talking to the edmontonian’s audience. What’s up guys? Anything new?
…the edmontonian is ending?
It feels like such a short time ago I wrote the first of my many rants for the edmontonian. When I looked into the archives I was shocked to find that my first contribution came way back in September of 2009. That’s like a million years ago…or two years ago, depending on your understanding of math.
Jeff once told me I have a gift for making things that shouldn’t be controversial, controversial. I’ve made a habit of drawing ire writing about nuclear power, speed limits, the downtown arena and, of course, that first 2009 article extolling my love for the city centre movie theater. That piece somehow got me called me judgmental and pretentious!
I’ve really enjoyed my time contributing to Jeff and Sally’s collaborative local project. the edmontonian gave a voice to the everyday shlub and his angry keyboard, a chance to factor into a larger discussion about his city, province and country.
Unless you go after SEE Magazine. You’re not allowed to do that.
I am truly grateful to have been a part of the edmontonian, and to count Jeff and Sally as friends. They are two of the most supportive people I have ever met; I swear if I told Sally I was running for President of Canada she’d say “Yeah, man, you could totally be president!”
So as I begin my campaign to become supreme chancellor of Canada, I bid the readers of the edmontonian a fond farewell. Thanks for reading.
Gregg Beever isn’t done with the Edmonton Internet. You can find him over at web comic Inglorious Hipsters, Tweeting about stuff, guesting on podcasts, and he even has his own blog.
August 29 Edmonton Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton!
When school resumes in the Edmonton Public School Board, junk food will not be back in class. Jamie Oliver would be so proud.
Perhaps talking about Edmonton being a big city will be the way to get Edmonton Transit to create some late-night, or 24-hour transit. It’s overdue, so let’s make it happen!
It sort of feels like Mayor Mandel has given up on his “no more crap architecture” stance when quoted about the Royal Alberta Museum designs. People have been panning the four choices for our new museum since they were unveiled by the provincial government. I’ll admit I don’t mind one of them, but nothing is really wowing me.
Cynical folks would say Mandel is backing off criticizing because he wants the provincial government to find $100-million for a downtown arena. But, hey, he could just like the designs.
Speaking of the downtown arena… “…if the same amount of money that might go into pro sports facilities could be spent on something else with a bigger impact, that’s where the money should go.”
$100-million could go a long way toward a lot of things.
Question: How can everybody love downtown without a downtown arena? Do these people hate nice things?!
Alright, before I get all riled up about the downtown arena, let’s move on. (more…)
Fringe Events
Alright, so there’s no getting around the big event happening right now in Edmonton. The 30th Edmonton International Fringe Festival; Fringeopolis is on this weekend and until August 21. Almost all of the 180 plays will be happening in the Old Strathcona neighbourhood, but watch for venues in other parts of the city, like the Edmonton Public Library, downtown, and 118 Avenue.
We’re posting videos for Fringe plays, so keep your eyes on our “From the Web” category.
Now, that is not the only thing happening in Edmonton. A couple of smaller festival/street party items this weekend:
- Art in the Alley – art, music, an outdoor movie, and more, all happening in the Alley of Light. That’s the backlane that runs from Beaver Hills House Park, past the Sobeys, across 104 Street, over to the U of A’s downtown campus.
- Eastwoodfest – Back for another summer, this celebrates all things Eastwood (118 Avenue, betweem 85 and 87 Street)
- There’s a tea party at the U of A’s environmental students group naturalized site, which was top community garden in the Front Yards in Bloom contest.
In sports…the Edmonton Capitals are back home, hosting the Yuma Scorpions this weekend…FC Edmonton is home to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers…the Oil City Derby Girls’ rookies are taking on the Yukon Roller Girls…northwest of Edmonton, the St. Albert Heavenly Rollers take on the Cold Lake Lakeland Lady Killers (such a good name), on the 76th anniversary of roller derby…this weekend is also the kick off to the Prairie Football Conference season, with the Edmonton Wildcats home to the Calgary Colts, at Clarke Park (beside Commonwealth Stadium)…
In Friday music…it actually kicks serious butt…The Edmonton Show is back for a VIth run (that would be 6th), with Ann Vriend and Liam Trimble leading the way…Whiskeyface kicks off their tour at Brixx with The Sorels…Michael Rault and Sans AIDS are at The ARTery…Romi Mayes is releasing a CD tonight at the Haven Social Club…Carrie Day is at The Carrot (don’t forget about The Carrot!)…All Time Low is at the Edmonton Events Centre…
Saturday…The AwesomeHots get the day going with a Hair of the Dog afternoon show at the Black Dog…Paperplanes and Dragonboats release an EP, with The Paronomasiac, at The ARTery…
You'll be screaming with excitement over The Room.
All weekend…the Edmonton Rock Music Festival, a collaboration of The Rock and Roll Society of Edmonton and K-97, takes over Hawrelak Park. There will be plenty of, uh, rock.
You can always catch a movie in the cool confines of a theatre. And The Room is at Metro Cinema tonight at 11:20pm. If you haven’t seen The Room yet, YOU NEED TO SEE The Room. (Metro Cinema is now in the Garneau Theatre.)
You can hug your way to donated peanut butter, at West Edmonton Mall.
Oh, and if you’re using the LRT this weekend, remember that the train will not stop at Coliseum station because of work on the station platform.
Weekend Events
If you happen to look at Gallagher Park and wonder what the heck all those people are up to, it’s cool, it’s Folk Fest.
But that’s not the only festival in Edmonton this weekend. Heck no! It’s also Cariwest, so expect Jasper Avenue to be flooded with colour for the parade tomorrow, and then party all day at Churchill Square.
It also happens to be Animethon weekend.
And today is International Beer Day! So, drink some beer.
Now, outside of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival there’s still music to be had.
You can’t much more opposite folk than metal. The Starlite Room and Brixx are hosting Metal Fest 2011 tonight. Down at Hawrelak Park tonight you can help raise money for the Canadian Liver Foundation at a concert with Sister Gray and The Apresnos. Also tonight…The Secretaries, Hellfire Special, Throttle, and Nature are at the Pawn Shop…Over at Wunderbar, you can help Hang Loose raise money for a “Solidarity Rock” trip to Cuba. They’re playing with with Service:Fair and The Frolics.
Tomorrow night at Wunderbar it’s Field + Stream, Extra Happy Ghost, and Lab Coast…Dragonette is at the Edmonton Events Centre, with Dirty Radio…and The Weekend Kids, with Old Sins, Liv, and The National Security Council are all at Brixx.
This weekend also officially opens the Garneau Theatre as the new home of Metro Cinema. (For non-Metro movies, Gregg’s got some thoughts.)
FC Edmonton is home to the Puerto Rico Islands Saturday night, at Foote Field.
And a reminder: The LRT does not stop at Coliseum station this weekend, but still runs Clareview to Century Park.
August Movies: You Sunk My Beevership
By Gregg Beever
I’m back, baby! Before I get started, how about a big round of applause for Mr. Jay Runham who filled in brilliantly for me last month.
Are you done clapping yet?
Okay, good.
So, has everyone watched the Battleship trailer? Somehow I missed Liam Neeson being cast as Admiral E5. Did he lose a bet? Maybe he’s having a “Who can be in the shittiest alien invasion flick?” competition with Aaron Eckhart.
That brings us to the $200 million dollar question (yes, that is the budget), what does the board game, Battleship, have to do with aliens? What the frack is the tie-in there? Wait. Aliens are nebulously destroying battleships from the heavens, just like players of the board game. Right? Is director Peter Berg trying to say that we are the true aliens?
I don’t get it.
All I know is when I’m watching this film in the theater and Liam Neeson utters the line “You sunk my battleship.” I’m going to stand up and slow clap.
But Battleship doesn’t premiere until May of next year and we’re concerned with movies coming out now. What can we look forward to in the month of August with Thor, Transformers, Captain America, Harry Potter and the end of Jim Carrey’s career passing us by?
H, I, J n’ J
Friend of the website (and sometimes movie-reviewer) Jay Runham has teamed up with another J – Jordan Blackburn – to talk movies in your earbuds.
The second episode of Jay n’ J. is out now, with guest Paul Matwychuk. Paul is an Edmonton movie-genius, who you may know from his work on CBC Radio and the DVD Afternoon podcast he does with The Videodrome’s Heather Noel. (Side note on Paul: You want this guy on your trivia team.)
(Side note on the second episode: Metro Cinema is settling into its new home at the Garneau Theatre, and will begin showing movies at the end of the first week in August.)
The first episode of Jay n’ J. featured another friend of the website, and movie-guy, Gregg Beever.
The podcast (so far) focuses on one movie – Super 8 and Harry Potter in episodes 1 and 2. And the hosts jump into conversations that make sense for their guests, which will likely lead to a diverse entertainment podcast. Basically, the Js are two for two on guests, and are going to add to the great movie discussions happening online and in podcasts in Edmonton.
July 14 Edmonton Headlines
It’s a busy news day, with plenty of big stories in Edmonton, so let’s get this going.
Developers don’t like “The Way We Green” – the City of Edmonton’s environmental plan. Suburban development would actually carry its full cost? We’d be more like San Francisco? Geez, why WOULDN’T we do this?!
Over in Alberta Venture, Preston Manning is arguing that business needs to think more about the environment.
The Premier (still Ed Stelmach at this time) says the provincial government won’t be putting direct money into Edmonton’s downtown arena. There might be some infrastructure money though. I would take that to mean helping with LRT, sewers, and roads. If Gary Mar becomes the next Progressive Conservative there also won’t be money for the arena’s construction. And the federal government already turned down the opportunity to put $100-million into a new home for the Oilers.
Speaking of starchitecture…the Bank of Montreal building at Jasper and 101 Street is indeed going to be demolished. The City’s planning department issued demolition permits to the new owners, which caught the heritage department off-guard. A campaign sprung up to save the 48-year-old building, but it will soon be a parkade. Yes, a parkade.
If the building had been 50-years-old it could have been protected as historic. So, the City probably needs to better communicate between departments and loosen the 50-year rule. (They also need to toughen up the penalties for owners who let buildings waste away.) If not, we will become a temporary city which continually replaces anything of note or worth. (Probably with more of those great beige buildings we have so many of downtown.)
Do we have to make everyone in the planning department watch our “history” episode to learn that old stuff can be cool?
Speaking of knocking down buildings…
Alright, more news coming right up. (Told you there was lots today.) (more…)
Jay’s July Jovies
(We mean “movies.” What? Too much alliteration? – Jeff S.)
By Jay Runham
We interrupt your regularly scheduled Beever-filled Movie preview for this comedy and comic book-fueled sequel fest.
Sequels, comic book adaptations and comedies: the lifeblood of this summer Blockbuster season. With original movies like Super 8 and Beginners behind us, we look towards July with some hope that a low budget comedy or the end of a major franchise will bring us some summer joy. But like Shia LaBeouf says “No… No no no. No, no no!”.
Mutt’s Scooter
Why not start with the good old Mutt Williams? Transformers barely slips into July and will probably make a crap metric tonne of money, but you and Gregg have already been touched by those Robots in Disguise. Opening on the same weekend, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts‘ new romantic comedy Larry Crowne scoots it’s way onto the big screen. So, if you’re not a fan of explosions, the army, robots, Shia LaBeouf, Victoria’s Secret Model #3, or America, maybe Larry Crowne is for you. I think the chicks might dig it (Or at least my Mom seems to be looking forward to it). If you have a Beilieber or Twi-hard in you house, Monte Carlo is for them. Them and Mutt Williams. (more…)
Food-Filled Events
It's gonna be like this, times 100.
Today you can eat some BBQ and chat with local producers and farmers at Wild Earth Foods’ Open Air Market, 2-8pm. You can also get some street food at What the Truck?!, 4-8pm. I hope to see you at one, or both, of these.
I am going to eat so much today…
Sticking with food…Saturday is market day! There’s the City Market (downtown), Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market (Whyte Avenue area), and St. Albert Farmers’ Market. On Sunday it’s the Callingwood Farmers’ Market (southwest Edmonton).
More food!!
To the festivals! Opera Nuova’s Vocal Arts Festival wraps up this weekend. Alberta Dance Alliance’s feats Festival of Dance has begun! The Works is on, in Churchill Square and around downtown Edmonton. The Edmonton International Jazz Festival is also on now. Improvaganza is still making with the funny. June isn’t done yet, so Bike Month continues too.
Holy cow we have a lot of festivals!
Fans of the TV show Firefly (and the movie Serenity, I presume) are fundraising at Can’t Stop the Serenity.
Perhaps a movie is in order this weekend? I hear there are plenty of great sci-fi options.
For the family…the John Janzen Nature Centre is open again. I guess this could also be for nature-lovers. Saturday, you can head on down to Rundle Park for Paddlefest.
It’s a great music weekend in Edmonton. The Works is packing Churchill Square with fantastic acts like Doug Hoyer, The Fight, and The Joe. The Edmonton Jazz Festival is, of course, all about music, from homegrown talent like Krystle Dos Santos to International artists like Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews). The Apresnos are at Haven Social Club tonight…
(Totally forgot to try and embed an Apresnos song, so check them out completely here.)
Saturday’s Hair of the Dog (at The Black Dog) features Jessica Jalbert. Get on board with Jessica Jalbert now, Edmonton. Edmonton music blogger New Music Michael is having a birthday party with with One Way State, kickupafuss, and Honheehonhee, at New City.
Sunday, The Sadies and The Sheepdogs play the Pawn Shop.
It’s a good sports weekend in Edmonton too. The Edmonton Eskimos are home to the Calgary Stampeders in pre-season action. FC Edmonton hosts the Montreal Impact. The Edmonton Capitals are home to the Yuma Scoropians. And the Edmonton Energy have the Albany Legends in town. That’s a lot of guys giving 110% and leaving it all out on the floor/field/diamond.
Festival Saturday (and the rest of the weekend too)
Summer officially arrives in Edmonton next week, which probably explains why this weekend is so jammed with festivals.
Friday and Saturday there’s the Utopia Music Festival, which kicks off summer in Hawrelak Park.
On Saturday we’ve got Bikeology (in Beaver Hills House Park), and the whole month of June is actually Bike Month, Park(ed) is back on the streets, taking up parking spaces (on 102 Avenue), Rock The Square (at Churchill Square), Africa Connect (at the Edmonton Expo Centre), and the Hope Street Festival (105 Avenue and 100 Street). 107 Avenue also has Safe Streets and a Night Market on Saturday (afternoon and evening).
Improvaganza 2011 is just getting warmed up (and will even have social media improv on Monday). Opera Nuova’s Vocal Arts Festival and the Edmonton Pride Festival are both continuing too.
For you, young and engaged folks, tonight is Pecha Kucha 10: Designing Downtown (which you can watch through the Edmonton Journal’s livestream), and Next Gen’s back at it on Sunday with the DIYalogue. We’re happy to be one of the groups chatting about cultural start-ups and entrepreneurship.
On a more serious note, there’s a picnic in Giovanni Caboto Park to remember murder victim Nina Courtepatte, and others lost to violence.
Watch It!’s got a BOOMBUS on Whyte Avenue today (4-8pm) and it’ll be downtown, on Jasper Avenue, Saturday morning. Keep your eyes open for this rolling watch and street party.
Over at La Cite Francophone you can catch a production of Little Shop of Horrors.
In music…Radio for Help plays the Pawn Shop tonight…Joe Nolan has a CD release at the Haven Social Club…Sidney York plays Brixx Saturday night, with Kaley Bird…The Collective West and Jeff Morris are at The ARTery…Wunderbar’s got a Weird Canada and Scion show…And Zero Cool’s at DV8 with Down the Hatch…
You can always catch a movie, which is likely to be a summer blockbuster right now.
Farmer’s markets abound on the weekend, downtown, in Old Strathcona, St. Albert, and in Callingwood.
The Edmonton Capitals are hosting the Chico Outlaws down at Telus Field.
The Summer Party Begins
We are one week away from actual, proper summer, but the fun is in full swing this weekend. There is so much fun that I am going to break it down into sections.
Festivals
Edmonton’s Pride Festival kicks off with the Pride Awards, and parties tonight, and the parade through downtown Edmonton tomorrow. The Pride Parade ends up at Churchill Square for the rest of the afternoon.
Festivals for the old – Creative Age – and young – NextFest – continue this weekend. NextFest’s got, among so many things, a great show at the Avenue Theatre tonight.
Opera Nuova’s Vocal Arts Festival continues until Jun 26. Talking ’bout singin’.
Saturday and Sunday, there are 4 plays in the Sprouts 2011 New Play Festival for Kids, from Concrete Theatre, at the Stanley A. Milner Library.
Bike Month continues, uh, all month, with a bike repair-a-thon this weekend.
Saturday on 104 Street is more than the farmers’ market, with the Al Fresco block party. Take that, cars!
Music
Tonight…Sharks, Mockingbird Wish Me Luck, The Fight, and Owls By Nature are all at the Pawn Shop.
Saturday night, Gurf Morlix plays the Haven Social Club in a tribute to Blaze Foley.
Did I mention NextFest’s great lineup?
Arts
It’s a Handmade Mafia weekend!
DEDfest’s got a screening of Dead Alive at Metro Cinema this evening.
Sports
The Edmonton Energy are playing basketball, the Edmonton Capitals are out on Telus Field, and FC Edmonton is kicking around Foote Field.
Miscellaneous
Movies are always a good time. We are in for a sci-fi summer.
Saturday is river valley day! This is the 14th year celebrating the Edmonton region’s glorious river valley and its parks. Edmonton’s event is at Rundle Park. There are pancakes.
There’s a Pre-TEDx party tonight at Suede Lounge, with the (sold out) event happening tomorrow. (You can watch a live webcast of the event tomorrow at the TEDx Edmonton site.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is throwing its gates wide open to everyone on Saturday. This is as much about Edmonton’s history and land use (with 2 new cemetery plans in the works) as it is morbid curiousity.
You can take your car to an Edmonton CARSTAR location Saturday and have it washed for a good cause, as part of the national “Soaps It Up” fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis.
Strange Powers at The ARTery
While the festivals are beginning to roll, I want to note a move/concert/fundraiser happening tonight at The ARTery.
(Quick festival sidebar: Dreamspeakers is on downtown, and NextFest begins today.)
So, our old pals Mike and Arlen – from Highwire Films – are hosting the fundraiser tonight. The money they earn will help them shoot more videos and films this summer.
The evening will include a screening of the documentary “Strange Powers,” about Stephen Merritt and band The Magnetic Fields. The movie starts at 9:30. Popcorn will be available. (It’s a movie, after all.)
Then, Edmonton musicians (with some prominent and recognizable names in there) will perform covers of Magnetic Fields songs. And maybe other songs. I guess they’ll all see how the night goes.
Tickets are $10, and available through The ARTery’s website and YEG Live. Now, THAT’S a Thursday night in Edmonton.
The First Crazy Weekend of Summer
Get ready for a busy weekend, Edmonton. (And the festivals are just getting started too.)
The 10th Royal Bison Craft Fair is at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre. This one’s gonna be good, with Culina serving up food, and more craftsters than you can shake a knitted-stick at.
Not too far from the Royal Bison, it’s the first East Whyte Street Party. The block party, including Eva Sweet Waffles!, is on 100 Street, between Whyte Avenue and 81st Ave. Businesses up and down Whyte (between 99 Street and the tracks) will have specials and deals for you too. We’ll see you there!
A few blocks away from that…the City of Edmonton is talking food and agriculture policy, outside of the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market.
Sticking with the City…Saturday sees the 3rd annual ETS Community Fair at West Edmonton Mall. And Big Bin Events continue, so you can get rid of all of your old couches.
The Edmonton Energy are in action tonight, playing the USA All-Stars. (The Edmonton Energy are our IBL basketball team.)
In music…Hale Hale, Raptors, and Randy Graves are playing the Pawn Shop tonight with Andrew W.K. So you know it’ll be a party. Anvil is at the Starlite Room. Rusty Reed’s and the Sherbrooke Community League are putting on the “Blossom into the Blues” festival this weekend. Opera Nuova’s Vocal Arts Festival is on right now too. On Sunday…Timbre Timbre at the Avenue Theatre
On Saturday watch out for people running around Edmonton in the City Chase (kind of an Amazing Race style event) and then on Sunday, you’ll see folks running and biking in the Subway Coronation Triathlon – which brings with it road closures.
On the political side of things…the Alberta Party’s got Big Idea Night to kick-off its leadership convention this weekend…and there will be a rally at the Alberta Legislature Sunday, to pressure the provincial government into funding education and avoiding hundreds of teaching cuts this fall…
SEE Magazine might be disappearing, but Merge is back. They re-launch with a party tonight.
You can still catch new one-act plays from local playwrights at the Walterdale.
There are always movies to be watched.
On Sunday, buy some baked goods to help the Slave Lake fire victims. Never before has gorging yourself on brownies been so helpful.
You can wash down all those brownies and cupcakes with beers. Zombeers.
You could be in the movies
Local go-getter Jordan Schroder dropped us a line about a movie he’s working on (you may remember Jordan from such productions as “Rock the Vote“).
ImagiNation Film & Contraption Studios is starting work, this Monday, on a new movie about a Canadian journalist who died in Lebanon, covering that country’s civil war in the 1980s.
ImagiNation produced one of my favourite Canadian TV movies; Selling Innocence. They also produced a movie based on the book “100 Days in the Jungle,” which is a better-known local production about oil workers kidnapped in Ecuador.
You can help out in a number of ways:
- Kitchen & Craft Services
- Props, Painting & Set Decoration
- Electrical or Rigging
- Professional Drivers
- Housekeeping & Janitorial
- Carpentry & Construction
- Lighting & Equipment
- Hair & Make-up
- Wardrobe & Costumes
- Digital, 3D & Compositing
- Runners & General Help
- Office Administration & Co-ordination
Interviews are this Saturday. So you’ve got to act now to make your movie (crew) debut.
Also, help them bring a little more Edmonton to that Vancouver-heavy production.
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.
*****
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.
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.
Weekend Eventing
The good times continue! To get ready for this weekend you can ready all three previous installments of events today – Angela’s Events, Brazilian Money, Tim Gilbertson – and then jump in here. Needless to say, it’s gonna be a good weekend.
The Edmonton Poetry Festival is finishing with a flurry.
FC Edmonton plays its first official home game of the season (the game against Toronto FC wasn’t part of the NASL schedule).
boygroove finishes “playing” the Catalyst Theatre. It’s a play about a boy band. Speaking of plays…Chris Craddock’s new one-man show “Public Speaking,” is killing at the Roxy…Brad Fraser, a native Edmontonian now living across the pond, has his play “True Love Lies” on at the Citadel – though he won’t be here to see it.
Still on the stage…Riverdance is at the Jubilee Auditorium…and Into the Woods, from ELOPE Musical Theatre, is at the Timms Centre for the Arts…Little Women, the broadway musical, is at the Citadel’s MacLab Theatre.
Slow Food folks will be at Eat Alberta this weekend. I hope they can finish their meals by the time our show is on Sunday night.
I’m kidding, of course. Slow Food’s got lots to teach us about enjoying what we eat, knowing about where the food is coming from, and exploring the social aspects of eating. And the Eat Alberta conference is about our “local food heroes.”
There’s derby at the “Grindhouse” (14420 112 Street) with the Oil City Derby Girls’ Tank’Er Girls taking on BC’s Raggedy Rollers, at 7pm.
Outside of Tim Gilbertson there are plenty of other great shows this weekend. Hale Hale is at Brixx with an early show tonight…Sherry Lee Wisor is playing Hair of the Dog at the Black Dog Saturday afternoon…and The Pixies are in Edmonton, playing the Shaw Conference Centre on Sunday night.
And, as the poster in this post may have already informed you of, Wunderbar is celebrating one glorious year with owners Craig, Chris, and Levi. They have a whole Sunday of good music, starting at 2pm, with Edmonton bands and artists such as The Joe, Mitchmatic, Scenic Route to Alaska, Miek Headache, Caity Fisher, Fire Next Time, and more, more, more! I may have to stop by and toast a great year of fantastic beer and live music.
Wunderbar’s got great shows tonight and Saturday too, with Fist City, Krang, and The Group Sound tonight, The Dyeing Merchants, Doug Hoyer, Service: Fair, and Ghost Cousin Saturday.
Oh, and if you’re not doing anything Sunday night at 9pm (and again at 9:30) I hear a certain website is debuting a show called the edmontonian presents on ShawTV (channel 10 for you Shaw subscribers, but it will be online shortly after).
Weekend Stuff
Weather aside, this looks to be a great weekend in Edmonton. Of course, a big part of that is made up by how much fun you have. So have some fun, would you.
Let’s start with some musical options.
Saturday is Record Store Day! You music lovers can snag some records (actual vinyl records) hear live bands, and more at shops around Edmonton. Let’s see if I can name them all…there’s Listen on 124 Street…Sound Connection, Permanent Records, and Blackbird Myoozik all on Whyte…Freecloud on 101 Street (by 107 Avenue)…and The Gramophone…did I miss any?
Then, on Sunday, it’s the Edmonton Music Collectors Show. So, you’ve got no shortage of vinyl this weekend.
Around bars, clubs, and venues… Tonight: You’ve got Carrie Day at the Fresh Start Cafe…Destroyer at the Starlite Room…The Sorels are releasing an album at The ARTery. The Sorels are good. Whitey Houston, The Vicious Cycles, and The Mitts are at the Pawn Shop…and DUZHEKNEW is at Wunderbar…
Saturday: You’ve got a great local show at Idylwylde Hall with Falklands, Ben Disaster & The Cosmonauts, The Group Sound, and The Dizzies…54-40 is at Festival Place…and Sound Factor is at bohemia, but I mostly included this for the photo…and Classified and Said the Whale will be at the Starlite Room. (Said the Whale was actually here for the Tokyo Police Club the next Monday.)
Sunday: Tommy Hunter’s farewell tour takes him to the Jubilee Auditorium.
Around the theatre scene… The Three Musketeers continues at the Citadel Theatre (MacLab theatre), while Rick: The Rick Hansen Story wraps its run this weekend (also at the Citadel’s Shoctor Theatre). Theatresports runs tonight, and every Friday night, at the Varscona Theatre.
National Volunteer Week ends in a great way here in Edmonton with a volunteer fair at West Edmonton Mall.
Saturday is the last home game of the year for the Edmonton Rush. There’s also double-header action with E-Ville Roller Derby down at the Edmonton Sports Dome.
While Edmonton’s official Earth Day celebrations are cancelled, the Beacon Heights Community League is picking up some of the slack with Living Green 101, a few small changes you can make to your lifestyle to green it up.
You can stick it to Mother Nature by heading over toe 124 Street for the Spring Gallery Walk.
Or hide from the snow and see a movie.
Weekending
It’s a weekend of engagement, city shaping, and thought provocation here in Edmonton.
Thinkers will be at MacEwan’s city centre campus for CityCamp Edmonton, which is a day of talking about local government and community groups. Planners will be at the latest open house on the Alley of Light. And skeptics will be questioning everything at LogiCon 2011, put on by our local Skeptics.
If activism if more your things, and you want to dance, I suggest Dance Dance Revolution, a fundraiser for G20 defendants, at the ARTery.
It’s the last Oilers home game of the season tonight. Which means the merciful end is near, Oilers fans. Oh, and it’s the last time Paul Lorieau will sing the anthem at an Oilers game. Also at Rexall Place this weekend, the Edmonton Rush are home to the Colorado Mammoth.
Anyone interested in short fiction should be at the Stanley A. Milner Library tomorrow for Dzanc Day 2011. We’re the only Canadian site for this day of writing workshops. At the Milner branch on Sunday, youth spoken word workshops continue, for the Edmonton Poetry Festival 2011, with Cadence Weapon.
The quiet before the summer blockbusters is on at your nearest movie theatre.
In fashion…The Fashion Event continues through Saturday. Get some fashion! My Filosophy is hosting its Second Annual Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation Red Carpet Event, at Latitude 53. Surely there will be ladies of high-fasion at the Bossy Mama Annual Spring Brunch, this Sunday.
Around the concert halls…Harry Manx and David Lindley are at the Winspear for The Winspear Presents series of folk and world artists. The Edmonton Recital Society gala concert is at the Muttart Hall at Alberta College. How about a little Bach to get you ready for the Easter season?
There’s some burlesque at the Haven Social Club.
Matt Machete is at bohemia tomorrow night. This guy rocks. There’s a Fundraiser for Walk for the Cure at Wunderbar, with Brash Tax, Miek Headache, Nick Watt and more; which means good music, great beer, and a good cause. Old Ugly’s Liam Trimble has a new album out and he’s kicking it off Sunday at The Pourhouse.
Of course there are LRT delays. Gah!
I know a certain local website which is working on a TV show that is always looking for your videos…
And next week is National Volunteer Week. Thanks for all the volunteering you do, Edmonton!
Update: I totally forgot about the back alley burgers. Tonight. Behind Hundred. 9:30-ish.
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.
What Big Plans You Have
It’s weekend o’clock, Edmonton!
This shall be a good weekend. As it is written so shall it come to pass.
Around the live music venues this weekend it’s going to be a good time. Tonight you’ve got audio audio/rocketry celebrating 5 years together with a 3rd album, and show at the Pawn Shop…90s brit-rockers rhodes are at Haven Social Club with Treelines, Warning to Avoid, and The Fight…over at the Wild Earth Bakery you can listen to Jenie Thai…The Old Wives and Kemo Treats are going to try and bust through the roof of New City (which would scare the hell out of everyone at Hudsons)…
Saturday begins with Doug Hoyer at the Black Dog for Hair of the Dog…Sister Gray is at Expressionz Cafe…The AwesomeHots have a new album, and they’ll release that at Wunderbar…at The ARTery Saturday you can catch Daniel Moir, with Scenic Route to Alaska…And FOREIGNER IS HERE!
Sunday’s got a great show at the Haven Social Club, with Romi Mayes playing with the with Give ‘em Hell Boys, Jake Ian, and The Haymakers.
For music that’s not in a club or bar, Ben Vereen is “Steppin’ Out” with the ESO, in Robbins Pops shows tonight and Saturday.
In theatre…The Citadel Theatre’s got Hunchback, a Catalyst Theatre production of the Victor Hugo novel…and at the actual Catalyst Theatre “Shatter,” about the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion, wraps its run…Dog is over at the Roxy Theatre…
While the headline of this post alludes to Little Red Riding Hood, that is in no way an endorsement of seeing the sexualized thriller in theatres about the same. Gregg can let you know what’s worth seeing.
On Sunday, Levar Burton will be here. Oh, he’s got a reason to be here. It’s the Edmonton Collectible Toy and Comic Show.
You can catch the playoff-bound Oil Kings and lottery selection-bound Oilers in Edmonton this weekend too.
Weekend
Let’s begin this look at the weekend with theatre, shall we?
Just a heads up, though, LRT service will be disrupted north of Churchill on Saturday and Sunday.
The Citadel Theatre’s got Hunchback on now. It’s a new imagining of the Victor Hugo novel, not the Disney movie, from the minds of Catalyst Theatre. Speaking of Catalyst…over at the actual theatre, until March 19, is “Shatter,” about the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion.
Also until March 19, MacEwan’s Theatre Arts and Theatre Production programs present “Company,” their final performance of the school year.
The Brian Webb Dance Company presents Toronto Dance Theatre’s Pteros Tactics this weekend.
The E-Ville Roller Derby and Northern Lights Theatre are teaming up for an exhibition match/fundraiser.
There are a few shows around town…Kieran’s Art Trading Post is at Bohemia tonight…tomorrow is the Edmonton’s coin show and sale…and It’s Mom, Pop & Tots Fair weekend.
It’s another great live music weekend in Edmonton…
The Edmonton Show IV goes at Avenue Theatre tonight. It’s got music, dance, arts, and more.
Also tonight…Mark Berbue is at the Pawn Shop, with Ayla Brook and Old Ugly’s Doug Hoyer. (Speaking of Old Ugly…Jessica Jalbert is at Wunderbar Saturday night)… The Accident Will releases a CD at DV8, with DeSousa Drive and Bad Acid…The ARTery’s got Prairie Nights…Haven Social Club’s got a CD release from Christine Fellows, who will play with Shotgun Jimmie…and the Jimmy Swift Band is at the Starlite Room…
Saturday afternoon, Hair of the Dog has Samara Von Rad, which is a rad name. Saturday night Weird Canada (Canada’s best music website) presents a show at The ARTery that will likely blow your mind.
Gregg’s got the lowdown on movies actually worth seeing.
The City Market begins its run of Saturdays at City Hall, as preparation for it usual summer selling on 104 Street.
Oh, and Sunday night, Lucky 13 is hosting Carlton himself, Alfonso Ribeiro.
Have a lovely weekend, Edmonton.
Marching to the weekend
(Just think, I have three more weekends to make March puns with.)
Looks like a pretty solid weekend ahead. Downtown Dining Week kicks off today. So does Latitude 53′s new show, Cubic Units and New Prints by Mathiew Valade. Still Tonight…our friends at the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters celebrate 30 years with a bike art auction and pedal-powered concert. More good times could not be jammed into one evening.
In arts…Gargamel finishes its run at the Varscona Theatre. Garamel is a good play. there’s the Expanse Movement Arts Festival at the Roxy Theatre…The Art Gallery of Alberta is bringing in new spring shows; Nature and Spirit: Emily Carr’s Coastal Landscapes, Haida Art: Mapping and Ancient Language, Sherri Chaba’s The Silence of Chaos… (Speaking of the AGA, it’s hosting a Refinery party Saturday night.)
The Catalyst Theatre’s Hunchback is at the Citadel, from the people who brought you recently raved-about Frankenstein and Nevermore productions…the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, which will have the orchestra playing live along with the movie…Fringe Theatre Adventures presents “An evening with Uncle Val” by comedian Andy Jones…Alberta Baroque Ensemble is at Robertson Wesley United Church…Edmonton Columbian Choirs present Spring Bouquets, at McDougall United Church…
Winter Light concludes with the Star Party at Elk Island National Park Edmonton City Hall. That would be stars as in the sky kind, not the TMZ kind.
Gregg’s got the lowdown on the good movies. And the bad ones too.
In music…Jenie Thai is at the Blue Chair Cafe…Heart of the City Festival has a fundraising show...Buckcherry is in Edmonton tonight. Buckcherry. So is Sarah McLachlan…
I take this to mean the Nathan Carroll Band is going to perform Supertramp’s Breakfast in America at the Haven. Totally rad.
Saturday night at Brixx you’ve got the F.D. Jones Soap Company Ol’ Smashy…and Geoff Berner is at The ARTery tonight…
Also, the Edmonton Oil Kings are home to the Medicine Hat Tigers…and Pecha Kucha 9 goes tonight. PK9 is sold out, but you can watch it live from the comfort of your home via the Edmonton Journal.
Pulitzer Theatre
There’s a whole lotta Pulitzer going on in Edmonton theatre right now. 
The Citadel continues its run of August: Osage County until February 20, and tonight the Walterdale Playhouse opens Rabbit Hole.
Both award-winning plays are also movies, or will soon be. Rabbit Hole is currently in theatres, starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. Osage County is in development but could star Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
Rabbit Hole is a look at a couple who have lost their young son. It’s grief, loss, change, mourning, and moving on. But you mix in fantastic writing and characters that aren’t just one-note in how they react to the death. Plus, you could see the play and then quickly turn around and see how the film-adaption stands up.
Rabbit Hole runs at the Walterdale until February 19.
