Labour Day Events
The Labour Day weekend. Always a tough one.
It’s great to have a long weekend, but this September holiday also means summer is ending. We might as well enjoy it. (And there is supposed to be nice weather.)
The Labour Day weekend features one of Edmonton’s most musical summer festivals. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s annual trip to Hawrelak Park for Symphony Under The Sky.
Tonight, Saturday, and Sunday, there are Movies on the Square. This weekend’s films are Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, and Kung Fu Panda.
A few music notes for you (no pun intended)…Tonight, Mass Choir is at the Pawn Shop…and Paul Bellows releases a CD, at the Haven Social Club, with James Murdoch, Nathan Carroll, Stew Kirkwood, and Peter Hendrickson…Saturday, there’s a non-stop dance party called Metropolis, at the Edmonton Event Centre…Sunday, Sonic Boom is back for another long weekend at Northlands.
In sports…the NSC Minnesota Stars are taking on FC Edmonton Saturday – FC Edmonton 2012 season tickets are already on sale…Sunday, the Edmonton Wildcats are home to Winnipeg Rifles in Prairie Football, at Clarke Stadium…
And on Saturday, International Bacon Day is celebrated at Lux, with a 3-course family-style meal featuring bacon.
August 25 Edmonton Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton! Quite the busy day here, so let’s get right to things.
There’s a double-edged effect to revitalizing a business zone. Owners can charge more for rent and smaller, local, business can’t always afford to rent, and you get left with chain stores that sap the area of character. Building and property owners need to take more responsibility if they want to be part of character neighbourhoods, heritage districts, and promote local industries.
When if the downtown arena gets built I wonder what the spin-off costs to the City of Edmonton (and you and me as taxpayers) might be with Rexall Place and Northlands. There are costs there that are not part of the proposed $450-million arena pricetag.
Speaking of the downtown arena…it’s kind of tied into the entire downtown plan now. So, I guess, you either like the downtown arena getting a bunch of government cash or you hate downtown Edmonton.
Edmonton’s got the shortest commute (by a few minutes) in Canada’s largest cities. Startling: 85% of drivers have never stepped on a bus, streetcar, or train to get to work. That seems an almost impossible number to believe. People taking transit to work are riding buses and the like for about 44 minutes, compared to the Edmonton drive time of 23 minutes. BUT! Drivers are far more cranky about their commute.
Speaking of commuting to work…It was not your imagination, the Whitemud was worse than usual Wednesday morning.
Now that you’ve commuted to your office, let’s keep going. (more…)
July 21 Northlands Headlines
Not yet.
Good morning, Edmonton. You know a day with downtown arena stories is going to be a busy day. So, dig in.
Among the news and notes from City administration’s answers to Councillor Ed Gibbons:
- Daryl Katz’s $100-million for the arena is more like $80 or $90-million, with the rest covering management over decades
- The City (you and me) will likely have to put up the money, probably borrowed, to cover the $125-million that will eventually be paid back through a ticket tax (that’s you again, if you go to anything at the arena)
- Katz Group and Oilers financials are yet to be fully opened up to City Council
- There’s nothing binding Daryl Katz to spend $100-million in development around the arena
- A community rink would be fully paid for by the City (why don’t we just build a couple of community rinks on the parking lot and call it a day?)
- The arena will cost more than $450-million when you factor in “soft costs” like design, street lights, LRT, transit, that community rink, sewers, and a bunch of other stuff I’m not smart enough to think of.
Northlands isn’t backing down. The non-profit agency wants to keep running Rexall Place if there’s a downtown arena. That likely doesn’t bode well for you and I making back any of the tax money council wants to throw into the downtown arena. There could be too much competition for arena events in a city Edmonton’s size.
On Northlands: They wanted council approval of $770,000 for new seats at Rexall Place. They got that. It’s money already in the Northlands budget, but anything over $750,000 needs a look by city council.
There were questions about Northlands’ finances (sure, councillors, I just happened to bring our audited statements with us to a meeting for a seat rubber-stamp…) and I suspect councillors will have an easier time to see the money details of Northlands than the Katz Group. Also, with council members sitting on the Northlands board, at least a few folks in City Hall yesterday should know how the non-profit is doing with cash.
Even a downtown arena fan thinks Daryl Katz could be the guy making all the wrong moves, and asking for too much money, on the deal.
Whew. That’s a lot of Northlands and arena talk. How about we shift gears for the rest of today’s Headlines? (more…)
July 20 Edmonton Headlines
It’s a big day at City Hall. There’s a new downtown arena report before council, with a few more details about how much more it’s going to cost to build a replacement for Rexall Place and that Northlands won’t sign a non-compete clause.
More information on what’s happening today, with answers to Councillor Ed Gibbons’ questions, here at this PDF. Some of the (non)answers, even if you’re in favour of the downtown arena, might make you groan.
Councillors will also discuss whether to give Northlands a little more than $700,000 to fix seats in Rexall Place.
The Way We Green, the City’s 30-year environmental policy is also up for debate. I don’t see why it wouldn’t pass. A few developers and pesticide-users were complaining about losing money, but Edmonton needs to have a document that helps shape our environmental policies – and we should have such policies underlying big decisions and projects.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, man of the people Kerry Diotte wants to talk about mosquitoes.
Don’t forget about the war on weeds. Councillor Bryan Anderson is trying to lead that for the City of Edmonton.
Another day, another historic building in the news.
Five years after a man died following a police chase, the fatality inquiry report carries a recommendation for emergency CPR training for officers.
Hey kid. Psst. Hey kid. You want some candy?
Alberta Hospital is trying to find a missing patient, and an escaped patient.
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We’re about a third through a ten-year plan to end homelessness in Alberta. That should stay in place for the new premier, and poverty has to become part of the plan.
Big oilsands equipment won’t be making its way to Alberta through Montana right now. I like that the Montana Department of Transportation took the time to have Imperial Oil fill out an environmental assessment. That shows dedication to preserving the environment.
Meanwhile…on the side of the border…China is making its moves to get into the oilsands game…Oh, and energy ministers want to find ways to send more oil and gas to places other than the U.S.
The Premiers are going to talk about the economy.
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Eight Edmonton restaurants, and one in St. Albert, made it into “Where to Eat in Canada.”
It’s Edmonton: The Musical, at the Avenue Theatre.
July 19 Edmonton Headlines
No crazy-ass storms this morning. So, that’s a good thing.
The cost of a new downtown arena will be more than the $450-million pricetag currently tossed about. Of course, roads, sewers, LRT and transit connections (and lots of other stuff the City will have to build) were always going to be needed, it’s just more official now in a report back to Councillor Ed Gibbons. And with Northlands not ready to stop booking concerts and events things could get messy (and even more expensive). Maybe things will get so complicated billionaire Oilers owner Daryl Katz will just build the arena himself.
What? It’s possible…
I’m not sure I buy the headline on this story that members of Edmonton’s Somali community are fleeing the city but it is a group that’s seeing constant homicides, mostly due to drug and gang connections of younger Somali men.
There won’t be a Weekend to End Breast Cancer in Edmonton. Also, how did it cost $2.1-million to feed under 800 people, staff medical tents and run a website. Did the website cost $1.2-million?
Edmonton’s Ronald McDonald House is looking to expand. Again.
A giant apartment fire last week started because of bed bug extermination.
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Canada’s energy ministers are meeting in Alberta, talking about a national energy plan. Oh, oil companies are sponsoring a big portion of the conference, so I’m sure the environment will be on that agenda somewhere.
Speaking of energy companies running the show…the Premier’s promise to keep bitumen upgrading jobs in Alberta meant nothing…
It was so hot in Alberta yesterday…that we set a new power record.
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West Edmonton Mall’s got some renovations going on, and will be adding more U.S. stores.
If we get out of this rainy weather, there’s a new place for you to go swimming in the river valley.
July 18 Edmonton Headlines
It was all bright lights and stormy skies and then, boom, blue sky and sun.
Good morning, Edmonton. Were you awake early enough to catch that freaky-sky storm this morning?
The construction on 99 Street is a mess. Neighbours wanted to be consulted. Urban planning wasn’t so much a part of the project as basic transportation fixes. (A bias note: I’m on the Strathcona Centre Community League and we are also not pleased about how the City of Edmonton handled any of this.) It’s a disappointment when considering that major projects such as the 99 Street and Scona Road work will not be revisited for decades.
Speaking of poor planning…sounds like councillors forgot about getting the City to lead development in the northeast. It’s an important piece of Edmonton’s land plans, since it could be key agricultural land for years to come.
Northlands doesn’t want to sign a non-compete clause over the downtown arena. Shocking. So, neither the provincial nor federal governments want to put in $100-million for a new Edmonton arena, and Northlands doesn’t want to give up Rexall Place. This could not be going better.
Edmonton’s 29th homicide of the year is the fourth of a Somali man.
Police, medical examiners, and Crown prosecutors are all busy with Edmonton’s murders and killings this year.
Speaking of medical examiners…the outgoing Chief Medical Examiner is Graeme Dowling…
The Edmonton Police Service is looking at getting new cars. Mostly because Ford isn’t going to make Crown Victorias anymore and that’s what currently makes up the cruiser fleet.
Feels like there are a lot of missing persons cases this summer…and social media is a big part of the latest…
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More than half of the people who come to Canada each year don’t get to stay. Alberta’s Employment and Immigration Minister wants to see more temporary foreign workers actually stay here as immigrants (and bring their families).
Oil and gas drilling stimulus might have been a terrible idea. But it will take an audit of the government programs to really figure it out.
If the governing Tories can get out of deficit (basically, if oil and gas prices rise more) they’ll be looking to increase travel budgets.
On healthcare…more nurses are being hired!
Health Link made a sexy mistake. Also, people still use phone books.
Slave Lake fire victims are getting some Alberta government-built temporary homes.
Six candidates came up with $40,000 and are running to be the next Premier of Alberta.
On education…the candidates are coming out swinging against, well, against their own governing party. It’s so weird when one party has been in power so long and leadership candidates have to differentiate themselves from themselves.
In other political news, the Alberta Party is setting up headquarters on Alberta Avenue. That seems very fitting.
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And St. Albert is hosting the Alberta Indigineous Games this week.
May 31 Edmonton Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton. Today, it seems, is all about Alberta news. But, that will tend to happen when you’ve got the provincial seat of power in your downtown.
A couple of Edmonton-specific items are in the news though:
Northlands still doesn’t know what to do about the fact they’re being told asked to leave the arena business.
Mayor Mandel isn’t going to a meeting of the Big City Mayors, saying they don’t get anything done.
Now…about that Alberta stuff… (more…)
Long Tuesday Headlines
How was that long weekend for you, Edmonton? Ready to kick things off with some downtown arena? Of course you are.
There are people upset about the downtown arena decision, including some councillors who feel the vote came out of nowhere and was forced upon them in a private meeting. Can’t wait for the instant revitalization of an arena? Perhaps look at some smaller projects and initiatives that would do a lot. Northlands is broke. That’s probably not going to help their arguments in all of this.
The downtown LRT connector through Chinatown (specifically, along 102 Avenue) continues to be a point of contention.
I’m not sure if more police on the street will help prevent crimes of passion; murders that happen between family or friends, but Edmonton sure needs something different. We had homicides 22 and 23 last week and on the weekend.
An Edmonton doctor is working on some really big stem-cell research which could help improve the lungs of prematurely born children.
Smaller, independent restaurants are a little shocked at how much it costs to get a Heart and Stroke Foundation checkmark on their menus.
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With the Slave Lake fire occupying much of our news space the last couple of weeks, it’s good to have a little historical context and look back at one of the biggest-ever…
Meanwhile…evacuees are looking at what remains of their town…finding new places to call temporary home…and landing some relief money from the Alberta government…cool, rainier weather is helpful in fighting forest fires…many people have been opening their wallets to help…And Slave Lake resident, Cousin, was at Hip Hop in the Park this weekend, representing his hometown…
Sometimes a story like the current fire happens, and you’re the guy steps away from the big one…This weekend the Edmonton Journal put out a special insert on Slave Lake.
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Alberta teachers are being asked to accept five-years of fixed salary increases. And these one wouldn’t be tied into average weekly earnings (as the most recent deal was).
Another day another report questioning the health risks of the oilsands.
It only took a couple of years, but the Alberta government is finally rolling out a campaign to try and educate people about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), of which we are tops in Canada. Meanwhile…in other health news…The Calgary Herald wants the provincial government to fund fertility treatments.
Alberta’s film and television industry is trying to remain a big deal. (Hey, next weekend is the Rosies.)
Don’t forget that we’re getting a new Premier of Alberta this year (whether there’s a general election or not). Well, look at that. And that too.
Service Alberta’s got a couple of consumer warnings about a pair of contractors.
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If you’re hearing about the massive tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri (among the deadline in U.S. history – in an already busy tornado season) wondering what you can do, you can always look online for ways to help.
Alright, let’s end things on a good note, with this story about Catholic Social Services and the Rotary Centre for New Canadians, and this one about a U of A student picking up a prestigious scholarship.
Edmonton Framework Agreement Headlines
So…they’re building a downtown arena.
What’s that?
The odd 9:30pm news conference caught you off guard? The vote behind closed-doors feels a little off? The fact nothing really changed from the last, seemingly tentative, steps forward, leaving construction costs $100-million short doesn’t sound like sound city planning?
I believe that is anti-Oiler, Anti-Edmonton talk.
Don’t you love the downtown, don’t you love your city?!
(I do recognize the deal uses terms like “framework” and “agreement in principle” but come on…)
On the plus-side, one can hope the City sticks to its guns and doesn’t move forward without making up the $100-million in missing money. Right now that is tied into asking the federal and provincial governments. A seat sale won’t be part of it. (We also have a pretty good idea for funding the arena.) The provincial government also has to approve a community revitalization levy (CRL) that can use taxes from a specified zone to help pay for the arena (the City has identified a pretty large swatch of the downtown for this). There has to be a public hearing on the CRL.
One can also hope Edmonton doesn’t become just another example of a city that handed money to a sports franchise to try and invigorate it’s downtown, only to be looking for ways to in invigorate it’s downtown a couple of years later. Design, and the “entertainment district” around the arena are going to be the most important parts of this.
Also, regardless of other reports and math, Daryl Katz is putting in $100-million, which is fantastic, but does account for less than 1/4 of the construction costs. That means the City of Edmonton (and/or other levels of taxpayer-funded government) must pay the majority of costs to build the arena. Katz may eventually pay $125-million of that back through a ticket tax, but you and I are paying to build his team’s arena.
Oh, and Northlands is gonna be pissed, because the Katz Group wants a non-competition clause, so Northlands doesn’t keep booking concerts, sports, the rodeo, etc… at Rexall Place. Which I presume will become some sort of housing location for wigs. (Northlands could end up non-existent, totally reinvented, or rolled into Edmonton Economic Development, as a result of all this.)
Alright, these are Edmonton Headlines, not just Arena headlines. Let’s dig in. (more…)
April 8 Edmonton Headlines
It’s all about being downtown. Our core is slowly building into an amazing, livable space and everyone wants to get in on that action.
The Oilers want a new arena downtown, the Royal Alberta Museum is moving in from Glenora. Oh, you didn’t hear?
It was announced the new Royal Alberta Museum (New!) will be built behind City Hall, north of 104 Avenue. It looks like it will be quite the new digs.
Though, while architecture may have imrpoved since the late 70-early 80s let’s try and not get crazy with tearing down everything to build new. That’s how we got the beige rectangle invasion around Jasper and 100 Street.
Speaking of downtown arenas…Northlands is ready to fight for concerts and large events. Which would throw the whole Katz Group plan into a mess; its those concerts and events they really want revenue from. And that would throw your tax dollars into a mess because the City of Edmonton is trying to work out a way to help pay for the downtown arena. It doesn’t necessarily mean bad things for Edmonton, heck we might get more concerts, but it certainly affects the profit of the Katz Group with a new arena.
The provincial government, spending on that museum, must be in a spending mood because the premier is expecting to talk with Edmonton’s mayor about some arena funding.
Oh, and while there’s plenty of parking downtown, some of it even free after 6pm, that may change with a new arena.
Outside of the downtown… (more…)
Edmonton 311 Headlines
Good morning, Edmonton. You’re probably going to hear quite a bit about the earthquake in Japan today (if you haven’t already). Sally’s already touched upon this natural disaster.
Back here in Alberta, it’s been more than a week since Independent/Ousted Conservative MLA Raj Sherman stunned the Alberta Legislature with allegations of money paid to doctors while people died on waiting lists. The hush money coming in the way of big salaries and contract pay-outs as they left the province.
I’ve kind of stayed away from this one in the Headlines. Dr. Sherman made the allegations inside chamber of the Alberta Legislature, but hasn’t repeated them outside. That would be because members of provincial governments, and parliament in Ottawa, are afforded what’s called “parliamentary privilege.” They can say stuff inside the dome and not get sued. News media can repeat the material, even if it ends up being false, because they’re just repeating the comments and doing their duty as relayers of what’s happening right now.
I wanted to see where some of this would end up before repeating it here.
Sherman made the allegations. The government asked for proof. Sherman said he’d bring the proof, if the “whistle-blowers” could have immunity for their comments. Then Sherman said the proof wasn’t his to give, and repeated his calls for immunity.
All this prompted more calls for an independent investigation, or inquiry, into wait list deaths and emergency room crisis.
Without proof of the damning allegations, people began to wonder if Sherman, who couldn’t have risen much higher in popularity for calling out his own governing party, had burnt his police capital and was now just a conspiracy theorist.
Then, late yesterday, the CBC dug up a story that may prove Dr. Sherman may not have been so wrong.
Now we’re getting an investigation.
I also learned that it’s great to be able to sit back and wait for a fuller story, which isn’t what I got to do working in daily newsrooms. Those poor guys have to churn out news item after news item, even if they’re waiting for the facts just like the rest of us.
Now, onto today’s news. The rest of it, I mean. (more…)
March 2 Edmonton Headlines
It may be stupid-balls cold, but it's still sunny at 6pm. That's something.
Sure it’s still very much winter, but spring is coming (eventually) and that will mean road construction.
This year’s big construction project is 99 Street and Scona Road (99 Street between Saskatchewan Drive and the Low Level Bridge), and it’s going to impact a lot of people. The stretch of road will be going down to one lane in each direction next month, then shutting completely to all but local traffic (the people living off 99 Street or going to the Old Timer’s Cabin) for the summer and most of the year.
Hey, look at that, Sally talked about it a little with the Journal. They left out the best stuff she said though.
Like “I am on a drug – it’s called Sally Poulsen. It’s not available because if you try it, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body.” and “If you borrowed my brain for five seconds, you’d be like, ‘Dude! Can’t handle it, unplug this bastard!’ It fires in a way that’s maybe not from, uh… this terrestrial realm.” and “I’m not bi-polar, I’m bi-winning. I win here and I win there.”
Probably because she was talking nonsense.
Alright, we have real stuff to talk about. (more…)
Budgetary Budgets of the Alberta Budget
(I am an SEO king.)
Alright, Edmonton, you know the drill. When it’s provincial budget storytime we go all out. Prepare for budget!
So, the long-governing Conservative party tabled its latest budget Thursday (do you think they got bored of this annual stuff some time in the mid to late 80s?). It’s a deficit budget, which means the Alberta government is spending more than it’s taking in. But, thanks to the last few billion dollars of savings, there won’t be a debt for a couple more years. If there’s not another boom by 2013…well, let’s just not think about that.
Alberta remains a glorious land of low taxes. But your user fees are going up, up, up!
Healthcare still eats up the largest portion of the budget. Education is next, with the second-largest piece of the budget pie chart, and while there’s an increase to education spending, it’s mostly to cover teacher salaries. Post-secondary schools may also start feeling the pinch.
Some environmental initiatives appear to be going nowhere, or stalling. That may end up including money hoped to help Edmonton build its new LRT lines.
Oh, and the opposition parties aren’t too impressed with the budget. Like that’s even news.
Hey, lookie here, I found stories in Edmonton that were not Alberta Budget 2011 related. (more…)
The Weekend
With the kind of temperatures we’re expecting this weekend there are no excuses not to get out and enjoy some Edmonton.
The Winter Light Festival continues with Ice on Whyte’s final weekend and Flashpoint event at the Edmonton Ski Club. There’s even music for Ice on Whyte, at the nearby Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park. Also, Ice on Whyte might melt, so check it out now!
I’ll be trying to keep Sally away from the Pet Expo, so we don’t end up with an office full of animals. On Sunday, Northlands turns things around for a bridal show.
The Edmonton Oil Kings are at home this weekend, to Moose Jaw and Medicine Hat. The Oilers are home too, hosting the Predators.
It’s a great weekend for music in Edmonton. The Sound and YEG Live have another local showcase at The Haven Social Club, with The Wheat Pool and Trent Buhler & The Lucky Pennies. Gregg Beever wouldn’t let me forget if I fail to mention our late-night pizza friend, Carrie Day, is at the Blue Chair Cafe, with David Shepherd. The ARTery has The Jon Cohen Experimental, with Smokey. Pawn Shop’s got Owls by Nature, Fire Next Time, and The Weekend Kids.
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is staying up late this Friday, with percussionist Colin Currie for one of their Late Nights with Bill Eddins. This is a great way to check out the ESO in a more relaxed environment.
On Saturday…you can catch one of the final shows at Axis Cafe (yes, they’re closing) with Lisa Nicole Grace. There’s nothing like a hall show, and Big Hank & Friends will be at Queen Alexandra Hall. (Side note: Big Hank designed the ad you now see in the sidebar for S.I.R.E.N.S.) Wunderbar’s got Jessica Jalbert. And Great Big Sea is at the Jube.
If you’re up for some dance, Brian Webb’s got relay, at the Timms Centre for the Arts.
The Fringe isn’t waiting for summer. Mozart: Ze Komplete Hystery is at the TransAlta’s Westbury Theatre all weekend.
City Budget Headlines
It’s budget day in Edmonton!
OK, so technically yesterday would be budget day, since that’s when your city council passed the 2011 budget, but today is the day we all get to talk about it. And complain about our 3.85% tax increase.
Atcually, that’s fairly reasonable. Depending on who you talk to. (Councillors Kerry Diotte and Linda Sloan voted against the budget. That doesn’t mean they’re anarchists who don’t believe in planning or finances. No, Diotte wanted to cut more, while Sloan felt too much was cut. Which probably means the porridge budget is just right.) The final tax increase will be known once the Alberta government figures out the education portion of your tax bill in the spring.
The southeast LRT line seems to be moving ahead just fine. Though that west line is not quite ready yet. And by “not quite ready” I mean people be hatin’. More on that in January. More on the proposed lines, right now, from The Charrette.
Now that the budget is done, councillors can relax with a quiet presentation on arenas from Northlands.
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Farmfair 2010 and…Conan
Do you have your cowboy hat ready, Edmonton?
Farmfair International is on, over at Northlands.
Farmfair runs until Sunday, the Canadian Finals Rodeo starts Wednesday. You are running out of time to cowboy-up.
Farmfair is a time for people buy and sell cattle and livestock (including Alpacas!) but you city slickers (and me) could also pick up a thing or two from the various exhibits, shows, and general farm information. We might even learn where our food comes from.
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But, if you’re looking to just stay in tonight you could always turn on the television and watch a new show.
That show is Conan. It’s going to be good.
Remember when Conan and Andy were so close we could almost touch them?
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.
Enjoy it
Last weekend I got rocked by Edmonton bands N.N. (pictured), The Mystery Ponies, and touchitandyouwillsayow. The first two are playing again this Sunday, at Brixx, with a couple of local rappers.
We hinted, in today’s symphony post, and movie previews, that summer is ending. So we might as well enjoy the unofficial end of summer with a long weekend full of good times.
It will be even better if the weather cooperates.
As mentioned, this weekend heralds new movies, and is the annual Symphony Under the Sky at Hawrelak Park.
There are more movies, on the square, with How to Train Your Dragon tonight and Toy Story 3 tomorrow night.
There’s more music festival, Saturday, with Sonic Boom back at Northlands.
Also at Northlands, all weekend, is the WPCA Dodge World Chuckwagon Championships.
One event I hadn’t heard of, before checking ShareEdmonton, is the Raas Garba Festival, which looks to be colourful, and features events with people from Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, and Vancouver. The festival is a celebration of the culture of people from the west Indian province of Gujurat.
Almost ABBA is at the Century Casino. Bobby Curtola is playing the Arden Theatre, in St. Alberta.
Alright, now back to young, hip kid stuff. (With some help from YEGLive.ca.)
Like Cam Penner, playing the Blue Chair Cafe tonight.
This weekend is also the Beaumont Blue Fest. That will see bands such as Jimmy and the Sleepers, Boogie Patrol, Gordie Johnson (from Big Sugar) and Amos Garrett bring down the party, rock things out, and and spill their souls, just southeast of Edmonton.
There’s even more great blues music all week at Blues on Whyte, with Winnipeg’s Big Dave McLean.
Bluebird North is showcasing songwriters this long weekend too.
You could always get lost.
Don’t forget:
The LRT will not be going beyond Churchill Station. That starts Friday night and continues through all of Monday.
You probably don’t have to work Monday.
A night at the races
If you’re looking for something to do on a Wednesday night, you can always check out the races.
Northlands is the place to watch, and bet on, horses running around the track.
And by bouncing around their website (so much purple…) I see it’s almost time for the Canadian Derby (This Saturday, August 21).
I’m still not sure bikini girls are going to interest me enough to head out to that big race, but there will be plenty of fancy hats.
Long weekend = One more day of fun
It’s the Heritage Day long weekend, Edmonton, so get out there and soak in all that summer.
Over the next four days (counting Friday night) there’s a lot to do in Edmonton.
Capital Ex continues at Northlands. A Taste of Edmonton is still at Churchill Square. (Both run until Sunday.)
And, of course, Heritage Day means Hawrelak Park becomes the Heritage Festival. It’s the 35th go-round for Heritage Fest, with more than 60 countries and ethnicities represented. There will be culture and food, all three days of the weekend, in the park. Plan your adventures with the map.
The winless Eskimos play tonight. Meh.
Friday night is a really good music night. Juliette Lewis is playing the Starlite Room, Metric (and Hot Hot Heat) are at Capital Ex, Fred Eaglesmith is in Stony Plain at the Blueberry Bluegrass and Country Music Festival, and there’s that little thing called the Big Valley Jamboree over in Camrose.
On Sunday, The Old Wives are playing at Lyve on Whyte and Audio/Rocketry is at the PawnShop.
And Capital Ex has more music at the Telus Stage Saturday and Sunday. Plus, The Be Arthurs can be found at Centre Stage.
There are dinosaurs!!
ShareEdmonton had an event that really caught my eye. (What can I say, I have a soft spot for chess.) This weekend is the Edmonton Chess Festival. Checkmate.
I also keep forgetting to mention Saturday as a great farmers’ market day. You’ve got the year-round Old Strathcona version, or summer’s City Market Downtown.
It’s the end of the month, so you can check Gregg’s July movie preview and his new look at the August releases, if you’re hitting the movie theatre.
Don’t tire yourself out this weekend, since Folk Fest starts Wednesday night, and the Fringe is on the horizon.
And, because I’m going to mention it all of the time, the edmontonian and Unknown Studio will be celebrating their first birthday(s) Monday, August 23.
Yumeeeee Wooooooo!
Even with the parade done and the Monster conquered, Capital Ex continues its unrelenting push for fun.
Along with the midway, shopping, games, food, the Telus Stage (Shane Yellowbird tonight, Metric tomorrow, Hedley Saturday, Default Sunday), casino, stuff for the kids, and the food and wine experience (Sip!), you can also just people-watch. 
Plus there are fireworks. And mini donuts.
You know, when you write it all down, there actually does seem to be quite a bit going on up there at Northlands.
Edmonton Events – January 15-17
It’s the weekend and that means fun.
Unless you have to work. Then it’s just another two weekdays.
But for me (and probably you) it’s actually a weekend.
I’ll probably take a wander by Ice on Whyte and peek at the ice sculptures.
This one was a freebie. They keep the good stuff behind a $2 pay wall.
Eventually I will pay admission to get a better look at all of the fine ice art.
If motorcycles are more your thing (or the idea of motorcycles anyway) then you’re going to want to head over to Northlands.
“Thunderstick” is playing over at the Roxy and I hear it’s good.
If eating is more your winter activity then you are going to excited to learn that Fork Fest starts Sunday. Original Fare restaurants will be offering menus of $25 or $45 full of their awesome food.
Lyle Lovett is plaing the Jube this weekend.
Colin James is playing the Winspear Centre with Suzie McNeil. I need to pay more attention, this is one I should have budgeted for.
How could I go without mentioning the Guns N’ Roses concert Sunday? I couldn’t.
Free sex*
Hello again, Edmonton.
Have you heard about the Taboo show this weekend? It’s “the naughty but nice” event happening at Northlands Agricom starting Friday.
Anyway, we’ve got a pair of tickets (retail value $30) thanks to a friend of the website, Brenda at The Traveling Tickle Trunk.
All you have to do is tell us you want to get your sexy-on and I’ll throw your name into our sexy draw. Then you’ll swing (get it?) over to Brenda’s store to pick up your tickets.
Hey, if you win, could you bring a warm winter item or two for HIV Edmonton? Brenda’s been collecting such items in exchange for tickets and it would be a swell thing for you to do.
*free sex meaning entrance to a sexually-themed trade show
Go Weekend, it’s your birthday, go Weekend
Bocce and beer could be a good weekend mix.
It’s the weekend, baby. That means it’s time for fun, without the pressure of waking up early and acting all professional at a job. Thank you Saturday and Sunday, thank you.
We’ve already talked about the big Pin-Up Girl party happening tonight (and hinted at the Tattoo festival in that same story) but that’s not all that’s happening in this happening city.
The tattoo and arts fest is at the Shaw. Which is right by the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, which has races in the river (obviously). They’re at Louise McKinney Park to be more specific.
The Fringe is going for new attendance records in its final weekend.
Blues Fest takes over Hawrelak Park.
Raising Spaces has an Eco Reno Demo Day, so you can learn about home renovations the green way.
You can pretend you know all about playing the ponies at the 80th running of the Canadian Derby at Northlands, Saturday.
Edmonton’s Chinatown and Little Italy combine forces for “East meets West.” Say “Hi” to Ted for us.
A great Winnipeg band, with a great name, Hot Live Guys plays New City Likwid Lounge with local greats Old Wives. See, I told you there was fun. The bill is rounded out with Regina rockers Hot Blood Bombers
Or you can get your Classic Rock on at the Century Casino with Chilliwack.
And on Monday, Mos Def rocks the house over at the Edmonton Event Centre.
