Problem Solved
We’re all for Edmonton’s downtown becoming more vibrant, with more people living, working, and enjoying it. We also like the Oilers.
But we understand it’s expensive to build an arena and entertainment district (AED).
We also understand that Edmonton city council is wary of borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars to create the new AED. So we think we’ve come up with a plan that can raise the money to build the new downtown arena, and save taxpayers any possible losses.
Call us if you need anything else, City Hall!
Already the end of June
It seems like June has just flown right by this year. And since we are in the midst of the festival season it’s just going to keep zipping along.
Why, just look at this weekend. We’ve got the Edmonton International Jazz Festival (including the free Jazz in the Park event Saturday), The Works Art Design Festival,
the Serca Festival of Irish Theatre, Bikeology wraps up Bike Month with a dance party, Improvaganza is finishing, and feats – festival of dance is sure to get you moving. That’s a lot of festivals.
This afternoon, you’ve also got the Edmonton Oilers drafting their first-ever first overall NHL pick. The team is throwing together a party. Will it be Taylor or Tyler? (That sounds like the stunning conclusion on some teen drama.)
This weekend is Edmonton’s first Startup Weekend. I’d explain what that is but Mack will probably do a better job.
I’ll be closing out the month-long Edmonton Community Challenge by building a canned good sculpture at Churchill Square. So I’ll probably take in some of The Works while I’m there.
Now it’s time to check in on all that is happening in Edmonton with ShareEdmonton and YegLive.ca
The Edmonton Energy are taking on the Los Angeles Lightning, in IBL action, at NAIT’s downtown campus.
If you’re up for a little bit of a road trip, head out to Stony Plain (I said it would be a little road trip.) to catch The Swiftys at the Early Stage Saloon.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park will be overrun by little creatures since this Sunday is Pets in the Park 2010.
And on Monday you can celebrate Canada’s Olympic hockey glory at Commonwealth Stadium.
What else is going on this weekend?
Big Sexy Speaks: “Why I want a trade.”
By Number 44 (as imagined by Colin MacIntyre)
Hair makes the man.
What up Babies.
So I’m in my mansion, packin’ up my hockey bags (one for equipment, the other for hair product ) when I got to thinkin; Big Sexy owes you an explanation.
I realize a lot of you might have been upset with that interview I gave over the weekend, where I said I don’t want to be here anymore, and that I want to be traded. Yes, I realize I was probably going to be traded this summer anyway, and yes, I realize I may have already been traded, had I not broken my hand on that Iggy’s superdense skull, but I had to give that interview.
I had to get some stuff off my chest, stuff that’s been tearing me apart, like a rip in your favorite Armani suit. You know what I’m talking about, right?
I said that the experience of being back in Edmonton wasn’t the experience I was expecting. That’s putting it midly. My time in Edmonton has been a complete wrecking ball of a freakshow nightmare trainwreck. So what changed? Why was I so excited to come home, to play for the Oil, and now I’m filling up my Escalade with Premium at the Domo, chomping at the bit to get the rock out of here?
Well, consider the following:
An Edmonton Weekend
There's also some big-time roller derby action this weekend. It's Edmonton vs. Calgary, baby.
Whatever you do this weekend, Edmonton, if the weather pans out as predicted you’re going to want to get outside. Especially if you’ve been running from your car to various buildings for the last four months.
Mayhaps you’ll be swinging over to the Shaw Conference Centre for the Edmonton Collectible Toy and Comic Show?
This weekend also sees a movie we’ve been waiting for to open; Hot Tub Time Machine. We really, really like it already.
The Get Down and The Old Wives are going to blow the roof off The Pawn Shop tonight, for the Sonic Band of the Month show. Now THAT’S Edmonton rock. The Old Wives are the BOTM.
Let’s go see what ShareEdmonton has to say about this weekend:
The Home and Garden show is on. That’s timely.
Maybe you want to talk about what Canada will look like at 150 years old.
Moms can Shop the Block, Sunday.
The Rush and Oilers are also playing here in Edmonton this weekend.
And don’t forget that Saturday night, at 8:30, it’s Earth Hour. So turn off stuff that’s sucking precious power.
Enjoy the weekend, my little peahens.
Beever’s Best
Best & Worst of Edmonton 2009 according to me, Gregg Beever
It’s probably a week late for a “year in review” type post, but I’ve
managed to convince the Editor-in-Chief to let me do it anyway. So
gather ‘round Edmonton, here is the year’s best and worst according to
me, Gregg Beever.
Best Local Band: The Provincial Archive
Edmonton has a very good music scene. While I haven’t experienced
enough of any other city’s scene to be considered even remotely
expert, I think I can humbly and modestly declare Edmonton’s the best
on the planet.
Our city has a plethora of small, intimate venues like the Empress,
Blue Chair or the Hydeaway. Here the music isn’t deafening, neither is
it crowded with hordes of drunk teenage lunatics screaming in your
very aged and sensitive ears. These are venues where the nuances of
each tune can be soaked in peacefully over a pint or a coffee. I can
spend an entire show in relaxed mesmerization of a percussionist’s
talented movements, the concentration of a cellist or violinist, or
the deft fingering of a guitarist.
Small venues also give you the opportunity to chat with the musicians.
I always make a point of telling an artist when I liked their set. My
theory is no one gets tired of hearing they are awesome. Plus it leads
to some interesting conversations, for instance: I once had a chat
with Megan from The Last Town Chorus about the logistics of using
laminated bookmarks as tools for cleaning up sexual fluids.
A friend of mine once told me she avoided chatting with musicians for
fear of becoming “that girl.” You know the one; that wound up
pre-pubescent girl, lavishing band members with intense adoration
before giving in to hyperventilation and passing out.
Which bring us (finally) to The Provincial Archive.
Craig Schram’s melodic prairie tunes truly demonstrate the fantastic
level of musical talent that exists in E-town. The Archive’s soft
sounds, formed from a collection of guitar, accordion, mandolin,
glockenspiels and other absorbing rhythms, somehow find me
steering-wheel drumming like I was rocking out in my car to Motion
City Soundtrack. In short, they’re excellent.
So excellent, in fact, that when I was chatting with one band member
before a show at the Pawn Shop I sounded like that hyped up
pre-pubescent girl meeting the Jonas Brothers.
I’m willing to bet I didn’t come off quite so ridiculous, but that’s
how I remember it:
“You guys are fantastic, I listen to you in my car every day! It’s
weird that you guys are, like, from Edmonton and I’m playing your
music in Edmonton, you know? That’s just…weird, right? I love you
guys. I’m going to have your babies.” (more…)
Edmonton Events (mostly) not involving turkeys
Perhaps we will come out of this long weeked in one season, and not two.
The temptation here is to only list events that are totally Thanksgiving and turkey-related, or boycott the flightless bird. I’ll do what I can to find a middle ground.
First, we’ve already been over The Fashion Event, all the big football games, a grand opening, and a unique way to enjoy turkey dinner while gambling, but there’s more.
You could head to The Starlite Room tonight for The Adrian Belew Power Trio.
Tomorrow night at The Starlite it’s Shout Out Out Out Out.
Maybe you’re feeling in a revolutionary mood. The Artery has a Che Party for the Ernesto Che Guevera Festival. Plus, this weekend is the 2nd birthday of The Artery, and they’re having a party for that Sunday night.
The Gas Pump (only your favourite bar, and ours) is hosting an Oktoberfest, Saturday. It runs 3-8pm and helps out the Edmonton Food Bank. Did I mention this was at THE GAS PUMP!
Saturday night sees the secretaries releasing a CD. That means lots of music at The Pawn Shop from those rockin’ executive assistants and also The Get Down, DJ Lady ZZ Top and Paul Couts and Cowls.
The Edmonton Kennel Club is filling Northlands Hall A with all the cute dogs you can handle.
There’s an Oilers game Saturday night, with the Montreal Canadiens in town.
And don’t forget that Jay-Z plays Rexall Place Tuesday night.
Fashion’s a stranger
We’ve had some great help with Edmonton Fashion Week from two fashion experts (here and here), both showing off their designs this week.
Now, Gregg Beever channels my own lack of fashion sense and looks for some really old school inspiration.
Hey again, Edmonton, what’s the haps?
Abbreviating words like “happening” signifies what a hip and cool dude I am. As such a “with it” fellow I have my finger placed firmly on the cultural pulse of the city.
How do I manage to keep myself so current? Why I read the edmontonian of course, Edmonton’s only online magazine that delivers hard hitting journalism written by handsome, sexy authors. Thanks to the edmontonian, I know that this week is Fashion Week in E-town.
Admittedly, I’m never all that up to date on fashion. Remember at the turn of the century when That 70’s Show was at it’s peak, Ashton Kutcher wasn’t (creepily) married to Demi Moore and Topher Grace wasn’t helping to ruin Spider-man? There was this brief revival of 70’s fashion. I was the guy in 2005 decked out in bell bottoms and dangerously wide collars going “this is still cool, right?”
If a lesson is to be learned, it is that fashion is cyclical, sooner or later everything that was old is new again. It creates a frightening precedent. Some fashions don’t deserve another go around. (more…)
