Rhythm for Research
This Saturday there’s a cancer research fundraiser at Original Joe’s Varsity. Now, what sets this apart is the fact the organizer, Erin Land, has gathered together one of the most formidable Edmonton music lineups I’ve yet to see.
And this is just to raise money on her way to running a half marathon in May. Talk about dedication to eradicating blood cancers!
“The cause is close to my heart for several reasons,” Erin writes in an e-mail.
“I’ve lost two family members, and very close friends of mine lost their daughter at the tiny age of 6. Finding a cure is important to me, and I’ll do what I can to help!”
So, Erin gathered her team from the #yegmusicclub (a local collection of music lovers) and they got to planning. In order for her to participate in the run, she needs to raise $3250 in donations for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
For a mere $15 here’s what you could be listening to on Saturday. (more…)
One week ’til shaving
Movember isn’t done yet!
There’s one week left to see gaggles of guys with terrible moustaches. Just one, more, week…
Oh, and that means one more week to donate to prostate cancer research.
Let’s check in on the The Burt Reynolds Express. That’s Gregg’s team. (more…)
Cold, and cool, events
It's a big movie weekend. I think I spot a wand in that lineup.
It may be a chilly weekend in Edmonton, but put your long johns on and get out there!
It looks like a good live music weekend. (I feel like I say that most weeks…)
You can check out Krystle Dos Santos at Jeffrey’s Cafe & Wine Bar (not my wine bar, by the way). She’s an amazing, local jazz singer. You should catch her live if for no other reason than to be able to say to people “Oh, you simply have to see her live.”
Oh, you simply have to see Krystle Dos Santos live.
Saturday is full of great music.
Gobble Fest welcomes back Gobble Gobble from their latest tour and has many guests alongside them. A band that might still be off your radar, The Bridle Party, is releasing their first album tomorrow at Naked, on Jasper. Cygnets is also releasing an album tomorrow night (at the Pawn Shop). Jason Collett is all up in Haven Social Club’s business Saturday night.
On the Festival beat…Exposure is in its final weekend, so get out and enjoy the final throes of Edmonton’s queer arts and culture festival. The U of A’s Festival of Ideas continues to fill your brain until Sunday, with a big finish from David Sedaris.
Interested in the way a city is put together? Like LEGO? One or both of those work for you? Then check out The Way We Move Challenge at The Telus World of Science this weekend. Using the toy blocks, the City of Edmonton is going to get you interested in transportation planning and design.
If you’re still looking around for a Friday night idea, why not check Cheap Date Night at The Traveling Tickle Trunk.
Gift sopping will soon be (or already is) the order of the day for most people. This weekend there are three spots you might want to check out if you’re into that kind of thing. My Filosophy is donating some of the proceeds of their Saturday sales to the Stollery, so you’d be helping while shopping. The Handmade Mafia is out with a very special holiday show this weekend, at the Strathcona Community Hall. And St. Albert’s got a giant craft sale.
Don’t forget, November is Movember. There’s a moustache party at Original Joe’s Varsity tonight.
I also forgot to mention The Gateway is celebrating it’s 100th birthday this weekend. Follow the Twitter hashtag #gw100 to keep up with returning alumni, events, and general shenanigans. (The Gateway is the University of Alberta’s student newspaper. We can only hope that means 80-year-old dudes coming back to re-live their glory days by downing Jagr Bombs at Hudson’s on Campus.)
We heard your SOS
(Update: I’ve added a video story, and slightly altered the wording of this post from it’s first version Monday.)
We’re glad we did hear that SOS.
SOS Fest rocked Whyte Avenue this weekend. 150+ bands and musicians…20+ venues…wow.
We were talking about it for three days at a special “on assignment” blog.
I really enjoyed Dead Ghosts, out of Vancouver. They were probably my favourite band of the festival. The Joe tried to tear Wunderbar apart with his set, as part of an Old Ugly showcase. Cadence Weapon blew the roof off the Pawn Shop. And The Sherry-Lee Wisor trio kicked things off for me, setting the bar quite high.
I also uploaded a lot of my photos to my Flickr account, and added them to the edmontonian Flickr pool.
Plus, a few of my interviews from the weekend are now playing at our YouTube channel. (The story on the festival – embedded above – is also at our YouTube now.)
There are more photos, videos, links, reviews, and thoughts at our SOS Fest blog.
We’ll always take your own stories, experiences, photos and videos.
Check Twitter for more comments and updates from people who went to the shows, and played, this weekend.
That's Gregg Beever buying a CD from SOS performer Carrie Hryniw. At Funky Pickle, of all places.
It’s a post-Conan world
I know that Conan O’Brien is a smart cookie and he’ll land on his feet. I also know he’ll be missed on The Tonight Show, around these parts. It’s back to Letterman/Kimmel/Lopez for the first round of late night TV.
I think my love of Carson Daly has also been noted.
For these reasons I may bounce over to Original Joe’s-Varisty Row (109 Street, north of Whyte Avenue) for the last Coco-Tonight Show. They’ll be showing it at the restaurant/bar and they’ve got specials on Red Ale and Coco Martinis (clever). Maybe I’ll see you there.
On a more serious note, there will be a march and rally in Old Strathcona tomorrow (when isn’t there?) as Canadians against Proroguing Parliament hit the streets. Let’s see if the Facebook protest transitions to the real world.
I bet this show won't be a "big wreck." (It's Monday at Union Hall.)
Edmonton’s Winter Light festival continues this weekend, with the Baba Yaga Trail Adventure.
Ice on Whyte also continues.
There are zombie-literary discussions happening Saturday afternoon (2-4pm, in the Edmonton Room) at the Stanley Milner Library. It’s about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
There are also ways to enjoy the party-scene of the weekend and help Haiti. Check this Metro-Edmonton story for details.
Dave Attell is at The Comic Strip this weekend.
You can take your tummy out to the second round of Fork Fest.
Maybe you’d rather try not to get trampled by brides looking for deals and other items for THEIR SPECIAL DAY. There’s an event for that.
Or you can attempt to keep your head from exploding due to an abundance of cuteness at the Edmonton Pet Expo. Aww…
The Edmonton Rush have their home opener Saturday, against the Buffalo Bandits. Hey, they’ve got more of a chance of winning than the Oilers. (Thanks for the reminder, Derjs.)
Whatever it is you do to make it to Monday, have fun.
