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.

Okay, so, if you went to the Art Walk this year, you probably came across Ted Flower. He was the quiet, affable guy next to the CIBC who was displaying (among other things) a pair of giant panel cityscapes of Edmonton and Calgary, done entirely in ballpoint pen. I was totally taken with his artwork, which, from a distance, looks like it must’ve been generated by a computer; but when you get up close, you see that it is, in fact, an incredibly detailed, hand drawn depiction of both cities.

Ted is a tremendously interesting guy. He turned 50 just this week, and has had a few different careers; he ran a chainsaw for a long time, until he got hurt too badly to continue; he moved to Edmonton in 1989 and took up demolition and asbestos abatement. In the early to mid 2000s he was involved in a couple of different business opportunities; and he has just recently decided to chuck it all and pursue art on a full-time basis – a pretty bold step for a guy with no formal training. He says he would love to see his version of Edmonton’s skyline hanging in City Hall.

Anyway, I made arrangements to stop by Ted’s studio, in the basement of his North Edmonton home, and watch him at work. Holy crap, Edmonton. Not only can the man draw; he’s also completing a giant replica of a bridge out of TOOTHPICKS. Hundreds of thousands of them. The pieces he’s finished to date take up large parts of his house, and he hopes when completed, it will set a world record. When I ask him why he’s building the bridge, which he figures should be done by the time he’s 60, he says, “Because I need a challenge.” WHAT?! That’s so badass!

Check out the story above, and if you dig Ted’s work, or even if you just want to shake his hand, he’s going to have his cityscapes on display at the upcoming East meets West Festival, on Saturday, August 22.