What to do, what to do…
After what felt like an exceptionally busy weekend, seven days ago, this weekend appears a little tamer.
There's going to be so much art here.
But there’s still plenty of good stuff around. And don’t you even think this signals a slowdown. The Capital Ex, Indy, Heritage Days, Taste of Edmonton, Fringe run is going to test your festival abilities.
As Sally brought to our attention earlier today, ArtWalk takes over Whyte Avenue this weekend. And a little rain isn’t going to stop the art.
Rain also hasn’t stopped the Street Performers Festival, wrapping up this weekend.
Angela reminded us that FAVA is partying today.
In music…Lily Fawn and her Lullaby band are at at The ARTery.
SOS Fest participants Wool on Wolves are playing Brixx, Saturday night. Jazz is at Wunderbar. It’ll be like you didn’t even miss them last weekend.
Blue Oyster Cult‘s at the Century Casino, Saturday night. Peter Frampton is tenting it up at River Cree.
The Pawn Shop is holding an undiscovered singing competition. Don’t forget about the Party Tent. (How could you though?) And Edmonton has a new blues bar. Rusty Reed’s opens with Big Dave McLean.
Gregg will probably be seeing Inception this weekend. It’s one of this month’s more anticipated films.
In sports…the Capitals play ball. (That means fireworks Friday night.)
A Big Gay Birthday Bash
We need more city councillors who are willing to walk around topless. (Photo: Liam Gould, via BVA.com)
I know, you’re sitting around thinking “How can we better combine my love of civic politics and Pride Week?”
What? Am I the only one who tries to connect two seemingly unconnected items? Like my love of peanut butter and pizza? (A story for another day…)
Tonight at 7pm, my friends, is Brendan Van Alstine’s Big Gay Birthday Bash & Fundraiser, at The ARTery.
Not only is the party an official part of the 2010 Edmonton Pride Festival, it’s a fundraiser for Van Alstine’s campaign for council. He’s running in ward 7, against the TonCat.
So there you have it. Edmonton’s municipal politics and Pride Week together. In one big gay party. Tickets are $20 at the door.
I hope you like to party
Edmonton, get your party pants on because you’re going to need them this weekend.
We’ve got the Pride Parade Saturday, which helps kicks off Pride Week, and that is followed by an all-day party. Saturday also just so happens to be the second Al Fresco Block Party on 104 Street, with a used book sale too. That’s two parties on the same day!
And, I see, the Pride fun start tonight with a dance-a-thon.
There’s lots of good stuff for Bike Month. The Bikeology team is joining the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters for a 24-hour bike repair-a-thon. Bring in your bike, donate your old bikes, but make sure you run it through me so I can get Strathcona Centre points in the big Edmonton Community Challenge. Let me know if you have a bike in need of a tune-up or a new home. That runs Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday there’s the Critical Lass ride around the southside of Edmonton. It ends with cupcakes. As all good bike rides should.
There’s still Nextfest to be had. As noted, this is your chance to see Edmonton’s next generation of artistic talent. For the kids, Sprouts is over at the Stanley A. Milner library this weekend.
Music? You want music? You got a great weekend of music ahead.
The Born Ruffians are playing tonight, ZZ Top and Wide Mouth Mason play the Jubilee, The Misfits rock the Starlite, An Horse and Hot Panda will blow apart Brixx tonight, The City Streets return home to Edmonton for a show Saturday, there’s a big 30th anniversary gala over at the University of Alberta’s Timms Centre and The Joe is having a crazy, big rap-fest Saturday night, with lots of artists, at The ARTery.
Saturday sees track and field athletes competing for cash money (and world rankings) at the 2010 Edmonton International Track Classic, over at Foote Field. Which is at the South Campus LRT stop.
And the National Portrait Gallery begins its run at Latitude 53. It’s not the “real” national gallery, since the federal government didn’t end up putting that anywhere.
The Edmonton Capitals play. Baseball. At Telus Field. You should go sometime.
Oh, and there’s this little soccer tournament going on. I think it’s called the World Cup?
You could also see a movie. I think this is the 80s weekend, with The Karate Kid and A-Team reborn!
And thanks for ShareEdmonton for reminding me about the Creative Age Festival (as Angela talked about earlier this week) and the ESO’s Landmarks Masters series, with Marc-Andre Hamelin playing Shostakovich.
Now get out there and party!
Cheap Thrills
Continuing our new love of talking about Edmonton events beyond the weekend, we offer you Angela’s look at how you can have fun without spending a lot of money.
365 Days of Sunshine, by Angela Ostafichuk
Summer’s almost here and it’s time to celebrate.
Turn off your TV and get going!
After reading “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin, I’ve decided to follow the golden path of having a more fulfilling life. In my quest for happiness this year I want to do as much as I can to see what makes me tick.
So turn off your TV, and feel free to join my 365 days towards a
better life.
Little or no money you say? No worries. Edmonton is one of the best places to be in the summertime with multiple outdoor festivals, events and concerts. There are literally hundreds of things to do here, some better then others.
From sex workshops to looking at the stars to eating popsicles while dancing in the street, the key is to think outside the box this summer. So whether you have 10 cents, 10 dollars or a 50 (call me!) in your pocket there’s something for everyone.
Last week saw Nextfest start around the city. The Enterprise Square Gallery features works from new artists and is worth a stroll through, at no cost. The rest of the festival is still amazingly priced with $5 for the nightclubs and $10 for a show.
Think outside the box for summer 2010.
Tuesday June 8, the Creative Age Festival kicks off. Although deemed as a festival for the 65+ crowds, there is lots to do even if you’re not loud, proud and retired. Grab gramps and head down.
Both Wednesday and Thursday (June 9 and 10) feature free movies at
the EPL. Wednesday is The Girlfriend Experience and Thursday features It
Might Get Loud. Both FREE, they start at 6:30 in the Milner Library.
Thursday also kicks off Pride week with a show at The ARTery titled “Peculiar Peckers: Drag Kings & Other Phallic Things” which will be worth checking out. Tickets are $5 and the entertainment is priceless.
Friday is a day to work out, so come join my friend Elly and I on what we like to call “walk and watch” on the stairs by Victoria Trail. If you have no clue what I’m referencing to, join us and you’ll see.
Friday is also a great time to just chill on one of Edmonton’s lovely patios, enjoy a walk through the river valley or read a book.
Saturday is jam-packed with events.
Of course everyone knows it’s the Pride Parade, that kicks off on Jasper at 1pm.
Before that, though, there are many events downtown including a pancake breakfast before, and a block party after on 104th, which goes until 10 pm. Add the Nextfest wrap-ups to Pride and downtown is the place to be.
Stay tuned for more cheap thrills as I figure out how to go big without going broke.
Where is the best place for cupcakes? Bubble tea? People watching? This summer I plan on solving these mysteries so keep reading Edmonton and keep it fresh.
More from Angela at her blog, or on Twitter.
Oh what a night!
This is the #YegSwap debrief and recap. So, if you were there (thanks for coming) let me know if I forget to mention something, please tell us your own thoughts about the night, and let me know if there are blog posts/photos/video out there I haven’t linked to. Also, tell us if you still love your new stuff or if you’ve already got swapper’s remorse.
Also, before I forget, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you to our volunteers (We love you!), our musicians, The ARTery (which we need to talk about more at a future date), and thanks from me to the other organizers.
I want it all! (Photo: Mack D. Male)
I’m going to say, even though it was said a bunch of times (including when Scott and Adam introduced our final act of the night, The Joe), that the 1st annual #YegSwap was a success.
This was an event put on by The League of Extraordinary Media, which (right now) includes this blog, the podcasts The Unknown Studio and User Created Content, and TrueBritl.com, a blog by iNews880′s Twitter star, Brittney Le Blanc. To quickly sum up what The League is all about: our blogs and podcasts have joined forces to take our Edmonton-related musings into the real world. Mayhaps there will be cross-posting of content too. Hey, we’ve got to compete with the “real” media, you know.
the edmontonian‘s co-founder, Sally, and Brittney thought a swap meet would be a good time. That this idea came about after an afternoon of home shopping channel viewing is somehow relevant.
I was, of course, on board right away. Not only could it be fun, it could be a way to join together some of Edmonton’s online “newsrooms.” And pay homage to a local community cable show so enjoyed by myself in my Toronto days.
We were fortunate enough to land some amazing musical talent for the night. I do not know where a lineup like this will be heard for a mere $2. (more…)
#Yeg Swap is on the air
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(Media box above should be streaming you all the #Yeg Swap fun. If not, try refreshing your browser.)
It’s too bad you haven’t made your way down to The ARTery for #Yeg Swap yet. We’re going until about 11 tonight.
We’ve got lots of swapping going on.
Not that kind of swapping.
And as you should be able to see above (it might just need a refresh of your browser) we’re showing you what you’re missing.
It’s also a chance for us to test live streaming. Because we never know when we might need it.
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#Yeg Swap
@ The ARTery (9535 Jasper Avenue)
7 – 11 pm
Bring your swappable items. Books, CDs, shoes, bomber jackets, Simon and Garfunkel albums, snowboards, whatever.
Music by Lyra Brown, The Mystery Ponies and The Joe.
Edmonton concert: Julie Doiron
Julie Doiron played The Artery last night and Sally took it all in.
Sally says:
The show was great.
Julie is cute and tells little rambly stories between songs. It was just her and a drummer/guitarist, and at one point she broke a string on her guitar and made him change it.
Meanwhile she told the audience a story about having recently discovered vegan makeup.
She really rocked for such a little lady.
The opening band was Attack in Black and they were a cross between Modest Mouse and Rural Alberta Advantage. They were great. The lead singer looked like a cross between (our friend) Derjis and Eugene from Gogol Bordello.
Editor’s notes: That last bit just means the guy had a giant mustache. I’m now digging into some Attack in Black as I write this. The Julie D show will air at a later date on CBC Radio 2.
Get some weekend
Hello there, Edmonton.
Yes, it’s the weekend. You’ve earned a little rest and relaxation.
You know, there’s going to be some mighty fine football on television if you just want to watch that.
Oh, you’d like something a little more? How about this then…
The Royal Bison Craft Fair takes over your life Saturday and Sunday. And David Berry and Josh Holinaty will be selling chapter 1 of their serialized graphic novel too.
Don’t forget to get your pre-craft fair party on.
Oh, and if that’s not enough to keep you from handing over your Christmas present money to giant corporations (who are welcome to advertise here, a lot) there’s a fair trade fair as well.
If you’ve got some non-perishable foods just sitting around your house, how about dragging that stuff down to a Save-On Foods location Saturday and helping the ETS “Stuff-a-Bus,” for the Edmonton Food Bank. Money is good too.
You can always check out the Festival of Trees. That’s a good time.
The Hidden Cameras and Gentleman Reg are playing the Avenue Theatre, Friday.
There’s a “Save Alberta Hospital” concert Saturday, at the Edmonton Events Centre.
It’s Band of the Month time at the Pawn Shop. Thanks, Sonic!
And The Artery has a couple of cool shows. There’s blues tonight with Bombchan’s CD release and Kinnie Starr Saturday.
Bombchan is also playing the 2nd anniversary party of The Empress Ale House next Tuesday.
Plus, New City has You say party! We say die!, with Christian Hansen & The Autistics and Little Girls.
And ZZ Top is playing the Jube Saturday night to top off a weekend of great music.
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.
Edmonton’s First October Weekend
Weekends are a time for good friends, good times and good cupcakes.
You smell that? That’s the weekend. And dead leaves. But mostly weekend.
Yes, fall arrived to remind us that we are but playthings in Mother Nature’s world. Enjoy the crisp mornings though, since they shall soon turn to frigid beginnings of days that are much too short.
And we can all rejoice, since this weekend is full of awesome.
Apologies for the random order of events. But, hey, it’s Friday and spending an extra minute trudging through possible fun options is way better than work.
Way better.
Let’s start with an event that will likely not be something you can do on a whim (stretching is not always enough, practice helps) the CIBC Run for the Cure, Sunday. Sounds like it will be a chilly start to the race. Cheering squads: bring some mitts.
The Handmade Mafia is back at it, Saturday. Let’s go buy mitts together.
For the outdoorsy among you, Mountain Equipment Co-op is doing a gear swap, Sunday. Bring your old stuff (or stuff from the activity that broke your leg and you hate now) and get some new stuff.
Pure Speculation 2009, is all weekend at the Shaw Conference Centre and Happy Harbour on 124th Street. Science Fiction, comics, fun.
The latest Homeless Connect is Sunday. This is where services and help are provided to the homeless. Things like haircuts too. Seems like a practical idea when I mention haircuts, doesn’t it?
The Edmonton Wildcats take on the Edmonton Huskies in the Prairie Football Conference regular season ender, at Clarke Park. Saturday. 7pm.
Speaking of sports, the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas have another busy weekend.
Oh, and a little thing called the NHL is underway. And fantasy hockey.
The Anarchist Bookfair runs Saturday and Sunday. Which seems very orderly.
Friday night is Pecha Kucha 5. The “chit chat” goes Old School.
Some friends of the website are playing at Wunderbar on Whyte. Come check out Van Funk & the Lebarons, and say Hi.
Also Saturday night, in the party column, CJSR is having its Fundrive wrap party at The Artery. Do it. The catering is going to be excellent.
Kenny Rogers is playing at the River Cree Casino, Sunday. Kenny F’n Rogers.
Saturday, momstown.ca is doing mom and tots stuff at Bonnie Doon.
West Edmonton Mall has roller derby and a dive-in movie. Let’s just hope the kid at the top of the water slide doesn’t hold things up while engrossed in the film. But roller derby down a water slide, that’s something to see. (It’s actually going to be in Phase 4.)
Oh, and something I’ll likely be dragged to, Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D. For two weeks only!
