Heritage Weekend
This is it Edmonton, the long weekend we’ve been waiting for all month. (I said long weekend, not log.)
It’s also one of those peaks of festivals that mark our summer. Here’s what I mean:
Heritage Festival (It is the Heritage Day weekend… Also, you can’t drive your car to Hawrelak for all of the fun.)
DRAW (drawing. obvs.)
Capital Ex (Woot!)
Taste of Edmonton (Deep fried deliciousness – alright, mostly deep fried.)
Food Day Canada, where restaurants create entirely Canadian-sourced meals (with Culina Mill Creek, Culina Muttart, Culina Highlands – now the Highlands Kitchen, D’Lish, The Marc, )
Yeah!
In sports…the Eskimos are home tonight to the Toronto Argonauts and the Capitals play host to the Lake County Fielders. The Fielders are having all kinds of off-field troubles this season.
On a more serious note, there will be a vigil for a Fort McMurray woman missing for the last year.
Wicked continues to play at the Jube.
Edmonton comedian Jon Mick records a live comedy album, at Wunderbar. You can not only enjoy a night of fine Edmonton comedy (and comedians) but listen for your laughter on his recording. And if you want you can help him pay for the album by throwing him a few bucks. Pretty solid night.
In music, it’s a pretty solid weekend. Sister Gray is playing New City Legion tonight with Cygents, The Frolics, and Very Dangerous Animals…Luke Doucet and the White Falcon is with Michael Rault, at the Starlite Room…Capital Ex has plenty of music, including Ace of Bass Sunday night…Taste of Edmonton also has lots of live music…
On Saturday, there are two great afternoon shows on Whyte Avenue, with Tyler Butler and F&M at the Black Dog for Hair of the Dog, and The Provincial Archive at The Empress with Montreal’s Charlotte Cornfield…
Saturday night…Toy Singers have a farewell show, with Old Uglians Jessica Jalbert, Liam Trimble, and Sugarglider at the Haven Social Club…across the city, The ARTery’s got the Beehive Bonanza Mini Market and Show, with Rocktimus Crime, Service:Fair, and Jom Comyn…
Sunday night sees a long weekend showcase at the Pawn Shop, with Matt Machete ready to blow things up…On the holiday Monday, Jeff Morris kicks off his tour at the Black Dog…
Now, to get this party started, let me present to you the new album from our pals The Fight. (The whole album is embedded here, just flip through the tracks. Oh, and buy it if you dig it.)
See you Tuesday!
p.s. Speaking of The Fight, Jom Comyn, Service:Fair, Jessica Jalbert, Liam Trimble, The Provincial Archive, Tyler Butler, and Sugarglider, this Sunday night is likely the last time you’ll be able to catch the edmontonian presents on ShawTV (channel 10 on Shaw cable), so tune in at 9pm and be able to tell your space-grandkids you saw it on an actual television set.
Live Music Weekend
It looks like a dandy weekend for live music in Edmonton, so let’s start there.
Tonight you’ve got a Christan Hansen & The Autistics all ages show at The ARTery with Paperplanes and Dragonboats, so that’ll be good. The Blame-Its, The Afterbeat, and Wildrose Orchestra, are at New City Legion…Over at Wunderbar you can hear Teen Daze with Oh No Yoko and Sugarglider…Craig Cardiff is at the Haven Social Club with David Blair and Erica Viegas… The Open Sky Music Festival isn’t until the end of August, but Souljah Fyah and Jeff Morris are getting things going this weekend
Saturday night is no less good, with The Weber Brothers, Chris Carmichael, and Lyra Brown at the Haven Social Club…Xplosionation, The Party Martyrs, and All The King’s Men, at Brixx… The Weekend Kids, Old Wives, and Freshman Years at Wunderbar…and The Consonance, Noisy Colours, whiskey wagon, all over at New City Legion.
Sunday (yeah, we’re still going on just music) there’s the Whyte Avenue Street Sale (which means the street will be closed to traffic between 105 and 103 Streets) and SOS Fest playing music on two stages all day long…Sunday night ends the weekend with a giant kick to the face of awesome with The Joe and Doug Hoyer kicking off their national tour at Wunderbar, with Mikey Maybe.
Whew.
We also have a bunch of festivals and the such.
Down in Hawrelak Park you can catch two of Shakespeare’s finest plays during the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. Heading into the Indy we’ve got Race Week Edmonton (which lasts longer than a week). The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival is on at Churchill Square. The Edmonton & Northern Alberta Historic Festival also begins this weekend (which can get you into some cool old buildings).
For the dogs, and dog lovers, you can head up to 118 Avenue on Sunday for Avenue Goes to the Dogs, put on by the Eastwood Community League.
If all of that great Edmonton music and festivals isn’t enough…
Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion” is at Rexall Place. There’s a Campus Community Garden Open House, Saturday 11-2, at the U of A’s campus community garden. The Edmonton Eskimos will fight, fight, fight on at home to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Oh, and if you’re not doing anything at about 9pm on Sunday you can watch the last episode of our ShawTV series, the edmontonian presents, on Shaw cable channel 10. (It’ll be on YoutTube, Livestream, and iTunes shortly after.)
Festival Saturday (and the rest of the weekend too)
Summer officially arrives in Edmonton next week, which probably explains why this weekend is so jammed with festivals.
Friday and Saturday there’s the Utopia Music Festival, which kicks off summer in Hawrelak Park.
On Saturday we’ve got Bikeology (in Beaver Hills House Park), and the whole month of June is actually Bike Month, Park(ed) is back on the streets, taking up parking spaces (on 102 Avenue), Rock The Square (at Churchill Square), Africa Connect (at the Edmonton Expo Centre), and the Hope Street Festival (105 Avenue and 100 Street). 107 Avenue also has Safe Streets and a Night Market on Saturday (afternoon and evening).
Improvaganza 2011 is just getting warmed up (and will even have social media improv on Monday). Opera Nuova’s Vocal Arts Festival and the Edmonton Pride Festival are both continuing too.
For you, young and engaged folks, tonight is Pecha Kucha 10: Designing Downtown (which you can watch through the Edmonton Journal’s livestream), and Next Gen’s back at it on Sunday with the DIYalogue. We’re happy to be one of the groups chatting about cultural start-ups and entrepreneurship.
On a more serious note, there’s a picnic in Giovanni Caboto Park to remember murder victim Nina Courtepatte, and others lost to violence.
Watch It!’s got a BOOMBUS on Whyte Avenue today (4-8pm) and it’ll be downtown, on Jasper Avenue, Saturday morning. Keep your eyes open for this rolling watch and street party.
Over at La Cite Francophone you can catch a production of Little Shop of Horrors.
In music…Radio for Help plays the Pawn Shop tonight…Joe Nolan has a CD release at the Haven Social Club…Sidney York plays Brixx Saturday night, with Kaley Bird…The Collective West and Jeff Morris are at The ARTery…Wunderbar’s got a Weird Canada and Scion show…And Zero Cool’s at DV8 with Down the Hatch…
You can always catch a movie, which is likely to be a summer blockbuster right now.
Farmer’s markets abound on the weekend, downtown, in Old Strathcona, St. Albert, and in Callingwood.
The Edmonton Capitals are hosting the Chico Outlaws down at Telus Field.
Strange Powers at The ARTery
While the festivals are beginning to roll, I want to note a move/concert/fundraiser happening tonight at The ARTery.
(Quick festival sidebar: Dreamspeakers is on downtown, and NextFest begins today.)
So, our old pals Mike and Arlen – from Highwire Films – are hosting the fundraiser tonight. The money they earn will help them shoot more videos and films this summer.
The evening will include a screening of the documentary “Strange Powers,” about Stephen Merritt and band The Magnetic Fields. The movie starts at 9:30. Popcorn will be available. (It’s a movie, after all.)
Then, Edmonton musicians (with some prominent and recognizable names in there) will perform covers of Magnetic Fields songs. And maybe other songs. I guess they’ll all see how the night goes.
Tickets are $10, and available through The ARTery’s website and YEG Live. Now, THAT’S a Thursday night in Edmonton.
What Big Plans You Have
It’s weekend o’clock, Edmonton!
This shall be a good weekend. As it is written so shall it come to pass.
Around the live music venues this weekend it’s going to be a good time. Tonight you’ve got audio audio/rocketry celebrating 5 years together with a 3rd album, and show at the Pawn Shop…90s brit-rockers rhodes are at Haven Social Club with Treelines, Warning to Avoid, and The Fight…over at the Wild Earth Bakery you can listen to Jenie Thai…The Old Wives and Kemo Treats are going to try and bust through the roof of New City (which would scare the hell out of everyone at Hudsons)…
Saturday begins with Doug Hoyer at the Black Dog for Hair of the Dog…Sister Gray is at Expressionz Cafe…The AwesomeHots have a new album, and they’ll release that at Wunderbar…at The ARTery Saturday you can catch Daniel Moir, with Scenic Route to Alaska…And FOREIGNER IS HERE!
Sunday’s got a great show at the Haven Social Club, with Romi Mayes playing with the with Give ‘em Hell Boys, Jake Ian, and The Haymakers.
For music that’s not in a club or bar, Ben Vereen is “Steppin’ Out” with the ESO, in Robbins Pops shows tonight and Saturday.
In theatre…The Citadel Theatre’s got Hunchback, a Catalyst Theatre production of the Victor Hugo novel…and at the actual Catalyst Theatre “Shatter,” about the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion, wraps its run…Dog is over at the Roxy Theatre…
While the headline of this post alludes to Little Red Riding Hood, that is in no way an endorsement of seeing the sexualized thriller in theatres about the same. Gregg can let you know what’s worth seeing.
On Sunday, Levar Burton will be here. Oh, he’s got a reason to be here. It’s the Edmonton Collectible Toy and Comic Show.
You can catch the playoff-bound Oil Kings and lottery selection-bound Oilers in Edmonton this weekend too.
Weekend
Let’s begin this look at the weekend with theatre, shall we?
Just a heads up, though, LRT service will be disrupted north of Churchill on Saturday and Sunday.
The Citadel Theatre’s got Hunchback on now. It’s a new imagining of the Victor Hugo novel, not the Disney movie, from the minds of Catalyst Theatre. Speaking of Catalyst…over at the actual theatre, until March 19, is “Shatter,” about the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion.
Also until March 19, MacEwan’s Theatre Arts and Theatre Production programs present “Company,” their final performance of the school year.
The Brian Webb Dance Company presents Toronto Dance Theatre’s Pteros Tactics this weekend.
The E-Ville Roller Derby and Northern Lights Theatre are teaming up for an exhibition match/fundraiser.
There are a few shows around town…Kieran’s Art Trading Post is at Bohemia tonight…tomorrow is the Edmonton’s coin show and sale…and It’s Mom, Pop & Tots Fair weekend.
It’s another great live music weekend in Edmonton…
The Edmonton Show IV goes at Avenue Theatre tonight. It’s got music, dance, arts, and more.
Also tonight…Mark Berbue is at the Pawn Shop, with Ayla Brook and Old Ugly’s Doug Hoyer. (Speaking of Old Ugly…Jessica Jalbert is at Wunderbar Saturday night)… The Accident Will releases a CD at DV8, with DeSousa Drive and Bad Acid…The ARTery’s got Prairie Nights…Haven Social Club’s got a CD release from Christine Fellows, who will play with Shotgun Jimmie…and the Jimmy Swift Band is at the Starlite Room…
Saturday afternoon, Hair of the Dog has Samara Von Rad, which is a rad name. Saturday night Weird Canada (Canada’s best music website) presents a show at The ARTery that will likely blow your mind.
Gregg’s got the lowdown on movies actually worth seeing.
The City Market begins its run of Saturdays at City Hall, as preparation for it usual summer selling on 104 Street.
Oh, and Sunday night, Lucky 13 is hosting Carlton himself, Alfonso Ribeiro.
Have a lovely weekend, Edmonton.
Melted Events
We did not forget about events. We were just, uh, distracted thinking about which ones we’d most like to do this weekend.
Winter Light keeps the good (winter) times going with MELTDOWN! It’s a winter arts party at the Jubilee Auditorium.
Awww...
The World’s Longest Hockey Game goes this weekend, and it just so happens to be a fundraiser for the Cross Cancer Institute.
Tailz is having a Valentine’s pet wash for HART (Humane Animal Rescue Team). I bet Sally is already there, waiting for cute puppies to arrive.
You might be able to Skate, Rattle & Roll Saturday at City Hall. But if this warm weather continues, it doesn’t look promising.
You might want to bring your great, tech, ideas to Startup Weekend.
In sports news…the Edmonton Rush are home to the Washington Stealth tonight. Then the Edmonton Oilers are home Saturday to the Ottawa Senators and Sunday to the Anaheim Ducks.
In music news…a couple of bands that helped us out with music for our election show are going to blow up Wunderbar tonight. It’s Van Gohst’s album release and they’ve got help from N.N. (who safely made it back from Japan Music Week at the end of 2010) and The Blame Its.
There’s a crazy good show at the Myer Horowitz Theatre: The Provincial Archive, Wool on Wolves, and The Deep Dark Woods. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.
Over at The ARTery, tonight is Rockin’ Robin’s Rockin’ Sockhop, with Kaley Bird, Sidney York, and Beekeeper.
On The Rocks has something called Seven String Sunday, with Shane Philip and Jeff Morris this Sunday.
Our friends over at S.I.R.E.N.S. have a Bouquet of Blues for your Valentine’s weekend. It’s a great bluesy show with Bruce Conte, Amos Garrett, and Jimmy Guiboche and the Fender Benders.
Speaking of Valentine’s, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s got Love Will Keep Us Together.
You could always go to the movies. Though, Gregg says you’re better off renting this month.
Icy Events
Have you tried walking out there, Edmonton? It’s crazy icy!
What that has to do with things happening this weekend is beyond me. I just forgot to mention all the ice and the slipping this morning in Headlines and felt this was a good opportunity to bring it up. The weather is also shutting down (at least temporarily) some outdoor rinks and toboggan spots.
So…anyway…let’s start with music for a change.
The ARTery has Spring Breakup w. special guests The AwesomeHots tonight and an art reception tomorrow night.
Martin Sexton is at the Winspear this evening, kicking off their new Winspear Presents Series. It’s going bring some great folk and world acts into that beautiful building.
The Sorels are at Wunderbar for Saturday night. We think you’re going to like them. We really do.
Sally says…Catch our Winnipeg friends Les Jupes at the Haven Social Club tomorrow night! Do you remember our story on Tanner Gordon? (He’s also on the bill, along with The Translators ). And FYI, Les Jupes are offering a free download of their excellent new single “The Mountain,” if you sign up for their newsletter.
Tonight at The Haven, it’s another Sound of Edmonton, with Ayla Brook, Mike Edel, and Tyson Motsenbocker. (Best name ever, Motsenbocker.) Heck, let’s round out the Haven’s weekend by mentioning their Sunday show, which is Rob Moir, with Twilight Hotel and F&M.
Back to Saturday now, with Jeffrey’s Wine Bar hosting Krystle Dos Santos.
Oh, and The Bounce Showdown Showcase goes tonight. It’s brought to you, in part, by Londonderry Mall, but I wish it was AT the mall.
Whew! That’s a lot of live music for one little weekend.
Winter Light keeps on rocking with Common Ground, at Giovanni Caboto Park. I have probably said it a bunch of times, but, I’m glad Edmonton started embracing winter with this big collection of festivals.
If you’re thinking about spring cleaning and re-building your kitchen you may want to check out The Reno Show (at Northlands) in the Edmonton Expo Centre). Also at the Edmonton Expo Centre; a gun show. (Please feel free to make “gun show” jokes…now.)
If you’re at Northlands…why not stop by Monster Jam?! The giant trucks take over Rexall Place this weekend. I bet the monster trucks win as many NHL games as the Oilers do during a typical weekend at Rexall.
I’m out!
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.
Frozen Events
Yeah, it’s stay-in-the-house-under-three-blankets-with-the-heat-cranked-cold. But there’s plenty of Edmonton to explore, even in the cold. You just have to bundle up and try not to spend too long outside when it’s dangerously cold.
Ice on Whyte began this week. While wind chills in the -30s aren’t the best atmosphere for checking out the ice sculptures, it won’t be this cold forever.
The Joe is releasing Float or Flail, an album five years in the making, at The Haven Social Club (now home to Pharos Pizza), with fellow Old Uglians Bike Month, Mitchmatic, and Racoon Suit along for the ride. The Haven is going to be nice and warm.
In other musical notes…Ingrid Gatin is playing at The Carrot, with Michael Reinhart, before hopping on a train to Winnipeg. Playing her all the way across the prairies…The Wheat Pool, Michael James Band, and audio/rocketry are at the Crown & Anchor Pub…Bluebird North is at the TransAlta Arts Barns…and The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is playing for the kids on Saturday. They’ll be playing behind a performance of Roald Dahl’s Little Red Riding Hood.
I’m hearing good things about the Spiral Dive trilogy at La Cite Francophone Theatre (all three run in a marathon on Sunday, January 23).
In movies…Charlie Chaplin is at Metro Cinema. His films anyway. The short film High Level Bridge is headed to Sundance. Help the film’s makers have a good time by throwing them a few bones. While having a heck of an evening at The ARTery. (They will be screening the short as well.) And there’s always regular movies too.
Meet the Edmonton Public Library’s Writer in Residence for 2011. To get in you need only bring a book for the swap. It all goes down Saturday afternoon at the Whitemud Crossing branch of the EPL.
Latitude 53 has two new shows this weekend.
And the Edmonton Motorcycle Show is this weekend up at Northlands’ Expo Centre. If you actually ride a motorcycle to the show in this weather you are indeed a brave soul.
Oh, and if you plan on using the LRT Sunday, it’s likely not your best option.
Did I miss something? If I did I’m blaming winter.
New Year’s Eve events, parties, and jager bombs
If you can’t find something to do on Friday night (this Friday specifically, not just any old Friday) I don’t think you’re trying. New Year’s Eve is pretty much the party night of the year. Try not to throw up on anybody, and don’t drink and drive.
The City of Edmonton’s big show is at Churchill Square (and at City Hall, CBC Centre Stage, and the Stanley A. Milner Library).
It’s also family friendly at McDougall Church. And Haddow Park. The Haddow party even has fireworks.
And, if you’re looking for live music this is probably the biggest night of the year. Check out YEGLive.ca for a giant list of all the shows happening.
Some of them: The ARTery’s party, Raygun Cowboys, The Get Down and Fire Next Time, Stan the Man is part of the Tailgate Party at Sherlock Holmes (downtown), Dreamface, Mass Choir, and Sister Gray are at Pawn Shop, Deadmau5 is at the Shaw Conference Centre, jazz, latin, blues and rock (with buffet), Honeymoon Suite, and there’s The Party Martyrs are with Zero Cool and the Kroovy Rockers at Dv8.
Wunderbar’s not jacking up the prices, and they have Sherry-Lee Wisor. That’s a great New Year’s Eve. (She rocked our socks back at SOS Fest.)
SEE also has a list of places to party.
Casino Edmonton’s got The Rum Bros. Vegas Cabaret.
Actually, all of the casinos seems to be doing a little something.
Jekyll & Hyde’s celebrations benefit Santas Anonymous.
The Comic Strip’s got a buffet package with its comedy. You can get medieval at the Muttart.
And there will be approximately 3,218 house parties. I may be rounding up.
Don’t forget there will be free transit (FREE!) tonight. It even runs until 3:30am.
Happy New Year!
Feel free to drop New Year’s Eve events and ideas into the comments for people like me who still don’t know what they’ll do.
Grey Cup Events
Good luck to Saskatchewan and Montreal. They're going to have a much tougher time winning a drink from the Grey Cup than I did, playing Madden.
Clearly the Grey Cup Festival brings with it plenty to do in Edmonton this weekend.
There’s Huddle Town at Churchill Square (with fun for the family, live music, waffles, and a zip line), and the Grey Cup parade on Saturday. Don’t forget to watch the game on Sunday.
We had such an amazing lineup of shows in Edmonton last night, that I want to get right to all the great music you can hear this weekend.
The aforementioned Grey Cup shenanigans boast a Canadian lineup that includes: Matthew Good, Big Sugar, Ian Thornley, Chris Wynters, Jaydee Bixby, Fozzy (wrestler Chris Jericho’s band), Emerson Drive, My Sister Ocean, Bif Naked, and Trooper. Bif and Trooper than play again Sunday at Commonwealth’s tailgate party.
Not connected to the Grey Cup, Wool on Wolves is playing the Pawn Shop with Ayla Brook…Rufus Wainwright is at the Jubilee…Wil and Leeroy Stagger are still at the Haven Social Club…Amos Garrett is at Rusty Reed’s House of Blues…the Frosted Tipz have a good chance of wrecking The ARTery with rock…A.O.K is releasing a new album and children’s book (I’m not kidding)…Alan Frew (of Glass Tiger) is in Sherwood Park…and Streetheart is at the Century Casino (that one is also an inside joke to Sally)… We can’t go, because it’s sold out, but Bedouin Soundclash and Michael Rault have a show at the Starlite Room.
As was pointed out in the comments, The Edmonton Show III is this weekend. And yes, there’s music at that too. Man, so much great music!
In somewhat related musical notes, Hard Core Logo continues at the Roxy Theatre, and Permanent Records opens up near Hub Cigar, just off Whyte Avenue.
In another music note, you’re using YEGLive as your online live, local music hub, right? You probably should be.
November is still Shop Local Month. So, shop local. Movies are good times.
It’s a crafty weekend with both the Royal Bison Craft Fair and Make It Edmonton! happening. The Royal Bison is at Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, Make It! is over at the Alberta Aviation Museum.
And there’s A Night of Performance Poetry tonight, with, new Edmontonian, Jem Rolls. You might remember him from such productions as the Fringe Festival.
Make it happen this weekend, Edmonton.
November’s not dead
Looks like a pretty good weekend ahead, Edmonton. And you thought November was just going to drag. (Did you? Am I making that up? I’m probably making that up.)
In the “ongoing” category we have Farmfair and the Canadian Finals Rodeo, and our documentary film fest Global Visions.
The Exposure Festival begins today. (You’ve probably noticed their ad on our site the last few weeks. So, don’t act all surprised.) Exposure is Edmonton’s annual celebration and exhibition of queer arts and culture.
Caity Fisher at The Artery tonight. She’s good.
Also, around the music scene, F&M are at the Haven Social Club and The Trews are the Arden Theatre tonight.
Shout out out out out, Christian Hansen and the Autistics, and The Whitsundays are at the Starlite Room Saturday. (Check the poster, to the right.)
And, while I think it’s still too early to run full-tilt into Christmas, it’s all about the holidays tomorrow at Churchill Square with the annual tree light-up. It’s going to be a full day’s worth of fun, with City Market vendors, music, Santa, and more. It also kicks off the Grey Cup celebrations. (Oh yeah, that’s coming in November too!)
Sunday you can prepare for the pending zombie invasion with Edmonton Zombeers. It’s always good to be ready. (This also really ended up working well with my title for this post. Since zombies are also not really dead – anymore.)
Don’t forget about movies, Movember, and Shop Local Month. You can watch movies at theatres, donate to Movember from wherever, and shop local by, uh, shopping local.
Caity Fisher At the Artery
A few months ago, I was at Wunderbar (which has rapidly become my favorite haunt; how can you not respect the audacity of a venue that dares to bring in live entertainment seven nights a week?) with Jeff and our buddy Gregg Beever. We were just there to hang out but, as we sat there, a lovely young lady with an acoustic guitar and a haunting voice played a remarkable set. Before I left, I asked her to give me a call next time she was playing, and we’d try to mention it on the edmontonian.
Unbeknownst to me, the girl with the guitar was Caity Fisher, from the Old Ugly Recording Company‘s roster of artists (and if you read the edmontonian with an regularity, you know that we are big, big fans of the crew at Old Ugly).
I figured this out about a week ago, when Caity emailed me to let me know about her upcoming CD release.
So basically, I’m a straight genius.
But enough about my inability to draw simple connections between logical events. Let’s talk about Caity Fisher. (more…)
Of Edmonton Events
We have come upon our first weekend in the post-2010 election era. I expect candidates and councillors to be sleeping in the next couple of days.
There are a number of things happening if you’re not napping.
On your way home tonight you could stop in at The ARTery and raise money for HIV Edmonton while enjoying the end of the work week. Friday night, Dan Hill plays the Shaw Conference Centre for a Canadian Diabetes Association fundraiser. Justin Rutledge is at the Haven Social Club. Library Voices swing into the Avenue Theatre.
Still Friday, there’s a Bicycle-powered party at the U of A.
Saturday night, Falklands returns home from a cross-country tour to play Teddy’s. Yes, Teddy’s. This should be a good one.
M.A.D.E. In Edmonton closes out “Edmonton Design Exposed” with a party at Bohemia. It’s a little spot that’s out of the way but worth trekking to.
We are starting to see all of the Hallowe’en movies now. Watching movies is still a viable pastime.
The Oil Kings, Eskimos, and Oilers are all home this weekend. There’s roller derby at the Edmonton Sportsdome (and it’s even got a nice Hallowe’en theme to it, with Regina’s Pile O’ Bones in town).
The City of Edmonton continues its series of Hallowe’en events with Pumpkins & Pirates at the Muttart Conservatory.
By the way, it’s Friday, which means it’s Free Cookie Friday over at Luzarra. Head down to Whyte Avenue for a coffee and mention Luzarra’s free cookie tweeting. Then you’ll get a free cookie.
And, as always, the geniuses at ShareEdmonton.ca and YEGLive.ca helped me fill out your social calendars. Those guys are awesome.
This is also happening all weekend long. Pure Spec is at the Radisson south.
A weekend for community, and arts
Hi Everybody! Here’s some stuff I think you might be interested this weekend.
Community League Day is Saturday, September 18. My community, Strathonca Centre, will be holding its annual arts BBQ. It times out nicely, since our neighbour, King Edward School, will be celebrating 50 years the same afternoon. And the Edmonton Weavers’ Guild, a tenant of our community hall, is hosting an open house.
If you’re not in my neighbourhood, you’re probably in, or close to, one of the 89 other communities throwing a party Saturday. Get out there and find out who your neighbours are, what people are up to, and snag yourself some free food.
Sunday is the Terry Fox Run. It’s the 30th anniversary.
This weekend is also Alberta Arts Days. There are plenty of events happening, at plenty of places.
Alley Kat is launching their fall brew, Pumpkin Pi, with a party tonight.
You could always see a movie.
D.O.A. at New City tonight.
U22 is hosting an evening of young musicians at the Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove. Among the performers is one of our favourite locals, Lyra Brown. U22 is actually quite busy during Alberta Arts Days.
Rae Spoon is playing The ARTery tonight. Tonight is also a fundraising Friday happy hour. Tomorrow at The ARTery it’s the release of the latest issue of Notebook Magazine.
Visualeyez is back. That’s Latitude 53′s performance arts festival. This year’s theme is food.
Jailbait kicks off the Northern Light Theatre’s season. Oh, it’s theatre season.
There’s some roller derby action at Northlands.
How could we go without mentioning Western Canada Fashion Week? We couldn’t.
And…BIEBER!
Are we having fun yet?
For those of you that have tracked down the TV show “Party Down,” that headline is all sorts of funny.
For the rest of you, it certainly leads us to a list of events that could fill your fun quota for the weekend.
Dogapalooza. You couldn’t name an event much better. This is all things dog, at the Westlawn sports fields. It’s really everything you could think of, even a dog blood bank. There will also be plenty of businesses and services on site (like our friends from Tailz) so you can get all the information you need to be the best dog owner in the world.
The Kaleido Family Arts Festival is celebrating five years on the ave (the 118 Ave). This is an all-weekend explosion of arts, with every type of art represented. Should be no need to ask if you’re having fun yet.
The Marketplace at Callingwood has Cornfest and Family Fun Day. Saturday.
There’s free yoga at the The Yoga Loft (10309 82 Avenue) Saturday and Sunday.
The Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon is this weekend. The non-stop improvising begins tonight at 7pm and runs until Sunday at 9pm.
Corn Maze. There’s the corn maze.
Sally already told you about the CD release and show with The Provincial Archive at the Roxy Theatre. This is a band you need to start liking now, before they’re huge.
The ARTery has a neat new idea. They’re holding Friday Fundraising Happy Hours from 4-7 PM. Finally, your end-of-the-week drinking can help a good cause. In September it’s Room to Read.
Donations also get free popcorn!
The Bohemia Cafe is hosting a bandapalooza of sorts, Saturday. They’ve got Jason Myatt, Nick Watt, Micelli, The Party Martyrs, The Mystery Ponies, Brash Tax, and Animal Men of the Northwest. Whew.
Paul James is at the Blue Chair Cafe tonight. He’s a little more electric tomorrow at the Bonnie Doon Hall. Sally keeps thinking he’s Colin James’ brother or something.
It’s been Canadian Country Music Week in Edmonton this week. The big finale is at Rexall Place, Sunday.
Starlite Room has Capital City Burlesque Friday night.
There’s a Handmade Mafia, Saturday at the Orange Hall.
Oh, one more thing, the YWCA is holding its first “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” next Tuesday. That’s when men are going to walk around Churchill Square in high heel shoes. There’s still time to donate and be a part of this event, which is all about helping victims of domestic violence. Can you believe this is still such a problem in 2010?
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.
