A Look Back: Abandoned Gas Stations (jeff)
(As we wind down our days at the edmontonian, we’ll be looking back at some of our favorite posts, stories, items, etc from the last 2+ years. Feel free to submit your own.)
One of my earliest posts is still one of my favourites. Talking about Whyte Avenue’s empty, and abandoned, gas station lots shows what hyper-local news is all about.
About the same time we started up the edmontonian, the gas station on Whyte, at 100 Street, closed up. The owners opened a new repair shop in the Ottewell neighbourhood, but more than two years later that lot in Old Strathcona sits empty.
Abandoned gas stations aren’t something unique to my neighbourhood, nor is it a story that’s too small for the daily news to jump into, but I think I was the first to talk about this particular lot. And that only happened because I live nearby. Hyper-local news is all about stories that are not yet on the radar, or won’t get on the radar, for the bigger mainstream and traditional media outlets.
That is, to me, one of the reasons blogs, podcasts, and social media is thriving. The Internet isn’t hurting traditional news because it’s more fun or mobile, the storytelling is just that much more personal. It’s on street level, and you can hear from those living right beside the story. Talking about a gas station that’s left a hole in the community, a new bar that’s going to open, or something that’s annoying you, can create a rallying point, bring a story to light, and just connect people.
This website has taught me that you cannot have a great Edmonton conversation without connection. And connection and conversation are two things news and information should be about.
Yelping East Whyte
I won’t pass up an opportunity to talk about East Whyte. Yelp is currently holding a promotion called Passport to East Whyte Ave. which gets you plenty of deals and discounts on “the other side of the tracks.”
For a lot of people Whyte Avenue is a hot spot of shopping and nightlife that runs between Gateway Boulevard and 107 Street, maybe to 109 Street. But if you head east, past Gateway Boulevard, you’ll find a whole other pocket of Old Strathcona.
With beer and live music pub Wunderbar, Flirt Cupcakes (their original location), The Paint Spot, The Traveling Tickle Trunk, Hardcore Bikes, and the new Red Pony Consignment offering specials, it’s worth printing off the PDF passport, or dialing it up on your cellphone. While you’re exploring the quieter side of Whyte, check out two of the best sushi houses in the city; Furusato and Maki Maki, enjoy a pint on the patio of The Empress, pick up some baked goodies at Empress Bakery, grab European foods and snacks at K&K Foodliner, eat Indian at Daawat and Narayannis, and check out Roots for healthy and organic items.
Speaking of Roots, the grocery store turned specialty store is about to move into the main floor of a spectacular new building at the corner of Whyte and 102 Street (which you can see pictured in this story), called Roots on Whyte. It may be my new favourite building.
Langano Skies will be re-opening soon, so you can enjoy the best Ethiopian food in Edmonton again.
Go on, cross the tracks, you know you want to.
August 16 Edmonton Headlines
(This is not the spill site, but just another road crew fixing up the city.)
There goes the neighbourhood: Old Strathcona is getting a strip club.
I think we may be seeing the official passing of the torch from Whyte Avenue to 124 Street as the place to go for boutique shops. Although the strip club may have hand-roasted coffee and gourmet food, so I guess we should just see how this plays out…
Before I get accused of being all NIMBY on X Bar (that’s its name) I will note that this bar location falls outside of my neighbourhood (East Whyte) and my community league (Strathcona Centre). I just don’t understand how this fits into the idea that Old Strathcona should have some heritage appeal. It’s got designation as a historical neighbourhood, there are still plenty of great boutique shops and restaurants, it’s home to the Fringe and year-round theatres. I know there are plenty of bars but that seemed to be settling down, moving toward more pubs and gastro-pubs, and away from cheap shots.
The City appeared to make an attempt to reign in the number of bars it was going to license in the area, it designated Whyte Avenue itself as a venue to help keep a lid on problems, there’s been a team of City, police, and liquor licensing staff working with bar owners, and Jasper Avenue’s giant bars have shifted some partying from the southside. Jasper neighbours and businesses are trying to learn from the mistakes of Whyte Avenue of a few years ago.
I guess I’m more upset with a giant bar than I am it being a strip club. It just sends me a signal the City of Edmonton cares more about money from business licenses and property taxes than building and maintaining neighbourhoods that work and make sense. Sure, that means a little government intervention, but every single decision, rule, bylaw, and law from government is intervention in the free market and public choice.
Keep your clothes on, there’s more Edmonton news ahead. (more…)
August 10 Edmonton Headlines
This was the scene Tuesday at 9pm. So bright!
While this column spins its way around the downtown arena quite a bit, municipalities do get the worst deal when it comes to taxes. Provincial governments, which have power over municipalities like Edmonton, should think about changing the tax rules to allow cities and towns to tax more than property.
Police want you to be on the lookout for an older Chevy Suburban after a shooting in south Mill Woods. The two guys shot are known to police and aren’t talking. No crime should go unpunished, and no crime is more important than another to the victims. But this kind of crime, a shooting that happened in public, is one that justifiably leaves people upset and scared.
We should hear more from the police chief today on new plans to take on violent crime, but the largest way to solve such problems lies outside of policing with social agencies, housing, mental health, and addictions treatment, community groups, and school and recreation resources.
Here’s a good example of a couple of guys who used sports to get university educations.
While there’s going to be a need to involve all kinds of other groups in keeping our city as safe as possible, police budgets are not going to get smaller in the near future.
Five years after a man was shot by Edmonton police the case is still in the courts in appeals and reviews.
Alright, that’s where we’re starting today, but next we’re heading to Whyte Avenue. (more…)
August 9 Edmonton Headlines
Our saviour.
Let’s start Tuesday with the good old downtown arena, shall we.
The Mayor says the City of Edmonton is negotiating a downtown arena deal in good faith and would hope the other side – the Katz Group and Oilers – is doing the same. The question arises after a story last week about Enoch as a possible back-up location for the Oilers. The Mayor also wonders what impact the Katz Group’s PR offer to MLAs will have on a request for $100-million in provincial government money.
Daryl Katz might need a few “No Men” around these arena planning meetings.
Also, wouldn’t it be funny, at least a little, if the City of Edmonton just said “You know what, enjoy Enoch.”
Come on, it would be hilarious.
Not hilarious: that “revitalizing downtown” almost always includes mega-projects.
*****
I threw in an update to Monday’s Headlines shortly after posting, but the update from the chief of the Edmonton Police Service yesterday was to wait for Wednesday.
But, any plan will need help from everyone. I’d also like to see more 24-hour (or at least 18 or-so hours) opportunities for libraries, school and after school programs, recreation, community centres, and things that can generally occupy kid and teen minds and time. That, more police on the streets (on the actual street, not another 3oo officers or anything), increased police, social worker, and mental health treatment in schools, greater resources for mental illness and addiction, and housing-first plans for the homeless and I think we’d be on track for a city everybody could agree on as safe.
But I fear we might just see more police hired.
Monday afternoon in south Mill Woods didn’t pass by quietly. A drive-by shooting, in the Knottwood portion of the neighbourhood, has put two young men in hospital. This is not a random shooting, and the victims aren’t sharing any details about who might have opened fire on them with police.
As an update to some talk we had yesterday on a crime blog, here’s Adam’s follow-up.
The man convicted of beating Edmonton bus driver Tom Bregg is looking to appeal his “dangerous offender” status. That status puts him in prison without a set release date. Though, one story says he’s filed that appeal and another says it’s just in the works. That means we’ll likely be waiting some time before this gets to the Alberta Court of Appeal.
It might take some time to wind through the courts, but it’s going to have to get to that before we know if Edmonton Police made the right call on releasing the name and photo of an HIV-positive 17-year-old, accused of not disclosing her status to sexual partners – which is a crime in Canada. But we will have to wait for the court case before knowing who is a victim of what and if there are changes to how police may act in a future case.
*****
It’s long, long overdue to try some late-night transit on Whyte Avenue, and Edmonton in general. A bit strange that Southgate becomes this cab drop-off. We should just run 6-12 bus routes through the overnight that allow people to be transported to other busy hubs and neighbourhoods. Will this just shift problems to Southgate where bus-loads of people try to get cabs? Why is the Edmonton Transit System so scared of all-night transit?
A fatal fire at an Old Strathcona senior’s home will push back others waiting to get into seniors housing.
Edmonton, and Canadian, soldiers continue to come home as the military mission in Afghanistan winds down.
The University of Alberta is offering a new certificate in aboriginal sport and recreation.
August 5 Edmonton Headlines
Welcome to the end of our short August week, Edmonton.
Edmonton’s playing major catch-up on infrastructure – our roads, public buildings, LRT, etc… – some might even say we’ve got an infrasturcture debt that’s way past due. That’s an important factor to remember when talking about pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into a downtown arena, without any clear plans on all of the exciting, truly revitazling buildings and infrastructure that is supposed to go around the arena.
And, even then, it might not be the best way to spend all that money. Other cities don’t seem to be getting ahead after dumping money into a new arena or stadium. Is a downtown arena truly going to change our city, or is Edmonton simply following the lure of big promises and the fear of upsetting a fan base?
Speaking of the fan base…sounds like the Oilers would look for close-to-home options if the downtown arena plans fell through.
Good for iNews/CHED for trying to balance a story about how newsrooms should try and tell a more honest, full story about life in Edmonton and drop the “If it bleeds it leads.” approach. Wait, no, I take that back. They “balanced” it with a story full of sensational quotes that says nothing about whether crime reporting is accurate.
They did not try to counter the claims that our homicide rate is “unacceptable” and our city unsafe. Probably because there’s nothing as quotable in that. (More on this story below, in the PC leadership race.) Here’s your balance: crime is dropping in Edmonton, and across Canada, and Edmonton is experiencing a 2011 jump in homicides for unclear reasons.
That doesn’t take anything away from the victims of crime and their families. It might even help catalyze people into more action on crime prevention if crime stories made up a more representative portion of news coverage. Right now it’s so prevalent you’d think very little else goes on. That is indeed the perception that makes it into newscasts and newspapers outside of Edmonton.
It’s nice to see a Journal columnist saying we’re safe in Edmonton. That, however, doesn’t make the front page as homicides routinely do.
We should hear from the chief of the Edmonton Police Service next week with some new plans and approaches to crime in Edmonton.
I really thought I could end the week with a little less on crime reporting. Especially with downtown arena in the Headlines. Shows what I know. (more…)
Shut Your Mouth, It’s Art Crawl
While Whyte Avenue’s Art Walk has nothing to do with the TV comedy Bob’s Burgers, they do have streets of art in common.
Yes, today through Sunday you can find artist after artist all around Whyte Avenue and Old Strathcona. More than 200 artists will be selling their paintings, drawings, photos, sketches, and anything else they can fit onto the sidewalk. It’s always a busy weekend, and remember to bring cash.
It’s a Handmade Mafia weekend, so get yourself over to the Strathcona Baptist Church for plenty o’ fun. (It ties into the Art Walk too.)
If you’re into rabbits you’re going to want to check out the Year of the Rabbit and Hare Band Cabaret at the Catalyst Theatre. Even if you’re not a fan of rabbits, the stone and canvas art from Jason Carter and a play by Bridget Ryan may be just the ticket.
In other festival news…
The Freewill Shakespeare Festival continues in Hawrelak Park, with Othello and Twelfth Night. The Edmonton International Street Performers Festival is in Churchill Square, with some late night madness this weekend to close things out. The Edmonton and Northern Alberta Historical Festival wraps up this weekend too. That seems so timely with all the history and heritage in the news this week.
Race Week Edmonton officially begins on Monday, but the annual Soap Box Derby is Sunday on Victoria Park Hill. Also in racing this weekend, the Sourdough River Festival (and raft race), in Terwillegar Park.
In live music…
The Grapes of Wrath play two shows at the Haven Social Club tonight…Samantha Schultz will wow you with her guitar skills at the Blue Chair Cafe tomorrow evening…Ghost Cousin releases a new album Saturday night at Wunderbar…and our old pals Boy and Gurl come up from Calgary for a show at On The Rocks Sunday…
On Sunday, a new Fork Fest begins. Get your eat on!
The Eskimos, FC Edmonton, and Capitals are all home for games this weekend.
July 6 Edmonton Headlines
Who ya gonna call?
Welcome to the middle of the week, Edmonton. How’s your hump?
Edmonton’s Somali community appears to be turning within, including launching a new series of posters, to try and solve the many murders that have hit them. We’re probably going to need more crime prevention than just posters though; perhaps libraries and youth centres could stay open way, way longer.
“Maybe around here it would be like Whyte Avenue but with better access.” Umm, access is pretty darn good for folks who live in walkable neighbourhoods. Walkable shopping is a mall.
Our pals over at the Edmonton Flag Football Association played for a world record and raised more than $10,000 for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. All in all, a pretty good long weekend for that crew.
If you run a small business, the City is looking for the greenest of them all.
The artistic director of Edmonton Opera has resigned after nine years at the helm.
Edmonton composer Malcolm Forsyth has died.
An Edmonton landlord is not allowed to file any more lawsuits, without some permission from a judge.
*****
The Alberta government is being told to set up an independent oilsands monitoring panel, to watch over the pollution created by the industry. Your move, long-standing, terrible budgeting, energy-dependent Tory government, your move.
Speaking of provincial budgeting…the Sun wants to know where the Royal Alberta Museum debate is…
A workplace inspection blitz on places likely to have a lot of younger workers, like food courts, found many safety violations. None were serious enough to shut down the businesses. One thing I find interesting about the many workplace inspection stories this year, they almost always have more violations than inspections, meaning multiple violations and hazards at a bunch of them.
Leadership candidates are being pressured to bring in harsher smoking laws. On the campaign…the head of the Alberta Medical Association is being asked to resign, or get turfed, by former Conservative MLA, Liberal leadership candidate, and doctor Raj Sherman.
The Slave Lake fire is now Canada’s second most expensive disaster, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, behind only the Quebec and eastern Ontario ice storm of 1998. Oh, and while we’re mentioning Slave Lake, the royal couple is headed there. (I guess we couldn’t make it through their trip to Canada without a mention after all.)
The southern Alberta zoo lots of people are hating on is back open while court processes drag out. I guess this means the owner didn’t kill and stuff the animals just yet.
*****
Canada’s military role in Afghanistan is over. There are still soldiers over there, and they will remain so in mostly training capacities, but the fighting is now up to other countries.
Statistics Canada reports most of Canada’s eligible voters who didn’t vote in the last election were too busy or didn’t feel like voting. That just makes me sad. While political parties all try to figure out how to engage with youth, and more voters in general, I think it’s also time for news and information providers to think about dropping some of their “objectivity” and also find ways to engage voters.
Canada Day Events (and the rest of the weekend too)
Ah, the Canada Day long weekend in Edmonton. If you’re anything like me you started off by sleeping in, then dug into your traditional July 1 breakfast of back bacon+maple syrup poutine. Delicious.
And now that you’re energized by meat, fries, and gravy-syrup you need to get out and celebrate this fine country we call home.
Edmonton does Canada Day pretty damn well. You can catch the Silly Summer Parade on Whyte Avenue at lunch, then head just about anywhere for more red and white festivities; City Hall, the Alberta Legislature, Mill Woods (which has a huge party), attractions like Fort Edmonton Park (where they call it Dominion Day), the Muttart Conservatory, and Valley Zoo, and the Edmonton Garrison.
Don’t forget about fireworks! The big show is downtown in the river valley. Mill Woods also fills the sky with spectacular-ness.
The World’s Longest Flag Football Game also begins today, at noon. You can help them out, play, volunteer, cheer, and donate to the Stollery.
Speaking of sports…the Edmonton Capitals have the Maui Na Koa Ikaika in town.
Don’t think the festivals stop for a holiday. The Works Art and Design Festival continues at Churchill Square and around downtown. The musical lineup at Churchill Square continues to be amazing.
Speaking of amazing music…we’ve got this thing called the Edmonton International Jazz Festival. Yeah, that’s gonna have a great lineup too. (And is a good time to check out jazz if you’re not a regular at the Yardbird Suite.)
A new festival just began this weekend too. (New as in it just started, it’s not new to Edmonton.) The Freewill Shakespeare Festival is on in the Hawrelak Park Amphitheater. This summer you can see Othello and Twelfth Night.
Great show Saturday night at Wunderbar, with Shotgun Jimmie, Liam Trimble, and The Mitts. There’s also a big Slave Lake fire fundraising show this weekend up in Widewater (which is on Lesser Slave Lake).
Also this weekend, Edmonton is hosting the 2011 Canadian Ismaili Games. Neat.
June 23 Edmonton Headlines
Hey, you, uh, got $50-million the City of Edmonton can have, to keep the 2012 tax hike at 4.5%? There may be a cut or two (or three) if more money isn’t found. I know you have it in coffee cans buried in the yard!
Meanwhile…the City announced $56-million to get the east Jasper redevelopment moving along…
And there will be a new statue in, or around, Churchill Square.
If I’m reading this story on the downtown arena correctly, Councillor Ed Gibbons will meet with the City Manager to ask a list of questions but that meeting would happen outside of a public meeting. Weird. (Or I’ve got it wrong.)
The chair of the Edmonton Public School Board wants longer-term funding from the provincial government, to allow a little more stability in school board budgeting.
TELUS is putting in $20-million worth of work into one of its two towers on 100 Street, and also a bit of green space right beside the plaza.
100 years of flight in Edmonton, the City Centre Airport, and aviation are being talked about and celebrated this week.
Speaking of the City Centre Airport…we know who will be designing a neighbourhood planned to take over the land. The Charrette has a further look at the design plans.
As soon as I saw that police had made an arrest in a Whyte Avenue stabbing my brain started to try and guess at the story. There hadn’t been any homicides recently. Could it be the Dylan McGillis killing from four-and-a-half years ago? A homicide I covered when still working the daily news beat? Yes! Edmonton police have made a long-awaited, long sought-after arrest.
The homicide was among the violence that sparked some change on Whyte to try and attract more live music, more street life (and not just drunk people eating pizza street life), and campaigns to enjoy a night out without violence.
*****
There are more nurses being hired in Alberta, but a lot of them aren’t working full-time. This is, essentially, a good news story though.
The Alberta government is spending some money educating you about carbon capture and storage. Whether we’ll ever end up building the systems to trap carbon emissions underground is another story.
Canada’s western premiers are talking disasters and disaster funding. Our premier (still Ed Stelmach until fall, when Progressive Conservatives choose a new one) wants more foreign workers, and to get them here faster.
Speaking of leadership races…Bill Harvey is running to lead the Alberta Liberals. I know…NOW you’re excited about that race.
Alberta author Robert Kroetsch died in a car crash this week, and is being remembered for his literary contributions to Alberta, Edmonton, and Canada.
*****
Canada’s approach to asbestos is very “do as I say not as I do” since we won’t be doing a whole with the known cancer-causer but will gladly export it. I guess The Daily Show cares more than our federal government.
Edmonton Headlines
Parking rates are going up. (Click for details.)
Well, Edmonton, we made it through the short week. Now its five-day weeks for a month. But it’s the weekend now, so that’s something.
While this story may be about Garneau residents trying to keep bars from spilling off of Whyte Avenue, I like the part about the City’s planning and development department keeping closer tabs on what’s happening with business licenses.
The Edmonton Sun says Councillor Karen Leibovici should not be voting on downtown arena deals, because her husband is an executive with a Katz pharmacy chain.
An inner city crisis team is touting its successes on the streets of Edmonton.
The Edmonton International Airport has shifted from “stopping the Calgary habit” to getting Edmontonians to “Unite for More Flights.” Essentially, the EIA’s new campaign to get people to fly out of Edmonton is centered on the fact more people flying from here could mean more flight options.
A couple of missing men in uniform have been found. It’s not clear what happened to an EPS officer reported missing, and it’s a sad end to the story of a missing soldier.
*****
Teachers are going to be cut because of tight education budgets, and the fight to get the Alberta government to pay for better education is on.
Slave Lake residents – those with homes to go back to anyway – are returning to the town after a devastating wildfire.
A couple of front-runners in the Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership (or, Premiership) race are talking about new rules and changes to improve government transparency.
As northern Alberta burns, southern Alberta is soaked.
Alberta’s only non-Conservative MP, Edmonton-Strathcona’s Linda Duncan, is going to be in the NDP’s shadow cabinet.
*****
Former Edmonton Eskimo quarterback Jason Maas is retiring from football.
Sabzy Persian Grill
You could be eating this right now.
A few months ago, Jeff and I were having lunch at Sabzy Persian Grill (also known by many as Sabzy Cafe) on Whyte Ave., and struck up a conversation with Ahmad Sabetghadam, who owns and runs the restaurant with his family.
Ahmad is a ridiculously interesting person who totally digs talking about food and has a rather unconventional story for a restauranteur – he’s an academic (a professor at the University of Alberta, to be exact) with a background in agriculture – but when he talks about Sazby’s menu and their emphasis on food as preventative medicine, it all starts to make sense.
Busy Headlines – no, seriously, there’s a lot going on in Edmonton
Wow. A federal election, an all-day city council meeting on the downtown arena, a sensational murder trial, and a fire this morning. I do not miss the panic of being in a daily newsroom today. It is sweet indeed to be able to sit back and take a wider look at what’s going on. (Still took me all morning though.)
Speaking of that fire…we received this report, and photos from Amanda, this morning:
FIRE!
I was awakened to the thrum of engines running just outside my window. During the winter that meant snow-clearing was in progress. Surely not today…I went to the balcony and looked out to see what the commotion was: there were fire trucks lined up north of 99th St. and when I looked towards Whyte Ave I saw flames, smoke and a huge jet of water being directed to the fire! I thought about what businesses those were – it must be the beauty shop, the restaurant and a few offices up on the second floor. All this next to The Empress Ale House and the laundromat on the corner.I saw the pool of water on the street gathering volume as the water pump truck continued to jettison its powerful spray on to the roof of the building. Flames kept curling up relentlessly as the water attempted to douse them. There were men up on the roof, as well, attempting to douse the flames. Emergency lights blinked, firefighters barked out orders, and early morning risers were glued to their windows or were out on the street getting a closer look. I certainly hope that there were no people inside and that the damage will be minimal.
The traffic today down Whyte Avenue and down 99th Street will be more than a bit hectic. Perhaps this is a good day to walk to work. The smell of smoke and burning fills my nostrils as I finish writing this…
And that’s just where we begin today’s look at Edmonton.
seinfeil: Just The Tip
Really? You’re not even going to use innuendo? Really?!
Wooly Bully's you have changed.
I mean, we’ve all see this, in Wedding Crashers, in that great TT & Mario song (below, at 1:06). Now it’s a part of Edmonton’s heritage.
March 3 Edmonton Headlines
This parking lot's days are numbered.
The Mayor says the time for details is over and city council should just vote for a downtown arena. I mean, vote on whether or not to build a downtown arena. Right, that second one. That vote could happen April 6.
One thing that changes how the City should move forward is the federal government’s unwillingness to put money into arenas and sports facilities. You have to respect that decision because it risks a backlash in Quebec, specifically Quebec City, and it’s not a move vote-hungry federal parties normally make.
Since this column from David Staples aims to clear up some false information about the downtown arena, I must be misunderstanding how $100-million from Daryl Katz, for an arena estimated at $450-million, is 70% of the cost. See: Fallacy No. 1
Since my math is off, drop me a comment to set me straight.
Other than the arena… (more…)
Say It Ain’t So
Now what is Edmonton’s premiere Cougar Bar?
We suspect this will soon be The Pint v2.0. Or New City could upgrade/add a second location. Or something so crazy we don't even know!
Wunderbar
(Editor’s note: We love Wunderbar. Just thought you should know that.)
A lot of things are different at Wunderbar lately; a snazzy new website, slick new bench seating, a tasty new limited-run whiskey lager from our friends at Ambers Brewing. But the big change at the Whyte Ave. drinking hole, the one at the root of Wunderbar’s current popularity, are owners Levi Christensen, Chris Janke, and Craig Martell.
The three guys worked at another popular Edmonton bar for years before deciding to venture out on their own.
“We were like ‘We have an idea,’” explains Craig. “And everybody wants to open a bar, but not everyone has an idea.”
The idea in question? To create a bar that was community-based and thoroughly accessible to all.
“When people come here,” says Craig “[We’re] making them feel comfortable – making someone who doesn’t drink feel comfortable. You can come here and not have a beer and we’re okay with that. There’s not many bars in town where someone who doesn’t drink feels comfortable.” (more…)
Your favourite place = train ride
You love Edmonton. And you think there are some pretty sweet places to visit in this city. So tell the world (or, at least Canada) about your favourite places and get into a draw for some Via train action.
Great Places in Canada is a contest put on by the Canadian Institute of Planners (which sounds pretty legit), which aims to find all the most-loved cities, towns, landmarks, and public spaces (like parks) in this great country.
Edmonton’s already well-represented with the University of Alberta, 
Candy Cane Lane, our 1-year-old Art Gallery of Alberta, Ada Boulevard (often used in TV movies), Old Strathcona, the Muttart Conservatory, and Whyte Avenue. Anyone who nominates a place is entered into the draw.
Oh, and there will be judging of the favourite places, so get voting.
I’m also curious as to your favourite places, Edmonton or otherwise. So drop me a comment and tell me what’s cool.
Deals, discounts, crepes
You like deals, you’re only human.
In the jumble of group discount sites that have popped up (most of them with crazy two-syllable names), there’s a new deal in town. Good News Edmonton is a deal with a difference. They give a charity or worthy organization some of the money they earn from coupon-savvy folks.
The site’s first big deal in Edmonton (since they are also in other cities) is a $1 crepe from Whyte Avenue’s location of Crepeworks. That’s a big savings on a crepe that could cost you $7. Plus, the Edmonton Food Bank is reaping all the rewards. (In this case the food bank is getting all of the money.)
Good News Edmonton has done their homework though. They know we love giving you guys stuff. So…hows about a $25 credit for this new deal site? Yeah, we knew you’d be all about that. To get yourself in the draw for the $25* GoodNews.com credit, leave a comment with a business you’d like a deal from and a charity you think could use a few extra dollars. (This is just for conversation/contest purposes and GoodNews.com doesn’t have to use any of our suggestions.)
*One note, you’ll only be able to use the credit on items that cost more than $10. (A deal that costs $10, for example, or buying two $5 deals.
Update: We’ll draw a winner Thursday morning.
Update 2: Michael has claimed the $25 credit. Thanks for all your great suggestions!
Live from Luzzara
Come on down to Luzzara and meet this blue fish. Yes, it's wearing a tiara.
You know, it’s been some time since we tried out the whole live on the Internet thing. You never know when we’ll actually need to use those “skills” for something important, so it’s time for some live Internetin’.
This morning I’m taking a page out of Sally’s book e-book and broadcasting live from a coffee shop while doing stuff. Lucky for me (and probably you) I’m at Luzzara, which is a great little shop on Whyte Avenue, with the always-bubbly, super coffee-knowledgeable Sarah Jackson. Luzzara’s a hub of east Whyte and you don’t know who will stop in…
Also, I’ll be putting together today’s Headlines while broadcasting, providing you with spectacular video of me typing and copying links. Yeah, I know what you like.
You should be able to watch the “show” at the top of this post in an embedded video player (try refreshing the page if it’s not there) or at our livestream.com page. Drop us a comment, tweet at us, or join the livestream chat and I’ll do my best to talk with you while this all goes down.
Wooly Headlines
Hey there, Edmonton, how’s your feng shui today?
After spending countless nights camped out in the Wooly Bully's natural habitat, the Whyte Avenue bar scene, Sally finally snapped a photo of this amazing, yet elusive, creature.
City Council had a full day of LRT, Wednesday, with lots of people complaining about a lack of consultation, how they didn’t like the routes, and other stuff that is ruining their lives. Some people, YIMBYs if you will, wanted the LRT to get moving, right through their neighbourhood even. They are, as always it seems, in the minority.
Should a public-private partnership (P3) be considered for expansion of the LRT?
We got our quarterly update on the City Centre Airport, including some information on potential revenue and development profit, and environmental impact.
The City budget should be finalized today. Then we can all whine about our tax increase.
Away from the pyramid… (more…)
Business Closing Headlines
We'll miss all your sweet sales, and your lovely window displays.
Good day, Edmonton. I’ve got more business-closing news to report from Whyte Avenue today. (Recently it’s just been bars.)
After eight years on the avenue, most recently between Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard, Nokomis Clothing is closing. Make sure you send them out with a bang, Edmonton. Buy everything they have, buy all the local and Canadian-designed clothes. Do it, do it!
We’ll miss you, Nokomis.
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We’re still waiting on city council to approve the 2011 budget. They didn’t finish the job yesterday, but it should be finalized Thursday. It was first predicted with a 5% tax increase, and that will likely be as high as it is. It might even come in at 4%. (Though some other fees, like water, are also being increased.)
Money is the bottom line of the budget. But sometimes you need to think beyond just the last few pennies and try to build an Edmonton that’s more than bricks and pavement.
Epcor’s not paying the City of Edmonton as much, in dividends, as was promised for the Goldbar waste water treatment plant. I’m sure that was something people warned against before it happened…
Transit fares are going up (of course). But the real problem I have with the increase is the amount. Fares will be $2.85. Who carries dimes?
This is a new take on the NIMBY argument (not in my backyard.); the LRT can’t run through Chinatown on its proposed course because of bad Feng Shui.
After the jump we’re going to talk about healthcare. Because we don’t do that enough. (more…)
Not Lyve anymore
This is Edmonton's One Way State rocking Lyve on Whyte back in October.
The first indication I had that something was up at Lyve on Whyte was when The Joe (Joe Gurba) was talking about moving his album release. It was going to be at Lyve on Whyte in January. Now it’s at the Haven Social Club.
Then, last night I saw the sign outside of Lyve say it was “closed for business.” Yup, Lyve on Whyte is no more.
Today we hear the owners pulled the plug because they just weren’t packing in the people needed to keep things afloat. Has Jasper Avenue siphoned off too much of the drinking and partying business? (If you’re keeping score, that’s two of the larger bars in Old Strathcona to close in a week.)
I hope this doesn’t kill the live music vibe Whyte Avenue has quietly been building on since SOS Fest. Edmonton needs live music venues!
July 2010 - November 2010
Update: I totally forgot that Savoy closed at the start of the month too.
Seinsess – 3rd on Whyte
There’s pretty much no way you don’t know what kind of business lies behind this sign.
