Marching to the weekend
(Just think, I have three more weekends to make March puns with.)
Looks like a pretty solid weekend ahead. Downtown Dining Week kicks off today. So does Latitude 53′s new show, Cubic Units and New Prints by Mathiew Valade. Still Tonight…our friends at the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters celebrate 30 years with a bike art auction and pedal-powered concert. More good times could not be jammed into one evening.
In arts…Gargamel finishes its run at the Varscona Theatre. Garamel is a good play. there’s the Expanse Movement Arts Festival at the Roxy Theatre…The Art Gallery of Alberta is bringing in new spring shows; Nature and Spirit: Emily Carr’s Coastal Landscapes, Haida Art: Mapping and Ancient Language, Sherri Chaba’s The Silence of Chaos… (Speaking of the AGA, it’s hosting a Refinery party Saturday night.)
The Catalyst Theatre’s Hunchback is at the Citadel, from the people who brought you recently raved-about Frankenstein and Nevermore productions…the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, which will have the orchestra playing live along with the movie…Fringe Theatre Adventures presents “An evening with Uncle Val” by comedian Andy Jones…Alberta Baroque Ensemble is at Robertson Wesley United Church…Edmonton Columbian Choirs present Spring Bouquets, at McDougall United Church…
Winter Light concludes with the Star Party at Elk Island National Park Edmonton City Hall. That would be stars as in the sky kind, not the TMZ kind.
Gregg’s got the lowdown on the good movies. And the bad ones too.
In music…Jenie Thai is at the Blue Chair Cafe…Heart of the City Festival has a fundraising show...Buckcherry is in Edmonton tonight. Buckcherry. So is Sarah McLachlan…
I take this to mean the Nathan Carroll Band is going to perform Supertramp’s Breakfast in America at the Haven. Totally rad.
Saturday night at Brixx you’ve got the F.D. Jones Soap Company Ol’ Smashy…and Geoff Berner is at The ARTery tonight…
Also, the Edmonton Oil Kings are home to the Medicine Hat Tigers…and Pecha Kucha 9 goes tonight. PK9 is sold out, but you can watch it live from the comfort of your home via the Edmonton Journal.
End of February Events
I’m going to kick things off with something I’m planning on attending; Gargamel at the Varscona. It’s a new play from Mostly Water Theatre’s Trent Wilkie (a friend of the website since at least October) about a man who’s lost his girlfriend in a horrific car crash, sustained a head injury, and is being pushed around by a ghostly Louis Riel. Then he fights God.
There’s just something about the ghost of Louis Riel that sealed this for me.
Sticking with theatre, Concrete Theatre presents Jeremy Fisher, a play for younger audiences, at the Stanley A. Milner Library, Friday and Saturday. Fringe Theatre Adventures and Edmonton Opera are wrapping up The Barber of Barrhead this weekend. Legally Blonde: The Musical also wraps up over at the Jubilee.
Sunday, you can help out the Brian Webb Dance Company at their art auction at the Sutton Place Hotel. Or party a little Saturday night, and help out Latitude 53, at 53 Ways to Leave Your Lover: Factory Party Edition.
You might have recently watched Adaptation and be into orchids. Good thing The Orchid Society of Alberta presents Orchid Fair this weekend.
In music… (more…)
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!
Back to Winter, Back to Fun
Looks like a pretty good weekend ahead, Edmonton.
The weather’s pretty much returning to normal, but it should still be great for Freezing Man and Winter Light’s Illuminations. Freezing Man is a day of electronic and alternative music, while Illuminations is all about turning Churchill Square into what winter is all about, with entertainment, skating, and free hot chocolate. And a snowball fight.
The Edmonton Rush host Calgary for their home opener at Rexall Place. Go Rush!
The Edmonton Oil Kings are also home this weekend.
In music…Gorgon Horde is at Wunderbar… There’s a wine tasting auction featuring the ESO…CKUA presents Leeroy Stagger…the Sonic Band of the Month is Feast or Famine, and they’re at the Pawn Shop…Jordan Norman has a CD release at the Haven, with Christian Hansen (and no Autistics)…Ann Vriend is at the museum…yes, the actual museum.
Global Game Jam Edmonton is going to be all about putting together a video game (or working on a game) this weekend.
Tonight is Hip Hop on the Wall, a fundraiser for Hip Hop in the Park.
This weekend is the 1st birthday of the new Art Gallery of Alberta. Happy Birthday, you crazy, beautiful building.
And, on Sunday, watch for LRT delays north of Churchill (again).
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.
Not more snow! Headlines
Just take the bus until the snow melts.
It’s cold and we’re expecting a little more snow. Now THIS is winter in Edmonton.
Don’t forget to check the Long John Index. Yes, we should be wearing a pair today. And yes, there are plows out there.
The snowstorm didn’t stop the Deep Freeze festival (makes sense, with a name like that). Winter Light will continue in Edmonton, with other outdoor events like the Silver Skate at Hawrelak Park and Ice on Whyte.
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The Edmonton Journal has taken a look at school attendance. More specifically, attendance of schools by students who live in the school’s neighbourhoods. The local aspect may play a role in keeping schools open. There’s a map here that indicates which schools have higher numbers of students who could walk to school.
An Edmonton police officer is on desk duty after allegations of an assault on a prisoner in police cells.
Last week we were talking about a couple of local businesses that were closing in West Edmonton Mall. Today we’ve got the Gap closing in City Centre Mall.
You can start tossing your Christmas trees today. Interestingly, we just took down our fake tree.
Outside of Edmonton… (more…)
Snowbound Events
Sure, that snow is flying and it’s supposed to get cold. But you follow the Long John Index and are prepared.
The music is IN the piano?
And, this being Edmonton and all, I know you’re ready to head out into winter and have some fun. This weekend you could go up to Alberta Avenue and kick off Edmonton’s Winter Light Festival with the Deep Freeze Byzantine Winter Festival. They’ve also got some indoor events when you need to warm up.
If you’re not all that concerned with warming up, how about you take your pants off and ride the LRT. Yeah, that’s right.
The Oil Kings are home to the Regina Pats on Saturday.
In music…MacEwan is showing off its musical student talent…95.7 The Sound (Edmonton’s newest radio station, and fast-becoming a favourite of mine) begins an Edmonton series at The Haven Social Club…The Haven’s got a good show Saturday too, with Daniel Moir, Trevor Tchir, and Greg Amundsen. BTW, Haven is now serving up Pharo’s pizza. Samantha and Emily Schultz play the Blue Chair Cafe (we saw Samantha last summer at SOS Fest, she’s really good on the guitar)…One Way State is at the Pawn Shop…and on Sunday, Jenie Thai brings a jazzier style to Blues on White.
New Year’s Headlines
Happy New Year, Edmonton!
It’s a new year, a new decade, and 2011 also means the first wave of baby boomers retire. The Calgary Herald has a four-part series taking a look at all those 65-year-olds and the impact their retirement could have on Alberta.
Part 1: A new era
Part 2: Boomers and Alberta healthcare
Part 3: Still working, still volunteering
Part 4: The pension pinch
With the new year comes two stories regularly in the news. Our city’s first baby of the year and our first homicide. A handful of Canada’s largest cities rang in 2011 with a homicide.
On our first homicide, police aren’t getting a lot of help from possible witnesses. Some in the Somali community say the police aren’t doing enough to solve and prevent such crimes, and don’t like that kind of talk from the homicide department. Good, now that everybody is fighting over who is saying what the crime should be solved. Oh, it’s not getting solved? People living in the neighbourhood must be reassured by all that.
Meanwhile…back in 2010…Edmonton police solved most of the city’s homicides…
Away from the new year and homicides… (more…)
Weekend Fun
Rocket sleds eh?
Looks like WinterLight is going out with a bang. It’s been a fun way to embrace our long, dark season.
Actually, looking at this weekend there are quite a few fun things happening. And you know I’m turning to ShareEdmonton to load us up with the good stuff.
Ooh, there’s the Grilled Cheese Olympics! That’s happening Sunday.
If you’ve got kids you might be checking out the Mom, Pop & Tots Fair, over at the Edmonton Expo Centre.
The circus is in Edmonton.
Edmonton gets to shine on the TED stage this Saturday, with TEDxEdmonton. It’s happening over at the TransAlta Arts Barns. Tickets were highly sought-after and are likely out of your hands, but there is an after-party. Plus, you can watch all the TEDx action online.
The 2010 Edmonton Golf Show clearly has to mean it’s almost, really spring.
If you’ve got the spirit why not check out the Alberta Cheerleading Association’s Total Spirit Championship over at West Edmonton Mall.
That dog is a better painter than me.
Our friends over at Tailz passed along an interesting event; HART’s “Pawsitively Painted,” which is a dog art auction. That’s art BY the dogs. Really.
And you’d be helping out other dogs in need. Aww…
Over at our new favourite venue, The ARTery, you’ve got Kate Maki playing Sunday.
Gee…I wonder why The ARTery would be our new favourite…could it be because we’ll be part of #yegswap next weekend? Probably.
Actually, it’s shaping up to be quite a fun night.
You will bring some cool stuff that you just got bored with, or don’t have space for, and I will do the same. We will throw it all onto a giant table and pick up some new things. So, not only are you going to get some of your spring cleaning done, you’re going to get sweet new stuff to play with, and for almost free.
Oh, and next Saturday, while you’re hanging out with some of your favourite Edmonton bloggers and podcasters, you can listen to great local music from Lyra Brown, The Mystery Ponies and The Joe.
Have a great weekend.
See you next weekend. (Wow, I’m getting pushy.)
Let’s do it
Actually, there’s a lot of “it” we could do.
This is Hale Hale. They are good.
It will all depend on what we define as the it thing to do.
Wow, I’m getting confused.
Onto weekend fun!
The Wheat Pool is returning to the Pawnshop, as Sonic’s band of the month. That will make tonight special.
Also, a win by Team Canada would make tonight special. Where are you watching the game? I’ve got to get home and find something red to wear.
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Yes, of course, I’ve been checking ShareEdmonton for event ideas. Why wouldn’t I?
They’ve reminded me that Winefest Edmonton is this weekend.
And WinterLight continues (what a great weekend of weather we’ll have for getting outside) with The Big Winter. Sounds fun. And big.
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Now, back to my rambling selections.
Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.
Over at the Haven Social Club (A place which I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing.) Hale Hale is going to melt some faces with rock.
I will never get tired of mentioning the babysitter blues.
Go Canada!
It’s a post-Conan world
I know that Conan O’Brien is a smart cookie and he’ll land on his feet. I also know he’ll be missed on The Tonight Show, around these parts. It’s back to Letterman/Kimmel/Lopez for the first round of late night TV.
I think my love of Carson Daly has also been noted.
For these reasons I may bounce over to Original Joe’s-Varisty Row (109 Street, north of Whyte Avenue) for the last Coco-Tonight Show. They’ll be showing it at the restaurant/bar and they’ve got specials on Red Ale and Coco Martinis (clever). Maybe I’ll see you there.
On a more serious note, there will be a march and rally in Old Strathcona tomorrow (when isn’t there?) as Canadians against Proroguing Parliament hit the streets. Let’s see if the Facebook protest transitions to the real world.
I bet this show won't be a "big wreck." (It's Monday at Union Hall.)
Edmonton’s Winter Light festival continues this weekend, with the Baba Yaga Trail Adventure.
Ice on Whyte also continues.
There are zombie-literary discussions happening Saturday afternoon (2-4pm, in the Edmonton Room) at the Stanley Milner Library. It’s about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
There are also ways to enjoy the party-scene of the weekend and help Haiti. Check this Metro-Edmonton story for details.
Dave Attell is at The Comic Strip this weekend.
You can take your tummy out to the second round of Fork Fest.
Maybe you’d rather try not to get trampled by brides looking for deals and other items for THEIR SPECIAL DAY. There’s an event for that.
Or you can attempt to keep your head from exploding due to an abundance of cuteness at the Edmonton Pet Expo. Aww…
The Edmonton Rush have their home opener Saturday, against the Buffalo Bandits. Hey, they’ve got more of a chance of winning than the Oilers. (Thanks for the reminder, Derjs.)
Whatever it is you do to make it to Monday, have fun.
