Metropolis lights up city without burning taxpayers

You have to hand it to the folks behind Metropolis, Edmonton’s newest festival (three words we seem to use every other week these days.) Organizer Guiseppe Albi wanted $1-million to stage the two-month long celebration, which kicks off with the New Year’s Eve festivities in Churchill Square, with fireworks at midnight, and features music, food, […]

OPINION: A tale of two hospitality laws

In Edmonton, it is now illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .05. As of this year, it is also illegal in Edmonton to drive while eating a sandwich. One of these laws has science and some common sense behind it. The other doesn’t. Can you guess which is which? This […]

ANNOUNCED: Meow, hiss, here comes Cats

Here comes Bombalurina, following closely by Rumpleteazer and Mr. Mistoffelees! Aren’t they adorable? There lurks Grizabella while The Rum Tum Tugger stalks his prey. Mee-ow. And look! Skimbleshanks is rubbing his face against your leg. Aw, Mungojerrie is jealous. Hissss … If you have no idea what we’re talking about, consider yourself lucky. Or unlucky […]

Memorial sculpture unveiled: Open the door to end homelessness

The hope to end homelessness is set in stone with the dedication of a $40,000 memorial sculpture in downtown Edmonton. Depicting a wretched figure huddling beneath a doorway, it’s there “to remind Edmontonians always about our shared responsibility to end homelessness,” says renowned local anti-poverty crusader Jim Gurnett, who spearheaded the project created by local […]

COMMENT: Nickelback, the Talus Dome and some basic civility

It’s funny how a small shift in perspective can change how we view things and influence human behaviour, particularly in the arts, where the debate between art, popularity and finance rages eternal. We all benefit from considering others’ perspectives sometimes, whether it’s on Nickelback being publically shunned or a public art installation. One man’s interpretation […]

TRUE TALES OF THE ART: Juan Martin plays Picasso

Pablo Picasso gave the young guitar player a wink – the only reward for an unusual performance at the great painter’s 90th birthday party. The 16-year-old Juan Martin had been asked to ditch his prepared music and “improvise the paintings on the wall, just look at the paintings and interpret them.” He says he thought […]

SNFU singer Chi Pig returns from hell – to the art world

Chi Pig marvels at the “perfect triangle” of his life that exists in the heart of Edmonton. “I was born at the Royal Alex, went to school at Vic Comp and played shows at the Polish Hall,” he says. “It all connected. It all made sense to me. I remember walking with my friend, 17 […]

TAG! YOU’RE IT! Fear and Loathing at the Anti Graffiti Symposium

Outside the meeting rooms at the Westin Hotel where the Anti Graffiti Symposium (TAGS) was held in Edmonton this past week, two large canvases were set up and a box with spray paint and colourful markers was placed beside them. Over the course of the two-day conference, the delegates, many of whom were police officers […]

Bohemia Cafe reopens with big Noise

The Bohemia Cafe is probably the only place in Edmonton you can hear “Noise.” Not noise, but Noise – a peculiar and tiny genre of music more free than free jazz, crazier than thrash metal. Some call it “experimental sound art,” because “music” doesn’t quite fit. Someone even made a documentary about Noise, featuring the […]

PREVIEW: Any witch way you slice it, Screamfest is bloody fun

Carnivals sure aren’t what they used to be. Mind you, the last time they were a big deal,in an era before handheld electronics and the multi-channel universe, options were notably lacking. People would read more then, too, and vaudeville still packed ’em in on Friday night. Pretty much all entertainment involved substantially more effort and […]

SURREAL SATURDAY: Organic produce, protest rally in downtown Edmonton

Finally, a good use for City Hall – a farmer’s market. That’s the obvious joke after attending the City Market’s winter season opening inside our city’s headquarters. The next step will be to use all that space and natural light for a hydroponic greenhouse to raise money for the new arena. Home grown. Open markets […]

Edmonton gamers proceed to bonus level, help sick kids

There’s some seriously positive karma in using video games to raise money for sick little kids. After all, video games generally come with an infinite number of lives … a nice thought, but unfortunately not a reality for youngsters, any more than for the rest of us. Local newspaper reporter and blogger Matthew Dykstra got […]