BOOKS: All the Dirt on organic farming: not for everyone, says Heather Stretch

When Edmonton expat Heather Stretch comes to town this week to promote All the Dirt, the book she co-wrote about organic farming, she’ll obviously be keen to share her knowledge with folks passionate about sustainable local agriculture who might want to follow in her muddy footsteps. But she has another audience in mind as well […]

Cats prowls the line between love, hate and acceptance

Cats is the Nickelback of musical theatre. It is both the most loved and hated of its kind. It has played for 30 continuous years on Broadway, won seven Tony awards, been translated into 20 languages and has given birth to many healthy litters of touring productions, the latest coming to the Jubilee Auditorium Feb. […]

FILM REVIEW: Oscar shorts show brilliance in brevity, on screen at the Princess Theatre

It’s astonishing how much sentiment a few well-paced moments can command. For all the hype that surrounds the big-budget entries at the annual Hollywood love-in that is the Oscars, there’s something special about the nominations for shorts. Few of these cartoons and live-action films will ever get much attention, compared to their longer brethren – […]

Sam Shepard like a bad boyfriend in Fool for Love

Picture this: The play starts with May (Jamie Konchak) wrapping her arms around the legs of her rodeo cowboy-stuntman-estranged boyfriend Eddie (David MacInnis) to cling onto him, and – within minutes – she plants her knee square in his nuts to push him away. This opening seems to be the thesis statement of not only […]

FREE STUFF: Win entry to Oscar Shorts

When comedian Steven Wright won an Academy Award for best live action short in 1989, he gave the shortest speech in Oscar history: “I guess it’s a good thing we cut those extra twenty minutes. Thank you.” No, thank you, Steven, for shedding light on the often ignored but worthy craft of short filmmaking – […]

Iron Maiden returns to Rexall Place July 27

Gird your loins, good sirs, and stow thy dragon dice, for thy liege shall return, and when Iron Maiden declares “thou shalt rock,” it behoves thou to harken, varlets … Or some sort of fancy faux-fangorian hooey, the only sort of language suitable to describe one of the greatest fantasy metal bands of all time. […]

EDMONTON RADIO: Hot 107’s Russell James bounces back to the Bounce

The Bounce 91.7 has scored a broadside hit on archrival Hot 107 in what has come to be known as the Great Edmonton Top 40 Radio Wars – they have stolen back program director Russell James. “I don’t think steal is the right word,” says Bounce operations manager Al Ford. “Hired is a better word.” […]

DUB’S PUB: Alberta Hotel bar will also be restored

Edmonton architect Gene Dub is so keen to preserve the bar in the newly reconstructed Alberta Hotel on Jasper Avenue that he’s made it a condition for his sale of the building to CKUA that he can lease the bar space from the radio station. The bar, which Dub says he hopes will be open […]

Silver Skate Festival wins winter festival derby in a walk

There is one major winter festival left in the winter festival season to ease us into springtime (now that wasn’t so bad, was it?) – and many hardcore hibernal celebrants agree that the Silver Skate Festival is the best. The 22nd annual event happens Friday through holiday Monday at Hawrelak Park. This is no frivolous […]

JEFF ROSS: Who will roast the Roastmaster?

“Insult” comedy is nothing new. What’s new is the trend of celebrity roasting where big and not-so-big stars alike fall all over themselves for the privilege of being the victim of one hilarious insult after another at the hands of people like Jeff Ross – the “Roastmaster General of the United States.” Well, of the […]

REVIEW: Laughter flies in the face of damage in beautiful Moving Along

“Nobody appreciates damage … at the time.” These are the striking words that started the public’s introduction to Chris Craddock’s magnum opus Moving Along back at the 2001 Fringe Festival. The play has resonated with audiences ever since. Moving Along has been remounted seven times over the years – and here it is some 11 […]

TALES FROM THE HEART: Simple Plan pleases girls completely

It’s just a coincidence that Simple Plan – the most romantic pop punk band on the planet – is playing the most romantic city in the world, Edmonton, on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day. Every day is Valentine’s Day for these guys. Of the thousands of fans expected to turn up […]