Shameless Friend Promotion: Help Send Spaceman Zac to Space Camp

 

 

My friend Zac wants to go to space and live on Mars. He's not scared to admit it, he's not scared to do it. As long as I have known Zac, he's had a driving passion to make the world better, to make things better and doing it all through his complex faith in science. I've always been impressed with Zac's ambition to hit his goals straight on, plowing through walls as though they are made of marshmallow fluff when in reality, to me they looked like granite.

 

How can you not want to support a man who uses his life so fully to pursue his dreams.

 

Check out Zac's campaign here and while you're at it, help send him to Space Camp.

Also, on Friday May 30th you can catch Zac at The Odyssey Coffeehouse for Space Chat and BBQ
Tickets and more info can be found here!

 

 

Heritage Park: Dinner and a Movie With Cars of the Big & Small Screen

Good food, classic cars and a great film-- this sounds like HEAVEN!

Heritage Park has an event going on Tuesday Evening: February 4 & 18, March 4 & 18, April 1 & 15, 2014 featuring a themed, three course meal in the Selkirk Grille, admission to the Cars of the Big & Small Screen exhibit (which features the cars shown in the films), and of course a movie in Gasoline Alley’s Exhibit Hall.

Price - Dinner & Movie $44.90 + GST per person, reservations required.

Movie only - $9.95 + GST per person. Movie only tickets can be purchased upon arrival.

 

• February 4^th – Back to the Future View Menu
• February 18^th – Driving Miss Daisy View Menu
• March 4^th – Grease View Menu
• March 18^th – Goldfinger View Menu
• April 1^st – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off View Menu
• April 15^th – American Graffiti View Menu

Dinner reservations are required and may be made between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm with the Selkirk Grille by calling 403.268.8607 or online.

For more info check out the website

Culinaria: A Taste of Food History on the Prairies

 

This Event looks great and it's located at the beautiful and historical Lougheed House in West Conaught-- thought I think the house is always beautiful, the property comes alive in the Spring and Summer as the stunning gardens fill with unique and colorful foliage.

 

Collecting Culinaria: An exhibition of cookbooks and domestic manuals mainly from the Linda Miron Distad Collection.

June 18 – October 5, 2014

**

 

The Linda Miron Distad Culinaria Collection, housed at the University of Alberta Libraries, currently consists of more than 3,000 food-related texts from around the world, spanning several centuries. Collecting Culinaria features cookbooks and household guides from the collection, as well as other selected items from the Library’s holdings. The exhibition, and accompanying catalogue, highlight some of the collection’s most intriguing texts and their themes, including manuscript cookbooks, dietetics and health, and celebrity chefs. Collecting Culinaria draws from and celebrates this vast and diverse trove of social, cultural, and gastronomic history. Lougheed House is grateful to partner with the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta, to bring you this exhibit.

The public is invited to the opening reception on Wednesday June 25^th, from 6.30-8.30pm with cash bar, where the curators, Merrill Distad and Caroline Leiffers, will be in attendance.

 

View the related web-exhibit ‘Culinaria: A Taste of Food History on the Prairies’

PHANTOM WING: a pre-demolition project at King Edward School

Remember when they did Wreck City? Well, this is some what along the same lines.

Explore the abandoned wing of Calgary’s fourth oldest school, re-imagined by 30+ Artists prior to demolition. Through a series of large-scale artworks, PHANTOM WING explores the soon to be demolished 1960s wing of the historic King Edward School, before it's redeveloped as a multidisciplinary arts hub (cSPACE). A community artists and performers have taken up temporary residence within the abandoned wing, creating infestations, fire-bell installations, psychedelic portals, Girl Gang Dance Parties, intercom performances, water-features, poltergeists, and more. The resulting exhibition will be both an echo and a bang: a reflection and a mirage. In essence, PHANTOM WING proposes the creation of a phantom limb – an event designed to resonate long after the building is severed from its adjoining sandstone counterpart.

Ticket Price:
Free (!!)

Location:
King Edward School, 1720 30th Ave. SW

Hours of Operation:
24 Sep 2013 - 6:00pm
25 Sep 2013 - 6:00pm
26 Sep 2013 - 6:00pm
27 Sep 2013 - 6:00pm
28 Sep 2013 - 10:00am
29 Sep 2013 - 10:00am

Website:
https://phantomwing.wordpress.com/

Stuart McLean: Christmas Concert 2013

Yes, it's August (AGAIN) but it's also the end of August and that usually means thoughts about Christmas (AGAIN). It's true but that's only because this is the time of year that the Stuart McLean Christmas Concert tickets go on sale (AGAIN).

You might SHOULD be familiar with his heart warming show in the CBC, well this is live and it's all about Christmas and all about fuzzy warm traditions and doing things from the heart. For me, there is no better way to start off Christmas then with a dose of Stuart McLean. Love!

Calgary, Alberta
Thursday, December 5th and  Friday,  December 6th @ 7:30 PM
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
(855) 985-5000
www.ticketmaster.ca
In person: Monday – Friday 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM


Banff, Alberta (spoiler alert-- one of Stuart's favorite places in Canada)
Saturday, December 7th @ 7:30 PM
Eric Harvie Theatre (The Banff Centre)
(403) 762-6301 or (800) 413-8368
www.ticketmaster.ca
In person: The Banff Centre Box Office Tuesday – Saturday 12 noon – 5:00 PM
Old Crag Cabin (211a Bear Street) Tuesday – Sunday 12 noon – 6:00 PM

Special musical guest this year will be the wonderful and talented, Juno Award-wining band, The Good Lovelies (they are a favorite of mine).

You can find out more information about The Good Lovelies here: www.goodlovelies.com

The concert always takes Foodbank donations by way of non-perishable food items and cash.There is plenty spiced eggnog (for adults and children) and holiday spirit served up. I personally can't think of a better way to start of the beautiful holiday season.
 

Related posts:

I've Been Waiting All Night for This

Lets Talk about Christmas

Music Obsession Monday: Dala

Photo borrowed from here

 

Movie: For a Good Time, Call...

 

 

 

I went to a screener of For a Good Time, Call.... last night and I loved it. It was fresh, it was funny, it was bubble gum pink mixed with zombie strippers (minus the zombies). It was Bridesmaid's reduced. It was a dirty talking girlfriends and sex toy parties. It was a movie that was filmed in 16 days and you can't tell one bit. Simply perfect like confetti cupcakes and butter cream icing with sugar skull candies.

It's spanks as a date rape preventive.

It's 1-800-mmmHmmm

It's Snow White meets Barbarella and they become besties.

It's Justin Long, Kevin Smith and Seth Rogan all smashed in one.

It's sweet but with edge. This is a movie to bring your girlfriends too, maybe your guy friends (they'll enjoy the vulgar, sexy conversations) and perhaps your progressive, independent mom if you have that kind of an adult friendship with her. Don't bring your kids though (side note, I'm sick of people bringing babies and kids to movies that aren't meant for kids)- that's a no-no for sure.

Check you what Calgay's FFWD had to say about it.

It's girls being real, girls being funny and girls being awesome. If you have no qualms about sexy talk and sass then I think you might like it. It made my night but then I went into thinking it was going to be an awful movie that was filmed in 16 days that might make me roll my eyes out of pure classlessness.

I was wrong. It's fab. Its a good time with no strings attached.

and that's my cheese review of the day. xxoo

 

Choose Yer Own Festival 2012

guerrilla marching band with homemade instruments 2011

I have a few things I look forward too every year...

Stuart McLean Christmas Concert
Folk Festival
Free Pancake Breakfasts
Any time Feist comes to Calgary

AND..

Choose Yer Own Festival (!!) I've posted about it a few times in the last few years.

Happening August 31st - September 2nd 2012

What is fantastic about this festival is you can do anything. It's like a weekend to be, do, create whatever you desire. Some of the things done last year were:


Insomniac’s Art Party
Stay up making art all night with Bogdan, who believes that insomnia and art go together like dogs and bones. Whatever state your skill is in and whatever form it takes, come spend the night making art, watching movies and cooking food, in an attempt to focus on the relationship between insomnia and art.
Duct Tape Duels
Make your own padded sword and wage war against friend and foe to the sounds of pummeling drums.

Pajama Making Workshop
Skipped out on Home Ec.? Interested in dinosaur-print flannel loungewear? Learn the art of pajama-making from a mother of four.

Jurassic Park: The Ride
Universal Studios comes North! Follow a tour guide through the Jurrasic Park of your dreams. Raptor shooting range, full-sized inflatable garbage bag dinos, suspense and mystery… it will be the best!!! Bring your bikes or something to roll on.

and that's only a few of the creative and fantastic things to expect. Each year is different and it reminds us to love the city we live in, the people we know and don't know yet and just to play as long as you can.


NOTE: I haven't seen a schedule for this yet so check back at Choose Yer Own Festival often for the publication of it and subscribe to their blog. Enjoy! xxoo

Get Your Craft On

Stash Lounge, a place to get your craft on. Sew, knit, craft and crochet-- you can learn and do it all in an intimate class setting with other like minded creative people.

Located in the historic 1912 Hudson’s Bay warehouse in Inglewood. Check out the STASH Summer 2012 Classes Newsletter to find the perfect project for you. You can also browse the classes page, or class calendar for alternate views of offerings.

I want to make it all!


Stash Lounge
(403) 457-0766
1B, 1215 – 13th Street SE
Calgary, AB
Email: needles@stashlounge.com

Evil Dead: the musical

It's back and covered in blood... again. If you were in Calgary about 4 years ago, walking downtown on a warm August night, you may have experienced it. Handfuls of people laughing and gallivanting around, participating in all types of debauchery...wearing white shirts covered in blood. Ruby red, sticky, washable blood.

That was the summer when Evil Dead: the musical first came to town with it's campy lyrics and splatter zone, it was the hottest ticket in town. Those of us who went became greedy, going not just once but sometimes three of four times causing the production to hold over an extra month due to the popularity and demand. It was fantastic.

Embrace the mess and wear your best white shirt. Buy your tickets in the splatter zone. Should you feel a little shy about it, there are plenty of seats out of reach. Just remember, messy is more fun.

Starting August 14th

Tickets range from $25 and up

located at the Pumphouse Theater on 2140 Pumphouse Avenue Southwest, Calgary, AB T3CTP5

The Fairmont Palliser's Pop-Up Afternoon Tea

 

A good friend of mine came back from London a few months ago and never got to have true "high tea" so I thought for her 30th birthday, it was a must do to start off her special day. After doing some quick research I discovered that the oldest of old school class, the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary, offered a high tea on Saturdays from 2:00-4:00 pm. I booked it, we went and for $40 a person (we had a bottle of Champagne-- of course) it was an enjoyable experience. Though I would say that there were too many sweets on the three tier trays.Regardless, it was worth the experience and sans champagne runs you around $25 a person.

However, this was planned. It was in the tea room at the hotel and there wasn't anything surprising about it but on August 18th of 2012 the Fairmont Palliser's afternoon tea will be hosted at a surprise location. A pop-up tea party which will have double the decadence and double the delights.

Guest will enjoy a selection of tea sandwiches, pastries, fresh fruit with Chantilly cream and traditional English scones with some of the tastiest preserved I've ever put in my mouth.

Tickets are $50 a person and to reservations, call Jennifer Seguin in the catering office at (403) 260-1222

Open Air August: New Movie Every Thursday!

Every Thursday evening in August join the East Village for a movie which will be projected on the back of Simmons along with a different theme every week and community partnership.

Programming takes place from 9:00 -10:00 PM on the RiverWalk Plaza, with the movie starting at 10:30 PM.

Bring your lawn chair, grab some friends and come down to the historic Simmons building located in East Village:

618 Confluence Way, SE.

Open Air August promises to transform your typical Thursday evening into a magical movie experience under the stars.


Movies:
Aug 2 - The Happy Movie.
Aug 9 - Real Steel
Aug 16 - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Aug 23 - Flashdance (1983)
Aug 30 - Best in Show

*Exact time of the movie is subject to change based on the light and sunset. Weather permitting.

Captain's Cruises at Heritage Park

Captain's Cruises

Thursday Evenings: July 19 - August 30
7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Set sail on Calgary's only paddlewheeler and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Glenmore Reservoir and the majestic Rocky Mountains. Enjoy gourmet hors d'oeuvres and a selection of fine Canadian wine and beer, all while grooving to the smooth sounds of a live jazz band ( One Nite Band).

Tickets: $74.95 + gst per person

Call 403-268-8500 for tickets

Menu

Classic Chilled Shrimp Cocktail with Tiger Prawns
Cocktail Sauce & Chili Lime Aioli
-
Smoked Duck Breast on Crostini
Chipotle Aioli
-
Maki Rolls, Salmon & Shrimp Sushi
with Wasabi Paste & Soy Sauce
-
Classic Devilled Eggs with Smoked Paprika
-
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
Capers & Cream Cheese
-
Mini Vietnamese Salad Rolls
Sweet Chili Ponzu
-
Artichoke & Spinach Dip with Crisp Pita Chips
-
Sliced English Cucumber with French Brie & Orange Marmalade
-
Grapes Rolled in Blue Cheese Scented Cream Cheese & Toasted Almonds
-
Crisp Crudités & Cool Ranch Dip
-
Canadian Cheese Platter with Crackers
-
Seasonal & Tropical Fruit Tray
-
Fancy French Pastries & Assorted Squares
-
Complimentary Soft Drinks, Juices & Gourmet Coffee

Beer & Wine Sales are available on a cash basis

     *Captain’s Cruises are not wheelchair friendly, due to the food and drink being served on the upper deck.

Drive into the village and park by the S.S. Moyie Paddlewheeler.

Free parking.

Victoria Park Red Leaf Project: July 2 2012

On Monday, July 2nd the Molson Canadian Red Leaf Project will be working with Victoria Park BRZ to do some good for my favorite community. Volunteers will be rejuvenating a vacant lot on 14th ave and 1st Street SE in the Victoria Park area of Calgary for a day and transforming it into an urban open space that everyone can enjoy. Volunteers will be given a ticket to see Sublime with Rome at the Cowboys tent on July 3rd

There are two shifts:

8:30 am - 12:00 pm and 11:30 am - 4:00 pm

What you'll need:

Outdoor wear, sturdy boots, anything you don’t mind getting a little dirty

LETS GET DIRTY and do something good!

Tuesday Night Punk Rock Bingo

It's Tuesday, a middle child of the work week. No one really pays attention to her, it's between the hated older brother Monday and the more sassy younger sister Wednesday, it's at the start of the week so it even comes after Thursday.

Tuesday is a fun day though because not only do you have Taco Tuesday at Tubby Dog BUT it's also PUNK ROCK BINGO NIGHT! Both Broken City and The Ship and Anchor tip their paddles to these weekly events. If you cheat, you get a beat. If you win, you get some kind of wacky prize as your trophy. Have fun, enjoy and be prepared to wake on covered in bingo dobber.

[picture credit]

Calgary Jane’s Walk 2012

Brought to my attention by the always informative and quickly becoming one of my favorite people in the social networking world, Mr YYC wrote a post about Jane's Walk in Calgary for 2012.


Here are a few of my favorite walks as posted by Mr. YYC:

Chinatown Tour

Guided by Jing Grace Wang

Want to know more about Chinese culture but never got a chance to visit China? Chinatown tour will be the best choice for you! Chinatown is a small reflection of China embedded in brilliant culture and exuberant history. We have murals that are painted to fight the graffiti in Chinatown, and in turn shares stories of how the Chinese started its roots in Calgary. The 100-year old Canton building, “dinning block” that serves tons of amazing traditional Chinese food, The Chinese Cultural Centre that holds lots of great Chinese events, Sien Lok Park that is always promoting Chinese language, philosophies and culture, and The Dragon City Mall that runs different business related to Chinese culture, these are all fantastic places you don’t want to miss!

 

 

Unique Food Shoppes of the Beltline

Guided by Paul Chambers

Don’t know where to get that unusual ingredient or favourite treat? The Beltline has a food store for that!

We’ll spend two hours exploring the diverse range of specialty food and grocery stores in the Beltline, all within walking distance of each other. We’ll meet the passionate owners and staff who contribute to the Beltline’s unique gastronomic culture. We’ll learn the history of the stores, where they source their products and even get some tips for cooking your dinner!

We’ll be visiting Community Natural Foods, Epiphany Chocolate, Kalamata Grocery (Greek), Matrioshka Grocery (Russian), Boyd’s Lobster Shop, Rustic Sourdough Bakery, Janice Beaton Fine Cheese & Wine Ink.

[I have writen about Epiphany Chocolate before]

 

 

The Calgary That Could Have Been

Guided by Jason Markusoff

In a city with a mythology of risk-takers, dusty shelves are full of proposals and blueprints that promised a very different-looking Calgary. This walk starts at the Prince’s Island Museum that never existed, retraces the path of the expressway that almost flattened Eau Claire and Chinatown, and ends near the canal that didn’t dissect East Village. We’ll ponder how these alternative realities would have transformed our city.

[This walk reminds me of a post I did in 2009]

For further details check out the inspiration for this post Mr. YYC's post on Jane's Walk

Or Check the Jane's Walk site for info on all the tours.

 

Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo

Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo

Western Canada’s largest multi-media event April 27-29 at the BMO Centre.

This all ages show is jammed packed with tons of entertainment for fans of comic books, anime, gaming, sci-fi and animation. Plus, special guests including Robert Englund, Stan Lee and Adam West!

This is going to be insane. INSANE! 

Show Hours

Friday 3pm to 8pm

Saturday 10am to 7pm

Sunday 10am to 5pm

Admission Prices

Up to 4 kids 12 & under with each paid adult ticket.

At The Door 3-Day Pass $50.00 Friday Only $25.00 Saturday Only $25.00 Sunday Only $25.00

Location

The Calgary Expo is taking place at the BMO Center, which is located in beautiful downtown Calgary, Alberta. The main entrance is located at 20 Roundup Way SE.

Address:
BMO Center
20 Roundup Way SE
Calgary, AB T2G 2W1

 

Dot and Stripe event styling and dessert co.

Life is just easier when you have someone else take care of the details especially when those details are pretty, perfect and oh-so-sweet tasting.

Dot and Stripe, a brand spanking new event styling and dessert bar creations.

From weddings and baby showers to corporate events and birthday parties, the company offers complete styling (think décor, invitations, thank you cards and the works, starting at $1,000) and can set up an impressive dessert bar for any sweet occasion (from $500). The styling team also works within fixed budgets.

Just think, all you have to do now is sit back and enjoy the party.

Visit their site and blog to get a true taste of what their dreams are make of.

Dot and Stripe
http://www.dotandstripe.com/
403-479-0460

"This is My City" Photo Walking Tour

 

 

This is My City: Photo Walking Tour

 

March 24th, April 21st — 11:00am to 1:00pm

Meet in front of City Hall, Macleod Trail SE

Cost: Pay what you can
 

Bring your camera and join artist Cat Schick and a photographer who has experience of homelessness on a walk through downtown areas that are off the beaten path. See the city from a new perspective and receive guidance on how to capture it in pictures.

Part of This is My City Festival on through May 3.

**

This is My City was a project initiated by The City of Calgary, Arts & Culture, which provided Calgary’s homeless community with increased opportunities for creative expression and engaged Calgarians in a dialogue about the issues surrounding homelessness and the place of art and culture in society today. The City of Calgary, Arts & Culture, has worked extensively with This is My City, (TMC) which is now a not-for-profit society that picks up where the original program left off. Many members of the artist-mentor team combined their talents and vision to take TMC to the next step through the creation of This Is My City Art Society, so that it might continue to grow and share this work with all Calgarians.

Bee's Knees

 

 

Kirk Anderson: Hive Mentality

Mar 16, 2012

Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
1418 7 Ave. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta

backyardbees.ca

The president and founder of Backwards Beekeepers shares stories about natural beekeeping and community development in the buzzing metropolis of Los Angeles.

7 p.m.

Tickets $10 each or PWYC, available at backyardbees.ca or at the door.

The Shamrock Hotel

There is a little bar on the wrong side of the tracks. It's known for it's rowdy atmospher, it's gritty patrons and some of the best local music you can find. It's kind of a biker bar, it's kind of a scary bar and it has a loooong histroy in this fine cow town of mine.

In the spirit of St. Patricks Day, here is an article written for FFWD with lots of tasty history for all you Calgary Keeners.

Happy 100th St. Paddy's Day,  Shamrock!