Enjoy a Candlelit Walk at Luminaria

During Luminaria thousands of candles line the paths of the Kurimoto Japanese Garden, part of the Devonian Botanic Garden southwest of Edmonton. This weekend my boyfriend and I braved the chilly weather for a candle light walk through the snowy gardens.

The candles illuminated the graceful, artistic curves of the paths and the candle light reflected off the snow making it seem to glow. Fire pits along the way helped us to stay warm as we strolled on the many paths.

Although there were many people enjoying the event, the garden still seemed peaceful and serene, due in part I think to the darkness, soft candlelight and blanket of snow.

It was a walk to remember.

Christmas Festivals to Spark Your Christmas Spirit

Tis the season to enjoy all the fun things that are part of an Alberta Christmas like twinkly Christmas lights, sleigh rides and visits with Santa.

Over the next couple of weekends, a number of communities near Edmonton are hosting Christmas festivals that are sure to get you and your little ones in the Christmas mood.

Morinville Lite Up the Nite Christmas Festival (Nov 26-28, 2010)
Breakfast with Santa, family crafts and activities, parade, craft fair, skate with Santa, Lite up the Nite in St. Jean Baptiste Park and fireworks.

Josephburg Christmas in the Heartland (Nov 27, 2010)
Christmas market, sleigh rides, hundreds of nativity scenes on display, skating, visit with Santa, ice carving and lighting up a 60 ft. Christmas tree.

Devon Christmas in the Park (Nov 27, 2010)
Candle luminary, Christmas lights parade, hay rides, Santa and his reindeer, maple syrup taffy and more.

Redwater Kris Kringle Festival (Dec 4, 2010)
Skate with Santa, sleigh rides, hot chocolate, carolers and a live nativity scene.

Bon Accord Winter Wonderland (Dec 4, 2010)
Pancake breakfast, visit with Santa, crafts, Christmas skate, live entertainment and fireworks show.

Supper at the Footloose Caboose

If you’re seeking a unique and unusual dining experience, you have to visit the Footloose Caboose. It’s your chance to dine in a rail car without having to take a train trip.

Meals are actually served in the Mount Lefroy dining car built in 1909 by Canadian Pacific Railways. The cabooses on the property are used as rooms by overnight guests.

The dining car is spacious and simply furnished and the owners are down to earth people who want to make sure your visit is enjoyable. They offer ample portions of a range of main dish selections including beef, pork, chicken and fish. A variety of appetizers and deserts rounds out the menu.

In addition to the cabooses and historic dining car, a Grand Trunk Pacific Type E train station once located in Duffield stands on the property. The station has been restored and serves as the owners’ home.

A trip to the Footloose Caboose is an interesting break from the ho-hum. It’s been more than a year since I heard about the restaurant and I’m so glad I finally had the chance to visit. The Footloose Caboose is approximately half an hour from the eastern city limits of Edmonton just off Highway 14 near Tofield.

Off-field action at Edmonton Eskimos Games

At this weekend’s Edmonton Eskimos game, I was joined by someone who’d never been to a live football game before. As I was describing what kind of atmosphere to expect at the stadium, I was struck by the number of activities that occur at an Eskimos game. Even if the football game isn’t your thing, there is sure to be something for you to watch.

The crazy antics of the Eskimos’ mascots Punter and Nanook are always entertaining, especially when they are body slamming stuffed animals that represent the other teams’ mascots into the turf. There’s nothing like seeing a stuffed gopher or horse get jumped on. Take that!

Speaking of jumps, you’ll be surprised at the gymnastic and acrobatic skill of the Eskimos Cheer Team, considered to be one of the best squads in North America. It’s not unusual to see one of the guys balance one of the girls on one hand or a couple of guys throw a girl so high in the air she can do multiple flips and twists on the way down. I can’t help but watch in amazement.

The mascots and the Cheer Team encourage the crowd to get involved in special cheers and everyone sings the Eskimos fight song between the third and fourth quarters. There’s also wacky competitions hosted by sponsors, the cheesy sounds of the Pep Band and the mini footballs that get launched into the crowd when the Eskimos score.

Add all of these off-field activities to the action of the football game and you have a winning combination.

Chase the Chills Away with Autumn’s Hottest Drink

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a cool fall day than by sipping the liquid heaven that is the drinking chocolate from Kerstin’s Chocolates in downtown Edmonton.

Kerstin’s sells two flavours of drinking chocolate – a dark chocolate with a hint of vanilla and a chocolate spiced with chili, cinnamon and other spices. Two very different, but delicious, tastes.

We also walked away with the seasonally-appropriate Chocophilia Pumpkin Pie chocolate bar. Imagine a blend of milk chocolate and pumpkin pie (in my opinion a better combination than chocolate and peanut butter).

So next time a chill is in the air, warm up with a concoction that takes hot chocolate to a completely different level.

For a similarly sublime hot chocolate experience in Calgary, check out Choklat in the Inglewood District.

High Flying Fun at Edmonton's Kite Festival

Sailing ships, bi-planes, geometric shapes, owls, geckos, and Tigger … not to mention a 30 foot dragon…vied for airspace over Edmonton on the weekend. The annual Kites over Callingwood Festival filled the sky with kites of all shapes and sizes.



Kids were encouraged to construct and decorate their own kites at the family-friendly event and add them to the colourful chaos in the sky. The festival also featured sport kites – kites that can be masterfully maneuvered to perform graceful ballet or acrobatic dogfights. See the video below.

Act Up at the Edmonton Fringe Festival

Local actor and long time Fringer Joe Garreck gives us an insider’s perspective on why the Fringe is the best place to experience theatre without a three-piece suit.

“There’s no business like show business.” You can almost hear Rosemary Clooney singing those now famous lyrics as you step on to the grounds of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival. In 1982 when the Fringe first started, who would have guessed that today it would be North America’s largest theatre festival even dwarfing places like New York City?

This year approximately 100,000 people will attend the Fringe. So what brings them to this theatrical Mecca again and again? Could it be the little doughnuts whose scent permeates the air? Or could it be the opportunity to people watch from the beer tent or from any of the outdoor venues? Well for me it’s a chance to watch theatre as it should be done: un-pompous and intimate.

Theatre over time has in the eyes of many developed into a pastime for the upper class, the elite. We dress to go to the theatre and sit in box seats. Part of the experience is paying $120 to see a show that we have heard once played on Broadway. The Fringe strips that overly-cultured pretense away and brings it back to a time when theatre was accessible to the masses and was there to entertain us all. The Edmonton Fringe theatre festival does not censor any of the productions so you never know what you are going to have the opportunity to experience. It could be a classic rock opera or a play about love or a musical about zombies. There is something for everyone.

So how does one break with tradition and enjoy theatre without a three-piece suit?

1. First, dress comfortably. Shorts are OK. No ties or gowns are needed here.
2. Second, do your research. Buy the official program or navigate to the best shows by tweeting, referring to the new Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival iApp or by my favorite technique - getting referrals in the beer tent.
3. Third, buy a ticket and stand in line. Do not waste this time by keeping to yourself. As you stand there strike up a conversation with others in the line. Find out what they have seen and how they liked it, and of course if you have some of those little doughnuts make some friends.
4. Lastly, once you get inside surrender yourself to the world of the play. These actors will now do their best to entertain you. Enjoy the experience because as the song says “there are no people like show people”.

Many thanks to Joe for being a guest blogger!

Jumpin' Jurassic

OK. The dinosaurs at the Jurassic Forest don’t jump, but they sure move and growl. My friend Terry recently visited the 40 acre site located 15 minutes north of Edmonton and here’s what he had to say.

Family Focus
The park is “very family focused with a huge sand pit play area for kids. The play area comes complete with fiberglass eggs and pieces of interlocking bones the size of small children that are light enough for kids to move them around.” Terry also believes that families will enjoy the wooded picnic area.

The Setting
According to Terry, “Two wood-plank routes wind through an untouched old growth forest. Each loop is one kilometre. Throughout the loops are interpretive stations of each of the dinosaurs, as well as informative plaques regarding local flora and fauna.” Everyone can have a close encounter with the dinosaurs because the walkways are wheelchair, motorized scooter and stroller accessible.


The Dinosaurs
Jurassic Forest is home to 40 animatronic dinosaurs. Terry says, “The dinosaurs are motion activated and the movements are very smooth and lifelike – the sound effects are wonderful, especially when the sounds are coming from somewhere out of sight deep in the forest.”

The Last Word
Jurassic Forest is “well worth a return visit” says Terry.

Cool Storage

Storage rooms don’t normally top the list of cool things. But that would change if everyone’s storage rooms were as fascinating as the ones at the Royal Alberta Museum.

Behind the door that says “Staff Only” is a treasure trove of storage rooms that house many of the museum’s artifacts. During Edmonton Historic Week the museum offers behind the scenes tours that allow the public a glimpse at items that aren’t displayed. We toured two of the rooms that store items from the Western Canadian History collection.

In the home entertainment room we saw the progression of musical entertainment from something called an Orchestral Regina (a cross between a jukebox and a music box that played large metal discs), to a 1928 jukebox with only eight songs to choose from, to vintage radios dating from the 1920s to 1950s. Other highlights were the 1948 Philco black and white TV with a nine inch screen and a radio handmade from scrounged parts by a POW in a World War II internment camp near Lethbridge.

The artifacts in the medical room span diverse disciplines such as pharmacy, surgery, dental, and veterinary medicine. We saw x-ray machines and foot-powered drills that looked like something out of an old Hollywood horror movie. The really scary thing was that this equipment was in use from 1900 to the 1950s! No wonder people were so scared to go to the doctor or dentist. The coolest item was one of the first heart-lung machines used for open heart surgery in the late 1960s.

The curator leading our tour promised that next year the tour will offer a sneak peak of the domestic collection which includes household items like children’s toys, prams, sleds and furniture. Sign me up. That’s a storage room I’d like to spend some time in.

If Neighborhoods Could Talk

How often have you driven through a neighborhood and wondered what the stories were behind the area’s houses, shops, churches and parks? Edmonton Transit’s Historical Transit Tours give you the chance to learn about many of Edmonton’s historical neighborhoods while riding on a vintage bus dating back to the 1960s.

This summer you have the choice of four different routes. The Rossdale route reveals the neighborhood’s significant historical developments including the site of Edmonton’s first mosque. The Strathcona route highlights the university and many businesses in Old Strathcona, while the Glenora and Highlands routes focus on the beautiful heritage homes.

Knowledgeable tour guide Doug Cowan describes how the neighborhoods have changed over the years, points out the former sites of historic buildings now demolished, explains architectural details and shares stories about some of the original owners.

Four to five tours are scheduled each week from July 11 to August 6 with a variety of afternoon and evening departures. Tickets are only $5 and can be purchased from Tix on the Square. Tours leave from the north side of City Hall – just look for the silver bus with the big windows (the bus’s distinctive appearance gives it the nicknames fishbowl and silverside).

Participate in one tour … or all four and satisfy your curiousity about Edmonton’s historic neighborhoods.

Sights and Sounds of Scotland: Alberta's Highland Games

I’ve heard it said that there are two types of people in the world – those who are Scottish and those who wish they were. Alberta’s many Highland Games offer a chance for Scottish expats and those who wish they had Scottish blood to experience the sights and sounds of Scotland right here in Alberta. A visit to the Red Deer Highland Games this past weekend allowed me to be Scottish for a day.

Pipe and Drum Competitions
The sound of bag pipes stirs the Scottish part of my soul. So imagine my delight at being able to listen to pipe music for an entire day! Most Highland Games host pipe band and individual pipe and drum competitions. Even without understanding the intricacies of the judging, it’s a pleasure to listen to the musicians. One of my favourite things to do is to wander around the grounds and eavesdrop on the musicians warming up for the competition.

Highland Dance
A popular event for many spectators is the Highland Dance competitions where dancers perform the fling, sword dance, reel and other dances. You have to admire the skill and discipline it takes to make such hard work look effortless.

Heavy Events
The heavy events are real crowd pleasers. Events like the caber toss, hammer throw, putting the stone and throwing the weight showcase the competitors’ strength and accuracy.

Spectators watch in amazement as each competitor lifts a caber weighing over 100 pounds and throws it so that it flips end over end. The sheer power required to lift the caber is impressive, but the rules of the caber toss make the feat of strength even more impressive—the athletes are judged according to the accuracy of their throw (the ideal throw is one where the caber lands in a 12 o’clock position to the thrower).

I’m fascinated by the event called throwing the weight for height. Its mild-mannered name belies the danger. Athletes must throw 28, 42 or 56 pound weights (depending on the category) over a bar with one hand. The catch is that the bar is directly above their head and is usually over 10 feet high! Watch the video below.


One-of-a-Kind Events
In addition to traditional events such as dancing and piping, some Highland Games offer events you might not expect.

The Grand Prairie Highland Games opens with a ceremonial Haggis Hurl. Female competitors stand on an upturned metal barrel and throw a haggis to their male partners. An annual tradition at the Calgary Highland Games is a soccer match between “Scotland” and “England. The Red Deer Highland Games is the only Alberta event to have a shortbread competition. After judging, the shortbread is sold to eagerly waiting fans (including me).

Massed Bands
There is no debate about what most people say is the highlight of the Highland Games—the massed bands performance. The sight of all the pipe bands marching down the field in unison combined with the extraordinary sound of that many pipes and drums takes your breath away.

Whether you’re Scottish or just wish you were, enjoy the sights and sounds of Scotland at these Alberta Highland Games:

• Fort McMurray Celtic Day in the Park
• Grand Prairie Highland Games
• Red Deer Highland Games
• Fort Edmonton Park Highland Gathering
• Foothills Highland Games
• Calgary Highland Games
• Canmore Highland Games

These Routes Were Made for Walkin'

The rain has finally stopped and that’s put me in the mood for walking. If you’re like me, you get bored of following the same old route. Here are some suggestions to spice your walks.

Discover History
Learn about the history of four of Edmonton’s oldest neighborhoods - Strathcona, Downtown, Highlands and Oliver. Historical walking tour brochures provide background on residential and commercial buildings, highlight interesting architectural details and share stories about the people who lived and worked in the area.

Appreciate Art
If you’ve ever wondered about the background of the outdoor art you see around the city, The Places walking tour provides some answers. The walking tour highlights 30 works of public art located primarily in the downtown and university areas.

Explore New Neighborhoods
Six Edmonton neighborhoods have developed walking maps that layout a variety of paths through their communities. The routes lead by parks, restaurants, shops, recreation facilities, schools, community gardens and tourist attractions.

There’s nothing like enjoying Edmonton’s scenery, history and art while getting some exercise at the same time. Enjoy your walks.

Off to the Races: Horse Racing in Edmonton

What can you expect when you attend an afternoon of thoroughbred racing at Northlands Park? A little bit of excitement and a lot of atmosphere.

The Races
An afternoon of racing at Northlands Park usually consists of 10 races. You can watch the races from the outdoor grandstand, indoor seating or down by the rails at track level. “Down by the rail you can really appreciate the power and speed of the horses,” says my friend Terry, who enjoys attending the races at Northlands. “You can feel the vibration of the hooves pounding as the horses go past and it adds to the excitement.”

Betting
Betting on the races is an integral part of the action. For people serious about betting, racing forms give background on each horse such as performance record and jockey. Tip sheets prepared by professional handicappers are also available and list their top picks. Alberta’s racing website provides tips on types of bets and how to handicap (pick your horse).

Off Track Action
In between races there’s a lot going on. Spectators can visit the paddock to scope out the horses for the next race, get something to eat from the many restaurants, or watch races broadcast from other racing venues.

Atmosphere
Terry and his wife Megan love the atmosphere. “On a nice day there’s nothing like sitting in the stands, having a beer and hotdog, and enjoying a little excitement,” says Terry.

Whether you like the action or the atmosphere, I bet you’ll have fun checking out the horse races at Edmonton’s Northlands Park.

This weekend was the start of the thoroughbred racing season at Northlands Park in Edmonton. The Rocky Mountain Turf Club in Lethbridge, Evergreen Park in Grand Prairie and Alberta Downs in Lacombe also host thoroughbred events.

Oil City Derby Girls Rock...and Roll

Chicks wearing fishnet stockings, roller skates and elbow pads can mean only one thing… roller derby.

Edmonton’s Oil City Derby Girls deliver mix-em-up action with bad-ass attitude. From the minute you hear the pounding music as you walk through the front door you know you’re in for a raucous good time. And when you see the skaters bumping and grinding their way around the track, you can’t help but get drawn in to the action.

Even if you don’t fully understand roller derby rules you’ll still have a good time watching the teams battle it out. And you have to like a sport where competitors are required to show off their “don’t mess with me attitude” through names like Dizz Aster, Bamm Bamm, and Lethal Lyn Jection.

The following video was taken from the “suicide seating” section of the venue. Enjoy!

Upcoming Oil City Derby Girls home games are June 12, August 14, September 18, October 16, and November 20.

Other Alberta teams that belong to the Canadian Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association:

• Edmonton's E-Ville Roller Derby
• Calgary Roller Derby Association
• Red Deer Belladonnas
• Medicine Hat's Gas City Rollers
• Wetaskiwin Rez City Rollerz are just getting established.

Behind the Scenes of Lethbridge's History

History is more than buildings and antiques. It’s also about the people who came before us and the experiences they had. From May 1 to 9, we have the opportunity to learn about our collective past by attending Historic Lethbridge Week.

Hear from a Japanese Canadian who was placed in an internment camp during World War II and learn about Canadian war brides. A screening of a 1945 Oscar-winning movie and a 1940s dance hall party will help you re-live the fun side of the war years.

Demonstrations of Sumi-e (traditional Japanese painting style), Bonseki (art of creating landscapes on black lacquer trays using white sand, pebbles, and small rocks) and Ikebana (flower arrangement) get you in touch with your artistic side.

Other events such as cemetery tours and a peek at the Galt Museum’s collections vault allow a glimpse of often unseen parts of history.

Experience the stories behind the places and things that represent Alberta’s history during Historic Lethbridge Week.

Other locations in the province also offer similar historic festivals:

• Edmonton and Northern Alberta Historic Festival, July 9 - 18, 2010
• Doors Open Edmonton, July 9 - 11, 2010
• Historic Calgary Week, July 23-August 2, 2010

Art vs Architecture at the Art Gallery of Alberta

I admit it. I went to the Art Gallery of Alberta to see the architecture not the art. That might seem like sacrilege to art lovers, but I was very excited to see the building that has transformed downtown Edmonton into a more hip and avant-garde destination.

The building, created by Randall Stout Architects, Inc., incorporates stainless steel, zinc, wood, cement and glass into a very fluid, modern and stylish design. The interior of the art gallery features a 190-metre undulating strip of steel that winds through the building’s three floors of exhibition space. The free flowing nature of the feature pays homage to the North Saskatchewan River and Aurora Borealis. The building itself is a modern art sculpture of metal and glass that blurs the line between art and architecture. Although the initial attraction was the architecture, the art also got my attention. I spent a while admiring the intricacy of Goya’s prints and I was pleasantly surprised by the Degas exhibit. I’m not a fan of Degas’ paintings and drawings but I fell in love with his sculptures.

The Karsh exhibit documented the illustrious career of one of Canada’s most famous portrait photographers. Karsh captured the essence of many of the world’s most influential scientists, artists and political leaders. I learned the famous photos of Churchill and Einstein that I’ve seen many times over the years are Karsh’s work. My love of photography made this exhibit the highlight of my visit.

I even ventured out of my comfort zone and experienced the gallery’s sound exhibits. The Murder of Crows and the Storm Room showcase the art in sound.

The Art Gallery of Alberta does what a good art gallery should – encourages visitors to find a new appreciation for art, learn something new and broaden their horizons. So, although I initially went for the architecture, in the end I stayed for the art.

See more photos of the Art Gallery of Alberta in the sidebar on the right side of the page.

The Hunt is on for Easter Activities

With Easter on the horizon, I’ve been thinking about activities that families can do to have some fun for Easter. Many major attractions in Alberta have kid-friendly events planned during the Easter weekend.

Calgary

• Munch on Easter Brunch at Heritage Park and participate in a scavenger hunt and traditional Easter egg decorating. Sunday, April 4
• Kids can meet Peter Rabbit, enter the colouring contest and enjoy face painting, crafts and games at Fort Calgary’s Spring Fever. Sunday, April 4
• At the Calgary’s Zoo’s Easter Eggstravaganza, families can enjoy treats of many kinds - entertainment, the Cadbury scavenger hunt and personalized cookie treats. Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3

Edmonton

• An afternoon of old-fashioned fun awaits at Rutherford House. Taste cookies baked in the wood-burning stove and find historically-coloured Easter eggs. Sunday, April 4
• At Fort Edmonton Park’s Sweet Treat Hide and Seek, kids can exchange eggs found on the Easter egg hunt for treats. There will also be storytelling, a petting zoo, and a rabbit jumping demonstration. Saturday, April 3

Grand Prairie

• Grand Prairie’s Muskoseepi Park is the site of an Easter Eggstravaganza with a bunny display, cookie decorating, games, Easter egg hunt and a visit by the Easter Bunny. Saturday, April 3
  

Lethbridge

• Dye eggs and snap photos with the Easter Bunny at the Galt Museum’s Annual Eggstravaganza. Saturday, April 3

These activities are sure to keep you hopping.

A Joyful Noise: The Kokopelli Choir Association

I never fail to be moved at a Kokopelli Choir Association concert.

Whether the choristers are singing traditional African songs, gospel, or contemporary compositions, the four Kokopelli choirs deliver a passionate performance. In addition to the namesake Kokopelli choir, Oran, Shumayela, and Kikimasu round out the Edmonton-based youth and young adult choral ensemble.

The choirs hold you spellbound as they integrate movement and occasional use of instruments with their powerful vocal arrangements. At times, the choristers leave the stage and surround the audience in a cocoon of harmony. It is an experience like no other.

Attend Kokopelli’s next concert and experience singing for the pure joy of it.