I'm thankful for...

Since today is Thanksgiving, I started thinking about the Alberta tourism attractions, destinations and events I’m thankful for. Here’s my list:

• Art Gallery of Alberta for exposing me to art I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out
• small town museums for keeping history alive through the hard work and dedication of volunteers
• Alberta’s many choirs for revealing the passion and joy of choral music
• our province’s national parks for preserving some of Alberta’s wondrous wilderness
• Calgary Zoo for reminding me that you’re never to old to enjoy the zoo
• Chinook Arch Meadery for giving me another reason to like honey
• music festivals like the Edmonton Folk Fest and Labatt’s Blues Festival for luring me outdoors to enjoy Alberta summers to the sound of great tunes
• hiking trails throughout the province that show the beauty and diversity of our landscapes
• Slave Lake Sand Castle Competition for reminding me that Alberta does have beaches
• biplane rides at the Reynolds Alberta Museum for giving me something to look forward to

What are you thankful for?

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!

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.

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.