Photo Op: The River Boat, Pt. I & II

EDMONTON has had its share of nicknames over the decades, from "Oil Capital of Canada" and "Gateway to the North" to "City of Champions" and the erroneous "Deadmonton." But the one I've come to prefer more than any of those is "Festival City," which seems the most fitting of the bunch.

All year long Edmonton is hosting major, minor, or back alley festivals that nobody has even heard of. There always seems to be something going on in our under-appreciated city (see "Edmonton Festivals" in the sidebar)...you just gotta look for it!


One of those dozens of fests that take over the city every year is the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, which was hosted by the Louise McKinney River Front Park in late August.

"The Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival Association (EDBFA) is a non-profit organization which promotes Dragon Boat racing and its multicultural celebration in the city of Edmonton," reads the group's mission statement on their official website. The 3-day event mimics a 2,000-year-old tradition that originated in China, featuring dragon-adorned boats racing to "encourage plentiful rains and a good harvest." Ours is just for fun though!

These photos were taken on one of the foot bridges that connects the two sides of the North Saskatchewan River. I snapped the pictures shortly before the Dragon Boat Festival, so I could only assume the folks in the boat were one of the teams practicing for the big race.


The 14th annual Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival will return to the North Saskatchewan from August 20-22, and will adopt a "Go Green" theme. You can find out more information on this year's race and next year's event by going directly to the official site, or by checking out their Facebook page.

PHOTOS BY EMIL TIEDEMANN
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Edmonton 2010 Welcomes Big-Name Concerts

U2, Bon Jovi & John Mayer are amongst the major acts coming to town in the new year

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

OVER the last few years Edmonton has become a preferred destination for some of the world's most celebrated music acts to come to perform.

Why?!

Well, Alberta's economy was numero uno in the nation during those years, and amongst the most stable on the continent, which meant that plenty of Edmontonians had plenty of expendable funds. As it turns out, many of the major concerts in E-town would either sell out or come damn near close.

It also didn't hurt that the music industry was on the opposite end of a boom, suffering deeper with every passing year, as record labels watched album sales drop substantially, and illegal downloading take over as the favoured way to gather music. That meant that musicians were forced to hit the road more and more, in order to make up for lost revenue from those dramatically-weakened record sales.

During these past few years Edmonton has hosted the likes of AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Britney Spears, Kenny Chesney, Beyonce, Jay-Z, The Eagles, Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Neil Young, Kanye West and his good friend Taylor Swift. We're just kidding about that last part, so there's no need to go Googling!

And although the city, the province, and the rest of the planet for that matter, has just experienced the recession of our time, big names continued headlining venues throughout Edmonton. And if you keep your ears to the ground you'll notice that the new year is already filling up with major concert announcements.

I wouldn't say we start out with a bang, but one of the world's biggest DJs--David Guetta--will start the new year off with a concert at Edmonton Event Centre on New Year's Day. He's the guy who co-produced the Black Eyed Peas' dance floor anthem "I Gotta Feeling," and who's currently in the Billboard Top 10 with his own hit "Sexy Chick" (featuring Akon).

Not even a week later, Canadian legends Blue Rodeo will hit up the Jubilee Auditorium for the first of two consecutive nights (January 7th and 8th). The 8th, which is a Friday, will also see American grunge band Mudhoney tackle the Starlite Room.

Calgary-born indie pop-rock twins Tegan & Sara will then take their turn at the Jubilee, also playing two straight nights, on January 11th and 12th. Later in the week we'll see U.S. alt-rock band Switchfoot ("Meant to Live") take over the Starlite Room on Whyte Ave. (January 15th).

If Axl Rose actually shows up, he and the rest of Guns N' Roses will play their classics and some of the new songs (from this year's Chinese Democracy) during their highly-anticipated return to Rexall Place on Sunday, January 17th. That show is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 in the evening, but 47-year-old Rose is notorious for his late appearances, so maybe book off the following Monday from work!

Another musician who's had his share of run-in's with the law, Steve Earle, will grace us with his presence on January 26th, for a one-night gig at the Jubilee.

The very next day, a Wednesday, may easily see a sold-out Rexall crowd cheering on metal gods Motley Crue, who have invited Airbourne and The Joe Perry Project as opening guests (January 27th). The Crue have been to our town several times in the last decade, and have always seen big turn-outs.

We close the month with a humble show by Lonestar, one of the biggest bands in country music over the last 10 years. Best-known for their 1999 crossover smash "Amazed," Lonestar will play the River Cree Casino (on the neighbouring Enoch Reservation) on January 30th.

Week one of February 2010 will welcome '80s rock outfit Loverboy to the stage at the River Cree (February 6th), with guest Barney Bentall. On the 15th, Chicago-based, Grammy-winning alt-rockers Wilco will perform at the Jubilee, which will also host one of a pair of concerts by local indie phenom Corb Lund on February 25th and 26th (the latter date will be at the Edmonton Event Centre).

Rexall Place will be the place to be on March 15th for fans of Billy Talent, Alexisonfire and Against Me!, as all three bands will perform there as part of BT's North American tour. Two weeks later, on March 29th, many of those same concertgoers may be inclined to check out Hedley, Boys Like Girls, Fefe Dobson, and Edmonton's own Steroes at the Shaw Conference Centre.

John Mayer, who recently topped the Billboard album charts with his fifth studio effort Battle Studies, will be swooning a potentially sold-out crowd over at Rexall on April 4th. Tickets for the Edmonton stop on Mayer's global tour went on sale earlier today.

Buddy Guy is one of the world's greatest guitarists of all-time, a 5-time Grammy winner, and has influenced the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. This April 16th the blues icon will appear at the Jubilee with "very special" guest Jonny Lang, who happens to be 45 years Guy's junior!

In May of 2010 the Jubilee will also bring us Charley Pride and George Thorogood. The former is the most successful black artist in the history of country music, spawning some three dozen #1 hits and entering the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000. Pride will perform here on May 6th. Bluesy rocker George Thorogood, best-known for standards like "Bad to the Bone" and a cover of Hank Williams' "Move It on Over," will be on the same stage on the 19th.

When it comes to venues in town, the Commonwealth Stadium is the mother of them all, with upwards of 60,000 available seats. It has housed concerts by the biggest bands in the world, including The Police, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and U2. The latter of which will return to the football stadium on June 23rd as the only Albertan stop on their "360 Degree Tour." Expect to shell out a lot of cash for that one.

The following month, on July 15th, Commonwealth will take on another legendary rock band, Bon Jovi, who just released their 11th studio album The Circle. This will be the second confirmed Canadian stop on the third leg of the group's "Circle World Tour," which will also hit Montreal (twice), Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, and Calgary.

So now that you're all up to snuff on the big names coming to Edmonton, I guess that only leaves you with one thing to do: start saving up for all those over-priced tickets, T-shirts, posters, programs, munchies, and bad beer! It's gonna be an expensive first-half of 2010, but it looks like the economy is finally taking a turn for the better.

And, at any time, you can click on the "Upcoming Concerts" icon in the sidebar of I Heart Edmonton to see the latest shows to hit our city. Always stay tuned to I Heart for Edmonton's latest concert announcements...and cancellations (Kanye!!). Cheers!

Tickets for all of these events are available at Ticketmaster.
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A Few Minutes with...Don Iveson

Ward 5 city councillor Don Iveson takes part in our brief Q&A about our favourite city!

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

AT 30, Don Iveson is currently the youngest city councillor in Edmonton's City Hall. But it isn't his age that Iveson will be best remembered for in the coming years. It's "for proving you can change city hall--with lots of persistence, patience and non-partisan bridge-building."

Or at least that's why he recently made the inaugural "Top 40 Under 40" list by Avenue magazine, recognizing Edmontonians dedicated to building a better future for our city.

The Ward 5 councillor--and self-confessed Trekkie--was born right here in Edmonton. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, where his mother Margaret is an education professor. Iveson also served as the editor of the school's newspaper The Gateway, and then as advocacy director of the U of A's Students' Union.

He entered politics in 2007, surprising many when he was voted in as city councillor for Edmonton's Ward 5, tackling the city's environmental portfolio, which indirectly includes LRT expansion.

Iveson took time out of his busy schedule to answer a half-dozen "hard-hitting" questions for I Heart Edmonton, which we sincerely appreciate. For more on Iveson you can check out his city-oriented blog at doniveson.ca (which promises that "no tax dollars were harmed in the making of this website"), or follow him on Twitter. Now, on to question period...

1. What is one thing about Edmonton that you think stands out from other Canadian cities? We are the most underestimated city in the country. We had a firm (Longwoods International) conduct some perception research on the impressions Edmontonians and non-Edmontonian Canadians have on our city--I think there were 90 key indicators. They look for two things: what citizens know about a place (i.e. the "product itself") and what outsiders think they know.

Among Edmontonians, we actually score very well on the key quality of life indicators: recreation, education, work opportunity, parks and green space, cultural activities, diversity, etc. Non-Edmontonians are largely unfamiliar with these advantages and, in fact, the Longwoods folks (who do this all around North America and are very well regarded) saw some of the largest gaps between resident and non-resident impressions of our city.

As a matter of fact, there was only one instance where Edmontonians' perception of our city was poorer than non-Edmontonians', and that was traffic congestion--and having lived in Toronto for two years I can tell you we don't have a traffic congestion problem by Canadian standards.

2. Do you have a favourite place to visit in E-town? Our river valley and ravine system.

3. If there was one thing you could do to improve the "City of Champions," what would it be? Besides retire that tired slogan, we should urbanize much more boldly within our exsisting footprint to maximize return on investment in infrastructure.

4. Whyte Ave. or Jasper Ave.? Whyte. But that's hardly surprising since I'm a fourth generation Southsider.

5. What radio station do you listen to the most? CBC One.

6. If you had to sum up the city of Edmonton in three words or less, what would they be? Great potential. Underestimated.

Thanks Don!
twitter.com/doniveson
www.doniveson.com

PHOTO BY 3TEN PHOTOGRAPHY/ COURTESY OF AVENUE MAGAZINE
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EDvent: Edmonton International Film Festival '09, Part III

EIFF '09 has come and gone, but organizers are already looking towards 2010

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

IT'S been a month and a half since the 2009 Edmonton International Film Festival came to an end, but that doesn't mean that we can't still check in. After all, the EIFF recently issued their latest newsletter, declaring the '09 season a success!

Attendance for the 23rd annual EIFF (Sept. 25-Oct. 3) was up again, and the festival experienced even more interest in their programming streams, which included "Sobey's Lunchbox Shorts" and "In Our Own Backyard."

The EIFF is already accepting submissions for its 2010 edition, but films must have been produced AFTER April 1, 2009. There are four categories to consider when submitting: Narrative Feature (75 minutes or more), Documentary Feature (60 minutes or more), Short Films (30 minutes or less), and Documentary Shorts (30 minutes or less).

In addition to films, the EIFF is also on the look out for board members, for terms of two years each. "We need people who are passionate about independent and international filmmaking, are connected to the local business community...and a bit of knowledge of background in marketing wouldn't hurt either," stated the EIFF.

For anyone interested in either submitting a film or becoming a board member, check out the EIFF's official website.

And then there's the awards! After the thousands of votes were counted, the EIFF announced the winners at the '09 season, including the inaugural People's Choice Award victor. The complete list of winners is below:


2009 Edmonton International Film Festival Winners:

-People's Choice Award for Best Film: My Suicide (dir. David Lee Miller)
-Frame 30 Award for Best Alberta Short: City of Noise (dir./prod. Mitch Barany)
-Kodak Canada Award for Best Canadian Short: Found (dir./prod. Paramita Nath)
-Jury Award for Best Documentary Short: Down Here (dir. Charles Wilkinson)
-Rat Creek Design Award for Best Animated Short: Animated American (dir. James Baker & Joe Haidar)
-Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film: Gone Fishing (dir./wri. Chris Jones)
-Citytv Canadian Feature Award: Passenger Side (dir./wri. Matt Bissonnette)
-Grand Jury Award for Best Independent Dramatic Feature: My Suicide (dir. David Lee Miller/ wri. David Lee Miller & Jordan J. Miller)
-Grand Jury Award for Best Independent Documentary Feature: Winnebago Man (dir. Ben Steinbauer/ wri. Ben Steinbauer & Malcolm Pullinger)
-Rising Star Award for Best Actor: Ryan Ward (Son of the Sunshine)
-Rising Star Award for Best Director: Todd Berger (The Scenesters)

Below is the trailer for David Lee Miller's My Suicide (2009), which won two awards at the Edmonton International Film Festival '09, courtesy of YouTube.

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Save Alberta Hospital Concert

Live music will help raise money & awareness for group destined to save Alberta Hospital

What: Save Alberta Hospital Edmonton Concert
When: Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 7PM
Where: Edmonton Event Centre (8882-170 St.)/ 780-489-7469

ANYONE who's been tuned into the local news over the last few months knows at least something about the recent controversies involving the Alberta Hospital. The 86-year-old, 275-acre, 45-building, 400-bed psychiatric hospital is downsizing.

The province announced the closing of some of the facility's acute care beds back in August, but has since seen a swift backlash of protestors who warn that this decision could have serious consequences.

This Saturday (Nov. 28) has been set aside by those very protestors, who have organized a special evening of music to raise proceeds and awareness for their cause. Presented by Friends of D.A.V.I.D.S., the "Save Alberta Hospital Edmonton" benefit concert will take place at Edmonton Event Centre in West Edmonton Mall, and will feature performances by Killinger, Dani Jean, Hollywood Assassyn, September Stone, and 8-time Juno winner Bill Bourne.

The AUPE (Alberta Union of Provincial Employees) supports the one-night-only event, but is not involved in its organization. Tickets for "Save Alberta Hospital" are now on sale through Ticketmaster, and are $14 each. Doors open at 6PM, and the show starts one hour later. For more information call the Edmonton Event Centre at 780-489-7469, or check out the Facebook page.
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@ the Movies/ Broke

Director Rosie Dransfeld discovers more than she expected to tell in her documentary, based in a local pawn shop

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

IT'S when he's so desperate that he'd break into a parked car to steal its GPS unit and a few CDs. It's when his addiction has taken over his inhibitions, and spare change and empties are all he's got left. It's when her wedding band is no longer irreplaceable and has lost the meaning it once held.

These are the kind of lonesome moments director Rosie Dransfeld captures in her sobering documentary Broke, which was filmed last year right here in Edmonton.

Set entirely in or just outside the cluttered A1 Trading (9434-111 Ave.), Broke examines the mostly loyal patrons of the inner city pawn shop, which happens to be situated across the street from an elementary school (see picture below).

Jewish immigrant David Woolfson is the poor man's banker, of sorts, lending cash to bottle collectors, drug addicts, alcoholics, or folks just down on their luck, for anything that he can resell in his small shop.

That shop is crammed with rusty tools, outdated appliances & electronics, acoustic & electric guitars, DVDs, wedding rings, watches, video games, china sets, and almost anything else you could think of. Some of these items are stolen, others were treasured objects lost to ridiculous interest rates.

"They come because they're desperate," admitted the brutally honest Woolfson, in his overt South African accent. "They need money, for whatever reason. Where else are they gonna get money? It's their friendly pawnbroker they come to."

Woolfson clearly has a sense of humour, because he's anything but "friendly" to the bulk of his clients, many of whom are temporarily stripped of their dignity at the hands of the callous pawnbroker, who admits that he enjoys insulting his loyals. But he ain't all that bad, even drumming up some compassion and sympathy from Broke's audience.

You see, Woolfson is an elderly man with an ailing wife (who has since passed), and he blames only himself for the distance between him and his children. It's this tiny pawn shop in the heart of a broken part of the city that keeps Woolfson from "going crazy" at home. From his point of view, he offers a service to the impoverished, the distressed, the strapped community that seemingly live unnoticed amongst the rest of us. In a way, he's right.

In a way, he's wrong, too.

It's those few bucks that some of these patrons collect in exchange for personal goods (& stolen goods) that pay for their next high, whatever that might mean. And then they're back again, and again, and again. Woolfson knows many of these men and women by name. But when it comes down to it, they're just numbers to him.

But Dransfeld unknowingly stumbled upon a sub-story when she and a camera crew settled in as flies on the wall at A1 Trading. His name is Chris Hoard, and he's an ex-con and a self-confessed "psychopath" who assists Woolfson on his own accord.

Hoard, like Woolfson points out, figures the world owes him, for years of emotional and mental abuse at the hands of misguided guardians, and for racial intolerance. The young Aboriginal man may come off as bitter, but his smile--missing tooth and all--is almost always stitched on his worn face.

"These two men...are unwittingly brought together by this corner shop of sold memories, and it reads like an awkward script for a bad TV sitcom."

These two men come from different corners of the world--quite literally--but are unwittingly brought together by this corner shop of sold memories, and it reads like an awkward script for a bad TV sitcom. But there aren't many happy endings here.

In fact, even Woolfson and Hoard's exceptional friendship runs its coarse, but that occurrence is revealed only after the camera stops rolling. When Broke kicked off the 28th annual Global Visions Film Festival in Edmonton earlier this month (Nov. 5), director Dransfeld confessed to her audience that David & Chris were no longer speaking to each other, before inviting the pair onstage for a post-film Q&A.

That's quite a departure from a short time ago when Hoard claimed that "If I ever heard of anyone ever looking wrong to Dave, I'd put 'em in the hospital. I wouldn't even think twice."

But even Woolfson and Hoard are just part of the "story" that unravels in front of Dransfeld & co. It's also the steady stream of folks who walk through the barred door of A1.

There was one woman in particular that had me choking back tears. She was a cheerful elderly Native lady who came into the shop to pawn off her ring for next to nothing. When Woolfson asked her why she wanted to trade her jewelry, she said, "I got two people staying with me and we ran out of food."

I'm holding back those same tears even as I write this, because I just can't get her out of my head. Whether or not she was telling the complete truth is something we'll never know, but nonetheless it was hard to watch (you can see a clip of the woman in the trailer below, at 0:37).

It's these desperate junctures in the lives of our destitute citizens that haunt me and, I'm sure, some of the others who sat in the chilly Paramount Theatre for the repeat screening of the 77-minute "vèritè masterpiece."

They may be customarily neglected by the rest of society, preconceived as irrelevant, second-class urbanites, but these pawn shop dependents are part of our city, too. They have their ups & downs just like the rest of us, and they have stories to tell, lessons to teach, even wisdom to pass on. Most of them may be Broke, but are far from broken.

4 outta 5 stars

Edmonton's 2010 Grey Cup to Debut New Mascot

When the 98th Grey Cup comes to the 'City of Champions' next year, Earl the mascot will be in tow!

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

EDMONTON has a new mascot, sorta. Earl Grey, as he will be known, was unveiled earlier today (Nov. 20) to a group made up mostly of the media, and will make his official debut at the 2010 Grey Cup in Edmonton.

The $10,000 mascot made quite an impact on those on hand, as well as subsequent readers and bloggers, who had lots to say about the cartoonish character.

The Edmonton Sun conducted an online poll to clarify whether locals were content with Earl, or flat-out hated him. The results were about 50/50.

Modelled after the 100-year-old Grey Cup championship trophy, the green & gold-coloured Earl was made possible after the federal government handed over $150,000 to the Edmonton 2010 Grey Cup Committee.

Earl was designed and created right here in town by the International Mascot Corporation, which has production & marketing facilities in New York, Madrid, Atlanta and E-town. It was named in honour of Lord Earl Grey (1851-1917), the former Governor General of Canada who first donated the Grey Cup to amateur Canadian rugby in 1909.

But Earl will become property of the Canadian Football League once the Grey Cup game ends on November 28, 2010, and may then become the official mascot of the Grey Cup for future championship games.

The '09 Grey Cup will be hosted by Calgary on November 29th.
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Ed Spot #9: Cafè Leva

In the vicinity of the U of A campus is an Italian-style cafè that wears several hats...

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

EVERYTIME I drive by this place it seems to be brimming with specialty coffee drinkers and loyal admirers of simple Italian fare. In fact, when I recently checked out the licensed Cafè Leva for the first time, the only reason my buddy and I were able to get our order "to stay" was because a pair of patrons were just leaving. We pounced on their still-warm seats with our $4 lattès as I stared down the gourmet desserts and pastries behind the '60s-styled glass showcase. Yum!

Hidden in a residential area in the Garneau district, somewhere between the U of A and Whyte Ave., Cafè Leva is a cozy little getaway from busy streetscapes. The quaint departure is "focused on providing traditional Italian-style coffee" to its devoted patrons, and has been since 2001.

We found free parking on one of the narrow lanes that criss-cross Leva on the corner of 111th St. (despite it's technical address of 110th) & 86th Ave., and immediately noticed the vacant patio in front of the sleek grey, red and yellow structure. Chalk that up to the chilly weather though.

"...we stumbled across another of Edmonton's hidden gems, just off an avenue full of gems in plain site."

Fortunately, once we passed by the grey sidewalks, grey patio, grey patio tables, and grey railing, colour welcomed us inside, but not much. Large windows invited the outdoors in, as the white walls, dim lighting and sporatic greenery did little for Leva's charm. Instead, it was its mini marble tables, that retro-styled counter showcase, an extraneous chandelier hovering above, and of course, the featured artwork by local artists that made this place memorable.

Leva also serves as a venue, for poetry readings, live music and wine tastings. They even offer catering service, and can be booked for private functions for up to 60 people. But on this particular afternoon it was a warm place to sit and chat over fancy coffee.

Although I've heard that the food here is worth every penny--their pizza is apparently a must-have--my buddy and I opted to tend to our hot drinks instead, but I couldn't help but admire the enticing displays from afar.

As my buddy and I went over a project he was tackling, I moonlighted my attention on the specialties that filled out the open room. Flat-screen TV's were mounted on the walls behind the baristas, a modern take on the chalkboard menus. There was a self-serve complimentary water cart near the front entrance, next to the free magazine racks. But what hogged most of my focus was the back of the coffee shop.

Espresso and cappucino machines--I assume--were lined along the shelves, and there were local and organic coffee products available to the general public. But again, it was my small lattè that garnered my attention in the end.

Unfortunately, we couldn't come up with any concrete ideas for my buddy's project, but the day was far from shot...because we stumbled across another of Edmonton's hidden gems, just off an avenue full of gems in plain site. But every now and again, it's nice to tread off that beaten path!

The Rundown:
Location: 11053-86 Ave.
Phone: 780-479-LEVA (5382)
Hours: Mon-Fri (7AM-11PM)/ Sat (9AM-11PM)/ Sun (9AM-6PM)
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A Few Minutes with...Rhubarb Jones

JOE FM's Rhubarb Jones takes part in our brief Q&A about our favourite city!

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

I HEART Edmonton is excited to introduce a new segment to our humble site, "A Few Minutes with...", which is a 6-part Q&A with local celebrities, TV/radio personalities, artists, athletes, or regular Edmontonians dedicated to bettering our amazing city.

Our first victim will be Rhubarb Jones, who only recently became Program Director over at one of Edmonton's most popular radio stations, JOE FM (92.5), playing "80s, 90s...Almost Anything!" Jones is also part of the on-air team at JOE FM, DJ'ing weekdays from 2-6PM.

I Heart would like to thank Mr. Jones for being the inaugural participant for "A Few Minutes with...", and for answering all of our hard-hitting questions. Okay, maybe they're not exactly Oprah-worthy, but still...

1. What is one thing about Edmonton that you think stands out from other Canadian cities? There is a real sense of community in Edmonton. I am always blown away by how many people donate their time and resources to charitable and community initiatives in the city. The people really do make a difference!

2. Do you have a favourite place to visit in E-town? I have two small kids, so I love going to some of the community playgrounds that are set up around the city.

3. If there was one thing you could do to improve the "City of Champions," what would it be? Raise the average winter temperature by 10 degrees!!!

4. Whyte Ave. or Jasper Ave.? Whyte Ave.; only because I'm a Southside guy! I am looking forward to Jasper Avenue's makeover!

5. What radio station do you listen to the most? That would be 92.5 JOE FM of course!!!

6. If you had to sum up the city of Edmonton in three words or less, what would they be? Great people!

Thanks Rhubarb!
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Localities (11/17/09)

Kingsway Mall gets reboot/ Old Strathcona needs artists/ Bryan Hall retires from Eskimos

-YOU might wanna sit down for this one (okay, you probably already are!). One of Edmonton's busiest shopping centres, Kingsway Garden Mall, is no longer! Well, the name isn't, that is. The central mall has dropped the "Garden" and will now reside simply as Kingsway Mall. I know...this is a lot to process, but you'll get used to it, I promise.

It's all part of the 33-year-old mall's grand reopening this past weekend (Nov. 13-15), following a 2-year, $70 million makeover, just in time for the holiday season. Located at 109th St. & Kingsway Ave., the 190-shop centre boasts brand new stores, new escalators & bathrooms, enhanced lighting, plush seating, and a stylish, updated food court. It even has a new slogan, "Let Your Light Shine," which goes well with the brighter look of Edmonton's second largest mall (at 960,000 square feet).

Over the last couple of years Edmonton's North Town Centre, Westmount Centre, and most recently, Southgate Centre, have all undergone major renovations of their own.

-JANUARY 31, 2010 has been set as the deadline for submissions for The Old Strathcona Business Association's annual guide cover art. The OSBA has announced an open call for all artists to come up with a cover that captures the beloved district's cultural buzz, via a painting, a photograph, or even a sketch.

It's up to you people, so do whatever it is that you do to get your creative juices flowin', and then submit a digital format of your piece to the OSBA's Marketing & Events Manager Stephen Liley (stephen@osba.ab.ca). If you'd like to check out the current artwork, click on the "Old Strathcona Guide" link on the official site.

-ONE of the most recognizable voices in Edmonton, Bryan Hall (pictured right), is calling it a day. I guess that's not completely true, as the 75-year-old radio announcer will continue hosting his own talk show on 630 CHED. It's his lengthy stint as the voice of the Edmonton Eskimos that has come to an end, after some 55 years with the CFL club.

"Hallsy," as he has become known, started working with the Eskimos back in 1954, but it wasn't until 1965 that he became their legendary voice. He's spent almost every season with the team since, excluding two years with Toronto. Hall's career with the Grey Cup champs concluded with last Sunday's playoff game (Nov. 15), which we lost 24-21 to the Stampeders in Calgary.
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Taboo...The Naughty but Nice Show

"Definitely Edmonton's Sexiest Event of the Year!"

What: Taboo...The Naughty but Nice Show
When: Friday, November 20-Sunday, November 22, 2009
Where: Northlands Agricom, Hall A (1-800-626-1538)

TABOO is an annual, upscale consumer trade show that specializes in "romance," "self-improvement," and...sex!

"The show's primary objective is to bring the industry together with prospective buyers in a comfortable and non-threatening environment," reads Taboo's official website.

For just $15 ($10 online) you're invited to take in celebrity guests & autograph sessions, fashion shows, product demonstrations & seminars, contests, live broadcasts, educational workshops & seminars, a VIP party, and, of course, the main stage presentations.

What does that mean, exactly?!

That means presentations by Capital City Burlesque (pictured above), Madeleine Horn ("Burlesque from the Darkside"), Show Girls Exotic Dancers, First Class Male, pole dancer Arcadia Fitness, "Miss Nude Canada" Kelly Kayne, "Good Boy Gone Bad," Ace Angels International, Diamond's Gentlemen's Club's Roxi Dlight, Lascivious Burlesque, and main stage hostess Sarah Moanies.

For a full schedule click here.

Not surprisingly, you must be at least 18-years-old to attend Taboo, which is a licensed event. Friday's edition runs from 5PM-12AM, Saturday's goes from 12PM-12AM, and Taboo concludes on Sunday, 12-6PM. Keep your parking stubs to redeem it as the doors for $2 off.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AVENUE MAGAZINE
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The Unknown Studio

When the written word just isn't doing it for you, sit back and let Adam & Scott feed your ears with the goings-on of E-town

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

I WAS listening to the "second" episode of The Unknown Studio podcast as I was writing this post (that's called multi-tasking), because I simply couldn't wait until it was over to tell other Edmontonians about it.

This particular episode featured Ward 5 city councillor and self-proclaimed Star Trek nerd Don Iveson, who was recently selected by Avenue magazine as one of their "Top 40 Under 40" Edmontonians working to brighten our city's future. The podcast was produced back in the beginning of July, and centered around discussing "smart growth, transit-oriented development, the Fraser Institute, and hilarious trivia."

But this was not my introduction to Adam Rozenhart & Scott C. Bourgeois' topical podcast. I was a late bloomer who didn't plug in until Episode 11 (November 9, 2009), featuring guest speakers Jeff Samsonow and Sally Paulsen of the local blog site TheEdmontonian.com. I was an instant fan of the hosts' sharp wit and relevant questioning, as well as their selection of guests that have, so far, garnered viewpoints from diverse aspects of our city.

The Unknown Studio, which comes to us "sort of live from an abandoned cabin in the woods...", only popped up in June of '09, but it certainly doesn't show in their on-air discourse, devoid of those awkward moments that poison other podcasts I've heard.

But these guys aren't exactly new to this. Rozenhart runs the website OilersNation.com, while Bourgeois is part of the on-air team over at iNews880 radio.

They intergrate that experience for this small bi-monthly talk show that is yet to find a sponsor (hint, hint). And they don't shy away from admitting their lack of high tech equipment or their undesirable location, but they've managed to book a steady stream of engrossing guests, including Iveson, playwrights Simon Crowley & Mike Young (Captain Hook vs. the Zombies), 630 CHED's Dan Tencer, Pure Speculation Science Fiction Festival director Brent Jans, and even local entomologist (a.k.a. "bug expert") Peter Daly.

Now if they can get "Dancing Dan" they'd be at the top of their game!

So now that you've got the lowdown on Edmonton's latest player in the podcast realm, stop reading this here post and go check it out for yourself. Well, what are you waiting for?! Go!!

You can also follow The Unknown Studio on Facebook and/or Twitter.
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Avenue Magazine Crowns 'Top 40 Under 40'

Local magazine sifts through the best of the best of Edmontonians who are shaping our future

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

I CAN'T imagine exactly how many under-40-year-olds there are in our grand city, and I can't imagine having to dwindle those tens of thousands of fine folks down to a short list, and then selecting the 40 who would make up Avenue magazine's inaugural "Top 40 Under 40" list. Fortunately, that task wasn't up to me.

Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel, Grant MacEwan President & CEO Paul Byrne, Avenue's Director of Marketing Trudy Callaghan, Edmonton Arts Council Executive Director John Mahon, Chair of Junior Chamber International Edmonton Julie Ward, and Lexus of Edmonton GM Bruce Kirkland were given the burden of tackling this list, which meant rejecting countless worthy candidates and narrowing it down to 70, and then again to the final 40.

How did they come up with the elite 40? I'm glad you asked! Avenue magazine went on the prowl to find Edmonton's "brightest and most talented individuals under the age of 40 who are excelling in their careers, giving back to the community and raising the city's profile."

The honour roll includes a cornucorpia of young talent and experience in various professions, from refined CEOs and zealous executives to worldly artists and habitual volunteers, most of whom moonlight to broaden their portfolios. "They are the generation of today making a better future for the people of tomorrow."

So rather than going any further, let's just get to the cream of the crop. In alphabetical order, here are Avenue magazine's "Top 40 Under 40," and why they've made the list:

-Trevor Anderson, 36, "multi-faceted international artist"
Why? "For representing Edmonton around the world with his audacious short films and striking rock band."

-Geoff Ball, 38, "director of the Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health, Stollery Children's Hospital, an assitant professor and a prodigious researcher"
Why? "For leading a savvy team that helps hundreds of overweight children and their families."

-Ken Bautista, 32, "Associate creative director of interactive at RED The Agency, and CEO and creative director of CIE: Seek Your Own Proof"
Why? "For bringing diverse communities together to create a more vibrant, engaging city."

-Tamisan Bencz-Knight, 31, "resource development co-ordinator for Edmonton's Food Bank"
Why? "For helping to feed the hungry and for bringing awareness of the issue to Edmonton's business community."

-Suzanna Brytan, 37, "director of development and project management for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers"
Why? "For setting the pace for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers as they break boundaries to preserve and enliven Ukrainian culture."

-Andrea Cairns, 33, "volunteer director of public relations at Second Chance Animal Rescue Society"
Why? "For dedicating her spare time to rescuing animals and helping SCARS become the biggest rescue organization in the province."

-Mike Christiansen, 38, "owner of Venus Eye Design"
Why? "For building an eyewear franchise that's competing with international designers at optical shops around the world."

-Tanya Driechel, 35, "community programmer and librarian at the Legal Resources Centre of Alberta"
Why? "For making complicated and often intimidating legal information available to those who need it most." (pictured above right)

-Janaya Ellis, 36, "lead singer of Souljah Fyah"
Why? "For bringing the world of reggae to our city and exporting it around the world."

-Cheryl Feldstein, 32, "executive director, Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton"
Why? "For helping citizens understand the impact wildlife has on all aspects of our lives."

-Lori Gawryluik, 36, "owner and operator of Noiselab Industries"
Why? "For using her musical talents to help others develop theirs at a new art venue and studio."

-Bretta Gerecke, 39, "resident designer at the Catalyst Theatre"
Why? "For earning national recognition for her award-winning theatre designs."

-Rick Harcourt, 38, "president of Harcourt Recruiting Specialists"
Why? "For growing the family business at a time when its competition was downsizing or disappearing."

-Don Iveson, 30, "city councillor, Ward 5"
Why? "For proving you can change city hall--with lots of persistence, patience and non-partisan bridge-building." (pictured right)

-Junetta Jamerson, 38, "project co-ordinator of Keshotu Leadership Academy"
Why? "For ensuring an exciting future for young blacks by teaching them strategies for battling racism and stereotypes with art."

-Todd Janes, 39, "executive director of Latitude 53 Contemporary Visual Culture"
Why? "For advocating on behalf of the local arts community and bringing international attention to our city."

-Ryan Jespersen, 32, "host of Breakfast Television"
Why? "For going beyond the sound bites to reflect the hidden stories behind Edmonton's culture and community."

-Stephanie Jonsson, 26, "lead artist, instructor and educator at Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, and gallery educator at the Art Gallery of Alberta"
Why? "For creating award-winning art and teaching her talent to Edmontonians to ensure a legacy of imagination lives on in the community."

-Shafraaz Kaba, 34, "architect"
Why? "For creating a more cohesive art and architecture community in Edmonton and bolstering sustainable design in Alberta."

-Peter Kiss, 37, "owner and president of Morgan Construction and Environmental"
Why? "For contributing to Alberta's economy through his oilfield construction business and by reclaiming beneficial land."

-James Mabey, 27, "real estate broker at Sutton Group-Nor-Vista Realty"
Why? "For leading one of the most sought-after real estate branches in the area and supporting young buyers."

-Mack Male, 25, "founder of Paramagnus Developments and prolific blogger"
Why? "For being a tech guru and passionate blogger who is transforming Edmonton into City 2.0."

-Ian Mann, 39, "professor of physics at the U of A"
Why? "For working to strengthen Canada's position on the global space frontier and connecting us to the cosmos."

-Daniel McBee, 33, "manager of commercial, real estate and construction services at RBC"
Why? "For being a leader in the community and maintaining a long-standing commitment to volunteerism."

-Christy Morin, 39, "director of Arts on the Ave"
Why? "For harnessing the power of art to revitalize Alberta Avenue."

-Ian Mulder, 30, "artist and owner of Mulder Studios"
Why? "For beautifying the city with murals and advocating for public art."

-Simon O'Byrne, 35, "head of urban planning and landscaping architecture groups at Stantec Consulting"
Why? "For creating vibrant communities across Canada and beyond, while setting the standard for community engagement."

-Stephen Petasky, 29, "president and founder of the Luxus Group"
Why? "For leading two very successful entrepreneurial careers and still finding time to give back to the community."

-Derek Prue, 37, "president of Skyrider Holdings Ltd."
Why? "For building a juggernaut property development company from the ground up." (pictured above right)

-Steve Ruggiero, 29, "VP of Kimberley Homes and Communities"
Why? "For ignoring the recession and helping build dreams for homeowners and communities."

-Shannon Scott, 38, "assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the U of A"
Why? "For being a star in the new field of knowledge translation."

-Jared Smith, 34, "principal at Incite Solutions Inc."
Why? "For leading a marketing company out of a basement to the pages of PROFIT and for contributing to the community."

-Jared Tabler, 28, "CEO of TSA Consulting Strategies Inc."
Why? "For bringing fun and understanding to the complex world of employee relations."

-Adam Thompson, 29, "music director and assistant program director at Sonic radio 102.9 FM"
Why? "For being an ambassador to Edmonton's rock music scene and expanding chances for local talent to succeed."

-Moira Vane, 31, "crown prosector"
Why? "For using her skills in criminal law to stand up for people and animals in vulnerable conditions." (pictured right)

-Renèe Vaugeois, 35, "executive director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights"
Why? "For dedicating her life to creating change on a global scale and mobilizing youth to do the same."

-Michael Walters, 38, "community organizer of the Greater Edmonton Alliance"
Why? "For using collective action to create change in our city."

-Cary Williams, 31, "co-chair, City of Edmonton's Next Gen Committee"
Why? "For being a community-minded, globally ambitious Edmonton booster." (pictured at top of post)

-Marlon Wilson, 29, "urban music artist, radio DJ, consultant and mentor"
Why? "For immersing himself in music as an artist and a teacher to make the industry more swimmable for other local musicians."

-Mike Zouhri, 23, "humanitarian and community advocate"
Why? "For diving right in and removing potential obstacles when it comes to organizing major fundraisers for grassroots causes."

For more information (and photos) of all 40 of these young, talented and dedicated Edmontonians, visit Avenue magazine's website, where you can read more about each individual, or click on the links that'll take you to each of their Avenue profiles. You can also pick up the actual magazine itself (for free) at any of the various locations around town, and see who made the cover. Okay, it was Cary Williams! Cary Williams made the cover! There, I blew it for you!

PHOTOS BY 3TEN PHOTOGRAPHY
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EDvent: Jeff Stuart & the Hearts' CD Release Party

Local alt-rockers give Dylan & Young a run for their money?!

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

FOR someone who has seen icons Bob Dylan and Neil Young in concert in the last year or so, I can honestly say that I had a better time listening to the alt-country rock sounds of local band Jeff Stuart & the Hearts, who hit up the Pawn Shop Tuesday night (Nov. 10) for their anticipated CD release party.

Dylan & Young went through the motions of another arena concert, pushing through their catalogue of classics like they had better things to do. I guess I can't blame them for showing a lack of enthusiasm for what must've been their gazillionth show, but what the hell?! I expected more outta these legends of rock, and yet got more than expected from Stuart and his squadron of multi-instrumentalists.

Almost makes me hope Stuart & the Hearts fail to hit it big! But not really.

My sister Carrie and I arrived fashionably early to locked doors at the Pawn Shop on Whyte Ave., but right on time for a chance backdoor meeting with Jeff Stuart himself.

Clad in black from head to toe, Stuart shook our hands and told us he appreciated our support. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy, which had me even more excited to check out the live show, all in support of the band's premiere full-length album Black Dogs Blue Giants, available to the public for the first time tonight.

After a quick drink at the nearby Devlin's Cocktail Lounge--where an acquaintance of my sister's and I happens to be head chef--the two of us were amongst the first patrons when the Pawn Shop opened its doors at 8PM.

When we got to the top of the stairs, and past the plethora of mirrors that align the introductory walls, I realized that I had been here before. It was many years earlier, and the place was called the Rebar, serving as the strip's foremost techno club when I was a young(er) lad. Since then it's changed hands--and names--more than I could keep track of, but now it's the Pawn Shop, one of the best music venues on Whyte.

We found seats in front of the stage, as classics from CCR, The Cult and The Stones buried the background noise. I sipped on my rum 'n' Coke, Carrie on her Bud Light, conversing to pass the time before the first band, Pale Moon Lights, took to the stage.

In typical "rock star" style, Alberta boys Pale Moon Lights arrived some 20 minutes past showtime, but they were easy to forgive after their 30-minute set, which included unpolished performances of originals like "Back to the Fold" and "Announcement." They also tried on what I think was a Feist cover, but I might be way off on that one! "I wrote that," lead singer and guitarist K.K. Glabush joked to the swelling crowd.

There was about 15 minutes in between the Pale Moon Lights dismantling their equipment and the Hearts setting up theirs, enough for a bathroom break and for the whole floor to fill up with out-of-nowhere clubbers. In fact, my sis and I had to abandon our seats in order to even see the band.

It was about 10:30 by the time Stuart & the Hearts met the stage, filling it up with all six members and their communal instruments.

I'm new to the Hearts, and their music is new to us, so I couldn't tell you the setlist, or even what song they kicked off with, but I could, in all honesty, tell you that they all kicked ass, plus...

I think I fell in love!

With whom, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

Her name is Sara Hart (pictured below right), and she's the Heart who plays the fiddle-slash-keyboards-slash-guitar, and supplies vocals, too. And she certainly wasn't lost amongst the parade of musicians onstage, bouncing around like a seasoned entertainer with a genuine look on her face that said she loves what she does.

Don't get me wrong, though, Stuart and the rest of the Hearts were just as flattering, but the only Heart in a skirt (at least I hope so...couldn't really see what the drummer had on!) was the nicest to look at.

Anyways, back to the music.

Stuart seemed right at home behind the mic and his guitar, shifting from song to song with his brigade of unrestricted music makers, branding their own style of country-dipped indie rock.

Gavin Dunn, Dwayne Martineau, Tim Resaul, Christopher Quesnel and Hart backed Stuart on bass, keyboards, fiddle, drums, and what I can only assume was the steel guitar. Not in that order though...in fact, several members rotated shifts on various instruments, harmonizing on songs most folks in the audience had never heard before...

...Songs like "The Boss," "Hold Out," "With a Word," and my personal favourite "The Wire," which sealed the hour-long (give or take) party. Every haunting note of the latter reminded me most of why I love discovering new music, and it's icing on the cake that Stuart & the Hearts call Edmonton home.

No longer in my twenties [moan], and this no longer being that vibrating techno club, I had to call it a night after Stuart's set, opting to pass on closing band Ayla Brook for the comfort of my awaiting bed. But not before I hit the floor-side fold-away table to pick up what we all came here to hear, Black Dogs Blue Giants ($15), an 8-piece collection that's already warmed up to the CD player in my Neon [moan].

Do yourself a favour and pick up your own copy here.

But the night wasn't even all about the songs themselves, the charming lyrics and eloquent musicianship. It was, in part, the heart of the band (pun fully intended), a community of skilled instrumentalists and simple vocalists who came together--and not just for the Pawn Shop crowd--to pursue a formula of spirited melodies for a satisfied audience of Edmontonians.

And therein lies the difference between those Dylan & Young "engagements" and Stuart & his band's intimate presentation...the heart!

For a sneak preview of the album you can listen to a couple of the tracks at the band's MySpace page.
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Edmonton Remembers Our War Heroes

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It is November 11th today, which means Canadians are celebrating the 90th annual Remembrance Day, commemorating the sacrifices made by the armed forces and civilians in times of war, dating all the way back to the First World War (1914-1918).

The special day of remembrance (known as Veterans Day in the U.S.) was first dedicated to November 7th by King George V in 1919, stemming from a pair of ceremonial periods of remembrance that were established by Edward George Honey in 1917.

Although the official national ceremonies are held each November at the National War Museum in Ottawa, Edmonton hosts various ceremonies throughout the city. The largest of which is held annually at the Universiade Pavilion, better known as the "Butterdome" (pictured below).



PHOTO BY EMIL TIEDEMANN
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Edmonton Arts Advocate Tim Ryan Has Died

At the age of 62, one of the city's most significant theatre arts promoters and aficionados passed away last week

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

AN influential and vital member of the Edmonton theatre arts community, Tim Ryan passed away last Thursday (November 5) due to congestive heart failure complicated by the H1N1 virus. He was 62.

The visionary mentor, teacher, artist, husband and father has left a mark in our city's lively theatre scene, including as founder of the 30-year-old arts department at the Grant MacEwan University.

In 1979 Ryan, a graduate of the University of Dayton, moved his family to Edmonton from Cleveland, where he served the town's theatrical and operatic districts, and co-ran the Willoughby School of Fine Arts with then-wife Maralyn.

It was immediately upon his move to Alberta's capital that Ryan began developing a theatre arts program at what was then the Grant MacEwan Community College, specializing in the musical format.

Ryan's influence was noticeable right from the get-go, inspiring young actors and playwrights to blossom under his guidance.

In his first summer at MacEwan Ryan fostered a pair of well-received musical productions, in Pal Joey and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This was his passion and it was very evident with everyone who worked with Ryan.

"I think Edmonton is left much the richer from Tim's legacy. He really brought to us a kind of theatre Edmonton was really kind of unaware of"
-playwright Ken Brown

"There was no bigger fan," said Alberta Opera Theatre director Farren Timoteo, in an interview with the Edmonton Journal. "No show was ever just a job with him. He was in love with it, and that showed in his direction. What I learned was that the best things would happen when you played. He'd be so full of giddy excitement."

That was the common experience for anyone who had the luxury of working with the theatre enthusiast. In fact, live theatre was such an indicative part of Ryan's everyday life that it became the family business of sorts.

Daughters Kate and Bridget Ryan are both directors, playwrights and actors in the format, the latter of whom currently a co-host on CityTV's Breakfast Television morning program. And his widow, Laurie Fumagalli, is a lawyer by day and a pianist/musical director by night.

He worked closely with many inspired folks in Edmonton, including his own family, co-authoring the musical version of The Winter's Tale with Bridget. Another of his collaborators and students was Chris Wynters, who would go on to form local rock-folk band Captain Tractor. Wynters co-penned the musical Red Lips with Tim.

"The first thing is the energy of the man, to inspire," Wynters told the Journal. "I'm just one of many people who feel like that. Not a day goes by, in any of the things I do, that I haven't heard his voice in my head. I'm so lucky I got to work with him."

It was just earlier this year that Ryan accepted the ATCO Gas Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement for his three decades of shaping Edmonton's musical theatre society, one that has spawned local artists that have gone onto world-class productions around the globe. See the video below for more on his win.

According to his daughter Kate, Ryan's health had begun to deteriorate this past spring. At the end of October he was brought into the heart institute of the University of Alberta Hospital, where Ryan spent six days before he passed.

Tim Ryan's memorial service will be held this Friday, November 13th (4-7PM) at the John L. Haar Theatre, in the Jasper Place campus of Grant MacEwan (10045-156 St.)

PHOTOS BY RICK MACWILLIAM, EMIL TIEDEMANN
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