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LISTINGS

ARTS / 19 MUSIC / 39 EVENTS / 41 CLASSIFIED / 43 ADULT / 44

FRONT

9

Assaults on Muslims increase in the wake of Paris attacks // 10

DISH

11

How Alberta's new provincial budget affects beer drinkers // 11

ARTS

14

Cultural identity and rural living collide in Workshop West's season opener, Café Daughter // 14

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POLITICALINTERFERENCE

FRONT

NEWS EDITOR: mel priestley MEL@vueweekly.com

Ricardo Acuña // ricardo@vueweekly.com

Failed compromise or bold policy?

Alberta's new approach to climate change is a rare piece of public policy

T

he art of public policy is fundamentally about balancing a broad set of needs and wants into legislation that accomplishes its goals efficiently, effectively and in the public interest.

Because of that balancing act, no new piece of public policy is ever able to please everyone. For the most part, therefore, good public policy should not be determined by whether people like it or not, but rather by whether it will have its desired impact, is based on sound evidence, and provides some net benefit to the public good.

The opposite effect also tends to be true. Policies designed to please everyone often accomplish very little in tangible terms because their potential impact gets watered down so much, as part of efforts to not upset any of the stakeholders.

The Alberta government's new climate policy is an interesting case study. Its announcement was met with praise and support from a number of camps, including some that

DYERSTRAIGHT

have historically been at far opposite ends of what they wanted to see from Alberta climate policy.

Praise for the policy came in from groups such as Greenpeace, the Broadbent Institute and the Pembina Institute on one side, and from the likes of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Cenovus Energy, Shell and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers on the other. This highlights the degree to which Premier Rachel Notley and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips succeeded in balancing the interests and needs of a broad range of stakeholders in drafting the policy.

Perhaps the best example of how well this balance was achieved was that the Wildrose Party's Derek Fildebrandt could come up with no better reason on Twitter to oppose the plan, other than the fact that Mike Hudema and Greenpeace liked it. Both Fildebrandt and opposition leader Brian Jean, as well as team ex-

treme spokesperson Ezra Levant, are saying that the industry players only endorsed it out of fear of the government or some sort of Stockholm syndrome equivalent.

Polling has consistently shown strong support in Alberta for some sort of broad-based carbon pricing, for phasing out coal and for some sort of limit on the growth of bitumen production. The odds are good that the reaction from the people of the province will be similar to that of the environmental organizations and the oil industry.

Does the fact that so many people and groups reacted so positively to the new climate policy mean that it will have no impact? The report of the climate panel, released concurrently with the government's policy announcement and on which the policy is based, would seem to indicate otherwise. The report's recommendations are based on solid scientific and

economic evidence, and are clearly designed to meet the government's goal of stabilizing emissions by 2030 and spurring the transition to a greener, more sustainable economy for the province.

Will the accelerated coal phase-out, the $30 per tonne carbon tax and a limit on total emissions from bitumen production make enough of a difference in the short to medium term that Alberta will be able to say it is doing its part to ensure global temperatures rise less than two degrees Celsius?

Probably not. But, if fully implemented and enforced, it should definitely be enough to stop the current outof-control growth in the province's greenhouse-gas emissions and hopefully get us moving in the proper direction over time.

It is a rare piece of public policy that can gather this kind of broad public support while being based on sound evidence and best practices, and genuinely move the public inter-

GWYNNE DYER // gwynne@vueweekly.com

A relatively minor issue Now is not the time to panic about terrorism By sheer coincidence, a book I wrote called Don’t Panic: Islamic State, Terrorism and Today’s Middle East was published just before the terrorist attacks in Paris. So naturally everybody interviewing me about the book asked me if it is time to panic now. They couldn’t resist it. And of course I replied no, it is not time to panic.

If a train derailed in the Paris Metro, killing 130 people and injuring over 300, the story would dominate the news in France for around 24 hours, 48 hours tops. In other countries it would definitely be only a one-day story: just one more transport accident, in a world where trains collide, planes crash and ships sink from time to time.

But if it’s not an accident—if human beings deliberately caused those deaths—then the media feeding frenzy starts. The story is 20 times as big, and it can dominate the news schedules for a week. Most people in Europe, North America and the Middle East have watched at least several hours of coverage of the Paris events and their aftermath—as long as a feature film—and even in more distant parts of the world it has been the event of the week.

There is nothing puzzling about this phenomenon. It’s perfectly natural for people to be more interested in murder than in mere mechanical malfunctions. But the sheer volume of the coverage makes a terrorist attack feel like a much bigger event than it actually is—even if you live a very long way from where the real action is.

If you live in Syria, the threat isn’t just terrorism. Islamic State is already a major threat to the many Syrians it hates (Shias, Christians, Druze, and even Sunni Muslims who have worked for the government or fought in the army). If IS gained control of the whole country, the number of Syrian refugees would double or triple.

If you live in France or the United States or China, your only worry is the occasional terrorist attack that may have been encouraged by Islamic State—but the people who carry it out are mostly locals. You deal with that sort of thing just the way you dealt with other terrorist threats in the past: border controls, enhanced security measures at public events, and good intelligence.

If Western air forces want to bomb Islamic State too, by all means do so, but they will be all alone in that job.

The Arab states that are allegedly part of President Obama’s “coalition” have all withdrawn their air forces and are bombing Yemen instead. And the Turks are almost exclusively bombing the Kurds (including the Kurds fighting Islamic State), except when they shoot down a Russian plane.

The Russian and “coalition” (mostly American) bombs falling on Islamic State have stopped its expansion, at least for the moment, and the recent air attacks on the tanker-trucks that carry the black-market oil out have certainly cut into its income, but it is not about to fall.

As for “boots on the ground,” forget

it. The only people fighting Islamic State on the ground are the Kurds and what’s left of the Syrian army after four years of war. The Syrian army was on the brink of collapse last summer before the Russian bombing campaign saved it, and it still lacks the strength to recapture much territory. Islamic State is going to be around for a while.

Stopping Western air attacks on Islamic State might save some Western cities from terrorist attacks, but even that is not guaranteed. Islamic State is competing with al-Qaeda for support in the Muslim and especially the Arab world, and spectacular acts of terrorism are good recruiting tools. Islamic State also thinks it is following a divinely ordained script, which makes it relatively impervious to normal calculations of strategic advantage.

Does this mean terrorist attacks inspired by Islamic State will continue for months or years no matter what the West does? Probably.

Within living memory Western countries have fought real wars that killed millions of their citizens, and they didn’t buckle under the strain. The scale of the threat they face now is so much smaller that it is ridiculous to call it a war at all, and yet they flap about like frightened poultry.

If terrorist attacks on the scale of Paris are the greatest threat facing the West, then these are very fortunate countries. V Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.

VUEWEEKLY.com | Nov 26 – dec 2, 2015

est forward. What makes all of that even more impressive is how radical a departure the climate policy is from where we have been as a province.

And while it is true that, in terms of big picture climate change it is only one small step and won't accomplish nearly enough, keep in mind that if you had suggested last November that within a year the Alberta government would be moving forward with a significant carbon tax, an accelerated coal phase-out and a hard limit on oilsands emissions, you would have been laughed out of whatever room you were in. That is perhaps the most important thing that Notley and Phillips have accomplished with this policy: an important first step in an entirely new direction. Now it's up to us to keep them moving that way. V Ricardo Acuña is the executive director of the Parkland Institute, a non-partisan, public policy research institute housed at the University of Alberta.

VUEPOINT

Campus assaults In the spring of 2014, a University of British Columbia student formally complained to the school about Dmitry Mordvinov, a 28-year-old PhD student in the history department. The student alleged Mordvinov had forced himself on her after a night of partying.

Soon after, another student brought forward allegations of sexual assault perpetrated by Mordvinov.

This was not the first time the school had heard complaints against Mordvinov. As early as 2011, another graduate student repeatedly told UBC that she had witnessed several alleged instances of sexual misconduct by Mordvinov. But the school did little to act, and a CBC investigation last week finally caught on.

What emerged was a picture of a grotesquely negligent administration willfully shutting down the case at every turn, wary that "unsubstantiated allegations" would incite fear and suspicion among its students.

At least six women complained about Mordvinov before the university quietly expelled him last month. "I think I've been more traumatized by the process of reporting than I was traumatized by the incident of assault," former student Caitlin Cunningham told reporters Sunday. "The system is broken.

alex migdal alex@vueweekly.com

It's in all ways broken. I don't think there's any other way to put it."

Canadian universities should all acknowledge this plea. To survive a sexual assault is unimaginably traumatic. But to report it means survivors must trust in a workable legal system. UBC, however, has repeatedly failed these students, and the school's actions demand condemnation and reflection.

An apology is the first step, which UBC president Martha Piper extended Sunday when she admitted the process took too long.

But to salvage any hope in the system means taking further steps. Students are suggesting that UBC create a 24hour sexual assault response team; the university says it will launch an independent review of the case and re-examine its sexual assault policy.

Mordvnivov said he plans to appeal the ruling. UBC, in turn, should revisit its appeal process to minimize any risk of re-victimization among its students.

Universities idealize themselves as bastions of progressivism. But this case reminds us how dangerous it is when an institution's reputation takes precedence over everything—and how secrecy can ultimately inflict the greatest trauma.V

up front 9

FRONT FRONT // MUSLIMS

Canada at a crossroads

Assaults on Muslims increase in the wake of Paris attacks

©iStockphoto.com/IdealPhoto30

T

he day after an arsonist attacked the Al-Salaam mosque in Peterborough, ON, Kenzu Abdella stood in front of the smoke-singed building and reflected on the struggle between fear and tolerance engulfing his chosen country.

"I don't remember feeling like this in Canada before. I've been here 30 years," said Abdella, speaking in a calm tone. Thirty metres away, behind a security guard, flowers brought by locals rested on the steps of the building's rear door.

Abdella came from Ethiopia, is a mathematics professor at Trent University, and is president of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association that operates the only mosque in Peterborough. The fire set there on November 14 was one of a number of violent outbursts against Muslims across Canada last week, after the ISIS terror attacks that murdered 130 in Paris.

"The anti-Muslim rhetoric," Abdella said, lowering his voice, "has played a big role in bringing out the worst in some people."

As well, Abdella and his congregation have received an outpouring of kindness from Peterborough residents. That morning people of all faiths, including some of the city's 1000 or so Muslims, were there at the mosque to offer their support, some through tears, as TV news crews filmed. Already, more than $100 000 had been raised online to help pay to repair the mosque.

And still, charged rhetoric swirls, with Canada's self-image seemingly at stake.

"ISIS is a threat, no doubt about that. Should we fear it? No. The Canadian population should have full confidence in all the security services to keep us safe." So said Canada's new Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan about ISIS earlier this month.

Wrong, hold onto those fears, was the message issued on Friday by newly appointed Conservative defence critic James Bezan: "Despite the recent assurances by Defence Minister

10 UP FRONT

Harjit Sajjan that Canadians should not fear ISIS, many Canadians are concerned," read Bezan's statement.

"Let us never forget that ISIS inspired the terrorist attacks last year here at home in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ottawa, claiming the lives of Canadian soldiers, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Cpl Nathan Cirillo."

In the next paragraph Bezan vaguely spoke of "the new reality" and urged that the Liberal government "not resort to political expediency to implement campaign promises that are no longer relevant." Whether he was talking about just military related campaign promises or also the Liberals' pledge to quickly settle 25 000 Syrian refugees in Canada, Bezan also left vague.

The same day, mayors of 22 of Canada's largest cities left no room for misinterpretation, putting out a statement offering full support to efforts to settle Syrian refugees in Canada, and expressing confidence that the government's efforts to ensure the safety of the public are sufficient.

"We know the federal government takes security issues very seriously and that the screening process for refugees is thorough and rigorous.

There is no need to believe that there is a trade-off between compassion and security," read the statement.

Campaign of fear The struggle over whether to calm, or exploit, some Canadians' uneasiness with Muslim immigrants reached a fever pitch during the recent federal election. Conservatives enlisted the services of Lynton Crosby, an Australian campaign expert with a reputation for fomenting wedge politics to gain votes. They pushed big issues such as climate change and wealth inequality to the sidelines by campaigning to ban Muslim women from wearing niqabs during citizenship ceremonies and while working in the public service.

In citizenship ceremonies, the women's identities are ascertained in a private setting; nevertheless, then-

immigration minister Chris Alexander suggested the garments—that cover all but the eyes—could have terrorists underneath.

Meanwhile, Conservative campaign literature hammered on ISIS vows to kill Canadians in their homes, and the party's response to the heartwrenching image of a Syrian toddler refugee's body washed up on a Greek beach was to emphasize that accepting Muslim refugees to Canada posed time-consuming security risks. Then the Conservatives proposed to create a hotline allowing citizens to report "barbaric" cultural practices by immigrant neighbours.

Last week the CBC dug into that hotline promise and found it was more a notion than a plan. The RCMP had no knowledge it would be up to them to implement the tip line. Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose was asked about that by a reporter. She responded by saying she knew nothing about it at the time, and that "the campaign's over."

After the Peterborough mosque burned, The Tyee asked the Conservative party if it is concerned some of its tactics could lead to rising anti-Muslim sentiment. The party responded by stressing Ambrose had condemned the recent attacks against Muslims.

"Such expressions of intolerance have no place in Canada," Ambrose had said. "In light of the recent atrocities committed in Paris, it is especially important that all Canadians stand united against hatred of all kinds."

Wedge issues and hate crimes The same night the Peterborough residents were doing their best to let the mosque's members know they are welcome, a Muslim woman in Toronto was beaten and robbed by men yelling anti-Muslim slurs.

Another woman wearing a scarf said a man who mistook it for a hijab also attacked her, and a man in Montréal was arrested and charged for making online threats to kill Muslims.

It is often following such terrorist

attacks as Paris that Muslims in Western nations feel the brunt of hatred from non-Muslims, said Imran Awan, a criminology lecturer at Birmingham City University in England.

Awan is co-author of the report We Fear for Our Lives: offline and online experiences of anti-Muslim hostility, which examines the effect of antiMuslim sentiment in the United Kingdom.

Anti-Muslim sentiment has been a growing issue and common news item in the UK over the last decade, with many activists and Muslim leaders accusing the nation's politicians and groups such as the English Defence League of stoking it.

According to the Guardian, hate crimes against Muslims in London were up 70 percent in a one-year period in 2015. Awan said terrorist attacks, such as the one in Paris, act as "trigger events" that set off festering anti-Muslim sentiment often driven by the far right. There's now even an organization called Tell MAMA recording incidents of attacks on Muslims in the country.

Public policy that targets Muslim communities and political rhetoric has led to frequent assaults on Muslim people in the UK, according to Awan.

"In the UK we tend to see after incidents like this quite a big push to bring in policies, counter-extremism strategies and lots of other things that, in effect, law-abiding Muslims who are not doing anything wrong would get put into that pigeonhole," he said.

He said one example in the UK is a push to have schoolteachers, doctors and other public servants act as the eyes and ears of the police and report anything they think could be related to terrorism.

'It's like a vacuum for these preachers' Awan argues such initiatives are actually detrimental to the cause of fighting extremism.

The result is marginalization of the Muslims who feel they are being targeted by society at large, something he said extremist groups want as they try to create public divisions in the West to help them recruit members and sow fear.

In fact, said Awan, radicals cheer on hate crimes against Muslim people.

"To them it means they've got those young impressionable people who are isolated, looking for a sense of identity or belonging," he said. "When they think that their own country doesn't value them it's like a vacuum for these preachers, especially on the Internet, who are able to groom and radicalize and recruit these people."

He said the key to fighting extremism is policy written in a "sensible" way that doesn't single out Muslims, and that excludes initiatives like the Conservatives' barbaric cultural practices tip line and niqab fight.

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Awan said fostering dialogue in safe environments and engaging with communities is what will lead Canada down a more peaceful path.

Phil Triadafilopoulos is a professor of political science at the University of Toronto who specializes in immigration policies. He thinks the Conservatives have been taught a lesson by their failed re-election campaign.

Even though polls and research showed public support for issues like the niqab ban, it came with a cost.

"Last election was a tough case of whether you can do two things at once—compete for the votes of new Canadians while scapegoating one segment of new Canadians, and I think the result was negative," he said. "So, the likelihood of [the Conservatives] trying to repeat that experiment ... is low."

He said part of the reason is that immigrants to Canada become citizens faster than other nations taking in newcomers and they also vote as much as people born in Canada, so it is politically dangerous to target immigrants.

Bracing for worst Back in Peterborough, as he stood outside his mosque, Abdella says his congregation must now be prepared to deal with another incident.

"I guess that's a concern," he said. "Of course, we have to be vigilant now; we are already discussing what kind of measures we have to take for the future."

In the meantime he is optimistic Canadians will get the message that Muslims across the country want to live in peace, like any other Canadian.

"We hope that through education, through the media, this anti-Islamic sentiment or Islamophobia will be tackled somehow," he said. "We hope even at the federal level, at the municipal level, all government will play a role."

Shortly after we speak, a white man in a T-shirt and ball cap pulls up in his car, steps out, and walks up to a group of Muslim men talking with Abdella. He tells them he wished he could have been there at the time of the attack to stop it. Abdella embraces the man and thanks him.

Such support, says Abdella, "shows an overwhelming majority of Canadians don't associate with this type of violent act towards their own fellow Canadians. And that makes us feel a lot more comfortable."

But, Abdella points out, people exist who would burn a mosque. Politicians who whip up anti-Muslim sentiment are therefore playing with the fire of hatred fueled by fear. "When it is acted upon," he said, "it can have really bad consequences."

JEREMY J NUTTALL

This article previous ran in The Tyee on November 23, 2015

TO THE PINT

DISH

DISH EDITOR: MEL PRIESTLEY MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

JASON FOSTER // JASON@VUEWEEKLY.COM // Roxy Hastings

Towards a local craft future How Alberta's new provincial budget affects beer drinkers

The news coverage of the recent provincial budget—the first from the new NDP government—was dominated by deficits, preservation of public services and job creation. However, buried in the details was a policy change that has had a seismic impact on the craftbeer industry.

The change seems innocuous enough.

Most know the government increased the mark-up rate (the amount that the government adds to the price of alcohol) for beer to $1.25 per litre, an increase of five cents. Fair enough, particularly during these tough economic times.

What most people don't know is that the government also changed how it applies that mark-up. The $1.25 rate is the full rate, applied only to the biggest breweries. For years, the government has offered a lower mark-up to small breweries, ranging between 20 and 40 cents per litre. The difference is intended to make up for small breweries' lack of economic scale and to encourage small-volume production. To get the lowest rate, a brewery had to produce less than 20 000 hectolitres (100 litres), which is a pretty tiny amount in the beer world. Breweries producing between 20 000 and 200 000 hectolitres got the middle rate; after that, the full rate would apply.

The issue now is that up until the new budget, that lower rate applied to all small breweries across the world, no matter where they were located. This was a boon for craft imports but a major thorn in the side of Alberta-based breweries.

The new budget changed all that.

From this point forward, any beer not brewed in Alberta, BC or Saskatchewan will have the full $1.25 per litre applied to its price. For breweries in those three provinces, a new graduated regime takes place. The smallest breweries (under

10 000 hectolitres) pay only 10 cents per litre. A brewery with production between 10 000 and 50 000 hectolitres is charged 30 cents; those producing between 50 000 to 200 000 hectolitres are hit with a rate of 55 cents per litre.

The full rate applies to any brewery producing more than 200 000 hectolitres.

In short, the lower rates only apply to certain beers sold in Alberta—not every small brewery. The purpose of the policy is to facilitate the growth of local beer production in Alberta by levelling the playing field with imports. The reason for the inclusion of BC and Saskatchewan beers is their being a part of the New West Partnership Trade Agreement: the Alberta government was concerned about retaliation if it excluded those provinces. I am not convinced that would have actually happened, but that was the rationale.

to the Alberta market. One brewery— Ontario's Muskoka Brewing—already announced its departure from the Alberta market. Others are reducing the amount of beer they send to Alberta.

However, the impact at the retail level—at least so far—seems to be much less than the agents' dire predictions. Few pubs and stores are pulling products from their lineup. Sure, they are forwarding the price increase to consumers, but they also don't feel the jump is catastrophic to sales. Most people are shrugging their shoulders and buying their favourite beers anyway.

This is not to minimize the impact on a number of small breweries. Yukon Brewing, which doesn't have a significant home market to fall back on (un-

like most breweries), is taking it on the chin. This is quite unfortunate.

Many people have asked my position on this issue, so let me offer it. While I know all policy is imperfect—and I think the whole New West Partnership excuse is a huge dilution—I am a supporter of this change for two main reasons. First, it is important to consider the policy in a broader context. Alberta is the only province that has open borders to beer: Alberta beer can't get into other provinces. It is an unfair playing field and this move is an attempt to level that playing field. If other provinces had similarly open borders, this would be a non-issue. It is unfair for Muskoka to cry foul when Alley Kat can't even breach Ontario's borders.

The change has sparked a flurry of responses. Understandably, local breweries are very happy. They have been frustrated for years at the price break given to imports. What particularly irks them is Alberta has open borders— anyone who wants to sell beer in Alberta just has to fill out a two-page form and pay $50—while every other province has strict market controls. It is very, very hard for Alberta breweries to get their products into Ontario, BC or any other provinces.

Many agents for imported beer— from Canada, the US and everywhere else—are apoplectic. They view the policy as protectionist, killing their business by making their beer prohibitively expensive. For the smallest craft breweries located outside the three western provinces, the change adds, at most, $2.20 to the price of a six-pack and about $50 on a full-size keg.

In response to the change, many imports are re-evaluating their approach VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Second, and most importantly, I strongly believe the only way to build a truly vibrant and healthy craft beer culture in any region is through local beer.

Imports don't shift the paradigm: only local craft breweries can do that. Look at Portland—it is built on local beer.

Over the long term, Alberta consumers will be better off if we get more quality local breweries, rather than getting yet another amazing but far-flung import.

It remains to be seen what will come of this policy shift, but I suspect, as Bob Marley said, everything's gonna be alright.V Jason Foster is the creator of onbeer.org, a website devoted to news and views on beer from the prairies and beyond.

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DISH 11

DISH REVUE // MEXICAN

GLORIOUS TACOS AT HUMA MEXICAN COMFORT Renowned local chef Mariel Montero Sena finally has a restaurant of her own

A

COME IN FOR THE WARMTH. 12 DISH

fter experiencing one of her glorious taco-stand pop-ups at the late, lamented Expressionz Café, I have been waiting for word that chef Mariel Montero Sena— she of Top Chef repute—had opened her own restaurant. Her mastery of simmered meats, taco styles and various salsas resulted in some of the best tacos I've had in Edmonton, but one often waited for weeks for that six-hour window when one could sit at her table. A brick-and-mortar operation would mean much steadier access and, hopefully, a wider swath of unexplored Mexican cuisine.

The wait was over a few months ago, but I didn't get wind until fairly recently that Sena and her husband, Humberto, had launched a cantina christened Huma. Perched on one of Edmonton's many unesthetic traffic crossroads, it's colourful and tidy inside with discreet Mexican accents—including an awesome portrait of the greatest Mexican luchador, Santo—and a big tile-fringed pass-through to the kitchen behind a service counter laden with desserts. One big TV displays Mexican league football; another seems devoted to DVDs of concert performances by some of my least favourite '70s musical artists (Journey and Supertramp, on consecutive days).

The two times I visited also presented me with two different menus, one for "taco day" and one heavier on soups and diverse entrées. But just because you can pretty much only get tacos on taco day doesn't mean you suffer from a shortage of selection: beef, chicken, fish, vegetarian and three or four different varieties of pork taco (al pastor, cochinita pibil, carnitas, chorizo). Co-diner and I ordered four tacos each ($14), conspiring to try four varietals. We also ordered some fresh tortilla chips and excellent guacamole ($1.75), but we were just as attracted to the trio of homemade salsas set on the table: a milder salsa verde with a garlic punch; a smooth roasted pepper relish of a green-gold hue and a bit more fire; and a roasted tomatillo salsa with a red tint that warns you of its intense stealth heat.

The tacos were just as savoury and satisfying as I remembered from the Expressionz days. The homemade chorizo (seasoned ground pork) with raw onions and cilantro (and some of that exquisite salsa) was my favourite, but I also admired the smoky chipotle

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Huma Mexican Comfort

9880 – 63 Avenue 780.433.9229 humamexicanrestaurant.ca

crema drizzle on the crisp fish taco, the velvety hank of brisket on the suadero taco and the interplay of sweet pineapple and spicy pork on the al pastor. A bottle of Mexican grapefruit soda proved quite efficacious for cleansing the palate between bites.

Just because we were full didn't mean we were going to skip dessert. Our decision to split the chocolate mole brownie ($2.50) with a scoop of strawberry ripple ice cream ($1) was not one we'd come to regret. Mole is the legendary dark, savoury sauce of Mexican cuisine, and the warm, dense (and surprisingly large) brownie shared its earthy, cinnamon-scented complexity.

The tacos were great, but I felt like I needed a broader sample of the kitchen's abilities (ie, an excuse to go back and eat some more), so I returned the next day to experience Huma's pozole, described to me as a hangover cure by the smiling server. I had failed to procure a hangover but showed up in the sunny dining room just the same.

Pozole is a soup made with tomato-tinged chicken broth, hominy (freeze-dried corn kernels) and pork. Much like pho, that other restorative soup of note, pozole comes with a side of blandishments to tweak the flavour the way you like it, though in this case you can add an assortment of chopped onions, radish and lettuce, Mexican oregano and fried tortillas. The plump hominy has a unique texture somewhere between tuber and bean, the familiar flavours blended into something unique yet satisfying, and a small portion ($9) slaked me. I also tried the aguachile ($9), a variant on the raw fish-in-lime dish, ceviche: this version employed shrimp, and I found the pungent, peppery marinade around the succulent shrimp slices to be bracing in its own way. The skillful preparation, along with the cheerful, efficient service and decent price-point made me pledge to come back to try to the huevos rancheros (and the chilaquiles and the enchiladas and and and) as soon as possible.

SCOTT LINGLEY

SCOTT@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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DISH 13

ARTS

ARTS EDITOR: PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

COVER // THEATRE

NOTING THE PATTERN Café Daughter explores cultural identity and micro-aggressions across generations

T

aking a long, hard look at why we treat each other the way we do feels like one of the most vital exercises we could collectively undertake today.

In Canada, with the publication of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report, a conversation's partly underway, however long overdue it feels, but intolerance within the country is a perpetual, deeply rooted issue, one that's difficult to make headway on: when you try to take stock of changes that have happened, even as you note the positive progress, the distance yet to go still stretches out before you.

"If you do a period show, it's interesting to go, OK, have things changed or not?"

Tiffany Ayalik muses. "Or, in this way we've gone ahead, and in this way we've gone backwards."

In Café Daughter, we're given the opportunity to do just that: the Kenneth T Williams' script—based on the life of still-serving Saskatchewan Senator Lillian Dyck—takes us through the life of Yvette, born of both Chinese and Cree heritage.

The play's seeing its Edmonton debut through Workshop West & Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts, featuring Ayalik as its lone performer to guide us through its timeline, from Yvette's nascent years as a prairie kid in the '50s—whose mother's has decided she'll only identify as the Chinese, not Cree—through to adulthood, where she can draw the extent of her life's experiences into focus to question why, even as a doctor and politician, she still finds herself facing acts of fear and ignorance both large and small, and how to reclaim her heritage within that world.

Some of the things Yvette finds herself facing are products of their era, Ayalik notes, but others prove more enduring, following the character into adulthood.

"When we first meet Yvette, she's nine years old and it's 1957 in rural Saskatchewan," she says. "Just in this context—as any person of colour in rural Saskatchewan in 1957, or anywhere—it's a different time. So on top of just being a kid, and how hard that can be sometimes, there's this whole other layer of context to put on top of it: she experiences, even as a young child, these little micro-aggressions, peppered all through the play, that affect her [but] that she might not understand until she's older."

The script, then, seeks a family friendly, honest but uplifting way of discussing why, and where, those little instances come from, and how Yvette comes to understand and work around them.

"The nice thing about seeing her grow up is you can look back and go, 'What? What was that?'" Ayalik notes. "That's something of the time that we see: how does a child deal with racism, and how does a teenager deal with it, and then as an adult—how does this extremely intelligent doctor and senator deal with the everyday choices of: do you engage? Do you educate? Do you get mad? Her coping ability and reaction to her heart, and hardships, grow as she does." // Meaghan Baxter

14 ARTS

The subject matter wasn't unfamiliar to Ayalik, though it wasn't until the Yellow-

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Until Sun, Dec 6 (7:30 pm; 2 pm weekend matinees) Café Daughter Directed by Lisa C Ravensbergen Backstage Theatre, $22.50 – $27 knife-raised actress came to Alberta— she studied at Red Deer College and the University of Alberta—that she really experienced much of that entrenched, problematic nature of some of what plagues Yvette.

"You're educating people daily about what it actually means to be First Nations in this country," she recalls. "I grew up in the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife.

There's no reserve—there's a complete integration, 100 percent. That's how I grew up: your boss is Dene, someone you work with is Inuit—you've got every country in the world represented in Yellowknife, which is very diverse. I never really experienced racism until I came down south.

"Not that Yellowknife is perfect, or some race utopia," she continues. "But it's just funny how you hear about these troubles, and when it actually affects you, it's like, 'Oh my god, what was that?

What just happened?' It really throws you back, because you think, 'I thought we were better than this. I thought we'd moved on.' But everyone has a different pace, and those little micro-aggressions are a generational thing, too."

Ayalik lives in Yellowknife these days, though she's often travelling for work— "It's still home base, but I'm never there," she laughs. She also plays in a band: Quantum Tangle, with songwriter Grey Gritt. A blend of storytelling—both personal and traditional—over intricate, skillful guitar work, the duo did a few buzzed-about shows around town this month, including at the inaugural Brown, Black, and Fierce Festival.

"We both come from blended backgrounds," she says of herself and Gritt.

"That's something that's very deeply affected us as performers and as people, that we're constantly juggling this line between I'm half this, and I'm half that.

So I'm sometimes too much for this, and other times not enough for this."

Much like Yvette, in a way. And Ayalik notes that getting to hop around the spectrum of her life in Café Daughter offers up some ideas as to where, and why, intolerance seeps in.

"It's nice to play as a child, because then it also reinforces that you're taught this stuff," she says. "You're taught how to be that way, and you're taught prejudice.

No kid is born with it—you have to be taught that by a parent, or TV or culture.

So there's a lot of teacher influence in her life; her other relatives that each have a different competing influence. It's nice to play as a child, because you can really lean in to the innocence of how that lands to a kid. And as we see the pattern go on, we could see how that could harden somebody, hearing this over and over."

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

15.11.080 Xmas Carol VUE full page:0

11/18/15

12:59 PM

Page 1

“I defy you not to be dazzled.”

LIZ NICHOLLS, EDMONTON JOURNAL

“With its honest, big-hearted performances, powerful emotional wallop, this richly entertaining and resonant carol should be part of everyone’s Christmas.”

COLIN MACLEAN, EDMONTON SUN

“...as magical and emotional and a tribute to the power of the human imagination as ever.”

GRAHAM HICKS, HICKSBIZ.COM

Nov 28 - Dec 23/15 This beautiful adaptation of the Dickens’ classic is a favourite holiday tradition for thousands of Edmonton families.

Join us once again for this wonderful celebration, with its unforgettable story, rich characters and dazzling special effects. AGES 6+

PRESENTED BY ADAPTED BY TOM WOOD BASED ON THE STORY BY CHARLES DICKENS DIRECTED BY BOB BAKER STARRING JAMES MACDONALD AS SCROOGE AND GLENN NELSON AS ALTERNATE SCROOGE

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ARTS 15

ARTS PREVUE // DANCE

Convergence R

// Marc J Chalifoux

ecession be damned. Good Women Dance Collective has expanded in this miserable economy to hold its first-ever full season in 2015/16.

Usually producing showcases and starter-labs like What's Cooking?, the collective is working under the banner of collaboration throughout the season.

While there are works with Pro Coro Canada and Northern Light Theatre on deck in the new year, first up is Convergence, the collective's annual showcase. Two world première pieces are on the program: first, a solo by Calgary's Kayla Henry titled A Necessary Fable, which Henry gave a taste of at What's Cooking? this past spring. The Good Women were intrigued by her physicality and presence as a performer, and asked her to develop the work for a full-length presentation at Convergence.

The other piece is a new work for the full company (plus long-time collaborator Richard Lee), developed this summer with choreographer Mélanie Demers, who last visited Edmonton in 2014 with her company, MAYDAY Danse.

"One of the first things that I look for in collaborators is nice souls," Demers says, describing how she first met the

collective at a workshop in Calgary.

"They're so independent and super dynamic. And they're nice people," she laughs, noting how important it is that artists connect personally through the creative process—because in truth, it can get heated. For an idea, check out the Good Women's blog for week-by-week commentary on the group's process with Demers.

In particular, Alida Nyquist-Schultz's harrowing quip from week four: "It's not often that we allow ourselves to flounder long enough to feel like we actually might drown."

Demers, known for her aggressively theatrical work with socially conscious themes, worked with the collective during a stifling heat wave in Montréal. The result, We'll Be Fine, juxtaposes modern positivity with the sinister but oft-ignored knowledge that everything is not fine at all. "[The heat] informed the piece a bit, because it was so hot and difficult to work, it made everything so intense," she says. "A few images that came up right away were telling about the end of the world, there was something apocalyptic in the work. We're constantly trying to forget this idea that we're going to die."

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Thu, Nov 26 – Sat, Nov 28 (8 pm) L'Uni Theatre, $15 – $20

Demers encouraged the dancers to verbalize pithy "slogans," similar to status updates used in social media, to illustrate the pep that so often occurs outwardly, even as the world falls apart (socially and otherwise).

We'll Be Fine posits a series of vignettes around this theme, with a culminating monologue by Lee. The text was shaped by the performers during the workshop process, as was the musical score for the piece. Electroacoustic composer Mykalle Bielinski worked with the group to create a soundscape that employs explosions and other sounds, while lending musicality to the apocalypse.

In addition, Demers offers a challenge for the dancers through improvisation in the movement and text of each performance: "I like to give the dancers some sort of question every night, so the result is found in front of the audience. It puts them in a vulnerable state, which I like, because it's imperfect, but it's alive."

FAWNDA MITHRUSH

FAWNDA@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PAUL BLINOV

// PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Studio Theatre:

Iphigenia At Aulis Euripides translation by Don Taylor

A classic presented through a contemporary lens.

Nov 26 to Dec 5 @ 7:30 pm

$5 preview Wed, Nov 25 @ 7:30 pm Opening night Thurs, Nov 26 @ 7:30 pm No show Sun, Nov 29 2 for 1 Mon, Nov 30 @ 7:30 pm Matinee Thurs, Dec 3 @ 12:30 pm Timms Centre for the Arts

ualberta.ca/artshows

16 ARTS

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

A moment from Metropolis, screening at the AGA's Refinery party

Royal Bison Fair / Fri, Nov 27 (5 pm – 9 pm), Sat, Nov 28 (10 am – 5 pm), Sun, Nov 29 (10 am – 4 pm); Fri, Dec 4 (5 pm – 9 pm); Sat, Dec 5 (10 am – 5 pm); Sun, Dec 6 (10 am – 4 pm) Edmonton's enduring craft-andart fair arrives at its 20th iteration with the strength of 70-plus vendors. The wares range from illustration to industrial design to clothing to, well, whatever, really.

There's some excellent, indelible Christmas shopping to be had.

(Cosmopolitan Music Society, $3) Magna Carta / Until Tue, Dec 29 History buffs rejoice: a wee little 800-year-old paper called the Magna Carta—that gave England (and later Canada) a couple of piddly, unmemorable concepts like leadership being accountable to the law and giving people the le-

gal ability to report unlawful imprisonment—is here at the new Federal Building on the Legislature grounds, where it's going to be hanging out this month. This is its first trip to Alberta. Go say hi. (Legislative Assembly Visitor Centre [Edmonton Federal Building], Free) Metal Refinery Party / Sat, Nov 28 (9 pm) The latest of the AGA's perpetual late-night art parties pulls its inspiration from Fritz Lang's Metropolis, '80s German heavy metal, and the gallery's current Living Building Thinking exhibit of Expressionism. There's going be a metal DJ, continuous portrait line-drawing, a Metropolis screening and access to all the gallery's current exhibits. Black is the colour. (Art Gallery of Alberta, $39 – $45, 18+) V

PREVUE // VISUAL ARTS

Making room

Do It Yourself celebrates hard-won studio spaces

T

alk to any musician, actor, or performance artist in Edmonton and they'll tell you that 2015 has not been kind when it comes to spaces for creative work in the city. The Artery, Wunderbar, the Pawn Shop, the Roxy—all lost within the past year, leaving artists with few opportunities for places to share their work.

But it's not only performers who have been suffering from a lack of space; Do It Yourself: Collectivity and Collaboration in Edmonton seeks to celebrate the visual artists who have worked together to carve out some hard-won studio spaces. For the next three months, the University of Alberta's Enterprise Square gallery will host some of their works, inviting viewers to learn about the grassroots artistic production going on in their city.

"I think it's important to show the dedication and the evolution of how people are working together and creating these micro-communities to practice," curator Kristy Trinier says. "Most people, when they think of DIY culture in Edmonton, there's definitely a reference [to] and a lot of legacy in the music community of shared collaboration, shared resources, rehearsal spaces and things like that, where people are sharing their basements or garages to make things happen. But in visual arts the same things have happened, but those spaces seem to have a bit more of a devastating effect when they're lost. And so I wanted to point to the need for those spaces, and [ask], how do we protect them? How do we foster them and recognize the work of the people who are initiating them without a lot of support?

They're not receiving grants to run their spaces. They're doing this independently. They're just renting a

space and hoping that their friends and colleagues will rent and help them keep it afloat."

Until Thu, Mar 31 Enterprise Square

The exhibition features the works of 20 artists who hail from 11 of these shared studio spaces or artistic collectives across the city. Their work ranges from the experimental performance artwork of Kristine Nutting to the urban landscape photography of Zach Ayotte's Still in Edmonton project. Despite the differences, the pieces all share an organic, unrefined esthetic.

"They might not look fully resolved but that's part of their esthetic and part of their comment on the economic reality," Trinier explains. "And that's something definitely that's part of the DIY style, is to show things that aren't overly finished—to show the process, and to have that raw energy of just making something come through the work."

Trinier notes that maker culture is proliferating in Edmonton, with the opening of the EPL's Makerspace in the Stanley A Milner Library.

She hopes that the exhibit will not only allow artists to form vital new friendships and collaborative relationships, but also encourage viewers to get involved. With an innovative exhibit concept, you can legitimately do it yourself.

"It's a small gesture, but instead of only presenting traditional artwork labels, each of the artists who are participating in the Do It Yourself exhibition has written an instruction or a how-to manual. And we made those on tearaway pads, so you can walk through the exhibition and tear away an instruction from each of the groups."

Regional Practice, Andrew Buszchak, video still, 2015 // Andrew Buszchak

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Unique Viewing www.vueweekly.com/arts VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

ARTS 17

ARTS PREVUE // SONG CYCLE

The Christmas Carol Project T

wenty years isn't just a "good" run.

Managing to succeed at anything for two decades is worthy of note, but getting the same nine-person cast of musicians together at the busiest time of year in order to tell the story of The Christmas Carol through song, is extraordinary.

"After 20 years will have done 99 shows, probably played to 20 000 audience members, nine tours, a CD, a DVD—we've done it all," explains The Christmas Carol Project's producer and originator, John Armstrong.

The idea came to Armstrong when he was completing the arts administration program at MacEwan University. As he got to know the Edmonton music scene, he realized the depth of talent in the area and wanted to execute a project that would showcase the breadth of musical genres that talent covered: blues, Celtic, rock, folk and even a touch of jazz.

"It was around Christmas time and I saw the classic Alastair Sim movie, The Christmas Carol, and I thought, 'That's it!'" Armstrong says. "Because there's so many great, strong parts in it."

Fri, Dec 4 (7:30 pm) Festival Place, Sold out

He set about recruiting musicians, giving them each a character and telling them they had to write two to

three songs that would propel the narrative forward. Eventually, they tied the whole show together with a narrator reading sections of the original text from Charles Dickens' quintessential Christmas tale.

"It's a redemption tale," says Armstrong, reflecting on the story's ongoing popularity. "I think that's what gets people: you can go wrong but you can change your ways. I think we all hope that of ourselves, or people that we know, that we can be redeemed. You can find the right path regardless of how much you might veer from it."

Despite the story's seemingly endless appeal, The Christmas Carol Project has decided to call it quits this year. Armstrong says they are ending on a high note: while the cast is still enthusiastic about the show, even as it gets harder and harder to get everyone together. With separate careers and all the danger of touring in the dark of December, Armstrong admits that scheduling is becoming a challenge.

"As much as it's a wonderful project and we all enjoy doing it, it's a lot of work," he concedes.

Scrooge himself would appreciate all the years of toil and good management.

KATHLEEN BELL

KATHLEEN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // THEATRE

Iphigenia at Aulis Until Sat, Dec 5 (7:30 pm; Thu, Dec 3 matinee at 12:30 pm) Directed by David Kennedy Timms Centre for the Arts, $12 – $25

Plan a Art Party! We can Help.

Updating a greek classic // Ed Ellis

W

10032 81 Ave Ave

18 ARTS

paintspot.ca

ritten around 406 BC by Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis is a prequel to the Trojan War. Agamemnon, leader of the unified Greek army, must choose whether or not to sacrifice his eldest daughter, Iphigenia, to appease the goddess Artemis and secure favourable winds for his fleet.

Studio Theatre's production takes this 2400-year-old classic and translates it (both linguistically and visually) for the 21st century. Although its new look isn't inspired by any specific conflict, Iphigenia includes all the trappings of modern war: guns, media manipulation and video games.

"We're very interested in drone warfare," says David Feehan, who plays

Agamemnon. "There's two screens in [the play] that will show what drone pilots do. They sit in these little sheds and then they survey someplace that's across the globe and drop bombs on them from a very far distance. So one of the characters in the play, Achilles, who is a mythological hero and the greatest warrior of them all, is sitting for a large portion of the play behind the action in his little command centre, surveying a far-off distance where he can drop bombs."

Even though the play depicts the brain-over-brawn nature of modern warfare, Feehan and his fellow soldiers still had to do some physical

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

training to prepare for their roles.

"A lot of times you'll be doing plays [and] you have a movement coach to kind of get into the body of the character: how do they walk and how do they move throughout this world?

But what [coach Amber Borotsik] did was she just totally kicked our butts by taking us through actual army training. ... It was a very intense workout process, and then we'd get thrown back into rehearsal just drenched in sweat and exhausted."

Apart from a thousand push-ups and jumping jacks, Feehan and his castmates have been busy exercising their minds with ethical dilemmas.

The moral justification of war is a central question of the play, one that Iphigenia has left unresolved for two millennia.

"Everyone in the play is faced with that question: is the cost of one life worth the cost of millions? Should Agamemnon kill his own daughter to win the war?"

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

ARTS WEEKLY

EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

Dance Appalachian Jam and Dance Party • Fiddler’s Roost, 7308 76-Ave • bziff@ualberta.ca • A workshop on Appalachian dance styles, followed by a square dance and an old-time Appalachian jam session • Nov 27, 7pm • $5, free for students

Argentine Tango Dance at Foot Notes Studio • Foot Notes Dance Studio (South side), 9708-45 Ave • 780.438.3207 • virenzi@shaw.ca • Argentine Tango with Tango Divino: beginners: 7-8pm; intermediate: 8-9pm; Tango Social Dance (Milonga): 9pm-12 • Every Fri, 7pm-midnight • $15

Brazilian Zouk Dance • Spazio Performativo, 10816-95 St NW • 780.974.4956 • hello@ludiczouk. com • ludiczouk.com • Drop-in Brazilian zouk social dance classes. Classes are inclusive; everyone is welcome. No partner needed • Every Wed, 7:30pm9pm. Runs until Dec 16 • $18 (single class), $150 (ten classes)

Capital City Burlesque's Holiday Fantasy • Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Ave • 780.425.1820 • capitalcityburlesque@gmail.com • citadeltheatre.com/event/ccb-holiday-fantasy/all • Celebrate the holidays surrounded by glitter, sequins, rhinestones, and feathers. Featuring some of CCB's classic holiday numbers, and debuting several new solo and group acts • Dec 3-5, 8-10pm • $36.75

Convergence • L’Uni Theatre, 8627-91 St •

familiar in mid-20th century Alberta art; Oct 3-Jan 31 • Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism; Oct 24-Feb 15 • She's All That: artwork by Dana Holst; Oct 24-Feb 15 • METAL Refinery, Late-night art party; Nov 28, 9pm; $45 (regular), $39 (AGA members) • Fabric: Charrette Roulette; Nov 21-Apr 10 • Artist in Conversation: Tyler Los-Jones; Dec 13, 2-3pm; Free • Open Studio Adult Drop-In: Wed, 7-9pm; $18/$16 (AGA member) • All Day Sundays: Art activities for all ages; Activities, 12-4pm; Tour; 2pm • Late Night Wednesdays: Every Wed, 6-9pm • Art for Lunch: 3rd Thu of the month, 12:10-12:50pm

Jurassic Forest/Learning Centre • 15 mins N of Edmonton off Hwy 28A, Township Rd 564 • Education-rich entertainment facility for all ages

VASA Gallery • 25 Sir Winston Churchill Ave, St

Lando Gallery • 103, 10310-124 St •

West End Gallery • 10337-124 St •

780.990.1161 • landogallery.com • Lando Gallery Group Selling Exhibition; until Nov 30

780.488.4892 • westendgalleryltd.com • Annual Winter Collection Group Exhibition: featuring works

by Peter Shostak, Annabelle Marquis, Claudette Castonguay, Peter Wyse and more; Nov 21-Dec 24 • Glenn Semple; Nov 21-Dec 3

Art Gallery Of St Albert (AGSA) • 19 Per-

Loft Gallery • AJ Ottewell Gallery, 590 Broadmoor Blvd, Sherwood Park • 780.449.4443 • artstrathcona.com • Open: Sat-Sun 12-4pm • Sherwood Park Quilters; Nov 28-29

ron St, St Albert • 780.460.4310 • artgalleryofstalbert. ca • Frozen Asset: art by Tony Stallard; Sep 22-Nov 28 • Posed and Poised: artwork by Andrzej Maciejewski & Juliana Rempel; Nov 5-28 • Night Hours: artwork by The Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts; Dec 3-Jan 30; Opening reception: Dec 3, 6-8:30pm

Bear Claw Gallery • 10403-124 St • 780.482.1204 • info@bearclawgallery.com • bearclawgallery.com • Who Is Boo? 3: A Book launch and exhibition of new works by Jason Carter; Nov 28-Dec 3

Bleeding Heart Art Space • 9132-118 Ave • dave@bleedingheartartspace.com • Waiting Room: A multimedia installation by Alysha Chreighton; Nov 21-Jan 16

BUGERA MATHESON GALLERY • 10345-124 St • bugeramathesongallery.com • The Quieting: artwork

by Ken Wallace; Nov 27-Dec 11; Artist reception: Nov 27-28 • Winter Show: featuring gallery artists; Dec 12-31

Cafe Blackbird • 9640-142 St • 780.451.8890 • cafeblackbird.ca • Janet Sutanto; Nov 1-29

The Carrot Gallery • 9315-118 Ave • Featuring the work of two local artists, Mark Hughes and Naomi Pahl • Until the end of Nov CENTRE D’ARTS VISUELS DE L’ALBERTA (CAVA) • 9103-95 Ave • 780.461.3427 • savacava. com • A miniatures show from a number of different artists; Nov 28-29, 10am-4pm

Latitude 53 • 10242-106 St • 780.423.5353 • latitude53.org • Main Space: Clean, Fit, and Decease Free: artwork by Shan Kelley; Dec 4-Jan 16; Opening reception: Dec 4, 7pm • ProjEx Room: Win, Place, and Show: artwork by Lisa Turner; Dec 4-Jan 16

McMULLEN GALLERY • U of A Hospital, 8440-112 St • 780.407.7152 • friendsofuah.org/mcmullengallery • Father Douglas: Inspired by William Blake's writings Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, Father Douglas' surrealist portraits of animals metaphorically explore various complexities of the soul and human experience • Oct 24-Dec 6 Multicultural Centre Public Art Gallery (MCPAG)–Stony Plain • 5411-51 St, Stony Plain • multicentre.org • Old Fashioned Christmas; Dec 12, 10am-3pm

Musée Héritage Museum • St Albert Place, 5 St Anne Street, St Albert • MuseeHeritage.ca • 780.459.1528 • museum@artsandheritage.ca • Take Your Best Shot: Youth Photo Contest; Nov 20-Jan 24

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts • 9225-118 Ave • 780.474.7611 • volunteer@thenina. ca • Joyeux Visages: Ceramic masks from the Nina Collective; Nov 9-Dec 23; Opening reception: Dec 9

Paint Spot • 10032-81 Ave • 780.432.0240 • paintspot.ca • Artisan nook: Bishoujo Gallery: artwork by Chris Jugo’s exhibition of ‘the pretty gals of anime and manga; Nov 19-Jan4 • Naess Gallery: Mighty Chroma!: artwork by Patricia Coulter, Meghan MacMillan, Michael Conforti; Nov 19-Jan 4 Peter Robertson Gallery • 12304 Jasper

Creative Practices Institute • 10149-122 St, 780.863.4040 • creativepracticesinstitute.com • 63 Hours: artwork by the students of ‘Intermedia 540’ a course at the University of Alberta; Nov 18-Dec 12

Ave • 780.455.7479 • probertsongallery.com • Ever Widening Rings: artwork by Peter von Tiesenhausen; Nov 12-Dec 1 • Hold My Beer and Watch This...: Artwork by Scott Cumberland; Dec 5-Dec 22

Recreational Centre, 11113-113 St • 780.893.6828 • Dec 5, 8pm

DAffoDil GAllery • 10412-124 St • 780.760.1278 • daffodilgallery.ca • Elemental Sky: Artwork by Samantha Williams-Chapelsky; Nov 18-Dec 12

Sugar Foot Ballroom • 10545-81 Ave •

dc3 Art Projects • 10567-111 St •

Provincial Archives of Alberta • 8555 Roper Road • PAA@gov.ab.ca • 780.427.1750 • culture.alberta.ca/paa/eventsandexhibits/default.aspx • Voices from Our Past: artwork by Katherine Braid; Sep 25-Jan 23

goodwomen.ca/201516-season • Featuring two new works: We’ll be fine by Mélanie Demers, and A Necessary Fable • Nov 26-28, 8pm • $20 (general), $15 (students/seniors/CADA Members); Available at Tix on the Square or at the door

EBDA Ballroom Dance • Lions Seniors

587.786.6554 • sugarswing.com • Friday Night Stomp!: Swing and party music dance social every Fri; beginner lesson starts at 8pm. All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music–check web; $10, $2 (lesson with entry) • Swing Dance Social every Sat; beginner lesson starts at 8pm. All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music–check the Sugar Swing website for info • $10, $2 lesson with entry

FILM Cinema at the Centre • Stanley Milner Library Theatre, bsmt, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7070 • Film screening every Wed, 6:30pm • Free • Schedule: Wild Tales (Dec 2), Red Army (Dec 9), I'Ll See You In My Dreams (Dec 16), Holiday Inn (Dec 23), The Poseidon Adventure (Dec 30) Earth's General Store - Downtown • 10150-104 St • michael@egs.ca • Saturday Documentary Session - Edible City; Nov 28, 7-9pm; Free From Books to Film • Stanley A. Milner, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7000 • epl.ca • Films adapted from books every Fri afternoon at 2pm • Schedule: A Farewell to Arms (Nov 27)

Metro • Metro at the Garneau Theatre, 8712-109 St • 780.425.9212• Reel Family Cinema: The Pirates!

Band of Misfits (Nov 28, 30), The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit (Dec 5, 7), A Christmas Story (Dec 12) • Marilyn - A tribute to Marilyn Monroe: The Misfits (Dec 5-7); Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Dec 12-14); Some Like It Hot (Dec 19-21) • They Came from Projector X: This Island Earth (Nov 28, 29, Dec 2); The War of the Worlds (Dec 26, 27, 30) • Music Docs: Mavis! (Dec 1, 4, 6) • Spotlight: Aardman Animations: The Pirates! Band of Misfits (Nov 28, 30), The Incredible Adventures of Wallace & Gromit (Dec 5, 7)

Devonian Botanic Garden • 51227 AB-60, Parkland County • devonian.ualberta.ca • DBG Crafters Christmas Sale: Seasonal handmade crafts from the bounty of the Garden; Nov 27-29 • Free

Douglas Udell Gallery (DUG) • 10332-124 St • douglasudellgallery.com • Alone Together: artwork

by Andrew Valko; Nov 21-Dec 5

Drawing Room • 10253-97 St • 780.760.7284 • admin@drawingroomedmonton.com • facebook.com/ groups/unwindwednesday • Unwind Wednesdays: A weekly yarn circle. Intended for both beginners and those proficient in craft. Affordable supplies will be available by donation to The Drawing Room, but please feel free to bring your own • Every Wed, 3-7pm until Dec 23 • Free (supplies available for purchase) Enterprise square galleries • 10230 Jasper Ave • Open: Thu-Fri, 12-6pm, Sat 12-4pm • Do It Yourself: Collectivity and Collaboration in Edmonton; Nov 28-Mar 5 • Great Things: A Celebration of Alumni Art & Innovation; Dec 5, 6:30-9:30pm

front gallery • 12323-104 Ave • thefrontgallery.com • Kari Duke & Tom Gale; Nov 12-Dec 3

Gallery@501 • 501 Festival Ave, Sherwood Park • 780.410.8585 • strathcona.ca/artgallery • Land Shadows: artwork by Annette Sicotte; Nov 6-Dec 20 • Lake, Land, and Sky: artwork by Annnette Sicotte; Nov 6-Dec 20

galLeries + Museums

Gallery at Milner • Stanley A. Milner Library Main Fl, Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.944.5383 • epl.ca/art-gallery • Gallery walls: Maze: Mixed media works by Stephen Ferris; Oct 17-Nov 30

ACUA Gallery & Artisan Boutique •

Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital •

9534-87 St • acuarts.ca • Art and artisan crafts from over 40 local and international artists will be on display; Nov 28-29, 10am-4pm

ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL GALLERY • 10186-106 St • 780.488.6611 • albertacraft.ab.ca • Masterworks: signature pieces by some of Alberta’s brightest fine craft stars; Oct 10-Dec 24 • Less Is More: artwork by Keith Walker; Oct 24-Nov 28

Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) • 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.422.6223 • youraga.ca • Tyler Los-Jones: A Panorama Protects its View: Jan 23Jan 31, 2016 • Sincerely Yours: By Alberta artist Chris Cran; Sep 12-Jan 3 • Rough Country: The strangely

Scotia Place • Foyer, 10060 Jasper Ave •

780.686.4211 • dc3artprojects.com • Exhibiting Sound; Oct 14-Nov 14 • Téte Jaune; Nov 18-Dec 19

10230-111 Ave • artbynv.com • Alberta Landscapes: Large scale acrylic mixed media paintings by Natasha Vretenar; Oct 20-Dec 14

Mountain High: artwork by Donna Miller. Presenting an exhibition of recent large colourful acrylic on canvas paintings of Rocky Mountain moments • Nov 17-Jan 6

Audreys Books • 10702 Jasper Ave • 780.423.3487 • audreys.ca • Tamara Plant "Forgiveness and Other Stupid Things" Signing; Nov 26, 11:45am • Breaking Hearts Book Launch Event; Nov 26, 7pm • Carolyn Harris "Magna Carta and its Gift to Canada" Signing; Nov 27, 12-1:30pm • Reggie Leach "The Riverton Rifle: My Story - Straight Shooting on Hockey and On Life" Meet & Greet; Nov 27, 4-6pm • Armin Wiebe "Armin's Shorts" Book Launch; Nov 28, 2pm • Elaine Gugin Maddex "More than a Wise Women" Reading and Signing; Nov 29, 2pm •

The Carrot’s Poetry Night • The Carrot, 9351-118 Ave NW • A poetry open mic. A wonderful time to share your work and enjoy a night out with an encouraging crowd • Nov 26, 7:30-9pm Edmonton Story Slam • Mercury Room,10575-114 St • edmontonstoryslam.com • facebook.com/mercuryroomyeg • Great stories, interesting company, fabulous atmosphere • 3rd Wed each month • 7pm (sign-up); 7:30pm • $5 Donation to winner Naked Cyber Café • 10303-1008 St • The Spoken Word: Featuring writers and an open mic for performances for short stories, book excerpts, poems • 1st Wed ea month, 7:30pm Naked Girls Reading • Brittany's Lounge, 10225-97 St NW • 780.691.1691 • There will be different themes each month • Every 2nd Tue of month, 8:30-10:30pm • $20 (door); 18+ only Rouge Lounge • 10111-117 St • 780.902.5900 • Spoken Word Tuesdays: Weekly spoken word night presented by the Breath In Poetry Collective (BIP); info: E: breathinpoetry@gmail.com

Scrambled YEG • Brittany's Lounge, 10225-97 St • 780.497.0011 • Open Genre Variety Stage: artists from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue-Fri, 5-8pm SCRIPT SALON • Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Upper Arts Space, 10037-84 Ave • A monthly play reading series: 1st Sun each month with a different play by a different playwright

Scott Gallery • 10411-124 St • scottgallery. com • Bone Creek Basin: artwork by Kelly Krueger; Nov 14-Dec 5

Upper Crust Café • 10909-86 Ave •

Selfridge Pottery Studio • 9844-88 Ave • selfridgeceramicart.ca • Winter Open House; Nov 28-29, 11am-5pm

sNAP Gallery • Society of Northern Alberta Print­-

780.422.8174 • strollofpoets.com • The Poets’ Haven Reading Series: Most Mon (except holidays), 7pm, Sep-Mar; presented by the Stroll of Poets Society • $5 (door)

WGA Holiday Party – The Raving Poets: Life After Witness Protection • Kasbar,

Edmonton’s finest folk musicians to tell the classic Dickens’ tale in original songs and narration • Dec 4, 7:30-10:30pm • $30-$40

Back To The 80S: A Most Excellent Musical Adventure • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615-109 Ave NW • mayfieldtheatre.ca • Amongst all the bad movies, hairdos, fads and faux pas of this much maligned decade some of the greatest pop tunes of all time were realized • Nov 10-Jan 31

Big, The Musical • Arden Theatre, 5 St Anne St, St Albert • Containing all the classic moments from the movie and adding a heartfelt score and energetic dance numbers that make the movie such a hit • Nov 26-28, Dec 2-5, 7:30pm (2pm matinees on Nov 28, Nov 29, Dec 6) • $27 (adult), $21 (children/senior); to purchase call 780.459.1542 or online at Ticketmaster cafe daughter • Backstage Theatre, ATB Financial Art Barns, 10330-84 Ave • 780.477.5955 • workshopwest.org • Presented by Workshop West • Ten-year-old Yvette Wong helps out in her parents' café. She's incredibly smart but is put in the slowlearners' class because of her skin colour. Her mother has charged her with a secret: to never tell anyone she's part Cree. Based on the true story of Senator Lillian Eva Quan Dyck, Café Daughter is the powerful, funny and touching tale of one woman's journey to reclaim her heritage • Nov 25-Dec 6

Chimprov • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828-101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Rapid Fire Theatre’s longform comedy show: improv formats, intricate narratives, and one-act plays • Every Sat, 10pm • $12 (door or buy in adv at TIX on the Square) • Until Jun

Die-Nasty • The Backstage Theatre at the ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330-83 Ave • communications@varsconatheatre.com • die-nasty.com • Live improvised soap opera • Runs every Mon, 7:309:30pm • Until May 30, 2016 (no show Dec 21 or 28) • $14 or $9 with a $30 membership; at the door (cash) or at tixonthesquare.com The Glorious 12th by Raymond Storey • Concordia University of Edmonton, Trish and Al Huehn Theatre, 7128 Ada Boulevard • 780.479.9269 • howarth.caroline@concordia.ab.ca • concordia.ab.ca • It is 1927, a difficult year for the Orange Lodge. The House of Commons is now officially bilingual. French appears on Canadian postage stamps and refugees from continental Europe are arriving in record numbers to share in the Canada’s prosperity. The MacKay family fears that their way of life is under siege. Into this atmosphere, opportunistic Klansmen cross the Canadian border to prey on the anxiety of citizens. The world is changing and Mackay family has dark secrets to face • Nov 31

Improv Open Jam • Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 10037-84 Ave • grindstonetheatreyeg@gmail.com • grindstonetheatre.ca/openjam.html • A space to share, swap games and ideas. For all levels • Last Tue every month until Jun 28, 7-9:30pm • Free Iphigenia at aulis • Timms Centre for the Arts, 87 Ave & 112 St • uab.ca/shows • When the logic of war takes over, how easily do we sacrifice all we hold dear? • Nov 26-Dec 5, 7:30 pm • $25 (adult), $22 (seniors); $12 (students)

Theatre

MAESTRO • Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Ave • Rapid Fire Theatre • Improv, a high-stakes game of elimination that will see 11 improvisers compete for audience approval until there is only one left standing • 1st Sat each month, 7:30-9:30pm • $12 (adv at rapidfiretheatre.com)/$15 (door)

Spruce Grove • 780.962.0664 • alliedartscouncil.com

11 O'Clock Number • The Backstage Theatre,

She Loves Me • Campus Saint Jean Auditorium,

• Main Gallery: Feature Artist Al Dixon; through Nov • Fireplace Room: High School Show Award Winners;

10330-84 Ave (North Side of the ATB Financial Arts Barns) • 90 minutes of improvised entertainment that unveils scenes, songs and choreographed numbers completely off the cuff based on audience suggestions • Every Fri, starting Sep 25-Jun 25, 11pm (No performances on Dec 25 and Jan 1, 8 & 15) • $15 (online, at the door) • grindstonetheatre.ca

Artists, 10123-121 St • 780.423.1492 • snapartists. com • Snap Members Show & Sale; Nov 21-Dec 19 • SNAP Print Affair 2015: Bows & Stripes; Dec 5, 8pm; $20 (members), $30 (early general admission), $40 (door)

SPRUCE GROVE ART GALLERY • 35-5 Ave,

through Nov

Strathearn Christmas Market • 9532-87 St • 780.488.8558 • acuarts.ca • Christmas gift sale that includes over 60 local artists and vendors selling handmade and home based goods. Featuring local businesses, hot chocolate, crafts and more • Nov 28-29 • Free (workshops are extra)

Telus Centre– U of A • On North University of Alberta Campus • Outburst: University of Alberta, Art & Design auction, 2015; Nov 27, 7-11:30pm • Free

Telus World of Science • 11211-142 St • telusworldofscienceedmonton.com • Free-$117.95 • Beyond Rubik's Cube; Nov 7-Feb 15 • The Science Garage: new gallery opening in Dec • The International Exhibition Of Sherlock Holmes; Mar 25, 2016-Sep 5, 2016 U of A Museums • Human Ecology Bldg Gallery,

St • 780.426.4180 • Main space: Natural Science: Jennifer Willet; Dec 3-Jan 21, 2016

Jeff Allen Art Gallery (JAAG) • Strath-

VAA Gallery • 3rd Fl, 10215-112 St •

cona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University Ave, 109 St, 78 Ave • 780.433.5807 • seniorcentre.org • Artist Wendy Morris; Nov 12-Dec 16; Reception: Dec 9, 6:30-8:30pm

Literary

TALES–Monthly Storytelling Circle • Parkallen Community Hall, 6510-111 St • Monthly TELLAROUND: 2nd Wed each month • Sep-Jun, 7-9pm • Free • Info: 780.437.7736; talesedmonton@hotmail.com

Main Fl, 116 St, 89 Ave • museums@ualberta.ca • museums.ualberta.ca • Thu-Fri: 12-6pm; Sat: 12-4pm • Brain Storms: UAlberta Creates: hundreds of creative and visually inspiring works from University of Alberta Alumni in support of the University of Alberta Alumni Association centenary; Sep 25-Jan 23

Harcourt House Gallery • 3 Fl, 10215-112

Albert • 780.460.5990 • vasa-art.com • Members Winter Exhibition; Dec 1-Jan 29

visualartsalberta.com • Gallery A: Cultural Exchange; Dec 3-Feb 27; Opening reception: Dec 3, 7-9:30pm • Gallery B: Alberta Artists Collect Alberta Art; Dec 3-Feb 27; Opening reception: Dec 3, 7-9:30pm

10444 82 Ave (Downstairs at Yiannis) • writersguild.ca • Food, socializing and open mic Raving Poets style • Dec 4, 7pm • $15 (register no later than Nov 30)

The 11 O'Clock Number!: The Early Show • Holy Trinity Anglican Church, 1003784 Ave • grindstonetheatreyeg@gmail.com • grindstonetheatre.ca • Presents 90 minutes of improvised musical comedy that unveils scenes, songs, and choreographed numbers completely off the cuff based on audience suggestions • Nov 27, Dec 11, 8-10pm • $15 (door, online at Tix on the Square)

burning Bluebeard • C103, 8529 Gateway Blvd • theatrenetwork.ca • Inspired by a true story.

Tells the tale of six singed clowns who emerge from the burnt remains of a theatre to perform their spectacular Christmas Pantomime. This time they hope to finally reach the true happy ending of their second act and avoid the fateful fire destroyed Chicago’s Iroquois Theatre in 1903 • Dec 1-13

A christmas carol • Shoctor Theatre, Citadel Theatre, 9828 101A Ave • 780.425.1820 • citadeltheatre.com • Now in its 16th consecutive season, this beautiful adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic is a favourite holiday tradition for thousands of Edmonton families • Nov 28-Dec 23

The Christmas Carol Project • Festival Place, 100 Festival Way • 780.449.3378 • festivalplace.ab.ca • Featuring some of the

VUEWEEKLY.com | Nov 26 – dec 2, 2015

8406-91 St • Budapest shop employees Amalia Balash and Georg Nowack work together at modest Hungarian parfumerie. Despite being consistently at odds with each other at work, they are unaware that each is the others secret pen pal met through lonely-hearts ads • Nov 25-28 • $29.50 (adult), $24 (senior/student)

The Social Scene • Citadel Theatre, 9828101A Ave • grindstonetheatreyeg@gmail.com • grindstonetheatre.ca/scenestudy.html • Fellow theatre lovers share excerpts of plays that they have been reading • First Mon of every month, 6-8pm; until Jun 6 • Free

Star Warz: A Galactic Rock Comedy • Jubilations Dinner Theatre, West Edmonton Mall, Phase II West Edmonton Mall, 8882-170 St • jubilations.ca • It is a period of galactic civil war! There are rebels with spaceships, Jedi with lightsabers, a princess, a smuggler, and robots, the Evil Darth Vador and singing… yes you heard me… singing of your favorite galactic rock tunes of the 70’s and 80’s. May the force be with you • Oct 30-Jan 30 TheatreSports • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Improv • Every Fri, 7:30pm and 10pm • Sep-Jun • $12/$10 (member) at TIX on the Square W;t • Walterdale Theatre, 10322-83 Ave • As Vivian Bearing suffers through countless medical treatments alone, she displays her signature intelligence, strength, and wit. But as she moves closer to her final moments, she begins to value the simplicity of kindness • Dec 2-12

arts 19

REVUE // VIDEO GAME

POP

VUEWEEKLY.com/POP ARTS EDITOR : PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

A PREVIEW OF LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY ONLINE AT VUEWEEKLY.COM

Just a quick puzzle ...

E

An introvert's dream The Room Three offers enigmatic puzzles, horror undertones

scape rooms have carved out a niche in communities of deepthinking adventure seekers in recent years. What began as an underground novelty in Japanese subcultures inevitably crept across the Pacific and caught on with West Coast crowds. With three different venues

20 POP!

Now available Fireproof Games

popping up in Edmonton in the past two years alone, there's something suddenly enticing about being locked in a room and forced to solve a series of cryptic puzzles to break free.

This month, I experienced an escape room for the first time. With no idea what to expect, and no instructions

before the door closed behind me, I found myself bathed in darkness, both literal and metaphoric, and implicitly tasked with navigating my way out of it. The first minutes can be jarring. I found myself fumbling through the shadows, trying to make sense of the self-contained

universe into which I'd fallen. Before I could begin to think about puzzles, I needed to consider rules: what am I allowed to do? Which pieces can I touch and manipulate? Which are just set dressing? Will any of my actions "break" the game?

The Room Three mimics this experience, but in an imagined world dictated by its own surreal logic. From the opening moments of the third instalment in Fireproof Games' wildly successful series, you're thrust into an unfamiliar setting and expected to find your bearings without so much as a compass. After a prologue that re-establishes a familiar narrative for series veterans, you awaken in a dank stone room, a literal prison from which escape is your first task.

It's a scene that gives a nod to the original game's esthetic, where you spent the majority of your time trapped in the game's eponymous Room, peeling away the layers of a Pandora's box as you came closer to the heart of its central mystery.

This claustrophobic cell is only the first of a series of rooms you'll encounter, though, and solving the game's initial puzzle soon reveals that much more has changed. Since your last dalliance with the Null— the strange, antimatter-like force that underlies the series' central narrative—the barriers between worlds have begun to crumble, and the very laws of physics have been redefined

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

by those ethereal energies. Only by navigating the labyrinth-like hallways and secret chambers of Grey Holm mansion will you begin to understand how you got here, and how you can possibly hope to escape.

It's easy to be consumed in the process of piecing together any one of the game's dozens of riddles, first decoding its inner logic and then trying to form a deeper understanding of its purpose. The best puzzles are those that don't try to obscure their pieces from you, but instead challenge you to piece them together in a way that makes sense.

Puzzle games like The Room have always been defined by this sort of lonely exploration. It's an introvert's dream, in a sense, to have complete freedom to investigate a space without the distractions or judgment from others. In a world so fundamentally defined by its enigmatic, often absurd puzzle mechanics, uncovering their solutions becomes a deeply introspective process, rewarding you with a sense of godlike agency and ownership of your environment.

Perhaps the game's greater strength, though, is how it uses that focus against you, taking advantage of your lowered guard to sink its teeth into the series' trademark horror undertones.

While its predecessors have been fine

to leave the terror in the shadows, allowing players to imagine their own monsters out of the indistinct silhouettes, The Room Three delves deep into that uncanny dread to create immediate tension.

There's something disquieting about encountering another being in a world defined by its alienation.

This genre of exploratory puzzle game has long been embellished with a brand of unintentional, yet ever-lingering horror. The classic Riven (arguably The Room's spiritual predecessor) still has one of gaming's most jarring jump-scares: after hours exploring the game's islands in complete isolation, you turn a corner and stumble into a young boy, who stares at you silently before disappearing into the jungle. You're suddenly reminded that you're not alone in this world, and hidden eyes have been watching your every move, scrutinizing your actions and judging your errors.

The Room Three taps into this existential fear as you begin to uncover traces of The Craftsman, the architect of the puzzles you've solved, and your apparent jailor. Finding the writings of an unhinged mind strewn about the mansion's many rooms, you're gradually overcome with a foreboding dread that you're not alone after all—and that each of your movements is being monitored by an unseen voyeur.

Confronting these monsters eventually becomes a critical element of the game's narrative. Once you realize you're merely a rat in the Craftman's twisted maze, the only way to escape is to outsmart his riddles in spite of his taunts. The Room Three rewards the player who thinks laterally and is willing to push against the world's boundaries to reach the final goal.

But with multiple possible endings, only those who have turned every key and looked behind every curtain will be able to escape their jailor's clutches and break free from the dungeon that is Grey Holm mansion.

We didn't end up escaping from the real-life room. After the time had elapsed, we had collected all the pieces we needed, but had failed to put them together properly. Yet, there's still a sense of achievement to come out of a failed escape room attempt: you've pooled your intellectual resources with a group of friends, and perhaps discovered some unexpected talents in each of them. The Room Three bears no such solace from the aid of others, but instead, offers its own reward from unravelling its mysteries on your own.

While its imaginary environment may not have the tactility of a real-world escape room, its dark beauty is more than an invitation to become completely engrossed, losing yourself in the void of the Null as you tear down the Craftsman's walls, brick by brick.

MIKE KENDRICK

MIKE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUE’s

New Years Eve Party Guide

The biggest night and party of the year! We’ve got the buzz on where to go and what to wear.

Our goal is to exceed your expectations!

From regular check ups to help from an emergency dentist in Edmonton, the staff at Empire Dental Associates are here to help.

New patients welcome

Teeth whitening

Family dentist

Orthodontics

Routine cleanings

X-rays Botox

ON NEWSSTANDS DEC 17

Evening Appointments Available

Jasper Ave.

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

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780.482.4000 empiredentists.com empiredental@mail.com @empiredentists

POP! 21

SNOW ZONE

EDITOR: JASMINE SALAZAR JASMINE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

SNOW ZONE // EDMONTON

// City of Edmonton

WINTERCITY ARRIVES A look at what the city has planned this season

// City of Edmonton

D

espite winter's late arrival to the capital region, the City of Edmonton's WinterCity strategy is promoting a wide variety of activities and events in the upcoming months as it continues its "rah-rah winter" mandate.

The WinterCity strategy, now in its third year, is a wide-ranging initiative aimed at celebrating the season by making the city more livable during its colder months, while encouraging people to spend time outdoors.

"In the last few decades people have gotten used to pretending that winter doesn't happen," WinterCity coordinator Susan Holdsworth says. "But it's a core part or our identity, and we need to stop apologizing about it and start boasting about it."

While some of the strategy's goals are more nebulous and long-term— such as setting up guidelines for new city architecture to be more winterfriendly, developing winter policies for crosswalks or encouraging a "winter lens" in all forms of development— others aspects of the initiative are things Edmontonians can actually sink their snowshoes into this winter.

This includes the continuation of a pair of WinterCity contests—the Winter Signature Drink Contest and Winterscapes (the season's version of

a front yards in bloom contest). Both events are in their third year with interest growing, particularly for Winterscapes, Holdsworth says.

"We had 10 entries the first year and over 50 in the second, so we're expecting even more this year," she notes.

Other returning promotions include the Valentine's Day Disco Skate at City Hall and Sip and Slide Sundays, in which a hot chocolate squad visits designated toboggan hills throughout the city, offering free hot beverages for sliders of all ages.

The most exciting new undertaking this winter will be the start of a commuter skating-trail pilot project in the river valley. Utilizing some of the infrastructure that already exists at the Victoria Park Oval (the outdoor skating area near the Victoria Golf Course), a kilometre-long skating trail will be built through the river valley. A new winter chalet in Victoria Park will also serve as a centre for activities on both the oval and the trail.

Its concept was originally put forward two years ago by Matt Gibbs, an urban architect student at the University of British Columbia. While his proposal was a much more ambitious project, which would have created an 11-kilometre skating trail through

// City of Edmonton

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VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

FALLLINES

HART GOLBECK HART@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Heavy Snowfall at all Mountain Resorts Snowfall in Edmonton came a little later than usual this year, but snow bases at Sunshine Village and Lake Louise have already exceeded 100 cm, and Marmot Basin is above the minimum 60-cm base requirement for good skiing. One of my favourite runs at Marmot is Highway 16, and it's groomed and ready to rock. All of this is great news for snow enthusiasts and mountain operators alike. Already I've viewed a lot of powder-filled images from friends making turns at all three resorts.

On November 28 and 29, the Lake Louise Winterstart Festival is free for spectators and includes the Men's World Cup Downhill and Super-G races. Kids under 12 ski for free on race days, when accompanied by an adult.

Sunshine Village is getting an early start on its events. Skiers and boarders are welcome to participate in the Strawberry Rail Jam on Sunday, November 29. This event gives you an opportunity to show off your early season skills.

Other Ski Resorts Announce their Opening Dates and Deals Last year, snow conditions at Castle Mountain were marginal to nonexistent, and it was forced to close early due to lack of snow. Conditions are already much better, with snowfalls blanketing the hill. The midmountain snowpack has already exceeded 60 cm with the hill's opening set for December 11.

Fernie, located just to the west of Castle Mountain, has similar conditions and is scheduled to open on December 4.

The best early-season ski deal is at Big White Ski Resort, located near Kelowna, which has a base exceeding 100 cm and its lifts running. If you rent one of its condos for $137 per night, you get two free lift tickets for each night you stay. This deal is good until December 17. Did I mention free is good in my books? Closer to home, Nakiska has snow top to bottom, but it is currently only open on weekends with a full opening scheduled for December 4th. V

Marmot Basin's hoping for another epic season

the downtown core, the pilot version of the concept could be the start of something much bigger in years to come, Holdsworth says.

On a smaller scale, WinterCity has put together a Winter Party Tool Kit this year for community leagues and other groups that want to put on an outdoor winter event.

"It will have ideas for activities, resources and ways to make the event more comfortable," Holdsworth says.

WinterCity's annual budget of $373 000 will help fund and promote various events and activities, but it will also build on assets that already exist by encouraging residents to undertake their own projects.

That's exactly what is happening this winter in Century Park, where a community-based initiative has been started to promote and simplify cross-country skiing for people coming directly off the LRT line.

Shauna Rae is the co-founder of the Ski2LRT project, which has placed a rack for locking up crosscountry skis right outside the Century Park LRT station.

"I've been cross-country skiing in my neighbourhood for a few years, and there are a lot of tracks set throughout the area," Rae explains.

"Looking around I noticed there was nothing between the tracks and the

train station to stop someone from getting directly off the train and skiing the trails."

Once the idea of putting a crosscountry ski rack outside the station was born, Rae says garnering support was easy.

"People were so receptive to the idea. The Southwest Area Council put in $700 in funding, Rona and Home Depot donated materials and City Minimix helped with the concrete pad to put the rack on," she adds.

The biggest hurdle was coming up with a design for the rack, as existing bike racks or alpine-ski racks wouldn't work and locking, commuter-style cross-country ski racks are not a common item.

"It was kind of like figuring out how to lock sticks," says Rae, who is an electrical engineer but had no specific experience in designing racks.

After researching the variances needed to fit the most common styles of cross-country skis, several prototypes were produced and finally, with the assistance of welder Alayna Dornbush, the rack was completed and installed a few weeks ago.

One of the most anticipated parts of the WinterCity strategy in its inception was the development of a year-round patio culture in which bars and restaurants would keep

their outdoor seating areas open throughout the winter. There are a few special events that utilize patios in the winter—such as the Farewell to Winter Patio Party held April 1 to 3 which takes place at various pubs, coffee shops and restaurants throughout the city—but businesses such as Café Bicyclette in the La Cite Francophone building, the Urban Green Café in Louise McKinney Park and Wild Earth Bakery are keeping their patios open during the season as well. There will also be outdoor patio seating in Sir Winston Churchill Square. For a complete overview of Edmonton's outdoor winter offerings, check out Vue Weekly's Cool Winter Guide or Edmonton's WinterCity publication, the Winter Excitement Guide (edmonton.ca).

STEVEN KENWORTHY

STEVEN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

SNOW ZONE 23

GIFT GUIDE // GIVING

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Gifting: dreams and reality Vue pairs its ideal gifts-to-give with the much more likely ones

What I will actually give: Some additions to Mom's charm bracelet and some cooking gadgets for Dad to play with, along with a Christmas Day in which I will handle all of the cooking so they can just happily get drunk all day long.

My neighbours What I want to give: An entire winter of never having to shovel because I clear their sidewalks immediately after each snowfall, thereby negating the karmic debt I've incurred over the past couple years by having those beautiful souls clear my sidewalk—and, more often than not, even the bloody driveway—unbidden, with their altruistic snow-blowing thoughtfulness.

What I will actually give: Wine.

Snow blowers are expensive, and I never make it out there ahead of them anyway.

My coworkers (at my other job) What I want to give: An epic, expletive-filled quitting scene at the Christmas party in which I verbally tear down bullshit that has been steadily destroying my soul over past seven years, irrevocably torching that bridge in a blaze of anti-establishment glory.

I

t's the season of gifting, which, in Western tradition and a generally materialist culture, means it's time to play "just how much do I love you?" and grapple with the correlation between our wishful gift-thinking and the crushing truths of our bank statements.

Sure, we'd all love to give our beloved friend/family member/partner the trip/instrument/house of their dreams, but that isn't always realistic without invoking a horrendous debt-pox down upon yourself, if it's possible at all.

It's no different around the Vue office, so we decided to collect our big-dream gift ideas for some of the people in our lives, and pair them with the ones that are far more likely to actually end up wrapped up and under a tree. Unless, of course, we all slip into some Sliders-like alternate universe where we're trillionaires. Intentions are nice, right?

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24 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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Mel Priestley (News / Dish Editor) My parents What I want to give: A month-long vacation in the Caribbean, enough cash to ensure a worry-free retirement, a grandchild—I would love to give my parents the most fabulous gifts ever, but that's just not going to happen unless A) I win the lottery in the next three weeks; or B) I sustain a blow to the head that changes my lifelong decision not to have kids.

What I will actually give: Nothing. Secret Santa exchanges are lame and I need a paycheque.

Paul Blinov (Arts / Film / Pop Editor) What I want to give: I have a nephew and a music-inclined brother who I'd love to get the kid-friendly turntable by Third Man Records/ Light in the Attic. Think of the familial bonding! Or, for my parents, one of the massive box-sets that seem to be emerging this Christmas season: Springsteen's The Ties That Bind: The River Collection, Or Neko Case's career-spanning vinyl roundup, Truckdriver, Gladiator, Mule.

What I will actually give: I'm headed to Royal Bison Craft & Art Fair this weekend or next, to pick up a mix of locally made goodness to gift. None of my family live in Alberta anymore, so I like to bombard them with cool things from here, as if to say, "You made the wrong choice in uprooting to your slightly warmer corner of Canada." Which, is really exactly what I'm saying. Alternatively, everybody's getting one of the exceptional music books that came out this year: Carrie Brownstein's Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl, Kim Gordon's Girl in a Band, or Jessica Hopper's The First Collection of Criticism By A Living Female Rock Critic. Oh, and for my nephew somewhere along the way, I'll spoil dinner with a truly horrendous amount of desserts.

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Jasmine Salazar (PostVue / Features Writer, Snow Zone Editor) Mom What I want to give: A trip to El Salvador. She hasn't returned to the small Central American country—her homeland—since she moved to Canada 33 years ago. Or, these Stuart Weitzman "Lowland" or "Highland" boots that cost $925 – $998, so then I could wear them, too.

What I will actually give: If I say what I am actually getting her, it will ruin the surprise. Mami, I know you are reading this. You are getting a bag of coal ... love you!

Leo (Step-dad) What I want to give: A port of the vintage variety like Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) that costs only $999.99 (750 mL) or 1965 Krohn Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) that costs $309.99 (750 mL).

What I will actually give: A port of the vintage variety, but one that doesn't cost a thousand dollars.

Meaghan Baxter (Managing / Music Editor) Mom What I want to give: My Mom always tells me not to get her anything and insists she's just happy I'm coming home for a little bit— I'm originally from a small town in Saskatchewan that's just as stereotypical as you'd imagine it to be.

Parents say things like this, but they're human: they want stuff too.

She's a teacher who works far too hard and only takes time off during summer break—if that, because she starts her planning well in advance of classes actually resuming.

I'd love to be able to buy her an all-expenses-paid trip somewhere on her bucket list, but we all know how pricey airline tickets are.

What I'll actually give: I'm undecided at this point (I'm behind on my holiday shopping, yet again), but there will be wine involved and probably something interesting from a local artisan—Royal Bison, here I come.

Best Friend What I want to give: A cheque to pay off her student loans, or a trip to Vegas. We've come this close to buying plane tickets after a bottle or two of wine—everything seems like a great idea then, right?

What I'll actually give: We don't usually buy each other gifts because we know how expensive Christmas is, so we'll probably end up doing something fun instead.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 25

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

REACH FOR THE STARS

GIFT GUIDE // DONATIONS

Helping those in need

Local not-for-profits on the items required most this time of year

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he holidays are filled with thoughts of gift giving and receiving, but it can be a difficult time for those in need. Vue talked to a few local not-for-profit organizations to find out which items are required most at this time of year.

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The Food Bank is in need of highprotein foods like meat and peanut butter. Other items that are needed include beans (with or without pork), canned fish and meat, baby formula, soup, canned fruit or veggies, pasta and pasta sauces, juice boxes and school snacks. Monetary donations are accepted as well.

Non-perishable food donations can be left at any fire station in the city (visit edmonton.ca for a full list of fire stations), dropped off at the Food Bank warehouse (11508 – 120 Street) Monday to Friday between 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, or you can arrange a food donation to be picked

up by calling 780.425.2133.

YESS (YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & SUPPORT SERVICES)

YESS needs winter coats of various sizes (they get a lot of smalls), jeans, socks, winter accessories (mitts, toques, scarves), sweaters, underwear, men's shoes (size 11+) and backpacks. Other donations that youth appreciate are: hair dye, ear phones/headphones, movie passes, miscellaneous gift cards and pay-as-you-go phone cards. Please keep in mind that these donations will go to youth, so grandma's or grandpa's Christmas sweaters might not be the best item to donate. Instead, think of what a teenager would typically wear during these months, such as a hoodie or jumper. Food is also needed during this time, like cereal (low in sugar), high-protein items, healthy non-perishable snacks, granola bars, meat and juice boxes.

Donations can be dropped off at

Ceramics | Glassware | Metalware | Bamboo products | Paper products + Stationary | Fibre products | Stone Bath Mats + more | Hair Ties, Jewelry + Jewelry Stands | Fabric Bags | Kimonos | Geta Sandals | Socks, Scarves + Gloves | Home Decor + More!

Different products arriving regularly - Visit our store or Facebook page for New Arrivals!

10046 167 STREET | 780 341 5424 | WWW.KIFUNE-EDMONTON.COM MON - SAT 10AM - 6PM & SUN 11AM - 5PM 26 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Donations for these organizations can also be dropped off at the Vue Weekly office (#200 11230 - 119 Street) until Friday, December 18 (Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm). the YESS facility on Whyte Avenue (9310 – 82 Avenue). When donating items, please refrain from using gift wrap. Staff will have to unwrap them to make sure they are appropriate for donation.

BISSELL CENTRE

The Bissell Centre appreciates winter stockings filled with necessary personal hygiene items for women and men. The Centre asks that a minimum of eight of the listed items are in each stocking that you donate. Women's stockings can be filled with small sweets, chocolates, gum, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, shower gel, lotions (hand and/or body), cosmetics, small body sprays, hand warmers; thermal socks, travel mugs with hot chocolate pack, bus tickets and $5 coffee gift cards. For men, stockings can be filled with small sweets, chocolates, gum, razors, shaving cream, body wash, underwear, gloves, thermal socks, deck of cards, hand warmers, travel mugs with hot chocolate pack, bus tickets and $5 coffee gift cards.

Items must be new and still in their original packages. Please label the stocking to indicate women's or men's. Items that are always needed are baby formula, diapers (sizes 4 – 6 and Pull-Ups), sleeping bags, non-knit blankets, new underwear, personal-care items (deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors), water bottles and winter accessories (gloves, toques, scarves, coats, boots). Donations can be dropped off at the Bissell Centre Thrift Shoppe (8818 – 118 Avenue) Monday to Saturday from 10 am – 4:30 pm or at the Southside Donation Centre (5120 – 122 Street) Monday to Saturday from 9 am – 4 pm.

JASMINE SALAZAR JASMINE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

10816 Whyte Avenue

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Two doors down from Kent of Inglewood.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 27

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE GIFT GUIDE // REPURPOSING

Saturday December 5 8PM UNTIL LATE DRINKS • DANCING • DELIGHTS Come for the art, stay for the party! ©iStockphoto.com/miriam-doerr

Advance tickets online • $20 Member • $30 Guest

SNAP invites members and guests to our annual fundraiser & print sale

SNAP Printshop on 12056 Jasper Ave. & SNAP Gallery on 10123 121 St.

So you got a bad gift ...

What to do with a few types of less-than-thoughtful presents

Y

ou've gotten a bad gift before.

Whether it came through some a Secret Santa gift exchange, a kindaclueless relative or just weird luck— really, Dad? A laserdisc copy of Fire Walk With Me?—someone gave you something that just wasn't really useful/thoughtful. And yes, how

dare we be ungrateful, becuase it's as much about the act of giving and the thought as it is the actual thing received. But with some gifts, it'd be a Christmas miracle just to trace out thought-process that led this gift to you now.

Sure, you could regift it, but then you're just passing its curse along like a lineage of disappointment. So in the spirit of the season, we've recalled some of the weirdest, kitchiest or lacklustre things we've been given, and hereby try to offer some alternative uses for 'em, or, at the very least, ways to politely, quietly send the message that maybe this wasn't an appropriate gift. Also: most of these are comedy answers that you probably shouldn't act on. But that's up to you now.

An Elf on the Shelf: Embrace the actual myth of the Elf on a Shelf— that the thing is one of Santa's spies, tallying up your kindly and vile deeds like some cruel abacus of Christmas.

Hide a recorder in the Elf's shirt, put it somewhere public in your house year round and, when Christmas rolls around, gather the people in your life and play back the tapes, grouping them into naughty or nice based on what was heard. Easy! Nobody will every buy you one again—maybe never talk to you again, either.

Figurine salt and pepper shakers/ any sort of ceramic figurine, really: Do a "Tennessee Williams"— start collecting more and more of them, keep them immaculately posed and guarded. Increasingly start talking in a St Louis accent, murmur about your "glass menagerie," then withdraw from society and move in with your mother. Whew, gift saved!

Alternatively: buy identical figurines and hide them in the gifter's house.

When they're discovered and you're confronted, deny any knowledge of this and point to the ones in your house as proof. Repeat until they

28 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

think a porcelain curse has befallen them,and beg you to toss the originals away. Simple!

A toaster that brands the Oilers logo onto your toast, but almost indecipherably so: First of all, yes, this exists. Secondly, get Oilers seasons tickets. Show up to every home game, with the toaster, extension cable and full loaf of bread. Angrily start make toast and toss it onto the ice every time the game starts to go badly. This is the push the team needs. Repeat until they kick you out, every time.

Simple and easy! And if you get an unnecessary toaster that doesn't have a sports affiliation, start frequently dropping off "Thank you" toast in the gifter's mailbox.

Tickets to an event you have no real interest in: Scalp 'em, feel the rush of being a reseller, see if that's the new life direction you've been waiting for.

Do this especially if they aren't your usual scalpable rock-conert fare— for example, you could give theatre patrons the gift of being perplexed outside the Citadel Theatre as they watch you hawkin' some prime seats.

Bonus points if you can sell them back to the person who gave them to you.

A lump of coal: If someone gets you the classic black lump—great joke, Dad!—well, maybe you earned that one. Think about your yearly habits, reflect on your impact on the people around you (remember that they don't get to experience your intentions, and their impressions of situations are probably different than yours), and make a resolution or two.

Try to live a better life. But also, save that lump—with coal set to start phasing out of Alberta, that lampblack representation of your naughty year is will eventually be a sweet, "Remember when?" paperweight.

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

FILM

FILM EDITOR : PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

REVUE // DRAMA

Fri, Nov 27 – Thu, Dec 3 Directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck Metro Cinema at the Garneau 

High rollers

You already spent your November blowing out that beard, now let VUE help round out your waistline so that the ol’ Kris Kringle transformation is complete!

A

t their best (Half Nelson, Sugar), Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's films slip us into the shadow-lined corners of American lives (a troubled inner-city high school teacher, a struggling baseball prospect), lives not simply hopeless or hopeful, not simply strife-filled or striving. Mississippi Grind, wending its way from Iowa down to the delta's Big Easy, isn't a Boden-and-Fleck trek at its best, but its lead double-act and almost-pointed pointlessness are enough to nudge it over the line.

In the film's opening—tipping the story into its slow, steady roll—Curtis (Ryan Reynolds), a guy who just likes to play, meets addict Gerry (Ben Mendelsohn) at the poker table. They hit it off, Gerry becomes convinced Curtis is his lucky charm, and they're soon on the road. Gerry's eager to pay off—or avoid?—his debts in Dubuque, and Curtis says a big game ($25 000 buy-in) awaits in New Orleans.

Mendelsohn's outstanding as this weathered hangdog, so hung up on signs and tells that he won't even admit—to himself, too?—why he really wants to visit his ex-wife in Little Rock. But his desperate need

to believe in himself finds a match in Reynold's younger, seemingly happier storyteller, a man whose stumbling romanticism—gambling on the best in someone else—emerges.

There's a faintly raffish charm to most shuffl ing-along scenes here, from conversations in clubs, dives or riverboat casinos to a visit with two escorts in St Louis where the film's mood of sad souls, separate and slipping away, ripples out. In the pair's trip down-river—mainly a forlorn descent—place after place seems stuck in the '70s, apt since this film's a throwback to '70s New Hollywood.

In the end, though, it bobbles: there are cryptic moments that seem like needless efforts to complicate Curtis; the tragic pointlessness of Gerry's quest is dulled by sudden success. What lingers after Mississippi Grind's cashed it all in, though, are those moments on the brink, at a card table or a racetrack, when Gerry was there, edge of his seat, clinging to his American daydream, so caught up in his ragged, careworn hope.

BRIAN GIBSON

BRIAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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FILM 29

FILM REVUE // CHRISTMAS

The Night Before T

Can you regift a movie?

he Night Before unspools like an irritating, frayed Christmassweater of a script, bumblingly knitted together the night before. It's the sort of present that means well but is pathetically awkward to behold now that you're finally looking at it, just sitting there, a klutzy, kitschy shamble of an imitation of the real thing.

The real thing would be a buddycomedy cross-stitched with a nightout-in-the-city-gone-wrong comedy.

But this is such a ragged, staggering, let-it-all-hang-out bro-comedy that the women—Mindy Kaling, Ilana Glazer, Lizzy Caplan—feel parachuted in. Way worse is the celebrity-cameo for Miley Cyrus that's really just an excuse to turn "Wrecking Ball" into a generational anthem framing an inane romantic speech.

The premise is so thin, it's more laughable than most of the antics: three pals, first getting together on Christmas Eve, 2001, to cheer up the suddenly orphaned one, finally get to the mysterious Nutcracker Ball they've long heard about. Cue an evening of Little Lebowskiing—Seth Rogen as Jewish lawyer Isaac (no stereotype there), tripping over and over on 'shrooms or coke or pot—and parentless Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) still

Now playing Directed by Jonathan Levine  yearning for his ex and (no stereotype here!) black football star Chris (Anthony Mackie) playing the fame-game.

From Run DMC karaoke to Nintendo 64-playing, from Die Hard references to text-chat about dick pics, The Night Before strains to be a Christmas movie for '80s babies now all grown up but umbilically attached to their smartphones. Thirtysomething men express their true, shallow feelings at last—with clichés about the season or YOLO or "go big or go home." A bi-curious subplot's really just about James Franco and Rogen showing each other more bromance in yet another comedy. Jokes are oh-so-edgy (calling one's soon-to-be baby a "cunt" or imagining her as an 18-year-old stripper; saying you'll have sex with your girlfriend's parents). And just when you think one actor—Michael Shannon, as a potdealer—may still somehow survive, dignity intact, this yuletide of debris purporting to be comic bits and bobs, he actually sprouts angel-wings and flies up, up, and away. Lucky him, mind you, escaping this flick that easily.

BRIAN GIBSON

BRIAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

REVUE // THE HUNGER GAMES

Mockingjay Part 2 Now playing Directed by Francis Lawrence 

JAMES WHITE

FRI 9:20PM SAT–SUN 3:30PM & 9:20PM MON–THURS 9:20PM

RATED: 14A COARSE LANGUAGE, MATURE SUBJECT MATTER

THE 33

FRI 6:50PM SAT–SUN 1:00PM & 6:50PM MON–THUR 6:50PM

RATED: P.G. COARSE LANGUAGE

30 FILM

FRI, NOV. 27–THUR, DEC. 3

TRUMBO FRI 6:45PM & 9:15PM SAT–SUN 2:00PM, 6:45PM & 9:15PM MON–THUR 6:45PM & 9:15PM RATED: 14A COARSE LANGUAGE

Hungering for an ending

I

f you don't remember Mockingjay Part 1, be sure to read a synopsis before seeing its sequel. Part 2 begins with no preamble, its cold-open dropping us exactly where we left off. Katniss is in hospital in District 13. Peeta has been brainwashed by

the Capitol. War rages across Panem.

The reason why you should read a synopsis rather than re-watching Part 1 is that Part 2 instantly highlights how fl accid and padded its precursor was. The final instalment has to cram in everything that Part 1 neglected, so there's no longer any room for heel-dragging. It races along at a breakneck speed, rewarding loyal fans of the series by not stopping once to reintroduce characters or plots which more casual viewers may have forgotten.

The film's breathless pace means that while its action scenes are thrilling, it lacks the mournful moments of its previous chapters (Rue's death in the first movie, Peeta comforting a dying tribute in Catching Fire). Individual deaths, even of major characters, are lost amidst all the carnage.

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

And the PG-13 film does not go wanting for carnage. The revolution tears through the Capitol, translating the same sorts of traps and challenges from the first two Hunger Games arenas onto an urban landscape (and slowly killing off our large ensemble of tertiary characters). Mockingjay's best sequence unfolds in the sewers below the Capitol, where the film plays with us, verging on horror for a solid three minutes before a terrifying swarm of "muttations" (which look like the bastard spawn of the Pale Man from Pan's Labyrinth and the Alien from the Alien franchise) chase down Katniss and company.

The final chapters of Mockingjay were narrated from Katniss' increasingly traumatized and fragmented first-person perspective. The blockbuster leaches out a lot of this internal turmoil (with the exception of a hilarious and gut-punching scene involving Katniss and her sister's cat), and finishes up the Hunger Games saga with the closest thing to a happy ending that this grim story could achieve—mercifully free from Harry Potter-style old-age makeup.

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

REVUE // PIXAR

The Good Dinosaur Opens Friday Directed by Peter Sohn 

Everybody do the dinosaur

A

s far as Pixar's animated features go, The Good Dinosaur reaches the level of its title descriptor, if only just that: it's a capable but uneven film, one unlikeot to land on the pantheon of Pixar's most beloved works, but also isn't, like, Cars 2.

ASPECTRATIO

After a clever, quick "what if the meteorite never hit, 65 million years ago?" intro, we skip ahead a few million years into this alt-history, reaching a homely little dino-agrarian paradise: Arlo (Raymond Ochoa), born the runt of three Apatosaurus, proves

cowardly 'round the farm, unable to prove his worth like stick-weidling bro Buck (Marcus Scribner) and clever sis Lily (Maleah Padilla). An accident strikes the family, then another: Arlo is washed away in a river and tries to find his way home, while being followed by strange little human, Spot (Jack Bright) who seems to have taken to him.

If most of that sounds like familiar kid-film tropes, it sure feels that way to watch them play out: in its beginnings, The Good Dinosaur moves through obvious beat to obvious beat with a well-worn, unmemorable plod. Eventually, it finds purchase as a prehistoric western: lost in the great, gorgeous sweeps of the untamed American Northwest, Arlo evades some fanatical pterodactyls

and falls in with some T-rex longhorn ranchers (one voiced by Sam Shepard, of course).

It's in the film's midsection that a bustling sense of adventure and uniqueness emerges: Arlo starts to learn that the things that scare us are the scars and stories that bring us together, and are worth facing up to and seeing through. Like a western, the dialogue grows sparser, atmosphere and the landscape telling as much story as the characters (Spot doesn't really use words anyway, so Arlo's conversations are pretty one-sided).

It does have a couple of those hall-

mark Pixar emotional gut-punches, and the animation's imaginative and deftly used: sinister pterodactyl beaks dipping through the clouds like inverted shark fins; sweeps of lighting bugs illuminate darkness under a great open sky; animals twitch and shiver with remarkable attention detail. It's in the storytelling that you find a disconnect with The Good Dinosaur: the script—which went through delays, rewrites and director/producer swap-outs during its process— could use some paring down, instead of lumbering along like some kind of dinosau—oh.

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

JOSEF BRAUN // JOSEF@VUEWEEKLY.COM

An unanswerable why-dunnit Docudrama take on In Cold Blood very much a film of its time

The film version of In Cold Blood (1967), written and directed by Richard Brooks, arrived in cinemas just a couple of years after Truman Capote's sensational "non-fiction novel" of the same name appeared in print. In Cold Blood was prompted by the 1959 slaughter of four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas. The killers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, broke into the Clutter home believing there to be a cash-stuffed safe on the premises. They left with $43, a radio and a pair of binoculars.

They went to Mexico and had they remained abroad it is unlikely they would have ever been apprehended.

But they returned to the US, where they were picked up after stealing a car.

The senselessness of the crime formed the black hole at the centre of In Cold Blood, an existential, unanswerable why-dunnit that, depending how you chose to read it, either lamented the era's declining values or some essential, inescapable vicious-

ness at the heart of man. In any case, this docudrama about a then-eightyear-old quadruple homicide and the winding road to capture and ostensible justice—Smith and Hickock were executed in 1965—became very much a film of its time. Bleak, yet sympathetic to at least one of its murderer's fragile psyches, violent, but also complicated in its morals and politics, Brooks' Blood was released just months after New Hollywood's bloody, myth-building game-changer Bonnie & Clyde and only a year and a half before the Manson Family's reign of terror. In Cold Blood depicted a generation set precariously adrift and mortal danger in the American heartland without coherent causality. It still chills and fascinates and has just been released as part of the prestigious Criterion Collection.

Chief among the film's distinctions are the beautiful gloom of Conrad Hall's monochromatic cinematography, which heightens realism by

visually itemizing objects crucial to the crime while crafting rich atmospherics in dimly lit rooms and wide-open roadways. There are the fearless, wonderfully contrasting performances by Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as the sociopathic killers, the former a sensitive dreamer tormented by childhood trauma, the latter a vaguely charming loser with a knack for talking people into giving him things with that corn-fed, cheery smile. And there is the score from Quincy Jones. It is predominantly jazzy, very bold and nuanced, dexterous in its adaptability and, you ask me, kind of ruins the movie. OK, to a degree: besides being sophisticated and urban-sounding, and thus somewhat incongruous to the film's largely rural milieu and its central characters' myopic mindset, Jones' music is ever-eager to grab our attention, rather than lure us into mood.

Something in this story demands quietude for full impact. Brooks seems to have understood this since the sequence in which we are finally able to witness a speculative version of the Clutter killings plays out almost entirely with only the howling wind as its soundtrack. The last sequence, too, is more effective for its relative silence. "Four innocent and two guilty people murdered," goes one character's tally following the hanging of Smith and Hickock. We're left with only one grim final image and no musical cues to guide our emotions or allow us to believe that anything has been resolved. "In cold blood," indeed. V

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FILM 31

PREVUE // ALT-ROCK

MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY.com/MUSIC MUSIC EDITOR: MEAGHAN BAXTER MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

YOUNG RIVAL ON NEW ALBUM, INTERIOR LIGHT.

The r oad well trav elle d Born Ruffians on touring and the band's new album, Ruff

I

t's no secret that life as a touring musician is often far less glamorous than one would believe. The cyclical blur of venues, cities and gigs can begin to draw comparisons to a real-life version of Groundhog Day—the feeling of which has been deftly summed up in Born Ruffians' video for "Don't Live Up," a single from its new album, Ruff.

"I never wanted anyone to see that and go, 'Oh, those guys hate touring.

Do they hate what they do?' Because it's fun, but it is very routine," says frontman Luke Lalonde from Victoria before another show on the band’s current tour, which will keep

the Midland, ON alt-rock group busy until mid-December. He compares the often predictable schedule of a typical tour day—get up, drive, load in, sound check, play, repeat— to that of a typical nine-to-five job.

"That's the beauty of the video: it's sort of relatable in everyone's life."

It's gruelling to spend an inordinate amount of time cooped up in a tour van, but that's not to say the members of Born Ruffians would trade it in, either. They're currently sharing the ride with Young Rival, and Lalonde says nine people on the road together makes for steady entertainment—they've got a litany of inside

Over

32 FILM

jokes at this point and have amused themselves trying to wake up drummer Adam Hindle, who ostensibly sleeps through anything—as well as a solid support system.

"It would be terrible if it was a bunch of shitheads in the van," he laughs.

"Everyone has days where you can tell like, aw, man, I think so-and-so's having a tough day or something with their girlfriend's wrong, and you give them space or give them a helping hand if they need it. I think that's the ultimate lesson, is when you realize you don't have to go through everything alone and that you can help other people out and that you

can ask for help. That's a hard lesson to learn for a lot of people, but for me it's a valuable lesson."

It helps that Lalonde is able to put certain situations in perspective onstage every night, too. The songs populating Ruff draw on the inherent struggles that come with being in a band for a decade. "[It's] a highly personal thing for me to be able to sing something on stage that when I'm having an off night it's about what I'm going through, and I can be singing to that and directly relating to the thing I'm singing about," he notes. "It usually

30 years of diverse and

Fri, Nov 27 (8 pm) With Young Rival Starlite Room, $17.50 is sort of a reminder that you have to just get it out there; you have to put what you're thinking outward and it'll be better, and you'll realize that it's actually not so bad. Because that's usually the end result of these dilemmas is that it's not as bad as you think: you just have to buck up and go do it and get through it and buckle up."

MEAGHAN BAXTER

MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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MUSIC 33

MUSIC PREVUE // DJ

Stickybuds

K

elowna-born DJ Stickybuds (real name Tyler Martens) has spent the past few years criss-crossing the globe, spinning his funky drum-and-bass from Medicine Hat to Budapest to New Zealand.

Up until very recently, he's always been willing to take a show to spread the good vibes.

"Now's kind of the time to do a lot," Martens says. "Winter's always a busy season, too. I do Canadian shows and a few US ones, then I go straight into my Australia-New Zealand tour, and I just literally finished doing a European tour.

"Right before that, I did the summer festivals and stuff," he continues. "I've been doing it solid for a while and haven't had much of a break, but I'll get one next year."

Martens isn't planning to leave his native Kelowna any time soon, either. He gets an Okanagan living experience while still being able to jet off to festivals and perform sets around the world.

"It's great, man, I love living here," Martens says. "It's nice and, like, super-small, but it's still small compared to big cities. I live downtown, I live minutes from the lake, my family lives here and I've got lots of friends here."

With 2016 quickly approaching, Martens is paring back his busy touring schedule. He's a little older now, and a little more experienced than he was when he played his first show all the way back in January 2005.

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8 °Ä? Ă‚ Æ 34 MUSIC

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

Sat, Nov 28 (9 pm) With Pumpkin Starlite Room, $25 "Where I'm at, I'm super happy, y'know?" Martens says. "As far as the ladder and where I've always wanted to go, it's like I'm well on my way to what I've wanted to do.

I've made a successful career out of DJing and making music and stuff, so I'm super happy."

Martens intends to use his time off the road to make music, which is harder for him to do in the midst of a busy tour schedule.

"My goals right now are not to do quite as much and write more music and just try and make my mark worldwide by playing really quality music, y'know?"

JORDYN MARCELLUS

JORDYN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // COUNTRY

Olivia Wik

Sat, Nov 28 (8 pm) With Kayla Patrick Cafe Blackbird, $10 "If we feel like the song is worth recording, we then get a producer to make up a track that I record vocals over," she explains. "Once the demo is all finished, we pitch it to artists we think would like to pick up the song. ... If I really like it, I might keep it for myself."

Some of the artists Wik has written songs for include Ryland Clark ("She's So Hepburn"), Connor James ("#Awesome") and Rebecca Lappa ("Empire").

// Nicole Ashley

'P

eople are like, 'It's so weird.

How do you vibe with someone else if you aren't in the room?' But I love it," Sherwood Park-based singersongwriter Olivia Wik says. "I think it's great, because when you sit in front of a computer—sometimes there is a delay [and] you can't sing together or play together—you can connect with people all over the world."

Since she started her music career at 16, Wik has been doing what she refers to it as "Skype writing." More than half of Wik's songs have been crafted during Skype sessions, collaborating with other songwriters from Barbados, Finland, Spain and

Japan, which she has met through her publisher, Vince DeGiorgio (*NSync, Caro Emerald) or networking at songwriting workshops locally and internationally.

"I've gotten to meet a lot of people just going to gigs or seeing other bands play and connecting with other artists there," she says.

On average, the sessions can take up to two hours in length, with Wik's longest sessions taking about four hours. Once the Skype chat is over, Wik and her co-writer will do a work tape on their phones and share it with each other and their respective publishers.

That busy songwriting schedule has called for the country artist to release songs on a singles basis rather than release a record. But, four years later, Wik is ready to focus on her own singer-songwriter career as she prepares to release her first acoustic EP at the beginning of 2016, which was recorded alongside friend Ian Smith in Kitchener, ON. "I've done demos and put them up on my website, so other people could hear it and if they were interested in cutting the song [they] could take it," she explains. "That's what I've been doing since I started. Now, I'm really working towards something that I can release and put out there."

JASMINE SALAZAR

JASMINE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

MUSIC 35

MUSIC PREVUE // BLUEGRASS

The Dead South

I

t's hard to tell if it's the fatigue of a transatlantic flight or the accumulation of an unknowable number of European beers that's contributing to the charmingly aloof crackle in Nate Hilts' voice.

"Today, we're just looking at each other ... like, holy shit," he reflects,

Hide the whisky

having just stepped off a plane from Germany.

Hilts is the lead singer and guitarist of the Regina-based bluegrass band the Dead South. Fresh off the European leg of the group's current tour, Hilts and company have built a colourful reputation for a charged-up,

rawkus style of bluegrass.

Incorporating elements of rock and a more tongue-in-cheek style of folk, the members of the Dead South have made a point of not taking themselves too seriously. These boys can tilt a beer, break a few guitar strings and smile while they do it.

"The whole point is to have fun with it," Hilts says. "We've got dance moves and beer cracking, some goofy shenanigans."

Speaking with Hilts, only an hour after touching down, he looks back on a path that has taken him from a dorm room at the University of Regina to Prague and back again.

"Colton was on the wrestling team, and I was living with a couple wrestlers," remembers Hilts, referring the South's banjo player and other founding member, Colton Crawford.

"I was washing dishes and listening to Trampled by Turtles, and my roommates came home and they brought Colton along."

Hilts recalls the exchange that followed: Crawford heard Trampled by Turtles playing and gestured to Hilts, "Oh, man, I love these guys. I just bought a banjo; I've always wanted to play banjo in a band." Hilts looked back at Crawford and in expert-level deadpan said, "Sweet, I always wanted to be in a band."

Following the release of its 2014 debut album Good Company, the band caught the attention of German re-

Sun, Nov 29 (8 pm) The Buckingham, $8 in advance, $10 at the door cord producer JĂśrg Tresp during Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Tresp immediately signed the band to his label, Devil Duck Records, based out of Hamburg, and he booked the rowdy foursome on a European tour.

If the notion of fanatical bluegrass fans across Germany sounds unusual to you, the same thought crossed both Hilts and Tresp's minds. "[Tresp] didn't really know that there was a bluegrass scene there, he just liked what he heard," Hilts chuckles.

Tresp's confidence paid dividends in the result of four wildly successful European jaunts for the Dead South, which found enthusiastic audiences in the Netherlands, Germany and Czech Republic.

As for what to expect when the Dead South comes to town?

"At Hootenanny! A good foot stomping, whisky-drinking time," Hilts says.

Look out Edmonton.

SHAWN BERNARD

SHAWN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // POST-SECONDARY

MacEwan Music Department A

t the beginning of the semester, MacEwan University music students undergo a rigorous audition process to be in MacEwan's Showcase Bands and Big Bands. Out of those auditions, only 10 students are selected for two Showcase Bands and 20 make it into the two Big Bands, which then go on to perform and rehearse for the remainder of the school year.

"These two bands really showcase all the talent present at MacEwan," Fred Mack says, who plays lead tenor in MacEwan's Big Band. It's a really good representation of what goes on musically, not only at the university, but in the arts and music community in Edmonton. There's a really strong dialogue between MacEwan and the surrounding arts community."

Mack, a third-year MacEwan student majoring in saxophone performance, has been playing with the Big Band for three years.

"I made it a big goal of mine to make it onto the Big Band," he notes.

Both bands are composed of students at any university level (with the exception of instructers leading the bands), and there are differences between the two music ensembles.

"Mostly it has to do with instrumentation and differences in the genre of music," Mack says.

// Steven Stefaniuk

36 MUSIC

Showcase Bands have a contemporary-pop focus with an emphasis on vocal harmonies that includes

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

MacEwan Showcase Band, Nov 29 (7:30 pm); MacEwan Big Band, Nov 30 (7:30 pm) John L Haar Theatre, $12 three vocalists.

"There is a more of a Hollywoodesque type of vibe to it," he says.

"Whereas the Big Bands have a different instrumention: there's five saxophones, four trombones, five trumpets, bass, drums, piano, guitar and a vocalist once in awhile for some of the songs. It's a lot of instrumental music as opposed to vocal-specific music."

The 2015/2016 season will open up with the Showcase Bands performing A Tribute To Motown and Soul, led by instructors Chandelle Rimmer and Dr William Richards, featuring the music of Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and more. The Big Bands will perform a mix of Latin, funk and jazz genres, which will be directed by Raymond Baril and Jerrold Dubyk.

"It's guaranteed that there will be something for everyone in this mix," Mack says. "It's a really great kick-off for the year, because it really showcases a broad spectrum of music. It's going to be a great opener of what is yet to come in the year."

JASMINE SALAZAR

JASMINE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // FUNDRAISER

karaoke THURSDAYS with JR • 9pm–1am

friday & Saturdays Live ENTERTAINMENT • 9PM-1AM ROB ROWAN Nov 27 & 28 KARAC HENDRIKS Dec 4 & 5

Sunday's OPEN MIC 7pm – 11pm Host: The Mary Thomas Band

12340 Fort RD • sandshoteledmonton.com

SAT DEC 12, UNION HALL

CURRENT SWELL W/ THE CAVE SINGERS

Sarah Larocque and Mattie Cuvilier of Clean Up Your Act Productions

Hardcore for Humanity 5

SUN DEC 13, BRIXX

WIL

W/ GUESTS WED JAN 13, STUDIO 96

THE LION, THE BEAR, THE FOX W/ GUESTS

'M

y whole life is shaped by social work and punk rock," explains Mattie Cuvilier, local musician, promoter and advocate. "I spend almost every waking hour thinking about one or the other, and a lot of time reflecting on the shared connections between both."

Since the fateful day in elementary school wherein his entire class was forced to endure Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise" along with an accompanying slideshow of the homeless ("It made me feel intensely guilty as a child," he laughs), Cuvilier has found his passion in both working with the disadvantaged as well as in music: he's a promoter with Clean Up Your Act (250-plus shows to date), singer in "positive" hardcore outfit Vibes and tape manipulator for the more experimental Faith Crisis.

"In many ways both have helped to expose and challenge my prejudices, and made me re-examine my values," he says. "Using one to help the other was a no-brainer for me."

It's no surprise then that Cuvilier is behind this Saturday's fifth edition of Hardcore for Humanity. The benefit show features local hardcore acts Languid, Low Level, 21st Agenda as well as Florals, and it aims to raise both money and essential goods needed for survival on the winter streets of our city.

"We all know how cold it gets in Edmonton, so we'll be collecting non-perishable food and warm winter clothes for the Bissell Centre," Cuvilier says. "These small donations can help to literally save lives."

Through his work with organizations such as Homeward Trust, the Bissell Centre, Youth Empowerment & Support Services (YESS), Cuvilier also sees the importance of how bringing different communities together can alter preconceived notions within society.

"Our perceptions of poverty, institutionalized racism, mental health, drug addiction and right-to-housing have to change, and events like this can help to chip away at that," he

FRI JAN 29, STUDIO 96 TIX AT YEG LIVE

Sat, Nov 28 (9 pm) With Low Level, Languid, 21st Agenda, Florals DV8 Underground, $10 or Winter clothes/Non-perishable food donation explains. "There really is so little difference between someone who is affluent and someone living in extreme poverty, so it's important to treat the less fortunate with respect."

Cuvilier is quick to point out that his experiences over the years have given him much more than he's been able to reciprocate.

"I've been shown time and time again the power of the human spirit," he says. "The amazing, painful, joyful and real experiences of helping someone transition in a major part of their life. People who are struggling are often the most open and honest—you see what it means to really be alive."

OLD MAN LUEDECKE W/ GUESTS

FRI FEB 5, BRIXX

THE BRIGHT LIGHT SOCIAL HOUR W/ GUESTS

SUN FEB 14, MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH EDM FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL & JCL PRESENTS

FRAZEY FORD W/ GUESTS

JAMES STEWART

JAMES@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

MUSIC 37

MUSIC MUSIC NOTES

JASMINE SALAZAR // JASMINE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

FUNDRAISER GARAGE SALE / FRI, NOV 27 & SAT, NOV 28

It's a garage sale with a heavy-metal twist.

There will be tons of new and used items like T-shirts, patches, music gear, Farmageddon Open Air merch, CDs, records and more. Entertainment will be provided by local metal bands Mongol and Mortillergy. Funds will go towards the development of Prairie Fire events and conference. (DV8, Free)

DAISY BLUE / SAT, NOV 28 (4 PM)

The alternative-rock band has been described as the "KD Lang for hipsters." You won't know for sure unless you check the free performance out.

(Blackdog, Free)

COMEDY AT THE CENTURY CASINO

Call 780.481.YUKS FOR TICKETS & INFO .....................................................................

VIVASECTOMY / SAT, NOV 28 (4 PM)

DAMONDE TSCHRITTER

ROCK 4 SANTA / SAT, NOV 28 (7 PM)

It's a free punk show. Use the money you would have spent on a ticket on liquor. (Filthy McNasty's, Free)

This Jingle Bell rockin' event supports the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton. RC Sindicate plays along with Alterra and the Well Witchers. (Brixx, $10)

LEE AARON

FRI NOV 27

NOV 27 & 28

KENT SANGSTER / SUN, NOV 29 (11:30 AM)

When Kent Sangster's not performing, the jazz musician can be found instructing at MacEwan University. (Yellowhead Brewery)

FRI DEC 4

THE WEEKND / MON, NOV 30 (7:30 PM)

SWAMP MUSIC

A LYNYRD SKYNYRD TRIBUTE

SAT DEC 19

It's not rock 'n' roll, but Abel Tesfaye, aka the Weeknd, sings about sex and drugs. As he'd say, "Go tell your friends about it." (Rexall Place, $39.50)

LLOYD BANKS / WED, DEC 2 (9 PM)

Maybe you remember Lloyd Banks from the hip-hop group G-Unit.

These days, he's without members 50 Cent and Tony Yayo, doing the solo thing. (YEG Event Centre, $40)

COMING SOON: KENNY SHIELDS & STREETHEART, THE SCORPIONS TRIBUTE BAND AND MORE!

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT CENTURY CASINO AND TICKETMASTER

íí įĤĉ qÃPØĥį ʼn ğŎį PŎįí įıÀ įŊ Ö

REVOLUTION ENGINE / THU, DEC 3 (8 PM)

At its core, Revolution Engine makes rock music, drawing inspiration from the likes of Rage Against the Machine, POD and Audioslave.

(Mercury Room, $10)

EDMONTON.CNTY.COM 13103 FORT RD • 643-4000

Black Friday Record Store Day November 27 & 28

Exclusive New Releases and 20% Off All Product In-store Specials & Giveaways 10442-82 ave

38 MUSIC

/

780.439.1273

/

blackbyrd.ca

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

WEEKLY

EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

THU NOV 26 ACCENT EUROPEAN LOUNGE

Live Music every Thu; 9pm ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Open

mic with Stan Gallant BAILEY THEATRE–CAMROSE

The Rose City Roots Music Society presents: Slocan Ramblers (blues); 8pm; $25 (adult), $15 (student); No minors BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

Thirsty Thursday Jam; 7:30pm BLUES ON WHYTE Rockin

Jake; 9pm BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every TueFri, 5-8pm CAFE BLACKBIRD Candice Sand; 7:30pm; $10 CAFÉ HAVEN Music every

Thu; 7pm

TAVERN ON WHYTE Open

DRAFT BAR & GRILL Lori

stage with Michael Gress (fr Self Evolution); every Thu; 9pm-2am

Kole; 9pm

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Thu Main Fl: Throwback Thu:

Rock&Roll, Funk, Soul, R&B and 80s with DJ Thomas Culture; jamz that will make your backbone slide; Wooftop: Dig It! Thursdays. Electronic, roots and rare groove with DJ's Rootbeard, Raebot, Wijit and guests CENTURY ROOM Lucky 7:

Retro '80s with house DJ every Thu; 7pm-close THE COMMON The Common

Uncommon Thursday: Rotating Guests each week!

ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove DJ every Thu FILTHY MCNASTY'S Taking

Back Thursdays KRUSH ULTRA LOUNGE Open

stage; 7pm; no cover ON THE ROCKS Salsa Rocks:

every Thu; dance lessons at 8pm; Cuban Salsa DJ to follow UNION HALL 3 Four All

Thursdays: rock, dance, retro, top 40 with DJ Johnny Infamous

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Adam

Holm (folk/pop); 9pm DV8 Prairie Fire Events Ltd

Fundraiser Garage Sale, featuring Mortillery, and Mongol; 12pm; Free FIONN MACCOOL'S– DOWNTOWN Two-Fisted Friday

Presents: Sam Spades; 8pm; No cover; All ages JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Star Warz: A

Galactic Rock Comedy; until Jan 24 LB'S PUB Grave New World (rock); 9:30pm; No cover

Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Brodeep RED STAR Movin' on Up: indie, rock, funk, soul, hip hop with DJ Gatto, DJ Mega Wattson; every Fri SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE

Amplified Fridays: Dubstep, house, trance, electro, hip hop breaks with DJ Aeiou, DJ Loose Beats, DJ Poindexter; 9:30pm (door) UNION HALL Ladies Night

every Fri Y AFTERHOURS Foundation

Fridays

SAT NOV 28 APEX CASINO Robin Kelly;

MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Thu and Fri DJ and

8pm

dance floor; 9:30pm

ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Jimmy

NEWCASTLE PUB & GRILL

Whiffen; 8pm

Persons of Interest; 9pm; No cover

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

NEW WEST HOTEL Doug & The

Hurtin Horsemen O'MAILLES IRISH PUB Mike

Dominey; 9pm ON THE ROCKS Live music;

Triple Threat: A night of fine homegrown indie rock n roll; featuring Low Frequency Angels, We Used to Be Friends and Market Forces; 9pm; $10 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Hair

JAxx; 9:30pm

of the Dog: this week with Daisy Blue; (live acoustic music every Sat); 4-6pm; no cover

RED PIANO BAR Hottest

BLUE CHAIR CAFE Jack

9pm OVERTIME Sherwood Park DJ

dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Thu

Semple; 8:30-10:30pm; $20 BLUES ON WHYTE Every Sat

Suite" featuring the Craig Brenan Band (jazz); 7:30pm; $30-$34 FILTHY MCNASTY'S Free

Afternoon Concerts: this week with Vivasectomy & Mass Distraction; 4pm; No cover GAS PUMP Saturday

Homemade Jam: Mike Chenoweth HILLTOP PUB Open Stage,

Jam every Sat; 3:30-7pm JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Star Warz: A

Galactic Rock Comedy; until Jan 24 LB'S PUB The Tomatoes

(rock); 9pm LEAF BAR AND GRILL Open

Stage Sat–It's the Sat Jam hosted by Darren Bartlett, 5pm MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Live Local Bands

every Sat NEW WEST HOTEL Doug & The

Hurtin Horsemen ¶ Boots & Boogie (Nov 28-Dec 5) O'BYRNE'S Live band every Sat, 3-7pm; DJ every Sat, 9:30pm O'MAILLES IRISH PUB Mike

Dominey; 9pm

JAxx; 9:30pm

SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN Stan Gallant

Doug Stroud (country/pop/ rock); 9pm Fri; 9pm-2am

FRI NOV 27

EARLY STAGE SALOON–Stony Plain Open Jam Nights;

8pm

APEX CASINO Robin Kelly;

no cover

ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Jimmy

FIONN MACCOOL'S– DOWNTOWN Craft Addict

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

Whiffen; 8pm

Thursday Presents: Andrew Scott; 7pm; No cover; All ages

Boogaloo with the Tony Kaye Trio; 9pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door); 18+ only

J R BAR AND GRILL Live Jam

BLUES ON WHYTE Rockin

Thu; 9pm

Jake; 9pm

JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Star Warz: A

BOURBON ROOM Dueling

Galactic Rock Comedy; until Jan 24

pianos every Fri Night with Jared Sowan and Brittany Graling; 8pm

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM Alvin

BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every TueFri, 5-8pm BRIXX BAR Kickin' It Country

featuring The Shawn Oates Band, Emo Leblac, The Well Witchers and guests; 8pm (doors), 8:30pm (show); $10; No minors CAFE BLACKBIRD Randall

SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN Stan Gallant

(rock); 9pm SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A

Andrew Scott (alt/country); 9pm SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM

Doug Stroud (country/pop/ rock); 9pm STARLITE ROOM Born Ruffians

with guests; 8pm (doors); $17.50; 18+ only TIRAMISU BISTRO Live music

every Fri WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK Live Music

Fridays; Each Fri, 8-10pm; $5 suggested donation YARDBIRD SUITE Ori Dakari's

NORTH GLENORA HALL

Jam by Wild Rose Old Time Fiddlers every Thu; 7pm; contact Gary 780.998.4904 RED PIANO Every Thu: Dueling

CASINO YELLOWHEAD The

Pinheruppers; 9pm CENTURY CASINO Lee Aaron

& PRISM; 7pm; $49.95; No minors

(jazz); most Thursdays; 7-10pm

THE COMMON Party Over Here, Party Over There featuring Flavours (DJ) with Wright and Wong and Dane and more; 9pm; $7 (door)

SMOKEHOUSE BBQ Live Blues

DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE

pianos at 8pm RIC'S GRILL Peter Belec

every Thur: this week with Sugar Foot; 7-11pm

Brett Kissel; 7:30pm; $39.50 (adult), $37.50 (youth/senior)

BRIXX BAR A Jingle Bell

Rockin' Eve featuring Rc Sindicate, Alterra and guests; 6:30pm (door), 7pm (show); $10; 18+ only CAFE BLACKBIRD Olivia Wix & Kayla Patrick -- Double Bill; 8pm; $10

Bonafide; 9pm CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Sat CASINO EDMONTON The CASINO YELLOWHEAD The

DJs

Hurtin Horsemen

every Sat Night with Jared Sowan and Brittany Graling; 8pm

Traffic Jam Concerts: Jazz Standards Jazz Trio with Mark Segger, Drums; 5pm; $10 (door)

Bonafide; 9pm

Nervous Flirts; 9pm

BOURBON ROOM Live Music

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK

CASINO EDMONTON The

& Pumpkin; 9pm (door); $25; 18+ only

Open mic; 7pm; $2

MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Thu and Fri DJ and

music every Fri; all ages; 7pm; $5 (door)

BOHEMIA DARQ Saturdays: Industrial - Goth - Dark Electro with DJs the Gothfather and Zeio; 9pm; $5 (door); (every Sat except the 1st Sat of the month)

Classical

Macdonald -- Jazzy Christmas; 8pm; $15

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Live

K-DJ Show; 9pm-1am

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK

MERCURY THEATRE Steven Joseph; 6pm (doors); $12 (online), $15 (door); All ages

Tenors; 7:30pm; $24-$39

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Every

Friday DJs on all three levels THE BOWER Strictly Goods:

Old school and new school hip hop & R&B with DJ Twist, Sonny Grimez, and Marlon English; every Fri THE COMMON Good Fridays: nu disco, hip hop, indie, electro, dance with weekly local and visiting DJs on rotation plus residents Echo and Justin Foosh

Nervous Flirts; 9pm Pinheruppers; 9pm CHA ISLAND TEA CO Sole

Rhythm (alt/jazz) with Ethan Tonack and Daniel Sedmak; 9pm THE COMMON Get Down Saturday Night featuring Better Living DJs (dance/DJ/ electronic) and DJ Echo; 9pm; $7 (door) DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE

Brett Kissel; 7:30pm; $39.50 (adult), $37.50 (youth/senior) DRAFT BAR & GRILL Lori

Kole; 9pm DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Adam

Holm (folk/pop); 9pm DV8 Hardcore For Humanity

ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove DJ every Fri

5: Low Level, Languid, 21st Agenda, Florals; 8pm; $10 (and/or warm winter clothing, non perishable food donation for the Bissell Centre)

THE PROVINCIAL PUB Friday

FESTIVAL PLACE Duke Ellington's "The Nutcracker

DRUID IRISH PUB DJ every

Fri; 9pm

SNEAKY PETE'S Sinder Sparks

afternoon: Jam with Back Door Dan; Later: Rockin Jake; 9pm

Exodus; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $24 (members), $28 (guests)

WINSPEAR CENTRE The Celtic

NEW WEST HOTEL Doug & The

Andrew Scott (alt/country); 9pm SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM

DV8 TAVERN #YEGHipHop Weekly: Cash Rap Battle; 9pm; No cover; 18+ only

NAKED CYBERCAFÉ Thu open stage; 8pm; all ages (15+)

SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A

northlands.com

Beach Party Jam hosted by the Barefoot Kings; Ukulele lessons 7:30pm followed by Jam at 8:30pm

dance floor; 9:30pm

$10 Advance | $15 at the door

november 28

TRIPLE HEADER WE USED TO BE FRIENDS, LOW FREQUENCY AND MARKETFORCES

ANGELS

Doors at 8pm | Show at 9pm $10 cover

now Located in The Yellowhead Inn, 15004 Yellowhead Trail

780.482.0202 | houseofbluesyeg.com

2015/16 SEASON

RED PIANO BAR Hottest

CORAL DE CUBA Beach Bar:

July (metal) with Reflections, To The Wind and with Invent and Animate; 7pm; $22

the tony kaye trio

OVERTIME Sherwood Park DJ

(rock); 9pm

MERCURY ROOM Texas In

with

ORLANDO'S 1 Bands perform

THE COMMON The Okay Corral (country) with Smokey; 9pm; No cover

Freight open jam with hosts: Rob Kaup, Leah Durelle

BOOGALOO

9pm

dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Sat; 9pm-2am

L.B.'S PUB South Bound

BLUES AT ITS BEST

ON THE ROCKS Live music;

CHA ISLAND TEA CO Bring Your Own Vinyl Night: Every Thu; 8pm-late; Edmonton Couchsurfing Meetup: Every Thu; 8pm

KRUSH ULTRA LOUNGE Open stage with One Percent (R&B/soul); 8pm every Thu

november 27

every week; $10

Open Mic: All adult performers are welcome (music, song, spoken word); every Thu, 1:30-3pm

and the Chipmunks - Live on Stage; 7:30pm

BIG AL’S HOUSE OF bLUES

MUSIC

STARLITE ROOM Stickybuds

YARDBIRD SUITE Nir Felder

Trio; 7pm (door), 8pm (show); $24 (member), $28 (guest)

Classical CHRIST CHURCH Keep Your Lamps: Accord Ensemble Holiday Concert; 7-8:30pm; $10 (student/senior), $15 (adult) HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH i Coristi Chamber

“Michael Bernard Fitzgerald and his band put on an incredibly beautiful and moving performance.”

- Vancouver Weekly

g i b o o w# ayt ooloud # way t

5 DECM 8P

Choir presents Isles of Song; 7:30pm; $13-$18 JUBILEE AUDITORIUM

MercyMe with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; 7:30pm WINSPEARE CENTRE The

Salvation Army's Festival of Carols; 7pm; Free admission (ticket reqired. Available at Salvation Army website & 780.423.2111

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: The Menace Sessions: alt rock/Electro/Trash with Miss Mannered; Wooftop: Sound It Up!: classic Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae with DJ Sonny Grimez & instigate; Underdog: Alternating DJs

THE BOWER For Those Who

Know...: Deep House and disco with Junior Brown, David Stone, Austin, and guests; every Sat THE COMMON Get Down It's Saturday Night: House and disco and everything in between with resident Dane DRUID IRISH PUB DJ every

Sat; 9pm ENCORE–WEM Every Sat:

Sound and Light show; We are Saturdays: Kindergarten

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

MICHAEL BERNARD FITZGERALD

VIP SEATS SELLING FAST TIX START AT $30 ORDER NOW!

780.425.1820 • citadeltheatre.com

MUSIC 39

MERCER TAVERN DJ Mikey

Wong every Sat

UNIONEVENTS.COM PRESENTS

BORN RUFFIANS

SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE

Your Famous Saturday with Crewshtopher, Tyler M

W/ YOUNG RIVAL

NOV/28 DEC/1

SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM

Swing Dance Party: Sugar Swing Dance Club every Sat, 8-12; no experience or partner needed, beginner lesson followed by social dance; sugarswing.com

UBK PRESENTS

STICKYBUDS & PUMPKIN

TAVERN ON WHYTE Soul,

STEAM WHISTLE PRESENTS

THE MAHONES W/ ELECTRIC AUDREY 2 & CUTOFFS

DEC/4

CANCER BATS W/ LORD DYING & GUESTS

DEC/5

THE FORGE PRESENTS

DANIELLE MARIE

DEC/8 DEC/10 DEC/11

SOLD OUT

W/ GUESTS

DEC/12

UBK PRESENTS

G JONES & BLEEP BLOOP TURN UP FOR TOYS 2015

THE STARLITE ROOM IS A PRIVATE VENUE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS. IF YOU REQUIRE A MEMBERSHIP YOU CAN PURCHASE ONE AT THE VENUE PRIOR TO / OR AFTER THE DOOR TIMES FOR EACH SHOW.

Live music with the Icehouse Band and weekly guests; Every Tue, 9pm

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Soul Sundays: A fantastic voyage through '60s and '70s funk, soul and R&B with DJ Zyppy

MON NOV 30 BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Blue Jay's Messy Nest:

THE COMMON Hip Hop Brunch featuring Justin Foosh (DJ) and Allout DJs, Gold Blooded Deejays; 11am; No cover

Mod, Brit Pop, New Wave & British Rock with DJ Blue Jay; Wooftop: Metal Mon: with Metal Phil (fr CJSR's Heavy Metal Lunch Box)

DANCE CODE STUDIO

BLUES ON WHYTE Sweet

Flamenco Guitar Classes; Every Sun, 11:30am-12:30pm

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY

JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Star Warz: A

Galactic Rock Comedy; until Jan 24

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every TueFri, 5-8pm

Classical JOHN L. HAAR THEATRE Big

Bands; 7:30-10pm; $12 (adult), $10 (student/senior) WINSPEAR CENTRE Festival

of Nine Lessons & Carols; 7:30pm; $15

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Blue Jay's Messy Nest:

Vintage Rides; 9pm BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

BRIXX BAR The Mahones with

THEATRE Star Warz: A Galactic Rock Comedy; until Jan 24 MERCURY ROOM Music Magic

Monday Nights: Capital City Jammers, host Blueberry Norm; seasoned musicians; 7-10pm; $4

NEWCASTLE PUB The Sunday Soul Service: acoustic open stage every Sun

NEW WEST HOTEL Boots &

NEW WEST HOTEL Boots &

Boogie

YARDBIRD SUITE Tuesday

Session: Mark Segger's Interactive Jazz Trio Installation; 7:30pm (door)/8pm (show); $5

Christmas with Eileen Ivers; 7:30pm; $24-$59

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main

JUBILATIONS DINNER

FESTIVAL PLACE Darcy Oake

dancing every Tue, featuring Country Music Legend Bev Munro every Tue, 8-11pm

DJs

(family); 7:30pm; $45-$80

Monday open mic

SANDS HOTEL Country music

Hip hop with DJ Creeazn every Mon; 9pm-2am

BLUES ON WHYTE Sweet

Electric Audrey 2 & Cutoffs; 8pm (door), 9pm (show); $15; 18+ only DRUID IRISH PUB Open Stage

Galactic Rock Comedy; until Jan 24 NEW WEST HOTEL Boots &

Boogie ROW Open mic Wed: Hosted

by Jordan Strand; every Wed, 9-12 jordanfstrand@gmail.com / 780-655-8520

TAVERN ON WHYTE Classic

Tuesday Night Jam with host Harry Gregg and Geoffrey O'Brien; 8-11pm

JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Star Warz: A

ORIGINAL JOE'S VARSITY

WINSPEAR CENTRE An Irish

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

open mic with host Duff Robison

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ICEHOUSE

Classical

TUE DEC 1

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Wed

Bingo Toonz every Tue

DV8 T.F.W.O. Mondays: Roots

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every TueFri, 5-8pm

Vintage Rides; 9pm

OVERTIME–Sherwood Park

mod, brit pop, new wave, British rock with DJ Blue Jay industrial,Classic Punk, Rock, Electronic with Hair of the Dave

Band; 9pm

MERCER TAVERN Alt Tuesday

O'BYRNE'S Celtic jam every Tue; with Shannon Johnson and friends; 9:30pm

ROBERT TEGLER STUDENT CENTRE Advent Cantat

BLUES ON WHYTE J.C. Smith BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

SIDELINERS PUB Singer/ Songwriter Monday Night Open Stage; Hosted by Celeigh Cardinal; Every Mon (except long weekends), 8:3011:30pm; Free

3pm

Mod, Rock and Roll witih LL Cool Joe and DJ Downtrodden on alternate Weds

Open Jam: Trevor Mullen

ROBERTSON WESLEY UNITED CHURCH Michael Gfroerer;

THE BUCKINGHAM The Dead

Music with Duggan's House Band 5-8pm

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Tue

Country Dance Lessons: 7-9pm; with: Boots & Boogie

Blue Mondays with Jimmy and the Sleepers; 8-11pm

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Celtic

Open stage with Darrell Barr; 7-11pm

Open Mic Night hosted by Adam Holm; Every Mon

Jake; 9pm

DIVERSION LOUNGE Sun Night Live on the South Side: live bands; all ages; 7-10:30pm

L.B.'S PUB Tue Variety Night

MercyMe with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; 7:30pm

Edmonton Youth Orchestra in Concert; 2pm; $15 (adult), $10 (student/senior)

South with guests; 7pm; $8

HALF MOON RUN

NEW WEST HOTEL Tue

SUN NOV 29

BLUES ON WHYTE Rockin

LIVENATION.COM PRESENTS

SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM

WINSPEAR CENTRE

Bossa; 10am-3pm; Cover by donations

W/ VERSUS THE WORLD & MORE

Open Mic Night with Darrek Anderson from the Guaranteed; every Mon; 9pm

Saturdays

BLUE CHAIR CAFE Brunch: PM

AUTHORITY ZERO

ROUGE RESTO-LOUNGE

Showcase Bands; 7:3010pm; $12 (adult), $10 (student/senior)

Y AFTERHOURS Release

hosted by Tim Lovett

CONCERTWORKS.CA PRESENTS

JOHN L. HAAR THEATRE

MERCURY ROOM Scott Cook Farewell Party featuring Scott Cook (country/folk/reggae/ world) with guests; 7pm; $10 (adv), $12 (door)

Advent Cantat; 3pm; $13.75$16.75

Nisku Open mic every Sun

W/ YOUNG EMPIRES & DIRTY RADIO

(R&B); 7:30pm; $39.50 and up

TRINITY LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH

BLACKJACK'S ROADHOUSE–

DRAGONETTE

Classical

UNION HALL Celebrity

Sun BBQ jam hosted with the Marshall Lawrence Band; 4pm

UNIONEVENTS.COM PRESENTS

with Kris Harvey and guests

featuring Concordia Concert Choir; 3pm; $15 (adult), $12 (student/senior)

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

W/ MELODY LOVEJOY, NICKY PEARSON & ALYSSA STRAND

REXALL PLACE The Weeknd

Jam hosted by Mark Ammar; 4-8pm

Motown, Funk, R&B and more with DJs Ben and Mitch; every Sat; 9pm-2am Saturdays: every Sat hosted

by DJ Johnny Infamous

CONCERTWORKS.CA PRESENTS

Sangster (jazz); 11:30am

RICHARD'S PUB Sunday

ROUGE LOUNGE Rouge Saturdays: global sound and Cosmopolitan Style Lounging with DJ Mkhai

Jan 24

YELLOW HEAD BREWERY Kent

Sun; 9:30pm-1am

Saturday Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Maurice and electro every Sat with DJ Hot Philly and guests

PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Association: Acoustic instrumental old time fiddle jam every Mon; hosted by the Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Society; 7pm; contact Vi 780.456.8510

O'BYRNE'S Open mic every

THE PROVINCIAL PUB

RED STAR Indie rock, hip hop,

NOV/27

Boogie

Floor: Brit Pop, Synthpop, Alternative 90's, Glam Rock with DJ Chris Bruce; Wooftop: Substance: alt retro and notso-retro electronic and dance with Eddie LunchPail

BRIXX Metal night every Tue DV8 Creepy Tombsday: Psychobilly, Hallowe'en horrorpunk, deathrock with Abigail Asphixia and Mr Cadaver; every Tue

WED DEC 2 9910 Good For Grapes (alt/

folk) with The Royal Foundry and Swear By The Moon; 8pm; $15 (adv) B STREET BAR Live Music with Lyle Hobbs; 8-11pm, every Wed

Tue: featuring this week: Chris Wynters; 9pm

BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES

JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Star Warz: A

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main

Wailin' Wednesdays Jam; Every Wed, 7:30pm; All ages

Galactic Rock Comedy; until

Floor: Alt '80s and '90s, Post Punk, New Wave, Garage, Brit,

10025-105 St NW HILLTOP PUB 8220-106 Ave HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH 10037-84 Ave IRISH SPORTS CLUB 12546-126 St, 780.453.2249 J AND R 4003-106 St, 780.436.4403 JAVA XPRESS 110, 4300 South Park Dr, Stony Plain, 780.968.1860 JOHN L. HAAR THEATRE 10045155 St NW JUBILATIONS DINNER THEATRE Phase II West Edmonton Mall, 8882-170 St KELLY'S PUB 10156-104 St L.B.'S PUB 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LEAF BAR AND GRILL 9016-132 Ave, 780.757.2121 MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET 8101 Gateway Blvd, 780.439.2337 MERCER TAVERN 10363 104 St, 587.521.1911 MERCURY ROOM 10575-114 St MERCURY THEATRE 11315-106 Ave NAKED CYBERCAFÉ 10303-108 St, 780.425.9730 NEWCASTLE PUB 8170-50 St, 780.490.1999 NEW WEST HOTEL 15025-111 Ave NOORISH CAFÉ 8440-109 St NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535109A Ave O2'S–West 11066-156 St, 780.448.2255 O'BYRNE'S 10616-82 Ave, 780.414.6766

ORIGINAL JOE'S VARSITY ROW 8404-109 St ORLANDO'S 1 15163-121 St O'MAILLES IRISH PUB 104, 398 St Albert Rd, St Albert ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 OVERTIME–Sherwood Park 100 Granada Blvd, Sherwood Park, 790.570.5588 PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 10860-57 Ave THE PROVINCIAL PUB 160, 4211-106 St RED PIANO BAR 1638 Bourbon St, WEM, 8882-170 St, 780.486.7722 RED STAR 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.428.0825 RENDEZVOUS 10108-149 St REXALL PLACE 7424-118 Ave RICHARD'S PUB 12150-161 Ave, 780.457.3118 RIC'S GRILL 24 Perron Street, St Albert, 780.460.6602 ROBERTSON WESLEY UNITED CHURCH 10209-123 St NW ROBERT TEGLER STUDENT CENTRE Concordia Campus 73 St & 112 Ave ROCKY MOUNTAIN ICEHOUSE 10516 Jasper Ave, 780.424.3836 ROSEBOWL/ROUGE LOUNGE 10111-117 St, 780.482.5253 ROSE AND CROWN 10235-101 St SANDS HOTEL 12340 Fort Rd, 780.474.5476 SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN 10012-101 A Ave SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A 8519-112 St

OVERTIME–Sherwood Park

Jason Greeley (acoustic rock, country, Top 40); 9pm-2am every Wed; no cover PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Acoustic Bluegrass jam presented by the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society; every Wed, 6:30-11pm; $2 (member)/$4 (non-member) RED PIANO BAR Wed Night Live: hosted by dueling piano players; 8pm-1am; $5 ROSSDALE HALL Little Flower Open Stage with Brian Gregg; 7:30pm (door); no cover YEG DANCE CLUB Lloyd

Banks; 9pm; $40 ZEN LOUNGE Jazz

Wednesdays: Kori Wray and Jeff Hendrick; every Wed; 7:30-10pm; no cover

DJs BILLIARD CLUB Why wait

Wednesdays: Wed night party with DJ Alize every Wed; no cover BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Alt '80s and '90s, Post Punk, New Wave, Garage, Brit, Mod, Rock and Roll witih LL Cool Joe and DJ Downtrodden on alternate Weds

BRIXX BAR Eats and Beats THE COMMON The Wed Experience: Classics on Vinyl with Dane RED STAR Guest DJs every

Wed

VENUEGUIDE

NOV/27 KICKIN’ IT COUNTRY FT. THE SHAWN OATES BAND, EMO LEBLANC,

ROCK4SANTA - IN SUPPORT OF THE EDMONTON CHRISTMAS BUREAU

THE WELL WITCHERS & GUESTS

NOV/28 A JINGLE BELL ROCKIN’ EVE FT. RC SINDICATE, ALTERRA & GUESTS

ROCK4SANTA - IN SUPPORT OF THE EDMONTON CHRISTMAS BUREAU

DEC/2

EATS & BEATS

DEC/4

ZION NOIZ AND FRIENDS

FUNDRAISER FOR ZION NOIZ MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL W/ NICK DEGREE, BEE, & SKOBE

DEC/8

BETWEEN THE BREAD: FARROW CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PARTY

N3K

W/ DESIDERATA & BONSPIEL

DEC/11

T’GERA

W/ MAKE OUT CITY & THE ABLE KIND

40 MUSIC

9910 9910B-109 St ACCENT EUROPEAN LOUNGE 8223-104 St, 780.431.0179 ALE YARD TAP 13310-137 Ave ATLANTIC TRAP & GRILL 7704 Calgary Trail South "B" STREET BAR 11818-111 St BAILEY THEATRE 5041 50 St, Camrose BIG AL'S HOUSE OF BLUES Yellowhead Inn, 15004 Yellowhead Trail BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 1042582 Ave, 780.439.1082 BLACKJACK'S ROADHOUSE– Nisku 2110 Sparrow Dr, Nisku, 780.955.2336 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 BOHEMIA 10217-97 St BOURBON ROOM 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert THE BOWER 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.423.425; info@thebower.ca BRITTANY'S LOUNGE 10225-97 St, 780.497.0011 BRIXX BAR 10030-102 St (downstairs), 780.428.1099 THE BUCKINGHAM 10439 82 Ave, 780.761.1002, thebuckingham.ca CAFE BLACKBIRD 9640-142 St NW CAFÉ HAVEN 9 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, 780.417.5523, cafehaven.ca CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK 99, 23349 Wye Rd, Sherwood Park CARROT COFFEEHOUSE 9351-

118 Ave, 780.471.1580 CASINO EDMONTON 7055 Argylll Rd, 780.463.9467 CASINO YELLOWHEAD 12464153 St, 780.424 9467 CENTRAL SENIOR LIONS CENTRE 11113-113 St CENTURY CASINO 13103 Fort Rd, 780.643.4000 CHA ISLAND TEA CO 10332-81 Ave, 780.757.2482 CHRIST CHURCH 12116-102 Ave COMMON 9910-109 St DARAVARA 10713 124 St, 587.520.4980 DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE 8700 - 84 St, Fort Saskatchewan DRAFT BAR & GRILL 12912-50 St NW DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY 9013-88 Ave, 780.465.4834 DRUID 11606 Jasper Ave, 780.454.9928 DUSTER'S PUB 6402-118 Ave, 780.474.5554 DV8 8130 Gateway Blvd EARLY STAGE SALOON– Stony Plain 4911-52 Ave, Stony Plain, 780.963.5998 ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove 121-1 Ave, Spruce Grove, 780.962.1411 ENCORE–WEM 2687, 8882-170 St FESTIVAL PLACE 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park, 780.449.3378 FILTHY MCNASTY'S 10511-82 Ave, 780.916.1557 FIONN MACCOOL'S–DOWNTOWN 10200-102 St NW FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM 8882-170 St SIDELINERS PUB 11018-127 St SMOKEHOUSE BBQ 10810-124 St, 587.521.6328 SNEAKY PETE'S 12315-118 Ave SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE 1292397 St, 780.758.5924 STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 STUDIO MUSIC FOUNDATION 10940-166 A St SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM 10545-81 Ave TAVERN ON WHYTE 10507-82 Ave, 780.521.4404 TIRAMISU 10750-124 St TRINITY LUTHERAN UNITED CHURCH 10014-81 Ave NW UPTOWN FOLK CLUB 7308-76 Ave, 780.436.1554 VEE LOUNGE, APEX CASINO–St Albert 24 Boudreau Rd, St Albert, 780.460.8092, 780.590.1128 WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK 8902-99 St, wildearthbakery.com WINSPEAR CENTRE 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square; 780.28.1414 Y AFTERHOURS 10028-102 St, 780.994.3256, yafterhours.com YARDBIRD SUITE 11 Tommy Banks Way, 780.432.0428 YEG DANCE CLUB 11845 Wayne Gretzky Dr YELLOWHEAD BREWERY 10229105 St NW YESTERDAYS PUB 112, 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert, 780.459.0295 ZEN LOUNGE 12923-97 St

EVENTS WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

COMEDY Black Dog Freehouse • Underdog Comedy show: Alternating hosts • Every Thu, 8-11pm • No cover

CENTURY CASINO • 13103 Fort Rd • 780.481.9857 • Open Mic Night: Every Thu; 7:30-9pm

COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Entertainment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Fri-Sat: 8:30pm • Vilmos; Nov 26-28

COMIC STRIP • Bourbon St, WEM • 780.483.5999 • Wed-Fri, Sun 7:30pm; Fri-Sat 9:45pm • Battle to the Funny Bone; every Mon at 7:30pm • Triple Threat Tuesday; every Tue at 7:30pm • Rob Little; Nov 25-29 • Andrew Norrelli; Dec 2-6

CONNIE'S COMEDY PRESENTS HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT • Krush Ultralounge, 16648-109 Ave NW • With Colin Kreiger as co-host to Connie • Dec 1, 8pm

DRUID • 11606 Jasper Ave • 780.710.2119 • Comedy night open stage hosted by Lars Callieou • Every Sun, 9pm DJ to follow EMPRESS ALE HOUSE • 9912-82 Ave • Empress Comedy Night: featuring a professional headliner every week Every Sun, 9pm JAY LENO • River Cree Casino, 300 East Lapotac Blvd, Enoch • rivercreeresort.com • Nov 28, 7pm (doors), 8pm (show) • $84.50 • 18+ only

ONE MAN BREAKING BAD: THE UNAUTHORIZED PARODY • Festival Place, 100 Festival Way • 780.449.3378 • festivalplace.ab.ca • Miles Allen smacks the senses with his super-charged, crazily accurate renditions of all the iconic characters • Dec 2, 7:30-10:30pm • $32-$36

GROUPS/CLUBS/MEETINGS AIKIKAI AIKIDO CLUB • 10139-87 Ave, Old Strathcona Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue 7:30-9:30pm; Thu 6-8pm

BABES IN ARMS • The Carrot, 9351-118 Ave • A casual parent group • Every Fri, 10am-12pm

EDMONTON ATHEISTS • Stanley Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • Monthly roundtable discussion group.

Topics change each month, please check the website for details, edmontonatheists.ca • 1st Tue, 7pm; each month

EDMONTON OUTDOOR CLUB (EOC) • edmontonoutdoorclub.com • Offering a variety of fun activities in and around Edmonton • Free to join; info at info@ edmontonoutdoorclub.com FOOD ADDICTS • Alano Club (& Simply Done Cafe), 17028-124 St • 780.718.7133 (or 403.506.4695 after 7pm) • Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA), free 12-Step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession,

overeating, under-eating, and bulimia • Meetings every Thu, 7pm

Club: Rm 7, 6 Fl, Edmonton Public Library–DT: Meets every

Wed, 7-8:45pm; Sep-May; upward.toastmastersclubs.org; reader1@shaw.ca

FORT SASKATCHEWAN 45+ SINGLES COFFEE GROUP • A&W, 10101-88 Ave, Fort Saskatchewan •

WEDNESDAY NITE FAITH FOCUS • First Presbyterian

780.907.0201 (Brenda) • A mixed group, all for conversation and friendship • Every Sun, 2pm

HIMILAYAN SINGING BOWLS MAT MEDITATION • Roots on Whyte, #305- 8135-102 St • painreleaseclinic@ hotmail.com • rootsonwhyte.ca • Peaceful healing sounds with Philip Wong. Bring mat, pillow and blanket • Nov 29, 7-8pm • Pay-what-you-can

Church, 10025-105 St • 780.422.2937 • firstpresbyterian. ca • fpc@telus.net • Continuing in-depth examination of the action-packed 'Acts of the Apostles' • Every Wed until Nov, 6:30-8pm

WOMEN IN BLACK • In Front of the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market • Silent vigil the 1st and 3rd Sat, 10-11am, each month, stand in silence for a world without violence

LOTUS QIGONG • 780.477.0683 • Downtown • Practice group meets every Thu

LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS 9-HOUR REDEFINING CONFLICT WORKSHOP SERIES • MRJC offices, 10066-151 St • Learn conflict

NORTHERN ALBERTA WOOD CARVERS ASSOCIATION • Duggan Community Hall, 3728-106 St •

obad@shaw.ca; Group meets every Thu, 7-9pm • Free

management concepts, enhance your understanding of yourself and others in conflict situations, and try out new communication techniques to resolve differences • Starting Nov 27 • $75 (includes all materials); register online mrjc.ca, or 780.423.0896

POOR VOTE TURNOUT • Rossdale Hall, 10135-96 Ave

BEETHOVEN: THE MIDDLE PERIOD • Strathcona

nawca.ca • Meet every Wed, 6:30pm

ORGANIZATION FOR BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER (OBAD) • Grey Nuns Hospital, Rm 0651,

• poorvoteturnout.ca • Public meetings: promoting voting by the poor • Every Wed, 7-8pm

SAWA 12-STEP SUPPORT GROUP • Braeside Presbyterian Church bsmt, N. door, 6 Bernard Dr, St Albert • For adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional families • Every Mon, 7:30pm SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY FAMILY SUPPORT DROP-IN GROUP • Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, 5215-87 St • schizophrenia.ab.ca • The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta-Edmonton branch provides a facilitated family support group for caregivers of a loved one living with schizophrenia. Free drop-in the 1st and 3rd Thu each month, 7-9pm

County Library, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park • sclibrary. ab.ca • In an explosion of creative energy, Beethoven pushed music in new directions, bending and breaking musical conventions • Nov 29, 2-4pm • $10 (adults), $5 (seniors & students); Available at door

FERTILITY AWARENESS CHARTING CIRCLE • Remedy Cafe, 8631-109 St • faccedmonton@gmail.com • fertilityawarenesschartingcircle.org • First Mon each month (Oct-May), 6:30-8:30pm • $10 (suggested donation) • RSVP at faccedmonton@gmail.com

HUMAN RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL: A MUSICAL EXPLORATION WITH MICHAEL GFROERER • Robertson-Wesley United Church, 10209-123 St • rwuc.org/ sac.html • Every Sun, 3-5pm; Oct 18-Dec 6

SEVENTIES FOREVER MUSIC SOCIETY • Call

INTEGRATED MEDICINE SERIES PRESENTED

BY OFFICE OF GLOBAL HEALTH U OF A • Roots on

587.520.3833 for location • deepsoul.ca • Combining music, garage sales, nature, common sense, and kindred karma to revitalize the inward persona • Every Wed, 7-8:30pm

Whyte #305- 8135-102 St • 780.414.1466 (Le Soleil Health) • For parents & caregivers of autistic children • Nov 26, 7pm

SHERWOOD PARK WALKING GROUP + 50 • Meet inside Millennium Place, Sherwood Place • Weekly outdoor walking group; starts with a 10-min discussion, followed by a 30 to 40-min walk through Centennial Park, a cool down and stretch • Every Tue, 8:30am • $2/session (goes to the Alzheimer's Society of Alberta)

LISTENING CLUB AT FOLKWAYSALIVE! • 3-47 Old

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS) • Grace United Church annex, 6215-104 Ave • Low-cost, fun and friendly

Alberta Legislature Building, 10800-97 Ave • michael@egs. ca • Guest speakers will share information about climate change and new technology • Nov 29, 2-3:30pm • Free

weight loss group • Every Mon, 6:30pm • Info: call Bob 780.479.5519

TOASTMASTERS • Club Bilingue Toastmasters Meetings: Campus St. Jean: Pavillion McMahon; 780.667.6105 (Willard); clubbilingue.toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 7pm • Fabulous Facilitators Toastmasters Club: 2nd Fl, Canada Place Rm 217, 9700 Jasper Ave; Carisa: divdgov2014_15@outlook.com, 780.439.3852; fabulousfacilitators.toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 12:05-1pm • N'Orators Toastmasters Club: Lower Level, McClure United Church, 13708-74 St: meet every Thu, 6:45-8:30pm; contact bradscherger@hotmail.com, 780.863.1962, norators.com • Terrified of Public Speaking: Norwood Legion Edmonton, 11150-82 St NW; Every Thu until 7:30-9:30pm; Free; contact jnwafula@yahoo.com; norwoodtoastmasters.org • Upward Bound Toastmaster

Arts Building, U of A North Campus • bziff@ualberta.ca • Listening session and talk about the Folkways recordings of legendary Appalachian musician Jean Ritchie (1922-2015) • Nov 26, 12pm

THE PEOPLE'S CLIMATE MARCH EDMONTON •

G.L.B.T.Q SENIORS GROUP • S.A.G.E Bldg, Craftroom, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.474.8240 • Meeting for gay seniors, and for any seniors who have gay family members and would like some guidance • Every Thu, 1-4pm • Info: E:Tuff69@telus.net PRIDE CENTRE OF EDMONTON • Pride Centre of Edmonton, 10608-105 Ave • 780.488.3234 • Daily: Community drop-in; support and resources. Queer library: borrowing privileges:Tue-Fri 12-9pm, Sat 2-6:30pm, closed Sun-Mon; Queer HangOUT (a.k.a. QH) youth drop-in:Tue-Fri 3-8pm, Sat 2-6:30pm, youth@pridecentreofedmonton.org • Counselling: Free, short-term by registered counsellors every Wed, 5:30-8:30pm, info/bookings: 780.488.3234 • Knotty Knitters: Knit and socialize in safe, accepting environment, all skill levels welcome; every Wed 6-8pm • QH Game Night: Meet people through board game fun; every Thu 6-8pm • QH Craft Night: every Wed, 6-8pm • QH Anime Night:Watch anime; every Fri, 6-8pm • Men Talking with Pride: Support and social group for gay and bisexual men; every Sun 7-9pm; robwells780@hotmail.com ST PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH • 11526-76 Ave • 780.436.1555 • People of all sexual orientations are welcome • Every Sun (10am worship)

TEAM EDMONTON • Various sports and recreation activities • Badminton: Oliver School, 10227-118 St; badminton@ teamedmonton.ca; Every Wed (until Feb 24); $5 (drop-in) • Board Game Group: Underground Tap & Grill, 10004 Jasper Ave; Monthly on a Sun, 3-7pm; RSVP to boardgames@ teamedmonton.ca • Bootcamp: Oliver Community Hall, 10326-118 St; bootcamp@teamedmonton.ca; Every Thu, 7pm; $30 (full season), $15 (low income or students) • Equal, Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous: Pride Centre, 10608-105 Ave; pridecentreofedmonton.org/calendar; Drop in games and activities for youth; Every other Tue, 4:30-6pm WOMONSPACE • 780.482.1794 • womonspace.org, womonspace@gmail.com • A Non-profit lesbian social organization for Edmonton and surrounding area. Monthly activities, newsletter, reduced rates included with membership. Confidentiality assured WOODYS VIDEO BAR • 11723 Jasper Ave •

780.488.6557 • Sun: Last Sun each month,Woodys Jam Session with the talented regular customers; Jugs of Canadian or Kokanee only $13 • Mon: Massive Mondays features talented comedians • Tue: Domestic bottle beer special only $3.75 all night long • Wed: Jugs of Canadian and Kokanee for $13; Karaoke with Shirley from 7pm-12:30am • Thu: Highballs on special only $3.75 all night long; Karaoke with Bubbles 7pm-12:30am • Fri: Comming soon: DJ Arrow Chaser's new TGIF Party • Sat: Pool Tournement, 4pm; Jager shots on special only $4; Coming soon, DJ Jazzy

SEEING IS ABOVE ALL • Acacia Hall, 10433-83 Ave,

SPECIAL EVENTS

upstairs • 780.554.6133 • Free instruction in meditation on the Inner Light • Every Sun, 5pm

ARTS ON THE AVE CHARITY FUNDRAISER • Nina

QUEER BEERS FOR QUEERS • Empress Ale House, 9912 Whyte Ave • Meet the last Thu each month

EVOLUTION WONDERLOUNGE • 10220-103 St • 780.424.0077 • yourgaybar.com • Community Tue: partner with various local GLBT groups for different events; see online for details • Happy Hour Wed-Fri: 4-8pm • Wed Karaoke: with the Mystery Song Contest; 7pm-2am • Fri: DJ Evictor • Sat: DJ Jazzy • Sun: Beer Bash

Haggerty Centre for the Arts, 9225-118 Ave • artsontheave. org • A benefit for Arts on the Ave • Nov 26

BIGGER THAN OUR BRITCHES - PUB NIGHT FALL FUNDRAISER • Stollery Gallery @ the Nina, 9925-118 Ave • With art auction, goodies, entertainment, refreshments and more • Nov 26, 7-11pm • $10 (available at Tix on the Square and the Carrot)

BURST OF BRIGHTNESS - CULTURAL BAZAAR • Edmonton Intercultural Centre, 9538-107 Ave NW - McCauley School • A vibrant marketplace of culturally diverse local artists, performers and community members featuring great talents, handicraft and beautiful items of cultural heritage and

origin • Nov 27 (5-8pm), Nov 28 (10am-3pm) • Free

THE CARROT CHRISTMAS BAZAAR • The Carrot, 9351-118 Ave • Be distinctive, buy original and support local!

Find great original gifts for those 'hard to shop for' loved ones • Nov 27, 7-9pm; Nov 28, 10am-4pm

DEEPSOUL.CA • 587.520.3833; call or text for Sunday jam locations • Every Sun: Sunday Jams with no Stan (CCR to Metallica), starring Chuck Prins on Les Paul Standard guitars; Pink Floydish originals plus great Covers of Classics: some FREE; Twilight Zone Lively Up Yourself Tour (with DJ Cool Breeze); all ages

FESTIVAL OF TREES • Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave • festivaloffice@festivaloftrees.ab.ca • festivaloftrees.ca • It's that time of year again! Wander down Children's Christmas Lane, where meeting Santa, visiting the North Pole post office (with instant delivery!), storytelling, and so much more. In support of Trauma & Complex Surgery at the U of A Hospital • Nov 26-29 • Free-$10

GOLDEN PRAIRIE MARKETPLACE • Nina Haggerty Centre For The Arts, 9225-118 Ave • A one-day, familyfriendly community marketplace showcasing the works of vendors who identify as Indigenous or People of Color • Nov 28, 11am-5pm • Free • Family-friendly event

KIDS CHRISTMAS SHOPPE • Old Strathcona Antique Mall, 10323-78 Ave • 780.433.0398 • A supervised setting where kids can shop for their family, with no parents allowed.

All gifts between $5 & $20 with no GST. In support of the African Grandmothers raising millions of children orphaned by AIDS • Nov 28-29, 10am-4pm • Free

MAKE IT EDMONTON • Edmonton Expo Centre (Hall H), 7515-118 Ave • makeitproductions.com/edmonton • Featuring awesome artists, crafters and makers from across Canada • Nov 26-29 • $7 (door, pay once, shop four days), free (kids 12 and under)

NERD NITE 23 • The Club at the Citadel Theatre, 9828101A Ave • edmonton.nerdnite.com • This month's topics include: How to Dupe Friends and Manipulate People:The Fine Art of Bamboozlement, Ice-cold neutrinos and you, Heart Attacks, Chinese Hamster Ovaries, and Obduracy • Nov 26, 7:30pm (doors), 8pm (show) • $20 (adv), $25 (door); Kids 17 and under will not be admitted PETS PICS WITH SANTA AT THE EDMONTON humane society • Edmonton Humane Society, 13620-163 St NW • edmontonhumanecosiety.com • Dec 1-24 (Wed-Sun only); 4-7pm (weekday), 12-5pm (weekend) • $10 (Retro Polaroids with EHS Christmas Card), $20 (Digital Photos on a flash drive)

RUDOLPH'S RESALE RUMMAGE SALE • RobertsonWesley United Church, 10209-123 St • 780.482.1587 • mail@rwuc.org • rwuc.org/rummage.html • A giant sale of Christmas items and other treasures. Including gently used Christmas items, preserves and baking, crafts, gifts, books and collector's items • Nov 28, 8:30am-3pm SCRAMBLED YEG • Brittany's Lounge, 10225-97 St • 780.497.0011 • Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue-Fri, 5-8pm SILENT AUCTION OF TINY TREES • Old Strathcona Antique Mall, 10323-78 Ave • edmgrandmothers.org • Thirty tiny trees designed and decorated by local personalities.

100% of proceeds to benefit Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign through the Stephen Lewis Foundation • Nov 27-29, 10am-4pm • Free

Start your winter with a touch of mountain magic at the Winterstart Festival – on now until December 12. The festival features some of our most popular events including:

November 27 & 28: Banff Craft Beer Festival. Special cask beers from many Alberta Brew Masters will make the first ever Banff Craft Beer Festival at the historic Cave and Basin one tasty event.

November 28, 29 & December 4 - 6: Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup. The very best skiers in the world launch the first speed race of the

season in North America – right here in your backyard. Check out all of the high-octane action at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.

December 5: Santa Claus Parade of Lights. The ultimate holiday experience brings Santa and company down Banff Avenue in a fantastic parade of lights. The parade starts at 5:30pm with a flurry of holiday festivities happening throughout the day.

VUEWEEKLY.com | NOV 26 – DEC 2, 2015

AT THE BACK 41

CLASSIFIEDS

ALBERTA-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS provided. Protected territories.

Interest free financing. Full details. Call now 1-866-668-6629.

Website: www.tcvend.com.

To Book Your Classified, Contact Valerie at 780.426.1996 or at classifieds@vueweekly.com 130.

Coming Events

Come down to Fionn MacCool's Southside and bring your Single Buddy!

Your friend will enjoy being part of this speed dating event for a Special Pre-Christmas Price of 2 for $20. This event is for 25+ year olds and includes prizes. Always time for mingling!

When: Saturday, December 5 2015 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM Where: Fionn MacCool's 4485 Gateway Boulevard NW Edmonton, AB

1600.

Volunteers Wanted

Community Leaders In Waste Reduction Complete a free, 40-hour course.

Learn about composting, recycling & more.

Volunteer at least 35 hours.

Show friends & family how to reduce waste.

Apply at edmonton.ca/mcrp.

Volunteer At The Carrot Be part of a great team by volunteering as a barista at The Carrot! If you have a hankering to learn coffee art and the ins and outs of being a barista, or just getting involved in the community, please contact Eva at carrotassist@gmail.com.

Volunteers can enjoy gettogethers throughout the year, as well as incentives and gifts.

2005.

Artist to Artist

Call for One Act Play Submissions: Stage Struck!

2016 is a one-act play festival sponsored by the Alberta Drama Festival Association, Edmonton Region. The festival will be held at La Cite on March 11-12, 2016. For more information or to request a registration package, contact Syrell at 780-493-0261 or email syrellw@telus.net.

Submission deadline is December 21, 2015.

ENJOY ART ALWAYZ www.bdcdrawz.com

2020.

3100. Appliances/Furniture Old Appliance Removal Removal of unwanted appliances. Must be outside or in your garage.

Rates start as low as $30.

Call James @780.231.7511 for details

7020.

Legal Services

Final Estate Planning Wills, Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives.

Please call Nicole Kent with At Home Legal Services(780) 756-1466 to prepare your Final Estate Planning Documents.

9450.

Musicians Wanted

Guitarists, bassists, vocalists, pianists and drummers needed for good paying teaching jobs.

Please call 780-901-7677 Black/Death Metal Band Seeks Drummer Drummer needed for a 3 piece Black/Death Metal band. We are established and have played a few shows around the city. We recorded our 7 song debut album with our old drummer, which we are releasing soon. Our jam space is located just outside of downtown. Check us out here www.facebook.com/anthroplague

or www.reverbnation.com/anthropl ague9. Phone - 780.292.3397.

Serious inquiries only.

Adult Massage

Caribbean Hottie Monique Text "I Love Caribbean Ladies" 587-710-0518 www.thenexttemptation.com Click on the north location for pics Lic: 126685216-001

•• CAREER TRAINING •• MEDICAL TRAINEES needed now! Hospitals & doctor's offices need certified medical office & administrative staff!

No experience needed! We can get you trained! Local job placement assistance available when training is completed. Call for program details! 1-888-627-0297.

MASSAGE CAREER - At Alberta Institute of Massage we deliver exceptional training, inspire learning, and ignite passion for knowledge! "AIM for Success!" Now enrolling for January and March fulltime and distance learning programs. 403-346-1018.

HUGE DEMAND for Medical Transcriptionists! CanScribe is Canada's top medical transcription training school.

Learn from home and work from home. Call today! 1-800466-1535; www.canscribe.com info@canscribe.com.

•• COMING EVENTS ••

•• BUSINESS •• OPPORTUNITIES HIP OR KNEE Replacement?

Restrictions in walking/dressing? $2,500 yearly tax credit. $40,000 in tax refunds. Disability Tax Credit. For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

GET FREE VENDING machines. Can earn $100,000. + per year. All cash-locations

COME AND LEARN. Unlock your Superpowers! Jan. 29 & 30, 2016, Edmonton. AWNA's Annual Symposium. Educational Sessions in Journalism, Sales Ad & News Design.

Internationally acclaimed speakers. Pre-Register. For more info: www.awna.com/symposium.

•• EMPLOYMENT •• OPPORTUNITIES JOURNALISTS, Graphic Artists, Marketing and more. Alberta's weekly newspapers are looking

VUE Weekly is seeking a part-time

for people like you. Post your resume online. Free. Visit: awna.com/for-job-seekers.

WATKIN MOTORS FORD, Vernon, BC, immediately requires an experienced Ford Diesel Technician. Go to watkinmotors. com About us, Employment, to apply and review required qualifications.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your workat-home career today!

STAR NEWS in Wainwright, Alberta requires a full-time reporter for our busy weekly newspaper. Please email resume to: patrick@starnews.ca.

•• EQUIPMENT •• FOR SALE A-CHEAP, lowest prices, steel shipping containers. Used 20' & 40' Seacans insulated & 40' freezers, Special $2200. Wanted: Professional wood carvers needed. 1-866-528-7108; www. rtccontainer.com.

•• FOR SALE •• METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 32+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS & Equipment. Monitors, amps, foot pedals, guitar stands, mixer, youth fiddle, Hofner bass guitar & speakers. For more information call 306-297-3630 or 306-297-3854.

CANADA BENEFIT GROUP Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/free-assessment

•• MANUFACTURED •• HOMES REACH OVER 1 Million Readers Weekly. Advertise Province Wide Classifieds. Only $269 + GST (based on 25 words or less). Call now for details 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228; www.awna.com.

HARVEST SALE! Save $50,000 from the replacement cost of this 20 X 76 drywalled Grandeur Showhome that has to go!

A sacrifice at $124,900. Call Terry 1-855-347-0417 or email: terry@grandviewmodular.com.

•• REAL ESTATE •• NIHO LAND & Cattle Co. BC Acreages for Sale. Waterfront, building lots, recreational properties and more. Prices start at $27,000. Contact our recreational and rural land specialists today. Contact: sales@niho.com or call 604606-7900. Website: www.

Niho.com.

13,500 ACRES 35 MINUTES West of Edmonton. Tomahawk Ranch $24,775,000. Visit hlco.ca for details. Hansen Land Brokers/Assoc. Broker Lively Realty Ltd. Call 403-540-9659.

PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 8000 acres of year round water supply. Full operational with management available. Central

creative + expressive chocked full of positivity

eager to grow + develop skills

•• SERVICES •• CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon. U.S. travel waiver. Divorce? Simple.

Fast. Inexpensive. Debt recovery? Alberta collection to $25,000. Calgary 403-2281300/1-800-347-2540.

GET BACK on track! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed?

Need money? We lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp.

Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420; www.pioneerwest.com.

NEED A LOAN? Own property? Have bad credit? We can help! Call toll free 1-866-4051228; www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca.

EASY ALBERTA DIVORCE. Free Consultation 1-800-3202477; www.canadianlegal. org. CCA Award #1 Paralegal.

A+ BBB Reputation. 26 Years Experience. Open Mon. - Sat. BANK SAID NO? Bank on us! Equity Mortgages for purchases, debt consolidation, foreclosures, renovations.

Bruised credit, self-employed, unemployed ok. Dave Fitzpatrick: www.albertalending. ca. 587-437-8437, Belmor Mortgage.

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ACCOUNT MANAGER someone with a positive attitude

ARE YOU...

Saskatchewan. Crossfenced & complete infrastructure. Natural springs excellent water. Shortly ready to locate cattle. Other small & large grain & pasture quarters. $150k - $2.6m. Call Doug Rue 306-716-2671; saskfarms@shaw.ca.

VUE Weekly is seeking some serious professional help!

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FREEWILLASTROLOGY ARIES (MAR 21 – APR 19): "We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange," wrote novelist Carson McCullers. "As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known." I'm guessing that these days you're feeling that kind of homesickness, Aries. The people and places that usually comfort you don't have their customary power. The experiences you typically seek out to strengthen your stability just aren't having that effect. The proper response, in my opinion, is to go in quest of exotic and experimental stimuli.

In ways you may not yet be able to imagine, they can provide the grounding you need. They will steady your nerves and bolster your courage.

TAURUS (APR 20 – MAY 20): The Pekingese is a breed of dog that has been around for over 2000 years. In ancient China, it was beloved by Buddhist monks and emperors' families. Here's the legend of its origin: A tiny marmoset and huge lion fell in love with each other, but the contrast in their sizes made union impossible. Then the gods intervened, using magic to make them the same size. Out of the creatures' consummated passion, the first Pekingese was born. I think this myth can serve as inspiration for you, Taurus. Amazingly, you may soon find a way to blend and even synergize two elements that are ostensibly quite different. Who knows? You may even get some divine help.

GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUN 20): Author Virginia Woolf wrote this message to a dear ally: "I sincerely hope I'll never fathom you. You're mystical, serene, intriguing; you enclose such charm within you. The lustre of your presence bewitches me ... the whole thing is splendid and voluptuous and absurd." I hope you will have good reason to whisper sweet things like that in the coming weeks, Gemini. You're in the Season of Togetherness, which is a favourable time to seek and cultivate interesting kinds of intimacy. If there is no one to whom you can sincerely deliver a memo like Woolf's, search for such a person.

CANCER (JUN 21 – JUL 22): Some people are so attached to wearing a favourite ring on one of their fingers that they never take it off. They love the beauty and endearment it evokes. In rare cases, years go by and their ring finger grows thicker. Blood flow is constricted. Discomfort sets in. And they can't remove their precious jewelry with the lubrication provided by a little olive oil or soap and water. They need the assistance of a jeweller who uses a small saw and a protective sheath to cut away the ring. I suspect this may be an apt metaphor for a certain situation in your life, Cancerian. Is it? Do you wonder

if you should free yourself from a pretty or sentimental constriction that you have outgrown? If so, get help.

LEO (JUL 23 – AUG 22): "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted," wrote Leo author Aldous Huxley. That's the bad news. The good news is that in the coming weeks you are less likely to take things for granted than you have been in a long time. Happily, it's not because your familiar pleasures and sources of stability are in jeopardy. Rather, it's because you have become more deeply connected to the core of your life energy.

You have a vivid appreciation of what sustains you. Your assignment: Be alert for the eternal as it wells up out of the mundane.

VIRGO (AUG 23 – SEP 22): In their quest to collect nectar, honeybees are attuned to the importance of proper timing. Even if flowering plants are abundant, the quality and quantity of the nectar that's available vary with the weather, season, and hour of the day. For example, dandelions may offer their peak blessings at 9 am, cornflowers in late morning, and clover in mid-afternoon.

I urge you to be equally sensitive to the sources where you can obtain nourishment, Virgo. Arrange your schedule so you consistently seek to gather what you need at the right time and place.

LIBRA (SEP 23 – OCT 22): Are you willing to dedicate yourself fully to a game whose rules are constantly mutating? Are you resourceful enough to keep playing at a high level even if some of the other players don't have as much integrity and commitment as you? Do you have confidence in your ability to detect and adjust to ever-shifting alliances?

Will the game still engage your interest if you discover that the rewards are different from what you thought they were? If you can answer yes to these questions, by all means jump all the way into the complicated fun!

SCORPIO (OCT 23 – NOV 21): I suspect your body has been unusually healthy and vigorous lately. Is that true? If so, figure out why. Have you been taking better care of yourself? Have there been lucky accidents or serendipitous innovations on which you've been capitalizing? Make these new trends a permanent part of your routine. Now I'll make a similar observation about your psychological well-being. It also seems to have been extra strong recently. Why? Has your attitude improved in such a way as to generate more positive emotions? Have there been fluky breakthroughs that unleashed unexpected surges of hope and good cheer? Make these new trends a permanent part of your routine.

ROB BREZSNY FREEWILL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 – DEC 21): From the dawn of civilization until 1995, humans cataloged about 900 comets in our solar system. But since then, we have expanded that tally by over 3000. Most of the recent discoveries have been made not by professional astronomers, but by laypersons, including two 13-year-olds. They have used the Internet to access images from the SOHO satellite placed in orbit by NASA and the European Space Agency. After analyzing the astrological omens, I expect you Sagittarians to enjoy a similar run of amateur success. So trust your rookie instincts. Feed your innocent curiosity. Ride your raw enthusiasm.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22 – JAN 19): Whether or not you are literally a student enrolled in school, I suspect you will soon be given a final exam. It may not happen in a classroom or require you to write responses to questions. The exam will more likely be administered by life in the course of your daily challenges. The material you'll be tested on will mostly include the lessons you have been studying since your last birthday. But there will also be at least one section that deals with a subject you've been wrestling with since early in your life—and maybe even a riddle from before you were born.

Since you have free will, Capricorn, you can refuse to take the exam. But I hope you won't. The more enthusiastic you are about accepting its challenge, the more likely it is that you'll do well.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 – FEB 18): For $70 000 per night, you can rent the entire country of Liechtenstein for your big party. The price includes the right to rename the streets while you're there. You can also create a temporary currency with a likeness of you on the bills, have a giant rendition of your favorite image carved into the snow on a mountainside, and preside over a festive medieval-style parade. Given your current astrological omens, I suggest you consider the possibility. If that's too extravagant, I hope you will at least gather your legion of best friends for the Blowout Bash of the Decade.

It's time, in my opinion, to explore the mysteries of vivid and vigorous conviviality.

PISCES (FEB 19 – MAR 20): Are you available to benefit from a thunderbolt healing? Would you consider wading into a maelstrom if you knew it was a breakthrough in disguise? Do you have enough faith to harvest an epiphany that begins as an uproar?

Weirdly lucky phenomena like these are on tap if you have the courage to ask for overdue transformations. Your blind spots and sore places are being targeted by life's fierce tenderness. All you have to do is say, "Yes, I'm ready."

V

MATT JONES JONESINCROSSWORDS@VUEWEEKLY.COM

"Flour Power"—bake it a good one.

Across

1 Watch chains 5 "I Love a Rainy Night" country singer Eddie 12 ___ deferens 15 Farmer's measurement 16 Team with the football 17 "Bravo, bullfighter!"

18 Flour sorters that form patterns?

20 Pack member, for short?

21 This evening, in ads 22 "___ me, that's who!"

23 Go over some lines?

25 "Well, lah-di-___!"

26 "LOSER KEEPS ___" (billboard seen before the U.S.-Canada gold medal hockey game of 2014) 27 Particle in a charged state 29 I, in Munich 32 Borneo ape, for short 34 Motors that are better suited for flour mills?

40 Test giver's call 41 Dormant 42 Kunis of "Black Swan" 43 Giant bodies of flour and water that won't rise?

46 Marshmallow holiday candies 47 "I don't wanna know about your infection" initials 48 Elly May Clampett's pa 49 Check to make sure 52 Annual MTV bestowal 54 "Help!" actor Ringo 55 Turntablists, familiarly 58 Bout before the main event 61 Dye holder 62 The next batch of flour being from the same common grain as the last?

65 Cherry discard 66 "Wait, let me wash up first!"

67 Rain hard?

68 Like some winks and grins 69 Like some poker games 70 Naysayer's view

10 Co. that introduced Dungeons & Dragons 11 Mic check word 12 Some English homework, casually 13 Writer Munro 14 "Against the Wind" singer Bob 19 Principle of good conduct 24 Current government 26 Paperback publisher named for a small fowl 27 "It ___ laugh" 28 Psych suffix 30 Pursued 31 Approach for money 32 Pitcher Hershiser 33 Stopwatch button 35 "(Don't Fear) The ___" (1976 Blue Oyster Cult hit) 36 White-tailed coastal birds 37 Stealthy-sounding (but subpar) subprime mortgage offering 38 "Waiting For the Robert ___" 39 Anti-DUI gp.

44 Top-five finish, perhaps, to an optimist 45 Joie de ___ 49 Invitation replies 50 Net business, as seen in crosswords but not in real life 51 Ramshackle 53 "A.I." humanoid 55 Cope 56 Actress Gertz of "The Neighbors" 57 Cherry discard 58 "Ahem" relative 59 "Down ___" (Nine Inch Nails song) 60 1551, to ancient Romans 63 Insurance option that requires referrals 64 "___ said before ..." ©2015 Jonesin' Crosswords

Down

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4 Antique photo tone 5 One of the "Golden Girls" 6 Movie buff's org.

7 Lifelong pals, less formally 8 ___ noire (bane) 9 Gospel singer Andrews

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BRENDA KERBER BRENDA@vueweekly.com

Vaginal misconceptions Three things you don't need to do to your vagina

O

ver the past six weeks, I've spent quite a bit of time at adult-industry trade fairs, and I've come away feeling sad that there are still so many new products coming out that are supposed to "fix" your vagina problems. There is a multi-million-dollar industry invested in making you believe that your vagina is ugly, smelly, loose and old, but this is just not true. I felt the need to combat all of these overwhelming messages with some basic truths about your vagina.

be in there, so you don't need to wash it. Using soaps and douches on the inside actually messes up the pH level and kills those important bacteria, which can lead to infections. Having odour coming from inside the vagina is rare, and is usually an indicator of an infection. It's best to see a doctor if this is happening to you.

You don't need to deodorize it.

Vaginas, in general, don't smell.

Vulvas (the outside part) can smell. That's because they're between your legs and they can get moist and sweaty. The solution is simply taking a shower and washing with water. You don't need a special cleanser. The vagina (the inside part) contains bacteria that destroy anything that shouldn't

You don't need to clean it out.

You may have seen products that claim to clean dead skin cells, callouses and scar tissue from the vagina. These simply don't exist. You do not have callouses in your vagina—no one does. Any dead cells in the vaginal canal are naturally flushed out;

you don't need to worry about getting rid of them. It is possible to have scar tissue in the vagina, but this usually only happens as a result of radiation treatments or surgery. If you have vaginal scar tissue, consult a physician or spe-

You don't need to make it tighter.

This is one of the most pervasive and damaging myths about vaginas. Contrary to what you may have heard, vaginas do not get larger and looser as we age or after we have babies. The only part of the vagina that can lose its tone is the pelvic floor muscle that surrounds the bottom of the vaginal canal. Working on the tone of that muscle—commonly known as doing Kegel exercises—can help make your vagina feel tighter both for you and your partners. Other than that, there is nothing you can do—or should do—to make your vagina tighter. The creams and

Contrary to what you may have heard, vaginas do not get larger and looser as we age or after we have babies.

cialized physiotherapist. There is no device on the market that will safely get rid of it. Putting pumice stones or exfoliating scrapers into your vagina will create abrasions that can lead to infections.

sprays that claim to tighten actually just absorb moisture, making it feel tighter only because it's dry.

Having sex when the vagina is dry is uncomfortable, painful at best and damaging at worst. Your safest and most effective route to feeling tighter—if that's what you want—is to work on your Kegel exercises.

Vaginas need little to no care and maintenance other than simply washing on the outside, some careful consideration to what you put inside, and regular medical checkups. Don't be sucked in by the marketers who tell you that your vagina is a problem. Relax and enjoy it.V Brenda Kerber is a sexual health educator who has worked with local not-for-profits since 1995. She is the owner of the Edmontonbased, sex-positive adult toy boutique the Traveling Tickle Trunk.

Dan savage savagelove@vueweekly.com

FRESH AIR

A couple of months ago, I got candida (a fungal infection) under my foreskin. I went to the doctor, picked up some cream, and used the cream as directed. The infection went away for about a week and then returned.

I got this idea that maybe the cream didn't work the first time because it's so naturally moist under the foreskin. So I used the cream a second time—but this time, after each application I would "air out" my penis, ie, pull back the foreskin and leave the head exposed to the open air for a little while. The candida cleared up, apparently for good. What surprised me, though, was that I really enjoyed this twice-a-day airing out.

I've continued doing it. I have no idea why I find this enjoyable. I'm not masturbating while I'm doing it. I just use that flap on the front of my underwear to help keep the foreskin back and leave my glans exposed for about 15 to 20 minutes. (This is likely the first time in history that anyone has actually used that flap on the front of men's underwear.)

I'm wondering if, by airing out my cock in this way, there's any risk of causing damage. From reading the all-knowing Internet, it seems that this amount shouldn't cause any problems, but I'd like to get an expert opinion. I have noticed a slight decrease in sensitivity, but that has been a positive thing, as I've always been quite sensitive. This airing out of my penis seems to accomplish a slight desensitizing that I find beneficial. Can I continue to do it?

Apparently Into Retraction

46 at the back

"This shouldn't be a problem," said Dr Stephen King, a urologist and one of my go-to guys on all things dick. "It sounds like he found a unique solution to a couple of issues: infections and sensitivity."

So you can continue airing out your cock with Dr King's blessing— and congratulations on coming up with a successful foreskin hack, AIR. But Dr King wouldn't recommend your foreskin hack to uncircumcised/intact dudes with a very particular medical condition. (I'm using "hack" here in the "life hack" sense, obviously—perhaps a poor choice of slang, considering that humanity has been needlessly hacking away at foreskins for millennia.)

"The only time keeping a foreskin pulled back for a prolonged period of time becomes a problem is when someone has phimosis," Dr King said. An adult with phimosis either can't retract their foreskin over the head of their penis or has a very difficult time doing so—a condition an adult may develop as the result of an infection or some other trauma that scarred the foreskin.

"In patients who are elderly or demented, the foreskin can get stuck in the retracted position," Dr King said, "trapping blood in the head of the penis like a tourniquet, causing severe pain—we call this 'paraphimosis.'" Paraphimosis is some serious shit—gangrene can set in, and the head of the penis might have to come off.

"I don't think this is an issue for AIR," Dr King said, "so he can continue as desired. Just tell him to be careful with that zipper!"

ANAL ADVENTURE

Gay 20-year-old boy here. I want some ideas on what kind of anal toys are best for beginners like myself. I've already used my fingers, but I want to move up to an actual toy before moving on to an actual boy.

A recommendation from you would be great!

Boy Undertaking Tushy Toys They're not glamorous or groundbreaking, BUTT, but the old reliable butt plug is still the best bet for anal-play newbies—gay, straight or bi. They look like tiny lava lamps, they fit neatly in butts, and anal sphincters hold them firmly in place—freeing up your hands for other things, from jacking yourself off to swiping left or right to writing advice columns.

DTF, WTF?

My girlfriend of six months hooked up with one of my buds. They were both drunk at a party, and I was out of town for a sports thing. I wasn't angry when she "confessed."

I thought it was hot and said we should maybe have a threesome with the dude. I'm not interested in being with a guy, but I'd be down with a M/M/F threesome. So now my girlfriend is furious with me for not being angry. She literally just texted to say she's not sure she can stay with me because she doesn't want to be with a guy who wouldn't care if she slept around on him. What the fuck am I supposed to say to that?

The Wronged Party "Bye."

TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

I love that you use the term "cocksucker" only in a non-pejorative way. I don't know if you've said so explicitly, but I imagine your aim is to remove its negative connotation.

As the owner of a cock, I think cocksucking is WONDERFUL! Therefore, cocksuckers are wonderful as well.

There needs to be more cocksucking in this world! Following your example, I am trying to use the term only in its literal sense and only in a positive light. Do you have a good substitute word for a person one is not pleased with?

Changing Language Is Terrific How about "kochbrother," CLIT? Same number of syllables, same explosive/percussive "K" sound at the start, same "er" ending—and our democracy (and our environment) would be a lot better off if there were more cocksuckers out there and fewer Koch brothers.

GREEN LIGHT TO CHEAT?

I would like some clarification.

Does my situation fall into the "when it's OK to have an affair" category or am I just looking for you to absolve me of guilt? I got divorced a year ago, and I'm 100 percent focused on being a mom during the time my son is with me and helping him through the divorce transition. I met a man who has been married for 20-plus years and I'm having an affair with him.

He and his wife spend all of their time taking care of their adult disabled son. He said they have nothing in common but caretaking. He's

VUEWEEKLY.com | Nov 26 – dec 2, 2015

never said anything bad about the wife except they've grown apart and he can't (or won't) leave because of their son. It works for me because he's the most incredible lover I've ever had and he doesn't bother me or demand attention when I'm busy being a mom. I do have strong feelings for him but no expectation of him leaving his wife to be with me. Does this meet your "OK to cheat" criteria?

Loving Isn't Always Really Simple Indeed it does, LIARS. Your situation, in fact, is a good example of the kind of affair people rarely hear about and advice professionals pretend don't exist, ie, the affair that saves a marriage and improves the lives and lots of everyone involved, whether directly or indirectly. Your marriage is over, of course, but you're getting your sexual needs met by someone who doesn't distract you from your son's needs.

And the time your lover spends with you—the intimacy, affirmation and release you provide him—has doubtless helped to make him a kinder and less resentful companion/partner and a better father/ caretaker. Here's hoping your lover's wife is getting the kind of sanity-preserving intimacy, affirmation and release she needs, too—whether sexual or in some other form. V On the Lovecast, it's the families show, with 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings: savagelovecast.com. @fakedansavage on Twitter

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