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Holiday Food & Drink Guide 6 1984 Paper Cranes 10

CELEBRATE THE SEASON at the Alberta Legislature December 7 to 23 Daily performances

LIGHT-UP DECEMBER 7

assembly.ab.ca #CelebrateTheSeason

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HOLIDAY FOOD & DRINK GUIDE 6

1984 PAPER CRANES 10 SNOWZONE 18

ISLAND OF BLUE FOXES 14 ARLO MAVERICK 21

FRONT // 4 DISH // 5 ARTS // 10 FILM // 16 SNOWZONE // 18 MUSIC // 21 LISTINGS

ARTS // 15 MUSIC // 25 EVENTS // 26 ADULT // 28 CLASSIFIED // 29

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nouncing that there would be a hiring freeze in the public service in general and “hiring restraint” in education and health care, although it is unclear exactly what the difference is between a freeze and strengthened restraint.

Political Interference

A tale of Jekyll and Hyde I

The current government doesn’t quite sound like the New Democrats

t seems like Alberta’s NDP government has been in something of a Jekyll and Hyde mode over the last few weeks. On the one hand, their introduction of Bill 30 with its significant and long-overdue changes to the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) and occupational health and safety was entirely in keeping with traditional NDP positions around the WCB, workers’ rights, and government and employer responsibilities when it comes to worker safety and well-being. Likewise, their continuation of the tuition freeze for post-secondary education is entirely consistent with a long-standing NDP commitment to increased access and affordability in advanced education for Albertans. The tuition freeze, which has been in place since they first got elected in 2015, has resulted in Alberta moving from having some of the highest tuition

fees in the country to being somewhere in the middle of the pack, and continuing the freeze will only improve that position. When it comes to the economy and government finances, however, the government has been sounding like anything but New Democrats. It started in mid-November when Premier Rachel Notley told the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Councils (AAMDC) that “the same steady approach that saw us through the recession is going to see us carefully and compassionately tighten our belts.” Notley followed up that statement by stating that the government is seeking to negotiate “common sense” agreements with public sector unions, but didn’t actually provide a definition of “common sense” in that context. Then, while delivering the second quarter fiscal update in late November, finance minister Joe

Ceci also trotted out the concept of “compassionate belt-tightening,” signaling that was the path his government would follow to achieve fiscal balance. While responding to reporters after the update, Ceci actually provided a further explanation of what they meant by “common sense” agreements, pointing to the agreement reached with the Alberta Teachers’ Association earlier this year which provided for a two-year wage freeze. “We’re looking for more common-sense settlements like those we negotiated with teachers, which provide job stability in return for no raises and better services for our kids,” said Ceci. The implication, of course, is that if there are raises then there will be no job stability--certainly not a very New Democrat type position when it comes to public services and public sector workers. Ceci then went even further, an-

A few days later, while on his way out of a meeting with eight of Canada’s leading economists to talk about Alberta’s current economic situation, Ceci made clear to reporters that his government would not consider a PST or tax increases because “Albertans don’t want it”. He then doubled down on the spending restraint messaging by stating that “We’re looking at the spending side … to bring our budget back to balance. That’s the focus for this government.” Minister Ceci reportedly apologized to union leaders after his fiscal update, stating that he had misspoken and chosen his words poorly. Regardless of the words chosen, however, the message is clear: the government is seeking to eliminate a $10 billion deficit by dealing only with the expenditure side of the equation, and that will have serious implications for public services, public sector salaries and job security, and infrastructure. The Premier’s statement to the AAMDC last month suggested that although the government held the line on spending during the economic downturn, now that the economy is clearly in recovery we can begin to reduce

spending. Lost in that messaging is the historical New Democrat position that public services in Alberta were near crisis levels after 20 years of Conservative austerity and that the status quo was entirely unacceptable—that new and increased funding was desperately needed. Albertans are familiar with messages from their government suggesting that we need to tighten our belts, stop the growth in public sector wages and hiring, and that what we have is a spending problem not a revenue problem. We are familiar with those messages because we’ve been hearing them since 1993. And Alberta’s NDP has spent the better part of the last 25 years adamantly opposing those messages, until now. Albertans supported the NDP in 2015 knowing full well what the party’s historical values and economic philosophies were. Had they wanted another fiscally conservative government, there was no shortage of options on the ballot. Ultimately, the government will have to realize that they can’t be both Jekyll and Hyde at the same time. They need to either fully embrace their historical New Democrat principles and values and fix the province’s chronic revenue shortfall to do so, or become just one more conservative party in Alberta. Budget 2018 will give a strong signal of which avenue they have chosen. Ricardo Acuña ricardo@vueweekly.com

Dyer Straight

‘Rational Accommodationism’ H

Could Trump be understanding reality?

ere we go again. Whenever North Korea launches a new long-range missile or does another nuclear test, President Trump condemns the test and warns Pyongyang not to do it again, while his generals and diplomats point out that it “threatens the entire world.” But latterly, the pattern has been evolving. North Korea has carried out seven long-range missile tests and one underground nuclear explosion (its first hydrogen bomb) since Trump took office in January, and until August Trump’s language on these occasions was bloodcurdling. In July, when two ballistic missiles were tested, he said that any further North Korean threats “will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” That was actually a threat to attack North Korea with nuclear weapons: Trump was deliberately using the same language, even the same phrases that Harry Truman had chosen to use in a warning message to Japan just before an American plane dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. His defence secretary, General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, continued to talk in apocalyptic terms even after North Korea tested an 4 front

H-bomb in September: “We are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea. But as I said, we have many options to do so.” Maybe Mattis just didn’t get the memo, but Trump’s own response on that occasion was less dramatic, and even rather gnomic. Asked whether he planned to attack North Korea, he only said “We’ll see.” That is the response of a poker player, not the berserker he often pretends to be. It was striking, even from the start of his presidency, that Trump has never made specific threats with details and deadlines, and his tone has continued to soften. After North Korea tested its first fullrange ICBM this week, one that can reach any part of the United States, he just said “We will take care of it,” adding later that “It is a situation that we will handle.” This suggests that he knows there is nothing he can usefully do to stop these tests, and that he will just have to live with a North Korean nuclear deterrent. He is clearly frustrated by it, and is often abusive about the North Korean leader—he called Kim “little rocket man” at the UN General Assembly in September—but he is

now a long way from the “fire and fury” of July. Has someone been getting at him? I suspect somebody has, and my leading candidates are the three generals who are now his closest advisers on this issue: Mattis at Defence, General H.R. McMaster, the National Security Adviser, and General John Kelly, Trump’s Chief of Staff.

ing as if he has finally been persuaded of the strategic realities by the generals who now surround him. None of them believes that a war in the Korean peninsula would be a good thing for the United States, and they will have been working hard to persuade the US president to accept that fact. It looks like they have succeeded.

tell him the facts often enough, he can be persuaded to behave with appropriate caution. He cannot be persuaded to tone down his rhetoric, especially the midnight tweets, so the sense of crisis will continue, but we may be safer than we think. I would not be suggesting that Trump is privately willing to accept a rational accommodation with North Korea and live with their

Don’t expect Trump to go public and explain to Americans that there are no good military options available to the United States. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was mainly Kelly. The other two generals have been in their jobs practically since Trump entered the White House, and although I’m sure that they tried to talk sense to him about North Korea, it didn’t seem to be having much effect. Whereas Kelly only took up his job in late July (so the timing works), and since then he has had more face time with the president than anybody else. At any rate, Trump is behav-

Don’t expect Trump to go public and explain to Americans that there are no good military options available to the United States. He’s not going to tell them that they are ultimately going to have to live in a state of mutual deterrence with North Korea like they already do with Russia and China, because his default mode is sounding tough. But if he understands that himself, that’s enough. Trump is ignorant and bombastic, but he is not stupid. If his generals

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bombs and missiles if his evil twin, Steve Bannon, were still his Chief Strategic Adviser. To Bannon, ‘rational accommodationism’ is the worst crime of all. But that’s why Bannon’s resignation was one of General John Kelly’s conditions for taking the job of White House Chief of Staff. Bannon is gone, and I think that Trump may now have secretly accepted reality. Of course, I could be wrong. Gwynne Dyer gwynne@vueweekly.com

TO THE PINT

ALL YE GATHER ROUND THE TOWN SQUARE Town Square Brewing / Supplied

A new brewery opening on the south side means beers all around the city

dmonton has a new brewery. While the Alberta craft beer industry has been exploding, Edmonton has lagged a bit, seeing only a couple of new entrants in the last year or so. However, we can rejoice in the recent opening of Town Square Brewing, our city’s newest brewery. Town Square is south—very south. So south they have a SW after their address (officially 2919 Ellwood Dr. SW). That said, they are remarkably accessible, sitting just off Gateway Boulevard and Ellerslie Road. If you are in that part of the city, they won’t be hard to find. Situating themselves that far south was intentional. Town Square is the creation of three Millennial couples, all with young families, who had been friends for ages. Lead spokesperson Brandon Boutin says that part of town is where they come from. “We

come from the south side,” notes Boutin. “We wanted to stay away from central Edmonton and all the stuff going on there. We want to offer something different, offer something to the growing communities of south Edmonton.” That part of Edmonton is actually the fastest growing part of the city. But these are young neighbourhoods that are still forming, looking for infrastructure and amenities, and trying to build a sense of community. Town Square located where they did to be a part of that community-building. “We are community-based. We want to give back to the community that we hope will support us,” says Boutin. They plan on organizing fundraising events, helping with community clean-up days, and promise to have a beer on at all times of which a portion of the sales goes to a local charity.

Plus they hope to become a gathering spot for area residents, a place where people can come, visit and catch up, much like the oldfashioned town squares of Europe. “The town square is the centre part of town where people gather, build relationships, have debates and go back home with a sense of community unity,” says Boutin. “We want our place to be a place where people come together and leave feeling like they belong.” While the outside (to my more central Edmonton eye) seems like a sterile strip mall, the inside is instantly inviting. The first floor is rustic with an inviting bar and the requisite growler fill station. The highlight is the mezzanine, complete with fireplace, comfy chairs and windows overlooking their very cramped 15-hl brewery. They have a simple but com-

plete food line-up, based on their simple kitchen set up. The anchor is artisanal pizza and calzone, complete with crusts infused with spent grain from the brewery. They also have some salads and light fare to complement. Nothing complex, just straightforward food to give you an excuse to stay for another beer. As for the beer, it will constantly rotate, at least at first. For now they have eight house beer on tap, along with house-made nonalcoholic soda, Kombucha, and one or two guest taps. The intention is to be creative and explore a range of styles. When I was there the line-up certainly rang true to that sentiment. They had a clean and accessible blonde ale, an interesting mixed berry fruit beer and some more interesting options, including an IPA, a singlemalt-single-hop (SMASH) beer,

and a coffee stout made with coffee from ACE Coffee Roasters. All the beer is well-made and I look forward to seeing how it evolves as they dial in their system. Beers that caught my eye included a Rye Amber Ale that nicely accented the spiciness that comes from the rye addition and a Rauchbier (a smoked beer) that channels some of the more traditional Bamberg takes on the style, rather than the more inyour-face American versions. Their plan is to mostly sell their beer on-site, accented with a few friendly restaurants around town. So if you want to try out Town Square you have to make the trek to see them. If you do, I am pretty sure they will welcome with open arms, no matter which part of the city you are coming from. Jason Foster dish@vueweekly.com

a recipe for fun

Lunch buffet Monday - Friday Dinner buffet seven days a week namsteindia.ca 780 540 0100 • 10023 107 Ave VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

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HOLIDAY FOOD & DRINK GUIDE

Some local takes on the classic ‘What do I make for the party?’ question

he season of food, drink and binging is upon us and with it comes a host of last-minute Googling “best cheap appetizers” and “best easy holiday drink.” Go ahead and try your hand at a few of these beauties, or go to the bartenders and chefs in-house this holiday season to try them out. Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

1. Clementine Cider from Bar Clementine

3. Rosey Cheeks Cocktail from North 53

3 oz American rye 3 oz Chateau Montifaud Pineau des Charantes Rouge 1 oz Ardbeg 10 Scotch 16 oz fresh pressed apple juice 3 tbsp sugar Cinnamon Cloves Lightly toast cinnamon and cloves in a stove top burner, then add apple juice and sugar and gently simmer for one hour. Add remaining ingredients, heat, and serve in a mug with a mist of Ardbeg 10.

2. Clementine Hot Buttered Rum from Bar Clementine Hot buttered rum 1 oz Eldorado 12-year rum 3/4 oz Averna 1/2 oz Green Chartreuse 1 oz toasted cinnamon syrup 2 cubes of butter and 1.5 oz hot water Lightly heat all ingredients in a saucepan, then pour into a mug. Garnish with a toasted cinnamon stick. 6 dish

Saffron rose syrup: 2 cups water 2 cups granulated sugar 10 pods green cardamom, crushed 8 threads of saffron 1/2 cups dried edible rose petals In a small pot in medium heat, combine water and sugar and cook until sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and add cardamom, saffron, and rose petals. Allow to cool and steep for 12 hours in the fridge. (it will keep up to one month). Strain before adding to the cocktail. Drink assembly: 2 oz nigori sake 1 oz saffron rose syrup 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice 1 egg white Dried edible rose petals for garnish To assemble shake all ingredients in a tin shaker (martini shaker) with no ice to aerate the egg white. When mixture is frothy, shake with ice to cool it down and dilute it. Strain it twice and pour into a coupe glass (an old-fashioned champagne saucer). Garnish with dried rose petals.

4. Mercy Milk Punch from Have Mercy/El Cortez Mercy Milk: 1 litre half-and-half cream 1 cob of corn grilled and charred Cut charred corn off of the cob and soak in cream for 48 hours to infuse sweet smoky flavour. Winter spice syrup: 500 ml water 500 ml white (beet) sugar 6 fl oz dry clove 2 fl oz nutmeg 4 cinnamon sticks Boil sugar and water on low heat until all parts are dissolved. Remove from heat and let all dry ingredients steep for 15 minutes. Drink prep: 1.5 oz Buffalo Trace 2 Mercy Milk 1 oz Winter Spice Syrup Shake all ingredients. Strain into coupe and finish with fresh-grated nutmeg.

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5. Elderflower Sour from Juniper Cafe & Bistro 1 1/2 oz gin (make it good gin!) 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice 3/4 oz elderflower syrup 1 fresh egg white 1 large scoop ice (3/4 cup scoop) Edible lavender (for garnish) Combine all ingredients (except lavender) in martini shaker. Shake vigorously (25 shakes). Strain into a pretty glass and sprinkle with edible lavender.

6. Nogg from Bar Clementine 6 oz vanilla bean infused Chateau Montifaud Cognac VS 3 oz Valdespino ‘tio diego’ Amontillado 6 oz whole milk 2 oz heavy cream 3 oz rich simple syrup 2 eggs Combine all ingredients in a blender over low speed, and then let sit in a fridge overnight (the longer you wait, the better.) Pour into cups, garnish with nutmeg.

A perfect fit.

Discount ticket packages and gift certificates available The Arden Theatre Box Office • 780-459-1542 • ardentheatre.com

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HOLIDAY FOOD & DRINK GUIDE

SIMPLY THE BEST!

1. Spicy Pork Lettuce Wraps from Juniper Cafe & Bistro 4 tbsp canola oil 1 large onion chopped finely 4 cloves garlic, minced 4 tbsp grated fresh ginger 2 pounds ground pork Heat oil in a large skillet. Saute onion, garlic and ginger until onion is transparent. Add pork and crumble as you saute. If the pork is very fatty, pour most of it off before you add: 2 tbsp sesame oil 3 tbsp peanut butter (smooth or chunky) 4 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for GF)

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8 dish

JUPITER WHYTE

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YOU ROLL WITH US NOW ®

Serve with lettuce cups (either romaine leaves cut in half widthwise, or iceberg separated into cups).

2. Sun-dried Tomato Tapenade from Juniper Cafe & Bistro

PAX 2

13572 FORT ROAD • 587-473-0087

3 or 4 good squirts of sriracha (depending on how hot you like it) Cook for five minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, (you can prepare this part in advance, when ready to serve, heat gently and continue with recipe) Just before serving stir in: 1 cup grated carrot Garnish with: 2 tbsp chopped cilantro 2 tbsp chopped roasted peanuts

1 1/2 ounce sun-dried tomatoes 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 large garlic cloves 5 basil leaves or 1 tbsp dried basil 1/4 tbsp cayenne 1/2 tbsp salt 1 green onion, minced 1 tbsp capers 1/2 cup parsley, chopped

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Rehydrate tomatoes in warm water. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until finely chopped and smooth. Let flavours develop for one hour before adjusting seasoning. Pack into jars and float a little oil over the top.

Mill St. Brewery Mill St. has beer for all tastes We chatted with Mill St. Brewery’s head brewmaster Joel Manning about his love of beer and the Winter Mix Pack. Vue Weekly: How did you first become involved with Mill St. Brewery? Joel Manning: I started in 2005, so almost exactly 12 years ago. I was at another microbrewery called the Amsterdam Brewery for 18 years and I was their brewmaster. Mill St. was expanding in 2005, we were building our second brewery outside of the distillery district in Toronto. I got hired to set that up and run the main brewery. I kind of came in as the technical head of the brewery from day one. VW: What kind of planning goes into making a new beer? JM: I dont have a clue (laughs). In some respects it’s quite complex and in others it’s quite simple. We try and match seasonality a little bit. Historically, you want higher sugar and alcohol contents in winter beers and lower in summer beers.

Other than that, we brew a lot of beers in our brew pubs. This year Mill St. will make over 140 different beers and lots of them are ones people will never see unless you come to our brew pubs and drink inside the walls of those pubs. When we have ideas for stuff we try it out and experiment on humans. No animal tests, but tests on humans (laughs). We get a lot of feedback and work out the recipes. Sometimes we decide to scale it up or take one part of one recipe and another part of another recipe and tweak something and come up with a different version. VW: Do you have a favourite in the Winter Mix Pack? JM: They’re all my children. Why make me pick? I really like the Imperial Coffee Porter. I think that thing’s great. It’s in my wheelhouse for sure. It’s soft and mild and doesn’t hit you over the head with ‘I’m a coffee beer.’ It’s something you can drink a couple of. It’s not too aggressive and it’s a really elegant and nice subtle beer.

VW: There’s another new beer, the Makani Pineapple IPA. Could you talk about that one? JM: Yeah, we experimented with that one quite a bit. I really like it. It’s a flavour that sounds really weird until you try it. There’s that acidity and a really high, fresh tropical fruit flavour from pineapple that works really well with American west coast hops. That pineapple stands out on its own, but again, it’s not a hit you over the head taste. It blends in with the whole fruit salad of hops. It’s hard to describe unless you try it. VW: Is there anything else coming from Mill St. people can get excited for? JM: We have a barley wine. Also a beer called Illuminari that is a champagne beer. It’s literally in a champagne bottle with its own cork. It’s fermented with French champagne yeast and it’s for new years. It’s a little over 11 percent alcohol. We come out with Barley Wine every year around holiday season. Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

MILL STREET WINTER MIX PACK REVIEWS Makani Pineapple IPA Named for the warm Hawaiian tropical winds, the Makani Pineapple IPA is an odd pairing that seems to work. With an ABV of 6.2 percent, the bitterness often found in IPAs is masked by the juicy acidity of pineapple juice. The after taste has a tendency to coast in the back of your mouth after each sip. The pineapple is by no means overwhelming, but after a few tastes, it lingers. This is a beer built for winter that tastes like summer. Imperial Coffee Porter This beer is probably my favourite in the pack. With an ABV of seven percent, it’s the perfect winter treat, boasting a subtle yet delicious aroma and taste of Balzac coffee. This porter is not as heavy as most and the undertones of

caramel and chocolate love to gently rest on the taste buds. It’s a porter for drinkers unaccustomed to porters while being robust and warming for Canada’s arctic. 100th Meridian This organic amber lager has become a favourite for Mill St. Brewery drinkers. Brewed with pale and amber malts and bravo and cascade hops, this beer comes with a sophisticated taste for the average beer drinker. There are hints of floral grapefruit and a bite on the after taste due to the balanced hops. It’s a great beer for drinkers looking for something more than a standard run-ofthe-mill lager. Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

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EXHIBIT

Artist Bonnie Patton creates an exhibit that discusses war, hope, and rebellion Thu., Dec. 7 - Sat. Dec. 20 1984 Paper Cranes by Bonnie Patton Harcourt House Art Incubator Gallery

1984 Paper Cranes / Supplied

10 arts

onnie Patton’s 1984 Cranes installation showing in Harcourt House’s Art Incubator Gallery this week is a unique fusion of words and paper through the abstract human concept of hope. “It became a conversation between George Orwell’s 1984 and Eleanor Coerr’s Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,” Patton says. “They both talk about a sort of dystopia where there’s a theme of failure frequently and circumstances they had no control over that were set up by military decisions by the government.” 1984 is the story of a middle-aged man, Winston, who lives in a dystopian world of war and party control. Winston works at his totalitarian state’s ‘Ministry of Truth,’ which alters historical records to suit the needs of the government—the Party as they’re called in the book. At the time of the book the Party is also implementing a new language called “Newspeak,” which works to erase all concepts and words associated with rebellion. An example of this is the party’s three main slogans in Orwell’s book: “War is Peace,” “Freedom is Slavery,” and “Ignorance is Strength.” Written after the Second World War, with experiences of the Spanish Civil War and London slums during the war fresh in his head, Orwell’s fatalistic novel is set in the aftermath of a massive world war, not unlike the wars he experienced. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is also set as an aftermath novel to the Second World War; telling the story of a innocently hopeful young girl in Japan after the nuclear bomb hits Hiroshima. As an act of hope, Chizuko visits her sick friend Sadako in the hospital to

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tell her about a Japanese legend that promises good luck and health to the one who folds 1,000 paper cranes. What Sadako and her friend don’t know is that her sickness is leukemia caused by radiation exposure near ground zero. Patton says the books not only recount themes of the past, but of our time now as well. She parallels the Harper administration’s inability to face reality and subsequent progress. Patton also refers to the Trump administration’s trademark method of twisting the facts to their own benefit. “In 1984 there’s the whole concept of newspeak and doublethink—so in doublethink there’s the concept of holding two opposing beliefs and actually believing them both at the same time—which is something that we see in the news,” she says, “especially with, for example, deleting climate change. “It’s that question of how hope fits into reality; but it’s still a fundamental concept of reality,” she adds. In the end, whether it’s an innocent and naïve version of hope, or a more jaded and ambiguous version, both stories echo the human tendency toward it to face reality. The cranes in the exhibit are made of paper pages from 1984 as a metaphor of the hope shown in the two stories, but also of our own fragility. “The paper itself it not really meant to be folded—sometimes when I open up the cranes the tops will tear,” Patton says. “They’re individually so fragile but because they’re in numbers, they’re a little bit stronger.” Hope is also what brings us together to initiate change. “Through numbers you can actually make a difference; you can vote; you can go to marches; as long as enough people are aware and talking change can happen.” Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

THEATRE

NOW ON UNTIL DEC 23, 2017

AN EDMONTON TRADITION

NO SHORTCUTS / Adrian Morillo

Reckoning grapples with Canada’s irreconcilable past

he last residential school closed in 1996. Beginning in the 1870s, children were starved, shamed, segregated, served spoiled goods, subject to electric shock, sexually assaulted, and that’s without leaving the letter ‘S.’ One hundred thirty such schools existed across Canada. In 2006, survivors of these institutions brought the Government of Canada to court, in what was then the largest class action settlement in Canadian history. The Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission began two years later and released its final report in 2015. Reckoning, a theatrical performance created and produced by Indigenous artists Tara Beagan and Andy Moro, aims to redress the inadequacies and truths that weren’t expressed in that commission. “It’s quite a thing to approach something that has really happened in your own family and to many of your friends,” Beagan says, “to fictionalize that account. I was given this teaching once that was, ‘It’s not that in theatre we’re telling a lie in this world. We’re telling the truth in another one.’ ... Through that, you start to realize what your own people have endured is unfathomable.” The play consists of three parts, each dealing in its own way with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The first revolves around the adjudicators who listened to survivors’ stories. The second revolves around the daughter of a survivor on a date. The third is a survivor telling their story. Presented live, and with video and text, Reckoning questions whether or not the process of reconciliation has even begun. Beagan and Moro are justifiably skeptical. “The reconciliation process is really a marketing ploy,” Moro says. “It’s pack-

Wed., Dec. 13 – Sun., Dec. 17 Reckoning ATB Financial Arts Barn – Westbury Theatre, $22 aged for the aggressor. It’s packaged for the colonizer. It really is about eliminating guilt. It’s not constructive or even working in any way for the victims of that process. Reckoning tries to look at that in terms of going between the cracks of what that package is actually doing out here.” Beagan and Moro first ran across each other in 2007, while Moro was working with the Da Da Kamera theatre company. The pair joined forces and released their first project in 2013 as Article 11. Their name refers to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, on which Canada maintained its objector status until last year. Since coming to Alberta, the arts-activist company has created a bit of a provincial stir, even provoking a neighbourly Twitter spat between Mayor Don Iveson and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi over which city could play the better host. While there is some catharsis in shining a light on the suffering of the ancestral past, and the suffering of the present for that matter, Reckoning isn’t satisfied with nods and gestures towards reconciling. “The main thing that we’re hoping people will start to question is have we even begun the process towards reconciliation?” Beagan says. “It becomes quite evident when you see our piece that we think no. It’s so hardly just begun that it’s not even the tip of an iceberg … It’s really about how there’s so much more work to be done.” Lucas Provencher arts@vueweekly.com

A-Level Seats Sponsor

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Based on the story by CHARLES DICKENS Adapted by TOM WOOD Directed by WAYNE PAQUETTE Originally directed by BOB BAKER Set and Costume Design by LESLIE FRANKISH Lighting Design by ROBERT THOMSON Sound Design by MICHAEL BECKER

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

Three Ghosts of Christmas show Scrooge the value of giving. A heartwarming family classic to put you in the holiday spirit. A Christmas Carol, now in its 18th season, is universally beloved for its dynamic themes and uplifting message. Recommended for ages 7+

+fees & GST

arts 11

BALLET

ALBERTA BALLET GETS CRACKIN’ The Nutcracker makes more than holiday spirit each year

Thu., Dec. 7 - Sat., Dec. 9 The Nutcracker Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium Starting at $34

here’s something about a first that really sticks with you, especially when the experience is full of emotion and vivid imagery. A performance of the Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker is one of these things. Alberta Ballet’s artistic director Jean Grand-Maître had this expe-

rience when he first performed the holiday classic at age 20 with Montreal’s Les Grands Ballets, but it wasn’t quite what one may expect from a gracefully performed production of The Nutcracker. “I was playing a parent in act one and I had a little boy. I was holding his hand and we came

out on stage and the music was playing and I turned to him and he looked all stressed out. And I looked down at his feet and he’d peed—he was standing in a little puddle in his costume,” Grand-Maître laughs. “I took him off stage, we dried him up and put him right back on stage again because I knew if he didn’t go back on, he’d never go back. But he became one of the best actually because he really exploded on stage once he had nothing to lose!” Though perhaps horrific at the time for the young dancer, it’s experiences like this that hold E.T.A. Hoffman’s holiday classic story of a young girl’s cherished nutcracker doll coming to life in a memorable place. For choreographer Edmund Stripe, The Nutcracker reminds him of his father who would often go to the ballet in London’s Covent Garden several times per month. Stripe’s own first performance was as a soldier with the Royal Ballet School in London. “The battle scene—the music itself is really rousing,” Stripe says. “I find it quite emotional actually, and that really stuck with me.” There’s no doubt that the production with its masterful choreography, Tchaicovsky’s bewitching music performed by a live orchestra, and magical scene changes and costumes, is a work of art. But there’s more to The

It all began for the Alberta Ballet when Brydon Paige— now known for his contribution to laying a stable foundation for professional ballet in Canada— a newly hired artistic director for the Alberta Ballet in 1976, decided all ballet companies should have a nutcracker performance and somehow convinced the struggling company to spend $60,000 on putting the production together. To give an idea of the company’s growth: at current, the Alberta Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker sits at a price tag of over $2 million. Now, the company spends about $60,000 each year to refurbish the costumes and keep them looking fresh. In the end, the performance paid off, and contributed to the Alberta Ballet’s lasting success as a professional dance company in a place that can be at times, cut-off from the arts. “I think almost every ballet company in North America can tell you now that they’re alive because of The Nutcracker,” Grand-Maître says. “It’s really the bread and butter.” With over 28 performances total in four different cities this year, the crew of over 70 dancers will be celebrating the 10th season of Stripe’s nutcracker creation. Beyond supporting the company, The Nutcracker is a “mag-

ic portal to reach new kids,” Grand-Maître says. Each year the company works with a different group of roughly 80 kids in each city they tour to, selected to perform the roles of the notorious rats or the party-goers. “The children never forget it,” Grand-Maître says. “They actually inspire the company dancers, because they bring a lot of energy backstage and to the theatre and inspire the dancers who might find it repetitious after awhile, but for the kids, it’s never the same.” To get an idea of how long that history can be, he mentions Nicole Caron, who just retired from the company after 16 years. She danced over 500 nutcrackers. Jennifer Gibson, one of twin sisters who share the role of young Klara in the Alberta Ballet production, can relate to this. “Sometimes you get a little inside your own head as a professional dancer doing nutcracker for 12 plus years,” Gibson says. “But as soon as you see these young children—they kind of just stop moving and just stare at you—to see them get all excited about putting their costumes on and getting on stage, it re-inspires you if you’ve kind of forgotten why you keep doing nutcracker.” Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

force him to confront his past, present, and future. He realizes the error of his ways, he makes amends, and a crippled child proclaims “God bless us, everyone!” And as far as stage productions go, this remains true to form. And this, I’m afraid, works both to the advantage and disadvantage of this latest Citadel production—it’s the same story of redemption you know and love (or at least tolerate for those out-of-town relatives you want to entertain), but there’s nothing up there that’ll leave you shocked. The set pieces are the same ones I remember seeing when I was 10, 12, 16, and 19. And now, at 26, I ask myself how many times audiences must witness Jacob “Jump-Scare” Marley burst from his casket and bellow exposition in the show’s jarring opening dream sequence. But, this isn’t to say it’s a bad production—the cast and chorus approach Tom Wood’s adaptation with the same steadfast vigour despite many of them being veterans to the

production. Glen Nelson is a fine representation of the conflicted curmudgeon, Ebenezer Scrooge (despite some inconsistencies with his accent); so too is Ashley Wright who delivers a moving portrayal of the jolly yet sobering ghost of Christmas present. What’s more, the effects have also held up after nearly two decades—the looming spectre of the ghost of Christmas yet to come, for instance, still makes audiences gasp. The face of Marley appearing in hologram on the doorway to Scrooge’s manor house is indeed striking. And for all of this, I’m still left wanting. Like a Dickensian waif, I’m left begging for more. But then, I’m not really sure what “more” would look like here. The story is a simple morality tale— it’s life-affirming, yes, but easily digested. I suppose for many, it is like an annual tune-up; a stirring reminder of how one should act the whole year ‘round. And for that, I suppose, there are worse ways to get into the Christmas spirit. Buchanan Hunter arts@vueweekly.com

Nutcracker than theatrical magic.

THEATRE REVUE

AS OLD AS THE DICKENS

If nothing else, A Christmas Carol is an excercise in Christmas spirit

Until Sat., Dec. 23 A Christmas Carol Citadel Theatre Starting at $30

/ Ian Jackson, Epic Photography

elebrating its 18th year in production, the Citadel’s crowd-pleasing adaptation of A Christmas Carol has become for many as much a part of obligatory Christmas happenings in Edmonton as reading the Victorian novella on which it is based. 12 arts

It should really come as no surprise—thanks to the widespread popularity that followed its 1843 publication, not to mention the bevvy of adaptations (both loose and otherwise) that saturate cable sitcoms to this day. Audiences surely must be

(at the very least) somewhat prepared for what’s about to be lobbed at them. Ebenezer Scrooge, a moneylender and resident Grinch, discovers the true meaning of Christmas after a nighttime visit from three ghosts that

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

The

SHORT

Story

ADVENT # The # Face

Calendar

ADVENT INTERVIEWS

The Lady with the Invisible Dog

Authors Laird Hunt and Christopher Boucher talk about their love for writing

he short story advent calendar is a collection of short fiction stories that were pushed to the side of various wellknown authors’ desks for one reason or another. To celebrate the month of December and our love of stories, Vue Weekly will publish a weekly column in discussion with authors of the past week’s stories. Laird Hunt, who’s been writing for nearly 30 years is the calendar’s first author to start the month. Hunt says that his writing often is a mixture of cobbling together some of his own thoughts, imagination, and research as well as some autobiographical memories. In his murder mystery “The Face” he joins his own memories of raking

www.harcourthouse.ab.ca 780 426 4180

leaves for an old couple with an amalgamation of thoughts and research surrounding a colleague of his that sees faces differently than most. “What makes me excited about writing is taking different kinds of things and putting them together hopefully in somewhat unexpected ways,” Hunt says. Christopher Boucher, who wrote “Lady with Invisible Dog” finds short story writing to be very elastic and freeing. Realizing all he needed was a laptop and a notebook to create was a pivotal moment for Boucher. “I think that’s why I tend to write more experimental work, is because I really sort of look for that freedom wherever I can find it.” And as a result,

he adds, “the stuff that I write tends to be a little bit weird by nature.” But it’s that freedom to mix themes and questions and visuals together that makes short fiction such a unique arena for authors. “I love the fact that you can start with a blank page and whatever happens in the hour or two that you’re writing, you end up with something more than you started with. It’s really a kind of magic,” Boucher says. “At the end of the day, I just love to find new things, things that I didn’t know I was looking for. And you know, writing fiction gives that to me.” Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

Main Gallery

BANDANEIRA Jonas St. Michael Art Incubator Gallery

1984 CRANES

Bonnie Patton December 7 – January 20, 2017

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, Dec 7, from 7 - 10 pm Artists’ Talk @ 7:30pm Harcourt House Artist Run Centre • 3rd floor, 10215 - 112 St, Edmonton

LOCAL BEST SELLER LIST Week of Nov. 20 - 26, 2017

Edmonton Fiction Bestsellers 1. Short Story Advent Calendar 2017 - Michael Hingston Ed. * + 2. Christmas At the Vinyl Cafe - Stuart McLean 3. Bellevue Square - Michael Redhill (Giller Prize Winner) 4. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls : 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women # 1 (Chidrens) - Elena Favilli, Francesco Cavallo 5. Transit - Rachel Cusk 6. I am a Truck - Michelle Winters

9. You Can’t Stay Here Jasmina Odor * 10.This Wound is a World (Poetry) - Billy-Ray Belcourt * +

Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers 1. Canadianity: Tales from the True North Strong and Freezing - Jeremy Taggart, Jonathan Torrens 2. The World’s Most Travelled Man: A Twenty -Three-Year Odyssey to and through Every Country on the Planet Mike Soencer Bown 3. The Canadian Wilderness Survival - Bruce Zewalsky *

7. A Wake for the Dreamland Laurel Deedrick-Mayne *

4. 100 Things Oilers Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die - Joanne Ireland *, Ryan Smyth *

8. Minds of Winter - Ed O’Loughlin

5. The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and Compassion-

Surprising Observations of a Hidden World - Peter Wollheben, Jeffrey Masson, Jane Billinghurst 6. Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives With Memory Loss - Jann Arden * 7. Firestorm - Edward Struzik * 8. Astrophysics - Neil DeGrasse Tyson 9. The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and CompassionSurprising Observations of a Hidden World - Peter Wollheben, Jeffrey Masson, Jane Billinghurst 10.Spiders in Space: Successfully Adapting to Unwanted Change - Todd Hirsch *, Rob Roach * * Alberta author † Alberta publisher List compiled by Audreys Books and the Book Publishers Association of Alberta

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

arts 13

NON-FICTION

Cover of Island of Blue Foxes / Supplied

IN THE BELLY OF A BLUE FOX

Stephen Bown’s novel takes us through Vitus Bering’s expedition to Alaska

hen people think about the Age of Exploration, men like Christopher Columbus and Lewis and Clark usually come to mind. But we can now add Danish mariner Vitus Bering to that list, thanks to historian and author Stephen R. Bown’s Island of Blue Foxes: Disaster and Triumph on Bering’s Great Voyage to Alaska, a true account tale of Bering’s voyage in 1741. With the original idea of the expedition being put forward by Russia’s Peter the Great in the 1730s, Bering led the Great Northern Expedition along with 3,000 scientists, interpreters, artists, surveyors, labourers, and officers across the unrelenting landscape of Siberia and the Pacific Ocean. The excursion was intended to map out the eastern reaches of Siberia and hopefully the west-

14 arts

ern shores of North America. It lasted nearly 10 years and spanned three continents making it the most expensive and enthusiastic voyage in history. “I don’t know who would sign onto those expeditions,” Bown says. “I have a map of Siberia in my office just to remind myself how far these people travelled without any maps or roads. No wonder it took them years.” Bown does an expert job of mapping out the book in parts and providing useful expository information about Bering’s accolades and preparation for his mammoth voyage. His wife Anna writes him letters and we are given documented accounts from men like Lieutenant Sven Waxell, a commander during Bering’s sail, and Georg Steller, a German botanist.

“The ship’s log is very interesting, but it doesn’t bring anyone alive. I had to find things like Steller’s journal or Waxell’s account that was never published in his lifetime,” Bown says. “Historical context is really important to me, but without the human story, it’s all meaningless. That’s the difference between me and an academic historian. They would be getting all the facts straight, whereas I’m focused on the people and how they respond to disasters or a sudden change in their circumstances.” While the book stretches 10 years, Bown takes his time describing Bering’s thoughts during the voyage and it’s for the books benefit. We truly see Bering wrestling with this monumental task that he has made himself responsible for.

The expedition begins with a trek across Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Bering then oversees the construction of the St. Peter and St. Paul, two ships that would become markers for the voyage. “The conditions of these voyages were incredible,” Bown says. “No ship like that would ever be able to leave port nowadays.” As Bown writes it, the voyage was immediately welcomed by despair. After they set sail, the supply ship holding significant resources like food runs aground. It then takes eight days for the ship to be repaired, and the food the ship was carrying is now ruined by saltwater. Without food, morale among the crew begins to seep low. “They say, ‘Oh, I guess we’re going with no food then,’” Bown

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

says. “It’s just an endless series of disasters and it’s easy for a reader to see them coming.” Not soon after the St. Paul and St. Peter depart for North America’s coast, they are separated in fog and darkness, leaving Bering to sail the St. Peter alone with his crew. “There were so many variables. Even after the Siberian trek, they didn’t really know anything,” Bown says. “They didn’t know where they were going. They didn’t know the winds.” Often history is written in a hushed, scholarly tone that drags on to the point of apathy, but Bown’s sequence of events almost read like an action film. It comes from his writing style, which has been seen in his previous works like The Last Viking, and White Eskimo. It’s hard to put one of his books down, which is rare with many history lessons. “I think I’ve developed a sense of what makes a good story,” he says. “I’m really interested in what people were up to and what they were doing. I think it’s because, in those primitive times, people were left up more to their own devices.” The climax of the book comes near the end when Bering and his crew, ripe and dying of scurvy, are shipwrecked on an island in the Aleutian Chain inhabited by a legion of arctic foxes. The foxes begin slowly killing the crew, turning this story of exploration into a horror-survival. “Blue arctic foxes are already an unusual thing,” Bown says. Those descriptions of the feral foxes forming out of the hills and attacking and eating them ... no one in a million years would ever dream that this magnificent enterprise of the Russian state would end with these people dying on this island and being eaten by blue foxes.” Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

ARTS WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 12PM

DANCE 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

BALLROOM DANCE ASSOCIATION • Central Lions Recreation Center, 11113-113 St • 780.893.6828 • ebda.ca • An evening of ballroom, latin, country dancing • First Sat of every month, 8pm (doors) CLARA'S DREAM • Jubilee Auditorium,

11455-87 Ave • Shumka's Nutcracker, "Clara's Dream" returns. A holiday classic, this production features ballet, folk dance, and character dance in a celebration of Tchaikovsky’s beloved score • Dec 29-30, 7:30pm, 2pm (Dec 30 only) • $20-$80

DANCE CLASSES WITH GOOD WOMEN DANCE COLLECTIVE • Muriel Taylor Studio at Ruth Carse Centre for Dance, 11205-107 Ave • info@goodwomen.ca • goodwomen.ca/classes • Every Tue, Thu, Fri; 10-11:30am • $15 (drop-in), $65 (5 class pack), $100 (10 class pack)

FLAMENCO DANCE CLASSES (BEGINNER OR ADVANCED) • Dance Code Studio, 10575-115 St NW #204 • 780.349.4843 • judithgarcia07@gmail.com • flamencoenvivo.com • Every Sun until Jun 10, 11:30am-12:30pm

HOW TO SAY GOODBYE: AN OBITUARY FOR CANADIAN HISTORY • Spazio Performativo, 10816-95 St • The best funeral ever attended. Be prepared to bid farewell to a long year of Canada 150 with performances that will celebrate the small, random and dark histories of Canada's past • Dec 16, 8pm • Free (donations will be accepted and donated to The Bissell Centre)

MILE ZERO DANCE DROP-IN DANCE & MOVEMENT CLASSES • Spazio Performativo, 10816-95 St • 780.424.1573 • mzdsociety@ gmail.com • milezerodance.com/classes • Mile Zero Dance holds a number of drop-in dance & movement classes for people of all experience levels & ages; Mon: Professional Technique (1011:30am), Contact Improv (7-9pm); Tue: Kids 6-10 (4:30-5:15pm), Toonie Yoga (5:30-6:45pm), Butoh (7-9pm); Wed: Noguchi Taiso (1011:30am); Thu: Preschool 3-5 (10-10:45am), Beginner Contemporary (5-6:15pm); Sat: House (7-9pm) • $15 (regular), $12 (members), 10-class cards available for $100

NAKED • Spazio Performativo, 10816-95 St • milezerodance.com • This work is inspired by the stages of humans in the amniotic sac, the muscular, bones and sensoral development, contractions, breath and birth. Adult content (nudity) • Dec 8-9 • $15 or best offer at the door

THE NUTCRACKER • Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • 780.427.2760 • jubileeauditorium.com • Enter a Kingdom of Sweets, fall in love with a Sugar Plum Fairy and bravely face an army of mischievous mice. Featuring live music with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra & the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra • Dec 7-10

THE SASH MAKER • Spazio Performativo, 1081695 St • milezerodance.com • In collaboration with Aboriginal Arts Alberta, Rebecca Sadowski uses Metis traditional sash weaving as an entry point to exploring her own heritage through movement • Jan 19-20 • $15 or best offer at the door

SHAPING SOUND: AFTER THE CURTAIN • Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • 780.427.2760 • jubileeauditorium.com • An electrifying mash-up of dance styles and musical genres that tell the story of a man fighting to find his creative voice after losing his one true love • Dec 7-10

SUGAR FOOT STOMP! • Sugar

9231-100 Ave • Dances are taught to a variety of songs and music. No partner required • Every Wed, 7-9pm • $10

Star Cars: artwork by Steve Coffey; Feb 8, 7-9pm

FILM

Park • 780.410.8585 • strathcona.ca/artgallery • Light in the Land–the Nature of Canada: artwork by Dr. Roberta Bondar; Nov 10-Dec 21

METRO • Metro at the Garneau Theatre,

GALLERY@501 • 501 Festival Ave, Sherwood

8712-109 St • 780.425.9212 • metrocinema. org • Visit metrocinema.org for daily listings • AFTERNOON TEA: The Sound of Music (Dec 17) • CANADA ON SCREEN: Black Christmas (1974) (Dec 22) • METRO RETRO: The Crow (Dec 28) • QUOTEA-LONG SERIES: Die Hard (Dec 23) • REEL FAMILY CINEMA: Home Alone (Dec 16), Elf (Dec 23), The Wizard of OZ (Dec 30) • SCI-FI: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Dec 10, Dec 13) • STRANGE CANADA: The Silent Partner (Dec 21)

HUMAN ECOLOGY GALLERY • University of Alberta 1-15, Human Ecology Building • 780.492.3824 • Imagining a Better World: The Artwork of Nelly Toll; Sep 28-Mar 11

GALLERIES + MUSEUMS

JEFF ALLEN ART GALLERY (JAAG) •

HARCOURT HOUSE GALLERY • 3 Fl, 10215-112 St • 780.426.4180 • harcourthouse. ab.ca • 1984 Cranes: artwork by Elenor Coerr; Dec 7-Jan 19 • Bandaneira: artwork by Jonas St. Michael; Dec 7-Jan 19

ACUA GALLERY & ARTISAN BOUTIQUE • 9534-87 St • 780.488.8558 • info@acuarts. ca • acuarts.ca • Motanky, Felting and Weaving Show: artwork by Elizabeth Holinaty, Myroslava Oksentiuk, Elena Scharabun and Natalia Yashnikova; Dec 1-19 • Crafting Christmas: all day Christmas Workshops; Dec 9, 9am-4pm

ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL GALLERY •

Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University Ave, 109 St, 78 Ave • 780.433.5807 • seniorcentre.org • Inspirations: artwork by Gladys Mathison and Darlene Comfort; Nov 16-Dec 13

LANDO GALLERY • 103, 10310-124 St • 780.990.1161 • landogallery.com • Holiday Group Selling Exhibition featuring Lando Gallery artists; Until the end of Dec

10186-106 St • 780.488.6611 • albertacraft. ab.ca • Landmarks: artwork by Julia Reimer, Tyler Rock and Katherine Russell; Sep 2-Dec 24 • Process; Thinking Through: artwork by Charles Lewton-Brain; Jan 20-Apr 21

LATITUDE 53 • Latitude 53, 10242-106 St

ALBERTA LEGISLATURE AND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY VISITOR CENTRE • 9820-

LOFT ART GALLERY • 590 Broadmoor Blvd,

107 St • 780.415.1839 • jeanette.dotimas@ assembly.ab.ca • assembly.ab.ca/visitorcentre/ borealis/LegionHalls.html • Legion Halls: photography by Tobi Asmoucha; Oct 13-Jan 2

5th Ave, Spruce Grove • 780.962.0664 • alliedartscouncil.com • Novelty Show; Dec 4-Jan 19

ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA (AGA) • 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.422.6223 • youraga.ca • Turbulent Landings: The NGC 2017 Canadian Biennial: curated by Catherine Crowston, Josee Drouin-Brisebois and Jonathan Shaughnessy; Sep 30-Jan 7 • Monument: artwork by Dara Humniski and Sergio Serrano; Oct 14-Feb 19 • Calling Stones (Conversations): artwork by Faye HeavyShield; Oct 28-Feb 19 • WordMark: A New Chapter Acquisition Project; Oct 28-Mar 25 • WEEKLY DROP-IN ACTIVITIES: Tours for Tots, Every Wed, 10-11am • Youth Workshops, ages 13-17, Every Thu, 4-6pm • Kids’ Open Studio, Every Sat, 1-3pm • Exhibition Tours; Every Sat-Sun, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm • Art for Lunch; 3rd Thu of the month, 12-1pm • VIBE; 3rd Fri of the month, 5-9pm

ART GALLERY OF ST ALBERT (AGSA) • 19 Perron St, St Albert • 780.460.4310 •

artgalleryofstalbert.ca • Outrospectives: artwork by Nathalie Daoust, Florin Hategan and Edwin Janzen; Dec 7-Jan 27

BLEEDING HEART ART SPACE • 9132-118 Ave • dave@bleedingheartartspace.com • Your Work, Our Walls: artwork by Open Walls 3; Nov 25-Dec 16 BOREALIS GALLERY • 9820-107 St • assembly.ab.ca/visitorcentre/borealis.html • Legion Halls: produced by the Canadian War Museum; Oct 13-Jan 2 BRUCE PEEL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS • Lower level, Rutherford South, University of Alberta • bpsc.library.ualberta.ca • Salt, Sword, and Crozier: Books and Coins from the Prince-Bishopric of Salzburg (c.1500-c.1800); Sep 26-Jan 31

BUGERA MATHESON GALLERY • 10345-124 St • bugeramathesongallery.com • Symphonic Timbre: artwork by Ernestine Tahedl; Oct 20-Nov 3 • Gardens Ablaze/Jardins de lumière: artwork by Michèle Drouin (RCA); Nov 17-Dec 7 • Radioactive Core: artwork by Scott Plear; Dec 8-24; Opening reception: Dec 8, 6-9pm (with wine tasting); Artist discussion: Dec 9, 1-4pm

• paintspot.ca • NAESS GALLERY: The Aging Chalice: artwork by Sarah C. Louise Jackson and Sara Norquay; Nov 23-Jan 4 • ARTISTAN NOOK: Chapmans Create: artwork by Michelle and Josh Chapman; Noc 23-Jan 4

PETER ROBERTSON GALLERY • 12323104 Ave • 780.455.7479 • probertsongallery. com • Group Show: Includes new artists and their new works; Nov 9-Dec 31 • Of Sky and Water: artwork by Gregory Hardy; Nov 16-Dec 9 • Giving Context: artwork by Steve Driscoll; Nov 25-Dec 30

PICTURE THIS! FRAMING & GALLERY • 959 Ordze Rd, Sherwood Park • 780.467.3038 • info@picturethisgallery.com • picturethisgallery. com • The Winter Art Show: artwork by Roger Arndt, Luke Buck, Charity Dakin, Trisha Romance and more; Dec 1-Feb 28 • Christmas Open House–A Picture This Christmas; Dec 15-23 PROVINCIAL ARCHIVES OF ALBERTA • 8555 Roper Road • PAA@gov.ab.ca • 780.427.1750 • culture.alberta.ca/paa/ eventsandexhibits/default.aspx • Open Tue-Sat, 9am

SCOTT GALLERY • 10411-124 St • scottgallery.com • Iron Light: artwork by Jim Davies; Nov 18-Dec 9 SNAP GALLERY • Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, 10123-121 St • 780.423.1492 • snapartists.com • SNAP Annual Members Show and Sale; Nov 18-Dec 16 • Community Gallery: artwork by Jonathan S. Green; Jan 5-Feb 10 • Main Gallery: Tara Cooper; Jan 5-Feb 10

UDELL XHIBITIONS • 10332-124 St NW • 780.488.4445 • Open Tues to Sat 10am-5 pm • udellxhibitions.com • Winter Group Show; Dec 9-23

DC3 ART PROJECTS • 10567-111 St • 780.686.4211 • dc3artprojects.com • Disclosures: Artwork by Dana Dal Bo, Dayna Danger, Shan Kelley; Nov 3-Dec 16

WEST END GALLERY • 10337-124 St • 780.488.4892 • westendgalleryltd.com • Edmonton Calendar Show; Nov 25-Dec 23

FAB GALLERY • Fine Arts Building Gallery,1-1 FAB (University of Alberta) • ualberta.ca/artshows • Artwork by Liz Ingram and Meghan Pohlod; Nov 21-Dec 9 • MFA Sculpture: artwork by TJ McLachlan; Dec 19-23 & Jan 2-13 • The Light Through the Window: artwork by Noemi De Brujn; Dec 19-23 & Jan 2-13

SACRED CIRCLE DANCE • Riverdale Hall,

PAINT SPOT • 10032-81 Ave • 780.432.0240

St • telusworldofscienceedmonton.com • Daily activities, demonstrations and experiments • The Science Behind Pixar Exhibition; Until Jan 7 • Free-$117.95

780.461.3427 • galeriecava.com • Miniatures Show Galerie; Dec 1-23

thefrontgallery.com • The Heritage Collection: artwork by Kari Duke; Jan 11, 7-9pm • Fallen

MUSÉE HÉRITAGE MUSEUM • St Albert Place, 5 St Anne Street, St Albert • MuseeHeritage.ca • 780.459.1528 • museum@ artsandheritage.ca •The Michel Band: curated by members of the Michel Band Council; Sep 19-Jan 7

TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE • 11211-142

CAVA GALLERY • 9103-95 Ave •

FRONT GALLERY • 10402-124 St •

Sherwood Park • artsoc@telus.net • artstrathcona. com • Open Fri-Sun, Sep 9-Dec, 10-4pm • Artwork from local artists of the Society

MCMULLEN GALLERY • U of A Hospital, 8440-112 St • 780.407.7152 • friendsofuah. org/mcmullen-gallery • Holiday Show & Sale 2017; Dec 7-21

ALLIED ARTS COUNCIL OF SPRUCE GROVE • Melcor Cultural Centre, 35-

Swing Ballroom, 10019-80 Ave NW • 587.786.6554 • dance@sugarswing.com • sugarswing.com • Swing dance social • Every Fri-Sat, 8pm (beginner lesson begins) • $12, $2 (lesson with entry) • All ages

NW • latitude53.org • Persistence of Vision: artwork by Brandon A. Dalmer; Dec 8-Jan 20 • Latitude Invitational: by various artists; Dec 8-Jan 20

LITERARY AUDREYS BOOKS • 10702 Jasper Ave • Trent Portigal "The Amoeba-Ox Continuum" Book Launch; Dec 7, 7-9pm • Karl Subban "How We Did It" Meet & Greet; Dec 14, 5-7pm

BEDTIME STORIES WITH NAKED GIRLS READING • Sewing Machine Factory, 9562-82 Ave • 780.691.1691 • A group of beautiful ladies who love to read…naked • Dec 12, 8-10pm • $10 (door) • 18+ only

DOWNTOWN EDMONTON BOOK CLUB • Downtown Edmonton Community League, 10042-103 St • facebook.com/declorg • Open to anyone who lives, works, or plays downtown and wants to meet new people, have great conversations, and read cool stuff • Every 2nd Wed, 7-8:30pm

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

ROUGE POETRY SLAM HOSTED BY BREATH IN POETRY COLLECTIVE • BLVD Supper x Club, 10765 Jasper Ave • Every Tue

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

UPPER CRUST CAFÉ • 10909-86 Ave • 780.422.8174 • strollofpoets.com • The Poets’ Haven Reading Series • Most Mon (except holidays), 7pm, Sep 18-Mar; presented by the Stroll of Poets Society • $5 (door)

THEATRE 11 O'CLOCK NUMBER • Basement Theatre at Holy Trinity, 10037-84 Ave • grindstonetheatre.ca • This completely improvised musical comedy is based on the suggestions from the audience who will get to experience a brand new story unfold in front of them, complete with impromptu songs, dance breaks and show stopping numbers • Every Fri, Oct 13-Dec 15, 11pm

A CHRISTMAS CAROL • Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Ave • citadeltheatre.com • Three Ghosts of Christmas show Scrooge the value of giving. A heart-warming family classic to raise the holiday spirits • Dec 1-23

A DOLL HOUSE • Timms Centre for the Arts, 87 Ave & 112 St, University of Alberta • ualberta.ca/artshows • Ibsen’s ground-breaking classic reframed and reimagined in 1950s America. What first appears to be a satisfying marriage soon reveals itself to be one of entrapment, unhappiness and suffocation • Nov 30-Dec 9

BACK TO THE 80S PART 2: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615-109 Ave • 780.483.4051 • mayfieldtheatre.ca • Join Bill and Ted in their time traveling phone booth as they blast back to the '80s to relive the bad hairdos, spandex pants, iconic characters and, of course, it’s most excellent mix-tape of memorable music. • Nov 7-Jan 28

BURNING BLUEBEARD • The Roxy on Gateway, 8529 Gateway Blvd • Tells the tale of six singed clowns who emerge from the burnt remains of a theatre to perform their spectacular Christmas Pantomime • Dec 12-23

CHIMPROV • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Rapid Fire Theatre’s long form comedy show: improv formats, intricate narratives, and one-act plays • Every Sat, 10pm; Sep 10-Jun 9 • $15 (door or buy in adv at TIX on the Square)

THE LISTENING ROOM • ATB Financial Art Barns, 10330-84 Ave • 780.471.1586 • In an isolated and post-apocalyptic desert, a group of four teenagers use radio telescopes to salvage fragments of earlier civilizations still ricocheting between stars, desperately searching for connections to a past that has faded from both memory and record • Jan 18-28 LITTLE GIRL LOST • South Pointe Community Centre, 11520 Ellerslie Road • When a spoiled nine year old little girl finds out she won’t be getting the doll she wants she runs away two days before Christmas and is reluctantly adopted by a family of street kids, a charismatic street gentleman, and a bag lady with Alzheimer’s • Dec 8-16 • Tickets at TIX on the Square LIZZIE • Strathcona High School Stage, 1045072 Ave • Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, gave her father forty one. A rockshow retelling of America's first and favourite axe-wielding double murderess • Dec 4-10

ONEGIN • Maclab Theatre at the Citadel, 9828101A Ave • 780.425.1820 • A new indie-rock musical. Tells the story of Eugene Onegin, a wealthy Russian playboy who, bored with seducing women in Moscow, sees a chance for a change when he inherits a country estate. He soon becomes fast friends with Vladimir, his new neighbour, who introduces Onegin to the love of his life, Olga • Jan 17-28, 7:30pm (nightly), 2pm (weekends) • $17

OPEN JAM • Holy Trinity Church, 10037-84 Ave • 780.907.2975 • grindstonetheatre.ca • Facilitated by Grindstone Theatre. Swap games and ideas and get an opportunity to play. For those of all levels • Last Tue of each month

ORANGE IS THE NEW PINK • Jubilations Dinner Theatre, West Edmonton Mall, #2061, 8882-170 St • 780.484.2424 • edmonton. jubilations.ca • Piper is pretty in pink and the life of every party. But when this queen of the New York party scene takes it a bit too far, she’s forced to trade in the pink party dress for an orange prison suit • Oct 20-Jan 20 PJ MASKS LIVE • Enmax Hall, Winspear Centre, 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square • edmontonsymphony.com • Watch Catboy, Owlette and Gekko as they try to save the day from their sneaky villains – Romeo, Night Ninja and Luna Girl • Dec 11, 6pm

SHATTER • Walterdale Theatre, 10322-83 Ave • 780.439.3058 • walterdaletheatre.com • Anna MacLean’s eye has been turned by all the handsome soldiers roaming about the streets of her hometown of Halifax. She feels the promise of something great is lingering on the horizon for her • Dec 6-16 SLUMBERLAND MOTEL • Varscona Theatre, 10329-83 Ave • 780.433.3399 • shadowtheatre. org • While overnighting in a seedy roadside motel, two down on their luck vacuum cleaner salesmen’s lives are changed by a mysterious woman • Jan 17-Feb 4 THEATRESPORTS • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828-101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Improv • Every Fri, 7:30pm and 10pm • Sep 9-Jun 8 • $15

DIE-NASTY • Varscona Theatre,

Clara’s Dream Jubilee Auditorium Dec. 29 - 30, 7:30 pm, 2 pm (Dec. 30 only) $20-$80

10329-83 Ave • die-nasty.com • Live improvised soap opera. Join the whole Die-Nasty family REBORN, for a whole season of great artists, earth-shaking discovery, glorious music, hilarious hi jinx...but mostly Machiavellian Intrigue • Runs every Mon, 6:30pm (doors), 7:309:30pm • Oct 23-May 29

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF • Festival Place, 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park • 780.449.3378 • festivalplace.ab.ca • The heartwarming musical story about fathers,

daughters, husbands and wives, life, love and acceptance • Dec 15-30

THE HUMANS • Citadel Theatre, 9828-101A Ave • citadeltheatre.com • A family reunion at Thanksgiving causes tensions to rise to the surface as secrets and hardships are revealed • Jan 6-28

LES NEIGES • Theatre of La Cité francophone, 8627 rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury (91 St) • lunitheatre.ca • Les Neiges presents a poetic, poignant and amusing look at our chilliest yet, most nostalgic season and what it often has to offer–in abundance • Dec 7-10

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

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arts 15

DRAMA

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Director Adam Garnet Jones discusses his most recent film Great Great Great and the nature of building a story with consequence

alking the line between engaging storytelling and melodrama when crafting a tale of infidelity is a difficult task. A narrative arch that’s mismanaged can result in either cringe to the level of averting your eyes, or something so saccharine it hurts your teeth. But Canadian filmmaker Adam Garnet Jones has avoided all of these tropes and has delivered something truly engaging in his latest directorial outing Great Great Great. Jones has recently earned favour in the eyes of the Canadian filmmaking industry following his 2015 film Fire Song, which went on to sweep numerous awards at ceremonies throughout the country. Jones is exploring new territory in Great Great Great by telling a story that still is personal to him, but is unlike anything he has ever made before.

“The two films are very different from each other. Fire Song is a very dark, intense queer Indigenous love story. Moving my style to totally different subject matter when working on this film made the whole directorial experience different,” Jones says. Great Great Great is a very tightly shot and intimate tale, following the exploits of Lauren, played by Sara Kolasky. Lauren is a character struggling with a long-term relationship, an old flame, and uncertainty. Kolasky also helped write the film with Jones and her portrayal of a person enduring personal struggle plays immensely in the film’s favour and is one of the many highlights of the story. “When you’re working with people you know and people who are close to you, you really get an opportunity to pull cre-

ative choices from them,” Jones says when discussing writing with Kolasky. Where Great Great Great finds its footing is in how it treats its characters and how the interpersonal relationships are heavily engrained in reality. There is no fairy tale sugar coating in this film, every person in the narrative woks in tandem with the protagonist, whether they’re helping or hindering her. However, Lauren’s motivations remain ambiguous throughout the film—something that Jones intended. “The difference between a weekly soap and this film is mystery. Why characters behave the way they do in certain stories like this one can be crystal clear. With this film, we built enough motivation for the main charac-

Sat., Dec. 9 (7 pm) Great Great Great Q&A with Director Adam Garnet Jones Metro Cinema ter without having to explain every action,” Jones says. Every beat that the plot lands on adds momentum to the narrative, whether it’s Lauren’s work relationships or personal life, each aspect lends to the story leaving very little room for unnecessary filler. A lot of this is aided by the obvious character direction that Jones and Kolasky had in mind for the portrayal of Lauren. “On Great Great Great it was nice to have someone to collaborate with. It’s a huge relief to not be left alone with the terror of the page,” Jones says. Thematically, the misnomer of the title plays into the themes the film explores. Nothing about Lauren’s life is remotely going great, yet it’s her persistence in managing numerous attempts at normalcy that

stress the opposite. Her choices have consequences, and unlike other tales of disloyalty where certain events never get closure every action made by her comes back to have their just due in some way. Great Great Great is another expertly woven personal story by Jones. It’s truly believable and leaves the viewer not particularly cheering for the protagonist, yet still fixated when it comes to seeing how it all plays out. “I want to have something in a film that I deeply connect with,” Jones says. “Fire Song was a story for my community and in many ways was bigger than me. Great Great Great is deeply personal in nature. Woven by the experiences of myself and others in my life.” Jake Pesaruk flim@vueweekly.com

part love affair with the master, the film is not meant as a biography or a historical memoir, but as a work of art and dream-like exploration into the final months of his life. Reaching a near-lunatic level of time and dedication to the work and style of Van Gogh, each frame echoes the impressionist strokes of vibrant colour that carved the man out as the father of modern art. And the creative transitions used between scenes—turning a man’s face into distant fields or clouds—is part of the excitement that painting each frame brings to the film. The film takes place one year after Van Gogh’s death and follows his trusted postmaster’s son as he attempts to deliver a letter the late Impressionist wrote to his brother, Theo. As he travels to Arles, the plot is told through members of the community that saw the painter in different lights. Most cinematic films are shot at 24 frames per second. At that

rate, the film uses 65,000 paintings and a new animation process that models characters on actors’ faces to make the movements and expressions flow naturally. When you consider the amount of paintings needed for a small movement like a scratch of the nose, the fluidity is amazing. Despite this, seeing the film on an Imax screen might be a bit too much; the noise of the strokes and movements can be dizzying. But beyond the beauty of the painted frames, the score is its own work of art. Created by famed film composer Clint Mansell (Pi, Requiem for a Dream), the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack ends up flowing into each scene of starry Paris and sleepy southern France seamlessly. Standing as the world’s first fully-painted feature film, Loving Vincent is a masterpiece mustsee for the beauty and a plot that’s worth the wait until it’s hit the cheap theatres. Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

REVUE

A LABOUR OF LOVE

Loving Vincent is more for the art, less for the story

Fri., Dec. 8 - Thu., Dec. 14 Loving Vincent Metro Cinema, $13 

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16 ﬁlm

ith the brushstrokes of over 100 painters Polish animator Dorota Kobiela and U.K. painter Hugh Welchman’s production of Loving Vincent is a testament to the collective love of a beloved and troubled artist. Part murder mystery,

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

FILM REVUE

RICH IN DETAIL AND DEFTLY SPUN Coco strikes chord after chord in its animated romp

Coco Directed by Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina Now playing 

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Disney short starts off the latest Pixar animationshow, but the Nordic tale (and Frozen spinoff) “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” has plenty in common with the Mexico-set Coco.

Both feature much singing, explore cultural traditions (winter holiday celebrations; the Day of the Dead), show off decorativecraft sequences (knitted-scarf images; a backstory told with

pierced-paper silhouettes), and focus on family. But the sometimes earnest, generic snow story only reveals the underworld odyssey that follows to be far more urgent, distinctive, and phantasmagorical. Young Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) first relates his family’s hatred of song-and-dance, dating back to when his greatgreat-grandmother’s husband left her and their daughter to pursue his musical dreams; since then, the family’s been in the shoemaking business, not even humming as they cobble away. But Miguel, a devotee of the late guitar player and film star Ernesto de la Cruz, has been secretly strumming his

stuff ... until his family finds out, on Día de Muertos. Miguel runs off, only to find himself trapped in the Land of the Dead, a world of luminous, spired neighbourhoods that also boasts a vast, glass-ceilinged train station and sky trams. The coin-flip of obstinacy and determination in this rebellious 12-year-old is deftly spun, scene after scene. The Land’s skeleton inhabitants are joyfully macabre (one, so agog at a living boy before him, drops his eyeballs into his jaw with a rattle). Most remarkable are the light and colour: sun splashing through marigold petals; a poppily surrealist show staged by Frida Kahlo; spirit-guide animals with glow-

paint markings. The film’s rich in detail: skull-like Catrina makeup; Miguel’s tongue-lolling Xoloitzcuintle dog (slyly named Dante); Mayan motifs on the Land’s stonework entrance; a surprise reunion in a cenote (a sinkhole or pit, usually in the Yucatán). The multi-layered story, zippily epic, slip-slides us deeper and deeper into this world beyond ours. Coco’s final song is a bit much when the ending’s already so family-ever-after. But, long before then, its nimble play on emotional yearning and connection—with ancestors and elders through song and memory—has struck chord after chord. Brian Gibson film@vueweekly.com

FRI, DEC 8–THUR, DEC 14

FILM REVUE

PEROXIDE BLONDE HAIR IN SHOGUN-ERA JAPAN

The only glimmer of surprise in Blade of the Immortal is the weapons

Thu., Dec. 7, 10 and 11 Blade of the Immortal Directed by Takashi Miike Metro Cinema Dec 7, 10, 11 

etro’s spotlight on Takashi Miike continues with this year’s Blade of the Immortal, which starts where most samurai movies would end. In shogun-era Japan, Manji (Takuya Kimura), confronted by a horde of warriors—their sneering leader having just cut down Manji’s sister— manages to flash, gash, and slash his way through them all, then staggers and falls, ready to die of his wounds. But an 800-year-old nun, whom he met earlier, reappears to put “bloodworms” into him, making him immortal. A halfcentury later, he’s enlisted by a girl, Rin (Hana Sugisaki), seeking to avenge her father, killed by Kagehisa Anotsu (Sota Fukishi)

and his Ittō-ryū acolytes, destroying dojos around Edo (Tokyo). It’s superhero-ish stuff—after all, Blade of the Immortal’s based on a long-running manga that’s been adapted as an anime feature. This live-action version is, like many of its Hollywood comic book-blockbuster counterparts, so self-serious that it’s rather silly (there’s somehow peroxideblonde hair in shogun-era Japan; no one thinks of just incinerating the immortal already; etc.). The only glints of surprise come with each new weapon (shurikens, two-pronged blades, kabutowari, and more) in yet another showdown. The livid-scarred, glaring Manji often resembles a pincushion crossed with a voodoo doll or Monty Python’s Black Knight, still eager to fight on even though his limbs have been hacked off. The gender-dynamics are pathetically retrograde, especially when the first female fighter’s

unable to finish off Manji because she’s suddenly overcome by her emotions, seized with guilt and regret. This is a film interesting mostly in long-shot: its painterly backdrops, and its gothic operaness with anguish, pain, even poison amid moonlight, shadows, even quicksand; one masked foe carries the severed heads of his victims atop his shoulders. And there’s its extreme re-viewing of the samurai flick. Japan’s famous genre staggers its way, undead, towards the zombie or vampire movie here. The samurai seem closer to a sado-masochistic death-cult than ever. The sound of gurgling and glugging on one’s own blood is the movie’s chorus; Manji only fights on because vengeful Rin reminds him of his slain sister. The point of it all? Nothing more than a flash of steel in the darkness, it seems. Brian Gibson film@vueweekly.com

BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY

FRI & MON TO THURS: 7:00PM SAT: 1:15 & 7:00PM SUN: 1:15 & 6:15PM RATED: PG

FACES PLACES

FRI: 9:30PM SAT: 3:45 & 9:30PM SUN: 3:45 & 8:30PM MON TO THURS: 9:15PM

LAST FLAG FLYING

FRI & MON TO THURS: 6:45PM SAT: 1:00 & 6:45PM SUN: 1:00 & 6:00PM RATED: 14A, CL

THE DIVINE ORDER

FRI & MON TO THURS: 9:00PM SAT: 3:15 & 9:00PM SUN: 3:15 & 8:15PM RATED: PG, SC

RATED: PG

PRESENTS HARRY DEAN STANTON TRIBUTE

LUCKY THUR @ 7:00, SAT @ 2:00 100 FILM CAREER: TAKASHI MIIKE SPOTLIGHT

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL THUR @ 9:00, SUN @ 9:30, MON @ 9:00

JAPANESE WITH SUBTITLES 100 FILM CAREER: TAKASHI MIIKE SPOTLIGHT

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL THUR @ 9:00, SUN @ 9:30, MON @ 9:00

DEC 7 - DEC 13 THE ROOM FRI @ 11:30 SATURDAY MORNING ALL-YOU-CANEAT-CEREAL CARTOON PARTY: CHRISTMAS EDITION SAT @ 10:00AM THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER SAT @ 4:00, WED @ 7:00

JAPANESE W/ SUBTITLES

LOVING VINCENT FRI @ 7:00, SAT @ 9:30, SUN @ 2:00, MON @ 7:00

DEDFEST

GREAT GREAT GREAT SAT @ 7:00 FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE. SCI-FI CINEMA

PLANET TERROR FRI @ 9:00

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY SUN @ 6:45, WED @ 9:30 NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION TUES @ 7:00

Metro Cinema at the Garneau: 8712-109 Street WWW.METROCINEMA.ORG

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

film 17

CHAIRLIFT

A new chairlift at Sunridge Ski Area highlights the new season

pair of new lifts, a quad chair, and a magic carpet conveyor are making their debut at Sunridge Ski Area this winter. The lifts are replacing existing Tbars and rope tows and because the construction of the chair lift forced the removal of a section of trees, which created some new terrain, Sunridge can also say it’s expanded this season. “When we were doing some recontouring, a treed area had to be taken out and it actually gave us an extra run,” says Sunridge owner Ian Bakker. “It widened the hill quite a bit.” The new area will be developed into an advanced terrain park while the run the terrain park formerly occupied will be returned to a conventional ski run. The lift itself is a Leitner-Poma fixed grip quad chair that Sunridge purchased from Talisman Mountain Resort in Ontario when it closed in 2010. There are 56 chairs on the liftline and the lift ‘s cost was “around the million dol-

lar mark,” Bakker says. As for the carpet lift, it replaces a rope tow in the beginner area and, accompanied with the recontouring of the slope, has created a gentle, more accessible learning area. Since the carpet allows unloading from both sides once skiers reach the top, as opposed to a rope tow that forces everyone to get off on the same side, there will be more room for people to disperse and exit the area. Even further contouring was done in other areas of the hill to create a permanent skier-cross course. Skier-cross consists of head-to-head races on a course built to encompass both naturally occurring terrain and artificial features like jumps, rollers, and banks. It’s become a major component in Sunridge’s alpine race programs and the investment in skier-cross development is a continuation of progress made last year when the Sunridge Alpine Ski Team hosted its first-ever FIS qualifying skier-cross race.

“We had racers from across Canada and the U.S.,” explains Bakker. “The ski clubs are using skiercross now as opposed to all gate training. Gate training is certainly still done but when you watch it (skier cross) you want to do it.” This will be a busy year at Sunridge for ski teams as both the alpine and freestyle teams that were training at the Edmonton Ski Club have relocated to Sunridge following ESC’s decision not to open this season.

/ Steve Kenworthy

The new lifts are part of the first, and largest, phase of a three-phase plan Bakker has initiated to reinvest in Sunridge’s infrastructure. The second phase will be new snowmaking and the third phase will be redoing the tube park, a feature first introduced at Sunridge in 2000 that has since become a major attraction at the hill. “We’re carefully bringing in changes but it all cost money,” says Bakker, who has owned Sun-

ridge since 1988. Sunridge is located in Strathcona Science Park, a provincial park at the east edge of Edmonton on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. It is now open for the season with snowmaking ongoing and more terrain opening in the next weeks. Hopes are to have the new chair lift operating later in December and the tube park expected to open on the 15th. Steven Kenworthy @vueweekly Caption / Credit

SKIING

VUEWEEKLY would like to send you and a friend to Snow Valley!

FLURRIES M

Head to VUEWEEKLY.com/contests for a chance to win Two Free Area Passes. We'll be choosing a new winner each week through to the end of February! 18 snow zone

Winter ski season is off to the races

armot Basin’s shiny new advance terrain, “Tres Hombres,” opened to the public for the first time on Friday, Dec. 1. A small group of locals was on hand as the ropes dropped allowing them to be the first to ever (legally) dive into the area’s diamond and double black diamond slopes. Reports about the new terrain sound good and Marmot has been blessed with plentiful early-season snowfall, making it the Alberta resort of choice so far this year. Tightwads rejoice as Norquay

in Banff is offering its “Toonie Tuesday” promotion again this season. Once a month lift tickets at Norquay are only a Toonie and this month it’s on Tuesday, December 13. Donations collected during Toonie Tuesday are given to charities in the Bow Valley and Calgary area. Snow Valley will be having its Holiday Celebration this Sunday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On tap are inflatable games, an obstacle course, scavenger hunt and cookie decorating. Many events are free and all ages are welcome.

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

It has been a tough start to the Canadian ski racing season as last weekend’s women’s World Cup downhill race at Lake Louise was delayed by a morning power outage that left the lifts inoperable. Racers were taken up the mountain on snowcats and there was enough power for the timing to work but the hill was closed to the public for the day. That comes on the heels of the Nov. 13 fatality of French skier David Poisson while training at Nakiska. Steve Kenworthy @vueweekly

The Bighorn Backcountry west of Edmonton provides 88% of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water. We have a chance to protect wildlife, water, and non-motorized recreation opportunities by creating a Wildland Park.

Show some love for the Bighorn. Go to loveyourheadwaters.ca

Photo: Jody Hilti.

to find out how you can express your support for a Bighorn Wildland Park.

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DEC 13, 2017

snow zone 19

SNOWZONE

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WANT LESSONS? WE HAVE 5 & 3 WEEK PROGRAMS PERFECT FOR ANY AGE STARTING AT: $119 THEY’RE AND ANY ABILITY!

WWW.SNOWVALLEY.CA PHONE: 7804343991

SNOW VALLEY PARK SQUAD

A FREESTYLE PROGRAM FOR SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS 3 WEEK, 5 WEEK, AND 10 WEEK SESSIONS

AN EPIC START TO WINTER O

Cat skiing is the new go-to activity on Alberta slopes

ur Rocky Mountain Resorts are off to an incredibly snowy start this winter. Three to four weeks in and snowfall records are under siege. At Marmot Basin the snowy bonanza has allowed them to open their much talked about Tres Hombres terrain two weeks ahead of schedule. And their allmountain base currently sits at 90cm, well beyond the typical 60cm seen this time of year. And then there’s the powder. Multiple +20cm snowfalls have allowed for amazing first tracks anywhere on the mountain. Further south at Lake Louise, conditions are reportedly the best in 77 years. To date, they’ve received over 2.5 metres and it’s not expected to stop any time soon. With both of the men’s and women’s World Cup ski races out of the way, this resort is ready to rock the entire mountain for all snow enthusiasts. At Sunshine Village the base currently sits at 122 cm with all

20 snow zone

lifts, aside from Goat’s Eye open. This is not unusual for this time of year and mountain crews are working hard on the upper slope traverse trying to get this lift running in the next week or two. Sunshine Village isn’t big on snowmaking. As a result, they are the best at farming snow from other areas on the hill, moving it to wind swept areas that tend to be bare earlier in the year. There are two primary catskiing operations in Alberta. KPOW is located in Kananaskis Country operating out of the old Fortress Mountain location and the Powder Stagecoach is operating on the upper slopes and edges of Castle Mountain near Pincher Creek. Although the pricing is quite similar, both are unique with regards to the terrain and offerings. The Stagecoach has a daily rate of $399 but there are several early-bird specials that are quite enticing. If you book be-

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

fore December 15 you will also get free performance/powder ski or snowboard rentals, a photo package on USB stick including images of your epic turns, breakfast, a boxed lunch, and a bevy in the lodge at the end of your day. Castle is not open yet but they do expect to be by Dec. 15. At KPOW the daily rate is $395 until Feb. 15 and $475 thereafter until closing sometime in April. Included is a short bus ride from Fortress Junction to the base, snacks in the cat, and a hot lunch. KPOW operations have started for this season with at least nine bookings available in December. Upon arrival at the base, both operators provide extensive prerun safety presentations and avalanche transceiver training. If you have a limited budget this year and can’t afford a $1,000 Heli-ski day, cat-skiing is an affordable and well worth it experience. Hart Golbeck @vueweekly

HIP HOP

Arlo Maverick talks ‘Marlonese’ and new album Soul Merchant Sat., Dec. 9 (6 pm) Capital City Records Showcase w/ Arlo Maverick, Martin Kerr, Kimberley MacGregor, Celeigh Cardinal and more Starlite Room Free

ith an Edmonton Music Award for Rap/Hip Hop Recording of the Year, a recent tour in South Korea, and a new album relatively complete, Marlon Wilson, better known as Arlo Maverick has had a hell of a year. And he’s already looking ahead. “In 2017 we have accomplished a lot and it’s a good feeling,” Maverick says. “With the new album, we’re applying for festivals and showcases and we want this new album to really resonate with people. It’s going to be a loosely-based concept album, but it won’t be as conceptualized as Maybe Tomorrow.” The 2016 concept album followed the story of Soup, a boy who attempts to finds balance in his life all the way up to adulthood. Throughout the album, Soup wrestles with his music career, poverty, love, losing his grandmother, addiction, and success. It’s an album loosely based on Maverick’s own life. “Soup is based off of me. Marlon in his Lee’s, he wears ‘em to his knees. All of that stuff was the true beginning tease,” Maverick says, referring to the songs “Change of Heart,” and “More.” “Part of Maybe Tomorrow was me taking what I’ve done as an artist and a person and trying to tell a story without revealing too much.” The upcoming album Soul Merchant is looking at a release sometime in March and will deal with

the broader topic of our interaction with technology. “It’s inspired by the show Black Mirror,” Maverick says. “The songs will be individual content that creates somewhat of an anthology with an emphasis on technology. There’s a new song called “Phone Check,” which looks at people’s relationships with their phone when it becomes more important than your significant other.” Maverick has come a long way from scribbling down rhymes at age eight to being a member of Politic Live, a hiphop collective that has opened for top acts like Snoop Dogg, Nas, and Busta Rhymes. He takes joy in remembering the moment he wrote his first set of lyrics. “The first rhyme that I ever wrote was inspired by my friend who went to the same church as me,” he says. “She was writing a rhyme in the back of the church when the pastor was preaching. It was the first time I had ever seen lyrics being written.” It was a huge revelation for Maverick that lead to his current position as one of Edmonton’s most prospering hip-hop acts. “She would think, scratch things out, and write a few lines. That played a really big part of me understanding the process,” he says. “That same day I went home and wrote a rhyme that was jacking her cadence and subject matter. I didn’t know how to express what was inside of me so I tried to imitate what I saw.” The instrumentation found on an Arlo Maverick track is inventive and entertaining. A song can begin with an icy synth that builds into a bass-driven chorus and end in an all-out jazz-soul

ballad. It all comes from Maverick’s approach to describing the sounds he wants. “I’ll describe things in the sense of creating a movie scene,” he says. “My mixing engineer calls it ‘Marlonese,’ which he says is a language that you have to know me to understand. But the musicians I work with have mastered this language and can articulate and use it to produce it in music theory terms. I’ll say ‘I want this part to represent the change from spring to fall’ and eventually it begins to make sense.” Performing the songs live is another feat Maverick has mastered along with his band HFO (High Fives Only). The chemistry with him and his group is engaging and hard to look away from. “We think about what could happen and what should happen during the performance,” Maverick says. He compares the live show to a Dave Chappelle’s comedy routine. “He has all his jokes ready to go, but he will play off of the energy in the room so every single show that he does is unique. We try to do the same thing,” he says. Currently, Maverick is tweaking some of the finer details of Soul Merchant and working on creating an interactive live show for its anticipated release. The upcoming Capital City Records showcase will be his last performance of the year. “We’ve been playing as a band for a year and we’ve learned a lot from our performances so this will be a great show to close out the year,” he says. “We want the Soul Merchant release to be a big, big night. These are songs I want people to be singing 20 years from now.” Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

Arlo Maverick / JProcktor

10442 whyte ave 439.1273 10442 whyte ave 439.1273 CD / LP

BJORK UTOPIA

blackbyrd

w w w. b l a c k b y r d . c a SEE MAG: Jan 3, 1c x 2”/ 28 AG RB: BLACKBYRD MYOOZIK SALES:Samantha H S01367

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

music 21

MUSIC BENEFITS

Celeigh Cardinal / East Meets West Photography

AN UNKNOWN STRENGTH

Edmonton musicians join together to inspire single mothers

Sun., Dec. 10 (6:30 pm) I AM ENOUGH, featuring VISSIA w/ Erin Kay, Celeigh Cardinal and guests St. Faith’s & St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican Church $20 in advance

hen women come together, strength happens. This is what Edmonton musician Erin Kay wanted to focus on when she created a benefit concert with fellow musicians around the city to showcase strong women. “The whole idea is that ‘I am enough,’” Kay says. “So believing as a woman and a young girl that you don’t need a man or you don’t need someone else to complete you—that you’re enough just by yourself.” As a single mother, Kay has found herself and close friends in situations of dependence on an unhealthy partner that turned into a cycle of abuse. But things changed, she says, when she had her daughter Lila, who’s now six. “From personal experience, breaking away from that not ideal situation and knowing that you can do this—do it on your own—and knowing that there’s supports out there for you is so 22 music

important,” she says. Not long after she had her daughter, Kay found strength in her music career, both as an outlet to tell her story and as a financial backbone to support herself and her daughter. “The ‘I am enough’ title really is for everybody as well because we need men to know that they’re enough as well in order to support women in being enough,” Kay says. “I just really want it to bring a special awareness without the negativity and victimization that’s so prevalently attached to it.” Other Edmonton musicians that have experience with unhealthy relationships will be playing at the show. Some have been or still are single mothers, while others were raised by a single mom. The proceeds from the event will go to Women United, an organization that educates and works with younger girls in an effort to break a cycle that can be extremely difficult to escape out of. “Maybe these girls won’t have to go to women’s shelters with kids and end up having children too young,” Kay says. Fellow Edmonton singer/songwriter, Celeigh Cardinal, who will be at the benefit concert,

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

knows the cycle of abuse that can happen when you’re reliant on someone who is unhealthy to be around. “I had my son pretty young—I was 23 when I had my son—so I definitely had many years of struggles being a musician and raising a child on my own,” Cardinal says. One of the main things that held her back from leaving the unhealthy situation with her son’s father was the impending financial vulnerability that would go along with being a young, single mother without a partner to help. “I struggled because I didn’t have child support when I was raising my son and I definitely had to use different resources where I was living in Grande Prairie,” she says. Monetary dependence is unfortunately a common thread between women that stay in unhealthy relationships. But with courage and multiple supports women can break away from these situations, the same way Kay and Cardinal did. The lineup of the showcase is meant to inspire and empower other women by showing single mothers that are successful and have made it to a place of stability. Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

AMERICANA COUNTRY

Winnie Brave / Supplied

ROAD TRIPS AND MOONSHINE

Husband and wife duo Winnie Brave dropped their lives to tour in a Winnebago and create music

Fri., Dec. 8 (7:30 pm) Winnie Brave The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse, $5

e all have a yearning to pitch away our lives and reinvent ourselves, but only a few of us actually go through with it. Such is the case with Winnie Brave, a husband and wife Americana country duo who left their home and jobs in Beaverton, Ontario in 2012 and hit the road with nothing but their dog, Winnie, and instruments. “We had a conversation that we wanted to do something different because life was not what we had envisioned,” says guitarist and singer Amy McIsaac. “We put up the house for sale, it sold and we left to drive through the United States. We settled in the deep south of Texas for winter and figured out we wanted to do music and we came back to Ontario.” After a small stint owning a gui-

tar shop, the McIsaac’s wanted more. They wanted freedom. “We had this realization that we wanted to go back on the road,” Amy says. “We found a 1976 Winnebago and started putting the plan in motion to hit the road. We were on the road for about nine months and did about 20,000 miles. We went down the eastern seaboard to Texas, to California, and then B.C.” Now the duo has found a place to live in Holden, Alberta with two full-length albums under their belts. The latest, Cheap Gin, released in early October. And yes, they still tour in the Winnebago. “She’s interesting and it gets us from place to place while we try to take influence from the places we’re visiting on tour,” says bass-

ist, keyboardist, and drummer Brad. “I think we’re getting more comfortable being on the road. The first time around I think it was more like children in an amusement park and now we have a different intention to write songs and make records.” Winnie Brave’s sound has the power to immediately transport you to different landscapes and regions. At one point you will be on the southern roads of Alabama, and a few songs later you will find yourself in the dry, scorching deserts of New Mexico. “The songs’ tones and landscapes are a sonic picture of all the places we’ve been,” Amy says. This is very noticeable on Cheap Gin’s starting track and single

“Moonshine,” which begins with a recorded conversation between Brad and an Alabama RV park. “Every time I would be doing maintenance or upkeep on the Winnebago, this fella, the guy in the recording would come out of nowhere every time,” Brad says. “He just had a nose for work being done and he would tell stories while you did it. That accent, the cadence, and linguistics are almost mesmerizing to listen to.” “I recorded the conversation after our dog Winnie went to go see what they were talking about,” Amy adds. The conversation is a strange, but almost perfect opening to the album. It only lasts 16 seconds, but it immediately encompasses the deep southern ‘50s vibe Win-

nie Brave is going for. “It became a representation of our whole experience meeting all these interesting people summarized in one sentence,” Brad says. “It was just a ‘Hey, how you doing?’ first-time conversation, but we wanted to memorialize it to some extent on the record.” Winnie Brave has become the “family business,” for the McIsaac’s and it’s something they wouldn’t trade for the world. “We’ve played together for as long as we’ve been together—so about 12 years,” Amy says. “There’s no division between the two.” “There’s never been a time when there was one without the other,” Brad says. “This is what our life is.” Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

HIP-HOP Q&A

NOT JUST NINE TO FIVE

Hip-Hop artist JusJrdn speaks on the passion for his craft

Sat., Dec. 9 (9 pm) Unofficial 4:44 After Party with JusJrdn Knoxville’s Tavern Free before 10:30 p.m. with online RSVP

yricist Jordan Pariseau (JusJrdn) gave us a minute to chat about his most recent album L.I.F.E. and the hardships he was working through when he wrote a few of the tracks. With new sounds in the works for the new year, he’s still got more story to tell. Vue Weekly: What is the concept behind your 2016 album L.I.F.E.? Jordan Pariseau: Yeah, so it stands for living in a false existence. VW: So what are the feelings and thoughts behind that acronym? JP: The whole idea was it was my

own journey from doing something that I wasn’t too happy with. There was a lot of bad things going on in my life. My girl at the time left me; my dad left, my ambition to become a professional athlete—due to some injuries—was no longer possible; I was in a really rough place. I was working a job I didn’t really truly love and so I wrote some songs. That’s where the track “Bounce” comes from; that’s where the song “Sip” comes from. And then during that time I was also beginning to realize that I needed to overcome this, and that’s where the track “Clue In” came into play. It was just a realization that I was in a place that I didn’t like, doing something that I didn’t like, but I knew that this wasn’t my only option. Most people think life is working a nine to five and one day you’ll do what you like to do. But I think that’s what living in a false existence is. I think life is pursuing your passion, doing what you love all the time constantly and

that was kind of my realization between L.I.F.E., the acronym, and what life truly is. VW: You’ve been self-promoting your album. What’s that been like? JP: It’s difficult to get the kind of promotion you need to sell the numbers you need to make it as an artist. We’ve worked so much, me and my team. We started working with a larger team—especially more and more toward the end of this year— so we’re really looking forward to some of the new stuff we’ll be putting down into the new year. VW: What role does music play in your life? JP: It’s like how I comprehend things. It’s how I self-reflect and look at whatever the issue is—it’s usually some kind of negative issue. It’s really hard to write really good positive music for me and that’s actually what

Jordan Pariseau, a.k.a. JusJrdn / Supplied

we’re trying to do on the next project that we’re working on. But I use music mostly as a time to reflect—whether that’s my reflection on the day or reflection of a traumatic event or just of something that’s come up in the past. I use it to analyze the matter completely and get over it. VW: So it’s become really important to you not only for the music, but for the process? JP: Honestly, I don’t know where I would be if I did not have it. I could still be in my room drinking bottles

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

of Cîroc or something if I didn’t have that outlet to comprehend [things] properly. VW: Did you have another outlet before music? JP: Absolutely. I do a combination; I’m also a co-founder of a fitness company called F.R.E.E. Fitness. So, it’s the combination of them both and I learned it a long time ago that the combination of both that helps me keep my sanity.

Sierra Bilton sierra@vueweekly.com

music 23

Upcoming BIG Events DEC 7

HighKicks w/ Bud Frasier and the Electric Razors

DEC 8

Eugene Ripper K-Riz w/ Melafrique

DEC 9

Bro-Tel Festival Presents: Tennyson, Good Nature, and Guests

DEC 13

Jurassic Park Screening w/ Brother Octopus

NEWSOUNDS

Ora Cogan Crickets Hand Drawn Dracula Tickets and more event listings

TheRecRoom.com

#tellbetterstories

South Edmonton Common

Must be of legal drinking age. The Rec Room is owned by Cineplex Entertainment L. P.

with

Moving Bodies Lifestyle Choices Independent

Crickets is the fifth release from Ora Cogan and is easily her most ambitious. It ventures into many territories, but could be best described as dark experimental-folk. Cogan coproduced the record with Tom Deis (Uni Ika Ai) and assembled her players perfectly. Each instrument is expertly executed and necessary to the album’s aesthetic. From the haunting strings on “Crickets” to the luscious synths on the opener “Sea People” it’s very clear that

this group came together and instantly gelled. Ora’s vocal delivery is devastatingly beautiful, especially on “The Light” as her voice is layered over itself to create gorgeous harmonies. Crickets is a perfectly crafted album that plays best as a start to finish listen. It has the ability to get the listener lost within its eight tracks making 30 minutes fly by in the blink of an eye. Jeff MacCallum cupsncakespod.com

Moving Bodies debut album thrusts this young Edmonton band to the upper echelon of the rock scene. Crunchy riffs over a monstrous rhythm section are immediately ear catching and only outdone by proper face-melting solos. Lifestyle Choices is best defined as hard rock, but strays from that territory with flourishes of inspiration drawn from other sources. Although all-out rock is what Moving Bodies does best, the track “Ultimate Disease (Galactus)” offers some reprieve and may be the best stoner/psych rock song of the year. The coun-

try tinged “Cash On The Nail” is a breath of fresh air and breaks up the first half of the album perfectly. They also veer in another direction by going full metal on “The Well.” Frontman Jon Lovell delivers some great tongue-incheek lyrics throughout but none greater than on “Amazing” where he proclaims his guilt of being unable to perform sexually due to cocaine use. Lifestyle Choices doesn’t settle into the norms of its genre, it’s engaging from start to finish which is rare in hard rock. Jeff MacCallum cupsncakespod.com

MUSICNOTES

Double Bill

December 31ST Tickets $69.95 Plus GST

The Good Lovelies / Supplied

The Good Lovelies / Fri., Dec. 8 (6:45 PM) With more than a decade of making music under its belts, folk-pop trio The Good Lovelies is harmonizing its way into the audience’s heart. With a new album called Shapeshifters due in early February, The Good Lovelies love to tug on the heart strings (see what I did there?). The show will take place in MacEwan University’s Triffo Theatre, the newest addition to the Edmonton’s venue scene. (Triffo Theatre - Allard Hall, $30)

Some conditions may apply. Promotion subject to change without notice and AGLC approval.

cnty.com/edmonton

24 music

Stephan Boissonneault stephan@vueweekly.com

Lindsay Beaver & the 24th St. Wailers / Thu., Dec. 7 (9 PM) until Sun., Dec. 12 (9 PM) Lindsay Beaver has proven time and time again that she is a force to be reckoned with. She and the 24 St. Wailers’ hybrid fusion of

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

blues and punk is captivating to watch. She smashes her crash cymbal while she belts out the misery of the blues, filling the room with an undeniable electric energy. Get ready to move, jive, and headbang at the same time. (Blues On Whyte, General admission) Colter Wall / Mon., Dec. 11 (8 PM) With a swaggery baritone voice akin to Johnny Cash, and lyrical content riddled with a modern 20-something vibe, Colter Wall is an interesting beast. His sound is nostalgic of simpler times, but if you dissect his lyrics you can’t help but chuckle. He’s an oxymoron for the country-folk genre that’s hell-bent on spouting serious songs about change. And he’s from Swift Current, so that’s a bonus. (Starlite Room, $22)

MUSIC WEEKLY

2nd Thu of every month, 7-8:30pm; No cover (donations welcome) YARDBIRD SUITE Paul Shihadeh's

EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 12PM

Holiday Reunion; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $22 (members), $26 (guests)

THU DEC 7

Classical

ACCENT LOUNGE Whyte Ave

MILLWOODS UNITED CHURCH

Womp Rats; 9:30-11pm; $12 (at the door, free drink with admission); 18+ only ARDEN THEATRE William Prince;

7:30-9:30pm; $32 ARIA'S BISTRO Open mic with

Garrett James; 6-10pm; All ages AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Thu, 8pm THE AVIARY Craig Cardiff with

Dylan Ella (early show) and Simon Hoskyn (late show); 6pm (early show), 9pm (late show); Tickets via Blackbyrd Myoozik and YEG Live B-STREET BAR Karaoke; Every

Thu-Sat, 9:30pm BLUES ON WHYTE Lindsay

Beaver & The 24th Street Wailers; 9pm BLVD SUPPER X CLUB B**ch A Little, Wine Alot (house, hip-hop and reggae music); Every Thu; No cover

Winter Concert with Saskia and Darrel, The Great Plains; 7-9pm; $15 (adv)

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Thu Main Fl: Rock N' Roll, Funk &

ON THE ROCKS Salsa Rocks:

every Thu; dance lessons at 8pm; Cuban Salsa DJ to follow

FRI DEC 8 ARDEN THEATRE Ennis Sisters;

7:30pm ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Nova

Scotiables; 8:30pm

BAILEY THEATRE–CAMROSE

BRICK & WHISKEY PUBLIC HOUSE

Ennis Sisters: An East Coast Christmas; 8pm; $35 at the Bailey Box Office or online

Carrot Jazz Jams featuring Joe Semple Quartet; 7pm; $5 (door) FIDDLER'S ROOST Acoustic Circle

Jam; 7:30-11:30pm HAVE MERCY Thigh Thursdays with El Niven & The Alibi and friends; Every Thu, 8:30pm; No cover LB'S PUB Open Jam hosted by

Russell Johnston NAKED CYBERCAFÉ Thu open

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Front Porch; 8:30-10:30pm; $15 BLUES ON WHYTE Lindsay Beaver & The 24th Street Wailers; 9pm BOHEMIA Eugene Ripper; 10pm;

$10 (or pay what you can) BORDERLINE SPORTS PUB Kara-

oke/DJ; Every Thu-Sat, 9pm

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK Slow

Walkin Walter; 9pm CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Winnie

Brave; 7:30pm; $5 (door) CASINO EDMONTON Jellybean;

9pm

CHVRCH OF JOHN Hotel Garuda;

9pm; $25 (Blueprint tickets); 18+ only

REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL The High Powers; 8:30pm;

Mcgarrigle; 9pm

Free

THE FORGE ON WHYTE Fear of

SANDS INN & SUITES Karaoke

City, August Crown, A Haunt of Crows and Fat Ginger; 8pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door); No minors

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Mark

HAVE MERCY Resident DJs playing outlaw country, rock and retro classics; Every Fri-Sat, 10pm; No cover

by Rockin' Rod Jewell; Every Thu, 7-11pm

LB'S PUB The Oddibles; 9pm;

SMOKEHOUSE BBQ Live Blues

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Karoake at

with entertainment, Every Fri, 9pm SEWING MACHINE FACTORY

Fiend, Weird MilkIconic, Run Home, Sorrier; 8pm (doors), 9pm (show); $10; 18+ only

ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL Nova

NEWCASTLE PUB & GRILL

Classical

VISSIA with Erin Kay, Celeigh Cardinal, Dana Wylie, Lyra Brown, Rhea March, Mike Dunn and more; 6:30pm; $20 (adv at YEG Live and Blackbyrd Myoozik), $25 (door)

BLUES ON WHYTE Lindsay

BOHEMIA Psy'N Language; 8pm;

$10 (door) BORDERLINE SPORTS PUB Kara-

oke/DJ; Every Thu-Sat, 9pm THE BUCKINGHAM The Frolics

No minors

ON THE ROCKS The Inconceivable

Brute; 9pm REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON Bro-Tel Festival

Presents: Tennyson, Good Nature; 9pm; $20 (adv), $25 (door); 18+ only REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL The James Band; 9:30pm;

Free

TRIFFO THEATRE–ALLARD HALL

The Good Lovelies; 6:45pm; $30 (adv, YEG Live) UPTOWN FOLK CLUB Open

Stage; 3rd Fri of every month, 6:30 pm (sign-up), 7pm (show)' $5 (non-members), free (members)

northlands.com

VIGNETTES BUILDING Holiday

Each Fri, 8-10pm; $5 suggested donation YARDBIRD SUITE Macewan University Faculty Jazz Ensemble; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $22 (members), $26 (guests)

Kokopelli Choirs present Wintersong; 2-4pm, 7-9pm; $20 (adults), $15 (students), $10 (children 7-12 years), Free (ages 6 & under) WINSPEAR CENTRE Christmas Bureau Sing-A-Long; 12pm • A Christmas Celebration with The Royal Canadian Artillery Band–benefitting The Edmonton Garrison Military Family Resource Centre; 7:30pm; Free

ROGERS PLACE JAY-Z - 4:44

CAFE BLACKBIRD Blackbird Cocktail Party; 7-8pm • DR RxSONIC; 8pm; No cover

Stroud; 9pm

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK Slow

playing the best in hip-hop, dance and classics; Every FriSat, 9pm; No cover GAS PUMP Live DJ; 10pm THE PROVINCIAL PUB Video

Persons of Interest; 8:30pm; No cover

Y AFTERHOURS Live DJs; Every

ON THE ROCKS The Inconceivable

Brute; 9pm

SAT DEC 9

TAVERN ON WHYTE Open

REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON

ALIBI PUB & EATERY Rising Star

Music DJ; 9pm-2am Fri-Sat

WINSPEAR CENTRE

Diana Krall's ‘Turn Up the Quiet’ World Tour; 7:30pm; $78-$102 WOODRACK CAFÉ Birdie

on a Branch;

SEWING MACHINE FACTORY D.

Bernard Quilala & The Throwbacks; 9pm; Free DENIZEN HALL Champ City Soundtrack; Every Fri-Sat

Jam Hosted by Darrell Barr; 7-11pm; No charge SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Todd James Band and Right In The Eye on alternating weeks

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Chris Bruce spins britpop/

punk/garage/indie; Every Tue EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR Taco Tuesday with

resident DJs

Choirs present: Along the Road to Bethlehem; 2:30pm; $25 (adv), $30 (door)

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Wed open mic with host Duff Robison; 8pm

Y AFTERHOURS Live DJs; Every

DJs

HAVE MERCY Whiskey Wednesdays Live Piano Karaoke featuring the Fab Tiff Hall; Every Wed, 8:30pm

Fri-Sat

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Zyppy; Every Sun

GAS PUMP Kizomba-DJ; 8pm

SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM Jerrett

Sun, 9pm

Bordian; 9pm

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Sunday Brunch

STARLITE ROOM Capital City

with Accellorosa; 9am-2pm; Cover by donations

CAFE BLACKBIRD Edmonton

BLUES ON WHYTE Lindsay Beaver

FIDDLER'S ROOST Open Stage;

THE ALMANAC Mike Plume; 7-10pm; $20 (YEG Live and Blackbyrd Myoozik); All ages

MON DEC 11 BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Wooftop:

Metal Mondays with Metal Phil from CJSR's Heavy Metal Lunchbox BLUES ON WHYTE The Orchard;

9pm Ukulele Circle; 6:30pm; Free

& The 24th Street Wailers; 9pm

7-11pm

BOHEMIA Due North: A DJ Paul

HAVE MERCY Mississippi Monday Night Blues Jam hosted by the Dylan Farrell Ban; Every Mon, 8:30pm (sign up); No cover

Gross December Party; 7:3011:30pm; Admission by donation HAVE MERCY YEG Music presents

“Compete With The Beat”; Every Sun, 6pm; $10

UNION HALL Delta Heavy; 9pm;

Free (before 10:30pm), $20 (all night express); 18+ only

NEWCASTLE PUB Sunday Soul Service: acoustic open stage; Every Sun, 3pm

HILLTOP PUB Open stage hosted

VIGNETTES BUILDING Holiday

ON THE ROCKS

Bazaar Concert Series featuring Billie Zizi with Joe Nolan and Mercy Funk; 12pm; $2 (door)

#YEGArtistsCare2017; 9pm SANDS INN & SUITES Open Jam;

YARDBIRD SUITE Macewan

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE 14th

University Faculty Jazz Ensemble;

Annual Canadian Country

minors

LB'S PUB Tuesday Night Open

motown, funk, R&B and more with DJs Ben and Mitch; every Sat; 9pm-2am

playing outlaw country, rock and retro classics; Every Fri-Sat, 10pm; No cover

LB'S PUB Potatohed; 9pm; No

GAS PUMP Karaoke; 9:30pm

9pm

AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every

Band; 9pm; $30 (adult), $25 (students and seniors 60+), available at TIX on the Square

9pm FIDDLER'S ROOST Fiddle Jam

WINSPEAR CENTRE Cantilon

Duff Robison; 9pm

TEDDY'S The Don Berner Big

by Simon, Dan and Pascal; Every Sat, 4-7pm; Free

4pm; No cover (freewill offering accepted)

SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN

THE FORGE ON WHYTE So You

EMPRESS ALE HOUSE Bands at

ROBERTSON-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH Lessons and Carols;

night; Every Sun, 6-9pm

the Empress; Every Sat, 4-6pm; Free; 18+ only

Mcgarrigle; 9pm

Christmas: Come One, Come All; 4pm; $20 (adv), $25 (door), free (kids 14 and under)

Electric Blues Jam with Rotten Dan and Sean Stephens; Every Sat, 2-6pm No minors • Hell City Express; 9pm; $10

Records Winter Showcase with Arlo Maverick, Martin Kerr, The Provincial Archive, Kimberley MacGregor, Celeigh Cardinal, Our Good Wolf; 6pm; Free; 18+ only

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Mark

TUE DEC 12

WED DEC 13

ALIBI PUB AND EATERY Open mic

CENTURY CASINO–ST. ALBERT

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

Welsh Male Voice Choir presents: A Wonderful Christmas Concert; 2:30pm; $15

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Saturday

Park; 4-6pm; Free

Lunchpail TAVERN ON WHYTE Classic hip-

Circle; 7:30-11:30pm

TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH St. David’s

SUN DEC 10

CASINO EDMONTON Jellybean;

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Substance with Eddie

KNOX EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH A Joyful Noise Family

MERCER TAVERN DJ Mikey Wong

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Sat Open

mic; 7pm; $2

DJs

BLUES ON WHYTE The Orchard;

ENVY NIGHT CLUB Resolution Saturdays: top 40, throwbacks and club anthems

every Sat

STARLITE ROOM Colter Wall and Blake Berglund; 7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $22; 18+ only

presents Little Match Girl Passion; 7pm; Available through Pro Coro

Story; 4-6pm; $20 (adults), $15 (students/seniors), $40 (family) (door only)

B. Buxton, Ghostears, NN, Bad Buddy; 8pm; $5-$10; 18+ only

HAVE MERCY Resident DJs

EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR Resident DJs

ROSE & CROWN PUB Doug

HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH Pro Coro Canada

ROBERT TEGLER STUDENT CENTRE–CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY The Wondrous

Walkin Walter; 9pm

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Late Fee; Every Fri; Wooftop: Selection Fridays with

Fridays with DJ Echo & Freshlan

Tour; 8pm; $39 and up

Classical

playing the best in hip-hop, dance and classics; Every Fri-Sat, 9pm; No cover

TAVERN ON WHYTE Soul,

with Suicide Helpline; 4pm; No cover

DJs

THE COMMON Quality Control

britpop/punk/garage/indie; Every Sat; Wooftop: Sound It Up! with DJ Sonny Grimezz spinning classic hip-hop and reggae; Underdog: hip-hop open Mic followed by DJ Marack

THE PROVINCIAL PUB Saturday Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Maurice; 9pm-2am

Think You Can Rap; 9pm; $15; No minors

Remo, Noosh, Fingertips & guests; Underdog: Rap, House, Hip-Hop with DJ Babr; every Fri

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Chris Bruce spins

EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR Resident DJs

Shufflehounds ; 9pm; $5 (door)

WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK Live Music Fridays;

DJs

Saturday Night: House and disco and everything in between with Wright & Wong, Dane

SIDELINER’S PUB The

Bazaar Concert Series featuring Celeigh Cardinal with Douglas Mitchell, Kimberley MacGregor and Bitter North; 12pm; $2 (door)

WINSPEAR CENTRE The Salvation Army presents Festival of Carols; 7pm; Free (reserve online)

THE COMMON Get Down It's

Bordian; 9pm

SQUARE 1 COFFEE Singer/ Songwriter Open Mic Hosted by Tommy Barker; Every Thu, 7-9:30pm

NEWCASTLE PUB & GRILL

Persons of Interest; 8:30pm; No cover

SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN Duff Robison; 9pm

the Leaf; Every Fri, 9pm; Free

The Sissy Fits Rec Room WEM Dec., 14, 10 pm Free

$25-$35

Beaver & The 24th Street Wailers; 9pm

every Thu: rotating guests; 7-11pm

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

ST. FAITH’S & ST. STEPHEN THE MARTYR ANGLICAN CHURCH

CASK AND BARREL Bramwell

DENIZEN HALL Champ City Soundtrack; Every Fri-Sat

SHERBROOKE PUB Jam hosted

every Sat

YELLOWBIRD EAST COMMUNITY LEAGUE HALL Ava Band; 6pm;

MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH

Frasier and The Electric Razors; 9pm; Free

Thursday Jam with host Randy Big Daddy Forsberg; 7pm

MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Live Local Bands

Midnight; 8pm; $15

Bernard Quilala & The Throwbacks; 9pm; Free

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Big Daddy

THE ALMANAC Jordan Klassen with guests; 7pm; $16 (adv at YEG Live or Blackbyrd Myoozik)

9pm

CENTURY CASINO–ST. ALBERT

Thursdays with JR; Every Thu, 9pm-1am

Christmas; $45 (includes dinner/ show)

Classical

stage; 7pm

REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON Highkicks with Bud

7pm (doors), 8pm (show); $22 (members), $26 (guests)

AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Sat, 9pm

SANDS INN & SUITES Karaoke

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Homemade

Jam; 3-7pm; Free

CAFE BLACKBIRD Around

NORTH GLENORA HALL Jam by

Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers every Thu; 7pm

ROSE & CROWN PUB Doug

Stroud; 9pm

SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM Jerrett

Uncommon Thursday: Rotating guests each week

Showcase of Cooper Studios; Every Sat, 12-3pm

Scotiables; 8:30pm

THE COMMON The Common

oke/DJ; Every Thu-Sat, 9pm

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE The

9:30pm; Free

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Ali Bright and the Bright Boys; 9pm; $10

AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR Piano Show; Every Fri, 9pm

CAFE BLACKBIRD YEG Music Presents: Hailey Benedict, Emmet Michael, Natalia Chai, and Chase Schwartz; 7pm; $10 (door)

REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL Blackwater Crude;

Soul with DJ Modest Mike; Every Thu; Wooftop Lounge: Dear Hip Hop with Freshlan; Underdog: Underdog Comedy Show

BORDERLINE SPORTS PUB Kara-

Big Rockin' Thursday Jam & Open Mic; Every Thu, 8pm

COMMON Eugene Ripper; 5pm; Free • K-Riz with Melafrique and Konflict; 9pm; $10 (adv), $15 (door); 18+ only

Every Sun, 7-11pm

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

BLUES ON WHYTE Kara Grainger;

GAS PUMP Karaoke; 9:30pm

LEAF BAR & GRILL Wang Dang Wednesdays; Every Wed, 7-11pm; Free ON THE ROCKS Karaoke Wednesdays hosted by ED; Every Wed, 9pm PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Acoustic Bluegrass jam

presented by the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society; Guests and newcomers always welcome; every Wed, 7pm; $2 (donation, per person), free coffee available THE PROVINCIAL PUB Karaoke

Wednesday SHAKERS ROADHOUSE 4 Dollar

Bill Country Jam; 7pm TAVERN ON WHYTE Karaoke;

9pm

Classical MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH

Christmas Music at Noon; 121pm; Free

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Late Fee; Every Wed

VENUEGUIDE ACCENT LOUNGE 8223-104 St NW ALIBI PUB & EATERY 17328 Stony Plain Rd THE ALMANAC 10351-82 Ave, 780.760.4567, almanaconwhyte. com ARDEN THEATRE 5 St Anne St, St Albert, 780.459.1542, stalbert.ca/ experience/arden-theatre ARIA'S BISTRO 10332-81 Ave, 780.972.4842, ariasbistro.com ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL 7704 Calgary Trail South, 780.432.4611, atlantictrapandgill.com AUSSIE RULES KITCHEN & PIANO BAR #1638, 8882-170 St, 780.486.7722, aussierulesedmonton.com THE AVIARY 9314-111 Ave NW B-STREET BAR 11818-111 Ave BAILEY THEATRE 5041-50 St, Camrose, 780. 672.5510, baileytheatre.com BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 1042582 Ave, 780.439.1082 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 BLVD SUPPER X CLUB 10765 Jasper Ave BOHEMIA 10217-97 St BORDERLINE SPORTS PUB 322682 St, 780.462.1888

BRICK & WHISKEY PUBLIC HOUSE 8937-82 Ave THE BUCKINGHAM 10439 82 Ave, 780.761.1002, thebuckingham.ca CAFE BLACKBIRD 9640-142 St NW, 780.451.8890, cafeblackbird. ca CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK 99, 23349 Wye Rd, Sherwood Park CARROT COFFEEHOUSE 9351118 Ave, 780.471.1580 CASINO EDMONTON 7055 Argylll Rd, 780.463.9467 CASK AND BARREL 10041104 St; 780.498.1224, thecaskandbarrel.ca CENTURY CASINO–ST. ALBERT 24 Boudreau Rd, St. Albert, 780.460.8092 CHVRCH OF JOHN 10260-103 St, 780.884.8994, thechvrchofjohn. com COMMON 9910-109 St DENIZEN HALL 10311-103 Ave, 780.424.8215, thedenizenhall. com DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY 9013-88 Ave, 780.465.4834 EL CORTEZ MEXICAN KITCHEN + TEQUILA BAR 8230 Gateway Blvd, elcortezcantina.com EMPRESS ALE HOUSE 9912-82 Ave NW

ENVY NIGHT CLUB West Edmonton Mall, 8882 170 St FIDDLER'S ROOST 7308-76 Ave, 780.439.9788, fiddlersroost.ca THE FORGE ON WHYTE 10549-82 Ave (Whyte Ave) GAS PUMP NIGHT CLUB & BAR 10166-114 St HAVE MERCY SOUTHERN TABLE + BAR 8232 Gateway Blvd, havemercy.ca HILLTOP PUB 8220-106 Ave NW HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH 10037-84 Ave NW, 780.433.5530, holytrinity.ab.ca KNOX EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 8403-104 St NW L.B.’S PUB 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LEAF BAR & GRILL 9016132 Ave MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH 10086 MacDonald Dr NW, mcdougallunited.com 780.439.2337 MERCER TAVERN 10363 104 St, 587.521.1911 MILL WOODS UNITED CHURCH 15 Grand Meadow Cres MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET 8101 Gateway Blvd, NAKED CYBERCAFÉ 10303-108 St, 780.425.9730 NEWCASTLE PUB 8170-50 St, 780.490.1999

NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535109A Ave ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 10860-57 Ave THE PROVINCIAL PUB 160, 4211-106 St REC ROOM–SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON 1725-99 St NW REC ROOM–WEST EDMONTON MALL 8882-170 St NW ROBERTSON TEGLER STUDENT CENTRE–CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY 73 St & 112 Ave ROBERTSON-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH 10209-123 St NW ROGERS PLACE 10214-104 Ave NW ROSE AND CROWN 10235-101 St SANDS INN & SUITES 12340 Fort Rd, sandshoteledmonton.com SEWING MACHINE FACTORY 9560-82 Ave NW SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Yellowhead Inn, 15004 Yellowhead Trail SHERBROOKE PUB 13160118 Ave NW SHERLOCK HOLMES–DOWNTOWN 10012-101 A Ave, 780.426.7784, sherlockshospitality.com SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM 8882-170 St, 780.444.1752, sherlockshospitality.com SIDELINERS PUB 11018-127 St

SMOKEHOUSE BBQ 10810-124 St, 587.521.6328 SQUARE 1 COFFEE 15 Fairway Drive STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 TAVERN ON WHYTE 10507-82 Ave, 780.521.4404 TEDDY'S 11361 Jasper Ave TIFFO THEATRE–ALLARD HALL 11104-104 Ave NW TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 10014-81 Ave NW, 780.433.1604, trinity-lutheran.ab.ca UNION HALL 6240-99 St NW, 780.702-2582, unionhall.ca UPTOWN FOLK CLUB 11150-82 St, 780.436.1554 VIGNETTES BUILDING 10004103a Ave NW WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK 8902-99 St, wildearthbakery.com WINSPEAR CENTRE 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square; 780.28.1414 WOODRACK CAFE 7603-109 St, 780. 757.0380, thewoodrackcafe. com Y AFTERHOURS 10028-102 St, 780.994.3256, yafterhours.com YARDBIRD SUITE 11 Tommy Banks Way, 780.432.0428 YELLOWBIRD EAST COMMUNITY LEAGUE 10710-19 Ave NW

/ Supplied

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

music 25

EVENTS

WEEKLY EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 12PM

COMEDY BIG ROCK PRESENTS: DEVANEY’S COMEDY NIGHT • Devaney's, 11113-87 Ave • 780.433.6364 • stephen.f.mcgovern@gmail.com • Weekly open-mic hosted by Stephen McGovern • Sep 6-Apr 25, Every Wed, 8:30pm • Free

BIG ROCK PRESENTS: URBAN TAVERN COMEDY NIGHT HOSTED BY LARS CALLIEOU • Urban Tavern, 11606 Jasper Ave • Every Sun, 8pm

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE • 10425-82 Ave • Underdog Comedy Show • Every Thu

COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Entertainment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Thu-Fri: 8pm; Sat: 7:30pm & 10pm (until Apr) • Leif Skyving; Dec 7-9 • Chris Heward; Dec 14-16 COMIC STRIP • Bourbon St, WEM •

friends with neighbours in our local communities of: Delton, Eastwood, Parkdale – Cromdale, Westwood, Spruce Ave, and Alberta Avenue • Every Wed, 11am

780.452.8211 • happyharborcomics.com • Open to any skill level. Meet other artists and writers, glean tricks of the trade and gain tips to help your own work, or share what you've already done • 2nd and 4th Thu of every month, 7pm

Daveed Goldman will talk about these creativity, collaboration and community-building but they make audiences experience their message through song • Dec 11, 7-8:30pm • $10-$75 (via Eventbrite)

10123 Whyte Ave • 780.757.3105 • info@ thehexcafe.com • thehexcafe.com • Each night will be a single campaign that fits in a larger story arc. For all levels of gamers and those brand new or experienced to D&D • Every Tue & Wed, 7pm • $5 (with drink purchase)

OPEN HOUSE AT AMITABHA BUDDHIST CENTRE • Amitabha Buddhist Centre, 9550-87

DARK MATTERS–SCIENCE OF SEX •

EDMONTON NEEDLECRAFT GUILD • Avonmore United Church Bsmt, 82 Ave, 79 St • edmNeedlecraftGuild.org • Classes/workshops, exhibitions, guest speakers, stitching groups for those interested in textile arts • Meet the 2nd Tue each month, 7:30pm

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

DROP-IN D&D • Hexagon Board Game Café,

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), 10728-124 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

780.483.5999 • Finesse Mitchell; Dec 7-10 • Collin Moulton; Dec 13-17

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

EMPRESS ALE HOUSE • 9912-82 Ave • Empress Comedy Night: Highlighting the best stand-up Edmonton has to offer. New headliner every week • Every Sun, 9pm • Free

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

ADULT DANCE CLASSES • Quantum Leap Dance, 11232-163 St • 780.974.0309 • MON: Adult Tap, 7-8pm; Stretch & Strength with Jazz, 8-9:15pm • Wed: Floor Barre 6:45-7:45, Adult Ballet 7:45-9:15pm • Drop in Rate $15.75 (inc. GST); 5, 10, 15 Class passes available

AIKIKAI AIKIDO CLUB • 10139-87 Ave,

THE CARROT COFFEE FRIENDSHIP CLUB • Carrot Coffeehouse, 9351-118 Ave • Have a cup of coffee with 55+ individuals single, divorced, or widowed who are looking to make new

RODA DE CAPOEIRA • Capoeira Academy, #103-10324-82 Ave • capoeiraacademy.ca • Brazil's traditional game of agility and trickery • Every Sat, 2:30pm • Free • All ages

SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY FAMILY SUPPORT DROP-IN GROUP • Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, 5215-87 St • 780.452.4661 • schizophrenia.ab.ca • Offering a variety of services and support programs for those who are living with the illness, family members, caregivers, and friends • 1st and 3rd Thu each month, 7-9pm • Free

SEVENTIES FOREVER MUSIC SOCIETY • Call 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

Winston Churchill Sq • 780.695.4588 • Attendees can raise their vital energy with a weekly Yixue practice • Every Fri, 2-3:30pm • Free

MONDAY MINGLE • Hexagon Board Game

TOASTMASTERS

Cafe, 10123 Whyte Ave • 780.757.3105 • info@ thehexcafe.com • thehexcafe.com • Meet new gamers. Go to the event solo or with a group • Every Mon, 5-11pm • $5 (one drink per person)

• Club Bilingue Toastmasters Meetings: Campus St.

NORTHERN ALBERTA WOOD CARVERS ASSOCIATION • Duggan Community Hall,

Old Strathcona Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue, Thu; 7-9pm

0651, obad@shaw.ca; Group meets every Thu, 7-9pm • Free

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS) • Grace United Church annex, 6215-104 Ave • 780.479-8667 (Bob) • bobmurra@telus.net • Low-cost, fun and friendly weight loss group • Every Mon, 6:30pm

LOTUS QIGONG • SAGE downtown 15 Sir

GROUPS/CLUBS/MEETINGS

St • meditationedmonon.org • Meet the community, shop for meditation related Christmas gifts, enjoy treats and learn about meditation • Dec 12, 7-8:30pm • Free

3728-106 St • nawca.ca • Meet every Wed, 6:30pm / Supplied

OPEN DOOR COMIC CREATOR MEETINGS • Happy Harbor Comics, 10729-104 Ave •

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 vpm@norators.com, 780.807.4696, norators.com • Norwood Toastmasters: Legion, 11150-82 St NW; Every Thu, 7:30-9:30pm • TM4PM Toastmasters Club: Scotia Place Conference Centre, Meeting Room B, 10060 Jasper Ave; 1022113.toastmastersclubs.org; Every Tue, 6:10-7:30pm • Y Toastmasters Club: Queen Alexandra Community League, 10425 University Ave (N door, stairs to the left); 780.463.5331 (Antonio); yclubtoastmasters@gmail.com; Meet every Tue, 7-9pm except last Tue each month

WICCAN ASSEMBLY • Ritchie Hall, 7727-98 St • contact cwaalberta@gmail.com • The Congregationalist Wiccan Assembly of Alberta meets the 2nd Sun each month (except Aug), 6pm

Dark Matters – Science of Sex Telus World of Science Dec. 7, 7 - 10 pm $17.95-$27.95

LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS BUILDING HARMONY WITH CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! • Chateau Lacombe, 10111 Bellamy Hill Rd NW • Founders Nobu Adilman and

VUECLASSIFIEDS 1600.

Volunteers Wanted

Be an “Elf Captain” at Bissell Centre’s gift wrap fundraiser at Southgate Mall. Shifts are available everyday, November 24 - December 24. Minimum age: 16. Visit

bissellcentre.org/bissellelfcaptain

or email giftwrap@bissellcentre.org

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIED AD TODAY! CALL 780.426.1996

26 at the back

1600.

To Book Your Classifieds, Call 780.426.1996 or email classifieds@vueweekly.com

Volunteers Wanted

Can You Read This? Help Someone Who Can’t! Volunteer 2 hours a week and help someone improve their Reading, Writing, Math or English Speaking Skills. Call Moncia at P.A.L.S. 780-424-5514 or email volunteers@palsedmonton.ca Gift Wrap Volunteer e4c is looking for Volunteers to wrap gifts and raise community awareness at Edmonton City Centre Mall! To learn more about the event and how to sign up for shift(s) as a Gift Wrap Volunteer, go to our website: e4calberta.org/volunteer/

2005.

Artist to Artist

ART CLASSES FOR ADULTS, YOUTH, AND CHILDREN Check The Paint Spot’s website, paintspot.ca/events/workshops for up-to-date information on art classes for all ages, beginner and intermediate. Register in person, by phone or online. Contact: 780.432.0240 email: accounts@paintspot.ca

ENJOY ART ALWAYZ www.bdcdrawz.com Check the site every two weeks for new work!

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

Telus World of Science, 11211-142 St NW • telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca/dark-matters • An 18+ event, where the science is served on the rocks and the adults come out to play. Discover what a cellphone and a vibrator have in common, the craziest sex lives in the animal kingdom and more • Dec 7, 7-10pm • $17.95-$27.95

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BASIC TOOL TRAINING WORKSHOP • HFH Prefab Shop, 14135-128 Ave • 780.451.3416 ext 237 • mstannard@hfh.org • hfh.org/volunteer/basictool-training • Gain the confidence needed to go out to build sites through careful instruction and hands-on practice • Dec 8; 8:30am-4pm • Free

PHILOSOPHER CAFE • Blue Chair Cafe, 962476 Ave NW • bluechair.ca • Martin Tweedale, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy will animate this discussion • Dec 9, 1-3:30pm

QUEER EVOLUTION WONDERLOUNGE • 10220-103

St • 780.424.0077 • yourgaybar.com • Mon: Drag Race in the White Room; 7pm • Wed: Monthly games night/trivia • Thu: Happy hour, 6-8pm; Karaoke, 7-12:30am • Fri: Flashback Friday with your favourite hits of the 80s/90s/2000s; rotating drag and burlesque events • Sat: Rotating DJs Velix and Suco • Sun: Weekly drag show, 10:30pm

G.L.B.T.Q SENIORS GROUP • S.A.G.E Bldg, main floor Cafe, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Square • 780.4235510 (Sage) • tuff69@telus.net • Meeting for gay seniors, and for any seniors who have gay family members and would like some guidance • Every Tue, 1-4pm ILLUSIONS SOCIAL CLUB • Pride Centre, 10618-105 Ave • 780.488.3234 • pridecentreofedmonton.org • Crossdressers meet 2nd Fri each month, 7-9pm

PRIDE CENTRE OF EDMONTON • Pride Centre of Edmonton, 10608-105 Ave • 780.488.3234 • pridecentreofedmonton.org/calendar.html • DROP IN HOURS: Mon-Fri 12-7pm; Closed Sat-Sun and holidays • TTIQ: (18+ Trans* Group) 2nd Mon of every month, 7-9pm • FIERCE FUN: (24 and under) Alternating Tue, 7-9pm, games and activities for youth • JAMOUT: (12-24) Alternating Tue, 7-8:30pm, music mentorship and instruction for youth • MEN’S SOCIAL CIRCLE: (18+) 1st and 3rd Thu, 7-9pm, for anyone masculine-identified • MOVIES & GAMES NIGHT: Alternating Fri, 6-8:30pm • ARTS & IDENTITY: Alternating Fri, 6-8:30pm • MEN TALKING WITH PRIDE: (18+) Sun, 7-9pm, group for gay or bisexual men • CREATING SAFER SPACES TRAINING: Interactive professional development workshops, with full or half-day options • QUEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: (Youth: 12-24) (Adults-26+) Queer to Queer Mentoring TEAM EDMONTON • Various sports and recreation activities • teamedmonton.ca • Bootcamp: Garneau School, 10925-87 Ave; Most Mon, 7-8pm • SWIMMING: NAIT Swimming Pool, 11665-109 St; Every Tue, 7:30-8:30pm and every Thu, 7-8pm • WATER POLO: NAIT Swimming Pool, 11665-109 St; Every Tue, 8:30-9:30pm • YOGA: New Lion's Breath Yoga Studio, #301,10534-124 St; Every Wed, 7:30-9pm • TAEKWONDO: near the Royal Gardens Community Centre, 4030-117 St; Contact for specific times • ABS: Parkallen Community League Hall, 6510-111 St; Every Tue, 6-7pm and Thu, 7:15-8:15pm • DODGEBALL: Royal Alexandra Hospital Gymnasium; Every Sun, 5-7pm • RUNNING: meet at Kinsmen main entrance; Every Sun, 10am • SPIN: Blitz Conditioning, 10575-115 St; Every Tue, 7-8pm• VOLLEYBALL: Stratford Elementary School, 8715-153 St; Every Fri, 7-9 • MEDITATION: Edmonton Pride Centre, 10608-105 Ave; 3rd Thu of every month, 5:30-6:15pm • BOARD GAMES: Underground Tap & Grill, 10004 Jasper Ave; One Sun per month, 3-7pm • ALL BODIES SWIM: Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre, 8468-81 St; One Sat per month 4:30-5:30pm

YOGA WITH JENNIFER • 780.439.6950 •

7005.

Financial Services

Are you in debt with your credit card? Consolidate your credit card for less with rates from 2.3% APR offer. Bad credit or low income okay. Call 1-800-581-8288.

ThreeBattles.com • A traditional approach with lots of individual attention. Free introductory classes • Tue evenings & Sat mornings

SPECIAL EVENTS A CHRISTMAS PAST AT RUTHERFORD HOUSE • Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site, 11153 Saskatchewan Drive NW • rutherfordhousehistoricsite.org • Start with some Christmas fun outside, and then go inside for the

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

sweet harmonies of seasonal music, a holiday craft and tasty old-fashioned treats baked in a wood burning oven • Dec 10, 12-4pm • $5-$7

BUILT POP-UP SHOP • Kingsway Mall, 1 Kingsway Garden Mall NW • external@thesda. ca • thesda.ca/poppop • This year’s design shop will have work from over 50 local designers in one convenient location, exhibiting the talents of art and design students from the University of Alberta, MacEwan University, and Alumni of the programs • Dec 8-22

CANDY CANE LANE • 148 St, between 92 & 100 Ave • Laughing all the way with life-size Santas, reindeer, Christmas trees, snowmen, decorations and thousands and thousands of lights • Dec 8-31 • Donations for the Edmonton Food Bank

CELEBRATE THE SEASON AT ALBERTA LEGISLATURE • Alberta Legislature, 10800-97 Ave NW • Walk around the lit up grounds, skate in the park or listen to the choir carolling in the rotunda • Dec 7-23

A CHRISTMAS PAST AT RUTHERFORD HOUSE • Rutherford House, 11153 Saskatchewan Dr • history.alberta.ca/rutherford • Start with some Christmas fun outside, and then go inside for the harmonies of seasonal music and tasty old-fashioned treats baked in a wood burning oven. Visit the historic kitchen and experience the ambiance of this elegant house with its halls bedecked for the holidays • Dec 10, 12-4pm

EDMONTON TUMBLEWOOD LAPIDARY CLUB CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE • Elmwood Community Hall, 16415-83 Ave • 780.430.6694 • paulinez8@shaw.ca • edmontonlapidary.ca • Features lapidary crafts, artisan jewelry, silent auction, jewelry making demonstrations, some children's activities, door prizes and concession • Dec 9, 10am-4pm • Free

GLOW IN THE DARK AXE THROWING • Jack Axe, 9785-45 Ave • 780.628.1874 • jackaxe.ca • Festive themed glow in the axe throwing • Dec 23-Jan 7

LIGHT WALK • Muttart Conservatory, 9626-96a St NW • edmonton.ca • Take a stroll under the stars as you walk through the Temperate Pyramid surrounded by nature and other breathtaking wonders • Every Thu, Nov-Dec, 5-9pm • Regular admission MAGIC OF LIGHTS • Castrol Raceway, AB-19, Leduc County • castrolraceway.com • A 2 km 'drive through' experience from the comfort of your own vehicle. Multiple holiday themes come to life with hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights • Dec 1-Jan 6

SHARING THE LIGHT–WESTWOOD'S 30TH ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION • Edmonton City Hall - Atrium, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square • westwoodunitarian. ca/worship/solstice-at-westwood • anne@ westwoodunitarian.ca • Dec 21, 7-9pm • Free • All ages

SNOWSHOE & STARGAZE • Astotin Lake, Elk Island National Park • 780.922.5790 • bit. ly/2iZcFmp • Trek over snow and gaze into a star-filled sky. Following a short guided hike on snowshoes, attendees will enjoy snacks around a fire and learn about the night sky above • Dec 9, Dec 23; 7-9pm • $29.80 (book via phone) ST. ALBERT INDOOR CHRISTMAS MARKET • St. Albert Place, 5 St. Anne St, St. Albert • stalbertfarmersmarket.com • Featuring over 70 vendors with crafts, clothing, home décor, artwork, plants and more • Every Sat, Nov 25Dec 16, 10am-3pm THURSDAYS TBD TO BE DISCOVERED • Legislative Assembly Visitor Centre, Edmonton Federal Building, Main floor, 9820-107 St • 780.427.7362 • assembly.ab.ca/visitorcentre/ events.html • Visitors can look forward to an array of guest speakers, film screenings, free concerts and more • Every Thu, Oct 5-Mar 1, 6-8pm • Free

WHYTE WISHES IN OLD STRATHCONA • Old Strathcona • oldstrathcona.ca/whytewishes • Experience the magic of the season on a horsedrawn sleigh ride, meet Santa and give him a list, and support local businesses in the process • Nov 13-Dec 24

ZOOMINESCENCE, A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT • Edmonton Valley Zoo, 13315 Buena Vista Road (87 Ave) • 311 • edmonton.ca • For almost two weeks, the zoo will illuminate the spirit of winter with a spectacular exhibition of artistic light installations • Dec 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, 26-31; 5-9pm • $5-$7.50 (Eventbrite)

FREEWILLASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may get richer quicker in 2018, Aries -- especially if you refuse to sell out. You may accumulate more clout -- especially if you treat everyone as your equal and always wield your power responsibly. I bet you will also experience deeper, richer emotions -- especially if you avoid people who have low levels of emotional intelligence. Finally, I predict you will get the best sex of your life in the next 12 months -- especially if you cultivate the kind of peace of mind in which you’ll feel fine about yourself if you don’t get any sex at all. P.S.: You’d be wise to start working on these projects immediately. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The members of the fungus family, like mushrooms and molds, lack chlorophyll, so they can’t make food from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. To get the energy they need, they “eat” plants. That’s lucky for us. The fungi keep the earth fresh. Without them to decompose fallen leaves, piles of compost would continue to accumulate forever. Some forests would be so choked with dead matter that they couldn’t thrive. I invite you to take your inspiration from the heroic fungi, Taurus. Expedite the decay and dissolution of the worn-out and obsolete parts of your life. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I’m guessing you have been hungrier than usual. At times you may have felt voracious, even insatiable. What’s going on? I don’t think this intense yearning is simply about food, although it’s possible your body is trying to compensate for a nutritional deficiency. At the very least, you’re also experiencing a heightened desire to be understood and appreciated. You may be aching for a particular quality of love that you haven’t been able to give or get. Here’s my theory: Your soul is famished for experiences that your ego doesn’t sufficiently value or seek out. If I’m correct, you should meditate on what your soul craves but isn’t getting enough of. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The brightly coloured birds known as bee-eaters are especially fond of eating bees and wasps. How do they avoid getting stung? They snatch their prey in mid-air and then knock them repeatedly against a tree branch until the stinger falls off and the venom is flushed out. In the coming weeks, Cancerian, you could perhaps draw inspiration from the bee-eaters’ determination to get what they want. How might you be able to draw nourishment from sources that aren’t entirely benign? How could you extract value from influences that you have be careful with? LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The coming months will be a ripe time to

Rob Brezsny freewill@vueweekly.com

revise and rework your past— to reconfigure the consequences that emerged from what happened once upon a time. I’ll trust you to make the ultimate decisions about the best ways to do that, but here are some suggestions. 1. Revisit a memory that has haunted you, and do a ritual that resolves it and brings you peace. 2. Go back and finally do a crucial duty you left unfinished. 3. Return to a dream you wandered away from prematurely, and either re-commit yourself to it, or else put it to rest for good.

ceremonies to mark the embarkation of a new ship. The intention was to bestow a blessing for the maiden voyage and ever thereafter. Good luck! Safe travels! Beginning in 18th-century Britain and America, such rituals often featured the smashing of a wine bottle on the ship’s bow. Later, a glass container of champagne became standard. In accordance with the current astrological indicators, I suggest that you come up with your own version of this celebratory gesture. It will soon be time for your launch.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The astrological omens suggest that now is a favorable time to deepen your roots and bolster your foundations and revitalize traditions that have nourished you. Oddly enough, the current planetary rhythms are also conducive to you and your family and friends playing soccer in the living room with a ball made from rolled-up socks, pretending to be fortunetelling psychics and giving each other past-life readings, and gathering around the kitchen table to formulate a conspiracy to achieve world domination. And no, the two sets of advice I just gave you are not contradictory.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You may feel quite sure that you’ve gotten as tall as you’re ever going to be. But that may not be true. If you were ever going to add another half-inch or more to your height, the near future would be the time for it. You are in the midst of what we in the consciousness industry call a “growth spurt.” The blooming and ripening could occur in other ways, as well. Your hair and fingernails may become longer faster than usual, and even your breasts or penis might undergo spontaneous augmentation. There’s no doubt that new brain cells will propagate at a higher rate, and so will the white blood cells that guard your physical health. Four weeks from now, I bet you’ll be noticeably smarter, wiser, and more robust.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In accordance with the long-term astrological omens, I invite you to make five long-term promises to yourself. They were formulated by the teacher Shannen Davis. Say them aloud a few times to get a feel for them. 1. “I will make myself eminently teachable through the cultivation of openness and humility.” 2. “I won’t wait around hoping that people will give me what I can give myself.” 3. “I’ll be a good sport about the consequences of my actions, whether they’re good, bad, or misunderstood.” 4. “As I walk out of a room where there are many people who know me, I won’t worry about what anyone will say about me.” 5. “I will only pray for the things I’m willing to be the answer to.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): To discuss a problem is not the same as doing something practical to correct it. Many people don’t seem to realize this. They devote a great deal of energy to describing and analyzing their difficulties, and may even imagine possible solutions, but then neglect to follow through. And so nothing changes. The sad or bad situation persists. Of all the signs in the zodiac, you Scorpios are among the least prone to this disability. You specialize in taking action to fulfill your proposed fixes. Just this once, however, I urge you to engage in more inquiry and conversation than usual. Just talking about the problem could cure it. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): As far back as ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, people staged

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You come into a delicatessen where you have to take a numbered ticket in order to get waited on. Oops. You draw 37 and the counter clerk has just called out number 17. That means 20 more people will have their turns before you. Damn! You settle in for a tedious vigil, putting down your bag and crossing your arms across your chest. But then what’s this? Two minutes later, the clerk calls out 37. That’s you! You go up to the counter and hand in your number, and amazingly enough, the clerk writes down your order. A few minutes later, you’ve got your food. Maybe it was a mistake, but who cares? All that matters is that your opportunity came earlier than you thought it would. Now apply this vignette as a metaphor for your life in the coming days. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): It’s one of those bizarre times when what feels really good is in close alignment with what’s really good for you, and when taking the course of action that benefits you personally is probably what’s best for everyone else, too. I realize the onslaught of this strange grace may be difficult to believe. But it’s real and true, so don’t waste time questioning it. Relish and indulge in the freedom it offers you. Use it to shush the meddling voice in your head that informs you about what you supposedly SHOULD be doing instead of what you’re actually doing.

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

Matt Jones jonesincrosswords@vueweekly.com

“You’re the Toppings”-- get a pizza the action.

Across

1 Put on ___ of paint 6 Carmaker based in Munich 9 Former world power, for short 13 It’s formed by small droplets and shows white rings (unlike its colorful rainy counterpart) 15 “Go team!” cheer 16 Part of some organs 17 As an example 18 Party table item 20 Peace offering 22 Dir. opposite of WSW 23 Get up (get on up!) 24 Lout 25 “Just a sec” 27 Homer Simpson exclamation 28 Scone topper 29 August, in Avignon 30 Frolicked 33 Mary, Queen of ___ 34 Kitchen gadgets that really shred 37 Faker than fake 38 Gadget 39 Bygone Italian money 40 According to 41 Marshawn Lynch and Emmitt Smith, e.g. 44 Latent 47 Reznor’s band, initially 48 Pickled vegetable 49 Fin. neighbor 50 Scale on a review site that determines if movies are “Certified Fresh” 53 Amateur broadcaster’s equipment, once 55 Treat table salt, in a way 56 Sherlock Hemlock’s catchphrase on “Sesame Street” 57 Shady tree 58 Grade that’s passing, but not by much 59 1040 IDs 60 Go slaloming 61 Collect together

5 Subdue, with “down” 6 “___ City” (Comedy Central series) 7 ‘Til Tuesday bassist/singer Aimee 8 Question of choice 9 Network merged into the CW in 2006 10 Sneaky way into a building 11 Racecar mishaps 12 Feels contrite 14 Monitor-topping recorders 19 “What have we here?” 21 Increased, with “up” 26 Tied, in a way 28 Baby kangaroo 30 “Same Kind of Different As Me” actress Zellweger 31 I strain? 32 “End of discussion” 33 Touchtone keypad button 34 Gossip sessions, slangily 35 BoJack of an animated Netflix series 36 Lymphatic mass near a tonsil 37 Some stuffed animals 41 Part of the eye with rods and cones 42 Ramona’s sister, in Beverly Cleary books 43 Put emphasis on 45 Flight info, briefly 46 Computer network terminals 47 “The Book of Henry” actress Watts 48 Make shadowy 51 Cereal partner 52 Home of Warhol’s “Campbell’s Soup Cans,” for short 54 Some city map lines, for short ©2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords

Down

1 Be able to buy 2 “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper 3 Monstrous, like Shrek 4 None of the ___

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HEAD TO VUEWEEKLY.COM/CONTESTS TO ENTER

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CONTEST RUNS FROM DEC 7 - DEC 13

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SAVAGELOVE ON THE VERGE

I used to be a fan of your column, Dan, but something happened to you. Maybe it’s stress, the current political climate, or some other issue—I don’t know. I used to look forward to your columns because they were fun, smart, and helpful—but I don’t enjoy what I’m seeing now. If something did happen to you, reach out for help. You’re on the verge of losing a loyal reader. READER ENQUIRING ABOUT DAN’S ENERVATING RESPONSES

The polls for the 2018 Golden Fork Awards open December 7! Go to vueweekly.com/goldenfork-awards-2018 to vote for the best in Edmonton food and drink. All the regular categories you've grown to love, plus some new categories for 2018: • Poke • Milkshakes • Hot Dogs

30 at the back

• Brew Pub • Shaved Ice • Distillery

I’ve been getting letters like yours—what happened to you, Dan, you used to be more fun— at this time of year, every year, for the last 25 years, READER. Maybe I get moody when the weather gets gloomy and that spills into my column annually. And perhaps the current political climate—a rather reserved way to describe the destruction of our democracy—is making my seasonal grumping worse. Another possible factor. I don’t know how long you’ve been reading, READER, but I’ve been writing this column for a long time. And back before the internet came along and ruined everything for everyone, I used to get a lot of how-to/what’s-that questions about sex acts and sex toys. A column explaining butt plugs to readers who knew nothing about them—and lacked easy access to butt plug info—was as much fun to read as it was to write. But every sex act and every sex toy has its own Wiki page now, which means I don’t get to write fun columns about butt plugs anymore, READER, and you don’t get to read them. Now the questions all revolve around someone being deeply shitty or someone deluding themselves about how deeply shitty they’re being. Columns filled with questions about and from people behaving badly are never going to be as delightful as those butt plug columns of yore. But thank you for writing in to share your concern, READER, and rest assured that nothing truly terrible has happened to me—besides Trump, of course, but Trump happened to all of us, not just me. Still, I don’t want to lose you as a reader, so I’m going to make an effort to sunny things up a bit over the next few weeks. Okay! Let’s see what else came in the mail today! Hopefully something fun!

DON’T BE A JERK

My significant other and I rarely have sex. A while ago, I had a sexual encounter with her daughter. We continued to have sexual encounters for some time. Now my significant other and I may be getting married. Her daughter and I broke it off, but it started up again after a week. I am attempting to break things off with

my significant other’s daughter again, but I’m having a hard time. Please advise. RESTRAINING URGES IS NECESSARY Ugh. Do you see what I mean, READER? It’s hard to come through with jokes, erudition, and uplift when you’re responding to questions like this one. Okay, RUIN. Marrying a woman whose adult daughter you can’t keep your dick out of … yeah, that’s a bad idea. (And her daughter is an adult, right?!? You’re not Roy Moore’ing it, are you?) Sooner or later, your significant other is going to discover what’s been going on, and your relationship with both of these women will be destroyed. You’ll be able to move out and move on, RUIN, but your former significant other isn’t going to be so lucky. Because while you won’t always be her SO, and hopefully won’t ever be her husband, her daughter is always going to be her child. So while you may get out from this relationship with some light scarring, your ex and her daughter will be left with open, gaping wounds for the rest of their lives. My advice: Pull up your pants, cancel the wedding, and get as far away from your SO and her daughter as possible.

CROSSING THE LINE

I’m a middle-aged married dude. Sex life with my wife is good, but I also masturbate because, you know, I’m a person. Sometimes I masturbate while surfing through pictures on Facebook of attractive women I know. These aren’t stolen nudes off of someone’s phone; they’re public pictures. I’m progressive when it comes to politics and gender issues. Faceto-face, I’m respectful and would never do anything to make these women—or any other woman— feel uncomfortable. I don’t leer, and I’m not a creeper. I know what I’m doing is pervy, but is it pervy bad? Am I crossing a line? PEERING IS CREEPY, SOMETIMES This one’s a little better, READER. It’s a little squicky, sure, but it’s boilyour-eyes-after-reading squicky. Okay, PICS. Masturbating to someone is fine; masturbating at someone is not. (To be clear: Masturbating to thoughts of someone without their knowledge is fine; masturbating at someone who does not wish to be masturbated at is not.) Our erotic imaginations are free to roam—and that includes roaming through Facebook. No one needs our permission to fantasize about us or anything else, and we can’t control when, where, and how the pics we share on social media will be enjoyed. Provided you aren’t doing or saying anything to make your Facebook “friends” uncomfortable (no supposedly-friendly-buttransparently-thirsty comments,

VUEWEEKLY.com | DEC 7 – DEC 13, 2017

Dan Savage savagelove@vueweekly.com

no tongue-hanging-out emojis), you’re doing something no one wants to think about, PICS, but you’re not crossing a line.

IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE

A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend and I were engaging in mutual masturbation when she squirted all over my hand— a large amount—and she was completely mortified. It was the first time it happened for her, and it’s happened several times since. She is upset. I’ve been with a couple of other women in the past who squirted, and I am absolutely fine with it. I love it, in fact! I did my absolute best to reassure her that I think it’s great and there’s nothing to be ashamed of, but she’s really embarrassed every time. The last time, she was close to tears with fears that she’d urinated. My question: There’s so much great writing about female ejaculation around, but rather than bombard my GF—who is the most amazing, incredible person—with links to article upon article, how can I help her feel okay about this? SINCERE QUESTIONER UNDERSTANDS IT’S REALLY TERRIFIC This one’s pretty good, READER. It’s an old-school, pre-internet Savage Love question. Sexy and playful—charming, even. Okay, SQUIRT. You can help her feel okay about this by continuing to use your words (“I love this, it’s so hot!”), by sharing those articles with her (she needs to hear from and about other women with her superpower, not just from her boyfriend), and by lapping that shit up. Swallow, SQUIRT. And so what if it is piss? (And many argue it isn’t.) Piss isn’t sterile, as Mike Pesca took time out of his day to explain to me on the Savage Lovecast back when alleged human being Donald Trump’s alleged pee tape was all over the news. (Goddammit. Our current political climate snuck up on me. Sorry about that, READER.) There are a lot more bacteria and whatever else in saliva, and we dump spit into each other’s mouths like it’s maple fucking syrup. If you guys are swapping other fluids regularly, why not swap a little of this one, too? And remember: It’s only been two weeks—it may take her some time to learn to love her new superpower. Maybe watch some X-Men movies (it’s a superpower, not a mutation!), and keep being upbeat and positive about the way your girlfriend’s body works. Good luck! On this week’s Lovecast, comedian extraordinaire Cameron Esposito: savagelovecast.com. mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage on Twitter ITMFA.org

CURTIS HAUSER

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The best nights start with finding the best bar. Be confident your bar takes your fun and safety seriously. Search a list of Edmonton Best Bar None locations at BestBarFinder.ca

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