North by 53

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The January Blues

                  Yesterday I finally took down my Christmas tree, lights and all the decor that made my house feel like a home. Consequently I've decided to plunge head deep into the Mid-Winter, post Holidays blues. So until spring thaw you can find my lifeless body swaddled in an HBC blanket, drinking limitless lattes and listening to Jom Comyn's new album on repeat.   It's the perfect soundtrack for watching the snow fall and letting all the vitamin D drain from your body. Listen to it HERE

Ps. "Wish Upon a Storm" was written for days like today. It's the perfect accompaniment for  the remaining traces of Christmas baking. Trust me. 

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Resolutions

                            I love the New Year. The reset button is pushed, and we are all once again given a freshly printed, stark white page of a year. We have made no errors, nothing to scratch out and rewrite, rather a perfect void we get to fill. So set the expectations sky high and try to stay resolute past Christmas Tree Pickup Day (January 9).  Here are mine: 

1 I will write more. 

2 I will set clear boundaries between my work and personal life

3 I will run a half marathon.  

Dear god. Wish me luck. And Edmonton, Happy New Year. 

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Weekend To Do List April 20.21

SHOP TILL YOU DROP: 

Lux Beauty Boutique: Celebrating their 13th year of business Great Gatsby style be prepared for so much swag. Guarenteed full free size product for anyone who graces the door. More details here.  2A Pop-Up Vintage: At long last is throwing their springtime pop-up sale for the ladies. Open for 48 hrs only be sure to check it out, and stick around Saturday night for an 80's party at Barber Ha.   LISTEN (to): Lucette aka Lauren Gillis. Edmonton born and Nashville recorded, her music beautifully blends country, folk, and blues to break your heart with this track. 

CHEER: For Jon Mick's monthly instalment of Edmonton WOWIE. If the event logo, talented interviewees' and Mick's Ellen Degeneres-esque charm don't get you to attend then maybe the promise of seeing yours truly try to host a cooking segment just wrecked will. This Sunday 9pm @ Wunderbar 

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DATE NIGHT: For a mere $14 wow any date by taking them for Bananas Foster at Dadeos. Table side flambe included.

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Weekend To Do List: April 14

As I write this is it continues to snow outside so here are a few Sunday suggestions to warm you up: 

LISTEN:  (To) Tyler Butler. Not only is his folk music the perfect soundtrack for a winters day with an album literally entitled "Winter King" but he also qualifies as the first man I have called dreamy since grade 7. Enjoy!  EAT: Brunch at Absolutely Edibles. Their pulled pork stuffed french toast is actually worth leaving your house for. I promise.  Wild Earth Baked Goods: Boasting Raspberry White Chocolate Scone Take-home Mix it's easy to imagine curling up with a book, a pot of Cally's tea and a fresh "home baked" scone.   DRINK: Keg & Cork: As one of the only two liquor stores in Edmonton with a "Growler" station stocking up on beer has never been so easy. And hey if you don't like the three beers they have on tap there's another 700+ in store choices. 

STAY WARM:  By any and all means necessary.

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EAT: Brown Bag (Business) Lunch from Elm Cafe

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Help support the amazing and innovative Found Festival tonight by coming out to The Edmonton ReFound Show. Taking place in the Avenue Theatre on 118 ave this line up boasts everything from music, dance, comedy and even live portrait painting.  Tickets are $15 / $10 for Students & Artists  Doors are at 7 pm with the show starting at 7:30 Full Line Up & Details Found HERE

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Tattoo Stats

"Thirty-six percent of those ages 18 to 25, and 40 percent of those ages 26 to 40, have at least one tattoo, according to a fall 2006 survey by the Pew Research Center. " - The Internet Well I'm officially a tattooed deviant; statistically as of today I am significantly more likely to die a violent death. While all this is good clean hipster fun if haven't heard what's been happening at Strange City, I highly recommend you take a moment this evening and educate yourself.  What Happend @ Strange City - Video What Happend @ Strange City - Tumblr  And if you are looking to join the ranks of "tattooed dirtbag" I highly (and personally) recommend Eye of The Lotus Tattoo Parlour, and have heard nothing but great things about Atomic Zombie. Both have a relatively long wait list but I reason if it's going to be on your body forever you should make sure you trust the artist. 

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Cheap Date Night

The Edmonton Film Society is screening their final film from their winter series "Women in Danger" tonight at the Royal Alberta Museum. If you find yourself free tonight (or even better, on a date) go watch 'Notorious' a classic Hitchcock film for a night out at the museum.  Tickets are $6 / $5 for Students & Seniors Show starts at 8pm  More information here

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YEG Secrets Revealed

For anyone who loves Frank Warren and Post Secret, here is a two second YEG way to come clean about something you're a little less than proud of without needing to decoupage or actually buy stamps. Rapid Fire Theatre is collecting secrets for an experimental long form show this Thursday at 7:30 at the Citadel as part of their Second Annual Bonfire Festival.  Added bonus: it's almost free therapy. You can watch actors play out your secrets to help you get a little clarity or closure on what you've been hiding or at the very least, the opportunity to laugh at yourself.   RFT is only accepting secrets until midnight Monday so be sure to submit yours anonymously HERE

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Rapid Fire Theatre's Bonfire Festival kicks off this week running from Tuesday April 9-Sunday April 14. This long form festival promises everything from mouse traps to buddy cops to a Stuart Mclean impersonator.  Full show schedule listed here. 

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2am Friday Steel Wheels Run: check

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The Weekend To Do List: April 5.6.7.

APOLOGIES   I'm Sorry: I want to start this To Do list by knocking something off my own. I want to apologize for the lack of posts in the past two weeks. My beloved and severely abused soup covered Mac Book Pro "mysteriously" died. As a result while I wait for the kind people at My Mac Dealer to help me find a refurbished computer I am extremely computer limited. Please bare with me. I swear I'm not abandoning North By 53 to the bowels of ignored Tumblr accounts; I'm just really poor and computer-less.  So now that that's out of the way lets get to the weekend.  EAT

Comfort Food: The one positive of this recent snowfall is that I can safely assume no one will ever see my body sans wool coat again so why not burn your bikini and bring on the carbs. Here are a few suggestions as to where you can start:   Sugar Bowl - Cookies and Milk: They will half bake them if you ask nicely enough.  NextAct - Mac and Cheese:  (and bacon / and jalapeños / and double cheese)  Duchess Bakery - The Duke Cake: Described as chocolate, chocolate, more chocolate and salted carmel.  Like Don Draper: In honor of Mad Men returning this weekend eat like a morally questionable 1960's ad man and knock back a few oysters at Von's Steak House for all night Sunday Buck-a-Shuck. 

SWEAT Karma Yoga: Now as I previously divulged I'm poor and as much as I love hot yoga I can't afford $20 classes of anything. Fortunately on Fridays Moksha Yoga studios have $5 donation Karma classes. Check out the charity of the month and the official schedule on their site. Pro-Tip: Get there about an hour early, they sell out quickly. 

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Groundhog Day

"Wiarton Willie, Canada's leading rodent prognosticator, also predicted an early spring." - Huffington Post Well Wiarton, with all due respect, I'm calling bullshit. In light of the recent snow fall I say we have two choices. We either quit our jobs and fly to Mexico (round trip flights on Travelocity currently run about $749) or we fake it. Mix up your favourite summer drink whether its lemonade, beer or even an ice cold margarita and pour it into an opaque water bottle. Bathing suit up under a parka and then for the low low price of $6.50 visit any number of YEG's Rec Centres that feature saunas, steamrooms and even salt water pools. Lean back and let the heat wash over you while sipping on your favourite summer drink. Hopefully with a shot of tequila and a little imagination you'll be able to forget that it's -15 and snowing outside. 

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The Weekend To-Do List

Shop For the Boys: Vintage 2A has set up shop in Barber Ha for the past week selling exclusively men's vintage apparel and accessories. Saturday is the last day to shop so come check out their selection of jean jackets, tweed blazers, ties and more.  Saturday 10-5 @ Barber Ha A Makers Market: Mercer Collective is putting on their second pop-up market for all those who make, bake and create in the Mercer Warehouse. If you've been impatiently awaiting Royal Bison, this monthly market boasts a number of the same amazing individuals. Be sure to check out the full line-up on the event page. Play Outside: Although the snow might make driving anywhere a nightmare, these 10cm's are a snowshoer's dream. Brave the weather, rent a pair of snowshoes from MEC for $12 and hit any of the great trails in Edmonton or make a day out of it and head East to Elk Island Park with a winter picnic. YEG Snowshoe Trail Guide Celebrate St. Patrick's Day: Instead of going to the expected haunts this St. Patrick's day (and the most likely packed Druid or O'Byrnes), hit up one of these other locales  March 17 for a green beer. Mercer Tavern: Have a Granville breakfast beer and some free 'Paddy Cakes' while listening to local band "Mourning Wood". Breakfast from 9-11 am Barber Ha: Serving green Yellowhead beer and sour whiskey jello shots be sure to come by and drink for a cause. All proceeds are going to The Canadian Diabetes Association. Open 11 am - 5pm. The Makk on 124st: If you don't want to drink this Sunday celebrate by indulging in a delicious Irish inspired meal. Full menu available on here. Wunderbar: Get your Irish dance on at Wunderbar with Rising of the Moon made up of local talent including Jim Cuming, Doug Hoyer, Tyler Bulter and many more. Doors at 6pm / Bands at 8pm / $10 Cover

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3.14

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3.14

"Tonight:Light snow changing to snow at times heavy early this evening. Amount 10 cm. Low minus 18." - The Weather Office of Canada Since the weather outside is nothing less than disheartening, personally I'm going to spend my evening carbo-loading for the remainder of winter. Fortunately I can use math as an excuse. March 14 or "Pi-Day" comes but once a year so brave the cold and pick up a pie, throw your coziest blanket in the dryer for 15 minutes while the kettle boils and then enjoy. While I can't promise it will cure the winter blues, make tomorrows drive to work  easier or shovel your walk, I can say a pie from these bakeries will make any day, even today, a little better. Vi's for Pies 13408 Stony Plain Rd NW Bee Bell Bakery 10416 80 Ave NW Wild Earth Bakery 8902 99 St NW