Edmonton Weekend Guide: May 25-27

It's warming up! Wishing you a delightful (& hopefully sunny) weekend.

Shop: Dress Me Dearly Shopping Party at American Apparel
Eat: Crepe Symphony on Rice Howard Way
Do: Fine Wines Annual Spring Fling (taste over 50 beers, spirits and wine for free)

Eat, Drink & Talk
Food in the City
What: Part-conference, part-celebration this event is all about one giant conversation about food and agriculture in Edmonton.
Why: A great keynote, engaging panel discussions and you can bet the food will be fabulous!
Where: Shaw Conference Centre (9797 Jasper Avenue)
When: Friday, May 25 (afternoon) and Saturday, May 26 (all day)

The Great Race
City Chase
What: An urban adventure where 2-person teams search the city for ChasePoints scattered in unknown locations throughout Edmonton. To take home the title, you’ll compete in a variety of physical, intellectual, adventurous and humorous challenges.
Why: Serious fun. Get motivated with these videos.
Where: All over the city! Teams can run, walk or use public transit. Register here - $150/team.
When: Saturday, May 26 at 10am. Takes 4-6 hours to complete.

Miniature City
Micropolis 2.0
What: Peer through a microscope to explore the relationships between between people and urban life.
Why: The silkscreen cutouts and digital prints convey a sense of wonder and awe.
Where: SNAP Gallery and Studio (10123 121 Street)
When: May 24 to June 30, 2012

Feel the Thunder
Rainmaker Rodeo
What: This semi-professional rodeo kicks off the summer rodeo and midway season.
Why: Feel the thunder with three days of yeehaw fun and great live music. 
Where: St. Albert Kinsmen Rainmaker Rodeo & Exhibition Grounds (Riel Drive and Rayborn Crescent)
When: May 25 to May 27

Melodies
Vocal Arts Festival
What: Vocal Arts Festival kicks off this weekend and one of the shows features promising vocal artists from the Kiwanis Music Festival.
Why: A lovely afternoon enjoying classical and musical theatre pieces. 
Where: U of A Convocation Hall, Old Arts Building
When:  Sunday, May 27. 2:30 pm.

Fresh Take
The City Market Downtown
What: The farm and the city collide at this urban gathering of farm-fresh produce, locally-raised meats, delicious baking, and breads so yummy they only last a few hours.
Why: It’s the first outdoor market of the year.
Where: Just north of Jasper Avenue on 104th Street. Here's a map to make sure you arrive.
When: Saturday, May 19 from 9am-3pm. Rain or shine, the 104^th Street Farmers’ Market is open from May long weekend to Thanksgiving weekend.

go :: 124 Street Grand Market

Your Thursday nights are about to get grander! The 124 Street Grand Market is Edmonton’s newest market featuring 25 local producers and community artisans. Have dinner at one of the food trucks while you take in live entertainment and art, then shop for some fresh, local food to take home for the week!

When: Every Thursday from 5-9pm, May 24^th to October 4^th
Where: 108^th Avenue between 123^rd and 124^th Streets (across the street from Colonel Mustard’s and Café Tiramisu)

For more info and a listing of vendors visit 124grandmarket.com

shop :: So Pretty Jewelry Necklace & Cuff Wraps

We’re not really sure what we love most about these statement jewelry pieces: the mix of leather with semi-precious stones or the versatility of being both a bracelet and necklace. Regardless, these pieces are bold enough to change up any neckline and guaranteed to transform an ordinary jeans-and-tee combo into a stylish outfit.

All we really know – we’ve got a big crush on jewelry designer Cara Cotter, the creative mind behind the covetable So Pretty Jewelry collection.

These pieces are available online or locally at Coup Garment Boutique.

Off to Leon We Go

Happy Weekend! I’m starting the weekend off right with my bachelorette party on Saturday. A day of fun and wine with my favourite gals.

On Monday, my sister and I are boarding a flight to Leon, Mexico. It’s a work trip. Really. We’ve hired a translator and scheduled five days of meetings. Over cold drinks at night, we are going to think big and design our company with intention. To mix a little fun into our trip we carefully choose this hotel for its pool.

Have you ever been to Leon? It’s smack in the middle of Mexico just a few hours north of Mexico City. It sounds rather cool; Leon is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in Latin America.

Enjoy your long weekend!

Here's some snapshots:

1. Cowboy Boots from Leon
2. Cathedral
3. Burro Pinata
4. International Hot Air Balloon Festival
5. Bike paths in Leon
Above: Mexican Party Banner

Edmonton Weekend Guide: May 17-21

It’s May long weekend. Unofficially known as the ‘kick-off’ to summer and the go-ahead-plant-your-garden-we-think-the-snow-is-gone-til-winter.

Fashion: Fashion Forward at Hundred Bar | Kitchen
Do: Get dirty and eat bugs at City Chase
See: Tim Okamura "Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens"
Eat: Battista's Calzones

Get ready for these great upcoming events:

• Tickets: Edmonton International Jazz Festival
• Tickets: TEDxEdmonton 2012: Activating Ideas

Trucking Awesome
What the Truck?
What: A celebration of Edmonton’s food trucks! Eats by Eva Sweet (liege waffles), Drift (gourmet sandwiches), Fat Franks (hot dogs, smokies) and Nomad (crack n' cheese).
Why: Get your food before it rolls away.
Where: McIntyre Park, 8303 104 Street (just off Whyte Avenue)
When: Thursday, May 17 from 5pm-9pm
p.s. Can’t make the event? These food trucks have us all atwitter – follow on Twitter to discover their whereabouts.

Te Encanta Esa Ropa
Love Those Clothes
What: Bid on wearable art including clothing and accessories silkscreened by local artists and designers. Oh and did we mention how insanely talented the SNAP artists are?
Why: Celebrate Mexican style with Mexican eats and The Urban Monks spinning jams from the 60’s to the 2012s’.
Where: SNAP Gallery (10123 – 121 Street). Tickets $20 (members $15).
When: Saturday, May 19 from 8pm to late.

Fresh Take
The City Market Downtown
What: The farm and the city collide at this urban gathering of farm-fresh produce, locally-raised meats, delicious baking, and breads so yummy they only last a few hours.
Why: It’s the first outdoor market of the year.
Where: Just north of Jasper Avenue on 104th Street. Here's a map to make sure you arrive.
When: Saturday, May 19 from 9am-3pm. Rain or shine, the 104^th Street Farmers’ Market is open from May long weekend to Thanksgiving weekend.

Declaration of Peace
Hip Hop in the Park
What: An entire day of emcees, bboys, songstresses, DJs, graffiti artists and much more. 
Why: Don’t worry if you lack rhythm or know-how – this event is everyone. Looking to leave the kiddies at home, go to Hip Hop in the DARK on Friday night.
Where: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park (9529 Grierson Hill)
When: Saturday, May 19 from 12pm-8pm. Complete schedule.

Blast from the Past
Fort Edmonton Park
What: Grand Opening Weekend of Edmonton’s most beloved historical park.
Why: Better than ever with the Aristocratic Games Contest, bannock making, old-fashioned games, live music, and fudge recipes and confectionaries to make you swoon.
Where: Fort Edmonton Park
When: Saturday, May 19 – Monday, May 21 from 10am-6pm