Lindork's Lists #47 - What To Do, Eat, and Things To Know This Week
Edmonton's first Ice Wall, virtual Ukrainian New Year, Chinatown Dining Week and more!
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Things To Do This Week
Please note: Alberta has restrictions in place to address rising COVID cases. Businesses are still open but operating at reduced capacity. There is no more dine-in service at restaurants and restrictions around social gatherings. I still think it's so important to support local businesses during this time but this should obviously be done in a safe way, alone / within your household, pick up and go. Wear masks, sanitize regularly, avoid crowds, shop alone, and of course, stay home if you are sick and choose digital options if they're available.
Order out for Chinatown Dining Week
Although this could technically fall into the ‘Food To Try This Week’ section, I’m counting it as an event instead lol. Edmonton’s Chinatown Dining Week returns Jan. 14 - 24 as a take-out only initiative to help support struggling Chinatown restaurants. 13 Chinatown restaurants and bakeries are offering $10 or $18 set menus to-go (including my parent’s restaurant, King Noodle House Pho Hoang!) Enjoy the tasty eats!
Virtual Simpsons Trivia Night
If you're a Simpsons fan, Edmonton’s The Buckingham in partnership with Think Again Trivia is putting on a virtual Simpsons Trivia Night (focused on Season 1-10) on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7:45 p.m. It’s all done over Instagram Live and you register your team over Instagram Direct Message. I think it’s free lol.
Ring in Ukrainian New Year
This Saturday, Jan. 16 the Viter Ukrainian Dancers and Folk Choir are putting on a virtual Viter Malanka celebration to ring in Ukrainian New Year. General admission gets you access to the virtual entertainment or the Malanka Package gets you a Ukrainian dinner with the virtual festivities. Craft beer add-ons available. Cost: $10-$50. Ticket sales end Jan. 13.
Old Strathcona Antique Mall's Hobby Show
Have you ever been to Western Canada's largest antique mall? The Old Strathcona Antique Mall (10323 78 Ave.) features over 27,000 square feet of antiques, vintage items and collectables and will be presenting a "Hobby Show" Jan. 14 - 24. Think Farmer’s Market but with collectibles themed around hobbies, if you’re so inclined to visit (remember to mask-up, be prepared to wait outside due to capacity limits, and stay home if sick!)
Check out Edmonton’s first and only Ice Wall!
The Edmonton Ski Club presents Edmonton’s first and only Ice Wall (ice climbing facility), which launched this week! You can book intro to ice climbing courses, do drop-ins, book in advance and all ice climbing gear / rentals will be available soon. Climb with the stunning city skyline behind you! It's definitely a unique activity to experience this winter.
Food To Try This Week
Until at least Jan. 21, all restaurants in Alberta are take-out/pick-up only (no dine-in service). Continue to support local restaurants by ordering take out!
Bread and treats from Bonne Vie Bakery (Online Micro-Bakery)
Congratulations to Larry, baker and owner of Edmonton’s Bonne Vie Bakery, who has announced he will be competing on this season’s The Great Canadian Baking Show. The season kicks off in Feb. but to celebrate the announcement, maybe place an order for some Bonne Vie artisan sourdough breads and other treats—it’s delicious!
Vegan eats from The Buckingham (10439 82 Ave.)
Jess recommends you order from The Buckingham on Whyte's All-Vegan Menu. They're slinging dishes like Buffalo 'Chicken' Mac 'n Cheese, 'Beef' Melts, Tempura Green Beans and more. Vegan restaurant Die Pie shut down recently, as did vegetarian Asian spot Veggie Garden. From Jess: “I know The Buckingham could use the extra love as we are losing our vegan restaurants to COVID very quickly.”
Mexican food from Tres Carnales Rostizado (10119 100A St. or 10359 104 St.)
Tres Carnales is back with a new look and focused concept. Order their Taqueria menu (tacos, tacos, tacos!) or Rotisserie (24-hour brined dry rubbed and spit-roasted Four Whistle Farm chicken anyone?) Take-out is available from both of their locations. I can’t wait to try this new and improved Tres!
Pad Thai, Bubble Tea, Pho and more as part of Chinatown Dining Week
As mentioned above, Jan. 14-24 is Chinatown Dining Week, and 13 restaurants and bakeries are offering $10 or $18 take-out specials. I’m eyeing up Syphay, Tea Bar, and the Hong Kong Bakery’s combos, as well of course as my parents Vietnamese restaurant King Noodle House Pho Hoang and their Chinatown Dining Week offering too. But it’s definitely hard to pick! Browse the deals and support these restaurants!
Cinnamon buns, pepperoni sticks - Blake’s Bakery (3805 49 Ave., Stony Plain)
Just west of Edmonton in the Town of Stony Plain is the lovely Blake’s Bakery where I’ve been picking up cinnamon buns, pepperoni sticks, breads, and bagels recently. If you find yourself out in that area, be sure to visit. Sweet owners and staff too and on some random days they offer free coffee, lol.
Ate something amazing recently? Want to show some love to a struggling restaurant? Have a take-out suggestion? Let me know to include in this newsletter.
Instagrammable Walls Of The Week
Sometimes the Instagrammable Wall isn’t one wall, it’s many taken together. Manchester Square Edmonton (12016 107 Ave.) is just the loveliest development near 124 Street—with an outdoor fountain, 20 ft. promenade, and a facade that brings a touch of European flair to the city, this will eventually be home to 19 locally owned businesses. For now, it’s home to one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city, and also Arcadia Brewing. If you go to snap photos, pick up some craft beer too!
New On The Blog
This year I’ll be running a series of monthly social media training sessions perfect for small businesses and entrepreneurs. I’m starting with a topic I’m quite passionate about: Working with Influencers: What Your Business Needs To Know To Get Started (And Do It Right), and will be adding more topics and dates throughout the year. I’m also offering free spots for marginalized groups too. The first session date is Jan. 27 and subsequent sessions are on the last Wednesday of each month. Learn more and register for a limited spot if you’d like to learn how influencer marketing done right can help grow your business this 2021.
From The Blog Vault
Around this time two years ago, I was blogging about the affordable and delicious eats from the Brown Butter Cafe, located in the deep south of Edmonton at 1528 91 St. (and well worth the drive!) They’re offering a more condensed menu now (due to the pandemic) and are take-out only but if you get a chance, do try their bunwiches, rice bowls and drinks. It’s such a lovely spot owned by the loveliest couple!
Interesting On The Internet
Dr. Ubaka Ogbogu (@UbakaOgbogu) shared this chart: 'The 8 White Identities' by Barnor Hesse (Slow Factory Foundation) and I think it’s a great resource, especially in light of the terrorist insurrection on the Capitol in the U.S. last week. What identity would you label yourself as? What if you asked others to label you—would it be the same? And if you know where you’re at, what steps can you take to move closer to the abolitionist category? This is a good place to start understanding and reflecting on systemic racism and what can be done to dismantle inherently racist institutions. Everyone has room to grow. (And no one should want to be a white supremacist…)
Ogbogu adds: “Recognizing how that colour affects your positioning in the world is what the chart speaks to. It is actually helpful for people to use this to reflect on how they position themselves in society.” And how this positioning may work to systemically benefit you while keeping others down, even if perhaps it’s not overt or intentional. (Impact > intention).
Social Media Did You Know
January can be an especially tough mental health month for people. A tried and true method of managing my mental health is ensuring notifications are turned off for the social networks I use. Give it a try this year if you haven’t yet!
Thank you!
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