JANUARY 2024 ISSUE NO. 39
Kidding Around HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO (JAN. 15 TO FEB 4) INCLUDES THREE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES FROM KID KOALA 20
HOW TO LOVE YOUR WINTER CITY: EMBRACE OR ESCAPE CALGARY’S HARDEST SEASON 12 TRIVIAL PURSUITS: WHERE TO FIND TRIVIA NIGHTS 6 • BIG WINTER CLASSIC PICKS 22
PLUS
ALL AGES • COMEDY • WORKSHOPS • AND MORE
IT’S ALL HAPPENING
ARTIST PROGRAMMING BY
ON THE BLOX
MANDY STOBO AND FRIENDS DISCUSSIONS & PANELS ON
INFLATION
2024 JANUARY 24-28
BIGWINTERCLASSIC.COM | @BIGWINTERCLASSIC
+ ITS EFFECTS ON THE ARTS
CONTENTS ACT 1, SCENE 1
4
The year starts off like a shot for Calgary’s arts and events.
BAR SCENE
5
Get serious about trivia at these pub nights across the city; learn about the growing push for diversity in the brewing industry at Hop Forward Society’s film viewing; and find out how to make sure Dry January is anything but boring.
ART SCENE
COVER
16
The High Performance Rodeo explodes onto Calgary’s stages with more than 25 shows to pick from. Pearle Harbour
10
Make 2024 the year you fully participate in Calgary’s vibrant but undercover arts scene with our handy map of places to go.
FOOD SCENE
12
Whether you are trying to embrace or escape winter, Calgary’s restaurants have a full menu to offer you.
ESCAPE WINTER
13
You don’t have to wait until summer to do your favourite sports — these spots have moved the fun indoors.
EMBRACE WINTER
14
Go beyond the ski hill and skating rink with these alternative outdoor activities that will keep you excited even when the days are dreary.
THEATRE SCENE
20
Mean Girls the musical comes to stage and screen this month. Cover photo: Kid Koala Photo by Corinne Merrell courtesy High Performance Rodeo Publisher and acting editor Käthe Lemon klemon@redpointmedia.ca Founding Editor Mike Bell Designer Kris Twyman Editorial assistance Tomi Ajele, Krista Sylvester
VENUE
21
MUSIC SCENE
22
Since 2016 BIG Winter Classic has been heating up Calgary and bringing the summer festival feels to the coldest season with amazing musical acts. See our picks.
The Palomino is a favourite spot for barbecue and bands.
FESTIVAL SCENE Get ready for February’s Chinook Blast festival.
Meredith Bailey Kirk Bodner Sarah Comber Rob Faust Cam Hayden Ben Heisler Chris Landry
Karin Olafson Olivia Piché Colleen Seto Krista Sylvester Mary-Lynn Wardle Alana Willerton
24
CEO, Co-owner Roger Jewett President, Co-owner Käthe Lemon Director, Strategy & Content Meredith Bailey, mbailey@redpointmedia.ca Print & Digital Production Manager Mike Matovich Client Support Coordinator Alice Meilleur Senior Account Executive Jocelyn Erhardt
CONTRIBUTORS
CAM HAYDEN
23
redpointmedia.ca 1721 29 Avenue SW, Suite 375, Calgary, AB, T2T 6T7
Account Executives Nadine Benoit, Vicki Braaten Administrative and HR Manager Tara Brand, tbrand@redpointmedia.ca Advertising inquiries advertising@redpointmedia.ca
The Scene is a member of the Alberta Magazine Publishers’ Association and abides by its professional standards.
Published 12 times a year by Redpoint Media Group. © 2024 By Redpoint Media Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.
JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 3
ACT 1, SCENE 1
Can’t-Miss Events of the Month
Printed textiles from Kinngait Studios at Glenbow at the Edison.
PHOTO COURTESY: THE GLENBOW
By Alana Willerton
HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO From Jan. 15 to Feb. 4, Calgary’s art scene will be bursting with creativity as the 38th annual High Performance Rodeo returns. The arts festival’s 2024 lineup is full of exciting productions in a range of mediums, including a 10-minute play festival, a dance collection by Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, a night of opera and Indigenous stories with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, a family-friendly robot dance party and more. With more than 25 productions to choose from, there’s something for everyone. See more on the festival starting on page 16. For more information and tickets, visit oyr.org/hprodeo/
DIE FLEDERMAUS: THE CHAMPAGNE OPERETTA Calgary has a new non-profit classical vocal arts group, and you can catch its first fully staged opera this month. From Jan. 11 to 13, Alberta Vocal Arts performs Die Fledermaus: The Champagne Operetta, a 150-year-old opera comedy set at a masquerade ball. Be sure to come early, as there is a pre-show chat with the company’s director, artistic director and music director that will cover what you should know about the production starting at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show at Festival Hall start at $25. For more information and tickets, visit albertavocalarts.com
4 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
WACK at the Big Winter Classic
Die Fledermaus at Festival Hall
METEOR SHOWER If you need some cheering up now that the holidays are over, we have some good news: This month, Theatre Calgary is taking on a play by Hollywood actor and comedian Steve Martin that promises plenty of laughs. Running from Jan. 23 to Feb. 11, Meteor Shower is set around a dinner party with two couples in honour of a meteor shower. But of course, the evening doesn’t go quite as planned. Tickets are on sale now for this show at Arts Commons’ Max Bell Theatre. For information and tickets, visit theatrecalgary.com
PRINTED TEXTILES FROM KINNGAIT STUDIOS Until March 3, visit Glenbow at The Edison to see Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios, an exhibition that showcases 1950s and ‘60s graphic textiles crafted in Kinngait, Nuna-
Mean Girls in town for eight shows in January vut. The exhibit looks at the printmakers and artists behind the pieces, the cultural stories and traditions the textiles depict, and some of today’s Inuit fashion designers. Admission is free. For more information, visit glenbow.org
MEAN GIRLS The iconic 2004 Mean Girls film was turned into a Broadway musical back in 2018, and now, that production is making its way across the country with the touring company Broad-
way Across Canada. Don’t miss Cady Heron and Regina George’s epic battle to rule the school in this show written by Hollywood comedian and actor Tina Fey, which arrives in Calgary for eight shows from Jan. 16 to 21. In a fun twist, the musical’s film adaptation is also set to hit theatres this month, so fans can get a double dose of high school drama. Learn more about both the stage performance and the movie on page 20. For more information and tickets, visit calgary.broadway.com
ACT 1, SCENE 1 TUBING AT WINSPORT WinSport doesn’t just offer skiing and snowboarding — as of Dec. 23, Calgarians can also visit the popular facility to go tubing at the Servus Tube Park. With eight lanes to slide down, the park promises plenty of excitement and a memorable weekend activity for the whole family. While regular tickets are $29, those who visit on a Servus Tube Park Friday (Jan. 12, 19 and 26 this month) will only pay $18 per ticket. For more information and tickets, visit winsport.ca
BIG WINTER CLASSIC Vundabar, Debby Friday, Geese, Battles — these are just a few of the 70+ bands and artists you can see perform during BIG Winter Classic. The winter arts festival is back from Jan. 24 to 28 with tons of musical performances, as well as comedy shows, workshops, panel discussions on the arts and more. Get a full weekend pass ($95.81) to make sure you don’t miss any of the action. Turn to page 23 for our picks on can’t-miss shows. For more information and tickets, visit bigwinterclassic.com
Rock The Nation at the NMC
STEP BY STEP
stagewestcalgary.com
Whether you stan The Beatles, New Kids on the Block or the Backstreet Boys, you won’t want to miss Stage West’s latest production about the greatest boy bands around. Step by Step promises a nostalgic night looking back on some of the bands that many of us grew up loving and their irresistibly catchy hits. The production runs until Feb. 4. For more information and tickets, visit
ROCK THE NATION Back at the National Music Centre at Studio Bell by popular demand, Annerin Productions’s Rock the Nation celebrates 50 years of Canadian rock. Featuring songs from the 1960s through to today, performed live on stage, the show aims to reflect the evolution of Canada’s music scene. Musically, this show
kind of has it all, from classics by Paul Anka to pop-punk hits by Avril Lavigne and everything in between, including the diverse sounds of k.d. lang and Maestro Fresh Wes. Weekend matinees run from Jan. 27 to April 28. Ticket holders also get 10 per cent off at the King Eddy, so be sure to stop in and grab a bite to eat before or after the show. For more information and to get tickets, visit studiobell.ca
THE COOLEST KÖLSCH YOU KNOW, NOW WITH MORE SHINE. GOLD MEDAL WINNER AT THE 2023 ALBERTA BEER AWARDS. MY BEST FRIEND’S GIRL
ALBERTA BREWERY OF THE YEAR
KÖLSCH-STYLE ALE
2021 & 2023
Beer/Bière 473 mL 4.8% alc./vol.
THE ESTABLISHMENT BREWING COMPANY
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4407 1 STREET SE, CALGARY, AB T2G 2L
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ESTABLISHMENTBREWING.CA
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@ESTBREW
JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 5
BAR SCENE
Let’s Get Trivial Make use of all the useless facts you’ve accumulated
December b Ch Chartlist t Direct from your radio pals at 90.9 FM, here is a snapshot of the current artists & albums topping the charts at CJSW. Tune in, turn it up and enjoy. 1. Ginger Beef** - Ginger Beef (Self-Released) 2. Elisapie* - Inuktitut (Bonsound) 3. MOONRIIVR* - Vol. 1 (Victory Pool Records) 4. Slowdive - everything is alive (Dead Oceans) 5. Bloodshot Bill* - Psyche-o-Billy (Goner Records) 6. Rubim de Toledo* - The Drip (Bottom Dweller Music) 7. Feeling Figures* - Migration Magic (Feel It Records) 8. Apollo Suns* - Departures (Do Right Music) 9. Slow Leaves* - Meantime (Make My Day Records / Birthday Cake Records) 10. Adam Shulman - We Wish You a Funky Christmas (Cellar) 11. The Budos Band - Frontier’s Edge (Diamond West) 12. Diamondtown* - Future Plans (Self-Released) 13. Joey O’Neil* - Phantom Vibes (Independent) 14. Liquor Mountain** - East Dooley EP (Self-Released) 15. Jolie Laide** - Jolie Laide (Oscar St. Records) 16. Astral Swans & Chad VanGaalen** - Split EP (Tamarack Records) 17. Audrey Ochoa* - The Head of a Mouse (Chronograph h Records) 18. ex-cowboy* - Mr. Frog (Self-Released) 19. D.Blavatsky** - YOUR CHOICE (Non/Being) 20. Deathknell** - Taste the Bitter End of a Once Brilliantt Dream (Self-Released) 21. Soft Vein - Pressed In Glass (Artoffact Records) 22. Sextile - Push (Sacred Bones Records) 23. Sue Foley* - Live in Austin Vol. 1 (Stony Plain Records) 24. C.O.F.F.I.N - Australia Stops (Goner) 25. Siberian Dancehall Incident* - ...this city was never ours (Self-Released) 26. Esteban Herrera** - Spacetime (Self-Released) 27. Wet Dip - Smell Of Money (Feel It Records) 28. Corker - Falser Truths (Feel It Records) 29. Ruiqi Wang* - Subduing the Silence (Orchard of Pomegranates) 30. Bristol Manor** - The Other Side (Self-Released) ** Local * Canadian
6 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
Craig McFarlane hosts trivia nights around the city through his company Passing Time with Craig, including every other Wednesday at Bottlescrew Bills. By Chris Landry
I
n countless movies and sitcoms, characters get dragged into yet another pub quiz, usually with disastrous or hilarious consequences. But here in the real world, it’s hard to refute that trivia night is a major draw and growing in popularity. Taking place across the city, trivia nights are special events, in which teams compete to answer questions in various categories such as pop culture, sports, television, movies, etc. The winning team sometimes takes home prizes, but often they just compete for the fun and glory. People love games. Board games, game shows, sports — regardless of the game, there is a deep-seated competitiveness in us all, waiting to come out. And that’s where Craig McFarlane — trivia night host with Passing Time with Craig, and colloquially known around town as Trivia Daddy — thinks the joy of the Trivia Night comes in. McFarlane currently hosts several recurring trivia nights around the city, as well as more one-off nights like Bingo and themed-trivia events. “We all grew up playing board games like Trivial Pursuit,” McFarlane says. “And then, of course, there’s the game shows.” And so, perhaps hitting that sweet spot
between nostalgia and innate human competition makes trivia nights so popular. “Trivia Night is for everyone. Whether you truly know everything about the periodic table, or Friends or Disney, or the NBA, there’s something for everyone there,” McFarlane says. He also sees it as the perfect after work activity. “I love when co-workers come out. Say I ask a question about The Goonies. Suddenly everyone is like, ‘I love The Goonies!’ or, ‘You’ve never seen The Goonies?’ It gives you those conversation starters.” While trivia nights are typically hosted at pubs and breweries, adding alcohol — a notoriously brain-addling substance — to the mix is probably detrimental in a game that involves so much brain power. And while drinking is obviously not required, McFarlane thinks it has a role to play in breaking down one barrier to entry — shyness. “There will be regulars who bring friends who say, ‘I’m just here for the drinks, I don’t have anything to add to the team.’ But then they start chatting, and having drinks and they get right into it.” Check out one of these recurring trivia nights around Calgary. And book early — the spots fill up fast.
BAR SCENE MONDAYS Wild Rose Brewery Themed Trivia Nights Starting at 7 pm weekly. Play is free, and the prize is Wild Rose beer. The taproom also features $5 pints on Mondays. wildrosebrewery.com
NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE Presents:
Every Saturday and Sunday, starting on January 27. A musical rockumentary featuring 60 years of Canada's best-known hits. Rock out to the soundtrack of a nation!
Canadian Brewhouse Monday Night Trivia Weekly, at Canadian Brewhouse University District location. The first Monday of the month is themed trivia. thecanadianbrewhouse.com
TUESDAYS Trivia Tuesdays at Highline Brewing
C H EC K T H E WEEK END M AT I N EE S H O W T I M ES AT S T U DI O B ELL. CA / WH AT S -O N .
Held every Tuesday at 7 p.m., hosted by Passing Time with Craig. $5 per person, teams of up to six. Highlinebrewing.com; passingtimewithcraig.com
Dixon’s Trivia Tuesdays Weekly at Dixon’s Public House. Free, teams of up to eight. calgarysbestpubs.com/dixons
Hose & Hound Trivia Tuesday Weekly, hosted by Tremendous Trivia. Free, teams of up to eight. thehose.ca
Taco & Trivia Tuesday at The Winkin’ Owl Pub Weekly, at The Winkin’ Owl Pub. Free, teams of up to eight. thewinkinowl.com
WEDNESDAYS Bottlescrew Bill’s Trivia Bi-weekly Wednesday nights, hosted by Passing Time with Craig (Beer Bingo runs on the alternating Wednesdays). Free, teams of up to six. Bottlescrewbill.com
R EVERY GUITAR TELLS A STORY LIVE IN CONCERT
FEB 9 + 10
See the legendary Canadian rocker live with his band, and check out the NMC exhibition in his honour before it closes. TICKETS AT STUDIOBELL.CA/WHATS-ON
Wednesday Night Trivia at Bowness Pub Weekly, at Bowness Pub. Free, teams of up to eight. Bownesspub.com
Brewsters Lake Bonavista Trivia Wednesdays
50% OFF
Bi-weekly Wednesday nights at Brewsters Lake Bonavista. Free, teams of up to eight. brewsters.ca
THURSDAYS
Studio Bell admission is half price from January 2-26.
Kilkenny’s Irish Pub Weekly, at Kilkenny’s Irish Pub. Free, teams of up to eight. calgarysbestpubs/kilkenny
Explore Canada’s music story with exhibitions, live performances, and hands-on activities for the whole family.
Trivia Night at Southland Yard Weekly, at Southland Yard Bar & Table. Free, teams of up to eight. southlandyard.com
STUDIOBELL.CA
MONTHLY Name That Tune at Rising Tides Taproom Once a month for music-themed trivia, hosted by Passing Time with Craig. $5 per person. risingtidestaproom.com
STUDIO BELL, HOME OF THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
850 4 STREET SE CALGARY, AB JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 7
BAR SCENE
Fostering Inclusivity, One Pint at a Time Hop Forward Society helps dispel the stereotypes of craft beer drinkers and brewery entrepreneurs By Kirk Bodnar
I
f I asked you to describe a typical craft beer drinker, what would you say? If you were to play along with this ridiculous line of questioning, I imagine your response would be something along the lines of “a somewhat burly, possibly bearded, white dude, who wears a flat cap from time to time.” Not only is this an exact description of me, it’s also a very common stereotype. But in a city as culturally and ethnically diverse as Calgary (Canada’s third most diverse city, with more than 120 languages spoken) shouldn’t our craft beer industry reflect and accommodate the diversity of our community? The “white, male beer drinker” stereotype still persists, and it’s time for this to change. Enter the Hop Forward Society, an organization established in 2020 with an aim to increase diversity, inclusivity and equity within the Alberta craft beer industry by creating and building opportunities for underrepresented groups. “When we started the Hop Forward Society, the basic idea was to help make the beer industry more inclusive,” says co-chair Erin McQuitty. “I actually do think the beer community is generally known to be quite welcoming, collaborative and inclusive, but at the end of the day it is not necessarily an accurate representation of society at large. I think we should see that same diversity reflected in our small businesses.” One way the Hop Forward Society advocates for inclusion and equity is by hosting events that raise awareness and provide opportunities for people from underrepresented groups to come together to collectively celebrate their love of beer. The organization’s next event will be a screening of a film that has been making waves in the beer community since its release in 2021. One Pint at a Time is a multi award-winning documentary (having racked up over 100 awards to date) that presents the beer industry from the perspective of African-American business owners and poses the critical question: Why are only one per cent of breweries in the United States African-American owned? The film brings to light the barriers to success that many folks encounter in the industry
8 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
PINT PICKS
Along with several award-winning core selections, The Establishment Brewing Company features some delicious seasonal and specialty beers. These are some of the current offerings.
Pretty Persuasion This wild saison is aged directly on second use Elephant Heart Plums to achieve fruit adjacent aromatics and flavours without being overwhelming. Available exclusively in the taproom.
Harvest Moon A dark barrel-aged beer with cinnamon. A blend of bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout and a neutral grain finished bruin, with some added Indonesian cinnamon. This beer is a first of its kind for Establishment.
My Best Friend’s Girl A crisp and refreshing beer that is an authentic nod to the Kölsch-style that it is inspired from. As a special bonus, on the last Friday of each month you can experience true Kölsch beer service, just like you would find in Cologne, Germany. PHOTO COURTESY: ESTABLISHMENT BREWING
and calls to attention the fact that these issues are seldom discussed or addressed. The screening will take place Jan. 17 at The Establishment Brewing Company (4407 1 St. S.E.). Establishment is an active member of the Hop Forward Society. “Part of the values our brewery was founded on is being committed to working for equity, justice and diverse representation, built on a foundation of physical and psych-
ological safety,” says Jill Mikkelson, Establishment’s events coordinator. “Which to me means we have a responsibility to learn about the history and some of the barriers our BIPOC friends face, a duty to hold space for conversations about racism in our industry, as well as an obligation to work towards building an environment and culture where everyone feels welcome and included. We’ve got to walk the walk!” The evening will include a Q&A session and
discussion following the screening, providing attendees an opportunity to explore the issues and themes presented in the film. Maybe, just maybe, by creating a forum for open communication, we can take a few steps towards a more inclusive and equitable beer industry. One of the best ways to foster community is to come together and raise a glass in fellowship — one pint at a time, as it were. For more information about Hop Forward or the screening on January 17, visit hopforward.ca
BAR SCENE
How to Enjoy Dry January Discover Calgary’s many options to socialize sans alcohol By Colleen Seto
T
he New Year brings with it all manner of resolutions, and for some, that means committing to Dry January — an alcohol-free month — or ceasing drinking longer term. Cutting back on alcohol consumption can have financial, physical and mental health benefits, but it can also bring challenges for socializing and going out. Here are some suggestions for how to enjoy Dry January in the city. Let the fun flow, even when the booze doesn’t.
BUZZ WORTHY EVENTS THAT WON’T GIVE YOU A BUZZ January 6: Tasting at Market Wines University District For its first tasting of 2024, Market Wines’ University District location is going booze-free. The ticketed event focuses on delicious alcohol-free wines, cocktails and beverages. Sample some of the best alcohol-alternative options out there, and see how dry can still be delicious. marketwines.ca/event/dry-january/, 4109 University Ave. N.W.
January 19: Cocktail Competition, Dry January Mocktail Edition at Two Rivers Distillery Two Rivers Distillery hosts a friendly mocktail competition where you’re invited to create imaginative and delicious mocktails featuring its Spruce Grouse Non-Alcoholic Gin. Come compete for the title of Mocktail Champion. Get your tickets for this exciting and fun opportunity to indulge in the flavours of a tasty, local non-alcoholic gin with friends and fellow mocktail enthusiasts. tworiversdistillery.com, 453 42 Ave. S.E.
January 27: Village Party This event is a first for the Sonder Society Co, a group that aims to create a community for sober folk to unite, evolve and be themselves. The inaugural ticketed event at Village Brewery gives the community a chance to gather, connect and have some fun together — free of judgment and alcohol. sondersocietyco.com, 5000 12a St. S.E. (Village Brewery)
The Hawaiian Honeycreeper at Lulu Bar features Lumette alcohol-free rum, roasted pineapple, honey, bibi sparkling bitter "aperitivo" and lime and is one of the most popular mocktails on their menu.
ZERO PROOF, BUT 100 PER CENT FLAVOUR Santé Dry Bottle Shop This is Calgary’s top destination for no- and low-alcohol beverages; in fact, it’s the only retail location in Alberta that sells only non-alcoholic drinks. At Crossroads Market, Santé provides an unmatched selection of over 100 non-alcoholic beers, ciders, cocktails, wine, spirits, bitters and mixers — everything you need to enjoy a drink, minus the alcohol. It’s the perfect place to explore new drink options, including local brews, whether you are sober, curious or anywhere in between yourself or hosting those who are. drinksante.ca, 1235 26 Avenue S.E.
Lulu Bar’s alcohol-free drink list A growing number of restaurants offer mocktails that won’t mock you with their Shirley
The Pink Pony Club zero-proof cocktail at Lulu Bar features Undone Italian red "not vermouth", cherry sencha, orgeat, Leitz alcohol-free sparkling rosé, strawberry and lemon.
Temple sweetness. But if you want to dine out at one of Calgary’s favourite restaurants, and not be relegated to sipping sodas all night, look no further than Lulu Bar. Though it’s well known for its delicious cocktails, Lulu boasts an equally impressive non-alcoholic drink list. Try the Hawaiian Honeycreeper that features Lumette alcohol-free rum with roasted pineapple, honey, bibi sparkling bitter aperitivo and lime, or the Pink Pony Club made with undone Italian red “not vermouth,” cherry sencha, orgeat almond syrup, Leitz alcohol-free sparkling rosé, strawberry and lemon. Beyond mocktails, Lulu also serves up booze-free beers and wine, as well as kombucha. Lulubar.ca, 510 17 Ave. S.W.
Indian-inspired mocktails at Calcutta Cricket Club Pair the incredible curries and kati rolls on
offer at one of the city’s favourite Indian restaurants with Calcutta Cricket Club’s selection of five tasty mocktails. Choose a Mango Chili Tonic or Tamarind Soda, or kick things up with the Little Rani made with passionfruit, lime, coconut, soda and chili flakes. Visit during January for the mocktails and check out their new 1st Street S.W. location. calcuttacricketclub.com, 1213 1 Street S.W.
The Zero Proof Club Still looking for places to explore more alcohol-free bevvies? Check out the Zero Proof Club’s curated list of the best restaurants and bars in Alberta that offer non-alcoholic drinks on their menus, including zero-proof beers, wines and cocktails with spirits. The club aims to show that booze-free drinks (and nights out) can be just as enjoyable, if not more so, as alcohol-filled ones. thezeroproofclub.ca/restaurants-bars-alberta JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 9
ARTS SCENE
Make 2024 Your Year of Art
By Benjamin Heisler
C
Resolve to make this the year you visit the city’s many galleries and spaces to view art 8
8
Institutions
Creative Spaces
Public Learning Services
Auction Houses
Commercial Galleries
Coffee Shops
Artist-Run Spaces
Farther Afield
3
algary is a bit of an undercover contemporary art centre. This city boasts wonders of landscape, architectural marvels and a wealth of public art worth celebrating. In Calgary we have2 public art thanks to civic, provincial, 1 and federal support. A map of the City of Calgary public 2 13 artworks can be found at calgary.ca/arts-culture/public-art The 7art reproduced and displayed in transit shelters 3 citywide showcases objects from the civic art collection. Much of the civic art collection has been donated by artists and corporations throughout the city’s history. Education institutions, corporations and private funding have also brought us many more10public artworks. For example, Northern Lights on1 the south face of the Telus 5 1 Sky building is an LED10 artwork by Douglas Coupland that 3 1
5
Museum of Fear and Wonder
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1 8
2 1 8
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displays five 12-minute sequences per hour. Corporate sponsorship has also supported city beautification initiatives such as BUMP mural festival. Calgary also features a host of art galleries, auction houses, creative workshops and informal spaces for gathering to create and/or showcase art. Some of these spaces are private, some are public, some are commercial and some are artist-run. Some are easily accessible, and others take a little more effort to discover. Make 2024 your year to experience Calgary in all its artistic glory by visiting some (or all, if you like a challenge) of the artistic spaces on this list. Benjamin Heisler is an advocate for the arts and is the gallery preparator at Contemporary Calgary. Gallery preparators are responsible for the care and presentation of art for public consideration.
COMMERCIAL GALLERIES
1 Alberta Craft Gallery at cSPACE
1 Christine Klassen Gallery
albertacraft.ab.ca, 1721 29 Ave. S.W.
christineklassengallery.com, #200, 321 50 Ave. S.E.
2 Arts Commons Arts Commons Ledge Gallery, Lightbox Studio, Window Gallery, +15, broadcast Lab, +15 soundscape artscommons.ca, 205 8 Ave. S.E.
2 1
18
3 Contemporary Calgary
3
7
INSTITUTIONS
contemporarycalgary.com, 701 11 St. S.W.
4 Esker Foundation eskerfoundation.com, 4th floor, 1011 9 Ave. S.E.
5 The Founders’ Gallery at the Military Museums
3
themilitarymuseums.ca, 4520 Crowchild Trail S.W.
1
6 Glenbow Museum
10
(Presently exhibiting at the Edison while construction is underway.) glenbow.org, 2nd Floor, 150 9 Ave. S.W.
5 1
7 Illingworth Kerr Gallery at Alberta University of the Arts
10 3 1
5
auarts.ca, 1407 14 Ave. N.W.
8 Nickle Galleries at the University of Calgary
Ohe 2 Kiyooka Arts Centre
nickle.ucalgary.ca, 435 Campus Lane N.W.
9 Calgary Public Library – Central Library Installations 800 3 St. S.E., calgarylibrary.ca
1 8
PUBLIC LEARNING SERVICES 1 National accessArts Centre accessarts.ca, 8038 Fairmount Dr. S.E.
2 1
2 North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre
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calgary.ca/arts-centres, 523 27 Ave. N.W.
3 Wildflower Arts Centre
3
calgary.ca/arts-centres, 3363 Spruce Dr. S.W.
Leighton Arts Centre
1
Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage
8
2 The Collector’s Gallery of Art cgoart.com, 1332 9 Ave. S.E.
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3 Gibson Fine Art gibsonfineart.ca, 523 Cleveland Crescent S.E.
4 Herringer Kiss Gallery herringerkissgallery.com, #101, 1615 10 Ave. S.W.
5 Huffman-Nyikes huffman-nyikes.com, 1040 8 Ave. S.W.
6 Kevin Kanashiro Gallery 724 11 Ave. S.W. (below Paul Kuhn Gallery)
7 Loch Gallery lochgallery.com, 314 12 Ave. S.W.
8 Masters Gallery mastersgalleryltd.com, 2115 4 St. S.W.
9 Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art newzones.com, 730 11 Ave. S.W.
10 Norberg Hall norberghall.com, 333b 36 Ave. S.E.
11 The Peanut Gallery at John Fluevog 207 8 Ave. S.W.
12 Paul Kuhn Gallery paulkuhngallery.com, 724 11 Ave. S.W.
13 Ruberto Ostberg Gallery ruberto-ostberg.com, 2108 18 St. N.W.
14 Transformation Fine Art transformationfineart.com, #409, 815 1 St. S.W.
15 TrépanierBaer Gallery trepanierbaer.com , #105, 999 8 St. S.W.
16 VivianeArt vivianeart.com, 1018 9 Ave. S.E.
17 Wallace Galleries wallacegalleries.com, 500 5 Ave. S.W.
18 Webster Galleries webstergalleries.com, #2, 625 77 Ave. S.E.
10 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
ARTS SCENE ARTIST-RUN SPACES
burnsvisualarts.com, 828 24 Ave. S.E.
1 Alberta Printmakers
Memorial Dr
albertaprintmakers.com, 4025 4 St. S.E.
5 cSPACE Marda Loop cspaceprojects.com, 1721 29 Ave. S.W.
2 Burnt Toast Studio
3 4th Ave
1 3 5 Bow Trail
3 6 7 7
3
4
burnttoaststudio.com, #5, 215 36 Ave. N.E.
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2
11
8th Ave
6
9th Ave
10th Ave 11th Ave
9 6/12
2
2
5 Stride Gallery
5
stride.ab.ca, 1006 Macleod Trail S.E.
4 16 2
8th St
4th St
Centre St
MacLeod Tr
thebows.org, 2001b 10 Ave. S.W. truckcontemporaryart.cargo.site, 2009 10 Ave. S.W.
2
17th Ave
6 8 25th Ave
soughtxfound.coffee, 916 Centre St. N.
8 500 Collective 500collective.com, #500, 321 50 Ave. S.E.
FURTHER AFIELD
1 Alberta Society of Artists
1 Heffel Fine Art Auction House
artpoint.ca, 625 11 Ave. S.W.
3 Blank Page Studio blankpagestudio.ca, 1221b Kensington Rd. N.W.
couttscentre.ca, Willow Creek No, 26, Nanton
workshopstudios.ca, 2501 Alyth Rd. S.E.
AUCTION HOUSES
2 ArtPoint Gallery & Studio 1 Society
1 Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage
sparrowartspace.com, 36 4 St. N.E.
10 Workshop Studios
CREATIVE SPACES albertasocietyofartists.com, Crossroads Market, #222, 1235 26 Ave. S.E.
4
theloophole.ca, 1040 8 Ave. S.W.
3 Sought and Found Coffee Roasters
9 Sparrow Artspace
6 The Bows 7 TRUCK Contemporary Art
11th St
2 Loophole Coffee Bar
quickdrawanimation.ca, 2011 10 Ave. S.W.
thenewgallery.org, 208 Centre St. S.
7
12th Ave
14th St
nvrlnd.ca, 1048 21 Ave. S.E.
4 The New Gallery
9
14
congresscoffeeyyc.com, #1a, 215 36 Ave. N.E.
7 Quick Draw Animation Society
emmedia.ca, 2005 10 Ave. S.W.
6th Ave
2
15
17
1 Congress
6 nvrlnd
3 EM/Media Gallery & Production Society
4
A VERY INCOMPLETE LIST OF COFFEE SHOPS WITH ART
4 Burns Visual Arts Society
2 Kiyooka Ohe Arts Centre koartscentre.org, 244034 Horizon View Rd.
3 Leighton Art Centre leightoncentre.org. 282027 144 St. W., Millarville
heffel.com, #609, 888 4 Ave. S.W.
2 Hodgins Art Auctions
4 Museum of Fear and Wonder
hodginsauction.com, 4115-7005 Fairmount Dr. S.E.
fearandwonder.ca, private museum located near Bergen
3. Levis Fine Art Auctions & Appraisals levisauctions.com, 1739 10 Ave. S.W.
special presentation
Qu n Bu : S m kia C p an & Da n Ty a n
national geographic live
San Ka u : i Ca R v a A JAN 28 & 29 E
ACP Signature Series Presenting Sponsor National Geographic Live
ACP Signature Series Presenting Sponsor Classic Albums Live
ACP Special Presentation Engagement Sponsor Queen’s of the Blues
NGL Student Engagement Sponsor
NGL EXPLORE National Geographic Sponsor
NGL EXPLORE National Geographic Supporting Sponsors/Partners
classic albums live
Qu n: FEB
d A Th
Classic Albums Live Supporting Sponsor
NGL Explorers Circle Engagement Sponsors
Public Sector Support
A J k
Media Sponsors
FEB 9
Hospitality Sponsors
Official Hotel National Geographic Live
Sandesh Kadur – Wild Cats Revealed
Teatro Fund for Arts Commons Education
Ken Havard Anonymous
A J k
or
403-294-9494 acpresents.ca Artist, program, and date subject to change.
JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 11
FOOD SCENE
Embrace or Escape Winter Whether you’re a winter lover or wish you were lounging on a tropical beach somewhere, the city’s restaurants offer a variety of ways to embrace winter, or escape it. Here are a few dining suggestions to help you experience winter the way you choose.
Embrace winter by walking through Prince’s Island Park on your way to River Cafe. aged cheddar and truffle oil. It comes with a toasted baguette, but you really should take advantage of the additional sides, such as the house-cut french fries, chorizo sausage, grilled prawns, pork belly and more. Livingroomrestaurant.ca 514 17 Ave. S.W.
Take in the Views at the Lake House
Escape winter by pretending you’re in Mexico at Tropical on 17th Ave. S.W. By Meredith Bailey and Colleen Seto with files from Ebenezer Belayneh
EMBRACE A Wintery Walk to River Cafe If you want to enjoy fine dining and drinks at River Cafe, you’ll need to embrace winter on your journey through Prince’s Island Park to get to the restaurant. It’s easy to imagine you’re Buddy the Elf journeying from the North Pole as you make the delightful wintery walk. Trek over the frozen river, past snow-laden trees, until you see the twinkly lights of the restaurant welcoming you. With its towering stone fireplace, River Cafe feels like a cozy lodge retreat, and its menu features local game meat as the highlight. Try the duck breast, boar belly or Haida Gwaii halibut. river-cafe.com 25 Prince’s Island Park S.W.
12 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
Slip on Your Skates at Seasons of Bowness Park Bowness Park is lovely anytime of the year, but it’s truly magical in the winter. Glittering lights wrap towering 20-foot trees and, once cold enough, the Bowness lagoon opens for skating. Located right on the lagoon, Seasons of Bowness offers a front-row seat to winter in the park. Bring your skates for an afternoon spin and stay for the daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. featuring dishes such as the truffle fries and Swedish meatballs, plus drink specials. Seasonsofbownesspark.ca 8900 48 Ave. N.W.
There’s something about being warm inside while peering out the window at a beautifully frozen lake that feels especially cozy in wintertime. The Lake House on Lake Bonavista boasts large glass windows facing the lake so you can comfortably enjoy the sights of winter while dining on classic Rocky Mountain cuisine. The interior is rustic and inviting, with elk antler chandeliers, a prominent stone fireplace and a dark wood antique bar. The beef and bison burger is delicious, but so is the beef short rib. Bring friends and share so you don’t have to choose. lakehousecalgary.com 747 Lake Bonavista Dr. S.E.
ESCAPE
Fondue for Two at the Living Room
Take a Tanzanian Adventure at Safari Grill
Sure, melted cheese is always tasty, but when it’s cold outside, a big pot of salty, savoury cheese fondue feels particularly fitting. A mainstay on 17th Avenue, the Living Room’s cheese fondue for two features a six-year-old
Local African restaurants serve a familiar taste of home for members of Calgary’s African communities. For everyone else, they’re a welcome retreat from the cold weather and a way to discover new-to-you cuisines. That’s
definitely the case at Safari Grill, where you can experience the warmth of Tanzanian culture. The space is adorned with a captivating array of African tapestries, paintings and sculpture while barbecued meats are prepared with a delicious Tanzanian spice blend. They taste even better when paired with Safari’s pili pili chips — fried potatoes or cassava seasoned in a spicy African pili-pili sauce made with lemon and peppers. Safarigrillcalgary.com, #100, 255 28 St. S.E.
Sip Tropical Cocktails at Ricardo’s Hideaway Calgary’s island-inspired rum bar features more than 100 different rums, delicious tropical cocktails and a menu that’s reminiscent of your last island holiday. It doesn’t matter if the weather outside is frightful when you’re inside this cozy Havana-style lounge enjoying passionfruit mojitos and Maui short ribs. Ricardoshideaway.ca 1530 5 St. S.W.
Head to Mexico Without Leaving Town at Tropical If you can’t get down to Mexico, get the next best thing at Tropical. This authentic Mexican restaurant features delicious Mexican street food, including tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas and homemade churros, alongside tropical drinks and even exciting Latin dancing. It doesn’t get much hotter than that. tropicalon17.com, 1424 17 Ave. S.W.
ESCAPE WINTER
How to Summer in the Winter Enjoy your favourite outdoor sports, indoors By Karin Olafson
’T
is ski and board season, but if snow and ice have you yearning for the outdoor sports you actually love instead of joyfully pulling on your snow pants, know that you don’t have to wait until summer rolls back around to enjoy them. Here’s how to play your favourite summer sports even during Calgary’s snowiest, coldest months.
BASEBALL Make sure that this coming summer you’re not getting heckled by the other team (and maybe your own teammates, too) for your endless strikeouts. Work on your swing all winter to (finally) impress your beer league buddies next season. Train like a pro at Absolute Baseball Academy & Fitness Centre, which boasts a state-of-the-art facility complete with batting cages and pitching machines, training opportunities, pitching lanes and even professional instruction to help you become an allround better ball player. Absolute Baseball Academy & Fitness Centre, 2221 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-2844006, absolutebaseballacademy.com
BEACH VOLLEYBALL Even though you can’t hear the ocean at The Beach YYC, you can feel the sand between your toes — and you can work on your beach volleyball skills and improve your fitness at the same time. Join an adult beach volleyball clinic on Friday nights, drop in to play when you can, or join one of the facility’s leagues, such as its Lunch League or indoor beach volleyball league. The Beach YYC, #3030 2600 Portland St. S.E., 403-475-4031, thebeachyyc.ca
BMX Ah, the thrill of adrenaline rushes, big jumps and near misses! Instead of rewatching old videos of your sweet BMX tricks from last summer, head to B-LINE Indoor Bike Park to turn your skills up a notch for this coming riding season. In this 60,000-square-foot facility, you can do laps of the different pump tracks, tackle the box jumps and ride the ramps while trying sweet new skills with the safety of landing in foam pits. Whatever your skill level,
you’ll find your kind of riding here as there are features for the absolute beginner up to the Olympic wannabe. B-LINE Indoor Bike Park, #6 401 33 St. N.E., 403-764-7433, blinebikepark.com
GOLF Missing those six-hour breaks of “me-time” you get each summer weekend? You can still swing those golf outings in the winter — kind of. Calgarians are spoiled for choice when it comes to indoor golf lounges, including Go Go Golf, which has six simulators for rent, and K Golf, where players can pair their putting with some Korean street food. There’s also LaunchPad Golf, which has two locations in the city with an indoor/outdoor suite setup, featuring heated flooring to make playing in the winter more comfortable. Go Go Golf, 10135 Southport Rd. S.W., 587349-4943, gogogolf.ca; K Golf, 11850 Sarcee Trail N.W., 403-730-2417, kgolf.ca; LaunchPad Golf Heritage Pointe, 31 Heritage Point Dr., 403-984-0360; LaunchPad Golf Mickelson National, 34133 E. Harmony Circ., Rocky View, 403-620-0086, launchpadgolf.com
ROCK CLIMBING Anyone who spends the winter months dreaming of how they’ll live their dirtbag rock climber dreams come summer knows you don’t give up projecting, redpointing and flashing in the chilly months. (For those who don’t know, true climbers use rock climbing jargon all year, even when not climbing.) Head to any of Calgary Climbing Centre’s five indoor gym locations to boost your finger strength, work past your fear of heights and just generally prepare for a summer of sending. Rocky Mountain, 10721 West Valley Rd. S.W., 587-231-9116; Chinook, #6 7130 Fisher Rd. S.E., 403-252-6778; Hanger, #106 588 Aero Dr. N.E., 587-230-0189; Stronghold, 140 15 Ave. N.W., 403-276-6484; SoCal Bouldering, 75 Shawville Link S.E., 587-603-6200, calgaryclimbing.com
SURFING You don’t need that pricey trip to Hawaii when you can surf all winter right here in the city by visiting the Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton. The world’s biggest YMCA is home to
PHOTO: CAL ACTION PHOTOS
Calgary’s only FlowRider, a surfing and bodyboard simulator within the facility’s aquatic centre. The machine creates artificial, stationary waves, allowing users to surf continuously in the same spot while working up surf-specific strength for summertime shredding. Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton, 4995 Market St. S.E., 403-351-5262, ymcacalgary.org
SKATEBOARDING Dreaming of ollies, kickflips and tailslides, but can’t practice because the skatepark is under two feet of snow? Instead of watching old Tony Hawk videos to satisfy your skateboarding urges, head to House of Wheels. This indoor skatepark welcomes visitors on skateboards as well as athletes on scooters, in-line skates and BMX bikes. Here, you can level up your skills on the various features in the park, without worrying about ice throwing you a curveball. House of Wheels, #124 3442 118 Ave. S.E., 587-353-2846, houseofwheels.ca
SKYDIVING Okay, maybe you don’t skydive each summer.
Maybe you’ve never skydived in your life. But after one visit to iFly, chances are, you’ll be hooked — and might even be ready to try jumping out a plane for real come July. This indoor skydiving centre replicates the feeling of the freefall (without the risks) through its vertical wind tunnel. Each flight lasts just 60 seconds, and as a first-timer, you’ll be accompanied by an instructor to control the air speed. iFly Calgary Indoor Skydiving, 811 64 Ave. N.E., 1-800-604-3489, iflyworld.ca/locations/ calgary
TENNIS In 2022, the Osten & Victor Tennis Centre levelled up its five outdoor courts so Calgarians can play on them year-round. Its 40-foot-tall bubble dome keeps these courts comfortable even if it’s cold and snowy outside. In fact, the construction of the bubble dome means an additional 70,000 hours of tennis court access! No more blaming your weak backhand come summertime — tennis-lovers can practice their swing all winter. The Osten & Victor Tennis Centre, 295 90 Ave. S.E., 587-393-1600, albertatenniscentre.ca JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 13
EMBRACE WINTER
Scrap the Ski Hill
Make the most of the colder months by getting out of your comfort zone with one of these three unconventional winter sports.
With Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours you’ll learn to drive your own sled. By Sarah Comber
W
hether winter heralds the start of backcountry season for you or you prefer to eat all the comfort food and wait for spring, these three Alberta companies offer an alternative to bumming around the ski hill.
A FURRY ROCKET SHIP ROLLER COASTER RIDE For Jereme Arsenault — who owns his family’s business, Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours, with his wife Caitlin — growing up it was as commonplace to have a litter of puppies under his bed as it was to have raw meat thawing on the front door step. His parents, Connie and Charles Arsenault,
14 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
originally operated their dog sled company out of their tiny mobile home. Connie learned about mushing (the action of dog sledding) growing up, as the daughter of Alberta’s second-ever park ranger. It quickly became her passion — one that her children now share, too. “I’ve never not known to be a musher. I’ve been one since I was a kid,” Jereme says, whose three children got their first taste of mushing while pulling a miniature, handmade dog sled. Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours now boasts 178 dogs — many of which are ninth or 10th generation stalwarts with the company — and hosts between 9,000 and 16,000 people during the winter months. Along with taking great care to ensure their
PHOTO COURTESY: SNOWY OWL SLED DOG TOURS
“There’s nothing like it. It’s a combination of intense adrenaline at the beginning, followed by complete silence once the dogs are released.“ JEREME ARSENAULT dogs are treated as family and to promote awareness surrounding animal welfare in the sport, what sets Snowy Owl apart is that participants actually learn to drive their own team. “There’s nothing like it,” Jereme says. “It’s a combination of intense adrenaline at the beginning, followed by complete silence once the dogs are released.”
Jereme adds that the feeling of being in control of a “furry rocket ship roller coaster ride” is one most people are not likely to forget. “If it’s not the coolest thing you ever do in your lifetime, it will be in the top three.” To book your own furry rocket ship ride, head to Snowy Owl’s website at snowyowltours.com.
EMBRACE WINTER MOUNTAINS, COWBOYS AND CHEESE As the founder of Skijor Canada, Sam Mitchell wanted to fuse three of her passions: Alberta’s rich equestrian culture, her affinity for the aprés ski world in Switzerland, and all things cheese. And at Skijor Canada’s primary event, Skijordue, these three seemingly disparate interests coalesce as Albertans gather to watch elite skiers be pulled by some of the province’s top rodeo, stunt and equestrian professionals. To make her dream a reality, when Skijor Canada went public in 2018, Mitchell says she called in every favour she was owed in both the horse and ski worlds. “We had these crunchy old cowboys who thought these kids were going to be a bunch of punks, and then we had these 19-year-old park rats who thought these cowboys were going to be dull and slow,” Mitchell says. “And they go out for the first run and they both come back just grinning.” Each year the event also hosts a fashion competition for spectators, dubbed Skijor Style, with three categories: Best Western, Best Eurotrash and Best Fusion. “It’s a total mashup of mountain and cowboy cultures, and you never know what is going to happen, but I am pretty sure you are going to like it,” Mitchell says. Wondering how cheese fits into all of this? That Skijordue component hails back to Mitchell’s time spending winters in Switzerland as a teen. “People were just not fonduing here,” Mitchell says, “and I was like, ‘What is wrong? We could be having more cheese all the time.” Keep an eye on Skijor Canada’s socials (@skijorcanada) and website (skijorcanada. com) for its next Skijordue event planned for late February or early March, depending on weather.
THAT FLOATING FEELING Water kiting has taken Ryan Ehmann to roughly 50 locations around the world from Thailand and Vietnam, to Mexico, Brazil and even Argentina. But when the pandemic brought him and his partner in life and business Marlena Charchut home, the pair adapted and started their business, Kite Alberta, to better suit the province’s wintery climate. “Snowkiting is actually about 10-times easier than water kiting,” says Ehmann, explaining that water kiting requires a significant amount of power to lift one’s body out of the water. “But on snow, you’re already standing on
In skijor, horses pull skiers or snowboarders across terrain and jumps. the surface, so you don’t require very much power. Because of that it’s far easier to learn and far safer to learn.” Indeed, Ehmann notes that advances in kiting technology have made the sport much safer than in previous years. He has instructed students as young as 14 and as old as 70. While most snowkiting students learn on a flat surface, such as Weed Lake or Ghost Lake, mastering the skill opens up more expansive access to Alberta’s mountain ranges and backcountry. “If the conditions are perfect, you’ll be cutting through fresh powder that gives you a floating sensation as soon as you get speed,” Ehmann says. Keen to experience that floating feeling for yourself? Book a snowkiting lesson at kitealberta.com.
Snowkiting is easier than water kiting and provides a new way to experience Alberta’s winter landscape.
PHOTO COURTESY: SKIJOR CANADA
PHOTO COURTESY: SNOWY OWL SLED DOG TOURS
JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 15
COVER STORY
Your Guide to High Performance Rodeo All the tips and tricks you need to know to enjoy the enthrallment, enchantment and entertainment of this year’s festival
By Olivia Piché
F
rom Jan. 15 to Feb. 4, locals and visitors alike can indulge in the mind-boggling selection of artists and shows being served up at the 38th High Performance Rodeo. More than 200 artists will step on stage throughout the wild three-week event. With 25 shows to pick from across every style of performance art, you can expect to see a little something for everyone, from dance and music to theatre and film, from creative, enchanting and daring, to imaginative and heartfelt. Whether you choose to dip your toes in the sea of shows or dive right in, here are some tips to help guide you through the festival so you can make the most of the Rodeo.
10-Minute Play Festival
PLAN AHEAD The variety of shows can be daunting, but that’s part of what makes the Rodeo so extraordinary. Avoid feeling overwhelmed and make a plan of what you want to see. Call the box office and get help to build your schedule. They’ll be able to help you make the most of your time, including suggesting free shows, workshops and events.
DOUBLE DOWN What’s better than one show? Two shows! Most days, the Rodeo offers more than one production, so double down and enjoy an entire fun-filled day. Check out early and late evening shows and don’t forget the matinee options.
SAVE ON TICKETS Most productions offer tickets at a discounted rate for students and those working in the arts. And bring your friends — groups of six or
16 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
more can save 10 per cent on tickets available through the box office. Or live dangerously and take advantage of rush seat pricing, which offers steeply discounted pricing on any extra seats still available just before showtime. And keep your eye on HPR’s social media for updates — they’re offering Bunnysaver Discount Days where you can cash in on limited-time special offers.
BE IN THE KNOW FOR THE HOTTEST PLACE TO BE The Rodeo features a pop-up bar in the Arts Commons. This is the place to meet fellow festival-goers and performing artists. Grab a drink and mingle between events at The LayCraft Lounge to get the inside scoop on which events and shows are proving to be this year’s must-sees.
With 25 shows over three weeks, there’s a lot to love. Here are our top picks. 10-minute play festival This annual festival within a festival kicks off the rodeo. Participating theatre troupes have 24 hours to create a completely new 10-minute play and then perform it. Armed with a single line of dialogue and one prop,
COVER STORY
the artists work around the clock to create something wholly unique. Maybe it’s the high stakes or lack of sleep, but the performances are typically wildly creative, uninhibited and singularly entertaining.
Dark Purple Slice
Translations
Bruce McCulloch
Translations All Bodies Dance Productions joins forces with Calgary’s Inside Out Theatre to present a dance show unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Instead of relying on vision alone, Translations invites audiences to experience dance through their other senses, including touch, sound, smell and imagination.
Indians & Cowboys: The Good, the Bad & the Treaty
Kid Koala’s Robot Dance Party HPR is for everyone, including the kiddos. Kid Koala’s Robot Dance Party is a family-friendly groove fest where robot costumes and mechanical dance moves are a must. Robot costume building supplies are provided, so you can craft the perfect cardboard robot helmet before bleeping and blorping to the fresh beats.
Indians and Cowboys: The Good, the Bad and the Treaty The artists of Making Treaty 7 Society scrolled through hours of footage from classic Western films and selected their favourites to screen. But instead of playing the clips as is, all the sounds and music will be performed live onstage. Co-presented by the One Yellow Rabbit and the Grand, Indians and Cowboys puts the “wild” back in the wild west.
Buddy Cole In King Scott Thompson
Olio
Bruce McCulloch with Dark Purple Slice and Scott Thompson as Buddy Cole in King Not one, but two Canadian comedy legends at one festival? Yes, please. Kids In the Hall alums, McCulloch and Thompson, present two very different shows, so getting tickets to both is a no-brainer. McCulloch’s Dark Purple Slice, is a heartfelt and hilarious meditation on the human condition, while Thompson’s King, promises to be brash, silly and boundary-pushing.
Pearle Harbour’s Agit Prop
An collection of dances and music for you to dig
Beautifullyyoungartists Cabaret 9 DANCERS 5 CHOREOGRAPHERS 3 MUSICIANS matters with wit, making it a hilarious yet heartbreaking must-see cabaret.
Olio Pearle Harbour’s Agit-Pop! Drag comedienne Pearle Harbour makes a triumphant return to the Rodeo by taking on world issues as we regretfully know them. From climate anxiety to the housing crisis, Pearle approaches these harrowing social
Calling all jazz lovers, decidedly Jazz Danceworks will rock the stage with a new vibrant performance produced by five choreographers. Matching the onstage energy will be some jazzy drums, bass and keys. That’s right, it’s a two-in-one live dance and music performance.
This one sells out and you won’t want to miss it! For one night only, One Yellow Rabbit artists take on their first solo performances with January 18-28, 2024 at the DJD Dance Centre For tickets or more information,and visit decidedlyjazz.com poetry, music, movement more. Expect the unexpected from these talented emerging performers — they’re showcasing their bold new works in an entertaining evening cabaret that will go beyond the boundaries. For schedule and tickets, visit oyr.org/ hprodeo JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 17
Tune out the cold with
Calgary’s only campus and community radio. 90.9 FM - @cjsw - (403) 220-3902
Kidding Around
COVER STORY
Kid Koala rules the High Performance Rodeo with three separate shows
By Rob Faust
S
ince Kid Koala released his debut LP, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, on Ninjatunes in 2000, he has been setting his mark on the leftfield indie beat world. Using a blend of broken beats, recovered, rediscovered, repurposed samples and his amazing ability to deconstruct and reconstruct on the fly, he leaves mouths agape and minds blown. Not satisfied with just defying genres and blending music, however, Kid Koala has since become a full-fledged production house, full of multimedia mastery, complete with unique artistic visions and easily conveying a wide eyed, unencumbered joy in the process, as well as the result. For example, during the lockdown, Kid Koala developed a board game with a soundtrack, inspired by his time with family. “That’s what we were doing, playing games together and the idea kind of developed from there. It was fun playing together. I thought I could make a board game too,” he says. He also developed what is probably his most extensive project to date, The Storyville Mosquito, which comes to Calgary this month as part of the High Performance Rodeo. Storyville is the tale of a mosquito’s journey to the big city and the adventures had along the way. The production reveals not only how the small-town mosquito makes it to the big city, but reveals and showcases how this story itself gets made. “Every scene has its own unique process,” says Kid Koala. “We have puppeteers setting up shots with the camera crew, changing scenes in real-time, using different scale puppets in different scenes.” The HPR audience will watch the puppeteers and also the “finished” output of the silent film they are creating in real-time on the simultaneous live projection. This is where the Kid Koala genius expands, as the audience members are also “backstage,” witnessing the scene and set changeover, the narrative hand offs, the collaboration
He leaves of all the performers to keep the “movie/ performance” rolling. The film soundtrack — created by a chamber music trio and turntables — is also performed live every night for the live audience. “It’s exciting to do every night. We come together to produce the same story and aspects can change over the course of a production, but the story remains the same. It’s constantly developing. ” The genesis for Storyville may be found in Kid Koala’s early memories of his family watching a Chaplin movie together. “Initially, I wasn’t interested, but as the film progressed, a few minutes later, I was into it. We, three generations of my family, all sat there laugh-
mouths agape minds blown. and
ing together, crying together during the film. Even though it was silent, three generations of family experienced the movie together. … and that was amazing to experience.” For Kid Koala, sharing is key to his creative process. Both in terms of sharing with audiences (and the audience members sharing the experience with each other) as well as sharing the collaborative creation process. “The Storyville Mosquito is really about a small-town mosquito who leaves home to find his dream … For a moment we are experiencing this story together, and the audience is
part of the wonder watching the character discovering and also [watching] how all these other elements and aspects come together to share the story of following a dream.” The Storyville Mosquito, is just one of three events Kid Koala is sharing at the High Performance Rodeo this year, the other two being the Robot Dance Party and Kid Koala and Friends, where you can see him joined by Adira Amran and the Experience to literally spin through his record collection. Learn more and get tickets at oyr.org/ hprodeo JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 19
THEATRE SCENE THE ONCE AND FUTURE MEAN GIRLS
Kristen Amanda Smith (as Gretchen Wieners), Maya Petropoulos (as Regina George), Maryrose Brendel (as Karen Smith), and Natalie Shaw (as Cady Heron) in Mean Girls.
PHOTO: JENNY ANDERSON, 2023
Mean Girls It's going to be so fetch By Krista Sylvester
B
roadway Across Canada’s Mean Girls musical at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium stage this month, is sure to thrill fans of the cult classic film and
those unfamiliar with the movie alike. The award-winning creative team includes actress Tina Fey, who was the co-writer of the original 2004 film. Like the film, the musical follows the jour-
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Calgary Folk Music Festival's 9th
20 theyyscene.com • JANUARY 2024
The screenplay for Mean Girls, the 2004 movie by Tina Fey, was based in part on Rosalind Wiseman’s 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes, about high school social cliques and bullying. The original film was directed by Mark Waters and starred Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amy Pohler, Amanda Seyfried (in her film debut) and Fey, and was produced by Lorne Michaels, co-creator of Saturday Night Live. A made-for-TV sequel followed in 2011 to little fanfare — most likely because it included none of the original cast or writers. The stage musical based on the 2004 movie on the other hand, did have involvement from the original movie creators as
— Käthe Lemon
ney of new high-school student Cady Heron, who grew up in the African savanna and was previously homeschooled. Nothing has prepared her for the catty ways of her new suburban Illinois high school where she joins and then manipulates a trio of mean girls, The Plastics, led by the ruthless Regina George. Being part of the touring Broadway Mean Girls musical is a dream come true for Victoria Mesa, a member of the ensemble who marks her national tour debut with the production. “I have always been a huge fan of the original movie,” Mesa says.“I grew up watching it and could quote it line for line. I think it is one of the most iconic movies of our generation.” Mesa says while her high school was thankfully nothing like Mean Girls, she believes the story still resonates.
“There will always be girls who do not like you, there will always be the person you have a crush on and there will always be that feeling of wanting so badly to fit in,” she says. “These things are universal and timeless, which is why this story remains so present.” As part of the ensemble, Mesa gets to contribute to the production in a variety of ways, though her favourite part of the show is the math competition at the end. “I love getting to play Caroline. I think ‘Do This Thing’ is the best song in the show and we always have so much fun on stage,” she says. “You can expect a lot of laughter, a lot of talent and a lot of surprises,” she adds. Mean Girls runs from Jan. 16 to 21 at the Jubilee. Tickets are now on sale at calgary. broadway.com/shows/mean-girls/
Fey wrote the book and Lorne Michaels was one of the producers. The music is by Jeffrey Wayne Richmond, Fey’s husband. It premiered on Broadway in 2018 and comes to the Jubilee this month. Also premiering this month is the film adaptation of the musical adaptation of the film (based on the book). This new film sees Tina Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their original roles from the 2004 film and Lorne Michaels again as the producer. Busy Phillips, Jenna Fischer and Jon Hamm round out the cast — at least from the perspective of people who are old enough to have watched the original in the theatre.
MUSIC SCENE
Palomino Smokehouse
A look at the storied stage as it heads towards its 20th anniversary By Mary-Lynn Wardle
I
f Fred Konopaki, co-founder of the Palomino Smokehouse, hadn’t dodged the family business, a Moose Jaw woodworking and lumber yard, a lot of top-notch music — including Nashville Pussy, Art Bergmann, and even Garth Brooks — would never have graced, nor continue to grace, that storied stage. But, thankfully for local music lovers, after completing university, Konopaki felt “stifled” at the lumberyard and escaped to Calgary for the ’88 Olympics. By 1990, he’d set up “Punk Rock Subway” as he fondly calls the 4th Street S.W. location of the sandwich chain, which still operates to this day, though he has moved on and both Subway and the Mission neighbourhood are less punk rock than they once were. Then he opened The Belvedere on 8th Avenue downtown, despite warnings at the time that it was a dead zone. While the restaurant lasted until 2017, Konopaki sold it in 2004. Then he leased the former nightclub, The Bank and also The Palace; problems regarding partnerships and the buildings’ historical designations arose. And then he ran into restaurateur Witold Twardowski. (Twardowski, who passed away in 2022, had a legendary career in Calgary’s hospitality scene, including involvement in River Cafe, Teatro, Mescalero, Cilantro and Divino.) The conversation turned to an available location. “This old furniture store on 7th Avenue that’s super creepy and dumpy,” recalls Konopaki. Twardowski knew the owners. He offered furniture from the defunct Mescalero in exchange for a portion of the new business. Konopaki put a patio on the old parking lot out back, and The Palomino Smokehouse was ready to go in time for Stampede week, 2005. Originally, Konopaki considered calling it Million $$$ BBQ, and eventually settled on the Palomino because his wife was into horses and he was enamoured with names that ended in O. “The live music club on its own is very difficult to do because of peaks and valleys, but if you can have a live music club with a restaurant attached to it and have the oil money guys subsidizing live music without even knowing
The Palomino offers both an upstairs and downstairs live music stage.
PHOTO: JARED SYCH
If you graze your way through the menu as you enjoy bands like Napalmpom, Samantha Savage Smith and Night Committee, it’s tough to order something that doesn’t make you sigh with food lust. they’re doing it, it’s fantastic,” he says. And that restaurant was no crappy little burger joint — it featured a full-smoked barbecue to rival anything in the province. Konopaki installed the stage from the old Westward Club off 13th Avenue S.W., itself an iconic music venue that had hosted artists such as Corb Lund’s early band the smalls, The Red Hot Chili Peppers wearing only, um, socks, Lenny Kravitz, and some unknown band called Nirvana. “A lot of people have crossed that stage; it’s still there — glued together,” says Konopaki. As The Palomino is across the street from The Hyatt and around the corner from The Palliser, stars staying in town came through. When he heard Kid Rock was at The Hyatt,
Konopaki put “Little C lives” on the marquee on the side of the building, referencing a guy who used to hang with the band but who had died young. Sure enough, Kid Rock put the sign on his social media and also came to the club. The Barenaked Ladies used to show up after playing private corporate gigs across the street. Tony Bennett wandered through as well. And Garth Brooks turned up as a surprise player at a private function for the Calgary Flames and their families; Konopaki hadn’t known who was coming. “The door opens and Brooks rolls in with this girl and he’s got a guitar and a hoodie and a San Diego Padres hat and he’s like, ‘Hi, I’m Garth Brooks.’ I sat with him for an hour. He
was the nicest guy.” By 2012, Konopaki discovered that marriage and children don’t always mix well with nightclubs, and he sold the Palomino to Brad and Arlen Smith and the Concorde Group. Concorde Group founder Victor Choy’s passion and knowledge for live music ensures the place has remained in tip-top shape. Choy started with Republik in the late ‘80s and took care of business right down to counting out 50-dollar bills while paying the bands himself (this writer was on the receiving end more than once) and working the door. And the food has also remained top-notch. Dan Northfield, the Palomino’s operations manager, never tires of its revered barbecue. “We smoke our chicken wings and I think they may be the best I have had. I may also be biased,” Northfield says. If you graze your way through the menu as you enjoy bands like Napalmpom, Samantha Savage Smith and Night Committee, it’s tough to order something that doesn’t make you sigh with food lust. Many of the options, of course, feature smoked in-house ingredients, including the BBQ nachos, smoked and rubbed ribs, and Palomino poppers. The corn fritters and salads also never disappoint. One of the hardest things about being in the venue, which features music both upstairs and down some nights, is deciding which of the delectable meals — po’boy sandwiches, beef dip, “very very slow cooked chicken” — to devour. For Northfield, the job is rewarding. “All the great and interesting folks that I have the pleasure of interacting with daily that make Palomino such a special place. Staff, guests, regulars, performers. Smelling barbeque all day, and seeing so much great live music. “We like to think that it is a comfortable, safe place where all feel welcome,” says Northfield. “I love the fact that you can come in at any given time and possibly see sitting at the bar a suit, a punk, a Flames jersey, a pair of work boots, male or female, from any background, all enjoying some barbecue and a refreshment with a smile.” The Palomino Smokehouse is at 109 7 Ave. S.W. For more information, visit thepalomino.ca JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 21
FESTIVAL SCENE
Chinook Blast launches Calgarians into February with a celebration of community
Art installations throughout the city during Chinook Blast activate the city from Feb. 2 to 19. By Krista Sylvester
W
hile Calgary’s weather is unpredictable, you can always count on Chinook Blast to sweep through the city from Feb. 2 to 19. The fourth iteration of the increasingly popular winter festival will ignite the city with a celebration of community, showcasing the best of Calgary when it comes to art, music, theatre, sport and recreation. “Regardless of the temperature outside, there’s something for everyone,” says Patti Pon, chair of Chinook Blast and president and CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “What we wanted Chinook Blast to be was a platform that celebrated all of the things that happen in Calgary in the winter,” Pon says. “The weather outside doesn’t affect what the festival can offer, and that’s the beautiful thing about Chinook Blast,” she adds, noting that in the event’s inaugural year, despite temperatures dipping as low as minus 30, more than 200,000 people attended. “If you want to go ice skating, you can go ice skating. If you want to sit inside and watch some amazing music, dance or live theatre performances, it's there for you,” she says. “If you want to wander inside the City Hall Atrium at the Asian night market or the Indigenous art market, you can do that. If you want to be outside and experience the
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PHOTOS NEIL ZELLER
“Regardless of the temperature outside, there’s something for everyone,” PATTI PON, CHAIR OF CHINOOK BLAST winter art installations that we have, that’s there for you.” Chinook Blast is a great reminder that there is plenty to do in the city even during the dreary, short days of winter. During the coldest months of the year, the city’s core comes to life with diverse events such as the 38th annual High-Performance Rodeo (HPR), the BIG Winter Classic and Block Heater. “I think it’s amazing that Calgarians are embracing Chinook Blast and more importantly, what our partners have to offer in terms of incredible winter experiences,” Pon says. HPR is a performing arts festival known for its eclectic local and international performances, preceding Chinook Blast from Jan. 15 to Feb. 4. Known as Calgary’s International Festival of the Arts, HPR brings diverse voices, inventive creative pursuits and powerful performances to the stage (read more about
Chinook Blast includes indoor and outdoor activities as well as ticketed and free events. it on page 17). The BIG Winter Classic is a four-day music and arts festival running from Jan. 24 to 28, bringing more than 70 artists, musicians and comedians to the stage, including Hot Garbage, Pony Girl, Geese, Jane Inc. and more (check page 22 for our picks of what to see). Calgary Folk Music Festival’s Block Heater is one of the city’s fastest-growing music events, running from Feb. 15 to 17 and featuring more than 27 artists including Tanya Tagaq, Rich Aucoin and The Devil Makes Three. Block Heater hosts 12 events across seven different venues. There’s also the Ethnik Festival, which is one of Calgary’s newest arts and culture festivals, running from Feb. 9 to 10. Nitrocross will once again take over the Stampede Grounds
on Feb. 2 and 3, and the Snow Rodeo’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Halfpipe World Cups will be at WinSport on Feb. 9 and 11 (admission is free). “Our partners have their unique annual programming taking place, so there's going to be hundreds of things that Calgarians and visitors alike can choose from,” Pon says, adding she is surprised when she hears people say “there’s nothing to do in Calgary.” Her reply to them? “Come hang out with me for a week during Chinook Blast and I'll show you all kinds of things to do. There’s tons of things to do in the winter in Calgary and you don't have to stay inside.” Learn more about Chinook Blast and get tickets to select events at chinookblast.ca
MUSIC SCENE
GO BIG
Big Winter Classic keeps the summer festival vibe rolling through the colder months
By Mary-Lynn Wardle
S
ince 2016, BIG Winter Classic has kept that summer music festival vibe burning all year around, proving again that Calgarians don’t hibernate, they thrivernate. A festival pass gets you access to music, comedy, and panel discussions at various venues, including Commonwealth and Dickens Pub, during the festival’s 2024 run from January 24 to 28. With over 70 artists and bands playing, it can be almost overwhelming, so we thought we’d give you some of our highlights. And while you probably know about our love for the songwriting of Carter Felker and Lucky Sonne, we’re steering around them here and giving you some other ideas as well, because, well, we admire your taste and know you will go and see Carter and Lucky, anyway.
ASKO Hailing from Treaty 6 territory, Marek Tyler, a nêhiyaw and Scottish/Irish drummer, is often found playing music with the band nêhiyawak. For ASKO, other musicians join Tyler to create a soundscape where traditional roots grow tall trees that branch in many musical directions. There is something about listening to nêhiyaw rap that makes the day so much better.
The Definitive
PHOTO: JENNY ANDERSON, 2023
everyone else around them. In a few short years, with the release of their second album 3D Country in 2023, they created a musical earthquake that shook up that sound and buried it deep beneath beautiful rubble of fun girl group backup harmonies, straight edge cowboy punk, a wavery jam band feel, a little bit country, a little bit soul and roll, sometimes all in the same song. By the time they arrive in Calgary, I don’t know whatcha gonna git, but the gittin’ will be good.
forefront, they have done just that.
HOT GARBAGE
SUNGLACIERS
This Calgary band proves there’s nothing dirty or shameful about channeling your inner Led Zeppelin right down to giving some lovin’ to that big, thick, analogue bliss.
Hell, did we just wake up at the Night Gallery on 1st Street and it’s 1994? A wee bit of grungy post punk mixed with something slurry and gritty, this Toronto band then adds a touch of surrealism.
GEESE
SEA OF LETTUCE
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, the band put out their first album in 2021 and, while it was solid, they quickly learned that they blended into the competition, relying too much on paying homage to 1970s New York bands, like
You don’t earn nearly 200,000 monthly listens on Spotify for no reason. The Calgary group Sea of Lettuce started in 2016 to carry the vibe of their basement jams into the world, and with spacey, grooving pop at the
Children behave! Calgary’s Sunglaciers think they’re alone now, so these campus radio darlings let loose an echoey spate of vibin’ tunes with a past-masters feel goosed up to the max by producer Chad VanGaalen on their 2022 Subterranea album, then shapeshift around from a sharpened punky edge to dance club flashbacks in songs like Draw Me In.
BRETT CASSADY & THE CORDUROY COWBOYS Calgary’s Brett Cassady adds layers to his high and lonesome and gets higher and lonesomer with the help of a few psychedelic touches and the additional layers provided by The Corduroy Cowboys.
THE DEFINITIVE
SLOW DOWN, MOLASSES Slow Down, Molasses formed in 2006, and, true to their name, since that time have released but four albums. Their 2021 EP, Minor Deaths, offers dream pop songs, or perhaps more rightfully nightmare pop songs, sounding like they would be at home bursting out of a post-pandemic movie soundtrack peppered by existential angst and the alarming joy of living syncopated lives in ebon times.
SUNNY WAR Flipping the narrative that things like single parenting or living a nomadic lifestyle are
somehow lesser than, Los Angeles songwriter Sunny War approaches stark topics with silky beauty, aided by her exquisite voice, so strong and splendid it could not only move mountains, but carry them to the sky while singing about addictions, police bloodshed, and the evergreen vagaries of love. Her 2023 album, Anarchist Gospel, catches – and keeps – you from the first bar.
VUNDABAR Just fun, like surf punk and art rock spun through a blender at a department store demo so the parts become too blurred to identify but their essence remains — melodic and chanty but not too precious — Boston band Vundabar are serious musicians that don’t take their music too seriously.
WACK Punk is not a dirty word — especially spirited f-ing fun punk like this. Thanks for keeping the torch on the old National Hotel lit, guys. Big Winter Classic runs Jan. 24 to 28 at various venues. For information and tickets, go to bigwinterclassic.com JANUARY 2024 • theyyscene.com 23
CAM HAYDEN
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