1057: Art in the updraft by Vue Weekly

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#1057 / jan 28, 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; feb 3, 2016 vueweekly.com

ISSUE: 1057 JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016 COVER PHOTO: BROOKE WEDLOCK

LISTINGS

ARTS / 12 MUSIC / 23 EVENTS / 25 CLASSIFIED / 26 ADULT / 28

FRONT

Boyle Street's new community centre will ensure a place for vulnerable people // 4

DISH

The '90s nostalgia for Select is stronger than its 21st-century reality // 6

ARTS

Chinook Series brings Expanse, Canoe and the Fringe together under one roof and name // 8

POP

The highs and lows of WWE's 29th evening of elimination // 13

FILM

The Wrong Man an outlier in Hitchcock's oeuvre // 15

MUSIC

Old Man Luedecke draws on married life and fatherhood for Domestic Eccentric // 18

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2 UP FRONT

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

CONTRIBUTORS Kate Black, Josef Braun, Rob Brezsny, Ryan Bromsgrove, Bruce Cinnamon, James Cuming, Ashley Dryburgh, Tami-lee Duncan, Gwynne Dyer, Scott Fenwick, Jason Foster, Matt Gaffney, Brian Gibson, Fish Griwkowsky, Mike Kendrick, Scott Lingley, Brittany Rudyck, Dan Savage, James Stewart, Mike Winters

DISTRIBUTION Terry Anderson, Shane Bennett, Jason Dublanko, John Fagan Aaron Getz, Amy Olliffe, Beverley Phillips, Justin Shaw, Choi Chung Shui, Sean Stephens, Wally Yanish

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FRONT

NEWS EDITOR: MEL PRIESTLEY MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

ASHLEY DRYBURGH // ASHLEY@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Catholic schools and LGBTQ rights

Protection for trans* people is here to stay, despite opposition from the Catholic Church In keeping with the season, I made a rather informal resolution to myself that I would not write about the Catholic school system for a while—but like most New Year's resolutions it was doomed to fail before the month was out. Grab some popcorn and let's get straight into the ruckus: on January 13, education minister David Eggen released best-practice guidelines to help support the province's 61 school boards in developing policies to support and protect students, regardless of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. Boards have until the end of March to develop these policies. A number of Catholic officials responded aggressively, including Calgary bishop Frederick Henry, who accused the government of "totalitarianism." In keeping with its classy nature, a few days later the Edmonton Catholic School District (ECSD) emailed a link to Henry's letter along with the new guidelines to every parent

DYERSTRAIGHT

in the school system. When Patricia Grell, the ECSD trustee who has been a steady ally in this battle, apologized for the distribution of the letter, Father Stefano Penna (vice-president for college advancement and development at Newman Theological College) responded by bringing Nazis into the mix in his written response to Grell's blog post: "According to the new government regulations for 'Best Practices,' there is only one English that can be acceptable: the bizarre right-speak (the Nazi term was 'gleichschaltung') of graduate students and their faculty advisors in the Department of Eugenics ... er ... Racial Anthropology ... er ... Gender Diversity."

(Can we just pause for a moment and reflect on this quote? Re-read it and savour the paranoia. I wonder what Jesus, noted Nazi sympathizer and hater of the oppressed, would think.) This most recent conflagration centres on who has the final au-

it's an either/or; it's a both/and. Christianity and the Catholic Church is not a democracy, it's a monarchy and we believe that Jesus Christ was not elected." However, also in an interview with CBC (shout-out to Edmonton AM for its delightful coverage of this issue), former education minister Dave King strongly disagreed. He noted that the separate school system is a civil institution, not a religious one, and therefore is ultimately accountable to the minister of education. All this because a young girl wanted to use the washroom.

This most recent conflagration centres on who has the final authority over Catholic school policy: the province or the church. thority over Catholic school policy: the province or the church. John Tomkinson, vice-president of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association, was asked in an interview with CBC whose opinion carried more weight—the bishop's or the minister's. He replied, "I don't think

Honestly, at this point I can't even be offended anymore. The provincewide temper tantrum that members

of the Catholic Church are throwing seems nothing more than the pitiful last cries of an old order losing its power and influence. I understand that there are very serious roadblocks in defunding the separate system, but surely no publicly funded school system of any kind can blatantly disregard human rights legislation? I secretly hope the NDP passed Bill 7 with the separate system in mind, but either way, protection for trans* people is on the books and here to stay. And I don't think anyone can claim to be surprised by what bishops like Henry are arguing. He describes exactly what the Catholic Church believes: queers are sinful and trans* people aren't real. It's really easy to say, as most Catholic commentators have, that the school system has policies that protect all students—if you don't believe some of them exist. Fortunately for us, the only existence the Catholic school system is contemplating these days is its own. V

GWYNNE DYER // GWYNNE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Trump vs Sanders—vs Bloomberg? The US presidential horse race has no sure bets The outcome of the US presidential primaries was supposed to be Hillary Clinton, the wife of an ex-president, vs Jeb Bush, the son and brother of other ex-presidents: both worthy but somewhat boring candidates, and both definitely members of the "establishment." Less than a week before the first primary, the Iowa caucuses, Bush is dead in the water and even Clinton is looking vulnerable. In Bush's place as the Republican front-runner is Donald Trump, billionaire property developer, TV reality star and demagogue, who told a campaign rally last Saturday, "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters." His arrogance is not misplaced: to the despair of the Republican Party's hierarchy, he probably has the party's presidential nomination locked up. Three months ago, Democrats thought this would virtually guarantee Hillary Clinton's election, as a majority of Americans would refuse to vote for such a crude clown. That was probably correct, but it's irrelevant if Clinton doesn't get the Democratic nomination. Ominously, her "socialist" rival, Bernie Sanders, is neck-and-neck with her in Iowa and clearly ahead in the next primary, in New Hampshire.

Sanders is also raising as much money from small voluntary donations as Clinton has raised from her rich friends and corporate donors. He can stay in the race right down to the finish, and the belief that he will fade when the more populous states vote in the later primaries is based on the shaky assumption that Americans will never vote for universal government-provided health care, free college tuition and soak-therich taxes. Sanders is not really a socialist—50 years ago he would have been an unremarkable figure on the left wing of the Democratic Party—but in any case "socialist" is no longer a curse-word in the United States. When pollster Frank Luntz asked "Would you be willing to vote for a socialist?" last June, nearly 60 percent of the Democrats surveyed said yes—and an astonishing 29 percent of the Republicans. Both the major parties are facing a mutiny among their traditional supporters this year. A presiden-

tial race between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders (the Tea Party vs Occupy Wall Street) is entirely possible. But both Trump and Sanders are too radical for at least a third of American voters. That would leave the middle ground of American politics unoccupied. Enter Michael Bloomberg, another billionaire, who started out as a Democrat, became a Republican to run for mayor of New York City

still well below 50 - 50, but the fact that it exists at all shows just how far American politics has departed from the usual track. Why? The rise of Trump is mainly due to the fact that gerrymandering has turned 90 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives into safe seats for one party or the other: win the nomination, and the seat is guaranteed. So wouldbe Republican candidates have to appeal to the party's strongest supporters, white workingclass people without a college education, not to voters in general. A lot of these Republican stalwarts are very, very angry. Their incomes are stagnant or falling, and as demographic change gradually turns the United States into a country where the minorities are a majority, they feel that they are being marginalized and forgotten. They want their candidate to be angry too, and Donald Trump intuitively understands this and plays to it. Paradoxically, Sanders appeals to

If governments fail to resolve these comprehensive land claims, or modern treaties, they have free reign on lands that they may to legally have rights to. in 2001, and now calls himself an independent. He won't run if Hillary Clinton still seems likely to win the Democratic nomination— but if Sanders is pulling ahead, he probably will. In a three-way race featuring Trump, Sanders and himself, Bloomberg would be the one "moderate" candidate, and he might even win. The probability that all this will come to pass is

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

some of the same people, because he also represents a radical break with business as usual. Anecdotal evidence suggests that for many people whose first choice is Trump, their second choice is Sanders. But most of Sanders' support comes from people who are not so much angry as despairing. In the new documentary Dream On, comedian John Fugelsang sums up what has driven them further left than they ever imagined they would go. "America has become a reality show," he said. "Food, Medicine, Rent: Pick two." Median US household income in constant dollars is still $4000 a year lower than it was in 2000, and the "American Dream" is dying if not dead. So it's a horse-race that anybody could win, unless Hillary Clinton gets the Democratic nomination, in which case she would be the odds-on favourite to win. She even promised last Sunday to "relieve" Michael Bloomberg of the obligation to run by winning the nomination herself. But if she does win, of course, nothing will really change, including an unreformed financial system that is setting us all up for a rerun of the 2008 crash. V Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. UP FRONT 3

FRONT FEATURE // DOWNTOWN

A rendering of the new community centre // Manasc Isaac

Boyle Street's new community centre will ensure a place for vulnerable people

s construction on the new Rogers Place arena downtown nears the final stretch, the arena's immediate neighbours are feeling the impact. In the blocks immediately south, changes are visible through traffic detours, construction of a new office tower and plaza, and the opening of new businesses. But for the blocks immediately north of the new arena, a different story is unfolding. The arena's two northern neighbourhoods, Central McDougall and McCauley, host numerous homeless shelters within a five-minute walk of Rogers Place. One of them is Boyle Street Community Services, just across the street from the north side of the arena. On a weekday afternoon, the street is filled with arena construction workers headed home while Boyle Street's clients gather in front of the agency's building. Jordan Reiniger, Boyle Street's director of programs and development, has already noticed the arena's impact on his clients. Its construction has led to the erosion of public space where Boyle Street's clients have been welcomed in the past without being bothered. "There's a lot more places where they're not welcome, and there's a lot fewer places where they are welcome in the downtown area," he says. "So they end up running into security guards more often, they end up running into police more often, because there are fewer places to be out of sight." Although there is a potential for confrontation between the homeless and people going to the new arena, Reiniger says it will be most likely in the form of homeless people being

4 UP FRONT

harassed by drunken hockey fans. This behaviour was observed when Edmonton social-agency representatives visited downtown hockey arenas in Toronto and Vancouver. Although Reiniger expects panhandling, he doesn't expect it to be aggressive. "Contrary to the misperception out there, the homeless population is not dangerous," he says. "Sometimes because they look different, there's a certain amount of fear that's associated with that. But it is very rare, if ever, [that] ... someone who's homeless would randomly attack just a member of the public. So usually, they're quite vulnerable themselves and victims of attacks on themselves, so that's the bigger concern here." Ward 6 City Councillor Scott McKeen, who represents downtown and the Central McDougall and McCauley areas, says that the city has given thought to what the future holds for the homeless near the arena. "I think there's certainly been a lot of discussion with the agencies," he says. "The city police have been heavily involved. We hired 40 more police officers for the district. And it's certainly my expectation that that doesn't mean it will be a heavyhanded, draconian response to social disorder and/or panhandling." Noting that the city also added money to a mobile team to assist the

homeless, with the aim of reducing the need to call police, McKeen notes that helping the marginalized and building the downtown arena don't need to be mutually exclusive. "What drives me a little bit crazy about this discussion, sometimes, is that we focus on pushing homeless people out of the area, and if that happens without a significant response from the orders of government, then that would be a fail on our part," he says. "But to me, the key here is finding and acquiring funding from the other orders of government

Toronto arenas. "Representatives from the arena and some from different businesses have come along with us to those places, but there hasn't been a lot by way of sort of formal discussions," Reiniger says. "There has been little in terms of coordinated social planning around the impacts of the arena, either from a city perspective [or] business perspective. Not a lot of planning has happened in that regard." Boyle Street is taking its future into its own hands, regardless of the plans of others. Reiniger says that due to the risk of being kicked out of their own building by their landlord, the agency bought their existing building and will build an "unapologetically indigenous" community centre in its place, which aims to play host to both its traditional clients and people going to the arena. Plans include "social enterprises" such as a community café, a boutique hotel and housing to add to Boyle Street's financial stability. The existing building will be shut down, and there will be a complete demolition due to planned underground parking at the new community centre, but all of Boyle Street's services will continue to operate at an alternate location. While this location has not been determined, Boyle Street will remain downtown in order to ensure

The key here is finding and acquiring funding from the other orders of government to build the supportive housing that is required for those people who are currently living rough on the street to build the supportive housing that is required for those people who are currently living rough on the street or are in sub-human rooming houses." Reiniger says there has been little discussion between Boyle Street and the companies responsible for the arena on what the future holds for the area's homeless. (Representatives from the arena did not return interview requests prior to press time.) The last contact was when representatives of social agencies, Edmonton police and area businesses— including those responsible for the arena—observed the Vancouver and

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

accessibility for those who require its services. "Looking at what was happening all around us, [we were] wanting to really ensure that we were a part of the new development, not apart from it," Reiniger says, noting that the new building will help prevent homeless persons from being pushed out of the area. "That's when we started to conceptualize: what would it look like to redevelop and be a part of this new development? Whether we build the building or not, those larger trends are happening, and so part of what we're saying is that we can create a space where we can ensure that at least for those we serve, they're still able to stay." McKeen says that federal and provincial government support for affordable housing is crucial in keeping people from being pushed out of Central McDougall and McCauley, and seeking longer-term solutions to ending homelessness itself. As such, the city has been approaching both levels of government for funding because the city cannot afford to do it on its own. "The old myths are starting to get busted, so what we need to do now is get the entire community's attention and commitment for supportive housing for these people so they can be uplifted and live lives of dignity that they deserve," he says. "And so it's not about pushing homeless people out of the area, because if we just pushed them out, they're still homeless. If we didn't build the arena, they'd still be homeless."

SCOTT FENWICK

SCOTTFENWICK@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEPOINT

PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Post Postmedia Between Postmedia gutting its newsroomsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;combining the Sun chain and each city's respective daily paper into one newsroom per city, apparently tasked with churning out two different papers at the same timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and the continued crumble of papers nationwideâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;unrelated to Postmedia, there were announcements of the 141-year-old Nanaimo Daily News' closure, and both the award-winning Guelph Mercury and MontrĂŠal's French-language La Presse announced they were ending their print editionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it's been two drastic, bleak weeks for the national media landscape. Like, nothing-but-stiffdrinks-please-God-why bleak. It's not that the need for quality, active and engaged journalism has waned; that's more alive than ever. People want to engage with their city and country more and more directly, and good journalism is an informed way of doing that. It's the newspaper business model that's broken, unable to withstand the loss of revenue that the Internet's gouged away. (Which

has led to the shrinking papers, which has led to cutting quality content, which has led to less relevant papers, which has led to further disconnect from readers and advertisers, which has led to further shrinking, and so on. Nothing-but-stuff-drinksplease-God-why?) That money isn't coming back. And so giving other funding models serious pursuit seems to be the only way forward. Ideas are emerging, slowly but surely: The Tyeeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;BC-based but offering national coverage, operating with the training of traditional journalism but the functions and speed of a blogâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is mostly fuelled by investments and bolstered by reader contributions (for disclosure's sake, I'm one of them, to the tune of $10 a month). It isn't profitable, but it's found a way to sustain itself since emerging in 2003. Media-focused newsbreaker website/podcast Canadaland has managed to convince its listeners to collectively send it $12 407.26 (as of writing this) per month.

It's presently expanding to include more voices, as well as an arts and culture show. Those are admittedly just two fairly small-scale examples. But the throughline connecting them is that readers are still willing to pay for stories, to fund quality coverage, to have that journalistic voice active and present within the place they call home. So as the existing, tired business model limps towards its sunset, it's time to find other ways of supporting journalism, to start leaning into whatever comes next. V

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UP FRONT 5

REVUE // DOWNTOWN

DISH

DISH EDITOR: MEL PRIESTLEY MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Returning to old stomping grounds The '90s nostalgia for Select is stronger than its 21st-century reality

ome folks of my vintage will recall downtown resto-landmark Café Select as the go-to venue for classy but casual special occasions, hip cocktails and—for me—spontaneous after-work gatherings with friends for good food and wine. For no reason I can recall, Select sort of dropped off my radar until recently, when its new ownership invited some friends and me in for drinks on the house when we crossed the restaurant's transom just as staff was

about lock up. It put me in mind of the fine times I'd had there and instilled enough good will to prompt a re-examination of its charms. The Select of my memory—its cozy, penumbral nooks and eclectic art— has given way to a more open and elegant concept with brighter walls, attractive modern fixtures and ersatz oil paintings, and a large wooden bar with a row of flatscreens (showing A Streetcar Named Desire the night I was there) dominating the visual

*Professional cheers-ers. Closed course.

6 DISH

field. Our server guided co-diner and me to a table on the mezzanine with a low wrought-iron railing and presented libation and food menus, the latter of which didn't quite match what Select's website had given me to expect, but no matter. There was still plenty of deciding to be done between an intriguing slate of starters and main courses. I recalled the pleasantly unrushed pace of my Select meals of yore as we settled in with glasses of Tempranillo and an-

ticipated the house's sure-handed ravishing of our senses. Chicken masala perogies ($12) made for a promising, if not astonishing, start to the meal—the four doughy house-made perogies filled with ground chicken benefited from sweet peas, a pleasant snap of ginger and tart squibs of tamarind yogurt, to enliven the middling intensity of the Indian spices. For a main, I ordered the lamb rack ($36): a generous portion of four medium-rare ribs perched on a lush bed of fresh, lemon-imbued arugula dotted with crunchy sunflower seeds. The ample side of gnocchi tossed with mint pesto was an imaginative way to mate the lamb with its perennial herb pairing, and al dente stalks of emerald broccolini added textural contrast. The succulent meat itself did most of the heavy lifting flavourwise, as whatever seasoning had been applied didn't make much impression. Also through no fault of the lamb, the supplied knife was barely up to the task of cutting it. Co-diner noted something amiss with the duck confit ($24). It was tasty in its way, but if experience has given you to expect meltingly tender duck meat as the end product of a notoriously complex and labour-intensive preparation process, then this dish's denser, chewier consistency is a bit surprising. She quipped that the rather firm florets of cauliflower strewn across the plate with cubes of apple might have constituted a significant part of the price tag. The potato pavé—scalloped potatoes' snooty French cousin—made

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

10018 - 106 Street 780.428.1629 selectrestaurant.ca for a nice starch, because potatoes, cream and Parmesan—what more do you want? We forgot to ask about the daily flavour of crème brûlée ($7) and weren't given any hints by our server, who always seemed to be fleeing our table as quickly as possible—an incongruous response to the actual volume of diners that night. Crème brûlée was all he needed to hear before hot-footing it away, forcing me to shout my coffee order at his departing back. I guess he'd earn extra marks for hurrying back with my cappuccino ($4), if the coffee wasn't disappointing in itself: too milky and untainted by cinnamon. The crème brûlée had barely been brûlée'd, with a frail rime of scorched sugar on top that gave way all too easily to a cup of cold vanilla custard. Thus, our 21st-century Select experience was a wash, neither terribly remarkable nor remarkably terrible. And while it may be unfair to expect present-day Select to live up to my rosy nostalgia for the place, it's not too much to expect more attention to detail and perhaps even something genuinely impressive when you drop $130 on dinner. It's not the '90s anymore, and Edmonton's more contemporary food scene has raised expectations considerably.

SCOTT LINGLEY

SCOTT@VUEWEEKLY.COM

TO THE PINT

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Has the goose been cooked?

want to send you and a friend to see

Taste-testing Goose Island's IPA to see if it's changed under Big Beer ownership What do you do when your favourite hockey player gets traded to your most-hated rival team? That's how many craft-beer fans feel when a respected craft brewery is bought by one of the big corporate brewers—a trend that has been on the increase lately. A mixture of emotions is natural. That is how I feel about Goose Island Brewing (among others) these days. Goose Island started as a single brewpub in 1988 and opened a full brewery in 1995. The company quickly became one of the most respected craft breweries in the US, especially for its IPA and specialty beers, including Matilda and Sofie. However, Goose Island was purchased by Anheuser-Busch in 2010, a move that has seen its distribution increase significantly—including recently to Alberta. I had a chance to experience the Goose IPA once or twice in the past when travelling and recall it was a well-brewed, drinkable East Coast-style IPA. East Coast IPAs are a bit fuller in body, a bit sweeter and not quite as strong-

ly citrusy in their hop profile as the more famous (yet younger) West Coast style. So naturally I had to try a bottle when it hit Alberta. Would it have changed due to its new overlords? The Goose Island IPA pours pale orange with a tight white head and decent lacing. It has a bit of haze, which is surprising. The aroma gives off a soft grassy and pine-hop aroma, with some sweet toffee malt, bits of honey and pine to complement. The front of the sip starts with a nice biscuit and toffee malt, some honey and light fruitiness to accent. The hops build slowly, creating a strong pine flavour. The bitterness doesn't get too big, staying in line with the malt base but becoming more prominent near the back. The linger is big pine and resin. The bitterness would seem bigger, but the finish has a noted sweetness to it. The caramel and toffee doesn't dissipate and instead makes their way through the beer, creating a sense of balance.

Goose Island Goose IPA Chicago, IL $22.50 for six-pack

Goose IPA used to be a guidepost for East Coast IPA. By today's standards it might seem a bit boring and not bitter enough, but for its time it was a substantial beer. It had been a long time since I had one, so I can't fully trust my memory, but it seems largely the same. Brewing standards remain high and it nicely balances malt and hops. Mostly it is a nice-tasting beer. I wouldn't necessarily grab one everyday, but I can appreciate the quality and respect that Goose Island is still trying to do what it has always done, even with its new bosses counting the beans. V Jason Foster is the creator of onbeer. org, a website devoted to news and views on beer from the prairies and beyond.

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

from Feb 5–11 at Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton! To check out the full schedule, head to Cineplex.com/DigitalFilmFest Tickets good for one screening in the run. Contest closes on February 1 Head to vueweekly.com/contests

DISH 7

COVER // FESTIVAL

ARTS

ARTS EDITOR: PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

Something in the air

Chinook Series brings Expanse, Canoe and the Fringe together under one roof and name

lmost every other major city in Canada has a curated theatre festival, or performance festival, or performing arts festival. But we don't." Vern Thiessen, artistic director of Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre, is seeking to fill this void with the Chinook Series: a three-headed chimera which brings together Workshop West's Canoe Festival, Azimuth Theatre's Expanse Festival and a winter micro-edition of the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. Describing his vision for the megafestival as "the Mardi Gras of theatre in Edmonton in the middle of winter," Thiessen hopes that the Chinook Series will one day attain the heights of the High Performance Rodeo in Calgary and the PuSh Festival in Vancouver. "In a dream world ... we would like to have something that's bigger and flashier and rivals High Performance Rodeo and PuSh—those are the two main ones in Western Canada—that creates a little circuit or a tour during this time period," he says. "They all run in January and February, as well as Pivot in Whitehorse, which is a smaller festival, obviously, because of the size of the city. I think Edmonton is ready for this and we just need to see what it looks like." Thiessen is working with Murray Utas (Fringe) and Kristi Hansen (Azimuth) to organize Chinook. Each director is taking a different approach with the shows they select rather than trying to fit them in under one united theme. "We all basically are just running our own festival, but we're doing it under one umbrella and literally under one roof at the Fringe [arts barns]," he explains. For Canoe Festival's contribution, Thiessen is excited to be bringing in some shows from outside of Edmonton. He mentions Pamela Mala Sinha's Crash as well as Amy Nostbakken and

Norah Sadava's Mouthpiece, both from Toronto, as examples of the themes that Canoe is exploring this year. "Last year I focused a lot more on experiential pieces—people having very unique theatrical experiences that they may not normally have, Thiessen notes. "And this year what came to the fore for me was much more performer/writer-driven work. And so I've really focused on people who have written some very dark, disturbing, yet hopeful pieces that they are then performing. In every case the artists who are performing the piece are also the creators of the piece." Rounding out Canoe's programming are Love in the Margins, Ursa Major, and Fringe favourite Miss Katelyn's Grade Threes Prepare for the Inevitable by Elena Belyea, which is currently playing in Montréal. "All of our shows this year are female-driven, which I'm very proud of," Thiessen says. "And so we're really trying to support that. [It's] also a diverse group of artists, both racially and ability-wise." Murray Utas has also embraced the idea of bringing in outside talent, recruiting Edgar Allan out of Brooklyn. But the Fringe's contributions will be more practical than theatrical. "Fringe is bringing the infrastructure and the labour—you know, our building and all the venues and the festival know-how," Utas says. "And [we're] also bringing some programming to the table. And then we're sewing in all the spaces in-between to create a larger event." Those in-between spaces will be filled with roving performers, like the Lobbyists and a stilt-walking Snow Queen, as well as masterclasses and workshops from visiting artists, including Governor General's Award-winning

playwright Daniel MacIvor. "I wanted to make sure that if I'm inviting artists from around the world to come and perform," Utas says "I want them also to share their knowledge with us and leave it with our community." If all goes well, Utas hopes that the Chinook Series will become an Edmonton institution in the same vein as the 35-year-old Fringe Festival. "One of the things that we're talking about is the idea of Fringing yearround ... So this is now another extension of [the question]: 'How do we pull the festival throughout the year, so that people know that we've got a couple stops along the way before getting back to August?'" As for the question of why a major Edmonton festival should be named after a climate phenomenon most often seen in our rival to the south, Utas and Thiessen have a fascinating answer. "Chinook is the original name of Fringe Theatre Adventures," Utas says. "Where the new Varscona is being built, that building was originally the home of Chinook Theatre, which then became Fringe Theatre, the founder of the Fringe Theatre Festival." "Also, even if we only get the tail ends of them up here, it's nice to have something that we consider to be hot in the middle of winter," Thiessen notes. "I think our dream is that down the line people will be really looking forward to this programming and make it part of their winter. That it's an important part of staying warm in the depths of an Edmonton winter." "Our chinooks are a little more rare, which I also think makes them cooler," Utas continues. "It does not happen as often, but it does happen. And when those westerly winds blow in, it's quite beautiful."

Until Sun, Feb 7 Chinook Series ATB Financial Arts Barns, $25 single ticket, $50 evening pass, $75 five-pack festival pass Schedule at chinookseries.ca

Crash, one part of the Chinook Series // Michael Cooper

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

COVER // FESTIVAL

Expansion of movement

Chinook's Expanse branch offers dance drawn from coast to coast

t's like we're all partying under this big-ass umbrella," says Murray Utas, launching into an elevator pitch for dance programming in the Chinook Series like a boisterous three-ring circus leader. Now that the Expanse Movement Arts festival has joined with Workshop West and Fringe Theatre Adventures under the Chinook banner, Utas' efforts on programming stay focused on the body-based work, while Workshop West's artistic director Vern Thiessen takes care of the text. There is some crossover between disciplines, Utas notes, but that's the fun of running an arts series à la Vancouver's PuSh Festival or Calgary's High Performance Rodeo—it's all one big playground.

8 ARTS

"Wow, do we have a vast amount of work at this series—I'm really excited about a strong local showing this year. Brian Webb, for the first time ever, is taking part in the Expanse Movement Arts Festival. He is sharing with us a piece of his life," says Utas, who explains being mesmerized by Webb's Score on Memory in rehearsal. "He is baring his soul to us, he is turning the lights on, and telling us how he came to be." Also in the program alongside Webb is up-and-comer Joshua Wolchansky with Pro patria ad exitium, a solo reflecting on loss. "We've got the legend with the youth," Utas beams. Anastasia Maywood brings As We Embark to fruition after receiving the

Good Women Dance Collective's New Work Award at Expanse in 2015. Her piece appears as part of the Coast to Coast showcase (formerly Expanse's RAW series), featuring dance artists from across the nation; also in the showcase are Montréal artists Stéphanie Morin-Robert and Alastair Knowles, who incorporate clown with dance in Half Inch Thick, and EastCoaster Heather Stewart exploring expression through repetition in roil. Rounding out Coast to Coast is a duet by choreographer Julianne Chapple, who is currently artist-inresidence at the Dance Centre in Vancouver. The edges of things are ill defined begins in near blackout and

gradually brings the lights up on two characters using weight and balance to create formations. "I intended to come at this piece from a painterly perspective," explains Chapple, who is also offering a workshop during the series on the distinct type of partner work that was used to create the piece. "It starts in silhouette, they're just creating these black shapes. It kind of morphs from person to animal to abstract shape—it's almost like a Rorschach test." Further representing the YEG contingent is choreographer Laura Krewski, who mounts The Yellow Wallpaper, a full-length dance piece based on the eponymous short story. Dirt Buffet Cabaret boss Ben Gorodetsky directs

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

Until Sun, Feb 7 Chinook Series ATB Financial Arts Barns, $25 single ticket, $50 evening pass, $75 five-pack festival pass Schedule at chinookseries.ca Nancy McAlear and Miranda Allen in a physical theatre exploration of a doomed couple in a destructive relationship in One of Us Must Know, and Love in the Margins features mindhive collective and CRIPSiE shining light on dancers embracing love, disability and difference. It's a lot to take in, but Chinook's audiences have 11 days to work out a viewing schedule (up from Expanse's usual four). "Our community is asking for events like these," Utas says. "I feel like we're hungry in having that appetite."

FAWNDA MITHRUSH

FAWNDA@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // THEATRE

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

// Ian Jackson, EPIC Photography

he first time James MacDonald took in a production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?—a play known for its verbose put-downs and scathing repartee—he couldn't follow a word of it. "I was in Slovakia, and I made a friend who was in the Slovak national theatre production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? [in] Bratislava," the director recalls. "We always think of it was this '60s play with lots of dialogue and lots of wordplay and these things. But watching it in a language you don't understand, you see the story

told in a different way. I always remember that, because the guy who played George was just bouncing off the walls. ... And the physical storytelling of it was so good, you could actually understand it." This is a testament to the performances, of course, but also to Edward Albee's enduring script, that its storytelling is rich enough come through with or without the words. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf's status as a greatest-of-all-time play is cemented by the volatile anchors of George and Martha, the older couple who invite a younger couple,

Nick and Honey, over for an afterparty nightcap. Quickly, though, it all unspools: to the younger couple's shock, George and Martha shout, snipe, laugh, cry, seduce and destroy everything they can, playing out some vicious game against one another, drawing Nick and Honey in as they go. While part of Woolf's legacy will always be its stockpile of spoken cruelties, to MacDonald, there are deeper, more astute moments that offer a different level of understanding embedded in the dynamic. "There's a lot of cutting lines, like, 'If you existed I'd divorce you'— soundbite-y lines," he says, on a dinner break from rehearsal. "But to me, some of the more rich lines are the more poignant things. At one point, Nick says, 'You're going to regret this.' and George says, 'Probably— I regret everything.' Just little lines like that along the way, and Martha saying stuff like, 'I disgust me.' Their own self-realizations. I guess that's the bigger thing: when they have moments of self-realization. Those are the things I find more poignant than the digs. It's really those moments where you go, wow, for the 34-year-old guy who wrote it, he

understood people, younger than him and older than him, men and women, really, really well." Woolf's inclusion in the Citadel's 50th season seems obvious enough— it was the first production the theatre company debuted with back in 1965, making it the perfect look-back for this milestone—but it's curious to consider its legendarily mercurial couple in a more modern context. In an era when people feel less and less inclined towards a traditional type of long-term relationship, their disconnect seems more apparent: why would George and Martha stay together? "You can obviously examine why they do need each other," MacDonald begins. "But also, they couldn't divorce. It wasn't as easily accepted: it would kill their careers. ... So a lot of couples lived in a much more unhappy situation than we would live in right now. "And I honestly don't choose to see their relationship as just unhappy," he continues. "Because an unhappy couple doesn't communicate, and they communicate all the time. But they communicate in a very different way. So it's more volatile than it is unhappy."

Until Sat, Feb 13 (7:30 pm; additional 1:30 pm Sunday matinees) Directed by James MacDonald Citadel Theatre, $30 – $100 There are certain psychological reads one can apply to the characters— are they sadists? Mentally unbalanced?—but ultimately MacDonald didn't find those paths nearly as interesting to explore as simply playing all the booze-fuelled impulsiveness as an outcry of simple human nature. "We talk about some of this stuff in terms of psychology," he says. "And in the end, I thought, it's not always very useful. If you try to identify the behaviour, then I think it almost confines it. Because you go, oh, they're behaving this way because of this, or they're behaving this way because of this. Sometimes people just do shit. Sometimes people just do things, they say things, because they have the impulse to say it. ... I'd say the fundamental thing in the way I was approaching the play was to make sure we had surprising dynamics. You think the play is going one place, and it takes you into a different one. And that's about that volatility."

PAUL BLINOV

PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // FESTIVAL

Rubaboo Arts Festival E

ntering its seventh year, the Rubaboo Arts Festival has been cultivating aboriginal performances long before Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrapped up in June 2015. The national inquiry into Canada's history of residential schools has invigorated a nationwide conversation about the relationships between indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians. But when asked if the commission impacted the direction of the Rubaboo festival this year, artistic director Christine Frederick is frank: "I don't want to sound uppity, but not at all. We have been doing this work for decades." Frederick says that themes of colonialism's painful effects have been prominent in indigenous arts "way before" she started making art more than 30 years ago. "I do not want to say that the TRC is a great big saviour for indigenous people," she says. "It's not that the TRC has revealed these things, but it is another method to get connection and the voice out." The TRC approached Frederick two years ago (she chaired the Edmonton Arts Council at the time) before the

Until Sat, Feb 6 Stanley Milner Library Theatre & La Cite Francophone Schedule available at albertaaboriginalarts.com commission rolled through Edmonton in the spring of 2014. The commission was interested in having aboriginal artists perform, but merely as entertainment to bracket the "main event" of listening circles and survivor gatherings. Frederick was hurt—indigenous art, she says, can't be boiled down to a talent show. Rather, Rubaboo springs from the philosophy that art is a powerful medicine: something to enjoy and appreciate, but also something that wields the power to nourish and heal. In many ways, the meaning is reflected in the festival's title. "Rubaboo" is a Métis-Michif word for a stew made by trappers and voyageurs, eaten in the darkest and coldest times of year. After sitting down with the festival's elders, Frederick realized that rubaboo is CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 >> VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

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“This witty, trenchant, vastly enjoyable show is offensive, terrifying, and utterly engrossing. And yes, it’ll make you better.” GLOBE AND MAIL

Edward Albee’s

Artists Arik Pipestem & Barry Bilinsky perform at last year's Rubaboo // Marc J Chalifoux Photography

RUBABOO ARTS FESTIVAL << CONTINUED FROM PAGE 09

"the food that feeds our spirit when we need it the most." "That is absolutely what the festival is about," she says. "Art is so much more than entertainment. It is about being moved. It is about articulating our humanity to the Creator, as referenced in our traditional ceremonies."

Jan 23 - Feb 13/16 DIRECTED BY

JAMES MACDONALD

STARRING

BRENDA ROBINS TOM ROONEY AVA JANE MARKUS JASON CLIFT

“... a drama that encompasses the whole relationship of man and woman; love and hate, tenderness and cruelty, sad and funny.” THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER An American theatre classic, Edward Albee’s scorching tale of an embittered marriage was the Citadel’s very first production in 1965. 50 years later it has lost none of its power to shock and entertain. AGES 15+

780.425.1820

citadeltheatre.com TICKETS START AT JUST

30 BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

SEASON SPONSOR

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10 ARTS

CITADEL THEATRE

For two weeks, Rubaboo will explore this theme through a lineup made of both traditional and contemporary indigenous artists. The festival opens with HUFF, Cliff Cardinal's award-winning one-man play about a family's struggle with solvent abuse. Other events include a visit from Canada's first international

indigenous speaker series, REDx, a contemporary dance performance narrating the life of Louis Riel's sister, and a Festival Fusion event hosting live collaborative art-making between aboriginal and French artists. While Frederick is confident in the entertainment value of this year's lineup, she hopes the themes of Rubaboo's performances stay with audience members long after the festival ends. She says these kinds of works are critical to gaining a better understanding of ourselves as a country. "I know that by revealing a greater understanding of who indigenous people are, we'll have a greater understanding of who we are as a collective identity here in Canada."

KATE BLACK

KATE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // OPERA

Carmen

he show hardly needs an introduction: Georges Bizet's Carmen has deeply resonated through culture since its debut in 1875, when it was famously rejected by a scandalized French audience for its unconventional characters and plot. Bizet never had the vindication of knowing how it was applauded later that year in Vienna—or how successful it became since then—having died shortly after its 33rd performance. Mounting Carmen is an assuredly safe move for a company, but also eminently justifiable: it's popular for a reason. Edmonton Opera has brought the show back to its stage (it was last here in 2007) with a brand-new production by director Maria Lamont. "Edmonton should be very proud that they're making their own set," says Gregory Dahl, who's playing the role of Escamillo. "If we're going to excite the audience, we can't be using older and old sets all the time; we need to be innovative. It's fantastic that Edmonton has the artisans and the craftsmen to make their own sets." Dahl, like many veteran opera performers, is well-familiar with Carmen: he has played Escamillo a couple of times previously as well as a handful of other roles in the show. He notes that Escamillo—a toreador whose interest in Carmen catalyzes her ultimate demise at the hands of her jealous other lover, Don José—is a character who gives the audience exactly what's expected. "It's almost like an elevated cameo role, so to speak," Dahl says. "Carmen and Don José are

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

Sat, Jan 30 (8 pm); Tue, Feb 2 & Thu, Feb 4 (7:30 pm) Directed by Maria Lamont Jubilee Auditorium, $40 – $175 the ones with the major relationship and the major journey that they take, whereas I ... as most baritone roles, I provide another foil to the plan. ... Right as soon as you see me, it's obvious that I'm a superstar and I'm a player, so to speak, with the ladies. I'm actually kind of truthful about who I am, right off the top." Carmen is a great gateway show for opera neophytes. It has stood the test of time for a reason, Dahl says, but he also explains that all opera need not be thought of as so exclusive or esoteric. "Opera's basically very simple stuff," he says. "We're stock characters: I love you; I hate you; I want you; I don't want you; I want to kill your sister—whatever. ... You have an emotion and you play that emotion ... the audience then gets taken over by this raw emotion with this amazing music and the way everything's set up theatrically, it just kind of carries you along. When you go to the show, it may not hit you immediately—it may take a week later, all of a sudden something from the night just goes wham and hits you."

MEL PRIESTLEY

MEL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

REVUE // THEATRE

A CONCERT OF HIGHLIGHTS AND HITS (1999-2015) February 19 & 20, 2016 • Maclab Theatre Tickets 780 425 1820 • catalysttheatre.ca

// Mat Busby

Bravo

e choose places that are, essentially, unpopulated." The American government has detonated a nuclear bomb on the Bikini Atoll, contaminating an enormous area of the Marshall Islands—including a group of indigenous islanders and a Japanese fishing boat. Bravo, named after the bomb itself, tells the story of this real historical event through three perspectives. Glenn Nelson dominates the stage as Lewis Strauss, the head of the Atomic Energy Commission who

dealt with the fallout (both radioactive and political) of the Bravo test. Nelson brings Strauss to life in a way that's equal parts hilarious and horrifying. Particularly fine is his voice work; he whips up gale-force American bluster as he chews on red-meat lines like "Good old Yankee facts!" and spits out words like "journalists" and "scientists." Mark Kunji Ikeda's scenes as Shimoji, an irradiated Japanese fisherman, provide a quiet counterpoint to the boisterous Nelson. Ikeda is sombre, and his descriptions of radioactive ash falling like snowflakes are hauntingly delivered. As Nelson drills his patriotic talking points into an increasingly skeptical press gallery, it's hard for your eyes not to slide to Ikeda, who lurks in shadow somewhere in the background like a ghost. Liana Shannon does her best as a modern-day anthropology professor, lecturing the audience on the history of the Bravo test. But her exposition is clunky (the definition of telling, not showing), and the continuous in-

Until Sun, Feb 7 (7:30 pm; 2 pm Sunday matinees) Directed by John Hudson Backstage Theatre, $24 – $27 terruptions by a challenging student (Aaron Talbot, who sports a backwards baseball cap as if he's a rebellious youth in the '90s) feel fake. Talbot's obnoxious student is not a real character with any discernible goals, merely a mysterious and omnipotent plot device to make Shannon's lectures more dramatic. There's a last-minute attempt to connect the lectures to the main storyline, but it feels shoehorned in and contrived. Ultimately, the modernday scenes feel totally disconnected from the main narrative. Their material could've been folded into the 1954 storylines to far greater effect. These scenes are doubly frustrating because Talbot and Shannon really shine as Strauss' spin doctor and his wife. Their relationship feels real. Their conflicts are intense, immediate, and have consequences. Talbot becomes the show's unexpected protagonist, struggling over the morality of his job, and Shannon catalyzes his transformation. There's a good show waiting to grow out of these scenes, but the script needs some retooling before Bravo can achieve the explosive impact of its namesake.

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

ARTS 11

ARTS WEEKLY

EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

Dance EBDA ballroom dance • Lions Seniors Recreational Centre, 11113-113 St • 780.893.6828 • Feb 6, 8pm

Flamenco Dance Classes (Beginner or Advanced) • Dance Code Studio, 10575-115 St NW #204 • 780.349.4843 • judithgarcia07@gmail.com • Every Sun, 11:30am12:30pm

Sugar Foot Ballroom • 10545-81 Ave • 587.786.6554 • sugarswing.com • Friday Night Stomp!: Swing and party music dance social every Fri; beginner lesson starts at 8pm. All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music–check web; $10, $2 (lesson with entry) • Swing Dance Social every Sat; beginner lesson starts at 8pm. All ages and levels welcome. Occasional live music–check the Sugar Swing website for info • $10, $2 lesson with entry Swing 'n' Skate • City Hall - City Room & Plaza, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square • 780.970.7766 • brasko@edmontonarts.ca • edmontonarts.ca/eac_projects/eac_projects_ churchillsquare • The Trocadero Orchestra will be bringing their 18 piece big band sound. Sugar Swing Dance Club will be on site to help put the boogie-woogie in attendees' step. Music will be broadcasted outside so ice skaters can enjoy it as well • Every Sun until Feb 28, 1-4pm • Free Toy Guns Dance Theatre Stretch and Strength Classes • St. John's Institute, 11024-82 Ave • richelle@toygunstheatre.com • toygunstheatre.com • Develop practical flexibility and strength • Every Tue until Feb 23, 8-9pm • $15 (drop-in), 10 class passes and monthly rates available

Transformational Ballet • Dance Code, 10575-115 St • justin@toygunstheatre. com • toygunstheatre.com • Featuring a new understanding of the body and its potential to create, communicate, and resonate in any performance medium • Every Sun, Tue, Thu until Feb 28 • $15 (drop in), 10 class passes and monthly rates available

FILM Cinema at the Centre • Stanley Milner Library Theatre, bsmt, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7070 • Film screening every Wed, 6:30pm • Free • Schedule: Hungry Hearts (Jan 27) Digital Film Festival • Cineplex Theatres • cineplex.com/Events/DigitalFilmFest • Featuring fan favourite sci-fi, fantasy and cult films • Feb 5-11

From Books to Film • Stanley A. Milner, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.496.7000 • epl.ca • Films adapted from books every Fri afternoon at 2pm • Schedule: Seven Years in Tibet (Jan 29)

Fire Song • La Cité Francophone, 8627 rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury • Part of the 7th Annual Rubaboo Festival. A story about a young Anishinaabe man who is forced to choose between staying in his community or exploring the expanded possibilities of the world outside • Feb 2, 8pm • $10

metro • Metro at the Garneau Theatre, 8712109 St • 780.425.9212 • Beach!: Blue Hawaii (Jan 31); Gidget Goes Hawaiian (Feb 16) • Falling Into Place: Four Films by Satoshi kon: Tokyo Godfathers (Feb 6-7, Feb 10); Paprika (Feb 13-14, Feb 17) • Music Doc: Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song (Feb 2) • Reel Family Cinema: The NeverEnding Story (Jan 30) • Science in the Cinema: The Crash Reel (Jan 28)

Saturday Documentary Screenings • Earth's General Store Downtown, 10150-104 St • michael@egs.ca • earthsgeneralstore. eventbrite.com • Screenings of documentaries with diverse and timely subjects such as: climate change, animal welfare, plant based diets, earth care, gardening/agriculture, waste, transportation/ bicycling, urban planning/walkable communities, and more. Attendees will then discuss the film • Every Sat (except Feb 6), 7-9pm • Free (register at EventBrite)

VINCENT VAN GOGH: A NEW WAY OF SEEING • Arden Theatre, 5 St Anne St, St Albert • 780.459.1542 • ardentheatre.com • Made in collaboration with the curators and art historians, the film marks both a major reshowing of the

12 ARTS

McMULLEN GALLERY • U of A Hospital,

gallery's collection and a celebration of the 125th anniversary of van Gogh's death • Jan 31, 2pm • $20 (adults), $15 (children)

8440-112 St • 780.407.7152 • friendsofuah. org/mcmullen-gallery • The Steamfitter's Guide: artwork by Robin Smith-Peck; Dec 12-Feb 7

galLeries + Museums ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL GALLERY • 10186-106 St • 780.488.6611 • albertacraft. ab.ca • Discovery Gallery: A Place for Everything: artwork by Terry Hildebrand; Jan 9-Feb 6 • Feature Gallery: X3: artwork by Alberta Potters’ Association, Contextural | Fibre Arts Cooperative and the Nina Haggerty Centre; Jan 16-Mar 26

Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) • 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.422.6223 • youraga. ca • Tyler Los-Jones: A Panorama Protects its View: Jan 23-Jan 31 • Rough Country: The strangely familiar in mid-20th century Alberta art; Oct 3-Jan 31 • Living Building Thinking: Art and Expressionism; Oct 24-Feb 15 • She's All That: artwork by Dana Holst; Oct 24-Feb 15 • Fabric: Charrette Roulette; Nov 21-Apr 10 • The Blur in Between: artwork by an international roster of artists from Chile, the United States, Britain and the Netherlands, as well as across Canada; Jan 23May 8 • Curator’s Walkthrough: The Blur In Between; Apr 20, 7pm • Open Studio Adult Drop-In: Wed, 7-9pm; $18/$16 (AGA member) • All Day Sundays: Art activities for all ages; Activities, 12-4pm; Tour; 2pm • Late Night Wednesdays: Every Wed, 6-9pm • Art for Lunch: 3rd Thu of the month, 12:10-12:50pm Art Gallery Of St Albert (AGSA) • 19 Perron St, St Albert • 780.460.4310 • artgalleryofstalbert.ca • Night Hours: artwork by The Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts; Dec 3-Jan 30 • Overburden: artwork by Jessica Plattner; Mar 3-Apr 30; Reception: Apr 2, 2:30-5pm • Art Ventures: Stripes and illusions (Feb 20), 1-4pm; drop-in art program for children ages 6-12; $6/$5.40 (Arts & Heritage member) • Ageless Art: Stripes and illusions (Feb 20), 1-3pm; for mature adults; $15/$13.50 (Arts & Heritage member) • Preschool Picasso: Sights & Sounds of Nature (Feb 20); for 3-5 yrs; pre-register; $10/$9 (Arts & Heritage member)

Bleeding Heart Art Space • 9132-118

Multicultural Centre Public Art Gallery (MCPAG)–Stony Plain • 5411-51 St, Stony Plain • multicentre.org • Masterworks: artwork by The Alberta Craft Council; Jan 9-Feb 18

Musée Héritage Museum • St Albert Place, 5 St Anne Street, St Albert • MuseeHeritage.ca • 780.459.1528 • museum@artsandheritage.ca • The True Cost of Oil: Canada’s Oil Sands and the Last Great Forest: A photographic exhibition by Garth Lenz; Feb 4-Apr 17; Opening reception: Feb 6, 2-5pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts • 9225-118 Ave • 780.474.7611 • volunteer@ thenina.ca • A Delicate Dise of Edmonton: artwork by Tomas Illes; Jan 14-31

Paint Spot • 10032-81 Ave • 780.432.0240 • paintspot.ca • Naess Gallery: The Texture of Experience: artwork by Yasir Ali, Laurie Bentz, Terry Daly, & Janet Sutanto; Jan 7-Feb 18 • Artisan Nook: Marquetry: painting with wood: several finely crafted pieces by Jonica & Alex Heinze (Fine Lines Marquetry); Jan 7-Feb 18

Peter Robertson Gallery • 12304 Jasper Ave • 780.455.7479 • probertsongallery.com • Artwork by Colin Smith; Jan 16-Feb 6 • Artwork by Graham Peacock; Feb 11-Mar 1

Scotia Place • 10060 Jasper Ave • 780.445.8900 • deanlack@shaw.ca • bestsidephotography.com • Photography Display by Dean C. Lack; Jan 15-Feb 26

sNAP Gallery • Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, 10123-121 St • 780.423.1492 • snapartists.com • The Lebret Residential Petroglyphs: artwork by Tanya Harnett; Jan 7-Feb 20

SPRUCE GROVE ART GALLERY • 35-5 Ave, Spruce Grove • 780.962.0664 • alliedartscouncil. com • JoAnne Denis; Jan 26-Feb 20

Strathcona County Museum & Archives • 913 Ash St, Sherwood Park •

Ave • dave@bleedingheartartspace.com • kâkatawasisicik iskwêwak: Visual works by Lana Whiskeyjack; Jan 30-Mar 15; Artist talk: Jan 30, 1pm

strathconacountymuseum.ca • Making Their Mark: The Land Surveyor's Role in the Peaceful and Orderly Development of Alberta; Jan 4-Apr 30

BUGERA MATHESON GALLERY • 10345-124 St • bugeramathesongallery.com • New Year Show: Featuring work by gallery artists; Jan 1-31

Cafe Blackbird • 9640-142 St • 780.451.8890 • cafeblackbird.ca • Connected 2: artwork by Trueman Macdonald; Jan 3-31

Telus Centre Atrium • University of Alberta • globaled.ualberta.ca/InternationalWeek • globaled@ualberta.ca • The Global Goals for Sustainable Development: A Photo Exhibit; Jan 25-31 Telus World of Science • 11211-142 St •

Creative Practices Institute • 10149122 St, 780.863.4040 • creativepracticesinstitute. com • Above the Clouds: artwork by Aryen Hoekstra; Jan 21-Feb 27

dc3 Art Projects • 10567-111 St •

telusworldofscienceedmonton.com • Free-$117.95 • Beyond Rubik's Cube; Nov 7-Feb 15 • The Science Garage: new gallery opening in Dec • The International Exhibition Of Sherlock Holmes; Mar 25-Sep 5

U of A Museums Galleries at Enterprise square • Main floor, 10230

780.686.4211 • dc3artprojects.com • Gallery will be open by appointment; Jan 1-30 • Infocus: Curated by Alexis Marie Chute; Feb 5-27

FAb Gallery • 1-1 Fine Arts Bldg, 89 Ave, 112 St • 780.492.2081 • Pilgrimage: being in the end times: artwork by Kyle Terrence; Jan 19-Feb 13

Jasper Ave • Open: Thu-Fri, 12-6pm, Sat 12-4pm • Do It Yourself: Collectivity and Collaboration in Edmonton; Nov 28-Mar 5

VAA Gallery • 3rd Fl, 10215-112 St •

front gallery • 12323-104 Ave • thefrontgallery.com • Edmonton Suite: Group show; through Jan • Lyric: artwork by Steve Coffey; Feb 11-Mar 1; Opening reception: Feb 11, 7-9pm • Photography; Opening reception: Mar 18, 7-9pm

Gallery@501 • 501 Festival Ave, Sherwood Park • 780.410.8585 • strathcona.ca/artgallery • Portraits: artwork by Corie Side, Claire Uhlick and Marie Winters; Jan 8-Feb 21 • Interpretations: featuring paintings, printmaker, photographer; Jan 8-Feb 21

Gallery at Milner • Stanley A. Milner Library Main Fl, Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.944.5383 • epl.ca/art-gallery • Alberta. Of Earth and Sky: Paintings by Jay Bigam; Jan 2-31 • Edmonton Arts Council: Artists creating "maquettes," or renderings in the form of miniature sculptures of their public art proposals; Jan 2-31 Jeff Allen Art Gallery (JAAG) • Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831 University Ave, 109 St, 78 Ave • 780.433.5807 • seniorcentre. org • At Water’s Edge: artwork by Joyce Boyer; Jan 7-Mar 3; Reception: Feb 10, 6:30-8:30pm

Lando Gallery • 103, 10310-124 St • 780.990.1161 • landogallery.com • January Group Selling Exhibition: artwork by gallery artists; Jan 6-30

Latitude 53 • 10242-106 St • 780.423.5353 • latitude53.org • Trope L'oeil: artwork by MarieAndrée Houde; Jan 29-Mar 5 • Work, Play, Sleep ... Repeat: artwork by Paul Bernhardt; Jan 29-Mar 5

Loft Gallery • AJ Ottewell Gallery, 590 Broadmoor Blvd, Sherwood Park • 780.449.4443 • artstrathcona.com • Open: Sat-Sun 12-4pm • It’s All About Texture: artwork by Joyce Boyer; Feb

visualartsalberta.com • Gallery A: Cultural Exchange; Dec 3-Feb 27 • Gallery B: Alberta Artists Collect Alberta Art; Dec 3-Feb 27

VASA Gallery • 25 Sir Winston Churchill Ave, St Albert • 780.460.5990 • vasa-art.com • Members Winter Exhibition; Dec 1-Jan 29 • The Fine Line Between...: artwork by The Goop of 7; Feb 2-Mar 18; Opening reception: Feb 4, 6-9pm

West End Gallery • 10337-124 St • 780.488.4892 • westendgalleryltd.com • Artwork by Guy Roy; Feb 6-18

Women's Art Museum of Canada • La Cité Francophone 2nd Pavillon, #200, 8627 Rue Marie-Anne-Gaboury (91 St) • 780.803.2016 • info@wamsoc.ca • wamsoc.ca • Northern Reflections: artwork by Barbara Pankratz; Jan 7-Feb 13

Literary Apartheid in Palestine: Hard Laws and Harder Experiences • University of Alberta, H.M. Tory Building, B-87 • Ghada Ageel sought leading experts—Palestinian and Israeli, academic and activist—to gather stories that humanize the historic processes of occupation, displacement, colonization and apartheid. Talk and Q&A • Jan 28, 3:30pm • Free

Audreys Books • 10702 Jasper Ave • 780.423.3487 • audreys.ca • Dawn Ius "Anne & Henry" Signing and Meet & Greet; Jan 28, 4-6pm

Book signing with Brad Glenn • Happy Harbor Comics, 10729-104 Ave NW • Utility Belt Comics founder Brad Glenn will be celebrating the launch of his new comic, The New Recruits, with the launch of the first issue and a book signing • Feb 3, 4:30-6:30pm

The Carrot’s Poetry Night • The Carrot, 9351-118 Ave • A poetry open mic • Jan 28, 7:30-9pm Playwriting Bootcamp • Strathcona County Library, 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park • 780.410.8600 • sclibrary.ab.ca • Join Metro Federation Writer in Residence Marty Chan for a three-part playwriting series. In this first workshop, Marty (who’s an award-winning playwright himself) will give guests the tools and knowledge they will need to write their own short play • Feb 6, 1-3pm • Free (register online at sclibrary.ab.ca, or phone 780.410.8600) Rouge Lounge • 10111-117 St • 780.902.5900 • Spoken Word Tuesdays: Weekly spoken word night presented by the Breath In Poetry Collective (BIP); info: E: breathinpoetry@ gmail.com

Scrambled YEG • Brittany's Lounge, 1022597 St • 780.497.0011 • Open Genre Variety Stage: artists from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue-Fri, 5-8pm TALES at CHIANTI CAFÉ • Chianti Café, 10501-82 Ave NW • gailbrown4@shaw.ca • Four fine storytellers weave tales of love, war, magic and mayhem while diners enjoy a tasty choice of appetizers, entrees and desserts • Jan 28, 5:30pm (door), 6:30pm (event) • $45 (including the story performances, 3-course dinner, tax & gratuity); available at Tix on the Square

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

Theatre 11 O'Clock Number • The Backstage Theatre, 10330-84 Ave (North Side of the ATB Financial Arts Barns) • grindstonetheatre.ca • 90 minutes of improvised entertainment that unveils scenes, songs and choreographed numbers completely off the cuff based on audience suggestions • Every Fri, starting Sep 25-Jun 25, 11pm • $15 (online, at the door) Back To The 80S: A Most Excellent Musical Adventure • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615-109 Ave NW • mayfieldtheatre.ca • Amongst all the bad movies, hairdos, fads and faux pas of this much maligned decade some of the greatest pop tunes of all time were realized • Nov 10-Jan 31

boeing boeing • Walterdale Theatre, 1032283 Ave • 780.439.3058 • walterdaletheatre.com • Bernard is one lucky '60s bachelor. He is engaged to three beautiful air hostesses who will never meet thanks to his relationship bible—the airline timetable. But, when a speedy new Boeing and a storm cause the women to have simultaneous layovers, Bernard's unwitting friend, Robert, gets caught up in his own lies and futile attempts to conceal Bernard's polygamy. There's a 100-percent chance of turbulence in Bernard's crowded Parisian loft • Feb 3-13

Bravo • Backstage Theatre 10330-84 Ave • By Blaine Newton (a world premiere). A Japanese fisherman caught in the fall out of an American nuclear detonation. A dispassionate anthropologist teaching the effects of radiation on human populations. A cynical politician out to protect his country no matter what the cost. Weaving back and forth between the notorious 1954 Pacific nuclear tests and the present day, Bravo is a captivating drama that compassionately explores decisions that changed the world and their all too human consequences • Jan 20-Feb 7 canoe 2016 • Backstage Theatre, ATB Financial Art Barns, 10330-84 Ave • 780.477.5955 • workshopwest.org • Presented by Workshop West. This annual Mardi Gras of theatre once again will feature the best boundary-bending theatre performances from around the corner to around the globe • Jan 27-Feb 7

Carmen • Jubilee Auditorium, 11455-87 Ave • 780.429.1000 • edmontonopera.com • A dangerous combination of a sultry gypsy, a conflicted soldier and a dashing matador collide in Bizet's impassioned love story, where fate cannot be averted • Jan 30, Feb 2, Feb 4

Chimprov • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828-101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Rapid Fire Theatre’s longform comedy show: improv formats, intricate narratives, and one-act plays • Every Sat, 10pm • $12 (door or buy in adv at TIX on the Square) • Until Jun

Curtains • John L. Haar Theatre, 10045-156 St • 780.420.1757 (Tix on the Square) • It’s the bright and promising year of 1959 and Boston’s Colonial Theatre is hosting the opening night of a new musical. When the leading lady dies suddenly on stage, the entire cast & crew become suspects. Enter a local detective, who just happens to be a

VUEWEEKLY.com | jan 28 – feb 3, 2016

musical theatre fan, who must solve the mystery and save the show • Feb 3-13, 7:30-10:30pm (matinees at 2pm on Feb 7); No shows on Feb 8 • $15-$20

Die-Nasty • The Backstage Theatre at the ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330-83 Ave • communications@varsconatheatre.com • die-nasty. com • Live improvised soap opera • Runs every Mon, 7:30-9:30pm • Until May 30 • $14 or $9 with a $30 membership; at the door (cash) or at tixonthesquare.com

Fringe Theatre Adventures presents Edgar Allan • PCL Studio Theatre, ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330-84 Ave • 780.448.9000 • fta@fringetheatre.ca • 11-year-old Edgar Allan has one goal; to be the most remarkable boy at boarding school. He has only one obstacle: Edgar Allan. Edgar Allan is a manic lullaby inspired by the childhood and short stories of Edgar Allan Poe • Jan 31-Feb 7

Huff • Stanley Milner Library, 100 St & 102 Ave • Part of the Rubaboo Festival, presented by Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts. Huff is the wrenching, yet darkly comic tale of Indigenous brothers, caught in a torrent of solvent abuse and struggling to cope with the death of their mother. Wind’s fantastic dream world bleeds into his haunting reality, as he’s preyed on by the Trickster through the hallways at school, the abandoned motel he loves more than home, and his own fragile psyche • Jan 27-30, 7:30pm • $15-$25

Klondykes • C103, 8529 Gateway Blvd • theatrenetwork.ca • A pair of saloon girls - barred from the territories for being unmarried - disguise themselves as man and wife in order to join the Klondike Gold Rush and seek their freedom. As they debut their new identities, Hattie and Loosey discover that the roles they’re playing may involve more fact than fiction • Feb 2-21 THE LAST RESORT • Mayfield Dinner Theatre, 16615 109 Ave • 780.483.4051 • mayfieldtheatre. ca • The Last Resort has it al: comedy, mystery, music and murder. Nick Galeazzo has just testified against the mob in New York City and has escaped the big city with undercover FBI Agent Miller to hide out in the last place anyone would look for him—a secluded, run-down resort in Saskatchewan • Feb 6-Apr 3

A midsummer night's dream • Timms Centre for the Arts, 87 Ave & 112 St • uab.ca/ shows • We all can be erratic and foolish when it comes to romance. Look no further than the Fairy Queen on a midsummer's eve, in a magical wood filled with enchantment, whimsy and mischief, when she falls head-over-heels in love with a jackass ... • Feb 4-13, 7:30pm • $25 (adult), $22 (seniors), $12 (students) Sex Please, We’re Sixty • St. Albert Kinsmen Banquet Hall, 47 Riel Drive, St. Albert • 780.222.0102 • stalberttheatre.com • Rose Cottage Bed and Breakfast will never be the same after the feeble but enthusiastic Bud Davis is done wooing all of Mrs. Stancliffe’s female guests. The next door neighbour gets a fellow scientist involved in a ‘test market’ of a pill designed for menopausal women, in an effort to be more than just a ‘gentleman caller’ to the uptight proprietress. The two scenarios become one as Bud gets busted and the ladies join forces • Feb 4-7, Feb 11-14, Feb 18-20 Star Warz: A Galactic Rock Comedy • Jubilations Dinner Theatre, West Edmonton Mall, Phase II West Edmonton Mall, 8882-170 St • jubilations.ca • It is a period of galactic civil war! There are rebels with spaceships, Jedi with lightsabers, a princess, a smuggler, and robots, the Evil Darth Vador and singing… yes you heard me… singing of your favorite galactic rock tunes of the 70’s and 80’s. May the force be with you • Oct 30-Jan 30

TheatreSports • Citadel's Zeidler Hall, 9828-101A Ave • rapidfiretheatre.com • Improv • Every Fri, 7:30pm and 10pm • Sep-Jun • $12/$10 (member) at TIX on the Square Ursa major • Backstage Theatre, ATB Financial Art Barns, 10330 84 Ave • 780.477.5955 • workshopwest.org • Presented by Workshop West. After a horrific car accident, a retired couple must decide how to best deal with the injuries they've sustained. Based on a true story of the Dart sister's grandparents, Ursa Major is a powerful and moving story of love and devotion, and the strange world that exists between consciousness and unconsciousness • Jan 27-Feb 7

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? • Citadel Theatre, 9828 101A Ave • 780.425.1820 • citadeltheatre.com • An American theatre classic, Edward Albee's scorching tale of an embittered marriage was the Citadel's very first production in 1965. This new 50th-anniversary production will star prominent Canadian actors Brenda Robins and Tom Rooney • Jan 23-Feb 16

REVUE // WRESTLING

POP

POP EDITOR : PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

// WWE.com

he Royal Rumble marks the beginning of the Road to Wrestlemania, the annual 10-week pilgrimage to the grandest event in all of professional wrestling. Contested in a traditional battle royale format, the Royal Rumble sees 30 competitors enter the ring in 90-second intervals as they attempt to throw one another over the top rope and remain the last man standing in the ring. Traditionally, the victor is granted the privileged prize of a shot at the title at the Wrestlemania main event. But this year, for the first time in 24 years, the Royal Rumble was for the prized WWE World Heavyweight Championship itself, and for the first time ever, the champion was forced to participate to defend his title. The stakes have never been higher. The same can't really be said for most of the matches that filled out the rest of the card. WWE's writing team has been spinning its wheels for the better part of the past year, and despite every title being on the line this Sunday, the feuds lacked the typical gravitas that's to be expected of the second-biggest event of the WWE calendar. But for as much as it seemed like we'd be in for an underwhelming night, the Superstars pulled out all the stops to deliver a solid three hours of wrestling from top to bottom. Intercontinental Championship Last Man Standing match: Dean Ambrose (champion) versus Kevin Owens With a pre-show match that had absolutely zero impact on the rest of the show, the Royal Rumble effectively opened with Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens. While inexplicably relegated to the mid-card, these two have been routinely deconstructing the notion of how a Typical Wrestler is supposed to look, talk and fight, and a Last Man Standing match— where a knockout is the only way to win—is a natural fit for a pair of scrappers. Considering Ambrose's history of losing matches to his own "unhinged" ineptitude, all the signs

The highs and lows of WWE's 29th evening of elimination pointed to the stipulation being in place only so he could drop the title to Owens while saving face. To see him retain the title, winning the match with a shove, no less—albeit a shove that sent Owens crashing outside the ring through two stacked tables—was the yin to his yang-y streak of comedic losses. Tag Team Championship match: The New Day (c) versus The Usos The New Day have consistently been the most entertaining part of every episode of Raw for months. The Usos spent most of 2015 on the injured reserve and still somehow managed to be named 2015's Tag Team of the Year as voted by fans, because WWE is for eight-year-olds and there is no justice in this world. It was a solid match carried by a set of talented performers, but it's no better or worse than it needed to be. Though these teams have only been feuding since November, we've seen some variation of this match so frequently by now that I can't say for certain that these Superstars aren't already dead and trapped in a rainbow-hued Hjaðningavíg. The most important development from this match had nothing to do with New Day retaining the titles, but everything to do with Xavier Woods resurrecting his beloved trombone, Francesca, as the newly and aptly christened Francesca II. It's always a New Day. United States Championship match: Alberto Del Rio (c) versus Kalisto Reigning champion Alberto Del Rio was shockingly defeated by Kalisto on Raw two weeks prior, making it seem like WWE had finally recognized his talent and were prepared to push him to the top of the card. The next day, Del Rio won the title back with little fanfare. Regardless of how this match turned out, the emotional impact had already been stunted. In what will inevitably be forgotten as a bout full of missed spots and botched maneuvers (a couple of

which Kalisto was lucky to walk away from concussion-free) we yet again have a new United States champion, and a hope that, this time, WWE will realize that it maybe has something special in this masked little luchador. Divas Championship match: Charlotte (c) versus Becky Lynch This is the most challenging match on the card to write about. WWE's women's division is ostensibly undergoing a revolution of sorts, shying away from its ever-problematic "Divas" brand towards a more legitimate presentation of its women as real athletes—fancy that. Since reinventing what women's wrestling could be in NXT (WWE's "developmental" league, which you absolutely should be watching) Charlotte and Becky Lynch have been ambassadors of the so-called Divas Revolution. But after seeing how this match played out, it's clear that the WWE still has no idea or intention to actually fix what's broken. What starts off as the kind of technically adept mat wrestling we've come to expect from these two takes a sudden turn into the inexplicable after about four minutes. With the action spilling to the outside, Charlotte's father, Ric Flair—who's hung up his legendary feathered robes to assume the role of Tiger Dad living vicariously through his kid—grabs a hold of Lynch and kisses her. It's played off as a "distraction" from a lecherous old scoundrel, but there's so much wrong with this. WWE's contract with their toy company explicitly bars women from competing against men, yet sexual assault for comedy's sake is still OK? Charlotte's eventual win barely seemed to matter after this bit that was totally unnecessary, super regressive, and does a huge disservice to the entire division, which women like these two are working their asses off to legitimize. The post-match gave us a glimmering beacon of hope as Sasha Banks returned to lay claim to the next title shot, so here's hoping that the rightful queen of wrestling can save us all.

Royal Rumble match In the three years that Roman Reigns has been a part of the Rumble, he's become synonymous with the marquee event. He's spent the previous two Rumbles on either side of an audience revolt over the match's outcome: in 2014, Reigns was the upand-coming dark horse, favoured to win, but unceremoniously eliminated by a fresh-out-of-retirement Batista. WWE spent the next year clumsily trying to correct its error and pushed a new-and-improved, corporately approved Reigns on fans, leading to another outcry when he actually won the 2015 Royal Rumble. Going into this year's event as champion, Roman Reigns had as much to lose as WWE with its audience's loyalty. The Royal Rumble is a key component of the WWE narrative machine, because it allows the writers to establish multiple stories and feuds over the course of its 30 competitors. But the primary narrative going into this year's match was focused solely on Reigns' "One Versus All"— a slogan WWE's been pushing since the moment they could slap it on a T-shirt and charge 30 bucks for it at the merch table. In spite of this, the most interesting stories to develop during the Rumble happened at its fringes. After a decade wrestling everywhere but, industry veteran AJ Styles made his seemingly impossible WWE debut. While WWE has become notorious for mishandling all but its homegrown talent, Style's participation was perfect. He looked strong, holding out for over 30 minutes, and was eventually eliminated by Owens—arguably the only man on the roster with enough legitimacy among rabid Internet fans to do the deed. Owens himself would later be eliminated by lifelong rival Sami Zayn, making his long-awaited callup from NXT, planting the seeds for their own Wrestlemania feud. And R-Truth gave us the greatest Royal Rumble comedy spot in years by confusing the bout for a ladder match and facing hilarious consequences upon reaching the top rung.

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

The One Versus All narrative didn't just attempt to overshadow these side-plots—it didn't even prove true as the match unfolded. Going into the Rumble, company owner and incharacter antagonist Vince McMahon did everything in his power to stack the odds: in addition to defending his title, Reigns was also named the first entrant, statistically the most difficult position from which to win a Royal Rumble. During the match, Vince would send his goons, the League of Nations baddie faction, to attack and injure Reigns. After the assault, Roman limped off to the back, where he spent most of the match regaining his strength. When he inevitably returned in the final minutes, he didn't look like a returning conqueror; he looked like a coward who'd hid backstage until he could sweep in and secure an easy victory. Of course, WWE's Authority had other plans. After exhausting every play in their (nonsensical, idiotic) playbook to keep Reigns down, WWE COO and perpetual glory-hog Triple H appeared as the 30th entrant, determined to finish what the League of Nations couldn't. Savvy fans had predicted this final act since Reigns' entry had been announced, and it showed: the audience once again sat on their hands, and it looked for all the world like a third-straight year with a disappointing finish. And then Reigns was tossed over the top rope. Wait, what? It's hard to see where WWE plans to go with its main story from here, but in that moment, the crowd in Orlando was immediately reignited when the only two men left in the ring were Triple H and Reigns' running mate, Dean Ambrose. These two absolutely tore it up, and for a minute, it actually seemed like Ambrose might finally get his moment to shine. Alas, Triple H is once again WWE World Heavyweight Champion, because the best way to recapture an audience who think they've outsmarted you is to remind them there's always something worse than kayfabe.

MIKE KENDRICK

MIKE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

POP 13

POP POPCULTURE HAPPENINGS

HEATHER SKINNER // SKINNER@VUEWEEKLY.COM

The Adventure Begins: The Tolkien Literary Guild of Edmonton / Fri, Jan 29 (7 pm) A new guild is rising in our fair city. The Tolkien Literary Guild of Edmonton is set to journey through the worlds created by literary master J R R Tolkien. The first meeting will feature a play-through of The Hobbit board game, followed by a discussion of the future journeys that members will take part in. (Table Top Café 1.0, $5)

Our goal is to exceed your expectations! From regular check ups to help from an emergency dentist in Edmonton, the staff

Reel Family Cinema: The NeverEnding Story / Sat, Jan 30 (2 pm) Each Saturday afternoon, the Metro Cinema has been bringing families together by showcasing some of film's greatest treasures. This month, Reel Family Cinema will feature The NeverEnding Story. The film follows Bastian, an alienated and bullied boy who takes refuge in an attic and becomes enthralled by a book about a magical kingdom. With humanity losing faith in the wonders of imagination, the magical kingdom known as Fantasia is falling apart. In a lastditch attempt to save it, Fantasia's empress sends her warrior to find a cure for the kingdom. (Metro Cinema)

Book signing with Brad Glenn / Wed, Feb 3 (4:30 pm) Love comics and want to show your support for the local guys? Happy Harbor has you covered: Utility Belt Comics founder Brad Glenn will be celebrating the launch of his new comic with a book signing. Written by Glenn and featuring art by Bruce Lugli, The New Recruits is a four-part series that follows the story of a team of superhero recruits who attend William Betman's College for Superheroes. (Happy Harbor)

at Empire Dental Associates are here to help. New patients welcome

Teeth whitening

Family dentist

Orthodontics

Routine cleanings

X-rays Botox

Board Gaming with LADY GEEKs uNITE / Thu, Feb (7 pm) Board games and winter are like peanut butter and jelly—they go together perfectly. Among the book clubs and film screenings, LADY GEEKs uNITE will be hosting a board game night with some of the LGN crew bringing their own. Guests are welcome to bring their own games that can be played within an hour to an hour and a half. Expect friendly and casual competitions with a nice dose of hilarity. (Happy Harbor) V

Evening Appointments Available

Jasper Ave.

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10126 - 118 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 1Y4

780.482.4000 empiredentists.com empiredental@mail.com @empiredentists

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

ASPECTRATIO

Someone must have slandered Manny Balestrero, for one evening, without having done anything wrong, he was arrested. Or, rather, he was picked up outside his house in Queens, was not allowed to speak to his wife, was taken to liquor stores and pharmacies and forced to perform as a sort of Kafkaesque runway model. He's sent into these places—all of which had been held up by a man vaguely resembling Balestrero—and told to walk a line, to feel guilty, look guilty and fulfil a collective urge to assign guilt. He's taken into a police station, asked to write out, word for word, a note demanding money. He's put in a line-up, and a woman who already

FILM

FILM EDITOR: PAUL BLINOV PAUL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

JOSEF BRAUN // JOSEF@VUEWEEKLY.COM

pegged him as a hold-up man confirms that yes, he's guilty. Then he's arrested, put on trial and forced to do the legwork to prove his own innocence. Eventually his wife's psychic health is destroyed, perhaps because she's unconsciously absorbing his anxiety, or perhaps because, against all logic, the assignation of guilt is all she needs to start believing that her husband is guilty. It's tragic and seems strange yet rings absolutely true. The Wrong Man (1956) is a brilliant film about the fear of authority and the power of guilt to corrupt even the innocent. The Wrong Man was based on a true story, and it was so gloomy and anx-

iogenic that its director, Alfred Hitchcock, provided a spoken introduction that feels uncomfortably close to an apology. This isn't a normal Hitchcock film, he explains, but bear with me. Indeed, Hitchcock's brand was associated with a certain glamour, and the only glamour in The Wrong Man dissipates before the opening credits finish. Shot in black and white, set in winter and populated entirely by working-class characters, the film refuses to offer escapism, aside from the nervous pleasures of suspense. That and the pleasures of watching a great Hollywood actor at work. Henry Fonda plays Manny, and he's so damned good, particularly in the

lengthy sequence in which he's taken into custody and eventually incarcerated. He's good because he does little yet transmits so much through his stillness and gaze. Fonda could be creepy if he needed to—see Daisy Kenyon (1947)—but here he surrenders completely to inhabiting an honest man drowning in a tempest set into motion by forces outside his control. And, very shrewdly, those forces are represented by lawmen just doing their jobs; this way it is implicit that the malice is systematic, bureaucratic and could come for any of us. The Wrong Man has been newly released on blu-ray by Warner Archives.

It is, of course, not the first time it's been available on home video, but Hitchcock remains a filmmaker that people still know and get excited by, and his entire body of work—not just the most successful films—deserve our attention. So this release is a reminder to see The Wrong Man. It has the most Hitchcockian title of any Hitchcock film, yet it is an absolute outlier in his oeuvre. It's simultaneously soulful and procedural and pretty bleak, and it will resonate with anyone who has ever been in trouble for something they didn't do, that they know they didn't do, and yet had to remind themselves that they didn't do it. V

REVUE // COMEDY

Dirty Grandpa F

or those perplexed at acting legend Robert De Niro's recent habit of subverting his legacy by "polluting" his highly respectable and towering filmography—including Godfather II, Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Goodfellas, Heat (and on and on)—with a series of sub-par slapstick outings, from Meet the Parents onwards, Dirty Grandpa should make perfectly clear that De Niro's career must now be considered as two distinct phases. These days, the only criterion when picking a role is clearly the level of fun De Niro has, regardless of what the end result looks like. Dirty Grandpa's basic premise is structured to allow the titular septuagenarian to behave as badly as he can: a recent widower tricks his reserved grandson (Zac Efron) to

Now playing Directed by Dan Mazer 

take him on a wild weekend of promiscuity and indulgence in order to teach both of them a lesson in living life to the fullest. Essentially, this means watching De Niro, the horny, uncouth grandpa, and Aubrey Plaza, the uninhibited college senior with an eye for the old man, trading deadpan, overtly sexed one-liners at each other, and basically stealing every scene that features Efron and the nominal "main story": the conflict between his materialistic fiancée and a free-spirited new love. We've seen that Efron has dramatic chops from 2011's criminally underappreciated The Paperboy, but in this movie it's clear that he isn't above a few pratfalls—or, say, appearing onscreen (more than) half

naked with a swastika made of penises drawn on his forehead—in order to score laughs. But as good as Efron is, this is a cookie-cutter college-humour movie, completely unremarkable and almost unbearable. Without De Niro and Plaza to make the audience satisfyingly uncomfortable, there would be literally no reason to watch this. The level of humour stays pretty much at the level of a thumb in the butt (one of De Niro's running gags to gross out Efron), and that's not even mentioning the casual sexism, racism and homophobia that compose the film's basic substrate. But if you think you might get a laugh out of De Niro rapping, then by all means, go for it. JAMES CUMING

JAMESCUMING@VUEWEEKLY.COM

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

FILM 15

FILM REVUE // SCI-FI

FRI, JAN. 29–THUR, FEB. 4

BROOKLYN

SPOTLIGHT

FRI 6:45PM SAT–SUN 1:00PM & 6:45PM MON–THURS 6:45PM

RATED: 14A MATURE SUBJECT MATTER

CAROL

FRI–SAT 9:10PM SUN 3:40PM & 9:10PM MON–THUR 9:10PM

FRI 7:00PM SAT–SUN 1:15PM & 7:00PM MON–THUR 7:00PM RATED: P.G. MATURE SUBJECT MATTER

THE DANISH GIRL FRI 9:15PM SAT–SUN 3:30PM & 9:15PM MON–THUR 9:15PM RATED: 14A NUDITY

RATED: 14A SEXUAL CONTENT

JAN 28 - FEB 3

PRESENTS SCIENCE IN THE CINEMA

THE CRASH REEL THUR @ 6:30

FREE ADMISSION & FREE SMALL POPCORN CANADA'S TOP TEN FILM FESTIVAL

GUANTANAMO'S CHILD: OMAR KHADR THUR @ 9:15, SUN @ 12:00 CANADA'S TOP TEN FILM FESTIVAL

$5 MONDAYS!

CREED

SAT @ 9:30, SUN @ 9:30, MON @ 9:30, WED @ 9:30 CANADA'S TOP TEN FILM FESTIVAL

MY INTERNSHIP IN CANADA SUN @ 1:30 FRENCH W/ SUBTITLES

BEACH PARTY! INTO THE FOREST FRI @ 7:00 BLUE HAWAII PURE PWNAGE: TEH MOVIE FRI @ 9:30 SUN @ 4:00 REEL FAMILY CINEMA

CANADA'S TOP TEN FILM FESTIVAL

FREE ADMISSION FOR KIDS 12 & UNDER

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16 FILM

The 5th Wave B

ack in 2008, four years before Katniss became box-office catnip, City of Ember—adapting the first in a four-book, post-apocalyptic sci-fi series—fanned the fl ames. Flashflood forward to the early days of 2016: the umpteenth wave, it seems, in the surging spate of YA-dystopia fl icks unleashed by Hollywood, The 5th Wave adapts Rick Yancey's 2013 novel, the first in a trilogy. But the well's run dry—there's nothing much original or interesting here (even the military-base sets look like those in the most recent Maze Runner instalment). Ohio teen Cassie Sullivan (Chloë Grace Moretz) recounts, in voiceover, how her world ended. A massive spacecraft containing "the Others" arrived, and their conquest came in phases: an electromagnetic pulse shut down the grid; earthquakes flooded cities, killing millions; an avian flu further decimated

the population; now, the Others are among homo sapiens, posing as us. Only rarely, though, does The 5th Wave pose as a movie truly interested in someone who's lost her parents and is desperately trying to get to her younger brother. The opening scene has Cassie killing someone she fears is an Other, but isn't. The story then shrugs off concerns about losing one's moral compass, or humans turning on each other, or the basic trauma of murdering an innocent with a gun. There are only a few uncanny moments, out in the woods, with impassive nature standing tall in all its glory while Cassie reels from the holocaust-like violence rippling through her life. Mostly, especially once the aliensare-among-us conceit kicks in, kids get recruited by the army, and Cassie's saved from doom by farmhunk Evan (Alex Roe), the movie

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

Now playing Directed by J Blakeson 

evaporates into misty clichés and sentiment. Cassie's wounded in the thigh, giving Evan reason to carry her over thresholds and tend to her body; Cassie spies on Evan splashing his rippled torso in a lake; Cassie and Evan kiss; etc. Military scenes play out like first-person shooter games. And Cassie earnestly declaims, "Hope makes us human," but it's this movie's obvious hope for a sequel— yet another box-office breaker in the punishing tsunami-wave of teenapocafl icks—that makes it so Hollywood.

BRIAN GIBSON

BRIAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

REVUE // ANIMATED

Kung Fu Panda 3

teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself." Although it's a story about a magical talking panda fighting evil spirits in ancient China, Kung Fu Panda 3 lives up to the immortal words of Bruce Lee. Having vanquished villainous snow leopards and peacocks in Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2, our rotund hero Po (Jack Black) is told by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoff-

man) that he will now become the Valley's new kung fu master. As a wicked yak named Kai (J K Simmons) returns from the Spirit Realm and starts stealing the qi of China's other masters—turning them into jade trinkets and harvesting their power—Po must learn to teach his friends and face this great threat. Despite its typically apocalyptic premise, Kung Fu Panda 3 is an emotionally complex movie. The film devotes a huge amount of time to

Over

the interpersonal dynamics of its characters, most notably Po's relationship with his two dads. Adoptive goose-father Mr Ping (James Hong) is threatened when biological panda-father Li Shan (Bryan Cranston) comes back into Po's life, and the two spend the rest of the film figuring out the new normal for their peculiar family. Torn between the life he knows and the life he's always dreamed of, Po must not only master the power of qi and learn how to

save the world, but also answer a far more difficult question: who am I? There are themes here about mixed-race adoption, rediscovering your cultural heritage and finding the strengths in a non-traditional family structure. But we aren't beaten over the head with these ideas, and Kung Fu Panda 3 eventually brings us back to some feel-good messages: be yourself. Find the strength in what makes you you,

30 years of diverse and

Opens Friday Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and Alessandro Carloni  and share it with others. Po wrestles with discovering his true self and inspires his students to find the truth within themselves. That he also manages to kick serious butt only makes Kung Fu Panda 3 a more heartfelt, rollicksome adventure.

BRUCE CINNAMON

BRUCE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

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U of A International Week Jan 25–31

Arden Theatre Professional Series: Alex Cuba Jan 29

Arden Theatre Cinema Series: Vincent Van Gogh - A New Way of Seeing Jan 31

Walterdale Theatre presents: Boeing Boeing by Marc Camoletti Feb 3–13

U of A Studio Theatre presents: A Mid Summer Night’s Dream Feb 4–13

Disturbed with Saint Asonia & Age of Days at Shaw Conference Centre Feb 20

Arden Theatre Professional Series: Lennie Gallant Feb 25

Arden Theatre Professional Series: The Hearts & The Provincial Archive Feb 26

Arden Theatre Professional Series: Alejandra Ribera Feb 27

Horizon Stage Up Close & Personal: Suddenly Mommy Mar 3

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Arden Theatre Professional Series: Juan De Marcos & The Afro-Cuban All-Stars Mar 18

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

FILM 17

MUSIC

PREVUE // FOLK

MUSIC EDITOR: MEAGHAN BAXTER MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

The sounds of home

Old Man Luedecke draws on married life and fatherhood for Domestic Eccentric

arenthood seems to be one of life's big transitions that no one can truly prepare for. It's turbulent and overwhelming, yet within the sleepless nights of the oh-so-precious early years parenthood can also teach a person a type of love beyond what they've ever known. Chris Luedecke, better known as Old Man Luedecke, has three daughters of his own—a two-year-old and two four-year-olds, no less—who are pivotal figures within the melodies of his latest album, Domestic Eccentric, an endearing ode to the delightful and comforting chaos that is home. "It's wild," Luedecke laughs about fatherhood. "You never thought you'd be so tired, but you know, it seems like you can get used to just about anything." He goes on to note that aside from severe lack of sleep, he wasn't prepared for the fact that children won't always eat—or eat what you want them to, at least.

18 MUSIC

"That just seems to be the universal struggle. I don't have any songs about how they won't eat anything, but my god, that's annoying," he sighs. "You feel so grateful when they'll eat something. And it's not like we're bad cooks, and it's not like we're making things that are super complicated that are too challenging. They just assert whatever power they can, and sometimes they're little angels." Luedecke hadn't set out to compose a record that focused so closely on his home life, but the common thread began to emerge organically as wrote, so he decided to go with it. Each song provided different shading to the concept, he notes, which helped it avoid becoming redundant. "I couldn't really keep the kids out of the record, or the sort of life change that had gone on," he adds. "And it seems to be happening in a beautiful way rather than a lazy way or a cheap way."

Fond and frequent references to his wife, Theresa, also appear on this record, much like they have throughout Luedecke's musical career—Domestic Eccentric opens with a pun-laden tune called "Yodelady," about the lady of his dreams, for example. He laughs that the idea of him singing songs about Theresa in front of strangers might have made her uncomfortable in the past, but she doesn't generally object to any of his lyrics—she's had plenty of opportunity to listen and find any contentious parts too, since the children request to hear Domestic Eccentric whenever they're in the car. Many of the songs inspired by Theresa are of course about how the pair met and the heady, rose-tinted genesis of their relationship, but Luedecke says his songs also reach beyond that into the facets of day-to-day life that romance settles into. "All songs are love songs at some level, and this is the love that I know,

and it still seems to be a fruitful place," he says. "The living-in-love aspect seems to be just hugely underdeveloped. It just seems like popular music is so focused on a few things, and—I guess because my music isn't terribly popular—I don't feel the need to follow that. I think I'm enough of a writer that I've been able to find a way to write meaningfully about subjects that other people don't write about in a way that maybe isn't for everyone, but I'm certainly grateful that there are people who do enjoy it." The stripped-down, banjo-driven folk songs on Domestic Eccentric may be specific to Luedecke's personal life and experiences, but the warmth of the album—which could be attributed to the fact he recorded it in a log-cabin-turned-studio on his acreage in rural Nova Scotia—and universality of family life has resonated with listeners. He notes that

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

Fri, Jan 29 (7 pm) The Almanac, $20 songs like "Early Days," a heartfelt tune about revelling in your children's fleeting "baby years," have particularly struck a chord. "I'm glad this sort of crazy time has translated into something that's meaningful to people," he says. "We didn't think we were going to be able to have kids at all, and so they represent a pretty exciting and special time, and we get to have a new experience being parents, and it's nuts. You don't sleep for a few years and that sort of thing, so [it's] a busy time professionally and a super busy time at home. It feels sort of like a gift to be able to put some of that experience into meaningful songs."

MEAGHAN BAXTER

MEAGHAN@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // BLUES-ROCK

2015-2016

Rival Sons

he first songs Scott Holiday learned to hammer out on the guitar were a disparate mix: a theme song for a pink-hued feline and a down-tuned riff from Black Sabbath's extensive catalogue. "'Electric Funeral' was probably one of the first songs I ever learned, period," he recalls over the phone from a "big old arena" in Omaha, Nebraska. "First it was 'Wipe Out,' then it was 'Pink Panther,' which is pretty fly, and then right to 'Electric Funeral.'" It seems a fitting choice now that Holiday and his Rival Sons bandmates are on tour with the venerable metal legends for what will ostensibly be Sabbath's final tour. But unlike the debaucherous early days of frontman Ozzy Osbourne—and many of his contemporaries—the members of Rival Sons do their best to avoid the pitfalls of the typical rock 'n' roll lifestyle. "I think everyone wants to stay healthy out here," Holiday says. "There's certainly a lot of fun happening day to day, but there's also a lot of work happening out here day to day. Everyone keeps their wits about them and is feeling really blessed to be out here, and no one takes that for granted. We want to deliver a good show every night, so it's more typical to catch us juicing and going to the gym. "If that sounds boring to the readers, trust me, it's not," he adds quickly with a laugh. "It's very badass, trust me. There's plenty of fun between all those responsible moments, don't worry." The Long Beach-based band's focus on hard work over hard partying appears to have steered it in the right direction, as the support gig for Black Sabbath is added to a list that includes AC/DC, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest—all of which, while contrasting in style themselves, blend well with Rival Sons' stamp on the rock genre. Its bluesy cocktail of crunchy, reverb-filled guitar riffs and soulful vocals are replete with retro proclivities that sound right at home next to bands synonymous with rock 'n' roll's heyday. But it's not that Rival Sons was attempting to bring any of those sounds back to modern rock, per se, Holiday notes. Rather, the band has al-

Sat, Jan 30 (7:30 pm) With Black Sabbath Rexall Place, $49.50 – $165

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ways followed the style that comes to it most naturally. "Hopefully we can influence some of our friends and kids out there to stay very off-thecuff, trust your instincts and work hard," he says. "Play constantly so that when you go in to make a recording live you're prepared and can trust those instincts. I'd like to know that we brought back some more visceral and exciting energy to rock 'n' roll—for god sakes it's needed it. It's needed some more exciting writing, and hopefully people see that in us, but really we're not trying to wave any flag except our own." Rival Sons brings that intuitive energy to its own recordings by avoiding any pre-production prior to going into the studio. Instead, the guys have a quick chat about the sound they're going for and then set to work capturing the energy of each song in an organic way—a quality evident on its latest album, Great Western Valkyrie, which now has an accompanying tour version that features three live tracks recorded at Juke Joint Studios and a couple of covers, including "Black Coffee" by Humble Pie. "We have very little time to premeditate our actions—like if I gave you 60 seconds to answer 20 questions, very quickly you have to rapid-fire answer those questions," Holiday says, adding Rival Sons' recording process is a very reactionary one, producing rock music that aligns with the way he envisions the genre's nascent years. "People didn't spend a year making a record; they spent a day making a record, or two days making a record. It was really, really quickly and if you had it, it was there and you captured it—you didn't spend too much time making it, quote unquote. It was more like a wild animal, [and you're] just trying to throw a net over it."

MEAGHAN BAXTER

Music is medicine.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist and TED Senior Fellow speaks of the transformative power of music and its ability to build a deeply authentic connection with people who need it most.

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MUSIC 19

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20 MUSIC

Arkells fter selling out shows its January 28 and 29 shows in Calgary, Arkells heard the band's southern Albertan fans were buying tickets for the January 30 Edmonton show as a last-ditch effort to see the Ontario-based five-piece. The band responded by offering a discount to the Chateau Lacombe hotel, made more tickets available for the Edmonton show, and, if fans emailed the band, the guys would make a mix CD to keep them company on the long drive home. Over the phone from Hamilton, ON, Arkells frontman Max Kerman talks about the gesture as if it was just as easy as signing a T-shirt after a show. "We just thought it would be nice if we could give them a discount," he says. "We were just trying to be a little bit helpful for anyone who's making that three-hour trek." Much of the band's career has been defined by blurring the divide between artist and listener. Its Instagram page is peppered with re-posted Snapchats received from fans, and Kerman speaks warmly of the connections the group has been able to make with listeners over the years. Being a part of somebody's life is a special thing for the band, Kerman says, whether it's hearing how the songs got someone through a breakup, or helping a fan out with a proposal. Last summer, Kerman busked Arkells' hit single "11:11" in an Ottawa park as a fan proposed to his girlfriend. In 2013, the band coordinated the lighting during a live show in Winnipeg to set the scene for another fan proposal. When he thinks about how it feels to be a fan himself, doing these kinds of things

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

Sat, Jan 30 (7 pm) With Dreamers, Modern Space Shaw Conference Centre, $32 come as a no-brainer for Kerman. "I know what it's like to really care about a band, and so I know what it's like to be on the other side," he says. "I'm not removed from what an Arkells fan might think about us. I try to think about if this was about a Constantines tour, like a band that I really care about, what would be something that I really appreciate or that would be cool to me." With a fourth album underway and a handful of Juno Awards in its possession, Arkells have carved out a place in the Canadian rock scene. As the band expands its fan base and tweaks its sound—its third release, High Noon, builds on its hard-and-fast rock esthetic with a swelling synth and strings section—one thing seems to stay unchanging: "Personally, we don't really feel like we're above anybody because we're in a rock band. We just happen to have a job where more people see us. ... I like to feel like I'm on the same level—because I am—with people who are interested in our music," Kerman says. "I think I am pretty aware of the way I feel when someone does something kind to me. A lot of my job is just people being nice to me—and I know how far a good deed can go."

KATE BLACK

KATE@VUEWEEKLY.COM

PREVUE // PUNK

karaoke THURSDAYS

The Ativans B

illy Dixon slept through the first interview. In classic punk-rock tradition, he forgot to set an alarm. A few days later, the resulting conversation was full of laughter, "small world" anecdotes and pizza toppings. Dixon is one-third of Calgary's pop-punk outfit, the Ativans, alongside Adam Waddell and Corey Tapp, who was added to the band's lineup in the fall. "Corey is an accomplished musician who's got a lot of experience playing in punk bands who have travelled all over the world," Dixon says. "So all aspects of his musicianship and knowledge of this whole band thing are at a much higher level than mine. I know power chords. That's about it. Corey and Adam—who's just the fuckin' best drummer and dude— provide me with a rhythm section I don't deserve." Since 2012, the Ativans have been dating bassists, looking for someone willing to come along with the group on its reign of pizza and beer. And, although Tapp wasn't part of

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Bottle Beer $4.25 • 16oz Draft $4.25 • Hi-Balls $4.25 FREE Entertainment Thursday-Sunday

the recording process for the 2015 LP, Landlocked, he joined the band not long ago to record a Teenage Bottlerocket cover, "Another Way." The song will be featured on an upcoming compilation to pay tribute to recently deceased TBR drummer Brandon Carlisle. "Brandon tragically passed away in November," Dixon says. "We got involved with the comp as a small token of appreciation to that band, as all proceeds will go to whatever fund/ cause the band sees fit. I've gotten to know and befriend those dudes over the years. We even got to play with them in Calgary when they toured Western Canada last June. So, not only one of my favourite bands, but great, genuine people in real life as well. It's an honour to be a part of it." Recording the cover won't be the Ativans' last time in the studio this year. After a bit of touring around southern Alberta and the West Coast, the band plans on hitting the

Saturday, January 30 (8 pm) With Grizzly Trail, Point Place Filthy McNasty's, $5 studio to work on a new EP to be released late this summer. Pizza was one last unavoidable topic during the conversation, as the band uses a rad pizza-and-cross-bonesstyle logo on its latest run of T-shirts. "It was conceptualized by our amazing friend Cody Fennel, and it's just sort of become our full-time logo," Dixon says of his favourite food. "When it comes to pizza, is there such thing as bad pizza? I mean, I had pizza that used cauliflower instead of dough for crust and it was surprisingly awesome. When it comes to pizza toppings, I'm pretty open minded. Like, I legit love pizza more than any kind of food. People that don't like pizza are weird.” BRITTANY RUDYCK

friday & Saturdays Live ENTERTAINMENT • 9PM-1AM ABBEY POWELL Jan 29 & 30 KARAC HENDRIKS Feb 5 & 6 BRAD SIMS Feb 12 & 13 NASH RAMBLERS Feb 19 & 20 SWEET TEQUILA Feb 26 & 27

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'BLAK / FRI, JAN 29 (8 PM) In this cabaret-style show, Nanaimo-based songstress Krystle Dos Santos will explore the cultures, personalities and experiences of black persons in Western Canada through poetry, dance and song. (The Club at the Citadel, $22 – $27.30)

54–40 / SAT, JAN 30 (7:30 PM)

The folk-rock group has been a part of Canada's musical identity for more than 35 years. The band will be performing unplugged versions of hits like "Baby Ran," "I Go Blind" and "Ocean Pearl" (Festival Place, $42 – $48)

DERINA HARVEY BAND / SAT, JAN 30 (7:30 PM)

Get ready for a night of high-energy performances from this Celtic-rock group as you take in it layered guitar riffs, dizzying fiddle motifs and Derina's powerful voice. (Horizon Stage, $35 adults, $30 students)

ROSIE AND THE RIVETERS / FRI, FEB 5 (8:30 PM)

The Saskatoon-based all-female quartet will take you back to the 1940s with its debut studio album, Good Clean Fun!. (Blue Chair Cafe, $20)

CRAIG CARDIFF / SAT, JAN 30 (8 PM)

This folk singer-songwriter once recorded an album—Kissing Songs (Mistletoe)—using only an iPod Touch. (Mercury Room, $20 in advance, $25 at the door)

DJ TROOPA TRALOOPA / SAT, JAN 30 (10 PM)

He's the official DJ for dancehall artists Mavado and Serani. Ten points if you can dutty wine all night. Ten bonus points if you know what dutty wine is. (Brixx, $20)

BEHIND THE GRIND TOUR/ TUE, FEB 2

Levi Cuss, John Guliak, Kimberley MacGregor and Curtis Phagoo are on tour providing richly textured roots songs of the "Albertamericana" tradition. (The Empress)

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

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lex Cuba is unsure, when pressed, as to the reason behind his recent success. His 2015 album, Healer, took home the Latin Grammy for Best Singer-Songwriter Album in November, and was swiftly followed by a Grammy nomination in the Best Latin Pop Album category (winners announced February 15). "I don't know—I feel like we're on a bit of a lucky thing on this tour," he says. "A lot of the shows are selling out. I'm pretty happy about that." But at some point—let's say after the fourth Latin Grammy nod, or perhaps after the second Grammy

nomination—hard work has to at least start entering the conversation. With a string of sold-out shows to kick off his Canadian tour, that hard work has started to gain Cuba a lot more recognition at home. "Well, I haven't done any more work than before," Cuba laughs. "So I call it luck. In 2010 I won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, and I flew to Nashville and did a tour right after, and I've got to tell you— I had the worst tour of my life. Six weeks, it was horrible. I was in New Orleans when I heard I got nominated for the American Grammys, but I just wanted to go back home, like, 'Holy shit, I want to savour my Latin Grammy!' This time, people have started to take more notice, and it's great to say we kicked the tour off with a Grammy nomination." But as appreciation for Cuba's work has been building, the recognition for his work is nothing new. So what is it about his music that has been resonating with his peers in the industry, the awards-show brass and, most importantly, his growing audience? "I think it's the beauty of it, the positivity in it," Cuba explains. "I think Healer has what the world is missing most of—the positive vibrations. A lot of songs on the radio sound the same musically—do songs need to sound familiar for people to get it? I don't think so; I've never believed that. It's stopping human development. What are we—stupid? So here comes Healer: it sounds like nothing else out there. I don't listen to the radio—it's dangerous. I have music inside of me; I don't have to listen to anybody else. I create my own, and people call me alien. 'Are you from

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

Fri, Jan 29 (7:30 pm) Arden Theatre, $38 another planet? How do you write a song like that?'" So where does the music come from? "It comes from love, brother!" Cuba says. "I am exactly where I want to be. It's balance. When a person is balanced, you are inspired, you walk through life weightless." Recently, Toronto's Those Canadians Media Group approached Cuba with a project they'd been developing. The idea was to fill a bus with recording equipment and drive across Cuba (the country), looking for musical talent of every kind, in any place it may be happening. And so, this February, Cuba (the musician) will be heading down to host The Cuban Bus, a documentary series that follows him on the quest for raw musical talent in the country he grew up in. "Throughout the years they met so many musicians down there, and they thought they had to do something for all the people down in the barrios," he explains. "So they have a recording studio on a bus that travels around, records the people, films a documentary and then shows it to the world to give them a chance to be heard. "So they need a cool guy to be the host—'Hey, how about Alex Cuba?'" he laughs. "It isn't what most people think of when they think of Cuban music. They are doing stuff outside the box. I'm proud of that; I'm proud to be involved." JAMES STEWART

JAMES@VUEWEEKLY.COM

MUSIC

WEEKLY

FRI JAN 29 THE ALMANAC Old Man

Rab 2016 Winter Tour; 9pm; 18+ only

every Fri

UNION HALL Ladies Night

Luedecke (folk) and guests; 7pm; $20 (adv)

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ON THE ROCKS Chronic

Weymes (pop); 9pm; No cover

Rock

SAT JAN 30

PALACE CASINO Mojave

THU JAN 28

ARDEN THEATRE Alex *

Cuba; 7:30pm; $38

Iguanas (pop/rock/indie); 9:30pm; No minors

APEX CASINO Amie

ACCENT EUROPEAN LOUNGE Live Music every

ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL

RED PIANO BAR Hottest

Thu; 9pm ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL

Open mic with Stan Gallant

Duff Robison BAILEY THEATRE– CAMROSE Count to Infinity

BLUES ON WHYTE Michael

presents: Infinite Sound Vol. 1 (rock/pop/indie); 9pm; All ages

Charles; 9pm

BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ Keri

BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

Lynn Zwicker; 8:3010:30pm

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm THE BUCKINGHAM Freak Heat Waves with Fist City Gary Debussy & Zebra Pulse; 8pm; 18+ only CAFE BLACKBIRD Cory D. and Kevin Cook – Double Bill; 7:30pm; $6 CAFÉ HAVEN Music every

Thu; 7pm KRUSH ULTRA LOUNGE

Open stage with host Naomi Carmack; 8pm every Thu

BLUES ON WHYTE Michael

Charles; 9pm BOHEMIA Languid with Abuse Of Substance, Mass Distraction & Tekarra; 9pm; 9pm (door), 10pm (show); $10; 18+ only BOURBON ROOM Live

music each week with a different band each week; 8pm BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy

dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Fri; 9pm2am SANDS HOTEL Abbey

Powell SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN Cody Mack

(alt/rock); 9pm SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A Mike Letto (folk/rock);

Weymes (pop); 9pm; No cover ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL

Duff Robison BAILEY THEATRE– CAMROSE Old Man

Luedecke (folk/roots/ world); 8pm; $20; All ages BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE

Hair of the Dog: Olivia Wik (live acoustic music every Sat); 4-6pm; no cover BLUES ON WHYTE Michael

9pm

Charles; 9pm

SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM

BOHEMIA Maria Phillipos's

Jake Buckley (clues/ country/folk); 9pm

EP release with guests; 8pm (door), 9pm (show)

STARLITE ROOM Worthy,

BOURBON ROOM Live

WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK Live Music

Fridays: this week featuring; Each Fri, 8-10pm; $5 suggested

CAFE BLACKBIRD Danny

RIVER CREE Cheech &

Cole; 8pm; $15

Powell

9pm

Rockzilla CARROT COFFEEHOUSE

Live music every Fri: this week with Mountain Sapphire (acoustic cover band); all ages; 7pm; $5 (door) CASINO EDMONTON Wow

(pop rock); 9pm CASINO YELLOWHEAD

Jukebox Leigh (country cabaret); 9pm CENTURY CASINO

Chilliwack; 7pm (door); $54.95; No minors CLUB AT THE CITADEL

'Blak featuring Krystle Dos Santos (jazz/pop/ R&B); 8pm; $22 (adv) DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE

The Piano Men 2 featuring Jim Witter; 7:30pm; $39.50 (adult), $37.50 (youth) DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY The

Rural Routes (folk); 9pm DV8 Jim Nowhere's

Common Uncommon Thursday: Rotating Guests each week

Birthday with Math Debate, Miek Headache and Jim Nowhere (metal/ hard rock/punk); 8pm; $5 (door); 18+ only

FILTHY MCNASTY’S Taking

FILTHY MCNASTY'S Haunt

KRUSH ULTRA LOUNGE

Open stage; 7pm; no cover ON THE ROCKS Salsa

Rocks: every Thu; dance lessons at 8pm; Cuban Salsa DJ to follow UNION HALL 3 Four All

Thursdays: rock, dance, retro, top 40 with DJ Johnny Infamous

SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A Mike Letto (folk/rock); SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK

Back Thursdays

Chong with WAR; 9pm SANDS HOTEL Abbey

(alt/rock); 9pm

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Troy

THE COMMON The

First, Monarch Sky, A.O. The spruce Moose; 8pm Sabbath: The End; 7:30pm; $49.50-$165

northlands.com

CAFE BLACKBIRD Michael Campbell Trio; 8pm; $10

CENTURY ROOM Lucky 7: Retro '80s with house DJ every Thu; 7pm-close

dueling piano show featuring the Red Piano Players every Sat; 9pm2am

SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN Cody Mack

(jazz); most Thursdays; 7-10pm

Thu Main Fl: Throwback Thursdays with Thomas Culture - Rock&Roll, Funk, Soul, R&B and 80s jamz that will make your backbone slide; Wooftop Lounge: Dig It - Electronic, Roots & Rare Grooves; Underdog: Underdog Comedy Show

RED PIANO BAR Hottest

rock); 7pm; $32 (adv)

RIC’S GRILL Peter Belec

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE

Iguanas (pop/rock/indie); 9:30pm; No minors

SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE Arkells (R&B/

the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm

DJs

perform every week; $10 PALACE CASINO Mojave

A Tribute to Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs and Englishment with Boogie Patrol and the Jay Gilday Band (blues); 9pm; $15

RANCH ROADHOUSE DJ Tigerlily with Seelo Mondo, David Stone, Viet, and Scopis; 9pm

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

Rock ORLANDO'S 1 Bands

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE

Jam by Wild Rose Old Time Fiddlers every Thu; 7pm

TAVERN ON WHYTE Open

ON THE ROCKS Chronic

REXALL PLACE Black

NORTH GLENORA HALL

Warbringer with Cauldron & Exmortus; 7pm (door); $26 (door); 18+ only

O’BYRNE’S Live band every Sat, 3-7pm; DJ every Sat, 9:30pm

Ft.DJ Troopa Traloopa; 10pm; $20; 18+ only

NEW WEST HOTEL Boots

STARLITE ROOM Enforcer,

NEW WEST HOTEL Boots

& Boogie

BRIXX BAR Queen's Court

music every Fri

& Boogie

Live Blues every Thur: rotating guests; 7-11pm

Bands every Sat; this week: JellyBean

TIRAMISU BISTRO Live

NAKED CYBERCAFÉ Thu

SMOKEHOUSE BBQ

MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET Live Local

RENDEZVOUS PUB Face

open stage; 7pm

Turner Thursday Jam; 7:30pm

Cardiff (alternative/folk); 8pm; $20 (adv), $25 (door)

music each week with a different band each week; 8pm

hosted by Darrell Barr; 7-11pm

Dueling pianos at 8pm

MERCURY ROOM Craig

Swim, Dan Pezim, Better Living DJ's; 8pm; $20; 18+ only

L.B.'S PUB Open Jam

RED PIANO Every Thu:

Bartlett, 5pm

featuring Dead Musician (alternative) and Greg Gory; 8pm; $5 (door) HORIZON STAGE "The

King" A musical tribute to Elvis Presley featuring Donny Edwards (blues); 7:30pm; $45 (adv) LB'S PUB Troy Turner

(blues/rock); 9:30pm; No cover MERCURY ROOM Tribal

Nation presents: Random

Jake Buckley (clues/ country/folk); 9pm

donation YARDBIRD SUITE The

CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK

Writers' Guild; 7pm (door), 8pm (show); $20 (member), $24 (guest)

CARROT COFFEEHOUSE Sat

Sparks K-DJ Show; 9pm-1am

Open mic; 7pm; $2

STARLITE ROOM Krafty

CASINO EDMONTON Wow

(pop rock); 9pm

Kuts Coyote Kisses; 9pm; $25; 18+ only

CASINO YELLOWHEAD

YARDBIRD SUITE Piotr

Classical CONVOCATION HALL Trio

Voce At The Pinnacle featuring University Of Alberta Department of Music with Trio Voce and Patricia Tao; 8pm; $20 (adult), $10 (student); $15 (senior)

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Kevin Martin; Wooftop: DJ Remo & Guests; Underdog: Rap,

House, Hip-Hop with DJ Babr; every Fri THE BOWER Strictly

Goods: Old school and new school hip hop & R&B with DJ Twist, Sonny Grimez, and Marlon English; every Fri THE COMMON Good

Fridays: nu disco, hip hop, indie, electro, dance with weekly local and visiting DJs on rotation plus residents Echo and Justin Foosh

Rockzilla

Jukebox Leigh (country cabaret); 9pm CLUB AT THE CITADEL

Classical

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY The

Series / 3; 7:30pm

Rural Routes (folk); 9pm DV8 Killuminative Hip

Hop Showcase Kwin The abstract MC, Psych Ward Kidz, Dizzy Mac, Philip Solo, DWill, Poltergeist, BR1CKS & Snapps (Of Dub SF ) The Native Prodigy (hip hop/rap); 8pm; $15 (door), $10 (adv); No minors FESTIVAL PLACE 54-40

Unplugged; 7:30-9:30pm; $42-$48 FILTHY MCNASTY'S Free Afternoon Concerts: this week with Mary-Lee Bird Band with guest Philip Henson; 4pm; No cover GAS PUMP Saturday Homemade Jam: Mike Chenoweth

THE PROVINCIAL PUB

HILLTOP PUB Open Stage,

Friday Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Brodeep RED STAR Movin’ on Up:

indie, rock, funk, soul, hip hop with DJ Gatto, DJ Mega Wattson; every Fri SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE

Amplified Fridays: Dubstep, house, trance, electro, hip hop breaks with DJ Aeiou, DJ Loose Beats, DJ Poindexter; 9:30pm (door)

Lemanczyk Trio; 7pm (door), 8pm (show); $22 (member), $26 (guest)

'Blak featuring Krystle Dos Santos (jazz/pop/ R&B); 8pm; $22 (adv)

every Fri; 9pm

DRUID IRISH PUB DJ

SNEAKY PETE'S Sinder

Jam every Sat; 3:30-7pm HORIZON STAGE Derina

Harvey Band; 7:30pm; $35 (adults); $30 (students and seniors)

HOLY TRINTITY ANGLICAN CHURCH Canadian Journey JUBILEE AUDITORIUM

Carmen

DJs 9910 DJ Hedspin with Gold Blooded Deejays and Allout DJs; 9pm; $10 (door) BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: The Menace

Sessions with Miss Mannered featuring Alt. Rock/Electro/Trash; Wooftop: Sound It Up! with DJ Sonny Grimezz spinning classic Hip-Hop and Reggae; Underdog: Hip Hop open Mic followed by DJ Marack THE BOWER For Those

Who Know...: Deep House and disco with Junior Brown, David Stone, Austin, and guests; every Sat THE COMMON Get Down

It's Saturday Night: House and disco and everything in between with resident Dane

LATITUDE 53 Kathleen Yearwood & Shawn Pinchbeck Double Bill; 7:30pm; $11.75-$22

Sat; 9pm

LB'S PUB Potatohed

ENCORE–WEM Every

(rock); 9:30pm; No cover LEAF BAR AND GRILL

Open Stage Sat–It's the Sat Jam hosted by Darren

DRUID IRISH PUB DJ every

Sat: Sound and Light show; We are Saturdays: Kindergarten

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

MUSIC 23

Wong every Sat

MERCER TAVERN DJ Mikey

O’BYRNE’S Open mic every Sun; 9:30pm-1am

NEW WEST HOTEL Doug & The Hurtin Horsemen

THE PROVINCIAL PUB

ON THE ROCKS The

Saturday Nights: Indie rock and dance with DJ Maurice

Dropouts, Holiday Monday, Balderdash, Fashion Police

PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL Wild

RED STAR Indie rock, hip

RICHARD'S PUB Mark Ammar's Sunday Sessions Jam; Every Sun, 4-8pm

hop, and electro every Sat with DJ Hot Philly and guests

JAN/29

THE MOOD MACHINE PRESENTS

WORTHY (DIRTYBIRD US) W/ SWIM, DAN PEZIM, BETTER LIVING DJ’S

JAN/30 FEB/5 FEB/13

UBK PRESENTS

KRAFTY KUTS COYOTE KISSES BILLY KENNY & WILL CLARKE YUKON BLONDE UBK, NIGHT VISION, AND DIRTYBIRD PRESENT

UNIONEVENTS.COM PRESENTS

W/ GUESTS

FEB/27

STARLITE ROOM PROUDLY PRESENTS

BC/DC

MAY/20

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY JANUARY 29

MAY/24

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY JANUARY 29

MAY/25

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY JANUARY 29

MAY/30

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY JANUARY 29

ROUGE LOUNGE Rouge

BBQ jam; 5pm

Saturdays: global sound and Cosmopolitan Style Lounging with DJ Mkhai

Classical

SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE

Your Famous Saturday with Crewshtopher, Tyler M SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM

Swing Dance Party: Sugar Swing Dance Club every Sat, 8-12; no experience or partner needed, beginner lesson followed by social dance; sugarswing.com TAVERN ON WHYTE Soul,

Motown, Funk, R&B and more with DJs Ben and Mitch; every Sat; 9pm-2am UNION HALL Celebrity

Saturdays: every Sat hosted by DJ Johnny Infamous Y AFTERHOURS Release

W/ DAMAGE INC., THRILLHOUSE, THE DEVIL’S SONS UNIONEVENTS.COM PRESENTS

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA SAVAGES W/ GUESTS

TIMBRE CONCERTS PRESENTS

W/ WHITNEY

TIMBRE CONCERTS PRESENTS

W/ GUESTS

LIVENATION.COM PRESENTS

OH WONDER

THE STARLITE ROOM IS A PRIVATE VENUE FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS. IF YOU REQUIRE A MEMBERSHIP YOU CAN PURCHASE ONE AT THE VENUE PRIOR TO / OR AFTER THE DOOR TIMES FOR EACH SHOW.

SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Sun

Saturdays

SUN JAN 31 ARDEN THEATRE Vincent

van Gogh: A New Way of Seeing (Cinema Series); 2pm; $20 BAILEY THEATRE– CAMROSE The Bailey

Buckaroos (country); 2pm; $12; All ages BLUE CHAIR CAFE Brunch:

PM Bossa; 10am-3pm; Cover by donations BLUES ON WHYTE Michael

Charles; 9pm THE BUCKINGHAM Brunch: DJ Thomas Culture; 11am DANCE CODE STUDIO

Flamenco Guitar Classes; Every Sun, 11:30am12:30pm DIVERSION LOUNGE Sun

Night Live on the South Side: live bands; all ages; 7-10:30pm DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY

Celtic Music with Duggan's House Band; 5-8pm NEWCASTLE PUB The

Sunday Soul Service: acoustic open stage every Sun

CITY HALL Swing 'N'

Skate; 1-4pm; Every Sun until Feb 28 ROBERT TEGLER STUDENT CENTRE Schumann,

Shakespeare and Schlosser; 2pm; $13.75$16.75 ROBERTSON WESLEY UNITED CHURCH Virtuoso

Strings; 6:30pm; $25$30 ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM THEATRE Building

Bridges Among Faith Traditions; 2-4pm; $20 (member), $25 (non-member), available through Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action WINSPEAR CENTRE

Pro Coro Canada: Rachmaninoff – Ancient Echoes; 2:30pm; $33$49.50

DJs

Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Association: Acoustic instrumental old time fiddle jam every Mon; hosted by the Wild Rose Old Tyme Fiddlers Society; 7pm ROUGE RESTO-LOUNGE

Open Mic Night with Darrek Anderson from the Guaranteed; every Mon; 9pm SHAKERS ROADHOUSE

Pete Turland's Rockabilly Mondays Open Stage; 8pm

Messy Nest with DJ Blue Jay - mod, brit pop, new wave, British rock; Wooftop: Metal Mondays with Metal Phil from CJSR's Heavy Metal Lunchbox BLUES ON WHYTE Jordan

Welbourne; 9pm CAFE BLACKBIRD Paint

Nite; 7pm; $45 DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY

Monday open mic MERCURY ROOM Music

Magic Monday Nights: Capital City Jammers, host Blueberry Norm; seasoned musicians; 7-10pm; $4

LEAF BAR AND GRILL Tue Open Jam: Trevor Mullen MERCER TAVERN Alt Tuesday with Kris Harvey and guests NEW WEST HOTEL Doug & The Hurtin Horsemen O’BYRNE’S Celtic jam every Tue; with Shannon Johnson and friends; 9:30pm ROCKY MOUNTAIN ICEHOUSE Live music

SIDELINERS PUB Singer/

Songwriter Monday Night Open Stage; Hosted by Celeigh Cardinal; Every Mon (except long weekends), 8:3011:30pm; Free; run until Jun 27 SNEAKY PETE'S Cat's

music dancing every Tue, featuring Country Music Legend Bev Munro every Tue, 8-11pm SHAKERS ROADHOUSE

Tuesday Night Jam with host Harry Gregg and Geoffrey O'Brien; 7:30pm

Meow Monday Jam with hosts Bob Cook & Sinder Sparks; Every Mon, 8pm until midnight

YARDBIRD SUITE Tuesday

Classical

WINSPEAR CENTRE RCCO

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM

Edmonton - Ken Cowan; 7:30-9:30pm; $20-$25

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE

Main Floor: Blue Jay’s

Night Open stage with Darrell Barr; 7-11pm; No charge

SANDS HOTEL Country

Main Floor: Soul Sundays

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm

L.B.'S PUB Tue Variety

by Adam Holm; Every Mon

DJs

MON FEB 1

BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

with the Icehouse Band and weekly guests; Every Tue, 9pm

SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A Open Mic Night hosted

BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE

with DJ Zyppy ~ A fantastic voyage through 60’s and 70’s funk, soul & R&B; Every Sun

DRUID IRISH PUB Open

Stage Tue; 9pm

Main Floor: Blue Jay’s

Session: Dave Babcock Quartet; 7:30pm (door)/8pm (show); $5

Carmen

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: Eddie

Messy Nest with DJ Blue Jay - mod, brit pop, new wave, British rock

Lunchpail spins alternative retro and not-so-retro, electronic & euro; Every Tue

DV8 T.F.W.O. Mondays:

BRIXX Metal night every

Roots industrial,Classic Punk, Rock, Electronic with Hair of the Dave TAVERN ON WHYTE Classic

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

TUE FEB 2 BLUES ON WHYTE Jordan

Welbourne; 9pm BRITTANY'S LOUNGE

Scrambled YEG: Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue- Fri, 5-8pm CAFE BLACKBIRD Paint

Nite; 7pm; $45

Tue DV8 Creepy Tombsday:

Psychobilly, Hallowe'en horrorpunk, deathrock with Abigail Asphixia and Mr Cadaver; every Tue

WED FEB 3 ARDEN THEATRE Swinging

On A Star featuring Mary Lambert (childrens/pop); 11am; $10 (adult), $5 (kids 2 and up) B STREET BAR Live Music with Lyle Hobbs; 8-11pm, every Wed BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Kevin

DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY Wed

open mic with host Duff Robison KRUSH ULTRALOUNGE

Karaoke Kraziness with host Ryan Kasteel; 8pm-2am LA CITÉ FRANCOPHONE

RED x Talks with music by Moe Clark and Stephanie Harpe; 7pm ORIGINAL JOE'S VARSITY ROW Open mic Wed:

Hosted by Jordan Strand; every Wed, 9-12 jordanfstrand@gmail.com / 780-655-8520 NEW WEST HOTEL Doug & The Hurtin Horsemen PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

Acoustic Bluegrass jam presented by the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society; every Wed, 6:3011pm; $2 (member)/$4 (non-member) RED PIANO BAR Wed Night

Live: hosted by dueling piano players; 8pm-1am; $5 ROSSDALE HALL Little

Flower Open Stage with Brian Gregg; 7:30pm (door); no cover SHAKERS ROADHOUSE

Wailin' Wednesdays Jam; Every Wed, 7:30pm; All ages ZEN LOUNGE Jazz Wednesdays: Kori Wray and Jeff Hendrick; every Wed; 7:30-10pm; no cover

Classical MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH Music

Wednesdays At Noon: Bill Damur and Wendy Gronnestad (flute and soprano); 12:10-12:50pm; Free

DJs BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE Main Floor: DJ Kevin

Martin; Every Wed BRIXX BAR Eats and Beats

Martin; Every Wed

THE COMMON The Wed

BLUES ON WHYTE The

Experience: Classics on Vinyl with Dane

Steadies; 9pm

VENUEGUIDE

JAN/30

THAT GIRL YOU SHOULD KNOW PRESENTS

QUEEN’S COURT FT. DJ TROOPA TRALOOPA

FEB/5

JCL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

FEB/6

VOODO CHILDREN PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

THE BRIGHT LIGHT SOCIAL HOUR

SPARROW BLUE W/ FORBIDDEN RHYTHM, FINGERTIPS, & CATCH THE DAY DREAMER

FEB/12

THE INTROVERTS

W/ DEBUTANT, THE HUSTLE, ZOEY ZAPISOCKI

FEB/26

STARLITE ROOM IS PROUD TO PRESENT

HEAVISIDE

W/ THE UNFORTUNATES & SLEEP DEMON

24 MUSIC

9910 9910B-109 St ACCENT EUROPEAN LOUNGE 8223-104 St, 780.431.0179 ALE YARD TAP 13310-137 Ave THE ALMANAC 10351-82 Ave ARDEN THEATRE 5 St Anne St, St Albert ATLANTIC TRAP & GILL 7704 Calgary Trail South "B" STREET BAR 11818-111 St BAILEY THEATRE 5041-50 St, Camrose BLACK DOG FREEHOUSE 1042582 Ave, 780.439.1082 BLUE CHAIR CAFÉ 9624-76 Ave, 780.989.2861 BLUES ON WHYTE 10329-82 Ave, 780.439.3981 BOHEMIA 10217-97 St BOURBON ROOM 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert THE BOWER 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.423.425; info@thebower.ca BRITTANY'S LOUNGE 10225-97 St, 780.497.0011 BRIXX BAR 10030-102 St (downstairs), 780.428.1099 THE BUCKINGHAM 10439 82 Ave, 780.761.1002, thebuckingham.ca CAFE BLACKBIRD 9640-142 St NW CAFÉ HAVEN 9 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, 780.417.5523, cafehaven.ca CAFFREY'S IN THE PARK 99, 23349 Wye Rd, Sherwood Park CARROT COFFEEHOUSE 9351118 Ave, 780.471.1580 CASINO EDMONTON 7055 Argylll Rd, 780.463.9467

CASINO YELLOWHEAD 12464153 St, 780.424 9467 CENTRAL SENIOR LIONS CENTRE 11113-113 St CENTURY CASINO 13103 Fort Rd, 780.643.4000 CHA ISLAND TEA CO 10332-81 Ave, 780.757.2482 CLUB AT THE CITADEL 9828101A Ave COMMON 9910-109 St CONVOCATION HALL U of A campus DARAVARA 10713 124 St, 587.520.4980 DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE Fort Saskatchewan DUGGAN'S BOUNDARY 9013-88 Ave, 780.465.4834 DRUID 11606 Jasper Ave, 780.454.9928 DUSTER’S PUB 6402-118 Ave, 780.474.5554 DV8 8130 Gateway Blvd EARLY STAGE SALOON– Stony Plain 4911-52 Ave, Stony Plain, 780.963.5998 ELECTRIC RODEO–Spruce Grove 121-1 Ave, Spruce Grove, 780.962.1411 ENCORE–WEM 2687, 8882-170 St FESTIVAL PLACE 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park, 780.449.3378 FILTHY MCNASTY’S 10511-82 Ave, 780.916.1557 HILLTOP PUB 8220 106 Ave HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH 10037-84 Ave NW HORIZON STAGE 1001 Calahoo Rd, Spruce Grove

VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

IRISH SPORTS CLUB 12546-126 St, 780.453.2249 J AND R 4003-106 St, 780.436.4403 JAVA XPRESS 110, 4300 South Park Dr, Stony Plain, 780.968.1860 JUBILEE AUDITORIUM 11455-87 Ave NW KELLY'S PUB 10156-104 St LA CITE FRANCOPHONE 8627 Marie-Anne Gaboury LATITUDE 53 10242-106 St NW L.B.’S PUB 23 Akins Dr, St Albert, 780.460.9100 LEAF BAR AND GRILL 9016-132 Ave, 780.757.2121 MCDOUGALL UNITED CHURCH 10086 MacDonald Dr NW MKT FRESH FOOD AND BEER MARKET 8101 Gateway Blvd, 780.439.2337 MERCER TAVERN 10363 104 St, 587.521.1911 MERCURY ROOM 10575-114 St NAKED CYBERCAFÉ 10303-108 St, 780.425.9730 NEWCASTLE PUB 8170-50 St, 780.490.1999 NEW WEST HOTEL 15025-111 Ave NOORISH CAFÉ 8440-109 St NORTH GLENORA HALL 13535109A Ave O2'S–West 11066-156 St, 780.448.2255 O’BYRNE’S 10616-82 Ave, 780.414.6766 ORIGINAL JOE'S VARSITY ROW 8404-109 St ORLANDO'S 1 15163-121 St O'MAILLES IRISH PUB 104, 398

St Albert Rd, St Albert ON THE ROCKS 11730 Jasper Ave, 780.482.4767 PALACE CASINO 8882-170 St NW PLEASANTVIEW COMMUNITY HALL 10860-57 Ave THE PROVINCIAL PUB 160, 4211-106 St RED PIANO BAR 1638 Bourbon St, WEM, 8882-170 St, 780.486.7722 RANCH ROADHOUSE 6107-104 St NW RED STAR 10538 Jasper Ave, 780.428.0825 RENDEZVOUS 10108-149 St REXALL PLACE 7424-118 Ave RICHARD'S PUB 12150-161 Ave, 780.457.3118 RIC’S GRILL 24 Perron Street, St Albert, 780.460.6602 ROBERTSON-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH 10209-123 St NW ROBERT TEGLER STUDENT CENTRE Concordia Campus 73 St & 112 Ave ROCKY MOUNTAIN ICEHOUSE 10516 Jasper Ave, 780.424.3836 ROSEBOWL/ROUGE LOUNGE 10111-117 St, 780.482.5253 ROSE AND CROWN 10235-101 St ROYAL ALBERTA MUSEUM THEATRE 12845-102 Ave NW SANDS HOTEL 12340 Fort Rd, 780.474.5476 SHAKERS ROADHOUSE Yellowhead Inn, 15004 Yellowhead Trail SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE 9797 Jasper Ave NW

SHERLOCK HOLMES– DOWNTOWN 10012-101 A Ave SHERLOCK HOLMES–U OF A 8519-112 St SHERLOCK HOLMES–WEM 8882-170 St SIDELINERS PUB 11018-127 St SMOKEHOUSE BBQ 10810-124 St, 587.521.6328 SNEAKY PETE'S 12315-118 Ave SOU KAWAII ZEN LOUNGE 1292397 St, 780.758.5924 STARLITE ROOM 10030-102 St, 780.428.1099 STUDIO MUSIC FOUNDATION 10940-166 A St SUGAR FOOT BALLROOM 10545-81 Ave TAVERN ON WHYTE 10507-82 Ave, 780.521.4404 TIRAMISU 10750-124 St UPTOWN FOLK CLUB 7308-76 Ave, 780.436.1554 VEE LOUNGE, APEX CASINO–St Albert 24 Boudreau Rd, St Albert, 780.460.8092, 780.590.1128 WILD EARTH BAKERY– MILLCREEK 8902-99 St, wildearthbakery.com WINSPEAR CENTRE 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square; 780.28.1414 Y AFTERHOURS 10028-102 St, 780.994.3256, yafterhours.com YARDBIRD SUITE 11 Tommy Banks Way, 780.432.0428 YEG DANCE CLUB 11845 Wayne Gretzky Dr YESTERDAYS PUB 112, 205 Carnegie Dr, St Albert, 780.459.0295 ZEN LOUNGE 12923-97 St

EVENTS WEEKLY

edmontonoutdoorclub.com

FOOD ADDICTS • Alano Club (& Simply Done Cafe), 17028-124 St • 780.718.7133 (or 403.506.4695 after 7pm) • Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA), free 12-Step recovery program for anyone suffering from food obsession, overeating, under-eating, and bulimia • Meetings every Thu, 7pm

EMAIL YOUR FREE LISTINGS TO: LISTINGS@VUEWEEKLY.COM FAX: 780.426.2889 DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 3PM

Fort Saskatchewan 45+ Singles Coffee Group • A&W, 10101-88 Ave,

COMEDY

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

Black Dog Freehouse • 10425-82 Ave • Underdog Comedy Show • Every Thu

Lotus Qigong • 780.477.0683 • Downtown • Practice group meets every Thu

Century Casino • 13103 Fort Rd •

Northern Alberta Wood Carvers Association • Duggan Community Hall,

780.481.9857 • Open Mic Night: Every Thu; 7:30-9pm

Cheech & Chong with War and special guest Shelby Chong • River Cree, 300 East Lapotac Blvd, Enoch • Jan 30, 7pm (door), 9pm (show) • Tickets start at $59.50

COMEDY FACTORY • Gateway Entertain-

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

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

Poor Vote Turnout • Rossdale Hall,

sAWA 12-STEP SUPPORT GROUP • Braeside Presbyterian Church bsmt, N. door, 6 Bernard Dr, St Albert • For adult children of alcoholic and dysfunctional families • Every Mon, 7:30pm

Seventies Forever Music Society

• Featuring Mike Dambra and Ryan Paterson • Jan 27, 7:30pm

• Call 587.520.3833 for location • deepsoul. ca • Combining music, garage sales, nature, common sense, and kindred karma to revitalize the inward persona • Every Wed, 7-8:30pm

The Dating Game VALENTINE EDITION • On The Rocks, 11740 Jasper Ave

Sherwood Park Walking Group + 50 • Meet inside Millennium Place,

DRUID • 11606 Jasper Ave • 780.710.2119 • Comedy night open stage hosted by Lars Callieou • Every Sun, 9pm DJ to follow

Empress Ale House • 9912-82 Ave • Empress Comedy Night: featuring a professional headliner every week Every Sun, 9pm

ron james • Arden Theatre, 5 St Anne St, St Albert • 780.459.1542 • ardentheatre.com • Feb 6, 7:30pm • $54 Rouge Lounge • 10111-117 St • Comedy Groove every Wed; 9pm

Groups/CLUBS/meetings Adventure Begins – Grand opening for the Tolkien Literary Guild of Edmonton • Table Top Café 1.0, 5716-75 St • A new group set to journey through the worlds created by literary master J. R. R. Tolkien. Featuring a play through of the Hobbit board game, followed by a discussion of the future journey that members will take in the guild • Jan 29, 7-10pm • $5

Aikikai Aikido Club • 10139-87 Ave, Old Strathcona Community League • Japanese Martial Art of Aikido • Every Tue 7:30-9:30pm; Thu 6-8pm

Argentine Tango Dance at Foot Notes Studio • Foot Notes Dance Studio (South side), 9708-45 Ave • 780.438.3207 • virenzi@shaw.ca • Argentine Tango with Tango Divino: beginners: 7-8pm; intermediate: 8-9pm; Tango Social Dance (Milonga): 9pm-12 • Every Fri, 7pm-midnight • $15

Babes In Arms • The Carrot, 9351-118 Ave • A casual parent group • Every Fri, 10am-12pm

Board Gaming with LADY GEEKs uNITE • Happy Harbor Comics, 10729104 Ave NW • Among the book clubs and film screenings, LADY GEEKs uNITE will be hosting a board game night with some of the LGN crew bringing their own, and guests welcome to bring their own that can be played within an hour to an hour and a half • Feb 4, 7-9pm

EDMONTON OUTDOOR CLUB (EOC) • edmontonoutdoorclub.com • Offering a variety of fun activities in and around Edmonton • Free to join; info at info@

Pride Centre of Edmonton •

of MacEwan University, 10050 MacDonald Drive • 780.633.3725 • Join The Irrelevant Show's Jan Randall and learn how to compose comedy songs • Feb 4, 6-7pm • Free (admission by donation) • St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 8424-95 Ave • 780.469.3270 (Gerry)/ 780.435.6406 (John)/ 780.454.6216 (Sylvia) • South Korea (2006) by Sylvia & Brian Whitson (Feb 1)

Cafe, 10724-124 St • Featuring a lecture by Shara, who will be share her experiences at Bumble Beets Farm. Also featuring a demostration of 150 watt led grow light • Jan 29, 5:30pm

Comic Strip • Bourbon St, WEM •

• Featuring host Sterling Scott with the Nervous Flirts. Fun, prizes, and maybe love will be available • Feb 14, 7:30pm

Composing Comedy Songs with The Irrelevant Show’s Jan Randall • Room 409, Alberta College Campus

Growing Food Connections between People & Earth • Clever Rabbit

Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder (OBAD) • Grey

10135-96 Ave • poorvoteturnout.ca • Public meetings: promoting voting by the poor • Every Wed, 7-8pm

Connie's Comedy presents Comedy • Draft Country Nightclub, 12912-50 St

G.L.B.T.Q Seniors Group • S.A.G.E

GREAT EXPEDITIONS TRAVEL SLIDE

ment Centre, 34 Ave, Calgary Tr • Fri-Sat: 8:30pm • Brian Link; Jan 28-30 • Bob Beddow; Feb 4-6 780.483.5999 • Wed-Fri, Sun 7:30pm; FriSat 9:45pm • Battle to the Funny Bone; every Mon at 7:30pm • Triple Threat Tuesday; every Tue at 7:30pm • Steve Byrne; Jan 28-31 • Julian McCullough; Feb 3-6 • Sterling Scott; Feb 7

• A forum where scholars, politicians, and activists can come together and begin to take account of the outcomes – the successes as well as the failures – of COP21, a historic event in the history of climate and environmental politics • Jan 29, 4-6pm

Sherwood Place • Weekly outdoor walking group; starts with a 10-min discussion, followed by a 30 to 40-min walk through Centennial Park, a cool down and stretch • Every Tue, 8:30am • $2/session (goes to the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta)

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

Toastmasters • Club Bilingue Toastmasters Meetings: Campus

St. Jean: Pavillion McMahon; 780.667.6105 (Willard); clubbilingue.toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 7pm

• Fabulous Facilitators Toastmasters Club:

2nd Fl, Canada Place Rm 217, 9700 Jasper Ave; Carisa: divdgov2014_15@outlook. com, 780.439.3852; fabulousfacilitators. toastmastersclubs.org; Meet every Tue, 12:05-1pm • N'Orators Toastmasters Club: Lower Level, McClure United Church, 13708-74 St: meet every Thu, 6:45-8:30pm; contact vpm@ norators.com, 780.807.4696, norators.com • Terrified of Public Speaking: Norwood Legion Edmonton, 11150-82 St NW; Every Thu until 7:30-9:30pm; Free; contact jnwafula@yahoo. com; norwoodtoastmasters.org • Upward Bound Toastmaster Club: Rm 7, 6 Fl, Edmonton Public Library–DT: Meets every Wed, 7-8:45pm; Sep-May; upward. toastmastersclubs.org; reader1@shaw.ca • Y Toastmasters Club: Queen Alexandra Community League, 10425 University Ave (N door, stairs to the left); Meet every Tue, 7-9pm except last Tue ea month; Contact: Antonio Balce, 780.463.5331

LECTURES/Presentations After Paris: What does climate change? 80 Years of Environmental Politics – Left and Right • University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (11405-87 Ave NW), Room 2 430

International Week: For a Better World • University of Alberta, Telus Centre, 87 Ave and 111 St • globaled.ualberta.ca/ InternationalWeek • globaled@ualberta.ca • This year's theme: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 ambitious goals that aim to “eliminate extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and fix climate change” by 2030 • Jan 25-31

ISIS and the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Canada's Response • Telus Centre 150, University of Alberta • globaled@ ualberta.ca • globaled.ualberta.ca/InternationalWeek • A panel reviewing the situation in the Middle East and the effectiveness of Canada's response • Jan 28, 7-9pm • Free (register at bit.ly/SyrianRefugee_IWeek2016)

Red x Talks: Art is the Medicine • La Cité Francophone, 8627 rue Marie-AnneGaboury • albertaaboriginalarts.com/rubaboo-2016 • Featuring speakers Grand Chief Tony Alexis, chef & TV personality Shane Chartrand, Hollywood actor Cody Lightning, Cree and Métis artist Dawn Marie Marchand, Artistic Director & Co-Founder of Alberta Aboriginal Arts Christine Sokaymoh Frederick, and music by artists Moe Clark and Stephanie Harpe • Feb 3, 6pm (door), 7pm (show)

Seeing is above All • Acacia Hall, 10433-83 Ave, upstairs • 780.554.6133 • Free instruction in meditation on the Inner Light • Every Sun, 5pm

The UN's Sustainable Development Goals: Implications for Canada and the World • U of A, Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science 1-430, 11455 Saskatchewan Drive • globaled@ualberta.ca • globaled.ualberta.ca/ InternationalWeek • Presented by Stephen Lewis who weighs in on what it will take for Canada to lead in the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals • Jan 29, 7:30-9:30pm • Free (register at bit.ly/ StephenLewis_IWeek2016)

(Un)masking Spirit: Mask Creation and Exploration with Elsa Robinson • Robertson-Wesley United Church, 10209-123 St • rwuc.org/sac.html • Every Tue, 7-9pm; Jan 12-Mar 22

Writing Sketch Comedy with The Irrelevant Show’s Neil Grahn and Peter Brown • Room 409, Alberta College Campus of MacEwan University, 10050 MacDonald Drive • 780.633.3725 • Neil Grahn and Peter Brown share their insights on writing comedic sketches • Jan 28, 6-7pm • Free (admission by donation)

QUEER Beers for Queers • Empress Ale House, 9912 Whyte Ave • Meet the last Thu each month

Evolution Wonderlounge • 10220103 St • 780.424.0077 • yourgaybar.com • Community Tue: partner with various local GLBT groups for different events; see online for details • Happy Hour Wed-Fri: 4-8pm • Wed Karaoke: with the Mystery Song Contest; 7pm-2am • Fri: DJ Evictor • Sat: DJ Jazzy • Sun: Beer Bash

Bldg, Craftroom, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Sq • 780.474.8240 • Meeting for gay seniors, and for any seniors who have gay family members and would like some guidance • Every Thu, 1-4pm • Info: E: Tuff69@telus.net Pride Centre of Edmonton, 10608-105 Ave • 780.488.3234 • A safe, welcoming, and non-judgemental drop-in space, support programs and resources offered for members of the GLBTQ community, their families and friends • Daily: Community drop-in; support and resources. Queer library: borrowing privileges: Tue-Fri 12-9pm, Sat 2-6:30pm, closed Sun-Mon; Queer HangOUT (a.k.a. QH) youth drop-in: Tue-Fri 3-8pm, Sat 2-6:30pm, youth@pridecentreofedmonton.org • Counselling: Free, short-term by registered counsellors every Wed, 5:30-8:30pm, info/bookings: 780.488.3234 • Knotty Knitters: Knit and socialize in safe, accepting environment, all skill levels welcome; every Wed 6-8pm • QH Game Night: Meet people through board game fun; every Thu 6-8pm • QH Craft Night: every Wed, 6-8pm • QH Anime Night: Watch anime; every Fri, 6-8pm • Movie Night: Open to everyone; 2nd and 4th Fri each month, 6-9pm • Women’s Social Circle: Social support group for female-identified persons +18 years in the GLBT community; new members welcome; 2nd and 4th Thu, 7-9pm each month; andrea@pridecentreofedmonton.org • Men Talking with Pride: Support and social group for gay and bisexual men; every Sun 7-9pm; robwells780@hotmail.com • TTIQ: a support and information group for all those who fall under the transgender umbrella and their family/supporters; 3rd Mon, 7-9pm, each month • HIV Support Group: Support and discussion group for gay men; 2nd Mon, 7-9pm, each month; huges@shaw.ca

St Paul's United Church • 11526-76 Ave • 780.436.1555 • People of all sexual orientations are welcome • Every Sun (10am worship) Team Edmonton • Various sports and recreation activities • All-Bodies Swim: Bonnie Doon Leisure Centre, 8648-81 St NW; pridecentreofedmonton.org; Every 3rd Sat of the month, 9:30-10:30pm • Badminton: Oliver School, 10227-118 St; badminton@teamedmonton.ca; Every Wed (until Feb 24); $5 (drop-in) • Board Game Group: Underground Tap & Grill, 10004 Jasper Ave; Monthly on a Sun, 3-7pm; RSVP to boardgames@ teamedmonton.ca • Bootcamp: Oliver Community Hall, 10326-118 St; bootcamp@ teamedmonton.ca; Every Thu, 7pm; $30 (full season), $15 (low income or students) • Equal, Fit, Fierce, and Fabulous: Pride Centre, 10608-105 Ave; pridecentreofedmonton.org/ calendar; Drop in games and activities for youth; Every other Tue, 4:30-6pm WOMONSPACE • 780.482.1794 • womonspace.org, womonspace@gmail.com • A Non-profit lesbian social organization for Edmonton and surrounding area. Monthly activities, newsletter, reduced rates included with membership. Confidentiality assured

Woodys Video Bar • 11723 Jasper

Ave • 780.488.6557 • Sun: Last Sun each month, Woodys Jam Session with the talented regular customers; Jugs of Canadian or Kokanee only $13 • Mon: Massive Mondays features talented comedians • Tue: Domestic bottle beer special only $3.75 all night long • Wed: Jugs of Canadian and Kokanee for $13; Karaoke with Shirley from 7pm-12:30am • Thu: Highballs on special only $3.75 all night long; Karaoke with Bubbles 7pm-12:30am • Fri: Comming soon: DJ Arrow Chaser's new TGIF Party • Sat: Pool Tournement, 4pm; Jager shots on special only $4; Coming soon, DJ Jazzy

SPECIAL EVENTS 7th Annual Rubaboo Festival • Various locations throughout Edmonton • albertaaboriginalarts.com/rubaboo-2016 • Showcasing Aboriginal plays, music, dance, art, food, family events, artist workshops • Jan 27-Feb 6

DeepSoul.ca • 587.520.3833; call or text for Sunday jam locations • Every Sun: Sunday Jams with no Stan (CCR to Metallica), starring Chuck Prins on Les Paul Standard guitars; Pink Floydish originals plus great Covers of Classics: some FREE; Twilight Zone Lively Up Yourself Tour (with DJ Cool Breeze);

VUEWEEKLY.com | jan 28 – feb 3, 2016

all ages

Edmonton Pet Expo • Edmonton Expo Centre, 7515-118 Ave NW • 780.490.0215 • info@edmontonshows.com • petexpo.ca • Featuring entertainment, demos, petting zoo and much more • Jan 30-31

Edmonton Renovation Show • Edmonton Expo Centre, 7515-118 Ave NW • 778.475.1495 / Toll Free: 866.941.0673 • terrih@mpeshows.com • edmontonrenovationshow.com • Over 250 exhibitors and experts take over the Expo centre to help attendees rip their homes apart and make them even more beautiful • Jan 29-31 • $5-$12

E-Ville Roller Derby Presents: Slice Girls vs Berzerkhers • Edmonton Sportsdome, 10104-32 Ave NW • Jan 30, 6-9pm • $10 (adv), $15 (door), free for kids 10 and under

Ice Castles • Hawrelak Park, 9930 Groat Road • icecastles.com • A massive castle made of ice, craft by hand using only icicles and water • Jan 5-Mar 1 • $9.95-$15.95

Ice on Whyte • End of Steel Park, Gateway Boulevard & Tommy Banks Way • iceonwhyte.ca • Featuring ice and snow exhibits, interactive kids play area, and the famous ice slide • Jan 28-31

Lite Brite Winter Nite • Victoria Park Pavillion, River Valley Rd NW • edmontonbikes.ca/brite-lite-winter-nite-bike-ride • Participants will be taken through the river valley and along Mill Creek to the Flying Canoë Volant and Winterus Maximus fat bike Chariot Race. All ages and abilties are welcome to join • Feb 6, 6-7pm • Free

Lunar New Year Celebration • Londonderry Mall, 137 Ave & 66 St • Welcoming the year of the monkey! Featuring a Lion Dance performance, New Years greetings with firecrackers, dance performance, martial arts demo and much more • Feb 13, 11am-6pm

A Nite to Remember • Evangel Pentecostal Assembly, 4461-50 St • craigk@ evangel.info • Two hours of laughter and fun with comedians Leland Klassen and James MacNeil. Plus, watch four couples battle it out on Date Night Feud • Feb 6, 6-9pm • $15 (single ticket), $20 (per couple); tickets can be purchased at BuzzTix Nordlys Film and Arts Festival • Bailey Theatre 5041-50 St, Camrose • nordlysfestival.com • Breaking up the dark days of winter with a marathon line-up of films, special guests and live music with films varying in origin and language • Feb 12-14 The Rubaroo Aboriginal Arts Festival • La Cite Francaphone, 8627-91 St • rubaboo.ca • An artistic stew of workshops and performances by professional and emerging aboriginal artists • Jan 27-Feb 7

Scrambled YEG • Brittany's Lounge, 10225-97 St • 780.497.0011 • Open Genre Variety Stage: artist from all mediums are encouraged to occupy the stage and share their creations • Every Tue-Fri, 5-8pm Silver Skate Day at Ice Castles • Hawrelak Park, 9930 Groat Road • icecastles.com/edmonton • With a performance by Folk Trail, help raise funds for Silver Skate Festival. All ticket sales will be donated to the Silver Skate Festival • $11.95-$15.95 (purchase online)

Silver Skate Festival • William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Road • silverskatefestival.org • Combines sport (especially skating), arts and culture, and recreation • Feb 12-21 • Free

Southwest Community Ski Festival • Blue Quill Community Hall, 11304-25 Ave • Celebrate cross-country skiing • Jan 30, 11:30am-3:30pm

Winterus Maximus Fatbike Chariot race • Flying Canoe Festival - southwest side of Rutherford School grounds, southwest corner 8620-91St • winterusmaximus@joinmade.org • joinmade. org/winterusmaximus • Celebrate winter with an epic chariot battle of homemade chariot sleds pulled by teams of fatbikers • Free (spectators), firepits to warm up around and cafe inside the school for hot drinks; $30 to register a team for the event

AR THE BACK 25

classifieds To Book Your Classified, Contact Valerie at 780.426.1996 or at classifieds@vueweekly.com 130.

Coming Events

January 28- new year - new singles mixer @The Druid 5:30 - 8:30 $5 admission includes free beverage coupon.

1600.

Volunteers Wanted

can you read this? help someone Who can’t! Volunteer 2 hours a week and help someone improve their Reading, Writing, Math or English Speaking Skills. Call Valerie at P.A.L.S. 780-424-5514 or email palsvol@shaw.ca

1600.

Volunteers Wanted

community leaders in Waste reduction Complete a free, 40-hour course. Learn about composting, recycling & more. Volunteer at least 35 hours. Show friends & family how to reduce waste. Apply at edmonton.ca/mcrp.

2005.

Artist to Artist

enJoy art alWayZ www.bdcdrawz.com

2020.

Musicians Wanted

drummer Wanted Black/Death Metal Band will pay $150 per show for session drummer. Contact www.facebook.com/anthroplaq ue or call 780.292.3397.

ALBERTA-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS •• auctions •• COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION. 10th Annual Red Deer Collector Car Auction & Speed Show. March 11 - 13, 2016, Westerner Park. Special Guests: Dan & Laura Dotson - Storage Wars; “Horny” Mike - Counting Cars; Chris Jacobs - Overhaulin’. Consign today. 1-888-2960528 ext. 103; egauctions.com.

•• business •• opportunities CONTROL YOUR FINANCIAL future selling Watkins products. Watkins has provided stability & high income for its associates for over 145 years. Join for less than $50. 1-800279-6104. Email: watkinse@ telusplanet.net. HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Restrictions in walking/dressing? $2,500 yearly tax credit. $20,000 lump sum cheque. Disability Tax Credit. Expert Help: 1-844-453-5372. LOOKING FOR 4 working partners who want to achieve financial success. Please contact by phone or email today: 780-970-3861; davidjdyck@ shaw.ca. GET FREE high cash producing vending machines. $1.00 vend = .70 profit. No competition. Financing and locating services provided. Full details. Call now 1-866-668-6629. Website WWW.TCVEND.COM. GREAT CANADIAN Dollar

Store franchise opportunities are available in your area. Explore your future with a dollar store leader. Call today 1-877388-0123 ext. 229; www. dollarstores.com.

•• career training •• MASSAGE CAREER - At Alberta Institute of Massage we deliver exceptional training, inspire learning, and ignite passion for knowledge! “AIM for Success!” 403-346-1018. Now enrolling for March distance learning programs. REFLEXOLOGY PROGRAM, fun and relaxed learning. Register now limited space. Starting March 2016. Certificate upon completion. 403-3401330. HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTATION Specialists in huge demand. Employers prefer CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Contact us now to start your training day; www.canscribe. com. 1-800-466-1535; info@ canscribe.com.

berta’s weekly newspapers are looking for people like you. Post your resume online. Free. Visit: awna.com/for-job-seekers. SEEKING COMMERCIAL HVAC Technician. Must have BCDL, “B” gas ticket required, 3 years minimum experience required. Great wages, benefits & medical. Kamloops, BC. Email resume to: chris@ hegyirefrigeration.ca HAIRDRESSER NEEDED for a busy, established hairdressing shop. Room also for an esthetician. Inquiries 1313 - 14 Street, Wainwright, or phone 780-842-3003. MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your workat-home career today!

•• equipment •• for sale A-STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINERS. 20’, 40’ & 53’. 40’ insulated reefers/freezers. Modifications possible windows, doors, walls, as office, living work-shop, etc., 40’ flatrack/bridge. 1-866-528-7108; www.rtccontainer.com.

•• employment •• opportunities INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT SCHOOL. Hands-On Tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training! Funding & Housing Available! Job Aid! Already a HEO? Get certification proof. Call 1-866-399-3853 or go to: iheschool.com.

•• for sale ••

JOURNALISTS, Graphic Artists, Marketing and more. Al-

POLE BARNS, Shops, steel buildings metal clad or fabric clad. Complete supply and installation. Call John @

403-998-7907; jcameron@ advancebuildings.com. REACH OVER 1 Million Readers Weekly. Advertise Province Wide Classifieds. Only $269 + GST (based on 25 words or less). Call now for details 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228; www.awna.com. WANTED USED water well/ seismic drilling rig parts for Mayhew, Failing, etc. Mud pumps; tables; draw works; drill stem; subs; bits; transfer cases; compressors (Leroi). Phone 1-800-244-4766, 24 hours. STEEL BUILDING SALE “Really Big Sale - Extra winter discount on now!” 21X22 $5, 190. 25X24 $5,988. 27X28 $7,498. 30X32 $8,646. 35X34 $11,844. 42X54 $16,386. One End wall included. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422 www. pioneersteel.ca REFORESTATION NURSERY SEEDLINGS of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts or landscaping. Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree. Free shipping. Replacement guarantee. 1-866-873-3846 or www. treetime.ca. METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 32+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

•• health •• CANADA BENEFIT GROUP Do you or someone you know

VUE Weekly is seeking some serious professional help!

ACCOUNT MANAGER someone with a positive attitude

someone who possesses outstanding sales skills hardworking + enjoy rewards in a team environment

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Come join a dynamic, fast-paced and growing company looking for enthusiastic Account Managers. We are a place where we want our employees to grow, feel inspired and use their strongest assets to propel their work. Duties + Responsibilites • sell advertising into VUE Weekly and PostVUE Publishing products • be part of an established team, creating great new ideas for revenue and incoming opportunities

LET’S TALK 26 AT THE BACK

Send your resumé to Ron Drillen at rdrillen@vueweekly.com VUEWEEKLY.com | JAN 28 – FEB 3, 2016

suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll free 1-888511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/free-assessment.

•• manufactured •• homes CROSS COUNTRY HOMES. Come view our show homes that are ready for quick possession; 20’ wides from $114,000! Or custom build for spring. Visit us in Acheson. 780-470-8000; www.crosscountryhomes.com. 2016 SHOWHOME SALE. Any showhome on our lot will receive a $2,000 discount. We need to make way for the 2016 models. Call Marg, Craigs Home Sales in Lethbridge toll free 1-855-380-2266. NO MATTER WHO you are, we have a home that fits your lifestyle at United Homes Canada. Over 40 years of experience in providing the best value in quality modular and manufactured housing. Call 1-800-461-7632 or visit www.unitedhomescanada.com to discover how we can help you find your new home.

•• real estate •• PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 8000 acres of year round water supply. Full operational with management available. Central Saskatchewan. Crossfenced & complete infrastructure. Natural springs excellent water. Shortly ready to locate cattle. Other small & large grain & pasture quarters. $150k - $2.6m. Call Doug Rue 306-716-2671;

saskfarms@shaw.ca.

•• services •• CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon. U.S. travel waiver. Divorce? Simple. Fast. Inexpensive. Debt recovery? Alberta collection to $25,000. Calgary 403-228-1300/1-800347-2540. GET BACK on track! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need money? We lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877987-1420; www.pioneerwest. com. BANK SAID NO? Bank on us! Equity Mortgages for purchases, debt consolidation, foreclosures, renovations. Bruised credit, self-employed, unemployed ok. Dave Fitzpatrick: www.albertalending. ca. 587-437-8437, Belmor

•• mortgage •• EASY ALBERTA DIVORCE. Free Consultation 1-800-3202477; www.canadianlegal. org. CCA Award #1 Paralegal. A+ BBB Reputation. 26 Years Experience. Open Mon. - Sat.

•• travel •• SEE POLAR BEARS, Walrus and Whales on our Arctic Explorer Voyage next summer. Save 15% with our winter sale for a limited time. Call Toll free 1-800-363-7566 or visit: www.adventurecanada.com. (TICO#04001400).

FREEWILLASTROLOGY ARIES (MAR 21 – APR 19): Do you know Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights? At one point, the heroine Catherine tells her friend about Edgar, a man she's interested in. "He wanted all to lie in an ecstasy of peace," Catherine says, "and I wanted all to sparkle and dance in a glorious jubilee. I said his heaven would be only half alive; and he said mine would be drunk: I said I should fall asleep in his; and he said he could not breathe in mine." If you're a typical Aries, you're more aligned with Catherine than with Edgar. But I'm hoping you might consider making a temporary compromise in the coming weeks. "At last, we agreed to try both," Catherine concluded, "and then we kissed each other and were friends." TAURUS (APR 20 – MAY 20): People turn to you Tauruses for help in staying grounded. They love to soak up your down-toearth pragmatism. They want your steadfastness to rub off on them, to provide them with the stability they see in you. You should be proud of this service you offer! It's a key part of your appeal. Now and then, though, you need to demonstrate that your stalwart dependability is not static and stagnant—that it's strong exactly because it's flexible and adaptable. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to emphasize this aspect of your superpower. GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUN 20): When winter comes, pine trees that grow near mountaintops may not be able to draw water and minerals from the ground through their roots. The sustenance they require is frozen. Luckily, their needle-like leaves absorb moisture from clouds and fog, and drink in minerals that float on the wind. Metaphorically speaking, Gemini, this will be your preferred method for getting nourished in the coming weeks. For the time being, look UP to obtain what you need. Be fed primarily by noble ideals, big visions, divine inspiration and high-minded people. CANCER (JUN 21 – JUL 22): We all go through phases when we are at odds with people we love. Maybe we're mad at them, or feel hurt by them, or can't comprehend what they're going through. The test of our commitment is how we act when we are in these moods. That's why I agree with author Steve Hall when he says, "The truest form of love is how you behave toward someone, not how you feel about them." The coming weeks will be an important time for you to practice this principle with extra devotion— not just for the sake of the people you care about, but also for your own physical, mental and spiritual health.

LEO (JUL 23 – AUG 22): After fighting and killing each other for years on end, the Roman and Persian armies agreed to a truce in 532 AD. The treaty was optimistically called "The Endless Peace." Sadly, "endless" turned out to be just eight years—by 540, hostilities resumed. I'm happy to announce, though, that your prospects for accord and rapprochement are much brighter. If you work diligently to negotiate an endless peace anytime between now and March 15, it really is likely to last a long time. VIRGO (AUG 23 – SEP 22): "I shiver, thinking how easy it is to be totally wrong about people, to see one tiny part of them and confuse it for the whole." Author Lauren Oliver wrote that, and now I'm offering it to you, just in time for your Season of Correction and Adjustment. The coming weeks will be a favourable time for you to get smarter about evaluating your allies—and maybe even one of your adversaries, as well. I expect you will find it relatively easy, even pleasurable, to overcome your misimpressions and deepen your incomplete understandings. LIBRA (SEP 23 – OCT 22): In June 1942, the US Navy crushed Japanese naval forces at the Battle of Midway. It was a turning point that was crucial to America's ultimate victory over Japan in The Second World War. One military historian called it "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare." This milestone occurred just six months after Japan's devastating attack on US forces at Pearl Harbor. To compare your life to these two events may be bombastic, but I'm in a bombastic mood as I contemplate your exciting possibilities. I predict that in the second half of 2016, you'll claim a victory that will make up for a loss or defeat you endured during the last few months of 2015. And right now is when you can lay the groundwork for that future triumph. SCORPIO (OCT 23 – NOV 21): Playwright Edmond Rostand (1868 – 1918) had a lot of friends, and they often came to visit him uninvited. He found it hard to simply tell them to go away and leave him alone. And yet he hated to be interrupted while he was working. His solution was to get naked and write for long hours while in his bathroom, usually soaking in the bathtub. His intrusive friends rarely had the nerve to insist on socializing. In this way, Rostand found the peace he needed to create his masterpiece Cyrano de Bergerac, as well as numerous other plays. I suggest you consider a comparable gambit, Scorpio. You need to carve out some quality alone time. SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 – DEC 21): "I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn't."

ROB BREZSNY FREEWILL@VUEWEEKLY.COM

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

The preceding reminiscence belongs to a character in Khaled Hosseini's novel The Kite Runner. I bring it up in hopes that you will do the opposite: say the words that need to be said. Articulate what you're burning to reveal. Speak the truths that will send your life on a course that's in closer alignment with your pure intentions. CAPRICORN (DEC 22 – JAN 19): According to some traditional astrologers, you Capricorns are vigilant to avoid loss. Old horoscope books suggest that you may take elaborate measures to avoid endangering what you have accumulated. To ensure that you will never run out of what you need, you may even ration your output and limit your self-expression. This behaviour is rooted in the belief that you should conserve your strength by withholding or even hiding your power. While there may be big grains of truth in this conventional view of you Capricorns, I think it's only part of the story. In the coming weeks, for instance, I bet you will wield your clout with unabashed authority. You won't save yourself for later; you'll engage in no strategic self-suppression. Instead, you will be expansive and unbridled as you do whatever's required to carry out the important foundation work that needs to be done. AQUARIUS (JAN 20 – FEB 18): "It seems that the whole time you're living this life, you're thinking about a different one instead," wrote Latvian novelist Inga Ābele in her novel High Tide. Have you ever been guilty of that, Aquarius? Probably. Most of us have at one time or another. That's the bad news. The good news is that the coming months will bring you excellent opportunities to graduate forever from this habit. Not all at once, but gradually and incrementally, you can shed the idea that you should be doing something other than what you're doing. You can get the hang of what it's like to thoroughly accept and embrace the life you are actually living. And now is an excellent time to get started in earnest on this project. PISCES (FEB 19 – MAR 20): "Even nightingales can't be fed on fairy tales," says a character in Ivan Turgenev's novel Fathers and Sons. In other words, these marvelous birds, which sing sublimely and have long been invoked by poets to symbolize lyrical beauty, need actual physical sustenance. They can't eat dreamy stories. Having acknowledged that practical fact, however, I will suggest that right now you require dreamy stories and rambling fantasies and imaginary explorations almost as much as you need your daily bread. Your soul's hunger has reached epic proportions. It's time to gorge.V

MATT JONES JONESINCROSSWORDS@VUEWEEKLY.COM

"Roll With It"—a round of applause.

Across

1 Part of NKOTB 4 Reason for a Boy Scout badge 9 Trolley 13 Twenty-one desirable 14 Brunch beverage 15 Negative space 16 Arts and crafts chain in a 2014 Supreme Court decision 18 It may be golden 19 Pianist Tatum 20 Like just-above-freezing temperatures, in Celsius 22 Racetrack suggestion 25 2, 4, 6, 8, what do these approximate? 26 The Hamburglar's catchphrase 30 Rallying cry against Cobra, perhaps 31 Chinese premier Zhou ___ 32 Karl Lagerfeld prop 35 Play ___ role 36 Subsequent to 37 "I can do that!" 38 D.C. ballplayer 39 Henry Doorly Zoo city 40 First two-time Nobelist 41 Foolish talk, to B.A. Baracus 43 1990s defense secretary Les 46 Thai appetizers on skewers 47 Through the efforts of 51 TV show taper, once 52 Evian waters 53 "Va-va-voom!" relative 58 Run in neutral 59 Pungent-tasting, in a way 60 Veterans Day mo. 61 Long-distance swimmer Diana 62 Drummer Charlie of the Rolling Stones 63 Cute spherical character in "The Force Awakens" demonstrated in this grid (not counting this answer)

7 Bookstore ID 8 Actor Diggs who coauthored the 2015 children's book "Mixed Me!" 9 Do very well 10 Cheekbone enhancer 11 "I'm betting everything," to poker players 12 Track events 14 ___ Beach, South Carolina 17 Creature born in 1982, according to the Weekly World News 21 Bagel and lox purveyor 22 Water pipe in a lounge (var.) 23 ___ d'art 24 Factory-made, as housing 26 Actor Gosling 27 "___ Good Ship Lollipop" 28 Goes out of focus 29 Place to pick up glasses 32 1998 interactive toy with its own artificial language 33 First astrological sign 34 ___-do-well (slacker) 36 Diplomat's title, for short 37 Forester automaker 39 Make like a pig 40 Like a memorable tune 41 Full of bad luck 42 Some Indonesians, by location 43 Used the dining room table 44 Untrustworthy 45 Comedian Poundstone 48 "Fish" or "CHiPs," e.g. 49 Melt base 50 "In memoriam" writeup 54 Droid 55 Air___ (lodging website) 56 "Better Call Saul" star Odenkirk 57 "I could've had ___!" (juice slogan) ©2016 Jonesin' Crosswords

Down

1 "No dice" 2 "The Name of the Rose" novelist Umberto 3 One W of WWW 4 "Uncle" of early TV 5 Philips who said "How many people here have telekinetic powers? Raise my hand" 6 Prefix for call or cop

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SEX-OLOGY

tami-lee duncan tami-lee@vueweekly.com

Making schools safer for everyone

Addressing the misconceptions and fears surrounding the new LGBTQ school policies On January 13, Alberta Education released new guidelines for school boards encouraging the review or creation of policies protecting the rights of students, parents and teachers in the LGBTQ community. At present, 73 percent of school districts in Alberta lack such policies, which has become increasingly apparent as more people have spoken out about challenges they've faced in their local districts. While most will agree that it's good to protect the rights of vulnerable children, there has been significant backlash, mostly stemming from the recommendation that all students have safe access to washrooms and change rooms that are congruent with their gender. The controversy appears to be perpetuated by misunderstanding. So, let's define terms. Sex refers to biological anatomical traits whereas gender refers to roles, behaviours, activities and attri-

butes socially associated with being male or female. Gender identity is an internal sense of being male, female, both or neither. Transgender (trans*) is when an individual's biological sex does not match their gender identity. Gender identity is not the same as sexual orientation, which is the locus of physical and emotional attraction. Trans* people can be straight, gay, bisexual, et cetera. Non-normative gender identities and sexual orientations do not equate to sexual deviance or perpetration. As for the controversy, there seems to be a lot of panic that young girls will be forced to change in front of boys. Patronizing stereotypes aside, this is simply not the case. The suggested policy would allow girls (with or without penises) to use girl bathrooms and boys (with or without vaginas) to use boy bathrooms—because again, biological sex and gender identity are different. If you're thinking, "I'm not

comfortable with my kid changing in front of a LGBTQ person"—I hate to break it to you, but they already have and so have you. No big deal. The biggest fear seems to be about increased risk of perpetration. The extreme of this fear is that pedophiles will somehow be given unfettered access to locker rooms—but I suspect that the standing "no pedophiles allowed" rule will continue to prevent that. As for other potential violations, the policy does not encourage or permit horny teenage voyeurism or sexual assault. In fact, the guidelines pertaining to bathrooms and change rooms actually make things safer by suggesting increased supervision, alternative private change spaces and more unisex single-stall bathrooms. Here's why these guidelines are so important: studies show that LGBTQ high school students are 61 percent more likely to feel unsafe than non-LGBTQ peers and 62

percent of transgendered people report experiencing discrimination (including violent assault). As such, LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance use, homelessness and PTSD; a 2010 study (by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) reported that trans* people are 25 times more likely to attempt suicide. The research also shows that outcomes are worse in less inclusive environments where bullying is intensified, whereas individuals who face less persecution have significantly fewer mental-health problems. Bullying feeds off of ignorance, fear and intolerance. The public outrage in response to these guidelines is dangerous, sending a powerful, destructive message to vulnerable LGBTQ kids. They are being hurt by the unwarranted concerns and accusations. They are being hurt by the messages other kids glean

from the backlash. And they are being hurt by the discrimination and alienation it perpetuates. The new guidelines are designed to set a tone of understanding and acceptance. Their implementation will make schools safer and more inclusive. The guidelines are not putting heterosexual and gendernormative children at increased risk of violation or abuse. They are, however, protecting vulnerable children from unnecessary institutional persecution. In the end, education in a supportive and inclusive environment is better for everyone. V Tami-lee Duncan is a Registered Psychologist in Edmonton, specializing in sexual health. Please note that the information and advice given above is not a substitute for therapeutic treatment with a licensed professional. For information or to submit a question, please contact tami-lee@vueweekly.com. Follow on Twitter @SexOlogyYEG. Dan savage savagelove@vueweekly.com

SOUND MIND AND BODY

Down to business: Christmas came and went, and every present I bought for my extraordinary husband could be opened in front of our children. He deserves better, and I have a particular gift in mind for Valentine's Day. My husband has expressed an interest in sounding, something we've attempted only with my little finger. He seemed to enjoy it! But the last thing I want to do is damage his big beautiful dick. So is sounding a fun thing? Is sounding a safe thing? Recommendations for a beginner's sounding kit? Or should I scrap the idea and just get him another butt plug? Safety Of Sounding PS: Here is a picture of the big beautiful dick I don't want to damage. Sounding, for those of you who didn't go to the same Sunday school I did, involves the insertion of smooth metal or plastic rods into the urethra. Sounding is sometimes done for legitimate medical purposes (to open up a constricted urethra, to locate a blockage), and it's sometimes done for legitimate erotic purposes (some find the sensation pleasurable, and others are turned on by the transgression, particularly when a man is being sounded—ie, the penetrator's penetrator penetrated). So, yeah, some people definitely think sounding is a fun thing, SOS. "But whether or not something is a safe thing depends on knowledge of the risks/pitfalls and an observance of proper technique," said Dr Keith D. Newman, a urologist and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. "The urethral lining has the consis-

30 AT THE BACK

tency of wet paper towels and can be damaged easily, producing scarring. And the male urethra takes a bend just before the prostate. Negotiating that bend takes talent, and that's where most sounding injuries occur." Recreational cock sounders—particularly newbies—shouldn't attempt to push past that bend. But how do you know when you've arrived at that bend? "SOS's partner should do the inserting initially," Dr Newman said, "as the bend in the urethra is easily recognized by the soundee. Once he is clear on his cues—once he understands the sensations, what works, and when the danger areas are reached—SOS can participate safely with insertion." And cleanliness matters, SOS, whether you're sounding the husband or serving burritos to the public. "Infection is always an issue," Dr Newman said. "Clean is good, but the closer to sterile the better. And be careful about fingers. They can be more dangerous than sounds because of the nails and difficulty in sterilizing." So for the record, SOS: your previous attempts at sounding—those times you jammed your little finger into your husband's piss slit—were more dangerous than the sounding you'll be doing with the lovely set of stainless-steel sounding rods you'll be giving your hubby on Valentine's Day. Moving on… "Spit is not lube," Dr Newman said. "Water- or silicone-based lubes are good; oil-based is not so good with metal instruments." (You can also go online and order little single-serving packets of sterile lubricant. Don't ask me how I know this.) Using "glass or other breakable instruments" as

sounds is a Very Bad Idea. Dr Newman was pretty emphatic on this point— and while it sounds like a fairly obvious point, anyone who's worked in an ER can tell you horror stories about all the Very Bad Ideas they've retrieved from people's urethras, vaginas and rectums. Now let's go shopping! "Choosing the best 'starter kit' is not hard: Pratt Dilators are not hard to find online, they're not that expensive and they will last a lifetime," Dr Newman said. (I found a set of Pratt Dilators on Amazon for less than $30.) And when your set arrives, SOS, don't make the common mistake of starting with the smallest/skinniest sound in the pack. "Inserting something too small allows wiggle room on the way in and for a potential to stab the urethral wall," Dr Newman said. The doc's next safety tip will make sense after you've seen a set of Pratt Dilators: "Always keep the inserted curve facing one's face, meaning the visible, external curve facing away toward one's back." You can gently stroke your husband's cock once the sound is in place, SOS; you can even blow him. Vaginal intercourse is off the table, obviously, and you might not wanna fuck his big beautiful dick with a sound until you're both feeling like sounding experts. And when that time comes: don't stab away at his cock with a sound in order to sound-fuck him. A quality sound has some weight and heft—hold his erection upright, slowly pull the well-lubricated, non-glass sound until it's almost all the way out, and then let go. It will sink back without any help from you. Your husband's butt should be plugfree during your sounding sessions, SOS, as a plug could compress a

section his urethra. If you're skilled enough to work around the bend—or if you're foolish enough to push past it—the sound could puncture his compressed urethra. And a punctured urethra is every bit as unpleasant as it sounds. (Sorry.) Finally, SOS, what about coming? Will your husband's balls explode if he blows a load while a metal rod is stuffed in his urethra? "Coming with the sound in place is a matter of personal preference," Dr Newman said. "There is no particular danger involved." PS: Thank you for the picture.

SECRET STASH

My wife and I have an amazing relationship. Our sex life is as hot as it can be, given a child and two careers. A couple of years ago, I bought her one of those partial-body sex dolls (it has a cock and part of the stomach). We took videos and pictures while using it. Very hot for both of us. We later got a black version of the same toy. (We are white.) Even hotter videos. I have kept the videos in a secure app on my iPad. Over the past year, I have created Photoshop porn of my wife with black men using screenshots from commercial porn. I haven't shared this with my wife. We never discussed what to do with the videos and pics we made. I assumed she trusted me not to share these images with anyone. (I haven't and won't!) Is it OK that I have a porn stash that features my wife? Is it OK that I have a stash of Photoshop porn of my wife fucking black men? Should I share this info—and my fantasies—with her? I've always fantasized about her being with a black man, but I'm not sure either of us would truly want that to happen.

VUEWEEKLY.com | jan 28 – feb 3, 2016

Secretly Keeping Encrypted Porn That Isn't Clearly Allowed Lately You need to speak to your wife about those pics and videos, about the way you've manipulated them, and about your fantasies—but that's a lot to lay on her at once, SKEPTICAL, so take it in stages. Find a time to ask her about those old pics and videos and whether she wants them discarded or if you can continue to hang on to them. At a different time, bring up your racially charged fantasies and let her know what those partial-body sex dolls were doing for you. And finally, SKEPTICAL, if she reacts positively to your having held on to the photos and to your fantasies, ask her how she feels about you creating a few images using Photoshop of her hooking up with a black man for fantasy purposes only. It's a little dishonest—you're asking for permission to do what you've already done—but you'll know what you need to do if her answer to the Photoshop question is "No, absolutely not!" (To be clear: you'll need to delete those Photoshopped pics.) All that said, SKEPTICAL, if the images you're holding on to—the originals and/or the manipulated ones— could destroy your marriage and/ or your wife's life and/or your wife's career if they got out (computers can be hacked or stolen, clouds may not be as secure as advertised), don't wait: delete all of the images now. On the Lovecast, porn star Bailey Jay on the perils and pleasures of letting your dirty photos out: savagelovecast.com. @fakedansavage on Twitter

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EDUTORIUM

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32 DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE A COOL MOTIVATOR

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