Tag: hotel macdonald

Upcoming August events to check out!

Aside from eating our fill at the Heritage Festival on Saturday, Sharon and I had a relaxing long weekend up at Goose Lake. With a busy August and September ahead, we figured we had to make the most our down time! Here are some of the events we’re working on for the weeks ahead.

What the Truck?! at Borden Park

Our next big What the Truck?! event will take place on Saturday, August 16 in Borden Park from 4pm to 8pm. We struggled a little this year to find a suitable August location, but eventually settled on the newly renovated park.

Borden Park

Over the last three years the City of Edmonton has invested $9 million in Borden Park, and it shows. New sidewalks, benches, picnic tables, sculptures, and a beautiful reflective round pavilion containing washrooms all help to brighten an already lovely green space.

Borden Park

We think the park is the perfect setting for enjoying some great food trucks! Bring the family and hang out in the green space, at the picnic sites, on the walking trails, and elsewhere throughout the park.

You can check out the lineup of trucks here, and check back again next week for the menus. You can RSVP on Facebook and help us spread the word!

PS. Our biggest event of the year is coming up after this one, and will be on September 12 in Churchill Square. Save the date!

97 Street Night Market

The following weekend is another busy one! On Saturday, August 23 from 6pm to 10pm, come down to Chinatown to take in the second annual 97 Street Night Market. The event will feature food, walking tours, entertainment, and of course, vendors!

East Meets West 2014

The event is being organized by Sharon, Maria, and Roxanne, all of whom had a hand in last year’s 97 Street Night Market that took place in the parking lot behind the old post office (where the Royal Alberta Museum is now under construction). This year the event is taking place along 106 Avenue just west of 97 Street.

97 Street Night Market

I’m helping out with the digital stuff, and will be volunteering on the day. You can check out Sharon’s recap of last year’s event here. Then, RSVP on Facebook and tell your friends!

Blink: the ImMACulate Garden Party

The very next day on August 24, we’re excited to be hosting a garden party at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald from 2pm to 5pm! We have reunited the Blink team (myself, Sharon, Hannah, and Steph) to put together what we think will be a fun event in an underutilized space.

Hotel Macdonald

The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald’s patio was just named to enRoute magazine’s list of 5 Must-Visit Canadian Patios, but it’s amazing how many Edmontonians still haven’t been there. If you haven’t experienced it for yourself, this event will be a great opportunity to do so! All afternoon, staff will be providing tours of the historic downtown gem which turns 100 years old next July!

Hotel Macdonald

You can expect a signature cocktail, tasty food, entertainment, and of course, an amazing view of the river valley! We’re still working on the details and will have more to share in the days ahead. In the meantime, you can RSVP on Facebook!

UPDATE: Tickets are now on sale for $40, proceeds support the Edmonton Humane Society!

I hope to see you at some or all of these events!

Recap: artsScene Edmonton’s Summer Party + Behind the Scenes at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

artsScene Edmonton’s latest sold out event took place tonight at the historic Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. The Summer Patio Party + Behind the Scenes was another great opportunity to catch up with old friends and to meet some new ones too! Here’s what the event was all about:

Steeped in history, The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald opened its doors in 1915 and has continued to be the centre of Edmonton’s social life. Join fellow young professionals (ages 18-40) and discover the building’s history and architecture, combined with a summer patio party with DJs, drinks and more overlooking the city’s river valley. It’ll be an artsScene Behind the Scenes event like no other!

Tonight’s event was a unique chance to learn more about Hotel Mac, as it is known here in Edmonton. The smoke outside meant that most people stayed indoors, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and a few of us ventured onto the patio anyway.

Here are some highlights from the tour:

artsScene Summer Party + Behind the Scenes
This is the Empire Ballroom, which is where the famous Sunday brunch takes place. During World War II, the space was used to make jeans!

artsScene Summer Party + Behind the Scenes
This is the Drawing Room, which used to be for ladies only. It even featured a separate entrance (which now serves only as an emergency exit).

artsScene Summer Party + Behind the Scenes
Right next door is the Jasper Room, which was for men. The most striking feature are the windows, which are seem too close to the floor – they’re level when you’re seated.

artsScene Summer Party + Behind the Scenes
Apparently this mural was “photoshopped” – it features John A. Macdonald at the centre, but not everyone pictured was actually there.

artsScene Summer Party + Behind the Scenes
The staircase was my favorite part of the tour. Marble steps and some incredible views on the way down.

We also got to see one of the rooms on the 8th floor. The one we saw was two levels, and goes for about $1000 per night. Apparently the one Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stayed in is much larger and is more like $3000 per night!

After the tour we checked out the patio, which tonight offered a clear view of the smoke:

artsScene Summer Party + Behind the ScenesartsScene Summer Party + Behind the Scenes

Tonight’s event also featured music from the Jerrold Dubyk Trio, Mindy Cooper (DJ Sweetz), and a really intriguing art project called “Angles of Love” by Sarah Jackson. You can see the rest of my photos here.

If you haven’t checked out an artsScene event yet, what are you waiting for? Stay tuned to their blog and Twitter for updates. See you at the next one!