Thanks to everyone who came out to What the Truck?! in Churchill Square yesterday!

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• In the dumbest news of the week, a City Council committee has decided to add “Fort Edmonton Park” to the end of the South Campus LRT station name. You know, because it is close to Fort Edmonton Park (if you consider 3.4 km close).
• Don’t miss this fantastic feature on local beer, inducements, and the AGLC.
• According to a new survey by Edmonton’s Trend Research, Premier Alison Redford’s leadership has the approval of 62% of Albertans.
• Do we need a museum of the city? This idea is very persistent.
• A group of organizations in Leduc have launched 1 Calendar, the official event calendar for Leduc. Great idea, though I’m not crazy o the very generic, phone-book-era name. Hopefully it is updated regularly and evolves!
• Some rather surprising news: Oil City Roadhouse and Vinyl have closed for good.
• Want to get involved? City Council is looking for volunteer board members for a variety of agencies, boards, and commissions. You have until September 28 to apply.
• Oh look at that, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce wants to see the downtown arena built and warns of a “massive setback” if we don’t get it done. But are they willing to do anything to help move the project forward? Nope.
• If you want to be a firefighter, the annual recruit information session takes place on September 29.
• There was a big Lotto Max win in our city last week! Eighteen workers at the Suncor refinery in Sherwood Park will share a $20 million prize.
• A family farm near Lacombe has received a certificate for their corn maze, certified as the world’s largest QR code.
• Interesting political situation to keep an eye on: Edmonton and St. Albert voted against a Villeneuve plan to make critical sewer upgrades at the local airport.
• In case you missed, here’s my interview with new EEDC President & CEO Brad Ferguson.

The Pearl continues to rise in Oliver.

Here are some upcoming events:

• With banners throughout the city and ads everywhere, it has been hard to miss that Cavalia kicks off this week. They have added more shows, so you now have until October 7 to see the show.
• Head down to Churchill Square on Tuesday during lunch to support all the guys Walking a Mile in Her Shoes.
• One tiny squirm for wormkind! Edmonton Girl Geek Dinners returns on Tuesday evening at Lux.
• You have two opportunities to have your say on a proposal to rezone surplus school sites. For those of you on the north side, the meeting takes place on Wednesday evening at the Central Lions Senior Recreation Centre. For southsiders, your meeting is Thursday evening at Confederation Leisure Centre.
• The Carolina Railhawks are in town to take on FC Edmonton on Wednesday evening.
• Nerds Night Out, Edmonton’s monthly designer and developer beer meetup, is happening on Wednesday evening at Brewsters.
• On Thursday evening I am excited to be moderating a panel at the Art Gallery of Alberta discussion called Closing The Food Gap. Organized by The Way We Green, we’ll be talking all about local food, food policy, and more.
• Saturday is Community League Day throughout the city! For those of us downtown, that means CornFest!
• There was supposed to be another Handmade Mafia on Saturday, but it appears that after three years the market has retired.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

Jasper Avenue from the roof of the Empire Building on 101 Street, looking west.

I didn’t get back into the city until late last night, so decided I would finish my notes and post them today instead. Here are my latest Edmonton notes:

• The provincial government released its first quarter results on Thursday and projected a $3 billion deficit. In other province-related news, Dave took a look at what candidates spent in the 2012 election.
• There are 15 new schools opening across the province in 2012-2013, including four here in Edmonton: Bessie Nichols School, Mother Margaret Mary Catholic High School, Michael Strembitsky School, Major General Griesbach School.
• The Hamptons has more kids under 15 years old than any other neighbourhood in Edmonton, the Journal reports. The neighbourhood is located in the southwest, outside Anthony Henday Drive.
• Here is the latest Council Roundup from the City.
• Last week it was Hall, this week it was Eberle. The Oilers star has signed a six-year, $36 million contract extension.
• The Downtown Business Association released a new report this week that estimates the downtown area could see new development worth up to $4.8 billion over the next five years.
• We learned last week that Edmonton Transit’s Smart Bus initiative would finally be getting underway next year, and now we know that the contract has been awarded to Trapeze Group.
• Homeward Trust is looking for 400 volunteers to assist in the 2012 Homeless Count, taking place on Tuesday, October 16. Volunteer applications must be received prior to October 1.
• Guru Digital Arts College has moved into its new home alongside Startup Edmonton in the Mercer Warehouse.
• Today is the final day to enjoy the City of Edmonton’s outdoor pools.
• Has anyone seen the new “Ghost Rails” sculpture in Hazeldean that commemorates the Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway that once ran through the area?
• A mock chemical attack on an LRT train took place last weekend, with 60 volunteer passengers. Sounds like it was a success.
• Strathcona County has been selected to host the Canada 55+ Games in 2014.
• Wednesday is the first day of classes for the 2012-2013 academic year at the University of Alberta. “The U of A will begin its 104th year of classes with more than 39,000 students—the most the university has ever had—walking the five campuses that make up the institution.”
• Happy 100th Birthday to the Alberta Legislature building! Glad to hear the weather turned out ok for the big party after all!

Alberta Legislature 100 Anniversary by Darren Kirby

Here are some upcoming events:

• Among other things, City Council’s Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will be talking about the Smart Bus initiative on Tuesday.
• On Wednesday, Executive Committee will be discussing a wide range of items, including the Stadium TOD, family-oriented development initiatives, and the naming of South Campus LRT station.
• Very cool event taking place on Wednesday evening: A Streetcar Named Rapidfire. Then on Friday, head over to the Citadel for Rapid Fire Theatre’s first Theatresports in their new home.
• Avenue Edmonton is hosting the SCTV Retrospective with Joe Flaherty on Thursday at the Garneau Theatre.
• This should be entertaining! Bowl-Off 2012: Downtown vs. Oliver, takes place on Friday evening.
• The Eskimos host the Stampeders on Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
• The Kaleido Family Arts Festival gets underway on Friday and runs all weekend on Alberta Avenue!
• Head over to Victoria Park on Saturday for the Edmonton Gorilla Run.
• My least favorite children’s movie of all time , Dumbo, is playing at the Garneau Theatre on Saturday afternoon. Seriously that movie freaks me out.
• Another great fundraiser takes place on Saturday afternoon: Edmonton’s Finest vs. Eskimo’s Greatest.
• Join us on Saturday evening for What the Truck?! at Churchill Square! With three new trucks and twelve total, it’s going to be a great time!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

B-Boy Dancing by Ian McKenzie

Thanks to everyone who came to Blink: Urban Picnic tonight! Sharon and I will write something up soon, but you don’t have to wait – Brittney already has a recap posted!

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• The 31st Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival wrapped up today and this year’s edition smashed all previous records. A total of 680,000 people visited, and a total of 112,006 tickets were sold marking the first time that sales generated more than $1 million in revenue for artists!
• Finally: GPS and automated stop announcements will be added to 45 buses next year as part of an ETS pilot project.
• I was really pleased to see the Farming in the City tours full of Edmontonians today, all wanting to get a first-hand look at the agricultural land in the northeast. Global covered the tours here.
• In a surprise announcement this week, Concordia High School announced it is closing permanently.
• The EPS has added six more beat officers along Jasper Avenue. They’ll be proactively working with the community instead of just reacting to crime.
• The Petroleum Club has a new general manager, and he wants to turn the club around. Charles Rothman says “sadly, the handsome building has been a little neglected over the years and we have plans to restore its charm and modernize in some areas.”
• Taylor Hall and the Oilers have agreed on a new seven-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million. Let’s hope there’s hockey this season!
• Don’t miss this: ETS, the Edmonton Arts Council, and Edmonton’s First Nations community unveiled 15 panels of original art created for the South LRT.
• Edmonton has a new neighbourhood and it has been named in honour of the founder of Edmonton’s Fringe, Brian Paisley.
• You might have heard that Travel Alberta and Edmonton Tourism decided to pay for former Bachelorette Ashley Hebert and her fiancé JP Rosenbaum to visit our city. The primary reason presumably was to drum up media coverage in other markets, but so far that strategy has failed miserably. The only organization that has written about the trip is the Edmonton Journal. Worse still, the couple came all the way here and ended up eating at Joey’s. So much for promoting Edmonton’s growing food scene!
• Check out these locally made iPhone cases called knottycase.
• Despite an increase in calls due to an infestation found in Medicine Hat, no rats have been found in Edmonton.
• Great piece by Tony Cashman on the High Level Bridge.
• Good question from Dave: Is Edmonton’s former Capital Health board being targeted by a Calgary-led witch-hunt?
• There’s still time to nominate a Scotiabank Game Changer – a program to help uncover local community heroes.

We have had some crazy weather lately. There was so much hail on Thursday it looked like it was snowing!

Here are some upcoming events:

• Crafting Type runs all week at the Robbins Health Learning Centre.
• I was going to write that this week was the final Tuesdays on the Terrace event at the Art Gallery of Alberta, but it has been extended until September 18!
• Edmonton’s City Hall turns 20 on Tuesday, so stop in to celebrate with free cupcakes and guided tours. Fun fact: this is our third city hall.
• The next Capital Ideas Edmonton event takes place on Wednesday, this time after work. Join other local business owners for a mixer at Yellowhead Brewery.
• Another favorite summer festival coming up – Symphony Under the Sky kicks off on Friday!
• Looking for something fun to do outside on the weekend? Get Lost For Hunger at the Edmonton Corn Maze!
• Weather permitting, the next Movies on the Square evening is Friday.
• On September 8, the Rock Skipping Open will take place at the Laurier Park Boat Launch at 3pm. There’s a $20 entry fee, 50% of which goes to prizes and 50% of which goes to support the Edmonton Food Bank. For rules, details, and to register, email rockskipopen@gmail.com or get in touch with David.
• The Parkdale Cromdale Community League is hosting a Cromdale Hotel Demolition Party on September 16.

Goodbye Cromdale Hotel by Darren Kirby

Apologies for missing a couple of weeks of Edmonton notes, time to get back on track! It has certainly felt like one event after another this summer for Sharon and I, and we’re not done yet. Our next event is Blink: Urban Picnic, a pop-up restaurant taking place in Louise McKinney Park next Sunday. I’m really excited about it – read Sharon’s post for more details. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning!

Here are my weekly notes:

• Summer break is over for City Council, with committee meetings resuming this week at City Hall. Check out the upcoming meetings and agenda items here.
• I was very happy to see this piece from Graham Hicks. I too have been in touch with EEDC about Edmonton’s absence from The Economist’s annual report on the world’s most livable cities. The reason – that we are too close to Calgary – is ridiculous. If that’s the case, include us as a megaregion, don’t just pick one!
• Yes I realize that Avenue’s Best Neighbourhoods of 2012 came out a couple of weeks ago, but I’m going to tell you what I think anyway! First let me say that I love that Avenue has started this list. I think recognizing areas of our city and perhaps even encouraging the branding of those areas is a good thing. We need to do that. That said, with readers expressing “the highest desire for pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods”, I fail to see how Windermere made the list. Look at the ten neighbourhoods on the list and play “which of these things is not like the others” – Windermere stands out like a sore thumb. It is not pedestrian-friendly.
• I did not realize the City’s Percent for Art program could be used to design attractive garbage collection trucks, but I’m glad it can!
• Kasian Architecture and Edmonton-based HIP architects are merging. “We are committed to maintaining a large presence in Edmonton, the birthplace of our company. This merger allows two excellent organizations to better leverage their collective talents and address significant market opportunities” noted Don Kasian, President of Kasian.
• While I definitely like to see praise for downtown, let’s not forget the focus on residents. A dozen new commercial buildings will mean nothing if we don’t attract new residences too.
• No surprise here: Alberta will lead the country in economic growth this year and employment in Calgary and Edmonton is “expected to strengthen through 2016 with the addition of 120,000 new jobs…”
• Congratulations to all who were recognized in this year’s Edmonton in Bloom Awards!
• Good question: what do celiac patients in Alberta Health Services eat?
• The second round of public consultation on the future of Queen Elizabeth Park is now underway. You have until August 31 to complete the online survey.
• This is pretty cool: about a week and a half ago, archeologists uncovered the footprint of an old fur trading fort at the Rossdale Flats.
• Check out a sneak peek at the new Domestic International Departures Lounge at EIA.
• From a few weeks ago but worth linking to anyway: “When a city like Ottawa has fallen behind Edmonton, it ought to be a wake-up call.”
• Here is the latest Weekly Update from the Edmonton Real Estate Blog. Here is the latest housing start data from CMHC.
• Mark your calendars for the Edmonton Expo taking place in October. Our very own “Comic-Con”!
• In case you missed it: the winner of our Pulled Pork throwdown was The Act. The event raised more than $1800 for the Edmonton Public Schools Foundation!
• There are four new on-street bike parking corrals located in Old Strathcona as part of a three-month pilot project. Walking around today, they all looked full. More of this please!

Here are some upcoming events:

• The Fringe is on! Head over to Old Strathcona to experience The Village of the Fringed!
• Don’t miss Tuesdays on the Terrace at the Art Gallery of Alberta.
• Thursday is the final Summer Rooftop Patio Series event at Latitude 53!
• The annual Blues Festival kicks off on Friday at Hawrelak Park.
• The East Meets West festival takes place this weekend in Chinatown and Little Italy!
• Blink: Urban Picnic takes place on Sunday evening at Louise McKinney!
• Also coming up on Sunday are the Farming in the City guided bus tours of the northeast.
• It’s slightly more than a week out but I am going to plug Crafting Type because I think it’s totally awesome that this kind of an event is happening here in Edmonton. It’s a five-day workshop that teaches absolute beginners how to create a typeface (or font, though technically they are not the same thing). As you might expect, their website is beautiful.
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.

The Fringe grounds were packed tonight!

For my previous Edmonton Notes, click here.

Here are my weekly Edmonton notes:

• It’s official: Capital EX will be renamed to K-Days, starting next year. K-Days received 38,762 of the 51,160 votes cast (a little over 75%). Northlands President and CEO Richard Andersen said: “We are looking forward to the opportunities the new name brings to the Fair. We will be working over the next couple of months to build the story for K-Days and that is probably the most exciting part for us!”
• It was a big week for local tech companies! Mitre Media announced that it has raised $8.6 million from iNovia Capital and a group of angel investors. The company publishes financial content and tools. Also this week, Upside Software was acquired by SciQuest Inc. for $22 million. Upside is the well-known developer of contract management systems.
• EPS Chief Rod Knecht received a nice write-up in the Sun this week. While I agree that his approach seems wise, I think too little time has passed to call it a success. Last year’s homicide was a major anomaly and the violence reduction strategy is going to take time to implement.
• A new questionnaire released on Tuesday asks for input on how much the Mayor and City Council should be paid. You can have your say here.
• Demolition of the Cromdale Hotel is now underway and is expected to take a month. Construction of the new Shoppers Drug Mart should begin in September with an expected opening in the spring of 2013.
• Federal regulators are reviewing Enbridge’s pipeline operations control room here in Edmonton after it was found that staff ignored repeated leak warnings.
• The Oilers officially signed Nail Yakupov to a three-year, entry level contract on Monday.
• The economic output for our province is as positive as ever. The latest forecast from the Conference Board of Canada shows Alberta leading the country with 3.8% growth.
• Want to speak at Pecha Kucha Night Edmonton #14 in the fall? The call for presenters is now open!
• Have you made your picks for Vue Weekly’s Best of Edmonton yet?
• Great post by Alex on the Edmonton Indy: Does the Indy do anything for Edmonton?
• The Muttart Conservatory is running a Shutterbug Photo Contest until September 15. There are great prizes for the winning photos!
• Some thoughts from Nadine on the Essence of Edmonton: Invent Your Own Awesome.
• Have you been enjoying the Olympics so far? Edmonton Olympians recall the thrills of competing on the world stage.
• To check out what local bloggers have been writing over the past week, check out recent Blog Post Headlines at ShareEdmonton.
• Edmonton’s newest music festival, Interstellar Rodeo, received rave reviews this weekend.

Check out a few more photos of Interstellar Rodeo here.

Here are some upcoming events you should know about:

• Tuesdays on the Terrace continues at the Art Gallery of Alberta. I took a large group of colleagues last week and we had a great time!
• Latitude 53’s Summer Rooftop Patio Series continues on Thursday evening.
• Join us on Friday evening along the lovely Victoria Promenade in Oliver for What the Truck?!, Edmonton’s food truck extravaganza! Check out the lineup and menu here. You can RSVP to the event on Facebook here.
• One of my favorite festivals of the year is back for the long weekend: Servus Heritage Festival runs Saturday through Monday at Hawrelak Park.
• FC Edmonton is back in action at Clarke Stadium on Saturday evening!
• For more upcoming events, check out ShareEdmonton.