Archive for January, 2011

This Wednesday is your chance to see that age is truly a state of mind.  This award winning documentary, AUTUMN GOLD, captures the lives of elderly athletes who continue to defy all odds and expectations.  Judging by their physical prowess, they could probably bench press and outrun each and every one of us with the greatest of ease.

Playing this Wednesday, February 2nd @ the Plaza 7 pm.

www.autumngold-movie.com

www.calgaryfilm.com

The CharCut Roast House sure knows how to cause a stir and appeal to hungry Calgarians. This relatively new restaurant (located in the upscale Germain Hotel on Centre Street) is bringing new meaning to “street meat”. You know the kind, when you stumble out of the bar at 2AM and that delicious hot dog vendor is right there to feed you.  Instead of weiners, the CharCut is serving up tasty hamburgers – in the alley next to their back door.

To get in on the fun, you have to follow CharCut on Facebook or Twitter to get updated on the latest Alley Burger event, usually on a Friday or Saturday night around 10PM.  These coveted gourmet burgers will cost you $5 and a limited number will be available each night. So get in line with all the other hungry midnight snackers to get your fill of alley burgers.

NOTE: Charcuts asks that you do not call their restaurant for more info about alley burgers. Get on Facebook or Twitter for the deets and if you aren’t on those tools, well, too bad. Get social will ya?

If you think you know how to pronounce “PechaKucha”, you probably don’t. Its a Japanese term meant to describe “chit-chat” and is a night centered on a common theme and delivered by interesting and diverse speakers. Each speaker is given 20 slides and only 20 seconds to discuss each slide. PechaKucha makes for a fast-paced speaking series that can cover any one topic from many different angles, making for a very informative, fun and engaging evening.   The upcoming event will be on Valentine’s Day and the topic will be, of course,  Love. Bring your sweetheart and immerse yourself in all that the event will offer (and find out how to say “PechaKucha” yourself) .

Tickets are free and available at www.calgaryculture.com.
Doors open at 6:30, event starts at 7PM.
Lantern Church – 1401 10th Ave. SE (Inglewood)

For the month of February, Exposure 2011 will be showcasing the best in photos with various exhibitions and educational events in Calgary, Banff and Canmore.

Information on special workshops and exhibitions can be found on at www.exposurephotofestival.com.

Happy Birthday Fashion Central! The upscale shopping block is celebrating its first year with a grand celebration. DJ Bruno will be on hand to spin the beats, a special Valentine-themed photobooth will be available to print cards,  as well as lots of special promotions, sweet treats, and pop-up fashion boutiques. Pick up something special for a loved one (or yourself) as there will be lots of great fashion and gifts on hand for Valentine’s day.

The birthday festivities will coincide with First Thursday, February 3 from 5-8PM.  Find out more on the Fashion Central website.

There were no cowboy boots. No one was donned in Wranglers. And nary a cowboy hat could be found in the Vertigo Theatre on Thursday night.  But to be expected, as this was no normal rodeo come to town. The High Performance Rodeo is a celebration of the performing arts: theatrical, comedic, dramatic, you name it. The festival provides Calgarians with the best performances from around the world and has been doing so for the past 25 years — not  too shabby for a city that many lament has no “culture”.

Having never been to an HPR show before, I decided to take the plunge and take in Nevermore: The Imaginary Life & Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe.

The Gothic American author  is the inspiration behind the play. Nevermore is a musical (one of my favorite genres), but of the dark and twisty variety rather than than a Glee-ful, cheery sing-a-long. The play examines Poe’s entire life from birth to death (taking a few creative liberties with his biography along the way).

Nevermore exudes an Alice in Wonderland-esque sentiment throughout the show with dizzyingly spectacular scenes, exaggerated costumes, and wonderful musical performances from the small ensemble cast. Poe’s stories are known for being dark and macabre and the show is played out just as accordingly. One of the main props used is a notebook and quill, the symbols of a working author, and in Nevermore they act as the spellbook and magic wand that reveal the many chapters of Edgar Allan Poe’s life.

The story is a moving and winding affair as the audience is pulled into the maniacal rollercoaster events of Poe’s life: his parent’s untimely deaths, his separation from his beloved siblings and his exhausting efforts to be loved and accepted by his foster family.  Poe’s biography is littered with numerous disappointments, which could have made for a very dreary show. However, the audience is  wooed by sympathy for the protagonist and the engrossing nature of his story as it unfolds. Emotions are heightened by the excellently executed moments of chills and fear in the darkened theatre. Working in a small stage area, the show makes great use of lighting, sliding panels and scary sound effects to enhance the plotline. Never has the sound of a rasping cough brought such shivers to my spine as consumption proves to be the death knell for the women important to Poe.

Rodeo newbies and veterans alike will thoroughly enjoy this show and it should not be missed. Nevermore is a production from Edmonton’s Catalyst Theatre and runs until Sunday at the High Performance Rodeo. Get your tickets online at www.hprodeo.ca.

Photos by David Cooper.

What’s old is new again, especially in fashion.  Local consignment darling, Rewind Clothing and Consignment, is taking the concept to another level by featuring one recycled fashion outfit every single day on the 365 Days of Recycling Fashion blog. All the clothes come from the store and will show shoppers how to put together a whole ensemble, from head to toe, all from consigned clothes.  Rewind will provide style tips, seasonal trends and featured accessories in each day’s feature.

The best part is, YOU can get involved! Contact Rewind and let them know you are interested in modeling one of the day’s featured recycled fashions or pop by the store if you’re in the area.

Rewind Consignment – 1002 Macleod Trail SE
403.263.6669
rewindclothing@gmail.com