Archive for May, 2011

The non-profit organization Canadian artists for the poor will be hosting 4 Calgary Art Walks this summer!  Check out local artists creating art on site.  Be inspired by the creativity!   Art to view & purchase on the first Thursdays of June, July, August and September.  It’s a win-win-win!  The artists receive exposure; you have an enjoyable afternoon and take home a beautiful art piece, and Canadian artists for the poor is able to raise money for local and international charities working at ground level.

Date: June 2, July 7, Aug 4, Sept 1

When:  10am – 3 pm

Where:  Stephen Avenue

Art for charity.  Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.

This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. For the last 5 months, a group of avid Calgarians (including myself) have been exploring the concepts of community in Calgary through the United Way and BeCause’s Urban Exposure Project.

The focus of the Urban Exposure Project is to create personal connections, to engage in and learn about Community in Calgary. Participants have engaged in a series of facilitated workshops exploring various communities and taking part in numerous service learning opportunities at service-providing, Community-focused agencies around our city.

Throughout this process, participants have documented their experiences and learnings through photography, and have gained a deeper understanding of how the issue of Community affects their lives and their fellow Calgarians. Participants have also received technical photography training by professional photographers.

The Urban Exposure Photo Exhibit marks the culmination of the project and a way for participants to share what they have learned through photos. Volunteer Calgary will also be on hand to provide information about how to get involved in our awesome city so you can learn more about community too.

Drop in, enjoy free hors d’oeuvres, meet the photographers, and be part of positive social change in Calgary.

F0r information on the Urban Exposure Project, visit Facebook or the BeCause website.

We had such an amazing response for this film, we decided to give some more stuff away!  The Bang Bang Club is now playing in Calgary theatres and we’d like to award 3 lucky winners a copy of the book. To enter, send us a tweet @ciawesome or email us at irene@calgaryisawesome.com for your chance to win. Good luck!

If you are new to biking and looking to get set up with something awesome, or just need a place to give your current bike a little TLC after that long snowy winter, you will want to head down to The Good Life Community Bike Shop.

Everyone of ANY skill level is welcome- this dynamic nonprofit organization offers ongoing classes and daily drop in sessions, as well as have a talented lineup of dedicated staff and volunteers on hand to help with any and all issues you might run in to. Its a great place to learn the skills to fix your bike, as well as meet some great people engaged in our local bike community.

The Good Life is also seeking some wonderful people to help volunteer in the coming months! Opportunities include:

• Helping in the shop; learning some mechanic skills
• Helping out with their kid’s programs
• Helping at a great many music/ bike festivals through out the summer months.
• Any skill a person feels they could lend to their space (art, technical help, etc)

They will be needing a LOT of volunteers this month and through out the summer – Anyone interested should drop by the Good Life or email Kerry at kerry@goodlifebikes.ca.

They also accept any and all donations of bikes or bike parts- just stop by during regular business hours and they will happily find a new home for your unwanted bike stuff.

Visit:
The Good Life Community Bike Shop
Eau Claire Market-183, 200 Barclay Parade SW
Calgary, AB T2P 4R5
PH: 403-984-4727
www.goodlifebikes.ca

One of the best pubs in the city is throwing an awesome party tonight!  Come on down to the Bull & Finch in Douglasdale and have yourself a great time!  Tons of prizes to giveaway, lots of drinks waiting to be had, and the best Philly Cheese Steak around.

Just look at this…Mouth watering

It’s true, Canada Is Awesome (.com). Click below to see the humble beginnings of what we hope will become a national and international destination for folks interested in this awesome country of ours. With a slightly more tourism-driven angle (whereas C.I.A. and V.I.A. are more “for-us-by-us”), we’ll be digging deep into the pockets of our country for interesting stories and destinations. Join us! Bookmark CanadaIsAwesome.com now and follow @Canada_Awesome on Twitter.

Spring is in the air! Isn’t it lovely? With the burst of warm weather we’ve been getting the past week, Calgarians have been flocking to local bars and restaurants for their favorite time of year: patio season. There’s nothing like grabbing a pint of beer and soaking in the vitamin D to usher in the beginning of nice weather.

One of the best patios in Calgary is Melrose Cafe & Bar and Calgary is Awesome has partnered with them to give our readers a culinary treat. On Thursday, May 26th, Melrose will be hosting their Food Occasion event to give some lucky contest winners the chance to have dinner and drinks on the house. The event will feature a four-course meal from Melrose executive chef Brian Henderson, accompanied by matching beer pairings from Beer Sommelier, Steve Riley. Guests will learn how to pair beer with food – similar to the way wine and foods are matched up.

Calgary is Awesome has 2 pairs of tickets to giveaway for this tasty, brew-filled event. To get in on all the fun, let us know why you love beer for your chance to win! All entries can be sent to irene@calgaryisawesome.com or send us a tweet at @ciawesome. Entries are due by Monday, May 30 at noon. Go!

Photo Credit:   Trudie Lee

Mélanie Léonard is our city’s very own Resident Conductor!  Coming to us from Montréal,  Mélanie has fallen in love with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.  I asked her about the upcoming Truth or Dare: New Music Festival and here’s what she had to say:

“The 20th and 21st centuries are very rich in music of diverse esthetics and I believe it is worth letting ourselves be surprised by it.  I always loved the discovery aspect of new music.  It will sometimes lead to a new favorite work… sometimes not… but I always enjoy the process of being a part of the music that is happening today or has happened in the last century.  Contemporary music and music that explores orchestral texture is a huge passion of mine and I could not be happier to share it with Calgary’s audience because Calgary truly is awesome.  Please accept my personal invitation to discover this festival and be blown away by the CPO’s virtuosity.”

Truth or Dare will feature two WORLD premieres, and as the title of the festival suggests, the pieces performed will all be about daring, NEW music.  Composers on the program include Hétu, Kuerti, Ellin, Cage, Hollo, Reich, Penderecki, Schreker, Bell, Henze, Lindberg, Hindemith and Montague. 

Thursday, May 26, 2011 – 8pm
The Grand Theatre
608 1 Street SW
Mélanie Léonard, Resident Conductor
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

Friday, May 27, 2011 – 8pm
The Grand Theatre
608 1 Street SW
Musicians of the Fort MacLeod International Festival
Musicians of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Members of Amadinda, Percussion Ensemble

Saturday, May 28, 2011 – 8pm
The Grand Theatre
608 1 Street SW
Mélanie Léonard, Resident Conductor
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Musicians of the Fort MacLeod International Festival
Rivka Golani, Viola

Tickets available by calling 403-571-0849 or at cpo-live.com

Chow Down in Cowtown is an (almost!) weekly account of Calgary’s most awesome eats from Ceci n’est pas un food blog.

You may be surprised to learn that my friend Tiffany and I eat meals other than brunch together. A few weeks ago, we went for supper at Without Papers, a new pizzeria in Inglewood run by the owners of Sugo just next door.

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