Pampered at Pampa … but that was the upside
Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse 9929 – 109 Street 780.756.7030 Expectations were high for a trip to Pampa, Edmonton’s new Brazilian steakhouse. A week after its opening, it has received overwhelmingly positive buzz online. Unfortunately – particularly given the high sticker price – that buzz seems somewhat premature. Perhaps it was simply one of those occasions when […]
REVIEW: The sun never sets on decent fish ‘n chips
BRITS FISH ‘N CHIPS, 11603 104 Ave NW Edmonton, AB T5K 2R1 780.452.7000 $$ For a country in which celebrity chefs seem as common as bad weather and football fans, England is the perennial whipping boy when it comes to haute cuisine. Long-standing aspersions: English food is bland, boiled, grey and stodgy. If it is […]
HOBBIES: Any spokesperson will tell you, you can’t beat a beater
Notorious film director John Waters was once asked why, with his reputation for making movies described as everything from offbeat to obscene, he drove such an ordinary car as an Oldsmobile. His answer was that if he ever committed a crime, he didn’t want to be driving anything that witnesses might remember. And the odds […]
Art ala carte: Edmonton restaurants provide captivated audience
It’s a more common complaint than you might realize. You love food because it tastes good and feeds your body, but you crave art for the way it nourishes your soul. Some restaurants, with the way they cover their walls with mass-produced stuff? It’s enough to make you lose your appetite. But then you go […]
Mad Men, in-crowd drive rebirth of cocktails
Cocktail hour — what a wonderful parlance. It conjures up a world of thick glass tumblers and geometric ice cubes tinkling in the midst of a an expertly mixed libation. So why is it cocktails in Edmonton bars are practically synonymous with sickly sweet swill served in neon pink cups? Preferably with thumping music, of […]
How to Make A Manhattan
* 2 ounces rye whiskey * 2 dashes of Angostura bitters * maraschino cherry for garnish * 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth Pour ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir. Strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry.
REVIEW: It’s quiet in here….too quiet
India Village 11835 St. Albert Trail 780.455.6590 On a certain level, an experience with cuisine from another culture engenders in each of us a sense of discovery, like a vacation in our own backyard. The illusion is best maintained when the quality of the dining experience is unassailable. Pungent, delicious cooking rich in flavour, texture […]
VISUAL ARTS: Smokey gets the hang of the unhinged Arctic
Cabin Fever: Renderings of an Unhinged Man not only shows an illustrator hovering around the top of his skills so far, it’s also an inspiring exercise in recycling, both physical and cultural. Its artist is Nickelas Johnson, who wears the name Smokey when he’s out fighting crimes of apathy, which he, like most creative people, […]
Silver Skate Festival in full, cold swing this weekend
Music, mushing, skating and sleigh rides: Edmonton’s longest-running winter festival, Silver Skate, is back for another year. The festival runs at Hawrelak Park through Monday 21, February which is Family Day. Silver Skate is rooted in the Dutch tradition of the love of outdoor activity. The festival’s anchor events, the Edmonton Winter Triathlon (skate, ski, […]
Will grounding airport help arts districts take off?
Pilots have a saying: Avoid clouds. Mountains have been known to hide out in them. But members of Edmonton’s burgeoning north-side arts communities don’t believe there are any metaphorical mountains looming in the cloud of uncertainty over the closure of the City Centre Airport. At best, the approximately 25,000 people who are expected to live […]
CONTEST: Wen there’s a will, there’s a Wei…and free tickets, too
Wen Wei? Way! ….when? If you asked the question above, you’re either a mildly delusional website editor or a fan of the unparalleled Wen Wei Beijing Modern Dance Company. Assuming the latter, you could win free tickets to the company’s performance Feb. 25 at the Timms Centre. Wen Wei blends multiple styles including traditional Chinese […]
ART: Pawn stars benefit from collateral collectibles
Stony Plain Road is a great destination if, due to poor financial advice, you need to pawn your Makita drill. It’s also handy if you need nipple tassles for your girlfriend (or boyfriend) from one of the area’s handy adult XXX shops. But it’s not the part of the city you would think to hit […]
