Lindork’s Lists #118 – UFest, Cat Fest, Doughnut Party + Enter a Spa Giveaway!
Newsletter for May 25-31, 2022
Note: this is the public version of my weekly email newsletter that gets sent to subscriber inboxes first each Wednesday. Get the full newsletter first by becoming a free subscriber.
Things to Do This Week
If attending events, please check their COVID-19 safety requirements. It’s still a good idea to mask-up—especially indoors. We’re still in a pandemic. Please get vaccinated/boosted!
Check out Downtown Spark art installations and events (various locations)
Downtown Spark festival runs May 26-June 5 and features some out of this world, whimsical art installations, plus some pop up events including Bark + Brew (pooches encouraged!) and a block party. Get more details and head on downtown!
Take in an outdoor symphony at Hawrelak Park (Heritage Amphitheatre)
The Alberta Symphony Orchestra Society is presenting their Music in the Air concert on June 1, with 70% of net proceeds being donated to Kids Kottage Foundation which helps children and families in crisis.There will be vocal works and piano solos from classical to opera, crossover and pop music. Don’t miss this one-night only performance!
Don’t miss UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival (Borden Park)
UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival is a celebration of Ukrainian culture, food, music, visual arts, crafts and dance. This two-day event, which runs May 27 & 28, is open to everyone and includes a range of performances, workshops, Beer. Gardens, buskers, food, and more
Get tickets to the first Swine and Dine in years! (Hayloft Steak + Fish)
On May 31, my friend Sharman is putting on the first Swine and Dine (pork-themed dinner event) since the pandemic began. Get tickets to the multi-course, all-pork meal at Hayloft Steak + Fish, featuring a whole roasted Porchetta prepared by Mel Chmilar of Dark Side Of the Grill!
And don’t “furr”get what’s coming up on May 28 & 29, 2022.
Cat lovers: Get tickets to the virtual Edmonton Cat Festival!
The Edmonton International Cat Festival is back for a virtual pawty on May 28 & 29, 2022, with 100% ticket proceeds going to local cat rescue Community Cats Edmonton.
There are so meowny ameowzing sessions (and cat puns lol), and special guests purr-fect for any cat lover. The committee (of which I am on) are really excited about this year’s line-up! Click to see the festival schedule, learn more and get tickets.
(There’s also one spot left in both the Caturday and Sunday in-person cat yoga events!)
Got an Edmonton area event, virtual event, or something coming up you think my readers would be interested in knowing about? Let me know!
Food to Try This Week
Please continue safely supporting local restaurants, in whatever way works for your comfort levels. If not dining in, please do take-out! Mask-up and please stay home if you’re sick.
Get in on this Doughnut Party x Edmonton Cat Festival collaboration!
Doughnut Party is “doughnut-ing” $1 from every pre-order made on their website this Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27 to the Edmonton International Cat Festival, supporting local cat rescues! You can order for delivery or pick-up at either of their two locations (Brewery District or Ritchie) and these doughnuts are goooooood. Enjoy it for a good cause!
It’s the final weekend of #AdoptAShopAB: Foodie Edition powered by ATB Financial! Can I interest you in signing up to support these spots?
Go for brunch at Hathaway’s Diner (13225 132 St.)
This is your sign to give Hathaway’s Diner a try! They offer classic breakfast and lunch diner options, and apparently their homemade pie is a must-order (and a quick sell-out) too!
Dig into Mesobena Ethiopian (10810 95 St.)
They don’t have an online presence but you should definitely consider trying the Ethiopian at Mesobena Restaurant this week. They’re located in the Little Italy neighbourhood of Edmonton.
Order up some samosas at Samosa House (9405 118 Ave.)
This is another family-owned restaurant that isn’t online! But Samosa House makes—arguably—some of the best samosas in the city (and they’re super affordable). Give them a try (on Alberta Avenue!)
Get bubble tea and snacks from My Tea (10728C 82 Ave. / Whyte Ave)
There are a lot of bubble tea options in the city, and while even franchise / chain ones have local owners that deserve support, there is something extra special about visiting an independently-owned, non-chain bubble tea spot—like My Tea located in Old Strathcona!
Satisfy the pizza and pasta cravings at Ragazzi (8110 82 Ave.)
The family behind Ragazzi has been slinging pizzas since the 1970s. They’re a well-known name in the local Italian eatery space and if you haven’t been or haven’t been in awhile, why not try now?
If you’d like—you can reply to this email to let me know which shop you’d like to “adopt” and I’ll put your name on the sheet!
Or you can add your name directly into the sign-up sheet.
✔️ Anyone who signs up to participate in #AdoptAShopAB (spend at least $25 at their chosen business) is entered to win a gift card prize from ATB.
✔️ Anyone who shares how they’re supporting businesses as part of the initiative (follow + tag me @lindork + @atbfinancial + @foodkarmablog) – will also be entered for a chance to win gift card prizes from ATB.
These gift cards will help you double your spend and support of local businesses!
Thank you to those who have already signed up to support local businesses!! 💛
Ate something amazing recently? Want to show some love to a struggling restaurant? Have a take-out suggestion? Let me know to include in this newsletter.
Asian Heritage Month Collection
Thank you to those who shopped the LINDORKxZENLIONDESIGN Asian Heritage Month Collection released last week!! 20% of proceeds from May sales of this collaboration with Zen Lion Design will be donated to Represent Asian Project. If you’re interested in one of the 10 designs, buy before May 31 so we can include it in our donation!
Watch Episode 36 of Lindork Does Life
Episode 36 of my new YouTube video series #LindorkDoesLife is out!
In this episode, I share 10 Things You Can Do in Jasper National Park, Alberta—the biggest national park in the Canadian Rockies!
* note the listed playlist view count is wrong—I have more video views than that!! lol
This Sunday: Q&A with Alexis Kienlen
Every other Sunday, I profile a new “interesting person” in a Q&A series just for paid newsletter subscribers. The next person I’ll be profiling this Sunday, May 29, 2022 is reporter/writer Alexis Kienlen.
Here’s an excerpt from our Q&A:
Alexis: “I always wanted to be a writer. Some people just specialize in one type of writing, but I’ve never worked that way. I went to journalism school so I could have a skill that I can do, to have a job and make money, because writing fiction and poetry doesn’t pay many peoples’ bills (including mine). In every journalism job I had, I was asked to write about agriculture. I decided it was smart to specialize, so I did. To improve my skills, I got a Certificate in Food Security from the former Ryerson University, because I thought that there would be a need for people who can write about food. I actually get a lot of requests to do freelance writing about agriculture. I really love being a journalist, but I love creative writing as well.”
If you’d like to become a paid subscriber to this newsletter to receive exclusive Q&As first in your inbox every other Sunday and support the work I do, upgrade below:
You Missed An Exclusive Giveaway
If you’re reading this and you aren’t a free email subscriber, that means you missed a newsletter exclusive giveaway! Subscribers got to enter for a chance to win a spa manicure + pedicure for you+1 to V5 Nails, my favourite, local, Vietnamese-owned nail salon and spa. This prize is valued at $190. I regularly do newsletter subscriber-only giveaways. Subscribe for free here!
Don’t forget to use my code LINDORK10 to get 10% off a service at V5 Nails. This code is valid until the end of May!
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
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