Lindork’s Lists #148 – New Year’s Eve festivities, Dim Sum, Food Halls, and more!
Newsletter for December 28, 2022-Jan 3, 2023
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
We’re still in a pandemic! Please mask up, stay home if sick, and get vaccinated/boosted.
It’s time to ring in the New Year! Here’s a few event ideas…
Celebrate the New Year at Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton
The FREE City’s New Year’s Eve celebration is back in Churchill Square this Saturday, Dec. 31 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight for the first time since 2016. Fireworks will take place at 8:30 p.m. and midnight which is great for early celebrations! Skate, catch live music, light installations and more.
Get tickets to the New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Party (World Water Park, WEM)
Ring in the New Year at West Edmonton Mall’s World Water Park Beach Ball Party! There’s live entertainment, a buffet, an indoor fireworks show, and of course the waterpark. This is a ticketed event.
Swing your way into 2023 with Sugar Swing Ballroom (10019 80 Ave.)
The Sugar Swing Ballroom is hosting Swing Alive, their annual New Year’s Eve party. “Find yourself in a garden of dancing and music in the middle of winter, as you immerse yourself in the sweet tunes of our live jazz band, The Capital Vice Sextet.” This is a ticketed event.
Check out Swing ‘N Skate at City Hall
The FREE Swing ‘N Skate is back at City Hall every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. starting this Sunday, Jan. 1! Spend New Year’s Day dancing to swing, big band, soca, salsa, and more. The live music will also be broadcast outside at City Hall Plaza for skates! There are free skate rentals (first come first served).
Take part in a New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery (Evario Events Centre)
You are invited to a 1920s New Year’s Eve Bash with jazz, gin, jeopardy and… MURDER. You’re encouraged to dress the part, get into character, and help solve the murder (plus cocktails, food, dancing, etc.) This is a ticketed event.
Celebrate New Year’s Day in Glastonbury neighbourhood (1101 Grantham Dr.)
Check out the FREE annual New Year’s Day Celebration at Glastonbury Park in west Edmonton. Official festivities start at 3 p.m. Go skating, tobogganing, grab hot chocolate, and check out the early fireworks show at 5 p.m.
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.
Go for New Year’s Dim Sum Brunch (various locations)
My family and I enjoyed our Boxing Day Dim Sum Brunch at Emperor’s Palace Restaurant in Chinatown this week if you’d like to replicate for New Year’s Eve / Day! You’ve got a few spots to choose from—including Dynasty Restaurant (also in Chinatown), Tasty Noodle (southside), Lucky Kitchen (south of Whyte), Jumbo (west end), Beijing Beijing (southside), Good Buddy (northside), are just a few popular spots!
Check out the Cat Cafe on Whyte (10111 82 Ave.)
I took an out-of-town friend to the Cat Cat on Whyte this week in Old Strathcona—it’s Alberta’s first and Edmonton’s only cat cafe. You pay 1-hour admission which includes unlimited cafe drinks plus hang-out time with the cats. They also have lots of cat-themed gifts for sale.
Check out the Komune Food Hall (10505 106 St.)
Have you heard of the Komune Food Hall behind MacEwan downtown? It’s home to Carbivore Subs, Taco Nova, Umai Rice, and Hirondelle restaurants. Umai Rice popped up on my feed this week and looked great! I’m looking forward to trying. I also think the Food Hall is part of the Japonais Bistro, Dorinku, DOSC family of businesses (all great restaurants, though maybe don’t quote me on that connection lol).
Try some local food via the Uproot Food Collective (10552 114 St. / online)
Uproot Food Collective—home to an assortment of local food makers in Alberta—was broken into this week :( Consider stopping in to pick up some tasty, locally-made foods you haven’t tried before (or want to re-stock on) or shop online to give them a little extra support this season.
Grab food and catch live music at Blue Chair Cafe (9624 76 Ave.)
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Blue Chair Cafe but I remember it being lovely. Known for their live music nights paired with good food (including brunch!) they’re doing an NYE seating but in general, on my radar to check out again soon and perhaps a spot you’d like to visit too!
And I suggested a few restaurants offering New Year’s Eve meals last week!
Eaten 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.
You missed Newsletter Giveaways!
My annual “A Very Lindork Christmas” giveaways 🎁 has now wrapped up. You can check social media winners on my blog and below are newsletter prize winners!
Congratulations to newsletter prize winners!
Terenia M. wins a $50 gift card to Maternity + Baby Store The Fourth.
Lisa W. wins a 1-night stay at Guesthouse 71 Bed & Breakfast in Medicine Hat (Southern, AB).
Clace H. wins a $50 gift card to local clothing boutique Bamboo Ballroom.
Sharon M. wins a pair of tickets (valued at $300) to Broadway Across Canada’s Anastasia!
Lindsay S. wins a 1-night stay in the Canadian Rocky Mountain (Nordegg, Alberta, valued at approx $155) from Beehive Bungalows.
Kaelin K. wins a $50 gift card to Alberta outdoor adventure store Breathe Outdoors (formerly Campers’ Village).
Karla I. wins a Dermaplaning Facial + Scalp Massage treatment (valued at $155) from Edmonton Luxury Mobile Spa Kaavish Spa.
Margaret B. wins a 12-piece Holiday Collection with chocolate Snowman (valued at $47) from Edmonton chocolatier Chocolate Escapade.
Jeremy R. wins a $50 gift card to Edmonton restaurant Pink Gorilla Pub & Patio.
Navpreet S. wins a dozen Christmas-themed cupcakes valued at $50 from Edmonton gourmet custom cake and cupcake maker The Nancy Bakes.
Didn’t win? You can still SAVE this season using special promos!!
Get a bonus $20 when you spend $100 on gift cards at Pink Gorilla Pub & Patio. Just mention LINDORK when purchasing.
Get 20% off the world’s most versatile smokeless firepits from Coulee Outdoor using code LINDORK20.
Get one free custom cake topper with a cake purchase valued at $150 or more from The Nancy Bakes. Just mention LINDORK!
Get 10% off your Beehive Bungalows booking with code LINDORKXMAS. You just have to message them on AirBnB when planning to book so they can apply your discount. Book by Jan 31, 2023 for travel by June 30, 2023.
Get 10% off when you shop at Breathe Outdoors this season using code LINDORK!
Get 20% off a Kaavish Spa booking when you mention LINDORK20.
Get 10% off at The Fourth Maternity / Baby store using code LINDORK10.
Get 15% off at the Edmonton International Airport’s Value Park using code LINDORK15. Book by Dec. 31, fly by March 31.
Get 20% off at clothing boutique Bamboo Ballroom using my code LINDORK20.
Although that wraps up my holiday giveaways, stay tuned as my newsletter anniversary is coming up in January which means more prizes to thank you for being a subscriber!
From the Blog Vault
Around this time last year I blogged a list of some of my favourite Asian soups in the city! (I also recently blogged about Chinatown soups—but this 2021 blog encompasses different areas of the city). Soup is wonderful at any time of year but there is definitely something extra comforting about it during wintertime. Enjoy!
You still have time to catch some free festive holiday light experiences this week!
Check out my old blog post + video blog for a few ideas (but note I can’t guarantee everything mentioned in the old blog/vlog is still running so be sure to double check).
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
Subscribe for More!
Free subscribers to my weekly newsletter Lindork’s Lists receive the full, hyperlocal newsletter first in their inbox every Wednesday—before anyone else! You can also become a paid subscribers to receive access to more musings and stories written by me—or simply subscribe to support my work, especially if you’ve been following me for awhile and are so inclined :)
Learn more about Lindork’s Lists (and become a free or paid subscriber!)
The full Lindork’s Lists includes:
- Things to Do This Week
- Food to Try This Week
- Walls of the Week
- Interesting Thing on the Internet
- Social Media Did You Knows
- Exclusive Promo Codes / Discounts
- Exclusive Newsletter Subscriber-only Giveaways
- Newsletter Subscriber-only Access to Events
Paid subscribers also receive access to musings, stories, an exclusive Q&A every other Sunday, giveaways and more content (forthcoming lol). Becoming a paid subscriber also supports the content I share overall.
(You’ll get the option to subscribe for free or select a paid plan)
