Lindork’s Lists #149 – Winter Wagon Rides, Mac & Cheese Pizza, Ice Walls and more!
Newsletter for Jan 4 – 10, 2023
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👋🏻 Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday. I shared a New Year Re/Introduction post over on my Instagram if you’d like to take a peek. 💛
Things to Do This Week
We’re still in a pandemic! Please mask up, stay home if sick, and get vaccinated/boosted.
Kick off The Year of the Rabbit at West Edmonton Mall
Lunar New Year isn’t until Jan 22 this year but there’s already a New Year Extravaganza happening this weekend Sat & Sun Jan 7 and 8. Admission is $2. Fun fact: 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit but in the Vietnamese version of the zodiac we call the rabbit a Cat so it’s the Year of the Cat!
Go on a Winter Wagon Ride at Fort Edmonton Park
On selected dates Jan 7-21, Fort Edmonton Park is hosting magical Winter Wagon Rides in the river valley. “Admire twinkling lights while bundled up in festive horse-drawn wagon rides throughout the entire park. Enjoy a cozy hot chocolate stop. Wrap your evening up with a toasty bonfire under the starry night sky.” Most times are already sold out so get tickets fast if you want it!
Take part in Engineering Day at the TELUS World of Science
Engineering Day is happening at the TELUS World of Science this Saturday, Jan 7. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., get hands-on with interactive displays showcasing incredible feats of engineering, included with your Science Centre admission and fun for all ages.
Catch the Fiddler on the Roof at the Northern Jubilee Auditorium
I was invited to Opening Night of Broadway Across Canada’s Fiddler on the Roof this week and really enjoyed the show. Great songs, great set, great (but sad) story—about love, challenging norms / breaking traditions, and highlighting antisemitism in pre-revolution Russia. The cast dedicated their last dance and all shows to Ukraine—given current parallels happening today. The show runs til Jan 8 in Edmonton, then Jan 10-15 in Calgary. You can also check out an antisemitism art mosaic on display in the lobby if you go.
Take part in a Lantern Making Workshop (Sherbrooke Community League)
Get tickets to a 2-hour Lantern Making Workshop where you’ll make a lantern that can be donated to the Flying Canoe Festival or keep it for yourself (/ bring to the festival!) All materials and instruction provided.
And don’t forget: The FREE Swing ‘N Skate is back at City Hall every Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Dance to swing, soca, salsa, and more. Live music is also broadcast outside at City Hall Plaza for skates! Free skate rentals (first come first served).
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! Please stay home if you’re sick.
Devour the queso fundido from Luna Mexican Restaurant (9880 63 Ave.)
I checked out the rebranded Luna Mexican Restaurant (formerly Huma) this week and was reminded of how delicious their queso fundido is (add mushroom + chorizo!) I also tried their cheesy shrimp empanada (excellent), and beef asada tacos (pretty good). Many Huma favs are still on the menu!
Try a comforting Korean soup from Dookbaeki (2872 Calgary Trail or West Ed)
I caught up with a friend over Korean soups (budae jjigae Army Stew and kimchi pork stew) plus bossam (pork belly lettuce wraps) at Dookbaeki Korean Restaurant last week. The term Dookbaeki means traditional Korean stone bowls made from loess used to cook and serve stews! They are sister restaurants with Baekjeong Korean BBQ.
Have the udon and pressed salmon sushi from Japonais (11806 Jasper Ave.)
Mike and I had a holidate-night at Japonais Bistro downtown and were reminded of how delicious their pressed salmon sushi (and well, everything there!) is. Japonais is part of the Dorinku family of restaurants so it’s all generally quite delicious. And they just announced they’re opening a Windermere south Edmonton location this spring 2023!
Try the new Chi & Em Asian Bistro (10542 82 Ave.)
Old Strathcona Whyte Ave. is home to a new Vietnamese / Japanese fusion restaurant called Chi & Em. The menu and interior / decor / vibes look great! I haven’t been yet but was told service was pretty slow during their first few opening days. I would still want to try though—just know that sometimes when places are too new they may need some time to sort out kinks lol. If you go, please let me know how you like it!
Take a bite of LOVEPIZZA’s popular seasonal Mac & Cheeza (various locations)
LOVEPIZZA’s most requested feature pizza, The Mac & Cheeza, is back to kick off 2023. Grab a slice of the Sundried Tomato Alfredo Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, LOVEPIZZA Mac & Cheese, Bacon, Smoked Gouda before it’s gone!
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.
Small Business Spotlight
Rolling Tales is your Edmonton headquarters for comics, miniatures, manga, and games. Located at 14263 23 Ave. in south Edmonton, this is a pop culture shop that could use a little (or a lot of love). They were broken into over the holidays, and have had some general pandemic business struggles. I got my nephew an anime figurine here for Christmas and he absolutely loved it. Pop in to check it out!
From the Blog Vault
Around this time in 2021, I got to try out the Alpine Club of Canada (Edmonton Section)’s brand new Ice Climbing Wall at the Edmonton Ski Club and blogged a beginner’s guide for what you need to know to go. This urban ice wall is an amazing opportunity to try ice climbing without investing as much time + money that it would typically require if you were doing it traditionally in the mountains. And it is open for this winter season if you’re looking to try something new!!
Some News to Know
I’m piloting a new newsletter section sharing a few local / national news you may be interested in each week—from light and heartwarming to hopeful, political & more!
My friend Great Grams of Gary, who happens to be an adventure cat, was featured on CBC The National.
Wednesday, Jan 4 is the first-ever National Ribbon Skirt Day in Canada.
Unfortunately, Canada is picking up the ‘political radicalization bug’—a new report warns, with Alberta and Ontario in particular called out as being closest to radical U.S. states.
The Ontario homes encased in ice after last week’s winter storm made international news due to how stunning the photos looked!
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
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