Lindork’s Lists #150 – Free Lunar New Year Events, Mexican Breakfast, award-winning comedy and more!
Newsletter for Jan 11 – 17, 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.
Take in more Lunar New Year Celebrations (various locations)
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit (or the Year of the Cat in Vietnamese), at Kingsway Mall this Saturday, Jan. 14 with activities happening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s lots of FREE activities and you’re encouraged to complete a passport of activities for prizes! Londonderry Mall’s Lunar New Year celebration is on Sunday, Jan. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. with FREE activities too!
Spice up your world with Simply Spice at the River Cree Resort & Casino
A Spice Girls tribute band is performing at the River Cree Resort & Casino this Saturday, Jan. 14! This should be a super fun show (for all ages).
Laugh the night away with comedian Jim Gaffigan (Winspear Centre)
Popular comedian Jim Gaffigan is doing shows in Edmonton at the Winspear Centre this weekend Jan 14 & 15! Mike and I think he’s hilarious. Be sure to get tickets to see this six-time Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, three-time Emmy winning top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling recording artist (that’s a lot of accolades I didn’t realize he had! I just know he’s funny lol)
Check out the new Secrets of the Sea at TELUS World of Science (11211 142 St.)
… and dunk some “sea-lebrities!” To launch the new Secrets of the Sea in IMAX, the TELUS World of Science is having a dunk tank event on Thursday, Jan. 12. You can pay to dunk some local celebrities into a tank filled with “sea creatures” at 2 p.m. then catch the IMAX screening after (the screening is included with your science centre admission). If Thursday doesn’t work, you can still catch the IMAX show after—just the dunk is Thursday.
Plan to attend the Edmonton Whiskey Festival (Delta Edmonton South)
The 12th Annual Edmonton Whiskey Festival returns on Wed, Jan. 18 with proceeds supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Get tickets to rink the world’s best whisky, snack on appies, and support the MS Society!
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.
Grab Mexican breakfast Calle Mexico (south location only – 11127 107 Ave.)
Calle Mexico is now open for breakfast! Well, just its south side location for now. Drop in for some chilaquiles, sopes, huevos and drinks from 8-11 a.m.
Try HOM before they leave JustCook Kitchens (10344 105 St.)
HOM—which specializes in south east Asian street food—is leaving JustCook Kitchens Food Hall. Jan. 21 is their last day They’ll still do pop-ups and take home meal options but if you’d like to have them in a restaurant setting, head down before Jan 21!
Check out the new Rhubarb Cafe & Cocktails (12020 107 Ave.)
There’s a new cocktail + cafe in Manchester Square called Rhubarb Cafe & Cocktails! It’s “bringing coffee and cocktails” to the square, with live music every Wednesday night. Loving the new shops popping up at this square.
Grab a local burger (various locations)
Have you watched ‘The Menu’ now streaming on Disney+? It’s a horror, thriller, comedy centered around the chef, kitchen staff and customers of a fine dining restaurant and it had me on the edge of my seat! A very weird, original, interesting flick that had me wondering what would happen next the entire 2 hours through, and there’s a part about a cheeseburger that has me craving burgers! In Edmonton, I love the burgers from Gravy Burger & Fries, Fox Burger, Woodshed Burgers, and The Next Act Pub. Curious where your go-to burger spots are! Reply to let me know :)
Grab treats from Sweet Castle Bakery (3019 66 St.)
Thanks to Dajana for this recommendation of treats from Sweet Castle Bakery! It’s a French bakery and cafe located in Tawa Centre in south east Edmonton near the Grey Nuns Hospital. “Their almond croissant is ridiculously delicious! The staff are lovely, too.”
Plus: Reading through Mark Connolly’s Twitter thread this week on local restaurants you loved that have since closed was a bit of a nostalgia kick. Any beloved but closed Edmonton restaurants you still think about from time to time?
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.
Lunar New Year Giveaway Next Week
2023 is the Year of the Rabbit (or in the Vietnamese calendar, the Year of the Cat!) and ahead of Lunar New Year (Jan 22), I’m giving away a Lunar New Year Feast Bundle Prize courtesy of Honest Dumplings!
This will be a newsletter subscriber-exclusive giveaway that will run in Wednesday, Jan 18’s email—so stay tuned and be sure to become a free (or paid) subscriber for a chance to win!
I’m also giving away a separate social media prize (via my Instagram + Facebook) later this week if you’d like more chances to win.
PLUS: Get 20% off Honest Dumplings via the Uproot Food Store using code LINDA. This includes all the dipping sauces, dumplings, and spring rolls. Applies to one-time purchases. No minimum purchase requirement. One use per customer. Can’t combine with other discounts. Code active until Jan 31!
Get up to 90% off your Fresh Prep order
I’ve resumed my partnership with my favourite Canadian meal kit company Fresh Prep so first time orders / new accounts can get up to 90% off using code INFLINDORK90. This code is valid until Feb 14 so if post-holidays has you feeling a little unmotivated to cook, or you’re strapped for time and recipe ideas, try Fresh Prep!
#FreshPrepCA_Partner
New on the Blog
I’ve put together Everything You Need To Know Before You Go to the Caribbean Island of Barbados based on my recent two trips to the island (first for our Procreation Vacation last year and then for our Babymoon this year!) Use the blog to help plan your trip!!
From the Blog Vault
Around this time last year, I was blogging about whether businesses should be selling Lunar New Year products. This is an annual topic of frustration each new year as companies who don’t have any connection to the holiday, or don’t properly convey their connection, try to cash in by releasing red-coloured versions of their products, or slapping whatever animal of the year it is onto items.
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!
Beloved Edmonton service dog Kuno had a birthday bash and it looked so cute.
Parks Canada has announced that due to high demand, its restricting parking to Moraine Lake this summer so only shuttle service, Roam Transit or commercial transportation can access the lot. Moraine Lake is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
It does bring me great pleasure to report that Elon Musk has broken the record for biggest loss of fortune ever though he’s still filthy rich. Just a reminder we are all closer to poverty than we are at ever becoming a millionaire—let alone a billionaire so let’s invest in social supports rather than lifting up the rich.
Did you see singer Gwen Stefani said she’s Japanese… Please no matter how much you love food or fashion or culture from somewhere, no matter how much that influences you, that influence and appreciation doesn’t mean you’re that…
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
Discount Codes to Save You $$$
Get 20% off Honest Dumplings via the Uproot Food Store using code LINDA. Applies to one-time purchases. No minimum purchase requirement. One use per customer. Can’t combine with other discounts. Code active until Jan 31!
Get up to 90% off your first order of Fresh Prep using code INFLINDORK90.
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 20% off a Kaavish Spa booking when you mention LINDORK20.
Get 20% off at clothing boutique Bamboo Ballroom using my code LINDORK20.
See more discount codes over on my blog
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- Food to Try This Week
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