Lindork’s Lists #166 – Cinco de Mayo, Art of LEGO, Rolled Ice Cream & More!
Newsletter for May 3-9, 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! In general, please stay home if sick, mask up, get boosted, etc.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at ICE District (101 St. 104 Ave.)
The Mexican Society of Edmonton in partnership with OEG Sports and Entertainment is throwing an inaugural FREE Cinco de Mayo party at ICE District (101 St. 104 Ave.) downtown on Friday, May 5. There is an all ages event in the morning from 11-1 and then an evening event rom 4-7.
Peek Cinco de Mayo restaurant specials + parties in the Food section below!
Celebrate Star Wars Day at Churchill Square
May the 4th Be With You! The Edmonton Arts Council is hosting a FREE Star Wars Day lunch event at Churchill Square on Thursday, May 4 from 12-1 p.m. “Hear beloved hits from the Star Wars movies performed by the Star Wars Cantina Band and Sosyal Scoops (of Yelo’d) will scooping up FREE Bantha Milkshakes—a delicious take on the Blue Milk you see Luke drinking in “A New Hope” lol.
Check out opening weekend of The Art of Brick LEGO Exhibit (11211 142 St.)
The world’s largest and most popular display of LEGO art The Art of Brick opens this weekend at the TELUS World of Science. See over one million LEGO bricks transformed into more than 100 sculptures by artist Nathan Sawaya. This is critically acclaimed collection! Can’t wait to check it out.
Attend Get Ready in the Park (Edmonton EXPO Centre)
The City of Edmonton’s annual Get Ready in the Park emergency preparedness festival runs this Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Edmonton Expo Centre Grounds. It’s a FREE and interactive, family-friendly event featuring local emergency responders, emergency response community groups, and there will be food trucks on site.
Go on a Janes Walk across Edmonton (various locations)
Janes Walk is an annual international festival celebrating the life of author and urban activist Jane Jacobs, that occurs on the first weekend of May (this weekend!) Celebrate Janes Walk in Edmonton by attending one of 20 FREE, volunteer-led walks with themes like Pedway Plunge, Garneau Stroll, Cromdale Capers, kihcihkaw askî – Sacred Lands and more!
Check out Canada’s longest-running documentary film festival (Metro Cinema)
NorthwestFest, Canada’s longest-running documentary film festival, kicks off this May 4 and runs until May 12, followed by Rainbow Visions Queer Film Festival running May 12-14. You can get individual tickets to shows or an all access pass.
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
Try the new All You Can Eat menu at Soleilki Japanese Fusion (10828 82 Ave.)
I just learned that Soleilki Japanese Fusion restaurant in Old Strathcona has switched to a fully All You Can Eat menu featuring 100+ items and starting this weekend they are also adding 50+ new items! So it’s a good time to check them out. I really liked them—great quality, service, and portion sizes. Plus the spacious booth seating gives you a nice private dining feel. Definitely in my Top 3 AYCE options in the city. Give it a try!
Try the new summer menu at Dagu Rice Noodle (10408 Jasper Ave.)
One of my favourite Edmonton restaurants Dagu Rice Noodle downtown has just launched their new summer menu! It features a tasty spicy clam noodle soup, a cold noodle chicken bowl, boozy bubble tea and drinks (they have a really fantastic drink menu!), and more! While you’re there you also have to order the salty crispy chicken, an awesome and addictive appetizer.
Try the $10 lunch menu at Party People Catering Co. (10305 David Rd., Acheson)
We were recently gifted lunch from a new catering company in the area—Party People Catering Co. based out of Acheson (just west of Edmonton in the Edmonton area). Their lunch menu features exclusively $10 items! The fried chicken sandwich was really good. Great portions for the price too. You can see the lunch menu here and I know some of you have already been inquiring about their catering options when you saw my post about them!
Grab some rolled ice cream at Scoop n Roll Creamery (various locations)
Scoop n Roll Creamery locations are now OPEN for the season! I swear it feels like I blinked and this local rolled ice cream business expanded all across and around the Edmonton area, lol. Find them at four Edmonton locations, Spruce Grove, St. Albert and Sherwood Park daily.
Try sausage + burgers at Links Woodfire Sausage (275 Carnegie Dr., St. Albert)
Thanks to Kerry for this local restaurant recommendation: Links Woodfire Sausage Co. specializes in locally soured, expertly prepared, and grilled on real wood fire sausages. They have a wide selection of sausages plus burgers, sides, ice cream, and do they family packs too. I can’t wait to try.
Here’s what Kerry says: “I love their food! Especially their specials! And I would seriously be soooo devastated if they ever closed. Great gluten free options too!”
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo (various locations)
Indian/Latin-fusion restaurant Taco Delhi is running Cinco de Mayo deals all week May 1-5 offering roti tacos, tostadas, pakoras, churros and Coronas for just $5 each. This new restaurant specializes in Indian-inspired tacos.
El Beso is selling pre-orders for their Cinco de Mayo take-home Fiesta Kits.
El Mariachi on 124 Street is doing a few beer combos for Cinco de Mayo.
Blanco Cantina in South Common is throwing a Cinco de Mayo party.
Julio’s Barrios in Old Strathcona is planning a big Cinco de Mayo party.
Take part in La Pizza Week (various locations)
May 1-14 is La Pizza Week across the country. Grab some pizza from participating Edmonton restaurants including Blowers & Grafton, Pink Gorilla, Cosmic Pizza & more.
Check out the season opening of the Callingwood Farmers Market!
The Callingwood Farmers Market, Edmonton’s largest outdoor market featuring 200+ vendors, returns for the season this Sunday, May 6 and then every Sunday following from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of 69 Ave and 177 St. in west Edmonton. Check out their opening day giveaways + special events!
The Alberta Beach Farmers Market, Onoway Farmers Market, Morinville Farmers Market also opens for the season this weekend!
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.
Pizza Giveaway Winners
To celebrate Mike, my pizza-lovin’ husband’s birthday, I ran a pizza giveaway just for newsletter subscribers in last week’s newsletter! Thanks to everyone who entered.
The following four winners get a $25 gift card to a local pizzeria of their choice! 🍕
Daniela B. who is getting $25 to The High Dough
Eliane B. who is getting $25 to the Italian Centre Shop
Nicole S. who is getting $25 to Tony’s Pizza Place
Priscilla F. who is getting $25 to Pink Gorilla
I regularly run subscriber-only giveaways! So if you want to get weekly emails with ideas for Things to Do, Eat and Know Each Week, and qualify for exclusive giveaways, subscribe for free! (There’s also a paid option if you want to support the work I do / content I create in that way.)
Get ready for Edmonton Cat Fest Week
You may not know but in 2014 I founded the Edmonton International Cat Festival, a big celebration of cats, cat people and cat culture, that raises money or at rescues. It was at the time the first event of its kind in Canada and still to this day the biggest cat event in Alberta. At its peak we had 3,000 attendees for a single-day event and since 2014 we’ve been able to raise $130,000 for local rescues.
This year rather than a single-day event we’re doing a Cat Fest Week of CATivities from May 20-28, 2023 ft. ticketed and free events, raising money for Furget Me Not Animal Rescue. We are releasing tickets for events over the next two weeks but there’s two events taking registrations now you might be interested in:
Register for Cat Book Club Night at Glass Bookshop
Event is May 25. Register by May 5.
Register for Cat Cookie Decorating Class with Rhonda’s Couture Cookies
Event is May 27. Register by May 15.
Stay tuned for tickets to the Great Grams of Gary Celebpurrty Cat Meet & Greet (Meet & Greet is May 20. Tickets on sale May 6) and much more, including cat-themed food + drink from Edmonton businesses.
New on the Blog
For my latest Vietnamese recipe blog, I’m sharing a very easy and delicious Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie (Sinh Tố Bơ) and Jackfruit Smoothie (Sinh Tố Mít) recipe from my mom. Give it a try—especially as we enter into hot summer months!
Also new on the blog: I am wrapping up our ten-year infertility journey with this final blog post introducing our beautiful Miracle Baby Benjimin Brown.
And: May is Asian Heritage Month and you can shop my 2023 Asian Heritage Month clothing collection in collaboration with Edmonton-based Zen Lion Design and Serena Mah + Serena Tang until May 31. Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered!
20% proceeds are donated to the Asian Gold Ribbon campaign supporting Asian mental health initiatives, and there’s a special #ProudlyAsian piece by The Serenas, with 20% proceeds going to Bear Clan Patrol in Edmonton. Thanks for your support!
From the Blog Vault
Around this time in May 2020, I had just launched the #AdoptAShopAB – Foodie Edition powered by ATB Financial. Nearly 400 people supported 100 businesses across Edmonton and Calgary as part of the support local initiative. You can find a list of local businesses (restaurants/cafes/breweries) we featured on the blog!
Save $$$ with my Discount Codes
I regularly partner with awesome companies to offer discounts that save you money! The codes vary throughout the year but here’s a few to take advantage of right now…
Get 10% off at VietCan Books using code LINDORK
You can also combine with free shipping on orders $125+Get 15% off at Princess & The Pea using code LINDA15!
On first-time orders/email accounts only. Excludes Jellycat and Canada Goose items.Get 20% off regular price items at Bamboo Ballroom using code LINDORK20!
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
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