Lindork’s Lists #186 – Clown Theatre, Chinatown After Dark, Western Canada’s Largest Oktoberfest & more!
Newsletter for Sept 20-26, 2023
Note: this is the public version of my weekly email newsletter that gets sent to subscriber inboxes first each Wednesday. If you’re looking at this public version, there’s a chance you miss out on events earlier in the week! Get the full newsletter first by becoming a free subscriber.
Things to Do This Week
Check out Western Canada’s largest Oktoberfest Celebration in Edmonton’s ICE District this weekend!
Western Canada’s largest Oktoberfest is coming to Fan Park @ ICE District this weekend Sept 22-24 (and next Sept 29 & 30.
From September 22 to 30, Fan Park @ ICE District will be transformed into a Bavarian wonderland, complete with a massive 22,000 square foot tent for the Oktoberfest @ ICE District Beer Hall, live music, mouthwatering German cuisine, local vendors, activities, games and much more.
Get tickets to immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Oktoberfest—experiencing the warmth and hospitality of Germany right here in the heart of ICE District!!
Your $25 admission ticket includes admission and one alcoholic beverage (or two non-alcoholic beverages). Plus every attendee at the event will have a chance to win two non-stop tickets to Frankfurt. Pretty neat!
Thanks to ICE District for supporting my small business with this partner message!
Check out the FREE Amazon Future Engineer Day (TELUS World of Science)
The TELUS World of Science and Amazon Canada are offering FREE admission to Amazon Future Engineer Day on Friday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be engineering challenges, experiments, planetarium shows, computer science and coding, a unique Your Voice is Power social justice + tech workshop, Indigenous music + coding experience and more. Arrive early as crowds are expected!
* Thanks to Amazon for supporting my small business with this partner message and putting on this free event for families in Edmonton!!
Catch an Edmonton International Film Festival show (various locations)
The Edmonton International Film Festival is back Sept 21 to Oct 1! Watch short films, Q&As, and attend exclusive Gala events across four venues. Note there are NO tickets available at the door, so buy in advance.
Spooky season is upon us!! Check out Pumpkin After Dark (Borden Park)
I’ll spread out the spooky events over the next few weeks. This weekend Sept 22 Pumpkin After Dark returns to Borden Park until Halloween Oct 31. This ticketed event features 10,000+ hand-carved pumpkins, sculptures and displays, photo op spots and fun for the whole family.
Take in the Play the Fool Festival (Backstage Theatre, 10330 84 Ave.)
The Play the Fool Festival runs Sept. 21-24 and is focused on clown theatre and physical comedy shows! Check out the line-up and get tickets.
Participate in the final Alberta Avenue Guided Art & Heritage Tour
If These Walls Could Talk is a ticketed guided art & heritage tour along Alberta Avenue—taking you through the ever-changing graffiti art / murals, staples of community art and much more around one of the oldest streets in the city. Saturday, Sept. 23 is the final tour of 2023.
Go meet Fort Saskatchewan’s goats (West River’s Edge)
Fort Saskatchewan is well known for their grass trimming sheep and weed management ‘Grazing Squad’ of goats and this Saturday, Sept. 23 from 1-4 p.m. they’re doing a FREE Goat Meet & Greet at West River’s Edge (ball diamond near dog park).
You can search for Alberta Culture Days events happening this + next weekend!
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
Visit Chinatown After Dark (Alley of China Marble Restaurant 10566 97 St.)
A second Chinatown After Dark event takes place this Saturday, Sept. 23 from 5-10 p.m. featuring food from “half a block of Chinatown,” karaoke, vendors, chalk art, live music, live mural painting, and more. I was out of town for the first—and will be for the second event too :’(—but photos and videos looked great and it was wonderful to see a Chinatown back alley so lively in the evening! This is part of a local group’s revitalization efforts. Check it out!
Welcome the new Paris Baguette in Old Strathcona (10607 82 Ave.)
The popular Paris Baguette has opened in Edmonton on Whyte Ave. Their whole thing is ‘to reestablish the neighbourhood bakery café as the heart of the community around the world.’ I look forward to trying their pastries, cakes, warm breads and coffees! The Paris Baguette owners also own several of my favourite Korean eateries in the city.
Try some shareables at The Butternut Tree (9707 110 St.)
Did you know The Butternut Tree has some great daily specials you could be taking advantage of? My friend Diane loves going on Wednesdays for 20% off their Shareables items plus $10 classic cocktails. Happy hour is between 5-6 daily, Thursdays is 1/2 off wines by the glass and Sea Change Beer, and if you haven’t tried yet, they do offer Saturday and Sunday brunch (with $8 mimosas on Sat and $8 Caesars on Sun).
Celebrate Edmonton Negroni Week (various locations)
16 Edmonton restaurants are participating in Edmonton Negroni Week this Sept. 18-24. A portion of proceeds from every Negroni purchased at participating venues will go to charity. Check the individual restaurants for their drink promos! Since 2013, Negroni Week around the world has raised over $2 million for charity.
Shop The Violet Chocolate Company before it closes (online)
Edmonton chocolatier The Violet Chocolate Company is closing at the end of Sept and are inviting you to stock up before it’s too late. Promos: Spend $30 get 10%. Spend $50 get 15%. Spend $70 get 20% (applied at checkout).
Try West Lake Grill in Red Deer (Heritage Ranch 6300 Cronquist Dr.)
I’m working on an updated Travel Guide to the Central Alberta City of Red Deer in partnership with Tourism Red Deer and one of my food stops on the itinerary included the really good West Lake Grill at the Heritage Ranch. We had a fantastic lunch (love their mushroom scallops, brussel sprouts, charcuterie in a vintage cup, and bison burger with local Alix, Alberta handcut chips!) and the location (Heritage Ranch) is also a popular spot for walking trails along the river (and horseback ride / horse-drawn carriage experiences!) Check them out on your next day trip / road trip and stay tuned for my updated guide!!
Here’s a few more food events coming up you may be interested in…
Don’t miss the final weekend of Downtown Dining Week in Leduc, with food specials on until Saturday, Sept. 23.
Get tickets for Barrel Fest on Saturday, Sept. 23, a barrel-fermented and barrel-aged beer (and a lil’ cider) festival.
Listen to author Marilyn McGreer share about the foods she was raised with and the family cookbook it inspired on Saturday, Sept. 23.
To help NAIT’s Culinary Team prepare for the Culinary Olympics, they are offering special 3-course Sunday lunches cooked by the student team on Sunday Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Jan. 14.
And you might like this PSA about food deals at H&W Produce from @jkparker!
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.
Small Business Spotlight
Calgary-based Vine Arts & Spirits has opened a brand new store in Edmonton at 10961 124 St. This is an award-winning boutique store curating beer, wine, spirits and specialty cocktails operating just south of us for more than a decade. I love that they don’t categorize sections like a typical wine store (usually by region or type) instead they break it out by what taste and flavour you’re looking for—like Light & Fresh, Crisp & Refreshing, Bold & Structured, even a “Wacky” one so you can really try something new!! Vine Arts also has a big non-alcoholic section too for my non-alcohol folks! Plus lots of different drink accessories and cups. Staff are super knowledgeable and love to give shoppers advice and recommendations! They can geek out with aficionados but keep it real approachable for casual drinkers too.
Welcome to the neighbourhood, Vine Arts!
* Thanks for the cocktail gift!
New on the Blog
It’s not super new content but I had been meaning to start an ongoing blog list of Cute Places I’ve Stayed in Alberta and I finally did it! Currently there are only two spots listed, lol. but I will slowly experience + add more!
New on the Blog
I’m working on a NEW Travel Guide to the Red Deer region in partnership with Tourism Red Deer so I thought I’d throw back to my previous Travel Guide I did earlier this year! Check out my Guide for Where to Eat in the Central Alberta City of Red Deer!
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…
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 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!
Get 10% off services at Park Integrative Health by mentioning my code LINDORK at payment.
Valid for massage, acupuncture, energetic healing + medical aesthetics.
Not valid on physiotherapy, occupational therapy or mental health services).
As a TELUS Ambassador, if you sign up for TELUS products or services using my referral link / code, I also get some revenue (unfortunately you don’t get a bonus lol).
Popular on my Blog Right Now
Here are the top four most popular posts on my blog this week:
- Guide to Gluten-Free Eats in Edmonton (Sept 2023)
- Guide to Dog/Pet-Friendly Patios in the Edmonton area (May 2017)
- Guide to Instagrammable Walls of Edmonton (June 2017)
- Vietnamese Steamed Pork Buns – Banh Bao Recipe (May 2020)
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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
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