Lindork’s Lists #194 – Holiday Light ups 🎄, MĂ©tis Week ♾️, Queso Fundido 🧀 & MORE!
Newsletter for Nov. 15-21, 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
Mark MĂ©tis Week (various locations)
MĂ©tis Week runs Nov. 12-18, celebrating the heritage, history and contributions of MĂ©tis people while honouring the memory of Louis Riel, who devoted and sacrificed his life defending MĂ©tis rights. Check out activities happening around Edmonton including a Metis Market at Kingsway Mall on Saturday, Nov. 18 and consider a getaway to Metis Crossing.
Check out a few more markets (various locations)
The third annual Indigenous Holiday Market at the River Cree Resort & Casino, presented by Enoch Cree Nation, runs Friday – Sunday, Nov. 17 to 19, showcasing First Nation, MĂ©tis & Inuit artisans and vendors. Find handcrafted, locally-made gift ideas plus take in complimentary live entertainment, Indigenous cuisine, giveaways, photos with Santa and more. Admission by donation.
The Knottwood Community presents their second annual Holiday Craft Fair this Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Knottwood Community Centre featuring crafts, art and gifts from 35 local makers. Free to attend but they are accepting food bank donations.
The Indie Handmade market at The Enjoy Centre is happening this weekend Nov. 17-19 featuring works from makers across the country.
Catch a comedy show (Varscona Theatre 10329 83 Ave.)
White Rhino Comedy presents Wayne Jones & Friends at the Varscona Theatre this Friday, Nov. 17, featuring local acts including Girl Brain as well as comedians from across Canada and special guest actor/comedian Ken Hall.
Watch Hadestown the Broadway Across Canada Musical (Jubilee Auditorium)
The eight 2019 Tony Award-winning Hadestown (which actually got part of its start in Edmonton) returns with Broadway Across Canada this week with daily shows until Nov. 19. ‘Intertwining two mythic tales—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone—Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.’
Watch the Lebanese Burger Mafia doc about Burger Baron (8712 109 St.)
The Lebanese Burger Mafia runs at the Metro Cinema / Garneau Theatre this week with shows on Nov. 18 and 21. The Lebanese Burger Mafia featuring and directed by local filmmaker, journalist, author, and all around talent Omar Mouallem, is a crowdfunded feature documentary about Burger Baron, a rogue fast-food chain with mysterious origins, a cult following and a secret pathway to the immigrant dream.
Kick off the holiday season with these festive activities (various locations)
All is Bright returns to 124 Street between 107-109 Ave. on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 4-8 p.m. “Lose yourself in the glow of the lights, bask in the warmth of the Beverage Gardens, and cook some delicious treats over a fire. Look forward to an evening of music and celebration, with a dramatic light-up ceremony! This is a scorcher of a street party in one of Edmonton’s coolest neighbourhoods.”
Strathcona County (Sherwood Park)’s Celebration of Lights runs from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 with campfire cooking, wagon rides with Santa, cooking decorating kits, crafts, a winter carnival, LED tree light-up & more!
Santa Arrives at West Edmonton Mall on Sat, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Skate with Santa for free and check out the Grand Arrival Parade.
The Kingsway Holiday Parade takes place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. starting on the south side of Kingsway, heading eastbound towards Kingsway Mall, with lots of viewing areas and visits with Santa at the end of the parade.
I’ll share more holiday activities in an ongoing / updated listed starting in Dec.
And get tickets for this cute holiday fundraiser:
Bubbles & Blooms is a holiday fundraiser happening Saturday, Dec. 9 in support of The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. Learn how to craft perfect mocktails and create your own Whoville Tree to take home for the season! You just missed early bird pricing ($20 off) but should still get a ticket at regular price anyway!Â
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 Culina’s Indigenous Lunch Boxes (12019 A 102 Ave.)
-
In recognition of MĂ©tis Week, the Culina Family of Restaurants is highlighting their offering Indigenous Lunch Boxes. You get three choices gluten-free choices from bison sausage to glazed salmon or a Vegan lentil fritter, including vegetables and bannock. Culina is owned by MĂ©tis siblings.
-
-
Check out brunch at Tryst Wine & Small Plates (21 Perron St., St. Albert)
-
One of the best restaurants in St. Albert Tryst Wine & Small Plates is now offering brunch! The brunch menu is family style for sharing and is served Saturday & Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It sounds delicious, and they have mimosa flights too!
-
-
Enjoy a Smashburger from Ribeye Butcher Shop (various locations)
-
I visited Ribeye Butcher Shop for the first time this week (they have various locations but I went to the west Edmonton Terra Losa shop) and really enjoyed it in there. They have a great selection of meat, great presentation, lots of freezer items, and you can grab Smashburgers made on site for dine-in or take-out! I really liked my Single beef burger (add bacon) and Mike really liked his Double Premium (steak and bacon) burger. They also have good chicken salad and macaroni salad (a touch salty, but I do love salt lol), and I am excited to slurp up their soups that I took home with me! They offer deals like if you spend more than $100, you get a free Smashburger on Mondays, or a free pound of chicken wings on Tuesdays.
-
-
Order the queso fundido from Luna Mexican Restaurant (9880 63 Ave.)
-
I often find myself raving about Luna Mexican Restaurant after each visit because it’s just always such a fantastic meal. It’s so consistently delicious each and every visit and I think I’m not the only one who feels this way because it’s also so busy every single time I visit! I cannot dine at Luna without an order of their Queso Fundido three cheese dip – add mushrooms (sometimes add mushrooms AND chorizo!), their white fish ceviche is excellent, Pastor marinated pork tacos – amazing, pozole pork corn soup – so good! You really can’t go wrong, whatever you order. It’s a must-try!
-
-
Try the Crave Cupcakes x Doughnut Party Collab (various locations)
-
I think this is sweet (lol get it, sweet): Crave Cupcakes and Doughnut Party have collaborated to offer each of their takes on fan favourite flavours. Crave made cupcakes inspired by Doughnut Party’s fan favourite ‘The Bernadette’ doughnut while Doughnut Party made a doughnut inspired by Crave’s popular Red Velvet cupcakes. Both creations are only available until this Saturday Nov. 18.
-
-
Go on an epic Edmonton Pizza Crawl (various locations)
-
The folks behind Edmonton’s Coffee Passport have released Edmonton’s Pizza Passport, featuring 70+ handpicked pizza shops. There’s also a section for adding new places you discover or visit while traveling to existing spots. Looks like a fun thing way to keep track of all the pizzas you consume in town and a nice pizza shops at your fingertips resource to have.
-
-
Here’s a few more food events coming up you may be interested in…
-
Don’t miss the final (for now?) All You Can Eat Perogies event at Uncle Ed’s (Mundare Sausage) Restaurant on Nov. 16. They’re now only taking walk-ins (closes at 6:30 p.m.)
-
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
Congratulations to Zocolo, an Edmonton gift, flower and plant gallery—plus cafe—celebrating 20 years in business! They are a gem located at 10826 95 St. in Little Italy. Well worth a visit if you’ve never been or it’s been awhile. Their cafe includes drinks and some light sandwich and dessert options.
New on the Blog
The 2023 Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival was such a great vibe and I had the most fun doing KLM Royal Dutch Airline’s event passport to check out different booths (food + drink) related to KLM flight destinations. NEW on the blog, I recapped the RMWFF x KLM event (including local food / vendor highlights!) #KLMPartner
From the Blog Vault
In 2021 and then again in 2022, I put together a list of Edmonton, Alberta-made Advent Calendars you can gift for yourself or your loved ones this holiday season. From beer to olive oils, chocolates, seasonings, books and MORE, there’s probably something for everyone on the list! I haven’t updated this for 2023 but the places linked are likely doing versions this year, just do a bit more clicking around on your end to confirm lol. I know a lot of people were excited to see this Cheesemas Advent Calendar from Cavern this 2023 and I was gifted an Olive Oil Advent Calendar from Evoolution I’m excited to try this December (the Jason Carter cover art is SO pretty!)
This Sunday: Q&A with Chelsea Tessier
Every other Sunday, I profile a new “interesting person” in a Q&A series just for paid newsletter subscribers. The next person I’ll be profiling this Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023 is Chelsea Tessier, Head Brewer and Co-Owner of Polyrhythm Brewing.
Here’s an excerpt from the Q&A:
“Building the brewery and the stresses of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars with no guarantee of success was the most stressful thing I’ve ever encountered. From figuring out seacan delivery, learning to drywall and going through permitting process, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done and it certainly prepared me for opening our doors.” – Chelsea Tessier, Polyrhythm Brewing
Save $$$ with my Discount Codes
I regularly partner with awesome companies to offer discounts that save you money!
Here’s a few promos you may be interested in…
Get 10% off Coco Candles, a local, woman-owned candle shop featuring all-natural soy and coconut wax candles, using code LINDORK10.
Get 20% off jetSet Parking at the YEG Edmonton International Airport using code LINDORK20. Book by November 30, 2023 for travel by January 12, 2024.
Get 10% off a Secret Ingredient YEG cooking class using code LINDORK10.
Get 20% off regular price items at Bamboo Ballroom using code LINDORK20!
See all current discount codes on my blog!
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:
- Explore Alberta: Guide for Things to Do and Food to Eat in St. Albert (Sept 2023)
- 10 Pieces of Advice for New Parents from New Parents (October 2023)
- Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Eats in Edmonton (Sept 2023)
- Edmonton-Made Advent Calendars (Nov 2021)
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 :)
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 GiveawaysÂ
- 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)
