Lindork’s Lists #228 – Dino Day with the Edmonton Elks, Japanese & Greek Festivals, Boxcar Coffee Shop Anniversary & MORE!
Newsletter for July 10-16, 2024
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 bybecoming a free subscriber.
Things to Do This Week
Celebrate art at the Whyte Avenue Art Walk (Old Strathcona)
The annual Whyte Avenue Art Walk returns this weekend July 12-14! This is when 400 artists line approximately 4 km of the streets of Old Strathcona and visitors are invited to buy art directly from the artists and watch as they create pieces live at their booths! Support artists – bring home great art – have fun in the sun on a beautiful summer day!
Edmonton really living up to its Festival City name this weekend! Check out:
It’s the final weekend of the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival at Churchill Square in downtown Edmonton! This is the 40th anniversary of the street festival which has dazzled audiences with daring and exciting performances for decades. FREE to attend.
The Edmonton Japanese Community Association’s Natsu Matsuri Summer Festival is on this Saturday, July 13 from 2-7 p.m. at the EJCA Centre – 6750 88 St. There will be Japanese bon odori dance performances, children’s games, wares and displays, gyoza, taiyaki, kakigori (shaved ice), a beer garden, cultural demonstrations and more! FREE to attend.
Strathcona County‘s annual outdoor summer music festival RavenWood Music Festival is on this weekend July 12-13 in Sherwood Park, described as the “region’s most affordable music festival!”
The Ukrainian Village Music Festival is on this weekend July 12-14 starting with a musical evening at the Pint on Whyte on Friday, July 12, an afternoon of performances on July 13 and then a full day of music on Sunday, July 14.
The 4th Annual Greek Festival is this weekend July 13 & 14. All ages welcome, FREE admission, traditional food, dancing, live Greek music—you’re invited to come party with the Hellenic-Canadian Community of Edmonton and Region! OPA!
You’re invited to a journey of myth and magic at the 2024 Thousand Faces Festival July 12-14 at the Alberta Avenue Community Centre. There will be activities for all ages, food, performances, a country fair and more!
Attend the 30th Annual Enoch Cree Nation Pow Wow (Off Of Highway 60)
“ᑕᐊᐧᐤ tawâw “You are welcome, there is room”, come and enjoy!” The 30th Annual Enoch Cree Nation Pow Wow takes place this weekend July 12-14 at the Enoch Cree Nation Powwow Grounds (address is listed as: Off Of Highway 60 – 53.48709° N, 113.75890° W). Explore Edmonton has a great breakdown of what a Pow Wow is and Attendance Etiquette.
And here’s a few more things you may be interested in…
Attend a downtown live music birthday bash!
The Backyard, Downtown Edmonton’s live music + event patio venue, is throwing their 4th Annual “IT’S A BDAY” birthday bash on Saturday, July 13. The event has reached capacity three years running so you are encouraged to arrive early to get a spot (starts at 6 p.m.)
Partake in free family fun!
Don’t miss the Sturgeon County Bounty, family-friendly, FREE to attend party in Sturgeon County on July 11 & 12 from 4-9 p.m. both days.
And (safely) plan some activities on the North Saskatchewan River!
Use my old blog guide for everything you need to know to plan your float down the North Saskatchewan River, rent with companies like Edmonton River Float and the Edmonton Riverboat just released the schedule for their August rides including 50% off family cruises on Sunday afternoons, Duelling Piano show weekends, boat brunch and more!
Head to the Edmonton Elks Dino Day!
Get tickets for Dino Day with the Edmonton Elks!
This Sunday, July 14’s football game in Edmonton is dinosaur-themed. So fun!
I’ve partnered with the Edmonton Elks this summer because I’m basically a sports account now (lol just kidding), but to it has been a lot of fun taking in different professional sports across the city (from hockey to baseball to basketball and now—football!) It’s an easy yes for me to suggest really fun things we can do in the city including taking in an Elks football game, or two, or three! #EdmontonElks_Partner
The family-friendly July 14 game (kick-off at 5 p.m.) will include interactive dinosaur activities in the Brick Kids Zone, a dinosaur egg hunt, dinosaur giveaways, dino chicken nuggets (!!!) and more (come down early for more dino fun!) See you there!
Plus your Elks ticket is also free admission into K-Days (great deal!)
Thank you Edmonton Elks for supporting my small business with this sponsored message!
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!
Grab free food and drink and say hi to me! at Boxcar Coffee’s 1-year Anniversary
Boxcar Coffee Shop in the north Edmonton neighbourhood of Calder (11926 129 Ave.) is celebrating their one-year anniversary THIS SATURDAY JUNE 13 with free food and drink, giveaways, live music, live art / mural, and great vibes—plus they invited me to be a special guest from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. if you want to come by and say hello!! (please do, otherwise I’ll just be standing there awkwardly ha ha). Get their iced strawberry matcha summer drink too!
Check out the newly-renovated Bodega 124 Street patio! (12417 Stony Plain Rd.)
Bodega—which specializes in delicious Spanish tapas with multiple locations in the city—has put a roof above their cute backyard 124 Street patio! A good excuse to go. They also have themed deal days – Tapas Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, 8 for $88 Thursdays, Happy Hour Friday & Saturday, Seafood Sunday, etc. Enjoy!
Go on a Dessert Tour of Chinatown! (various locations)
The Chinatown Transformation Collaborative is hosting Dessert Tours in the neighbourhood every Saturday in July starting this weekend July 13. Explore the “Sweet Side” of Chinatown through these guided tours. My understanding is it’s FREE but limited spots!
Try the Build Your Own Lunch Bento Box from Japonais (various locations)
Japonais Bistro / Windermere offers such an excellent Build Your Own Lunch Bento Box! I super enjoyed mine this week and like with any of my past experiences dining at Japonais, I was so impressed with the high quality, presentation and flavour of their food. I also love how the BYOB is presented on the menu (see the menu photo!) The cost is $23 and it includes items in 6 boxes plus miso soup and a complimentary salad to start (with the best dressing!) They also have pre-set bento box items if you’d prefer not to build your own, plus a few other lunch specials.
Share the platter from El Fogon before they close (8026 118 Ave.)
I already shared the news of Venezuelan restaurant El Fogon closing permanently at the end of the month but just stopped in over the weekend for one of my final fixes and tried for the first time their Colombian Picada – a delicious platter for four featuring grilled chicken, deep fried pork, steak, plantains, cassava, coleslaw, chorizo, fries, deep fried arepitas, aji and patacones. My group also got our own arepas, the popular Venezuelan open face corn patty sandwich (is how I describe it lol) that the restaurant is known for too (add plenty of green sauce!!) So just another order suggestion if you go!
Get 50% off at Italia in the River Cree Resort & Casino
Thanks to Diane for sharing that Italia, the Italian restaurant inside the River Cree Resort & Casino, is offering 50% off theri Spring & Summer Brunch Menu every Sunday in July from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are also doing $8 Flatbread Thursdays and $10 Pasta + Beverage evenings on Sundays & Wednesdays. We love a good deal!
And here’s a few food events you may be interested in…
Lloyd’s Patty Distro is celebrating their ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in downtown Edmonton TODAY (Wednesday, July 10). They are offering free orange slushes today (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to celebrate. Obviously grab some Jamaican patties while there!
Alberta Pork is teaming up with SABOR to host a Swine & Dine pork-themed multi-course meal on Tuesday, July 16. The fun part about Swine & Dines that my friend Sharman organizes is that local pork must be utilized in all three courses from appetizer to dessert! So it’s a fun challenge for chefs too lol. Chef Lino always knocks it out of the park so you won’t want to miss this!
The Butchery by RGE RD is hosting their second BBQ of the season July 18 and 19!
Don’t miss Meuwly’s Artisan Food Market’s EAT 124 St. BINGO!
Small Business Spotlight
The folks at Uproot Food Collective (Honest Dumplings x South Island Pie Co.) have posted a plea I’m spreading the word about:
“This summer has brought us many challenges, from supply chain issues to slower sales. Despite these setbacks, we remain committed to our mission, but we need your help more than ever. Every purchase, whether online or in-store, makes a significant impact. Your support helps us keep our doors open and continue providing the products you love. Together, we can overcome these challenges. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
From the Blog Vault
Around July most years, I release a new edition of my Medicine Hat Travel Guides!
I thought I’d share a few of them here in case you’re planning a trip to the awesome southern Alberta City of Medicine Hat (and snuck in my recent one this year too):
Explore Medicine Hat: Plan your Itinerary Using This Experience Guide (June ‘24)
A Weekend in The Hat: Food + Drinks + Shops & More Medicine Hat (July ’23)
Video Blog – Lindork Does Life: Things to Do in Medicine Hat (July ’22)
Copy my Itinerary: A Weekend of Fun in Medicine Hat, Southern AB (July ’21)
Travel Guide: Only in Medicine Hat, AB – 8 Unique Experiences to Try (July ’20)
#ExploreABwithMe this Summer 2024!
Don’t forget to participate in my annual summer #ExploreABWithMe (Explore Alberta With Me) initiative encouraging you to embrace and explore your own backyard (Alberta)—and share about it to encourage others to do the same. Do it for fun and do it for a chance to WIN!!
Wherever you’re headed across Alberta this Summer 2024, I hope you’ll consider using my travel guides as inspiration, and tagging me and #ExploreABwithMe in your adventures! People who explore + share will be entered to win:
💛 $20 gift cards from Italian Centre Shop
💜 A 2-night stay at Coast Calgary Downtown Hotel & Suites by APA
💗 An E-Bike Rental Package for 2 from Pedego Electric Bikes Calgary
THANK YOU to these amazing businesses for donating prizes for my annual campaign!
#ExploreABwithMe and share about it by Sept. 22 to qualify for prizes!
Use my Travel Guides for Alberta travel inspiration!
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 15% off Pedego Edmonton e-bike rentals with my code Linda15.
Get 10% off Steve & Dan’s Fresh Fruit Half-Season CSA Box with my code FRUITDORK.
Use Code SASPRING24 to get 10% bundle saving when booking more than one service with Shine Above, for instance, gutter cleaning with exterior window washing. You can also get a free screen mesh wash and screen inspection for your home.
Use Code MMLINDA24 to get a “Freebie” add-on with Miraculous Maids. Add-ons include free interior fridge cleaning, mattress cleaning, oven cleaning or blinds cleaning. You can choose any add-on you book a Sparkle or Deep Sparkle cleaning package.
Get 20% off regular price items at Bamboo Ballroom using code LINDORK20.
Get 15% off your first-time order at Princess and the Pea (excluding Jellycat/Canada Goose) using code LINDA15.
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:
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