Lindork’s Lists #249 – Justice4Reel Film Festival, TWO Holiday Giveaways & MORE!
Newsletter for December 11-17, 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
Don’t miss the Justice4Reel Film Festival!
The Justice4Reel Film Festival returns with daily screenings on NOW until Dec. 18 in person at CKUA Edmonton in downtown Edmonton or ONLINE! The festival features a powerful lineup of films and discussions aimed at deepening understanding and inspiring viewers toward justice and advocacy on urgent human rights issues. I partnered with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace & Human Rights (who is presenting the festival with Migrante Alberta), to raise awareness about the festival!
Experience A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre (9828 101A Ave.)
I worked with the Citadel Theatre this week to highlight their Relaxed and Accessible Performances! This season along with Relaxed performances they also offer ASL interpreted, Captioned + Audio described shows. It’s a lovely, inclusive, judgement-free experience that allows folks to still take in arts and entertainment without the same worries you might have for a typical show. The one I saw was A Christmas Carol, which runs until Dec. 24. I laughed. I cried. It was really lovely.
Celebrate the season in Chinatown (10601 97 St.)
The Chinatown Transformation Collaborative is hosting a FREE Christmas at the Hull Block on Saturday, Dec. 14! Meet Santa, take horse wagon rides and plan to dine at a Chinatown restaurant!! Pick from one of the participating ones in the Chinatown Chow Down project.
Check out Candy Cane Lane (148 St. between 92-99 Ave.)
The much-beloved and FREE Candy Cane Lane returns Dec. 13-Jan. 3 with Open Streets Nights on Dec. 14, 23, and 28 where the streets are closed to cars on those nights so you can walk, bike, sled or ski along to enjoy all the decked out holiday decorations. We are looking forward to taking Benjimin!
Experience Bright Light Skate Night at Churchill Square
The City of Edmonton’s FREE, family-friendly holiday event Bright Light Skate Night is Saturday, Dec. 14 from 4-8 p.m. including skating, fire pits, performances, a Christmas tree light-up and launch of a Winter City Festival Group Art Installation. There are also FREE skate rentals (as supplies last).
Here are a few more holiday ideas for the weekend!
Die Harsh: A Christmas Musical is on at the Grindstone Theatre Dec. 13-29.
Get tickets to the family-friendly “A Thrifty Christmas” show on Dec. 13.
Home Alone – In Concert performed live to picture by the FILMharmonique Orchestra is on Dec. 14.
The Singing Christmas Tree is on this Dec. 12-15.
Weekend at Girlies, Girl Brain’s Christmas show, is on Dec. 12-22.
The FREE Winter in Little Italy is on Dec. 15.
The Edmonton Christmas Bird Count is on Dec. 15.
Take part in the Stony Plain Road Business Association Holiday Hunt on now until Dec. 20. Celebrate the season, support local entrepreneurs, enjoy holiday fun for a chance to win prizes.
FREE Celebrate the Season festivities are on at the Alberta Legislature from now until Dec. 21.
Glow “The Ultimate Holiday Light Spectacle” is back at the Edmonton EXPO Centre now until Dec. 31. I’m headed there with my family this weekend and will also be GIVING AWAY A FAMILY PASS in next week’s email newsletter as part of my December giveaways! So stay tuned for that.
Furry Frames is running a holiday-themed pet photoshoot fundraiser in support of AARCS Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society until Dec. 18.
River Valley Adventure Co. is offering their Legislature Lights Segway Adventure Tour until Jan. 31.
And here’s a few other events you may be interested in:
Where are my classic RPG gamers at? Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestra World Tour is at the Jubilee Auditorium on Dec. 13.
The Edmonton Science Bowl is on Dec. 15 and it looks like it will be so cute, cheer on Competitors in Grades 7-12.
One of my favourite local artists Eunju Park (@kartbyjuju) is hosting a Hanji Art Workshop on Thursday, Dec. 19 at Boxcar Coffee Shop (one of my favourite local cafes!)
Got an Edmonton area event, virtual event, or something coming up you think my readers would be interested in knowing about? Let me know!
Now entering the Holiday Giveaway Zone…
Normally I run an annual 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways (lovingly nicknamed “A Very Lindork Christmas”) but my December is so slammed I’ve decided to just focus on giving away some prizes to email newsletter subscribers this season!
There’s already been a few the last few weeks and today and next week I’ve got MORE! Thank you so much for being a newsletter subscriber. My email community means a lot! If you’re not subscribed yet, subscribe to get a chance to enter next week’s giveaway (and really, quite regular email-exclusive giveaways throughout the year!)
(there’s also a paid option if you’d like to support my work further)
You missed a Family Pass Giveaway to GLOW Edmonton!
Glow, an annual indoor holiday lights spectacle is back at the Edmonton EXPO Centre! They’ve gifted me a Family Pass to give away to newsletter subscribers and also hosted Benjimin’s first experience and our first time visiting as parents! Seeing the holiday magic through Ben’s eyes is pretty special. Kids 3 and under are FREE at Glow and you also save some money with a Family Pass (two adults and three kids OR seniors). At Glow you’ll find all sorts of lit-up installations (lots of photo opportunities!) plus live performers (Ben loved dancing!), photos with Santa, a family-friendly train , vendor market and pretty big Kids Zone. Once you’re in you can spend as long as you like inside!
Thanks to Glow for gifting me a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky newsletter subscriber!
You missed my ticket giveaway for The Story of Taylor Swift!
The Eras Tour might be over but there’s more ways for Swifties to come together in Edmonton! Don’t miss The Story of Taylor Swift taking place at the Jubilee Auditorium on Feb 28! This show takes you on a journey through the incredible rise of Taylor Swift, from her early days as a self-made artist writing songs in her bedroom to becoming one of the most influential women in music, featuring your favourite Taylor Swift hits, this show is more than just a concert—it’s an all-ages celebration of resilience, empowerment, and artistry, starring recording artist Charity Eden.
Show organizers gifted one of my email newsletter subscribers a pair of tickets to the show! If you missed it, I think getting tickets to the show would make a great Christmas gift for the Swiftie in your life. (also much cheaper and easier to acquire than actual concert tickets lol)
Congratulations to last week’s winner of a Family Pass to the TELUS World of Science Our Climate Quest Exhibit + Cities of the Future in IMAX
Thanks to everyone who entered for a chance to win a Family Pass to the TELUS World of Science to take in Our Climate Quest and Cities of the Future in IMAX! I asked entrants to share what their City of the Future might have and the responses back were really fun—some fantastical, some simple, some sweet, including heated sidewalks, more trees, more sustainable living, and a world where cancer is cured. 💛
The winner of a Family Pass (two adult, two children) to TELUS World of Science is Cindy B., congratulations Cindy and thanks to everyone who entered. Be sure to check out the exhibits before they’re gone!
Thanks to the TELUS World of Science for gifting a Family Science Centre and IMAX pass for me to give away to a lucky newsletter subscriber!
STAY TUNED: Next Wednesday’s Giveaway is a Staycation at the Courtyard Edmonton Downtown!
The Riverside Bistro at Courtyard Edmonton Downtown recently hosted me in their beautiful winter patio domes (see the video here!) and they’ve also gifted me a staycation (hotel stay) prize to give away for email newsletter subscribers.
In next Wednesday, Dec. 18’s email, subscribers can enter for a chance to win that!
(there’s also a paid option if you’d like to support my work further)
Food to Try This Week!
Chinatown Pick of the Week – Boualouang Laos & Thai (10569 97 St.)
Have you been to Boualouang Laos & Thai? This authentic Laos & Thai restaurant has been around a long time but recently got new owners (they’re so sweet!) Give their specialty dishes like Mango Fish or Duck Curry a try, or dig into some classics. I appreciate the spices and seasoning used here!
This is a participating Chinatown Chow Down restaurant. Dine here and at the other restaurants featured in the Chow Down Challenge Passport from now until March for a chance to monthly and grand prizes!
Try the ramen from Menya Mori (10350 124 St.)
I finally got to try Menya Mori on 124 Street, the restaurant iteration of the popular Kasey Ramen home ramen kits. It was really great! They make a limited number of bowls each service and it’s not the biggest space so you can probably expect to wait in line a bit—but they are super speedy so you won’t be waiting long. Share the Shareables (fried chicken and chashu don rice when we went). My friend tried the Lemon Shio a lighter broth ramen while I went for their Classic Tonkotsu Ramen – SPICY. It was maybe too spicy for my palette which I think has changed since I had a baby lol (spice tolerance lower, but I still love spice so much lol). Definitely worth your visit especially if you love ramen!
Grab a Buok Burrito (10707 100 Ave.)
My friend Diane is such a fan of Buok Fresh Korean Kitchen’s burrito options. She loves the burrito + salad combo (“a good deal!”) and says the Bulgogi beef burrito is nice and different from other burritos. Give it a try!
Celebrate Omen Brewing’s sixth anniversary (9942 67 Ave.)
Omen Brewing is celebrating six years (congrats!) They had a party already but still wanted to mention checking them out for brews and food (the delicious Super Amigos Mexican Street Food & Catering operate in there on Friday & Saturday nights.
Also this week, Mike invested in Alberta distillery (and Canada’s largest maker of Ready-to-Serve Cocktails) The Fort Distillery / Tumbler & Rocks.
I also partnered with them to share about their investing campaign which ends on Friday. If you are interested in becoming part owner of this growing company, tap the link for details!
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.
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 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.
Get 15% off Pedego Edmonton e-bike rentals with my code Linda15.
Get 10% off services at Park Integrative Health by mentioning my code LINDORK at payment. Valid for first-time massage, acupuncture, energetic healing + medical aesthetics appointments only.
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
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