Lindork’s Lists #250 – Holiday Festivities, a Staycation GIVEAWAY and MORE!
Newsletter for December 18-24, 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.
Please note I’ll be taking the next two Wednesdays (Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) off! My email newsletter will return Wed, Jan. 8, 2025.
This season I’m happy to share I’ve made donations to Basically Babies, an organization that supplies families in need with 120 carefully selected baby items to support their entire first year of life, the Canada Palestine Cultural Association, who are working to create Canada’s first Palestinian Cultural Centre based in Edmonton, and volunteered as an Elf providing Christmas groceries for a family in need through the Holiday Hamper program. I am wishing you the very best holiday season!! ❤️💚
Paid subscribers will receive an annual Christmas gift this week!
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Things to Do This Week
We’re full in holiday mode aren’t we? Here are some festive suggestions!
Catch A Very Merry Pops Performance (Winspear Centre)
The Winspear Centre’s annual A Very Merry Pops concert runs Dec. 20-23. The performance will transport you back to your childhood with all of your favourite Christmas and holiday carols and classics, there’s even a sing-along!
Check out It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol (Varscona Theatre)
The Varscona Theatre presents It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol from Dec 22-24, an old-fashioned, family-friendly retelling of the Dickens’ classic will delight the heart of even the most Scrooge-y Christmas theatregoer.
See A Christmas Carol live (Citadel Theatre)
The Citadel Theatre’s annual A Christmas Carol has daily shows until Christmas Eve Dec. 24. Watch as Ebenezer Scrooge is given one night to redeem himself on Christmas Eve, thanks to the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.
Watch Die Harsh: A Christmas Musical (Grindstone Theatre)
The Grindstone Theatre’s Die Harsh: A Christmas Musical is on until Dec. 29. This Die Hard Christmas Carol features action packed comedy, tap dancing and more!
Check out Nutcracker: A Burlesque (Varscona Theatre)
House of Hush Burlesque presents Nutcracker: A Burlesque at Varscona Theatre from Dec. 19-21. This naughty re-imagining of the Nutcracker is cl-ass-ical, comical and spectacular. This is a playful take on an old tale from some of the city’s best burlesque performers.
Here are some FREE or LOW COST holiday festivities:
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season at the Alberta Legislature Fridays & Saturdays until Dec. 21. (FREE)
Bring the whole family to a Race to Save Christmas at Century Miles Racetrack and Casino on Dec. 21. (FREE)
Beercade is doing a Christmas Solstice Glow Party on Dec. 21. (LOW COST)
Take a walk through Leduc Country Lights on until Dec. 31. Santa visits Friday-Sunday. (LOW COST)
Check out decked out homes and some snow sculptures on Candy Cane Lane on until Jan. 3. (FREE)
Check out Maisie’s Magical Christmas House on until Jan. 5. (FREE)
Borealis Lights Christmas Drive-Thru is on until Jan. 5. (LOW COST)
Southgate Centre’s Enchanted Illumination runs until Jan. 7. (FREE)
Go skate outside City Hall (it’s decorated really lovely for the holidays and include warming winter domes too). There’s also the Rundle and Victoria IceWays! (FREE)
Got an Edmonton area event, virtual event, or something coming up you think my readers would be interested in knowing about? Let me know!
New Christmas Themed Blog Post
Each year I get asked “do you know what restaurants are open on Christmas Day?” so I thought I’d make it a little easier for your Christmas planning by putting together a little What’s OPEN Guide for Where to Dine-in on Christmas Day in Edmonton!
Including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Middle Eastern, East Indian and Canadian cuisine, organized by location of the city. Calling ahead to make reservations is highly recommended (if the locations take them).
Please let me know if there are some of your favourites that are open on Christmas Day and I might add it to the list (which I hope becomes a reusable resource in Christmasses to come!)
We are releasing the update on Thursday, Dec. 19 on my blog and it will include 20 local food categories you are invited to use to plan your holiday (and 2025) eats!
The first time we released the list was back in 2022 with 15 categories.
Thanks for entering my holiday giveaways!
The winner of last week’s giveaway of a Family Pass to Glow, an annual indoor holiday lights spectacle at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, is: Michelle S.
Thanks to everyone who entered! Glow is on until Dec. 31. Here 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!
The winner of last week’s giveaway of a pair of tickets to The Story of Taylor Swift, a show at the Jubilee Auditorium that takes you on a journey through the incredible rise of Taylor Swift, is: Isabella P.
Thanks to everyone who entered! The Story of Taylor Swift takes place at the Jubilee Auditorium on Feb 28! This show is described as more than just a concert—it’s an all-ages celebration of resilience, empowerment, and artistry, starring recording artist Charity Eden.
Thanks to The Story of Taylor Swift for gifting me a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky newsletter subscriber!
Enter to win 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 this email, subscribers got a chance to enter to win a 2-Night Stay at the Courtyard Edmonton Downtown + waived winter dome patio reservation fee.
Thanks to the Courtyard Edmonton Downtown for gifting me this prize for subscribers!
Food to Try This Week!
Chinatown Pick of the Week – Xu Hue (10548 97 St.)
I had a great lunch at Xu Hue over the weekend, introducing a friend to Vietnamese Fried Rice and Egg Cakes (Bot Chien), Fried Rice Crepes (Banh Xeo), and Crab Meat and Tomato Vermicelli Soup (Bun Rieu).
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!
Because I’m basically in holiday mode and want to get this newsletter wrapped up lol, I’m just going to share a few places we ordered take-out from during a holiday hangout with friends the other day hehe – enjoy!
High Dough (Detroit style, deep-dish pizza!)
Siam Thai (authentic, delicious Thai cuisine – three locations)
CQ Noodle (Chinese eats. The Chef Meat Noodle Soup is one of my favs!)
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit (Texas-style BBQ chain with homestyle sides)
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).
… thank you and have a happy holiday season!!
See you in 2025. ❤️💚✨
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The full Lindork’s Lists includes:
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- Walls of the Week
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