Lindork’s Lists #267 – Chinatown After Dark, Garden Party, Street Car Season & MORE!
Newsletter for May 21-27, 2025
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
Experience Chinatown After Dark (10566 – 97 St.)
Chinatown After Dark returns for the summer this Saturday, May 24 from 6-11 p.m. in the alleyway behind China Marble Restaurant, featuring delicious food offerings from new and old Chinatown eateries, plus facepainting, tarot readings, magic, DJs, Cantonese lessons, and more FREE entertainment!
Take in an Edmonton Oilers Playoffs Watch Party (various locations)
We are all sufficiently on the bandwagon now that the Oilers are in Round 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, right?! The 124 Street & Area Business Association is hosting FREE to attend Watch Parties this week in the Manchester Square parking lot May 23 at 6 pm. (Game 2) and May 25 at 1 p.m. (Game 3). The vibes should be so fun.
Of course Rogers Place and ICE District Fan Park also host Watch Parties / Tail Gates / for home + away games too.
Check Explore Edmonton’s guide to cheering on the Oilers during the playoffs too!
Laugh out loud at Rapid Fire Theatre’s Improv All Stars (10437 83 Ave.)
You’re invited step into a world of unscripted hilarity with Rapid Fire Theatre’s Improv All Stars this Friday, May 23, a side-splitting extravaganza that will leave you in stitches!
Experience Science is Dope at the TELUS World of Science (11211 142 St.)
The TELUS World of Science presents Dark Matters: Science is Dope this Thursday, May 22. From ancient medicinal plants to modern pharmaceuticals, from vices to breakthroughs—this science hits different. Explore the science of substances that alter minds and shape societies at this 18+, evening event at the TELUS World of Science including areas like Your Brain on Drugs, Botany Buzz, The Vice Files, Cures & Cravings and more.
Explore Edmonton via street car!
The historic Edmonton Street Car is back operating on the High Level Bridge Line to/from downtown and Old Strathcona! This is a really fun way to see the city in the summer. Pay cash fare and use it as cute public transport, or plan to attend events on the street car, like The Common’s Street Car Cask Series, which kicks off for the season this May 22!
Come to a Cat Meet-up in the Park! (Paul Kane Park – 10220 121 St.)
The Edmonton International Cat Festival (of which I am the founder), is hosting a FREE Cat Meet-up in the Park this Caturday, May 24 from 2-4 p.m. at Paul Kane Park in Wîhkwêntôwin near downtown. Come with your cat or to check out cute cats ahead of our big festival next Caturday May 31.
Here are a few other events you may be interested in this week…
The city’s newest non-profit thrift store MCC Thrift Shop is having their Grand Opening weekend May 22-24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (10531 51 Ave.) Find great sales + in-store specials, plus draws and live music.
The St. Albert Rainmaker Rodeo is on this weekend May 23-25 (we’re certainly getting the rain part of this event already lol)
Viva Italia Edmonton invites you to Festa Primavera in Little Italy this Saturday, May 24 from 12-4 p.m. for live music, gelato cart, crafts and outdoor fun on the Piazza.
Hang out and help CO*LAB build a Pop-up Community Garden every Saturday starting May 24 from 1-3 p.m. at 9641 102A Ave.
This Sunday, May 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join the Kidicle Mass, a group, kid-friendly ride that lets kids practice riding on public roads, taking advantage of visibility and safety in numbers.
Audrey’s Books & Bent Stick Brewery are hosting a ‘Grown-up Book Fair’ on Sunday, May 25.
And looking ahead to end of the month…
The Chinatown Live Music Series kicks off on Friday, May 30 with headliner Jim Head. Each show includes an Open Mic opportunity as well.
The Edmonton International Cat Festival that I organize is on Caturday, May 31! Don’t miss Alberta’s biggest celebration of cats, cat culture and cat people, that raises money for cat rescues.
Western Canada’s largest Ukrainian festival U-Fest runs May 30 & 31 at Borden Park.
Got an Edmonton area event, virtual event, or something coming up you think my readers would be interested in knowing about? Let me know!
Join the Garden Party at Marquis West!
You’re cordially invited to a charming Garden Party at Marquis West taking place THIS Sunday, May 25 from 12-4 p.m.!
Step into spring with a delightful afternoon of blooms, brews, and British high tea flair. Enjoy music, fresh floral bouquets and photo ops, sweet treats, and dainty drinks as you explore the beautifully designed showhomes at Marquis West. It’s the perfect way to spend a spring day—pinky fingers up! Hosted by my friend Justine Ma!
The first 75 families who RSVP at this link and attend the Garden Party will receive free ‘Tea for Two’ Marquis West swag!
*One ‘tea for two’ gift per family.
#MarquisWest_Partner – Thank you to Marquis West for supporting my small business with this sponsored message!
Food to Try This Week!
Take advantage of Little Bon Bon Ice Cream’s summer hours! (9660 106 Ave.)
It’s here! Little Bon Bon Ice Cream’s summer hours are now in effect, meaning you can pop in for some delicious ice cream in the heart of Edmonton’s Chinatown Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. I left a comment that these hours work perfectly with my parents restaurant King Noodle House Pho Hoang, open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. lol. Soup first, ice cream after!
Don’t miss Fox Burger’s $5 cheeseburger + fries deal (Skip the Dishes)
Fox Burger is offering a WOW Deal through Skip the Dishes this week only (until May 25)—get a delicious smash cheeseburger with fries for just $5! Delivery through Skip the Dishes only (I checked, it works!)
Check out Japonais Bistro Downtown’s New Patio! (11806 Jasper Ave.)
Japonais Bistro, one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in the city, has turned their parking lot into a cute patio now open for the summer season! The greenery and flowers look great! Can’t wait to stop by.
Order a family feast at Sai Woo Garden (10571 97 St.)
This week my friend Diane recommends ordering a big seafood feast from Sai Woo Garden. She writes:
“$300 for a seafood meal, which we ordered for takeout and it was great! The staff is so nice and helpful in loading it into my car. It hits all of my family’s favourite seafood dishes including the deep fried squid that everyone loves.”
How many Shanghai 456 soup dumpling baskets can you order (14456 118 Ave.)
Still my favourite Xiao Long Bao (XLB) soup dumplings in the city is from Shanghai 456 and my family recently devoured them. We love family dinners here! We shared/fought over eight soup dumpling baskets, along with other dishes, and were told that eight is a lot but their record is probably 12 baskets for one table. Challenge accepted! lol
Congratulations to Chef Andrew Fung of XIX Nineteen on the opening of his new restaurant JUU KU, specializing in contemporary Asian cuisine.
And here are some upcoming food events you may be interested in!
The next Chinatown After Dark event is May 24 then June 21, July 19, Aug 23.
Chinatown Transformation Collaborative Society is hosting Mother’s Day Tea & Talk on Saturday, May 24.
Alberta Food Tours ‘Savour Strathcona Food Tour’ is back for the summer season starting Saturday, May 24.
There’s a Dessert Cabaret fundraiser on Saturday, May 24.
Little Wolf’s next Vegan dinner is Monday, May 26.
Spilt Zero Proof Bar’s invites you to explore Street Drinks from Around the World May 27, June 10, 24.
The Grand Night Market at Happy Beer Street runs Fridays through the summer starting May 30, then June 27, July 25, Aug 29, Sept 26.
Bloom: Haskap Festival is on May 31.
Get Joy of Asia Bon Bon Asian Heritage Month chocolates while supplies last this May.
Kids eat free throughout May for weekday dinner buffets on the Edmonton Queen Riverboat!
Vagabond Summer Bistro pops up Thursdays to Sundays at Under the High Wheel in Old Strathcona starting June 20.
Grab a spot at a Japanese Tea Ceremony at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden before they sell out, like the May 25 one. The next one is June 29.
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.
From the Blog Vault
Congratulations to Edmonton actor Hunter Cardinal for MAKING IT BIG!!! on Netflix’s new series BET. I did a Q&A with Hunter—who is also a friend, former Edmonton Cat Festival emcee, and former colleague—back in 2022. It’s jumped up in views since BET came out last week as folks look up who this awesome actor is. So happy for his big break and wishing him so much love and success.
Don’t miss ordering from my Asian Heritage Month Clothing Collection with ZEN LION DESIGN!
Until end of May, you can shop my Asian Heritage Month Clothing Collection collaboration with Edmonton business Zen Lion Design. There are nine designs to choose from, from more serious, social issues-inspired statements to more light-hearted, fun, culturally celebrating designs (like Soy Into You, Rice is Life, In The Mood for Noods, and more!) This is the fourth year of our annual collaboration!
20% of proceeds from this year’s sales will be donated to FascinAsian Film Festival – Edmonton!
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 priced items at Bamboo Ballroom with my code LINDORK20.
Get 10% off cooking classes at Secret Ingredient YEG with my code LINDORK10.
Get 10% off massage, acupuncture, energetic healing and medical aesthetics services at Park Integrative Health when you mention LINDORK at payment.
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).
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The full Lindork’s Lists includes:
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- Food to Try This Week
- Walls of the Week
- Interesting Thing on the Internet
- Social Media Did You Knows
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