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 :) Learn more about Lindork’s Lists (and become a free or paid subscriber!)
Lindork’s Lists #78 – Jazz Around Town, croffles, cheesecakes, camping and more!
Newsletter for Aug 18 – 24, 2021
Please note some indoor locations still require masks. If attending an indoor or outdoor event, try to avoid crowds. Sanitize regularly, keep a distance, stay home if sick, get vaccinated!
Catch live local music in downtown Edmonton (various locations)
I had the pleasure of catching a free, live music performance from local band Melafrique at The Common last week. The show was part of the Downtown Business Association’s Downtown Live summer concert series. Find a bunch of performances at various downtown locations every week through til mid-September. Check out the schedule!
Get movin’ and groovin’ at Reggae on the Ave (9210 118 Ave.)
“Reggae on the Avenue” takes place this Saturday, Aug. 21 from 12-8 p.m. at 9210 118 Ave. This is an outdoor, family-friendly event that promises to have you singing, dancing, and tasting Caribbean flavours.
Take in Edmonton Jazz Festival Society’s Jazz Around Town (various locations)
Okay, lots of music on the docket this week! Catch some soulful tunes at various locations across the city as part of Jazz Around Town!
Don’t miss the final weekend of the Edmonton Fringe Festival
Get tickets to a show, check out the main stage performances, grab some food from local vendors, and enjoy summer in Old Strathcona as part of this year’s hybrid Edmonton Fringe Festival, which wraps up on Aug. 22.
Check out the Edmonton Air Show (Villeneuve airport)
The Edmonton Air Show returns at Villeneuve airport Aug 21 & 22 with a variety of scheduled airplane performances. Get ticket information.
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
Please safely support local restaurants. Although Alberta is lifting restrictions, many restaurants will still require you to wear masks when not eating. Please be kind and respectful.
Experience a local Food Bike Tour
I had the absolute pleasure of being hosted on Chef Table Living’s Food Bike Tour last weekend—visiting four spots: Chocorrant, Pink Gorilla Pizzeria, Otto, and The Cabin—while riding e-bikes (gifted rental) from my favourite e-bike brand Pedego Edmonton! They still have a couple of tours left this summer (get 10% off your tour with code LINDORK10), or check out one of those four spots I mentioned this weekend on your own!
Show a little love to Sugared & Spiced (10334 82 Ave.)
The lovely folks at Sugared & Spiced are on the unfortunate end of a construction / detour fencing situation during prime Fringe Fest time. It’s a little harder to access their bakery right now, so maybe let’s go out of our way to do so?
Try drinks at Calabash Cafe (and celebrate BTS’ Jung Kook’s birthday lol)
I’d never heard of the Calabash Cafe until now—an Asian cafe with an assortment of coffee, drinks, croffles (croissant waffles), and other desserts in the southside (228 91 St.) ANNNND starting Aug 20 to to Sept. 4 it’s offering a BTS special in honour of Jung Kook’s birthday. If you are a BTS fan like me, check it out! If you are just looking for a new local cafe and croffles to try, check it out!
Stay a little longer in Red Deer at the Gasoline Alley Farmers Market
I had a great time exploring the Gasoline Alley Farmers Market as an Alberta on the Plate Ambassador last week. This new, indoor, year-round Farmers Market runs Fri to Sun, and its Market Kitchen (cafeteria) is open Tues-Sun. 50+ amazing local vendors. A really bright addition to they alley (and worth planning more time in Red Deer beyond just filling up gas!!)
Dine al fresco on a 124 Street Patio (your choice, use their new map!)
The 124 Street Business Association has released its Patio Map! You’ve got lots of great options to choose from, and with summer quickly coming to an end (oh my god, where did the summer go?!) be sure to snag some patio spots before the weather turns (though, winter patios are great too lol). Check out the Patio Map.
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
In this new section of Lindork’s Lists, I shout out to support small businesses that aren’t necessarily food/restaurant or event-based.
In this week’s Small Business Spotlight, I’m shouting out to:
Buff Wax Spot, Edmonton’s original wax bar specializing in full body waxing for every body. This is a Black-owned business designed to give a fabulous wax from professional, knowledgable waxing pros (they’re called “waxperts” lol). Buff Wax Spot prides themselves on their inclusive, judgement free, skin positive space and offers full body waxing for all bodies. Check out their services!!
If you’re a small business owner who could use a shout-out, or know a small business who could use some awareness, let me know and I’ll try to feature them in this new section. You can email me suggestions / reply to this email.
Instagrammable Wall Walk Ticket Alert!
Last week I announced four upcoming Instagrammable Wall Walk / Food Crawls and Scooter Tours in Old Strathcona presented by the Old Strathcona Business Association and Paths for People, and hosted by me! ALL FOUR DATES ARE SOLD OUT (thank you!!) but I’m excited to announce that:
I’m releasing limited tickets for a BONUS fifth tour in my August 25 (next week’s) newsletter!
How it works:
The Old Strathcona Instagrammable Wall Walk + Food Crawl will take place on Thursday, September 9, 2021 from 6-9 p.m.
Tickets are $25 + taxes and will include a take-home polaroid at a wall of your choice, a mural map postcard, three food / snacks and we’ll visit about 20 walls where I’ll share fun facts about the artists, artwork, and the neighbourhood
As part of my own ongoing acts of reconciliation, 20% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Indian Residential School Survivor Society
There is a max of 15 spots available. Newsletter subscribers will get access to the link to buy tickets FIRST in the August 25 email newsletter. I will then release any remaining tickets on August 28.
These are the ONLY Instagrammable Wall Walks + Food Crawls I’m doing this summer! The previous four tour dates are SOLD OUT so if you were hoping to get a spot, be a subscriber!
p.s. want to stay up to date on Instagrammable Walls in the city?
My email newsletter includes an Instagrammable Walls of the Week section!
This Sunday: Q&A with Esmahan Abdallah (Buno Design)
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 on Sunday, August 22, 2021 is Esmahan Abdallah, a local textiles and jewelry designer, owner of Buno Design.
Here’s an excerpt from our Q&A:
“Being a mom of two Black boys, I want to teach them through my business or activism, the importance of the role women play in this world. I want to raise them to be respectful, supportive and kind gentlemen to women. I also want them to always use their voice to fight injustice and be proud of who they are.” – Esmahan Abdallah
To get the full Q&A, plus a Q&A every other Sunday, access to exclusive paid subscriber-only giveaways, and to support the work I do, upgrade!
No pressure of course! These weekly emails for free subscribers (you!) will continue to be sent out.
New on the Blog
Use my new Beginner’s Guide to Camping in Alberta to plan your next (or first?!) camping adventure!
Thanks to Campers Village for partnering with me to prepare me for my first camping experience! Get 10% off at Campers Village with code LINDORK by Sept 30, 2021.
Other Relevant Edmonton Summer Blog Posts You May Be Interested In:
Everything You Need To Know To Float Down the North Saskatchewan River
#ExploreABwithMe – Guides to Plan Your Alberta Summer Activities
Don’t Forget To #ExploreABWithMe and Win!
Thanks to AMA Travel and the Banff Lodging Co., if you Explore Alberta and share your Instagram or Twitter posts using the hashtag #ExploreABwithMe and tagging me @lindork, you’ll be entered for a grand prize 2-night stay at the Banff Lodging Co.!
Whether it’s exploring your backyard, day trips, camping or other weekend getaways in Alberta, I’d love if you used my travel blog guides to help plan your summer exploration, and I’d love to see where you get up to in the province!
In addition to the Banff Lodging Co. grand prize, I’ll also select 20 people who will win $10 gift cards to the Italian Centre Shop (just the right amount to pick up a famed Italian Centre Shop Panino, perfect for road trips!
Discount Codes You May Want To Use
- Get 15% off premium, locally-made dog treats MYLZ Treats using my code LINDORK15
- Get 50% off your first hair cut at Frenchie’s Hair when you mention Linda Hoang referred you.
- Get 10% off online or in-store purchases from Camper’s Village using code LINDORK
- Get 10% off any Big E Tours using code lindasgift by Sept. 30, 2021
- Get 10% off your VespaYEG rental using my code LINDORK10
- Get 10% off any kit or tour from Chef Table Living using code LINDORK10
- In August, save $10 off any wash package at Bubbles using my code BUBBLESLINDORK
See even more discount codes from great local businesses!
Subscribe for More!
Be sure to sign up as a free subscriber to receive my full newsletter in your inbox first every Wednesday (before anyone else!) Get hyper local ideas for things to do and places to eat before anyone else + more!
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
- Promo Codes / Discounts
- Exclusive Newsletter Subscriber-only Giveaways
- 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)
