This was the week that the Roxy burned down, and we’ll get to that, but first, some happier thoughts:
Linda Hoang shines her spotlight on Friday Night Meatballs, a weekly dinner party thrown by Chris Falconer that’s all about community. (Group shot one of many from the post, used with permission.)
Also on the community-building theme:
- Paul Giang lists 10 urban interventions that made Edmonton shine last year.
- Among them is the launch of the Pogo car-sharing service, which the Unknown Studio explores. (Also, the podcast is crowdfunding.)
- Another way to build community? The outdoor rink, to which OilersNation pays tribute.
OK, on to the Roxy. Its destruction led to a community reaction worth a category all its own:
- On Make Something Edmonton, Heather Zwicker explores the maker spirit embodied by artists and audiences at the Roxy.
- Kristen Finlay describes the rollercoaster of emotions that members of Edmonton’s theatre community felt.
- The What It Is podcast includes Roxy reminiscences and serious concerns about the shortage of theatre space.
- Jenna Marynowski expresses her condolences and links to the fundraising efforts. Her chat with Morgan Smith, whose show Cheerleader! was supposed to play at the Roxy, is also a good read.
- John Richardson is selling one of his paintings to raise money for Theatre Network (which was based at the Roxy) and the Nina Haggerty Centre.
Just a few more to draw your attention to:
- Jeff Archibald warns against the trap of false hustle (i.e. busy does not equal productive).
- Donloree Hoffman suggests a better way to identify yourself when talking to strangers.
- Matt Bowes lists the media he consumed in 2014. (Companion listening: the year-end mega-episode of Trash, Art and the Movies.)
- A couple of people profiles: The Noteworthy’s Gillian Thomson on artist Steven Csorba, and The Wanderer’s Claire Edwards on teacher Dan Scratch.
You could choose so many more if you went to the blogs feed at ShareEdmonton. If an Edmonton blog you like is missing, add it.
I collect my picks in a Flipboard magazine.
You’ll notice many podcasts here this week. I listen to a lot, and I’m wondering if there’s a way to create a playlist that’s shareable with you. If you know, tell me here or @karenunland.
Seen and Heard in Edmonton 