Seen and Heard in Edmonton

“Make good art,” Neil Gaiman famously advised, and boy do we have a lot of people doing that in Edmonton. Let’s begin there, then swing into parenthood, food, education and observations of all kinds:

• Erin Wallace previews Marlena Wyman’s new exhibit about collections, to be on display during the Heart of the City Festival.
• Justina Smith makes a trip to Meeting Creek to make some art.
• Katryna Rae sews a gloriously flowery 60s-inspired frock.
• Are you going to pass on songs called Space Vampires and Earnest Borgnine? Not me. Listen to Labradoodle on the Northern Sessions.
• Kristen Finlay reflects on three difficult plays that still have her thinking.
• Jenna Marynowski previews two plays in development in the Cradle to Stage program at the Walterdale.
• Jesse Gervais and Chris Bullough make the case for seeing a play (such as theirs, Or The Whale, playing at the Timms Centre until May 21).

Parenthood

• Jessica Holt has a moment of doubt about whether she could be good parent in a crisis, and then realizes that of course she could.
• Poppy Barley co-founder Justine Barber reflects on what balance means now that she’s a mother.
• Natasha Chiam is not a fan of the term “mompreneur.”
• John Richardson responds to the well-meaning but uninformed people who think they know best when he’s out with his daughter.
• Don’t judge the mess, or at least don’t judge out loud, writes Lori Godin.
• Marie a la Mode shares wonderful pictures with baby Miles.
• Stu Kehrig’s baby Sophia is learning to swim.
• Global news anchor Carole Anne Devaney is having another baby!
• Trent Wilkie gathers up some recent TV appearances where he talks about being a dad.
• Christine Bruckmann’s son says a bad (well, baddish) word.
• Jennifer Quist salutes the unexpected genius of Toopy and Binoo.

Let’s eat

• It’s asparagus season, and Elyse Chatterton knows just what to do with it.
• Cindy Nguyen comes away from a couple of meals at Chartier very glad she backed its Kickstarter.
• It turns out Saskatoon is a pretty delicious place to visit, reports Phil Wilson.
• What the Truck?! announces the food truck lineup for its season kickoff at Northlands on May 28-29.
• Margaret Bose-Johnson’s latest Cooking with Kids post has a recipe for marinara sauce with spaghetti spiders.

Learning

• YEG People has an instructive and inspiring Q & A with Joanne Wynn, principal of Norwood School.
• Megan offers a teacher’s perspective on creating a safe environment for transgender students.
• Vintage Edmonton has coverage of the 1936 convocation at the University of Alberta.
• Kendyl Lauzon reflects on what she learned from the year when she was 35.
• Donloree Hoffman has been taking a beating at mountain biking, but she’s loving every minute.
• Right-handed Stephen Robinson tries out life as a lefty on 52Skillz.
• Kristina Lynne shares lessons from living through a reno.
• Have trouble making decisions? Ashley Janssen has the tools to help.
• Vickie Laliotis lists four ways to ensure a productive week.
• Katie Kelly shows how she “frugalizes” her hobbies.
• Nadine Riopel connects the dots on the power of connection.

Observations

• Lamya Asiff made me cry with the story of her Uncle Salah and his gratitude for the help offered since the fire drove him from Fort McMurray.
• Chris at Edmonton Weather Nerdery charts the temperature rollercoaster we’ve been on so far this year.
• Glenn Kubish applies communications theorist Walter Ong’s ideas to Donald Trump.
• Devin R. Bruce is excited about Radiohead, Midnighter, and Stuff Mom Never Told You.
• Mike Jenkinson is a big fan of the Gboard keyboard for his iPhone.
• Andrea Beça is smitten with her new camera.
• John Richardson has some thoughts on proper behaviour at charity auctions.
• David Climenhaga outlines why Dan MacLennan could be a formidable force within the Alberta Liberals.
• Dave Cournoyer wonders who wants to lead the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.

Whew! That’s kind of an extra-large roundup, but it’s going to have to tide you over for an extra long time, as I’m taking next week off. The blog roundup will be back May 31. I’ll likely share good stuff I come across in the meantime on Twitter, and you can always find good reads on ShareEdmonton, on my Flipboard magazine and in previous roundups.

I’m excited to see people snapping up tickets to Journalist Interrupted: Towards a blueprint for a new free press, on May 26 at MacEwan University. Looking forward to seeing you there!

This week’s Seen and Heard in Edmonton is brought to you by Eek Fest, the pop culture fair happening at Servus Place in St. Albert on June 4 and 5.

You’ll find five halls of fun, featuring Lego, comics, collectibles, video games, zombies, Nerf guns, live improv, cosplay and more. Hear all about it from Eek Fest’s Rob LeLacheur.

Family passes are on sale now for $39.99; adult weekend passes are $19.99 and kids get in for $8 (plus fees). Get your tickets today!