When I reflect upon memories of visiting Edmonton as I child, I immediately remember one thing: The Valley Zoo. My parents didn't really bother taking us downtown when my sister and I were younger as there wasn't much there to hold a kids interest for any substantial amount of time. Trips to the Valley Zoo, however, were all day summer excursions which contained no boredom.
As a child, the world seems huge. The block you reside on and the parks you play in are a world in themselves, so trying to be the tour guide for an entire city while in the mindset of someone so young isn't really feasible in my eyes. Kids are known for having wild imaginations and being able to notice the smallest details, like the ant crawling up the tree in your backyard and then remaining to watch it make its journey. The world is magnified. So if they were to be responsible for creating such a guide it would be far too long to share here. However, a guide of one place, like the zoo, is completely doable.
Starting off with humpty dumpty and all the other cartoon statues (which apparently have now been removed? Shame.) which make for excellent climbing excursions. But this game is short lived at the sight of the pond containing what looks like 100 ducks and the occasional swan. If you're lucky, Mom and Dad will take you out in a paddle boat for a while to motor around with the ducks in the cold dark water. It's also a good idea to beg for 25 cents from Moms change purse to purchase some duck feed so a flock of birds and maybe even some swans can surround you. Be sure to also check out the petting zoo section, which is beyond the castle gate. Be weary of the goats because they like to chew and tug on loose clothing.
Some other hi-lights of the Zoo include the monkey enclosures, which offer a great time spent coaxing the monkeys over to you and watching them chase one another. The otters, when not sleeping in their little house, are also highly entertaining. I always want to join them on their slide and swimming in their pool. If you're into freaking out mom and your little sister be sure to explore the reptile house! Certainly not as exciting as the monkeys or otters, but the snakes are cool to look at for a bit.
Make sure on your way out of the zoo to wander into the gift shop to purchase some of the cool animal toys, games, and pictures. If you beg long enough Dad will cave. Though I've never managed to convince him to let me go on a camel ride...
Friday, March 25, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
ok winter. I'm sick of you. Summer plz!
My sister is leaving for New York next Thursday where it is currently a whopping 6 degrees. That sounds like bikini weather to me right now given the conditions in dearest Edmonton over the past few weeks. I'm going to be honest with you all right now, I am currently medicated to the moon and have cheeks the size of Marlon Brando's because I had my wisdom teeth removed this weekend! I basically just came here to tell you all that my lovely presence in class may be missed tomorrow if I still look like a chipmunk and am too high to drive to the bus depot.
P.s. What's your favorite spot to find sustenance here in Edmonton? Last summer was when I began really exploring downtown aside from the places my folks had taken me to, and I ended up finding the Blue Plate Diner, now one of my favorite restaurants. So introduce me to my next favorite spot!
Monday, March 7, 2011
My Drifting Experience
So I went drifting a few weeks ago on my break before this class. I got busy with school work/midterms and forgot to share with you my experience. So here we go...
It was terrifying. I was lost, cold, with snot running down my face and no kleenex to help me out.
Now I don't want to blame my terrible time on the concept of drifting, I take full responsibility for it and I actually want to try drifting again having learned from my errors. My decision to drift was completely on a whim, as it should be, while I was walking the route of my map for class and taking photos. Instead of turning around and going back to the U, I decided too veer across the low level bridge with no destination and no idea how I was going to get back. This was a terrible mistake since it was -25 and I wasn't wearing gloves. I think drifting is definitely a summer time activity, not designed to be enjoyed by those residing in Edmonton winters. So rest assured when the temperature gets at least above zero I'll give it another shot. But instead I wandered along the side of a road I do not know, behind apartments across from the telus field, and up what I learned was Bellamy Hill.
The city and it's roads look really different when you're not driving on them.
Just as I thought the wind blowing in my face would cause it to fall off, and my nose was running so fiercely I was contemplating reaching into my backpack to pull out a piece of paper to blow it, I saw my saviour. The Central LRT station.
I don't think I got all that I could out of my experience since I was mainly focused on how fucking cold I was. But second times a charm I'm sure.
It was terrifying. I was lost, cold, with snot running down my face and no kleenex to help me out.
Now I don't want to blame my terrible time on the concept of drifting, I take full responsibility for it and I actually want to try drifting again having learned from my errors. My decision to drift was completely on a whim, as it should be, while I was walking the route of my map for class and taking photos. Instead of turning around and going back to the U, I decided too veer across the low level bridge with no destination and no idea how I was going to get back. This was a terrible mistake since it was -25 and I wasn't wearing gloves. I think drifting is definitely a summer time activity, not designed to be enjoyed by those residing in Edmonton winters. So rest assured when the temperature gets at least above zero I'll give it another shot. But instead I wandered along the side of a road I do not know, behind apartments across from the telus field, and up what I learned was Bellamy Hill.
The city and it's roads look really different when you're not driving on them.
Just as I thought the wind blowing in my face would cause it to fall off, and my nose was running so fiercely I was contemplating reaching into my backpack to pull out a piece of paper to blow it, I saw my saviour. The Central LRT station.
I don't think I got all that I could out of my experience since I was mainly focused on how fucking cold I was. But second times a charm I'm sure.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Open Post
Not going to lie, I've been secretly looking forward to this week of "open blogging" so I could share something with you all without the regret of going against the prompt.
Meet the Rural Alberta Advantage. I stumbled upon them about 2 years ago and have been madly in love with them ever since. The Edmonton natives (now residing in ToRonna) created a concept album fittingly titled "Hometowns" back in 2009, which captures lead singer Paul Banwatt's experience of living in Alberta. This is one of those rare albums I can confidently say I can relate to. I am able to envision places mentioned, or relate the feel of a song to my own experiences of growing up in this province. I highly recommend you all buy/download/steal/whatever you need to do to listen to this, especially if you've grown up in and around the Edmonton area. You'll be able to pick up on certain mentions of specific places and really connect with what they've created.
Meet the Rural Alberta Advantage. I stumbled upon them about 2 years ago and have been madly in love with them ever since. The Edmonton natives (now residing in ToRonna) created a concept album fittingly titled "Hometowns" back in 2009, which captures lead singer Paul Banwatt's experience of living in Alberta. This is one of those rare albums I can confidently say I can relate to. I am able to envision places mentioned, or relate the feel of a song to my own experiences of growing up in this province. I highly recommend you all buy/download/steal/whatever you need to do to listen to this, especially if you've grown up in and around the Edmonton area. You'll be able to pick up on certain mentions of specific places and really connect with what they've created.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Drifting
NYC - Mindrelic I Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.
So I stumbled upon this video after reading the works for Tuesday and I couldn't help but think of both Debord and his drifting and the various strolls discussed by Rebecca Solnit. Everyday, be it in New York or Edmonton, city streets are host to countless numbers of people, allowing each individual to pursue down their own personal path. Be it the recreational stroll of a San Franciscan or the bold purpose filled strut of a New Yorker, city streets facilitate various stories, sights, sounds, etc. I would definitely considered myself more of a New York styled walker, because when I'm going it's towards a destination, with no time for stops and ganders. I also heavily related to the student discussed in Debord's text who basically only travelled between several major locations, and all other areas of her city were left unexplored. So this week I'm going to go drifting. After I'm done compiling my photos for the mapping assignment, I'm just going to go stroll. I don't know where. I don't know how long I'll be. But I certainly hope to find something interesting. I'll let you know how it goes...Sunday, February 6, 2011
thus far...
So here's a little photo I snapped early this morning on my way to work at the Kinsmen. It was around 7:15am with no one on the road allowing me to slow it down to a crawl and capture it with my trusty iPhone. I see this image every Sunday on my weekly commute to work, and am always slightly shocked by how pretty it is. Same goes for when I'm catching the 5:10 bus back to the park on Tuesday Thursday as the sun is just beginning to set upon the city. As much as I find this place bleak and boring at times...ok MOST of the time, little moments like this really make me appreciate it as something I can always call "home".
Being in this class has really caused me to open my eyes as to what's going on within this city, to investigate places and events I might not have even considered in the past (look out Edmonton arts scene, I'm coming for ya). I've learned there are stories here, with long and interesting histories, that have often gone unnoticed by the general public. But do I think this new found interest and discoveries will be enough to keep me here? Probably not. The itch remains unscratched for me to go out and live and experience somewhere new. And not just for a two week vacation.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
There is a Place for Every Sound in This City
So after our class I have my Music 203 lecture immediately after. Today we had a guest speaker come in who owns his own record label here in Edmonton (Old Ugly, check 'em out here --> http://olduglyco.com/fr_olduglyrecordingco.cfm). When my prof began to introduce "Ugly Joe" I was expecting him to either:
a) be some old hippie or wanna be rock star who never quite made it or...
b) your classic money grubbing suit who's not exactly in it for the love of music.
To my surprise, out came a hipster looking dude who couldn't be more than a few years older than myself. As he spoke he revealed that he is a rapper, who had once been approached by the major label Universal Music to sign on as their next marketable find. He would be flown to the big city of Toronto, and distributed to the masses. Due to a bad gut feeling, he turned them down. He opted instead to start his own label here in Edmonton, void of any interest in profit, and merely about branching into what he described as the huge Edmonton music scene. He mainly signs on friends who aren't sure how to get their sound out into the city.
He continually mentioned how amazing the local talent here in Edmonton is, and how each band or artist, no matter what genre, supports one another. The scene here is apparently all about contribution rather than competition, and that sort of mentality cannot be found in the major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The main method of support fellow artists and fans can contribute? Going to shows. Most of the albums pressed by the label are for free, and what they really want to see is the music getting out there and for people to attend their gigs. He spoke of how if you regularly attend local Edmonton shows you will discover a community and friends and even more musical talent.
Listening to this speaker and reading some of your blogs have made me realize what a bad supporter of the arts I've been in this city. Its really inspired me to start going to more shows, because I do listen to lots of local sound, but I've never put in a concerted effort to see them live. And when push comes to shove, if I'm going to take part in the scene by consuming (mostly for free thanks to downloads) the least I can do is go hang out for the night in one of the many venues Edmonton has and support some good local music.
a) be some old hippie or wanna be rock star who never quite made it or...
b) your classic money grubbing suit who's not exactly in it for the love of music.
To my surprise, out came a hipster looking dude who couldn't be more than a few years older than myself. As he spoke he revealed that he is a rapper, who had once been approached by the major label Universal Music to sign on as their next marketable find. He would be flown to the big city of Toronto, and distributed to the masses. Due to a bad gut feeling, he turned them down. He opted instead to start his own label here in Edmonton, void of any interest in profit, and merely about branching into what he described as the huge Edmonton music scene. He mainly signs on friends who aren't sure how to get their sound out into the city.
He continually mentioned how amazing the local talent here in Edmonton is, and how each band or artist, no matter what genre, supports one another. The scene here is apparently all about contribution rather than competition, and that sort of mentality cannot be found in the major cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The main method of support fellow artists and fans can contribute? Going to shows. Most of the albums pressed by the label are for free, and what they really want to see is the music getting out there and for people to attend their gigs. He spoke of how if you regularly attend local Edmonton shows you will discover a community and friends and even more musical talent.
Listening to this speaker and reading some of your blogs have made me realize what a bad supporter of the arts I've been in this city. Its really inspired me to start going to more shows, because I do listen to lots of local sound, but I've never put in a concerted effort to see them live. And when push comes to shove, if I'm going to take part in the scene by consuming (mostly for free thanks to downloads) the least I can do is go hang out for the night in one of the many venues Edmonton has and support some good local music.
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