The long weekend is finally here! If you are anything like me, your mind is already swirling with the possibilities of what you can do with that extra day — shopping, cleaning, hanging out with friends. Whatever plans you are cooking up, I challenge you to step outside your comfort zone and try something new! Here are some suggestions to get you started:
1. Planning on going to a movie? Instead of heading to your usual theatre, I suggest trying out The Princess Theatre on Whyte — a historic art-house theatre built in 1915. The Princess is currently showing The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson’s highest grossing film) and The Lunchbox (a romance taking place in Mumbai, India). If you are more in the mood for some “oldies but goodies”, Metro Cinema is playing Caddyshack and The Princess Bride this weekend, as well as hosting the always popular Saturday Morning All-You-Can-Eat-Cereal Cartoon Party.
2. Catching up with friends over coffee? Skip your usual spot and try one of the city’s brand new coffee shops. District Coffee Co., serving the famed Phil & Sebastian beans roasted in Calgary, and the just-opened Farrow Sandwich Shop and Cafe are the perfect spots to grab a cup to go. If you are wanting to hang around for awhile, check out Remedy, Transcend, Credo or Dauphine — but only if they aren’t already your regular spots!
3. Is hitting the gym on your list? Instead of pumping iron in the same old place, why not head outside? (It is supposed to be +9 and sunny on Saturday!) Another option is to try out one of Edmonton’s fantastic city run facilities. The Kinsman Sports Centre has an incredible aquatic centre, gym, indoor track and a ton of other facilities that could keep you entertained for hours. Or, why not try running the stairs at the Butterdome? Not only is it a great workout — you can run them for free!
4. Looking for some evening entertainment? There are an abundance of places where you can check out live music, or hit the dance floor, but why not try something completely different at one of the first events of the Edmonton Poetry Festival? Attend the Poetic Jam with Joy Harjo — known for her jazz-inflected, deeply provocative voice — on Sunday, April 20 at 7 pm, that is sure to be a night to remember!
5. Stocking up on reading material? If your idea of an ideal day involves searching for new books, why not skip the big-box stores and make your way to Audreys Books or the Shop AGA? Both have well stocked, curated shelves and will give you a chance to support local businesses. If magazines are more your thing, Glass Buffalo is a local literary publication, carried at Audreys, and recently won the AMPA award for Best New Magazine!
