Things to Do in Edmonton

Since its inaugural season in 2006, the Edmonton Rush has steadily picked up wind, growing into a formidable club in the National Lacrosse League. After making its first playoff appearance in 2010, the team made it to the NLL finals in 2012, just barely missing out on earning the sport’s coveted netting-woven blazers. At the helm, hall-of-fame inductee, general manager, and head coach Derek Keenan continues to lead the team toward its first championship.

Producing two to five main-stage operas per season is enough to keep any company busy, but Edmonton Opera goes beyond to enthral new and experienced operagoers alike. The company has brought scores of scores to life since its 1963 inception, priding itself on being the oldest year-round opera company in the Prairie Provinces. With the help of ambitious, press-lauded performers, directors, and designers, as well as projected surtitles when necessary, audiences navigate the medium's lorgnette-combusting dramas and lush soundscapes. Insider knowledge abounds at Opera Talks, Opera 101 panels, and in the company's own Intermezzo magazine for those seeking a deeper understanding of the medium or for curious newcomers wishing to sing forlornly about a burned pot roast.

"It's not just about art. It's about learning a little bit, and doing art, and letting them create too," explains Kristine Godziuk to the St. Albert Gazette. As the owner of 4Cats St. Albert, a children's art studio with one-day workshops and extended classes, Godziuk drives this viewpoint home by lacing her curricula with age-appropriate art history. While crafting a piece of pop art by silkscreening a soup can, students may learn about Andy Warhol's 25 pet cats named Sam. A self-portrait session gives way to a discussion on Frida Kahlo. During a six- to seven-week Artist of the Month series, children dig into the work of two artists per class, letting small fingers experience the challenges of their respective media. Artistic adventures and further learning continue beyond each class with accompanying 4Cats art books and collector cards with links to educational cartoons on the studio's website. The franchised company, with locations throughout Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, was named for Picasso's favorite café, Els Quatre Gats, where he pondered various shades of blue and took inspiration from townsfolk who could turn their faces inside-out.

From their centrally located St. Albert location, Glazing Pot Studio & Gifts' passionate staff ignites creative mindfires with their paint-your-own-pottery, fused glass, and clay creations. They lend their artistic expertise and design ideas to adults and children, who customize ceramic and glass masterpieces during open studio sessions, get-togethers, birthday parties, and educational workshops which include ladies nights, preschool painters, and glass fusion.

Mayfield Dinner Theatre’s newly renovated playhouse boasts not only brand-new acoustic and lighting systems, but also an expanded buffet complete with a chocolate fountain and a chef-tended carving station. Salads, seafood, and other hot entrees await audiences before every show, then roll out again later in the evening for a mid-intermission snack. Recognized with Elizabeth Sterling Haynes awards in both 2011 and 2012, Mayfield Dinner Theatre offers the most professional dining-dramatics combo since the Tim Hortons all-donut puppet show closed last year.

The Videodrome’s staff of true movie lovers celebrates the experience of browsing by organizing Blu-Ray and DVD sections by featured directors, film noir installments, literary adaptations, and employee favorites. The cinematic labyrinth houses an extensive selection ranging from new Hollywood blockbusters to cult rarities, while also featuring film classics and special-ordering elusive titles. Over the store’s 15-year existence, staffers have built relationships with loyal customers, gaining the trust necessary to recommend favorite movies or give amateur tax advice. Customers toss handfuls of complimentary popcorn into mouths while browsing, and can bring dogs into the store for companionship or assistance in choosing between Air Bud and Beethoven.