Yesterday was a thrilling day to be out and about in Edmonton. The evening started with a visit to What the Truck a fun event organized by Mack Male and Sharon Yeo.  These two positive, energetic people love our city and are taking steps to do what they can to improve the downtown scene. What the Truck was a perfect way to get people together to hang-out and mingle on a busy street corner, to enjoy fun food and great music in the downtown core. It was a huge success and it will happen again. This is Great News! Congratulations to Mack and Sharon!! You are making a difference!

After What the Truck, a friend and I headed over to the newly renovated Jekyll and Hyde Pub at 10209 100 Ave. It is a relaxed, friendly pub. Anyone will feel welcome, and if you nab a seat against the windows, you will have some spectacular river valley views. Our waitress reminded us there is a live band Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. A pint of Traditional was only $5.00. I’d sit in a barrel to drink a $5.00 Trad., but here you can do it with nice views. Warning for the tender bottomed, the chairs are hard. I have built-in cushioning, so had no issues.

I had no time to stay for the band, as I had to get home, fluff my hair, pick up Michael and head off to the Art Gallery of Alberta for the Opening of Traffic: Conceptual Art in Canada 1965 – 1980.  This was our first opening at the AGA, and what a great time it was. Okay, granted, they had free bubbly wine at the entrance and had plates and plates of bacon wrapped scallops, spring rolls, mini-quiches and mini bison-burgers. How can you NOT like an opening? The speeches were short and sweet. The art was, well, conceptual. Honestly, it’s interesting stuff. I had to work to keep my mind open. It was a unique experience, and I encourage you to go and check it out.

While mingling, I chatted with a man from Calgary who happened to be at the The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago at the Glenbow, decades ago. So I had a bit of a memory. You see, at the time, I was a high school art student. The Glenbow recruited volunteers from local schools. I said sure. I went. I saw. I volunteered by selling books and mementos for the show. I met the great Lena Horne. I was interviewed by a Japanese newspaper about why I volunteered. Of course I was young and naive and had absolutely no clue at the time of the interview what Judy Chicago was about, nor what the plates depicted at the Dinner Party. It was a Moment to Remember when the penny dropped. It was one helluva an experience. And my love of art was then firmly established.

Michael and I felt positively comfortable and were delighted with this eclectic crowd at the AGA. We attended these sorts of things when we lived in Calgary, and the feel is completely different between the two cities. I’m not saying one is better than the other. Both are lovely.

Today has been a day to relax, read, and clean the apartment. Anything actually, to help me procrastinate from doing a task with a looming deadline on Monday. So to delay it a bit longer, let me tell you what I cooked today.

– Salad –

Mixed Spring Greens from a Bag
&
Sliced Tomato
tossed with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
and plopped unceremoniously on a plate

– Main –

Toast with Melted Three Kinds of Cheese
&
Sliced Tomatoes
Grilled under the Broiler until the Cheese is Bubbly

Served with the
Crunchy Cheesy Bits that Melt onto the Broiler Pan
that you need to Scrape off with a Metal Spatula
and Inadvertently Fling all over the Counter
But are so Tasty You Pick Up Every Last One
and if No One is Looking Even the Ones off the Floor

– Dessert –

Several Spoonfuls of Nutella
Right-From-the-Jar