More great CFL football action tonight as the BC Lions invade McMahon Stadium to take on the Stamps and Nik Lewis Nation in their first meeting of the year.

Along with the great game, tonight marks Calgary’s turn in the Purolator Tackle Hunger food drive campaign.  You can take part in the food drive by bringing non-perishable food items or cash donations to Purolator volunteers stationed at the stadium gates. In return, you’ll have the opportunity to win a digital photo with the Grey Cup and enter to win a trip for two to the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.

Game time is 7 PM but be sure to get there early for some great tail-gating fun.  For more information about the game or to get tickets click on the links provided below.

GO STAMPS GO!

STAMPEDERS-LIONS GAME DAY PREVIEW

http://www.stampeders.com/article/stamps-face-defending-champs

STAMPEDERS GAME DAY TICKET INFORMATION

If you are a Trekkie and live in NW Calgary then you need to head down to Bowness tonight as Star Trek takes to the 3-storey screen for a summer Movie In The Park event!

The evening starts at 8:30 PM and goes until midnight (weather dependant) just over the bridge in Bowness in the field at RB Bennett school, 6305 - 33 Ave NW.  There is a suggested donation for admission of $10 per blanket or $5 per chair and of course this is an alcohol-free family event.

This 2009 reboot of the famous Star Trek franchise, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as the tandem of Captain James T. Kirk and Spock was a huge hit...and one of my favourite flicks...receiving excellent reviews and for those who follow it, an amazing 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

So grab your pointy ears, brush up your Klingon and set your phasers for fun as you head down to Bowness for a great movie under the stars.

For more information about the event or to get more information about the movie click on the links below.

BOWNESS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/mybowness

ROTTEN TOMATOES STAR TREK MOVIE REVIEW

Another great family event comes to NW Calgary this weekend as sesame Street Live returns to the Jubilee Auditorium for a fun-filled 3-day run.

This year’s production, ‘Elmo Makes Music” takes to the stage for five shows beginning with the premiere show on Friday night at 7:00 PM, two shows on Saturday at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM and then wrapping up with another two shows Sunday at 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM.

Doors for the show open one hour early so your wee ones can stock up on Sesame Street treats, t-shirts and toys, so make sure they bring their allowance along.

Not surprisingly, ‘Elmo Makes Music’ (as are all Sesame Street Live productions) is a fantastic show for kids!  The show has a lot of upbeat musical numbers, bright costumes, and familiar characters. Any fan of Sesame Street, will be a fan of the show!

ELMO MAKES MUSIC JUBILLE AUDITORIUM EVENT PAGE:

http://www.jubileeauditorium.com/Southern/Events/2012-07-27/Sesame-Street-Live-Elmo-Makes-Music/261402

SESAME STREET LIVE WEBSITE:

HUDDLE UP!

Alright red and white fans, I know it’s been a tough start to the season going 1-2 and losing our starting quarterback, likely for the season, but the Stamps have more than enough talent and heart to right the ship and make a serious run at the 100th Grey Cup.

The quest continues tonight as the hated (is that too strong of a word...no, I don't think so) Roughriders along with their watermelon-wearing, green-face-painted fans invade the otherwise civilized confines of McMahon Stadium this evening to battle our hometown heroes.

Let’s show the league that Stamps fans are indeed the best in the country and drown out the ruckus from the prairie folk...wear you red tonight and cheer your heart out.

Kickoff is at 7 PM with the standard array of tailgating festivities taking place beforehand.  There are still some tickets available, for more information on getting your hands on them and for a full game day preview click on the links below.

GO STAMPS GO!

STAMPEDERS GAME DAY TICKET INFORMATION

http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/110048B1AD216FC2?artistid=891712&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=8

STAMPEDERS GAME DAY PREVIEW

Another great NW Calgary event is on tap for this weekend as the 19th Annual Kensington Sun and Salsa Festival takes to the streets on Sunday, July 22.

The festival revolves around a salsa competition that pits local Kensington businesses against each other in a battle for salsa supremacy!  You get to be the judge and jury in this competition; tortilla chips can be purchased from a number of on-site charities and then you can taste test your way through all the spicy recipes vying for the title.

If salsa isn’t your thing, there will be a plethora of other activities and attractions to take in including live entertainment, vendors, cultural dancing, street performers and a dedicated Kids Zone with everything from hula hoop and maraca making to the 1st Annual Cupcake Walk.

Both Kensington Road and 10 Street will be closed for the day so if you are planning to come down and take part in the fun, taking the LRT to Sunnyside Station is most likely your best bet.

For additional information about the festival, click on the link below.

KENSINGTON SUN AND SALSA FESTIVAL PAGE

NW Calgary's Authoritative Pancake Breakfast Guide!

Stampede breakfasts are a way of life for 10 days in Calgary and this year is no different with all the pancakes, syrup, hash browns, sausages and country music you could ever want.  A handful of Stampede feasts this year are in the form of afternoon or evening BBQ’s, so after you’ve digested your breaky you can head out for more free grub!

We have the comprehensive...and for all intensive purposes the ONLY dedicated NW Calgary listing of Stampede Breakfasts.  So start planning out your week now and if there are any events we have missed please feel free to comment below with all the details as we don’t want anyone to miss out!

For more information about breakfasts across the city visit the FlapJackFinder website at www.flapjackfinder.com or download the app to your iPhone.

YEEEEEHAW and happy eating!

SATURDAY, JULY 7

8:30 AM-11:00 AM - MLA’s David Swann & Kent Hehr - 1320-5 Avenue NW

8:30 AM-10:30 AM - Northern Hills Community Association - 11950 Country Village Link NE

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Thorncliffe-Greenview Community Association - 5600 Centre Street N

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Hamptons Community Association - 10330 Hamptons Blvd NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Triwood Commmunity Association - 2244 Chicoutimi Drive NW

9:00 AM-11:00 PM - Ten Thousand Villages - 220 Crowchild Trail NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Citadel Community Association - 808 Citadel Drive NW

9:00 AM-12:00 PM - Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak - 10307 Eamon Road NW

11:30 AM-1:30 PM - Westside Alliance Church BBQ - 6600 Country Hills Boulevard NW

SUNDAY, JULY 8

8:00 AM-11:00 AM - Wood’s Homes Bowness - 9400-48 Avenue NW

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM - Hope Lutheran Church - 3527 Boulton Road NW

8:00 AM-11:00 AM - The Riverside Club - 110 Point McKay Crescent NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Harvest Hills Alliance Church - 10099 Harvest Hills Blvd NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Hillside Community Church - 27 Arbour Crest Drive NW

9:00 AM-12:00 PM - Scenic Acres Community Association - 8825 Scenic Acres Drive NW

9:00 AM-12:00 PM - Berkshire Community Church - 222 Sandarac Blvd

9:00 AM-12:00 PM - Holy Cross Anglican Church - 2828-19 Street NW

9:30 AM-11:30 AM - Westview Baptist Church - 1313 Ranchlands Way NW

12:00 PM-2:00 PM - Holy Trinity Church - 18 Hidden Creek Road NW

MONDAY, JULY 9

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - CrossIron Mills Shopping Centre - 261055 CrossIron Blvd - SC

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - North Hill Centre - 1632-16 Avenue NW - SC

TUESDAY, JULY 10

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Market Mall - 3625 Shaganappi Trail NW - SC

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11

7:30 AM-11:00 AM - Wood’s Homes Parkdale - 805-37 Street NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Dalhousie Station - 5005 Dalhousie Drive NW - SC

THURSDAY, JULY 12

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Northland Village Mall - 5111 Northland Drive NW - SC

FRIDAY, JULY 13

8:00 AM-10:00 AM - Ecoliving Solar Breakfast - 3553-31 Street NW

SATURDAY, JULY 14

8:00 AM-10:00 AM - Hamptons Calgary Co-op - 400, 1000 Hamptons Drive NW

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Carpenter’s Union, Local 2103 - 301-10 Street NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Huntington Hills Community Association - 520-78 Avenue NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - 155 Panamount Blvd NW

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Coventry Hills Centre - 130 Country Village Road NE - SC

9:30 AM-11:30 AM - Tuscany Residents Association - 212 Tuscany Way NW

SUNDAY, JULY 15

9:00 AM-11:00 AM - Crescent Heights Community Association - 1101-2 Street NW

9:00 AM-11:30 AM - Kincora Community Association - 352 Kincora Drive NW

Ahh...nothing quite like the season opener!

That’s right, the red and white take to the turf at McMahon Stadium this weekend for the 2012 season opener against the perennially strong Montreal Alouettes.  The Stamps swept Calvillo and the Als last season for the first time since 2008, with a 38-31 home win and an impressive 32-27 at Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal.

Repeating last year’s performance will be difficult as the Als are coming off a season that saw them rack up the most points (515) and become the first team in CFL history to end the year with the league’s leading passer, rusher and receiver...an accomplishment not to be taken lightly.

Kickoff is set for 5 PM on Sunday, July 1, but the pre-game festivities will get underway long before with an official Canada Day Kickoff celebration with live bands, BBQ concession and of course plenty of tailgating excitement!

For more information on the matchup and tickets, click on the link below to go to the Stampeders official website.

GO STAMPS GO!

CALGARY STAMPEDERS SEASON OPENER INFORMATION

Another great NW Calgary family fun event this weekend as the Hawkwood Family Picnic in the Park is slated for this Sunday, June 24 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at Hawkhill Way Park and the outdoor soccer fields on Hawkstone Drive.

The day is jam-packed with activities and events for all ages including a bicycle decorating contest and parade, a glitter tattoo artist, crafts, games, prizes, music and of course a picnic with burgers, refreshments, cotton candy and kettle corn...commence mouth watering now.

For more information about this great community event follow the link below to the Hawkwood Community Association’s event webpage.

Have fun and of course don’t forget your rubber boots and umbrellas just in case!

HAWKWOOD FAMILY PICNIC IN THE PARK EVENT WEBPAGE

The unofficial community garage sale season is winding down but we do have another NW Calgary neighbourhood taking their goods to the curb to sell this weekend as the Scenic Acres event is set for Saturday, June 23.

The community association is also hosting its first ever Show and Shine in conjunction with the sale event featuring some beautiful classic automobiles including a 1973 Cougar XR7 convertible, a 1974 Corvette Stingray and a 1972 Jaguar XKE among others.

The official parade of garage sales starts at 7 AM and the Show and Shine is scheduled to begin 10 AM at the Scenic Acres Community Centre located at 8825 Scurfield Drive NW.

For more information about the event click on the links below and have fun bartering and buying!  

SCENIC ACRES PARADE OF GARAGE SALES EVENT WEBPAGE

http://scenicacresca.ca/events/parade-of-garage-sales/

SCENIC ACRES PARADE OF GARAGE SALES HOME PARTICIPATION LIST

Another great NW Calgary event this weekend if you are an automobile enthusiast as the the 7th Annual Al Azhar Show & Shrine takes place on Saturday, June 23.

Last year’s event had over 230 entrants and has grown into one of Calgary’s largest summer auto shows featuring makes and models of all kinds, from vintage hot rods to special interest autos.  There will be lots of other activities as well including various vendors, food kiosks, beer gardens, a 50/50 draw, silent auction, swap meet and more!

The event takes place at the Al Azhar Grounds in Bowness next to the Bow River at 5151 - 101 Street NW and starts with registration at 8:00 AM followed by the show itself from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM.  There is no cost to the public attending and just a $10 entry fee for participants that goes to charity.

For more information about the show go to the Shriners event page by clicking on the link below.  Have fun and don’t forget your umbrella!

AL AZHAR SHOW AND SHRINE EVENT WEBPAGE

If you missed seeing John Mellencamp’s show at the Jubilee Auditorium Thursday night, don’t worry!  Why?  Because he’s playing another show on Friday of course.

It would be impossible and foolhardy to try and summarize the incredible achievements by Mellencamp over his illustrious career thus far so I won’t, all I’ll say is Jack n’ Diane, Hurts So Good, Pink Houses, Authority Song, Paper In Fire, Check It Out, Cherry Bomb, Jackie Brown, Peaceful World and so many more...enough said.

If that isn’t enough to entice you to come out then add on the fact that Canada’s own Cowboy Junkies will be opening the show and you might just have one the best concerts of the year.

If that still isn’t enough motivation then you just don’t like good music I guess...sorry to hear that.

For more information about the concert and Mellencamp and to purchase tickets (yes, there are some still available) click on the links below to go to the Jubilee Auditorium and Ticketmaster event pages.

Enjoy the show!

JUBILEE AUDITORIUM EVENT WEBPAGE

http://www.jubileeauditorium.com/Southern/Events/2012-06-22/John-Mellencamp's-'No-Better-Than-This-Tour'/259294

TICKET MASTER EVENT WEBPAGE

Once again along with the overdue arrival of warm weather comes another arrival of sorts as the Mountain Bike Park at Canada Olympic Park opens for the season this Friday, June 22.

The park features designs by Whistler’s Gravity Logic and has something for all skill levels from flowing green trails with pump tracks, to blue jump trails and all the way up to expert-only black trails.  The trails offer loads of excitement and features like teeter-totters, bridges, drops and skinnies.

All the fun of grand opening weekend kicks off on Friday at 5:00 PM and runs until 9:00 PM and then again on the weekend from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM both days.

For more information about the Mountain Bike Park visit Winsport Canada’s official Canada Olympic Park website by clicking on the link below.

Have fun on the trails!

CANADA OLYMPIC PARK MOUNTAIN BIKING WEBPAGE

If you haven’t made it out to the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Farmer’s Market this year, then this week will be your must-attend event as the Solstice Market is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20 from 3-7 PM.

There will be the usual amazing array of vendors and services as well as a group of environmentally friendly non-profit organizations, a beer and wine garden from 4:30-9:00 PM and of course loads of live music featuring Paizley Haze and Berna-Dean Holland with Prairie Edge.

The event will go rain or shine and you can catch all the action at the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community association located at 1320 - 5 Avenue NW.

For more information about the Solstice Market go to the official Farmer’s Market website or their Facebook page by clicking on the links below.

HILLHURST-SUNNYSIDE FARMER’S MARKET WEBSITE

http://farmersmarket.hillhurstsunnyside.org

HILLHURST-SUNNYSIDE FARMER’S MARKET COMMUNITY FACEBOOK PAGE

Another great family fun event this weekend in NW Calgary as the 14th Annual Capitol Hill Show & Shine is set for Saturday, June 16 starting at 9 AM.

Whether it’s hot rods, classic cruisers, trucks or even new vehicles there will be something for every auto enthusiast.  If that isn’t enough (which it certainly should be!) you can always come out to take in the delicious BBQ, refreshments, prizes and of course find out which entries take home this year’s top awards!

For more information about the event go to the Capitol Hill Community website by clicking on the link below.

Enjoy this great afternoon and if you really want to make Father’s Day special bring your cheque book along, nothing says ‘I love you Dad’ more than a new car...just sayin’!

CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY WEBSITE

More NW Calgary garage sale activity this weekend as the Evanston-Creekside Community Association presents its annual parade of garage sales on Saturday, June 16, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

The sales actually span all across Evanston-Creekside as well as the neighbouring communities of Kincora and Sage Hill as well.  So make sure you dust off your bargaining skills and get out early to get the first crack at the plethora of garage sale bounty!

For more information about the event go to the Evanston-Creekside website or their official Facebook page by clicking on the links below.

Have fun... Have fun sale-ing... and if come across any old Atari games don’t even think of buying them, they’re mine!

EVANSTON-CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY WEBSITE

http://www.eccacalgary.com

EVANSTON-CREEKSIDE FACEBOOK PAGE

A great event is taking place on Saturday, June 9 in the Northern Hills Communities as area residents will hit the streets for their Annual Community Clean-Up Event!  Volunteers will be brandishing garbage bags and taking on any litter and garbage they can find in local parks, streets and green spaces.

In addition to the pick-up, there will also be collection points set up at the Panorama Hills E-Centre by both eCycle solutions, to drop off your old electronics, and by WINS, to donate gently used household items for families in need.

As a great wrap-up for all the hard work Centre Street Church will be sponsoring a BBQ for all the waste warriors and volunteers.

For more information about the event itself and lists of acceptable eCycle and WINS items, follow the link below to go to the NHCA event webpage.

Have fun making a difference in your community!

NHCA ANNUAL COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENT PAGE

For all you bargain hunters out there we have two more NW Calgary communities hosting their Parade of Garage Sales this weekend; Tuscany and Silver Springs.

Both events run on Saturday, June 9 from 9 AM until 3 PM and combined will offer over 350 individual garage sales.  You can bet the hardcore “garage saler’s” will be out much earlier than 9 AM however and many of the sales will run later as well.

So break out your loonies and toonies and get ready to bargain for some spectacular hidden treasures...or just some old Atari games and Pat Benetar LP’s!

For more information and lists of the homes participating in the Garage Sale Parades in both communities click on the links below and start your planning!

SILVER SPRINGS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

http://www.silverspringscommunity.ca

TUSCANY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Another great NW Calgary debut as the Triwood Farmer’s Market is scheduled for its first night of operation for the 2012 season on Thursday, June 7.

For more information about the market or to inquire about vendor information go to the Triwood Community Association website or visit their Facebook listed below.

Enjoy the great produce and products and pass it on!

TRIWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WEBPAGE

http://www.triwood.org

TRIWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FACEBOOK PAGE