Late February, early March artsScene Calgary is bringing TEDxyyc to town.  Check out the link and sign-up on our mailing list for info on speakers and your chance to send us feedback.

The Calgary International Film Festival continues their partnership with Doc Soup Wednesday, Nov.4 with a screening of Big River Man at Eau Claire Cinema.  Tickets available at the door.  $12.  A man tries to swim the length of the Amazon River – enough said.  

Calgary Opera is throwing our city’s premier Halloween party again this year with their Grave Gala. Join them at Hotel Arts on Saturday, October 31 for a Paris of the 20’s themed  extravaganza.  Calgary’s best and brightest will be there.  Don’t miss it.  Buy tickets here.

On Thursday, October 1 artsScene Calgary is presenting Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench at the Calgary International Film Festival and hosting an after party with live jazz at Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club.  Tickets to the film, Beat Niq after party and a free Wild Rose beer are $20. Buy tickets here.  Director Damien Chazelle will be in attendance.  artsScene Calgary is only selling 50 tickets to the event so purchase your ticket quickly.  If you have a film festival pass tickets to the after party are $10 and available at the door.  Film starts at 7:15 p.m. at Eau Claire Cinema and the after party will start at 9:30 with Al Muirhead and guests taking the stage.

A cool opportunity from our friends at DJD, definitely take advantage of this!

Friday Oct 2 8pm show + after show artist mingle

Exclusive offer: $55 show & cocktail at afterparty

Amin Tobin – the same acid jazz hot guy who does video game soundtracks and left crowds clammering to get in at the Orpheum in Vancouver this summer, hooked up with Kimberley Cooper DJD’s fiery red-head choreographer to come up with Wow and Flutter. It’s a gritty, groove-laden ride through an otherworldly realm that spanned from outer space to the bottom of the ocean. The show is back for two nights, after selling out in 2008.

To buy:
Call DJD Box Office: 403-245-3533 (monday to friday)
Mention: “Artscene deal” to get special price and afterparty admittance

A little known fact, Calgary is home to more than just cowboy boots, oil tycoons, steak and blow. The cool kids in Calgary have taken on a collaborative photobook to show you how they see the city. Thirty local photographers were asked what they would show someone that displayed the most important part of Calgary in one picture. The result is the yycPhotobook.

Duncan Kinney had the idea and says about the project, “Collaboration and community building are two of the most important skills for new media journalists. The yycPhotobook melded all my interests into one interesting project.” He got Conner Turner, of Armadillo Studios to agree to design the book for him, then used Facebook, Twitter and Flickr to organize meetings, build buzz and to vet the pictures. Blurb, an online custom publisher, is printing the books and handling the shipping.

A great example of people working together to build community, the photographers decided all profits from the book will go to Brown Bagging It For Calgary’s Kids, a Calgary charity that provides healthy meals to under-privileged school age children.

yycPhotobook launch party

Yes, there’s a party and yes, you should probably go. Why? Because there’s reasonably priced beer and wine and some light refreshments. Also because you can meet the contributing photographers and get a sneak peek of the book. The yycPhotobook launch party is on Sept. 18, 7pm at Venturion at 214 11th Ave. SE.

Launch party details can be found here.

The website for the project can be found here.

A preview of the book can be found here.

On Oct. 1 Calgary International Film Festival will be screening Damien Chazelle’s directorial debut Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench at Eau Claire Cinema at 7:15 p.m.   artsScene Calgary is supporting the screening by buying 50 tickets and then holding a post-screening party at Beat Niq Jazz Club.   Beat Niq is going through some financial problems at the moment and needs the public’s support.  For $20 you’ll get a ticket to the film, entrance into Beat Niq and a free beer courtesy of Wildrose Brewery.  Musicians are being lined up for the evening now and more details are to follow.  Tickets will go on sale the first week of September.

WordFest is bringing in some literary luminaries this year to bookend their 14th annual festival.  Booker Prize winning writer Margaret Atwood along with bestselling authors John Irving and Douglas Coupland will read from their recent novels.  For more info go to the WordFest website.  And go and pick up a good book from your local used bookstore.

Calgary Arts Development is bringing Pecha Kucha Night to Calgary on September 14 at Theatre Junction.  An impressive list of speakers will discuss design and architecture with a focus on creative space in our city.  Tickets are $10 and available at the door.   6:30 – 9:30.  Be there.

Beat Niq Jazz & Social Club will be forced to close their doors unless they raise the necessary funds to pay off mounting debt.  A Calgary institution for over twelve years Beat Niq has fostered and supported countless musicians since the club’s inception.  In a last ditch attempt to remain open Beat Niq will be holding a membership drive on Sept. 10,11 and 12.  For more information visit the Save Beat Niq Facebook page.