Battle over Castle resort expansion goes to court
by Amy Steele

Researcher discovers hidden dangers released by wildfire
by Tom Babin

Beltline crime (and other news notes)
by FFWD Staff

VIEWPOINT

Think outside the Christmas gift box
With destructive consumerism rampant, what’s giving got to do with it anyway?
by Adrienne Beattie

Is anybody out there?
Pink Floyd’s theft of Thoreau only matters if you think time is linear
by David Bright

CITY

A century of trading in Banff
Luxton’s Indian Trading Post remains a landmark of art, commerce and curiosity
by Wes LaFortune

WEB WATCH

Gettin’ misty-eyed over the ‘Peg
by Courtney Thompson

FOOD

Jabulani offers adventure
by Danyael Halprin

BOOZE

Dividing Bordeaux
New consumers challenge region’s traditions
by Kevin McLean

COVER

Fifteen minutes with a Python
Comedy idol Eric Idle talks comedy, Beatles, Rutles and his solo tour
by Martin Morrow

BOOKS

Gonzo critic’s rock ‘n’ roll heart beats on
Lester Bangs was cynical and sarcastic, but he saw redemption in music
reviewed by Sean Marchetto

Talkin’ about Scorsese’s blues
Companion piece to film series a fantastic reference
reviewed by Jason Lewis

BOOKENDS

Let the celebrations begin
Toasting authors, books and tenacious magazine
by Harry Vandervlist

MUSIC

Steve Pineo gets horny
Saxy show only an occasional musical treat
by Mary-Lynn McEwen

Passion and politics
Outspoken singer-songwriter Laura Love breaks down musical genres
by Shereen Tuomi

Breaking arms and breaking rules
Gerry Hebert turns adversity into success and releases debut CD
by Dennis Slater

Definitely not Shania
Oh Susanna shines with new house, new band, new husband and new album
by Mary-Lynn McEwen

The Paperbacks obliterate the literate
Poetic pop-rockers make the most of Winnipeg’s growing alternative culture
by Kirsten Kosloski

Throwing audiences off the scent
Regina’s DIY rockers Despistado practice the fine art of misdirection
by Christine Leonard

Poetry, music and horses
Singer thrives on life’s simple pleasures
by Mary-Lynn McEwen

Can you break a hundred?
House producer Jay J’s success translates into a lot more gigs
by Rob Faust

The good and bad sides of familiarity
Best-ofs can reinvigorate old chestnuts, but sometimes there’s a flip side
by Jennifer Abel

RECORD REVIEWS

The heartbreaking beauty of Movietone
CD Reviews:
Movietone’s the Sand and the Stars and Devics’ The Stars at Saint Andrea
both reviewed by Jason Lewis
Blink 182’s s/t
reviewed by Jason Lewis
Jimi Hendrix’s Axis Outtakes
reviewed by Christine Leonard
Lhasa’s The Living Road
reviewed by Jaime Frederick
Various Artists’ Shapes One-Horizontal and Vertical
reviewed by Rob Faust

VISUAL ARTS

Breking the bonds of recognition
Canada’s contribution to abstract art celebrated in new Triangle exhibit
by Wes LaFortune

THEATRE

Moving out of the margins
Calgary’s Balancing Acts festival provides a showcase for disabled artists
by David King

Brothers drive emotional road
Strong production of Bouchard drama could benefit from more ambiguity
by Jane McCullough

An exuberant ode to movies and childhood
The Boy’s Own Jedi Handbook moves to ATP’s stage with fringe spirit intact
by Martin Morrow

Family theatre strikes back
by Martin Morrow

A blind date from hell
Theatre Junction’s Boy Gets Girl is an urban thriller to leave you thinking
by Martin Morrow

FILM

Great expectations
Elephant a confounding but beautiful film about ugly aspects of human nature
by Jaime Frederick

Holmes for the holidays
Pieces of April doesn’t cop out on sentiment
by Matthew Currie Holmes

Coal-black holiday comedy
Bad Santa has something to offend everyone
By Jaime Frederick

Nature versus nurture
Documentary Bus 174 delves into the grey
By Shaun English

Take this cat and cram in the hat
Hollywood’s frantic adaptation of the Cat in the Hat lacks book’s panache
By Stephen Notely

Filmmaking throwback
Timeline takes us back to cinema’s cheesy past
by Brad E. Simkulet

Disney’s dark ride
Haunted Mansion is kind of fun
By Andrew Aitkenhead

Getting to the root of marriage
The Secret Lives of Dentists draws viewers into surprising world of drama
by Susan Cullen

Two sides of the man
Documentary tells Tupac’s story in his own words
by Matthew Currie-Holmes

CD Review
Various Artists’ Tupac Resurrection and 2Pac’s Nu-Mixx Klazzics
both reviewed by Nichole Stewart

Two words of advice: miss it
With The Missing, a terminally bland western, Ron Howard bores us again
by Brad E. Simkulet

VIDEO VULTURE

One-armed, blind and possibly mute
Never let your limitations prevent you from kicking some serious ass
by John Tebbutt

VIDEO

A long, long way from heaven
Directors Sirk and Fassbinder expose the ugliness of intolerance
by Jaime Frederick