Government creating classes of poor
Minimum wage and AISH increases welcome, but social assistance left behind
by Amy Steele

Groups pushing for smarter urban growth
by Amy Steele

Activists protest war profiteering and other stories
by Amy Steele

LETTERS

Lady-boys article a Disney World version of Thailand
by Nolan Henry

Food reviewer missed out on best hospital fare of all
by Wayne Brideaux

WEB WATCH

Canadian music hot off the web
by Courtney Thompson

VIEWPOINT

Public opinion on gay rights shifting
While opposition to same-sex marriage remains, tolerance is on the rise
by Reuel S. Amdur

CITY

Devonian gardens set for overhaul
Users of popular downtown park not consulted about proposed changes
by Wes LaFortune

FOOD

A room with a view
Vue Cafe combines art and edibles in gallery
by Danyael Halprin

BOOZE

Time travel in a bottle
Macallan’s Travel Series conducts a spirited trip through the history of scotch
by Don Tse

BOOKS

How the West was defined
Sharon Butala seeks to pin down elusive western Canadian identity
by Bryn Evans

BOOKENDS

And the nominees are...
Finalists announced for 2005 Grant MacEwan and Alberta Book Awards
by Harry Vandervlist

COMEDY

Spurred by the moment
Radio funnyman Mike Richards specializes in unscripted high jinks
by Stephen W. Smith

MUSIC

Futureheads know what’s good for them
The British are coming, but not exactly from where you might expect
by David Boyle

From novel girl-group to seasoned pros
Delinquent princesses reformed! The Donnas hit solid gold with their sixth album!
by Aubrey McInnis

Seven minutes of heaven with Lemmy
After years of debauchery, what con you ask the frontman of Motorhead?
by Tara Lee Wittchen

Mainstream rock and a hard place
Matt Mays finds indie cred and commercial success without even trying
by Rick Overwater

Below the radar with Greg MacPherson
With the Night Flares, Winnipeg singer-songwriter sparks some overdue notice
by M.D. Stewart

The time is extremely nigh
After seven years of silence, Damn 13 speak up and rock out with metal icons
by Keith Carman

Lane changes
For guitarist Rick Rabnett, keeping track of finances led to keeping time
by Dennis Slater

CD REVIEWS

Biolay’s Home is where the heart is
CD Reviews:
Coralie Clement’s bye Bye Beaute, Benjamin Biolay & chiara Mastrioani’s Home & Keren Ann’s Nolita
all reviewed by Timothy Heck
NQ Arbuckle’s The Last Supper in a Cheap Town
reviewed by Bruce Pollock
Martha Wainwright’s s/t
reviewed by Lenore Hume
John Doe’s Forever Hasn’t Happened Yet
reviewed by Mary-Lynn Wardle
Will Smith’s Lost and Found and The Perceptionists’ Black Dialogue
both reviewed by Jason Lewis
Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm
reviewed by Kirsten Kosloski
William Parker’s Luc’s Lantern
reviewed by Kenna Burima
Shipping News’ Flies the Fields
reviewed by Jason Lewis
Ivy’s In the Clear
reviewed by Jason Lewis
Cephalic Carnage’s Anomalies
reviewed by Christine Leonard
The Libertines’ What Became of the Likely Lads
reviewed by Mark Hamilton

VISUAL ARTS

Water, water everywhere
Artists - including the river itself - provide various views of the Bow
by Wes LaFortune

Double-decker delight
Stride Gallery proves that two-tiered exhibiting is twice the fun
by Mark Clintberg

THEATRE

You’d better sit down for this
Glenda Stirling finds nuances in Neil LaBute’s harsh comedy about 9-11
by Jane McCullough

A bounty from Britain
Humble Boy has physics, bees and Shakespeare
by Katharine Lepora

Land of the cheap laughs
If you’re looking for a raunchy good time, you’ll find it In Klezskavania
by Martin Morrow

Paper capers
New Lunchbox comedy runs white-collar drudgery through the shredder
by Jeff Kubik

COVER STORY

Up from the underground
Crew behind Calgary’s fledgling fest have know-how to back up ambition
by Kevin Allen & Jason Lewis

FILM

They came from the North
Exploring national identity with Canadian horror film expert Caelum Vatnsdal
by Andrea Huck

Mainlining movies
The Calgary Underground Film Festival offers high quality on a low budget
by FFWD writers

Putting her heart into it
Director explores emotional tension of mother-son dynamic in Dear Frankie
by Jason Anderson

Low-budget master storyteller
Tarnation beats ‘80s music-video editing tricks to become a moving debut
by Timothy Heck

Dickensian cyberpunk
The anime world of Steamboy offers stunning visuals but convoluted story
by Jason Anderson

Save your applause
Despite talent, Millions is shallow and boring
by Gordon Yerkovich

VIDEO VULTURE

Job dissatisfaction
Here are some movie characters who need to dust off their resumes
by John Tebbutt

VIDEO

Can you dig it?
Comprehensive rock doc probes deep into troubled love-hate psych-rock rivalry
by Kirsten Kosloski