Considering that I just had a conversation about the show on the weekend, I'm thinking that at heart, we're all Buffy fans. James Marsters who brilliantly played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be coming to Calgary for the 2012 Calgary Expo, performing at a special event An Evening with James Marsters on April 27. Details to be announced mid-January. Chances are he won't look like Spike. Or talk like him. But maybe he'll wear his leather coat? I'll keep you posted. In the meantime...

Em dashes aren’t usually a significant source of controversy. Even as a writer, I don’t pay much attention to the punctuation. But I couldn’t help notice the use of a pair in the description of CJAY 92’s new contest, called Upgrade Your Spouse.

The contest, which is beginning to be advertised on billboards throughout Calgary, carries the same sexist traits that the radio station has always proclaimed. But that’s no surprise.

One only needs to search Canadian … Read More

For the first time ever, The Canada Council for the Arts is holding a public meeting in the city with both a presentation and a question and answer period.

The board's chair and director are presenting results from last year  and opening the floor up to the public on Tuesday, October 18th from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m at Theatre Junction.

Last year, the council spent $154 million on grants, awards, prizes and lending right payments to Alberta individuals and arts organatizations.

  Beauty junkies, take note. Calgary has two new offerings to pamper yourself until your heart’s content.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is the first of its kind in the city and is hosting its grand opening on  Friday, Oct. 21. It’s the largest blow dry chain in North America. There’s already locations popping up in Hollywood and … Read More

Fast Forward Weekly wants to hear your most cringe-worthy or most amazing (or both) Halloween stories.

Did you wear something one year that you still celebrate or regret? Are you missing a few hours of your life before you woke up in a petting zoo? Maybe you had the best damn Halloween evah and you just want to share. Well, we want to share all of it in our Halloween issue. We want your stories and we want pictures of you in costume on the night in question. We’ll feature the best submissions in the paper on October 27. Let’s see what you got Calgary.

Send stories and photos to danderson@ffwd.greatwest.ca.

Our True Nature by E.T.N. Smibert
Runs until October 14
Little Gallery, University of Calgary

Yellowed leaves carpet the floor of the Little Gallery. The space is pitch-black except for the dim light emanating from three tents gathered in the centre. The ceiling of the gallery has been transformed into the night sky. A stereo fills the room with nature sounds.

E.T.N. Smibert’s  art installation, Our True Nature, situated in the gallery on the sixth floor of the Art Parkade at the University of Calgary, invites contemplation.

“It invites the viewer to listen, not just hear,” Smibert says. “It questions human relationships with nature and other humans.”

Paul Gauguin’s famous 1897 painting, Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going … Read More

Soulocentric Festival
Vertigo Studio Theatre
Runs until Saturday, October 8

Seven years of soul-o-centric theatre is impressive. 

On Thursday October 6 at 8 p.m, Vertigo Studio Theatre is presenting its first mainstage show of the festival and audiences might spot some new faces. 

One of Soulocentric's founders, and its current artistic director, Jenny Repond Peters, says the festival is just as much about solo performance creation as it is about the concept that the performers are working on their own within the community. 

In other words, Soulocentric is a place to see those artists who you might have difficulty spotting elsewhere, since they are self-producing.  Oh, and in case you weren't aware, this festival is … Read More

YYC's Food Trucks are about to get a taste of reality fame.

Perogy Boyz, Fries & Dolls and Alley Burger are going to be taped this week for the Food Network show Eat St.

Filming for the reality television show will take place Thursday October 6 (with lunch service, of course) at Central Memorial Park. Customers may have a chance to be interviewed for the show so head down for a bite to eat!

The Perogy Boyz are fans of the show and "thrilled" they will be featured on an upcoming episode.

"This is a wonderful affirmation that Calgary's food truck revolution is moving in the right direction and being noticed on a larger scale," Perogy Boyz spokesperson Jason Krell says. "Being featured on Eat St. will be a great thing for Calgary's ever-growing … Read More

Top designers in action, battling it out over a "secret space" in the Bow to Bluff corridor (which is located along the Sunnyside LRT line), going head-to-head. What can be more exciting?

Two Calgary urban designers will have 40 minutes to work with three volunteers to create a master design and win the Iron Sketch contest on Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m. at the Ant Hill building.

It's free admission to check the action out and catch a glimpse of who will get to create a great public space in Kensington. The winner will be chosen by popular vote so make sure you're in on the action.

For more information, visit http://ironsketch.eventbrite.com.

The Calgary International Film Festival is winding down this weekend, but that doesn't mean it's not going out with a very busy schedule. Among the remaining flicks available for your viewing pleasure is Joint Body.

The film stars Mark Pellegrino (of LOST fame) as a man recently released on parole who is barred from seeing his daughter. He develops a relationship with Alicia Witt (of Friday Night Lights), and things get a little hectic when he kills a man who attacks her.

Joint Body screens at Eau Claire on Friday, September 30 at 9:30 p.m.

Check out our review of the flick here.