I Heart Edmonton

Ever wondered who local singer Christian Hansen's man crush was, or perhaps what his guiltiest of guilty pleasures is? Me neither, but you're about to find out... BY EMIL TIEDEMANN Christian Hansen, who in 2009 won an award for  Support Worker of the Year from the Autism Society of Edmonton.  Hansen was selected for his work with and awareness for autism and other diseases " I 'M glad to see they responded to the obvious shortage by opening a donair shop where Megatunes used to be." That was the first Twitter update I read when I clicked the "Follow" button on Christian Hansen & the Autistics ' page. In those 20 words I got a pretty good sense of what kind of guy Hansen, smirk and all, is. Well, the 20 questions he answered for 'I ♥ E' below kinda helped, too. Hansen, frontman and one third of the local "dazzle of disco mixed with the immediacy of punk rock" musicianship, seems to have his nose to the ground when i

Sister Gray's "Close the Night" (2010) BY EMIL TIEDEMANN I SWEAR we're not just ripping off Sonic's Band of the Month ... really ! Yes, this clip just happens to be filmed at Sonic 102.9 's studio, and by Sonic 102.9's own staff, and featuring Sonic 102.9's February 2011 BOTM (Band of the Month) Sister Gray , but that's all simply a coincidence! For the most part. Sisters Jenesse and Brittany Graling are Sister Gray , said to have a sound that blends Muse , Metric , and Joan Jett Okay, I confess: some of our Music Clips of the Month were easily inspired by former Sonic BandsOTM (i.e. The Weekend Kids , Christian Hansen & The Autistics ), but what else can I say except that Sonic features some good local shit?! Case in point, Sister Gray. "It's been six years, but it's taken us this long to have a female-fronted Band of the Month," said Rick Lee , the Sonic on-air personality who also happened to direct and ed

Local charity makes sure low-income women are dressed for success BY EMIL TIEDEMANN Edmonton lawyer Karmen Masson began women's charity 'Suit Yourself' in 2002, helping some 1,700 local and low-income women dress for success since " A LONG with a handful of friends and family who volunteered weekly, we helped about 100 women that first year," remembers Karmen Masson , Executive Director of Edmonton-based charitable organization " Suit Yourself ." She was referring to 2002, when she set up a makeshift refuge for low-income women seeking employment or transitioning into the workforce, and in need of free quality clothing.  "My parents used to own a 90-year-old walk-up apartment building in the downtown area," explains Masson, "and there was a vacant space in the basement." That's where Masson, a full-time lawyer and mother, began collecting and distributing professional, fashionable, and free clothes for a cause unique to

More than 40 artists are scheduled to appear at the 8th annual HOTC fest, which will kickoff Edmonton's bustling festival season BY EMIL TIEDEMANN What: Free music & arts festival When: Saturday, June 4 (11AM-8PM)-Sunday, June 5 (11AM-7PM) Where: Giovanni Caboto Park (corner of 108A Ave. & 95 St.) 8th annual HOTC Festival is June4-5 I T'S that time of year, when Edmonton becomes the place to be for festivals, as events overlap each other each and every day of the week. One of the first up for the season is the 8th annual Heart of The City Music & Arts Festival , which will take over Giovanni Caboto Park the first weekend of June. Oh, and it's FREE! Andrew Scott, Darryl Matthews, Julie Jonas, Colin Close, New Youth Edmonton, Jenie Thai , and The Magpies are amongst the Edmonton-affliated artists who will be showcased at the 2-day festival in Little Italy, joining other emerging and pro acts for original, live, and local entertainment. For the f

Juno-winning hip-hop elite Shad graces E-town, and graciously answers our questions about Canadian rap, kicking Drake's ass, and most importantly, his favourite beer! BY EMIL TIEDEMANN Juno-winning rapper Shad I WAS led into the back entryway of the Brixx Bar & Grill , past the secondary bathrooms, down a short hallway, through the kitchen, and then into the backest of back rooms. That's right, I said backest ! That's where I'd spend the next 10 minutes, asking Kenya-born, Ontario-raised, Vancouver-residing Rwandan rapper Shad (rhymes with 'Chad' FYI) some questions about his recent Juno win, his musical influences, and what his favourite beer is. Heineken, by the way. I was the last interviewer that Thursday ( May 5 ) night, so I could imagine Shad's anticipation to get this over with. But it was impossible to tell, as Shad patiently acknowledged each of my inquiries like a pro, making me feel like I was talking to a long-time buddy of mine

First-time director Chow breeds despair--and occasional diversion from it--in a movie most will never even hear of, let alone see BY EMIL TIEDEMANN 'The High Cost of Living' I 'D be the first to admit that it can be the most unlikely candidate who ends up your closest friend. But this casual testimony is an understatement--if there ever was one--when it comes to Deborah Chow 's indie drama The High Cost of Living , set in the winter of Montreal. Zach Braff ( Scrubs ) is Henry, an illegal dealer of legal narcotics sorting out his assorted life in Montreal-via-New York. Isabelle Blais ( Borderline ) is Nathalie, a nearly-due pregnant Francophone, half-ass complacent in her settled-for marriage to a man who spends more time absent than present. Their opposing worlds collide when Nathalie, standing in the night streets awaiting a taxi, is run down by Henry's car, one stockpiled with orders for his shady clientele. He panics and flees, anonymously calls an a