I Heart Edmonton

A seemingly endless trail of local stand-ups braved the stage at the world-class Comic Strip for 'amateur' night BY EMIL TIEDEMANN ( WARNING : This post contains language and subject matter that some of you may find offensive, or just plain nasty, so please proceed with caution!) I NTIMATE lighting allowed a feeble sense of security when my friend Karen and I were seated at one of the benched tables of Rick Bronson's The Comic Strip , a "high-end" comedy club in the " Bourbon Street " region of West Edmonton Mall . Afterall, who wants to be picked on or solicited by some crude comics out to highlight your flaws for the sake of a laugh? Not me, which is why I also appreciated the safeguards of our back row seating arrangement. Now all I needed was some liquid courage, just in case I had to chit-chat with intrusive comedians about my "date" or what I do for a living, as they burrow through my stats until they found just the right joke at my expe...

Not for the weak or squeamish, local comics took turns offending everyone in their paths... wouldn't expect anything less! BY EMIL TIEDEMANN B EFORE you read on I must WARN you that I'm about to get all crude up in here! That's right, foul and lewd language will run amuck, so if you're the sensitive type you might want to skip this entry and come back tomorrow. Seriously, I'm gonna go George Carlin on your ass! But to be fair, it's only because I have to. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to properly tell you about last week's 'Fuck You Comedy Show' (Tuesday, June 1) at The Hydeaway (10209-100 Ave.). See, it's already begun! Like last Thursday's 'Pecha Kucha' event, this very different night out was a last minute decision. My good friend Karen and I made plans just hours prior to head downtown to the Hydeaway, the upper room of the Jekyll & Hyde Pub , to see our mutual friend Kelly Soloduka (pictured bottom left) headlin...