Grande Expectations: Love Lies Bleeding Opens

Elton John touched down in Alberta on Thursday night, though the man himself wasn’t there.

The occasion was the world premiere of Love Lies Bleeding, an Alberta Ballet production, based on Sir Elton’s music, that bends the rules of genre and gender.

The over-the-top costumes, pop music — to which the performers often lip-synched — and the sometimes over-used multi-media staging may have snubbed the traditional tutu crowd, but it certainly justified the budget. Artistic director Jean Grand-Maître’s ballet was expensive — over $1-million, in fact. The song and subject choices also had people wondering.

And now the question is: Was it worth the risk?

Elton: Behind the Scenes of the Ballet

Jean Grand-Maitre presents a complex, toe-tapping portrayal
of the legendary Sir Elton John

Half a dozen couples stand, stiff and silent as mannequins, on the hardwood floors of a large dance studio. They seem to be embracing; their faces close to each other as if whispering a secret.

The room is hushed as rollicking gin-house piano music fills the air. There is a clap, and a sharp voice begins to count, yelling: “One! Two! Three!” in time with the music’s beat. With each shout and clap, the dancers move swiftly into a tightly controlled pose of classical ballet: one woman is lifted high above her partner, another’s leg is resting above a shoulder, and another is angled away from her mate, tango-esque. The process is repeated; every clap of hands and shout reveals a new pose.

It is, purposefully, a tableau reminiscent of the opening scene in Bob Fosse’s Cabaret: mechanical and slightly disjointed, yet performed with the stunning agility and grace of highly trained dancers. There is something both beautiful and tragic in this sequence, like watching over and over the moment a carefree child is struck frozen by fear. And then, bizarrely, there is a man on roller-skates weaving his way between the partners. The music is almost deafening; familiar but new as well. Behind him struts a sinister, bowler-capped fellow, clicking his heels like a hedonistic jazzman. It is a captivating scene.

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Published in Avenue Magazine (Calgary & Edmonton editions) April 2010

Green Cities Prepare for Copenhagen: ICLEI in Edmonton

Big change starts small. That’s the idea, at least, behind the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), an organization made up of representatives from over one thousand municipalities around the world. Six hundred of them arrived in Edmonton recently for a multi-day conference on topics ranging from wastewater treatment to public engagement. Their mandate stems from a United Nations program called Agenda 21, adopted in Brazil at the 1992 Earth Summit and designed to allow participation by non-state actors in policies affecting the global environment.

In Edmonton, the purpose was clear: radical and rapid change is needed, they said, and local governments must push for it at December’s UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Yet creating and presenting a unified voice for local governments is not really what ICLEI does. Their mission is twofold: it acts as an association to share best practices, research, and support networks among sustainably-minded cities, and it organizes local programs and policies which feed into global climate goals.

So what can be achieved at a local level that will affect the big picture? For ICLEI president David Cadman, also the Deputy Mayor of Vancouver, the answer is varied. He points to Ontario’s recently adopted feed-in tariff which he claims will “stimulate you as the individual to put in solar panels, or a wind generator if you have a farm somewhere.” And the top-down incentives and responsibilities don’t stop there.

“We need to steward our fossil fuels - our oil, our gas, our coal - for a much longer time, because much of those resources are going to be key to this transformation,” he says, “The absolute key, though, is moving toward energy efficiency.”

ICLEI has a vociferous advocate for local governments in Mr. Cadman. Major emissions come from cities, he reasons, and cities are growing rapidly. This is where the big changes will occur; must occur.

Cadman will be roaming the hallways at the Copenhagen conference, just as he has done at the previous climate change summits in Bali and Poland. Their presence represents millions of citizens worldwide, he says, naming the organizations with which ICLEI is working, including United Cities and Local Governments, Canadian Federation of Municipalities, C-40 (an association of the world’s largest cities chaired by Mayor David Miller of Toronto), and the World Mayors Council. The top-down policies Cadman advocates on a local level will be the same he proposes from the ground up in Copenhagen, where ICLEI will mingle with global heads of state and federal ministers.

“ICELI has been following the negotiations on a post-Kyoto agreement,” Cadman says, “What we’re trying to do is have local governments working closely with national governments. We’re all on the same page. We know what we want - a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050”

The conference began at 9:00 am each day with keynote speakers (including Toronto’s Adam Fenech of Environment Canada, Mathis Wackernagel of California’s Global Footprint Network, and Alex Wong of the Davos World Economic Forum global industries sector) and wrapped up around 7:00 pm in break-away sessions for mayors, CEOs, and city staffers. There were multiple social functions as well, including a reception at city hall hosted by Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel, and a dinner and dance at Fort Edmonton. A concurrent conference for academic researchers took place, also in the Shaw Convention Centre, and attracted well-known authors Dr. Mark Roseland of Vancouver, Dr. Peter Newman of Perth, Australia, and Dr. Yvonne Rydin of London, England, among others.
Published in National Post, August 8 2009

Insider's Guide to Canada: Prairie Power Couple

Flanked by the Rocky Mountains, the corridor between Edmonton and Calgary is known as The Western Tiger, an area lush with ranchlands, dramatic skyscapes, and frequent petroleum tanks symbolic of the region’s booming economic growth. A scenic drive, maybe, but for Ann Lewis-Luppino and husband Tony Luppino it’s the three hour commute they face on a weekly basis. And they know all its secrets.

“But you must go into the mountains,” Ann says breathlessly, “We love to visit Banff and Jasper - there’s no place like it in the world.”

“And Dirt Willy’s,” Tony adds wryly, “About forty kilometers outside Edmonton you drive off the highway onto a dirt road and stay in your car - this is important - stay in your car and honk the horn. I guess it’s because of the dogs. Then Dirt Willy comes out, and the dogs become quite friendly, and you can buy all kinds of fowl right from his farm; pheasants, quails, turkey, whatever you like. He’ll clean and dress it for you, and there you go - you’ve bought your bird right from Dirt Willy!”

Shopping for dinner at Dirt Willy Game Bird Farm and Hatchery is all part of the weekend routine, along with hiking in neighbouring Elk Island National Park where bison, moose and other wildlife roam freely. Closer to home - well, one of their homes - in Edmonton, the couple tred lightly down the stairs of their condominium, across the bridge, and into the River Valley parklands where a vast open space and hundreds of riverside trails allow their pet dog Cara to wander happily off-leash. The area encompasses twenty-two parks along with major attractions like the Muttart Conservatory, four unforgettable glass pyramids housing an impressive range of international plant-life, and Edmonton’s Valley Zoo. It’s a spot to spend 3 hours or an entire Saturday, they say. In the evening, when there is no festival or holiday to keep them from a romantic, firework-gazing rooftop picnic, they head to the Fairmont MacDonald Hotel (Jasper Avenue and 100th Street) for a comfortable but upscale meal on the garden patio.

Both Ann, president of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tony, former executive director of the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, have busy schedules during the week, filled with visiting artists, black tie functions, gallery openings, and concerts, all on top of regular day-to-day office work in their separate cities. Newly married, they were introduced by Edmonton’s Mayor Stephen Mandel years ago when Ann worked for the Alberta Ballet, travelling between the two cities solo. Now, they are each comfortable in either space and their favorite spots in both towns have merged into one giant ball of enthusiasm for the province.

In Calgary, Ann prepares for each season with a trip to Ooh La La clothing boutique (1575 7th Street SW), a hidden gem located close to both the bustling 17th Avenue district and the quiet, tree-lined streets of Mount Royal, the city’s wealthiest neighbourhood. Chris Wells, owner of Ooh La La, is a close friend and trusted advisor.

“Chris is the best person to dress someone,” Ann explains, “Because if something doesn’t look good on you she’ll say ‘Take that off!’” She holds up a Moschino jacket, made of gold silk and a few ruffles, while the woman in question frowns.

“It matches your dress perfectly,” Chris says thoughtfully, “But I’m not sure about the colour for you.” Her expert eyes scan the store, taking in the numerous items she’s freshly picked off the runways of Milan and New York. Many of them have not even been priced for retail sale yet. Chris picks up a cream coloured skirt with a Kandinsky-esque pattern of orange circles and the two confer quietly. They’ve agreed. It’s perfect for the office and a concert, says Ann.

When not shopping, working, or attending concerts and galas, Ann frequently plays hostess to guest musicians from around the world. She eats with them at Teatro Restaurant, Catch Restaurant and Oyster Bar, and Centini Restaurant and Lounge, all located within a block of the CPO’s concert space and on the cusp of Stephen Avenue, a pedestrian-friendly walkway of shops and eateries. She takes them to see the finest in local galleries at Trepanier Baer and Doug Udell. And finally, she advises them to tuck in at the trendy Hotel Arts, the popular Hyatt Regency, or the historic, luxurious Fairmont Palliser Hotel.

One her favorite places to eat in Calgary is The Living Room, where contemporary fusion cuisine is served in a sleek-but-cozy environment. The restaurant is located along 17th Avenue, just a few blocks south of the downtown core, and therefore saved for more intimate occasions with girlfriends, family guests, or rare ‘he and she’ time when Tony is in the city.

Back in Edmonton, Tony also has two routines: one solo and one reserved for couple/weekend time. A collector of rare books and lover of all things literary, he can spend hours alone in the Rutherford and Bruce Peel Special Collections Libraries at the University of Alberta (112th Street NW and 89th Avenue NW, near University Station), reading art magazines and touring the old book collections. Appetite whetted he often strolls to Audrey’s Bookstore (Jasper Avenue and 107th Avenue) where knowledgeable staff can find anything you’re looking for and authors frequently pop in for a public reading. He eats lunch at Zenari’s on First (10117 101 Street NW), where the quick, casual service and perfect paninis and pasta (“I’m fussy about pasta,” he says firmly, “And theirs is good.”) satisfy the lone traveler. Professional and personal interest alike propels him again and again to his favorite galleries: Bear Claw Gallery for contemporary Aboriginal art (10403 124th Street), Peter Robertson Gallery (10183 112 street), and Agnes Bugera Gallery (12310 Jasper Avenue), also home to a collection of Canadian contemporary works. These are just a few of the attractions available to those in Edmonton’s “gallery district” (www.124stbrz.com) along 124th Street in the heart of the downtown core.

In the evenings, Tony seeks out excellent wine lists and comfortable atmosphere. “The one thing that drives me crazy about Edmonton is how early all of the restaurants close,” he says incredulously, “The city still needs to develop those places for grown-ups who want to stay out after 11:00 pm. People over 30, over 40, over 50 do stay out that late, you know.”

There are a couple of restaurants that suffice, he admits. The Hat Resto-Pub offers gourmet burgers and a good selection of scotch, beer, and other libations, and is open from lunch time to late night snack time. Originally a greasy spoon, this chic newly renovated eatery was opened in 1912 as The Silk Hat making it the oldest pub in the city. Other favorites are: The Hardware Grill, Sorrentino’s Restaurant for its extraordinarily friendly staff, extensive wine list and fine Italian cuisine, Wildflower Grill because “they do that high cuisine fusion thing exactly right” and boasts a sommelier who can match any meal with a perfect, inexpensive wine, and Tony’s Pizza Palace - a place “in the middle of nowhere, but with the only truly New York style pizza in Edmonton” he says … and it’s open until midnight on Fridays.

Since resigning from the Art Gallery of Alberta on May 27, Tony is in full-out moving mode, saying goodbye to his favorite haunts and trying to bring as much of them as he can to his new home with Ann in Calgary. Together they are regulars at Tu Gallery (10718 - 124 Street), filled with one-of-a-kind furniture and sculptures, and Dwell Modern Furnishings (10549 124 Street), where much of the Italian high design lighting has become a part of their décor.

Whether in Calgary or Edmonton, the Luppinos like to eat well, often hosting dinner parties that run much later than most restaurants are open. They’ve just discovered a fabulous place for local produce and fine Canadian cheeses at Blush Lane Organic Market, just off 17th Ave and 85th St SW in Calgary. While Mercato Gourmet Foods will usually provide anything else they need, Tony admits he’s going to miss his go-to markets in Edmonton.

The Italian Centre Shop on 95th Street in Edmonton is the only place to buy fresh produce he says. “It doesn’t look perfect, but when you roast those peppers or eat those fresh tomatoes, the taste is incredible.” Loyal to the original location in Little Italy, Tony says the new store on 104a Street is also charming, and is home to a tempting bakery. “Everything is fresh,” he says, “Fresh when it’s in season in Italy, I mean, that’s when they bring it over to Alberta. The fruits, vegetable, salamis … I don’t even know how to say it in English. It’s the Italian way.”

As the warmth of the summer months begin to soothe their hectic schedules, the power couple look forward to more time outside, and together. The Calgary Folk Festival in Prince’s Island Park July 23-26 is high on Ann’s list, along with the Calgary Jazz Festival, which begins this week.

Meanwhile, their careers are always on the radar. A mere month ago Ann and Tony hosted the Mountains, Music & Masterpieces weekend at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Forty of their fellow art and music lovers gathered for seminars on Beethoven and the Group of Seven between indulgent, beautiful meals overlooking the spectacular emerald waters. Their restless minds have already begun planning the next event, perhaps to be held in the autumn, perhaps with a literary theme. Until then, their enthusiasm for arts and culture continue to reign in the heart of the city.

Published in National Post, June 20 2009

Fiesta and WineFest bring in spring

It may leave like a lamb, but winter in Calgary is still roaring like a lion… or maybe a couple dozen pussy cats. That was the feeling, anyway, at last week’s Mexican fiesta-style fundraiser at the Wallace Galleries which raised money for P.E.A.C.E. (Protection & Education for Animals, Culture & Environment), a non-profit organization dedicated to decreasing the unwanted pet population in Mexico. PEACE also provides work skills and education to underprivileged families in and around Puerto Vallarta.

Dozens of people braved the icy weather for a little taste of the sunny south, and a big dose of reality. Colette Hubner organized the event around her family's pet project, after years of helping to spay and neuter animals around her family’s vacation home. Through a few degrees of separation, her family met Molly Fisher, the president of PEACE and began working with her to bring veterinarians, supplies, and money into the region. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, she says.

Chef Klaus Hubner and friends provided an authentic Mexican feast, with healthy helpings of guacamole, tostadas de polo, ensalada de jimaca, tomates y cebollas y queso fresco, paella, mouthwatering pork tenderloin and a spicy shrimp dish. Little children gleefully crowded around the gallery’s main entrance while a piñata was beaten, spewing treats and toys onto the pavement below. Their noises of delight blended into the chatter and laughter of almost a hundred adults, many holding mini-margaritas and swaying in time to music piped through the sound system.

On the walls of the bright, open space gallery were silent auction items ranging from a set of organic, freshwater pearls from Lotus Lines to a care package for pets, massage certificates, and dinner for two at Divino. Local artists, some friends of gallery owner Heidi Hubner (mother of Colette and wife of Doug), were in attendance to watch as their work was auctioned off for the charity. Julie Meisser’s handcrafted glass bead bracelet fetched a handsome price, as did a painting by Bill Duma. Liberal MLA Kent Hehr was also present and spoke briefly before the live auction began.
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Things were also heating up in Edmonton recently, when a large crowd gathered for WineFest at the Shaw Conference Centre. A complementary Riedel wine glass was handed out to guests who then had the opportunity to taste at least 45 different wines. Hors d’oeuvres and a wide variety of cheeses were also offered.

Votes were collected for the “people’s choice” award, which unanimously claimed a 2007 Kung Fu Girl Riesling the winner for white at both the Calgary and Edmonton events, and the 2004 Reserve Vinoce Cabernet Sauvignon Edmonton’s favorite red wine.

Guests included: Brian Heck, president of Wine Runners Inc, Katherine Fischgrund, principal interior designer for Urban Design Interiors, Dean Wulf, managing partner for Avison Young, Shanna Dorsch, vp of operations for Solutions Workplace Furnishings, Christine Iverson of RBC, Luisa Montgomery of Primerica, Dale Orvis of Charton Hobbs, Erin Honeyman of the RCMP, and detective Patrick Tracy of the Edmonton Police.

Published in National Post, March 28 2009

Edmonton ad. community celebrates their best

Creative juices flowed through the troubled waters of an economic downturn last week at the 30th Annual Advertising Club of Edmonton (ACE) Awards gala. Industry professionals unabashedly celebrated success and promoted their clients.

“Our advertising community proves time and time again that it has the chops to ‘tell’ and ‘sell’ in engaging ways – to help mitigate business challenges,” Dennis Lenarduzzi of RED - The Agency, said.

Although libations flowed freely at the welcome reception, at least two party-goers were moderate in their approach. Tracy Hyatt and Jennifer Windsor spent the last month abiding by the Canada Food Guide on a budget of just $80 for the entire four weeks; a project they called the “working poor diet.” It was their first meal since taking up the challenge. Eyes slightly glazed, with a tired smile, Hyatt can only say “I’m starving” and that she’s more than ready for the three course dinner that awaits them. It’s “a bitter-sweet ending” to their crusade, Windsor writes on their blog. Their aim was to publicize the links between poverty and nutrition.

Happily, a nutritious and delicious feast was in the cards. Southwestern beef tenderloin was the meal’s crowning jewel, with a trio of lemon blackberry cake, hazelnut chocolate pate and vanilla bean ice cream with blackberry coulis for desert. Dave Babcock and the ACE Orchestra provided after-dinner entertainment. Beth McIntyre, a founding member of the Advertising Club of Edmonton, was honoured.

Awards were also handed out for excellence in all things ad-related, from copywriting to art direction to guerilla marketing. Freckle Creative earned a nod for its work on the Lakeland Credit Union annual report, which was themed “rooted and reaching” and featured a mosaic of fall inspired colours in botanic shapes throughout the document. Calder Bateman Communications brought home a whopping seventeen awards, including ‘best newspaper campaign’ and ‘corporate identity’. The ‘best in show’ award, however, went to DDB Canada for its work on the Rexall Edmonton Indy.

Party guest Rob Jennings admits that he probably chose “the most inauspicious moments in recent history” to start his business, Starburst Advertising, but the risk has paid off. “Conventional wisdom says that organizations tend to cut marketing budgets when times are tough,” he says, “That may be the case, but I have also found that some organizations are taking advantage of the economic climate to make a strong grab at mind or market share from their competitors. Edmonton is also a government town and governments have communications needs, such as public awareness or social marketing campaigns, that don't go away just because the economy is temporarily slowing. My business is doing very well, and when we make it through the economic downturn I will be very well positioned.”

Local actor Chris Craddock hosted 500 guests, including: Jim Smith, producer with Image West Films, Terry Cowan, director of advertising for the Brick Group, John Windwick, VP marketing for ATB Financial, Ania Smith, marketing director of Axial Corporation, Kristin Gibson, senior designer at Woodward Design, Mieke Higham of the Edmonton Arts Council, and sound designer Brad Belcher.

Published in National Post, March 14 2009