wine tastings happenings and events
Friday, November 6, is J-Dag, the Danish holiday celebrating the release of Christmas beer). Celebrate at Three Vikings Pub, where they will be tapping the casks of both Longroof’s Julbryg (Christmas beer) and Trial & Ales’ spontaneously fermented version at 11:30am. Along with the beers, expect Danish-inspired dishes and a fantastic band from 8pm. Wear your blue Santa hat and let’s get the season started, threevikings.ca.
124 Street’s All is Bright Light-up Festival is 4pm-8pm on Saturday, November 14. Enjoy community magic—street performers, food vendors and Christmas lights to inspire the holiday spirt. Sample Fox Burger’s festive specials or visit Woodshed’s food truck. Heart of the Home offers hot choc and cookies until 6pm, 124street.ca.
Enjoy Wintervale, 104 Street’s Winter Festival, Saturday, November 21, from the Birdog patio with a dedicated taco cart, Mexican hot chocolate, churros, local craft beers, and live sets from two guest DJs, birdogyeg.com.
YEG Xmas Market at Fort Edmonton Park is happening Friday, November 27-Sunday, December 20. Warm up at the Three Vikings booth with delicious hot chocolate, mulled hot apple cider and other treats, yegxmasmarket.com.
The Great Canadian Christmas Pour at City Cellars (10505 123 Street) is from 2pm-6pm Saturday, December 5. Enjoy Canadian wine, beer, spirits and liqueurs from seven featured vendors — ending on a cozy pour of Port. Visit www.citycellarsedmonton.com for all the deets.
Three Vikings is having a chill neighborhood party on NYE, with no cover, a band and bubbles at midnight. Reservations are always welcome, but if you want to stay fluid, you could try for a walk-in, threevikings.ca.
restaurant buzz
Lots of chef moves: Chef Jason Greene (Kitchen Party 2026 silver medallist) has left Braven. He will be the new exec chef at Royal Mayfair Golf Club. Joseph Vuong, Café Bicyclette’s former exec chef, is now at the new Valleyview 19. Chef Brad Lazarenko is the new exec at Bicyclette. Congrats chefs and good luck!
St Laurent, (4721 50th Avenue, Leduc, 587-858-4335, www.saintlaurent.ca) the Leduc homage to iconic foods of Montreal (smoked meat, poutine) opens November 7. That’s all we know so far, but are prepared to be very full.
product news
Love vintage? Check out Side Street Vintage (4722 51 Avenue, Leduc, sidestreetvintage.ca) for some very cool vintage barware and holiday items, open 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday.
Bella Casa’s (9646 142 Street, 780-437-4190) Christmas Open House is November 12-14; call for a November 13 Knife Sharpening appointment. The Black Friday Sale is from November 27-30 and 12 Days of Christmas starts on December 7. So many kitchen tools, gadgets and housewares at great prices. Check it out! Bella Casa will be open Sundays from November 19.
BreadLove artisan bakehouse and bread school just celebrated seven years in business, and the bijou coffee shop tucked in the back, Little Darling, is two. Congratulations! If you haven’t visited these two sparkling St. Albert businesses, it’s time to get yourself down to St Michael Street, breadlove.ca.
Did you know that Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters (11322 119 Street, roguewavecoffee.ca) sources and roasts delicious specialty coffee from around the world? They also offer seasonal drinks such as a pumpkin spiced latte (with real pumpkin purée) a Biscoff cookie matcha latte and creamy, warming chai. Plus fast free local delivery on online orders $45 and over—perfect for last-minute shopping.
Sign up for Prairie Gardens’ Christmas Willow Weaving Workshop on Sunday, November 15 to make a lovely spiral Christmas porch tree using wild willow. Check the website for Christmas party bookings, long table dinners and the new Prairie Christmas & Winter Wonderland, featuring fresh holiday greenery, winter gift baskets, preserves, seasonal farm-made treats and new artisan products from local makers, Fridays-Sundays, prairiegardens.org.
Intercity Packers (intercitypackers.ca) has a new Fall & Winter Meat & Seafood Product Guide chock full of holiday party and seasonal menu ideas. Call 780-477-7254 to learn more.
Heart of the Home’s What’s Cooking Wednesdays are the first Wednesday of every month (November 4 and December 2) with 20 per cent off your purchases. November 27 is the Black Friday Sale with 25 per cent off Le Creuset, Wüsthof knives and Emile Henry. November 28 is Small Business Saturday, spend $100 and receive a $20 gift card. The Christmas Open House is December 5, 6 with 15 per cent off—use code Festive15 online. The 12 Days of Christmas run December 12-23! And check out the beautiful themed gift baskets to make gift giving easier.
