Advertise | Sign Up

Good morning {{ first name}}!

Last week, we asked about your favourite way to experience live music, and intimate club and venue shows came out on top. One reader shared a favourite memory of a jazz club in Chicago. I had a similar night on a girls trip to New York, and honestly, it was a pretty perfect night.

A few of you also pointed out that we should add "all of the above" as an option — noted, and fair enough.

👀 In today's edition:

Get your story told! Promote your business, event, or restaurant in front of 30,000+ engaged locals! Contact our team today.

🌤️ Today: High 13C, Low 1C. See the 7-day forecast.

🚗 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation, and find the city’s traffic report and road closures.

⚠️ Here’s the current smoke forecast / check Calgary wildfire and fire restrictions and the Alberta Wildfire Dashboard.

QUICK POLL

For 35 years, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids has been quietly doing something remarkable: making sure thousands of Calgary children don't go through the school day hungry. This May, the organization is inviting the community to pay attention to why that work matters more than ever.

Food insecurity among Alberta children has risen more than 80 per cent over the past five years, including a 25 per cent jump from 2023 to 2024 alone. Nearly 2 in 5 children in the province were affected in 2024. Close to 8,000 Calgary kids receive a nutritious lunch through BB4CK's School Lunch Program every school day — and behind each of those lunches is a web of volunteers, donors, and community members who make it happen.

Brown Bagging It Month runs from May 4 to May 31, with BB4CK using the campaign to bring the conversation about food insecurity into the broader community through storytelling and public engagement. A pop-up display at The CORE Shopping Centre from May 11 to May 31 will give Calgarians a chance to learn more about the issue and what they can do.

This year, ARC Resources is matching donations up to $100,000 throughout May, meaning any contribution made this month has twice the impact. For a cause that's been feeding Calgary's kids for three and a half decades, that's a meaningful boost.

💔 A Calgary father has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after his five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter were found dead in a vehicle on April 30. He was taken into custody at the scene and later confessed.

🐴 Alberta's wild horse population has hit a record high of at least 2,072 animals, with the province calling levels in several zones unsustainable. A wild horse advocacy group is disputing the count.

🖥️ Residents of Olds are pushing back against a proposed data centre and natural gas plant near their homes, citing health and noise concerns. The project was initially rejected by the Alberta Utilities Commission, and a resubmission is pending.

💔 A young child was rushed to hospital in critical condition after a possible drowning at Mahogany Beach in southeast Calgary on Sunday evening.

🧑‍🍳 Tasty, Low Salt Cooking (Meal Ideas) May 20 - Learn how to cook delicious meals with less salt (Free ONLINE class from Registered Dieticians).*

🏡 These free starter guides are thoughtful resources created to help homeowners take the first steps toward downsizing with confidence and at their own pace.*

_{*Sponsored listing}

Starting May 6, seniors can visit Studio Bell for free every Wednesday through November 4 — a chance to explore one of Calgary's most distinctive cultural spaces and reconnect with the stories and soundtrack of their generation.

The program, called Forever Young: Seniors' Wednesdays, is part of the National Music Centre's broader commitment to using music as a tool for wellbeing. "Music has a powerful ability to bring people together and strengthen our sense of belonging," said NMC president and CEO Andrew Mosker. "Many seniors experience isolation, and creating welcoming spaces where they can gather is incredibly important. Through these free days, we hope to help seniors stay more connected to music, to community, and to each other."

Studio Bell has five floors of exhibitions to wander through, including a dedicated floor celebrating Canadian Music Hall of Famers — from Oscar Peterson to Nelly Furtado — with rare memorabilia and hands-on experiences throughout the building.

Beyond free admission, seniors can also drop in on free monthly programs on select Wednesdays, featuring jam-along workshops, drum circles, organ demonstrations, instrument petting zoo activities, and live performances.

🍴 National on 8th: With patio season approaching, National on 8th's rooftop — one of Western Canada's largest — is worth keeping on your radar for happy hour or a lazy weekend afternoon.

🍴 Super Variety: A sandwich shop with a menu that means business, from a loaded Big Mamma Muffaletta to a Katsu Burger with crispy chicken and creamy sesame dressing. Beer, wine, and cocktails too.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

🎟️ Better Together at New West Society: New West Society is putting on an evening of choral and orchestral music on May 9, blending gospel, classical, Broadway, and reimagined pop in what promises to be anything but a typical choir concert.

🎟️ Spruce Meadows May Classic: The first outdoor equestrian tournament of the season kicks off at Spruce Meadows from May 6-10, with show jumping competitions ranging from amateur to more advanced levels.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Thanks for reading today. If you found something interesting, please forward this email to another Calgarian and tell them to sign up!

And before you go, we’d love to know…

We’ll see you back here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, same time, same place!