Green Drinks: Hidden Gems is a feast for the mind, senses and community. Come join us on Wednesday, May 6, at the Yellowhead Brewery for our final Green Drinks of the season! Read on to discover who will be joining us this year to highlight Edmonton’s incredible businesses and happenings.
As this is a special night we will have two featured speakers discussing #yeghiddengems – what makes the city unique!
Gillian Thomson founded The Noteworthy, a website which introduces readers to interesting people, the places they go and the things they love. It’s a collection of their favourite places to eat, drink, shop and play in Edmonton. She said she believes Edmonton is full of fascinating people who are surprisingly accessible and happy to share their story. The blog introduces readers to someone new every week and highlights noteworthy places and things along the way.
Shayne Woodsmith is the founder of Faces of Edmonton. As he walks around Edmonton, he snaps photographs of people and places when they catch his eye. When an individual says yes, the camera gets to know them. What they say, what they do while saying it, where they are, what they were doing before the photo and after, these things appear in the caption, picking up where the photo left off, capturing the faces of Edmonton, and telling their stories.
We’ll also have the following featured guests highlighting an interesting and perhaps unexpected array of local hidden gems:
Devonian Botanic Garden Shelaine Sparrow
The University of Alberta Devonian Botanic Garden is a stunning 240-acre property located 15 minutes southwest of Edmonton, with cultivated gardens and plant collections, indoor showhouses, and an extensive nature trail system. Highlights of the garden, which was established in 1959, include the beautiful Kurimoto Japanese Garden, a tropical showhouse with exotic butterflies, temperate and arid showhouses, alpine, herb, rose, peony, lilac and lily collections, Native Peoples Garden, trial beds and much more. The garden is an award-winning visitor attraction, a research site, and home to year-round adult and children’s education programming. Open to visitors May 1 through Thanksgiving.
Table Top Cafe: Brian Flowers
Table Top Café is a trendy alternative to current coffee shops as well as a unique way for people to spend their leisure time. It has all the regular trappings of a café with a wide selection of board games to play. The store is a comfortable place where people can meet with friends, play a game, share a drink and connect face to face.
On the Spot Pop Up: Marissa Loewen & Jasmin Smith
When one door closes, they open it again with a pop up! Retail shops, art installations, fundraisers — On the Spot Pop Ups are bringing dynamic experiences to neighborhoods all over Edmonton. You may have seen them bringing fantastic local artisans to unique spaces such as Latitude 53 and the Mercer Warehouse — they’ve sought out and found lots of our hidden gems, and are a pop-up gem themselves!
Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society Leslie Bush
EBC is a non-profit society supporting cycling in Edmonton. Learn how to fix your bike and ride in traffic. Buy a refurbished bike, or donate a disused one. Meet other cyclists, and advocate for a bike-friendly city.
The Secret Garden Patio @ The Dish Bistro Carole Amerongen
The Dish Bistro is located on 124 St and Stony Plain Road. The menu is described as gourmet comfort food and has been featured on You Gotta Eat Here as well as Avenue Edmonton magazine. Specifically the hidden gem here is the summer secret garden patio. Nestled away around the west side of the building is the entrance; follow the paving stones for a cozy patio complete with excellent eats. Did we mention they’re also a catering company? Yum!
RhynoPack Jared Zamzow
Rhynopack is a uniquely Albertan product. It started out as a school project. A summertime hobby. They brought friends together, and helped them stay connected. And from these humble roots, they’ve grown into the brand they are today. Rhynopack was built for people like you, like your parents, your grandparents. Rhynopack was built to keep your phone charged, your tablet and GoPro. For people on the go who need to stay connected, Rhynopack delivers the freedom to power your world. Quit chasing an outlet and get back to living.