🗝️SUNDAY SNEAK PEEK - Mar 16, 2025

Your key to Calgary's headliners, hot spots, & hidden gems.

Author

Sarah Hovind
March 16, 2025

Hi friends,

This week I ended up doing some fun random things. I went to music bingo at Skunkworks Distillery (very fun and good cocktails), I also went to Pure Saigonese (new tasty Vietnamese restaurant i enjoyed), and I went to 8 Cakes to try their take on the viral dubai chocolate and pistachio strawberries (if you haven’t tried their pistachio knafeh products, they will change your LIFE!).

Kelsey went to LaunchPad golf and Baden did a 12 hour Lord of The Rings movie marathon. (I talk about Kelsey and Baden often, if you don’t know, Kelsey helps me out with making videos for YYC Sociables and Baden helps out with finding local events to share and website updates. I couldn’t manage this all without them!)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day (tomorrow!)

p.s. One of the main indicators of email health is called “open rate.” Basically it’s the percentage of people who receive your email who actually open it. We went from 59% open rate to 58% open rate last week. Let’s see if we can up the open rate back to 59% on this email! (You count cuz you opened this email!)

(1) HEADLINERS THIS WEEK

A curated list of the best fun events! Get out of your house and do one (or more!) of these fun events happening this week!

Monday

Tuesday

  • 🎤 TINA TURNER MUSICAL: On only for a short time at the Jubilee catch this musical Tues-Sun

  • 👻 BLITHE SPIRIT: This supernatural comedy at Theatre Calgary features the ghost of the main character’s previous wife who haunts his new marriage. March 18-April 13.

  • 🗼 802 CHALLENGE: Climb the steps of the Calgary tower! It only $10 and you get to see the guts of the tower. Take a cool pic at the top.

Wednesday

  • 🍽️ FOOD FESTIVAL: YYC Food and Drink Experience goes until the end of the month

Thursday

  • 💃 TEQUILA & SWING DANCE: This month’s “Tequila & ____” at the Westley is tequila and swing dance.

  • 🌭 HOT DOGS & HOT TAKES: If you like heated topics and hot dogs, this event talking about museums and oppressive systems is just for you.

  • 🎵 HEART: Heart plays at the Saddledome.

  • 🏓 PING PONG FOR A PURPOSE: The 7th annual ping pong tournament and silent auction is on at Brix and Barrell. Buy a ticket, play some games and support the Calgary Food Bank!

Friday

  • 🍷 GRAPE ESCAPE: Calgary’s largest wine, spirits and beer tasting event! On both Friday & Saturday. This is always a fun time! Tix are $70 but include all your samples.

  • 🏆 GOLD MEDAL DINNER: Chef Rahil won gold in a Culinary Olympics competition in Germany in 2024 and he is remaking the 6 course dinner at the Wilde this Friday. Wow! This would be a treat! Tickets are $225 each.

  • 🎵 WALK RIGHT BACK: See this concert-based musical at the Grey Eagle that tells the story of the Everly Brothers.

Saturday

  • ⛳ PGA OF ALBERTA GOLF SHOW: Catch this annual show at the BMO Centre this weekend Saturday and Sunday

  • 🌏 EARTH HOUR: Don’t forget to turn your lights off this Saturday from 8:30pm-9:30pm. This is your chance to take a second to pause and think about your energy use.

  • 🪄 WONDERIST: Chris Funk an optical illusion magician will be at Telus Spark Science Centre this weekend only (both Sat & Sun). Tickets are $20 on top of your science centre admission.

Sunday

  • 🌾 THE BARN ARTISAN MARKET: Shop local vendors at the historic Shawnessy Barn.

  • 💐 SPRING FESTIVAL: The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is throwing a Spring Festival with family friendly activities, dragon dance, free popcorn and a lucky draw. Free entry!

(2) JUST ANNOUNCED

Extra extra! Read all about it. Here’s what was announced over the last week. Be caught up with Calgary’s coolest news in under 1 minute.

Jimmy Fallon Reaction GIF

  • 📣 WANDA SYKES COMING TO CALGARY: Tickets just went on sale for comedian Wanda Sykes coming to the Jubilee Sat Sept 27.

  • 📣 CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • 📣 CHIPOTLE COMING TO 17TH: People lost their minds when Chipotle opened in Calgary, I still haven’t tried it though! I wonder if it is as good as they say (I have my doubts). The newest location to open up is much closer to me, it’ll be on 17th ave. (Not sure how long we’ll have to wait though)

  • 📣 NEW VIETNAMESE PLACE OPEN: Just opened in Marda Loop is Pure Saigonese Kitchen. It’s modern Asian, plus they have an AYCE wing night starting soon on Wednesdays.

  • 📣 UPSCALE PUB JOINS BRIDGELAND: Where there used to be a mexican place on that one corner (it didn’t make it), it’s now what appears to be an upscale pub called Union Social Room.

  • 📣 YOUR FACE IN A MURAL: Calgary artist Alex Kwong is looking for people with a meaningful connection to the Bow or Elbow River to be featured in a series of large portraits by the river. Apply here!

  • 📣 DOG JOG: The Calgary Humane Society Annual Dog Jog is back! On May 31 they’ll hold a family friendly and dog friendly non-competitive walk or jog fundraiser. They hope to raise $205,000 to help local animals.

  • 📣 FANCY WINE TASTING: Stampede Cellar Uncorked is back for what I think is their second year. It’s a fancy all-included wine tasting event held by the people at Stampede. General admission is $150 and VIP tix are $290. There is food included in this as well. If I had a corporate card I would take clients here.

  • 📣 SUM 41 TO JOIN CANADA MUSIC HALL OF FAME: Studio Bell National Music Centre is launching a new exhibition dedicated to Sum 41 as they accept their invitation into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. See the exhibit March 26 to Feb 2026.

  • 📣 CELEBRITIES: John Boyega (best known from Star Wars) and Nicholas Hoult (best known for Superman, Nosferatu and X-Men) to appear at Calgary Expo.

  • 📣 ICE CREAM MAKING: The ice cream making workshops are back at Made by Marcus. And they’ve now introduced Fri and Sat date night sessions. I’ve done this before and it’s fun and delicious! Basically you stir in your toppings of choice and go home with 2 pints.

  • 📣 LOBSTER BOIL: Rodney’s Alexander Keith’s Lobster Boil is back on May 29th. For $99 you get a pint of Keith’s, an atlantic lobster, corn on the cob, potato salad, and key lime pie.

  • 📣 NEW DATES FOR MURDER AT THE PARK: Heritage Park has added some new dates to their Murder at the Park dinner series. $120 for dinner and a murder mystery!

(3) ICYMI: THE ‘GRAM IN REVIEW

In case you missed it, here are some of the highlights from our Instagram this week.

Lwt Lesbians Who Tech GIF by LWTSQUAD

BONUS! EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT CODES

  • 💸 FREE MONEY: Get $10 to $100 in free gift cards when you purchase a $50 gift card at The Core on St. Patrick’s Day. Plus a free treat bag! Good luck!

  • 💸 20% OFF VR EXPERIENCE: The Horizon of Khufu: A Journey to Ancient Egypt at Chinook Centre! Get 20% off with code KhufuSARAH20 (extended to April 9)

  • 💸 39% OFF INDOOR GOLF: Get 2 hours of indoor golf for 4 people for $49 (reg $80). This is at Wizgolf in Okotoks.

  • 💸 80% OFF FRESH PREP: Get up to 80% off Fresh Prep meal making kits (new customers only) Use code INFSOCIABLE80

  • Want to add a discount code from your business? Let me know!

Are you excited for something this week?! Tell me more!

I'll feature one in my next newsletter

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Last week a reader said they’re excited for the Honky Tonk Market coming up this Saturday! Great pick! Keep these coming!

How soon I should launch the special edition paid tier of this newsletter? (or maybe I should never do it 🤷). If it’s something you’re really wanting I can bump it up on the ol’ project list.

Now you don’t know what this “extra bonus” newsletter would look like, but use your imagination, 😅 it would be similar content, but you’d get an additional issue each week, probably on Thursdays. It would feature more food content, weekend events, and a few other fun segments.

(Just a reminder, this is an additional edition, and does not affect this Sunday edition, except to support it and keep it alive).

Would you sign up for a paid newsletter tier that gets you an extra issue each week ($5 monthly)

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That’s it for this week my friends! Also, I know it doesn’t feel like it today, but Thursday is the first day of Spring! 🌷 Hooray!! WE SURVIVED WINTER

I’ll see you next Sunday around 6pm! 👋

Cheers!

Sarah

p.s. here’s the weird event of the week! 🤪

WEIRD: Welcome Polar Fest 2025! The community event where you jump into the Bow River for a spring cold plunge experience! Includes optional journaling and yoga session. All free! Join in this Saturday.

(not the actual event, just a random pic i found online)

🫥 Full Transparency:  Sometimes I include events within this newsletter that have paid for sponsored posts on my social media. Some links may be affiliate (rarely, but sometimes). Or I may refer to a media event or gifted food.

⚠Accuracy: I do this newsletter alone and inevitably it will feature a typo or two (or I might have got my details mixed up, I am just a frequently hungover person after all). Furthermore, event details can change at the organizer’s whim, please double check before you head out anywhere. That said, I think this is 99.9% accurate! I try my best!

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