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First Thursday in the Cultural District
Venue / Location:
Various locations throughout the Cultural District, all but one within 3 blocks of the Calgary Tower
Ticket Price:
Various prices. Most events are free or discounted.
Event Description:
First Thursday is a "culture crawl" - the signature event of Calgary's Cultural District. Join us on the First Thursday of every month for a quirky assortment of art, music, theatre, food and street events. All but one of our special events are within a 3-block walk of the Calgary Tower this month, all on September 6th!
Throughout First Thursday: Downtown Calgary
Back to Style: Dress your best and be spotted by the Downtown Calgary street crew on First Thursday to instantly win!
Throughout First Thursday: EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts
+15 Soundscape: Multiambient by Tona Walt Ohama
A View through the Windows - Calgary artists and Canadian Bookbinders & Book Artists' Guild, Window Galleries
Dreams, Emotions and Life's Lessons - short films and videos on 3 monitors in the public corridors
EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, 205-8 Ave SE, free
10AM - 5PM: STEPHEN AVENUE WALK
Calgary Art Walk: show, sale and demos by Canadian Artists for the Poor along Stephen Avenue Walk
Stephen Avenue between 1st St SE and Centre St, free
10AM - 8PM: THE CELLAR FINE WINE, SPIRITS & ACCESSORIES
10% off a fabulous selection of wines and spirits (a few exceptions apply)
The Cellar, 137-8 Ave SE
11AM - 2AM: ORIGINAL JOE'S
50% off bottles of wine all day, $1 off wine by the glass, live music 5-9PM
109-8 Ave SW, no cover
4PM - 7PM: BLACK BETTY BURGER & WINE BAR
Happy Hour: $3 off all appies
Black Betty Burger & Wine Bar, 606-1 St SW, no cover
4PM - closing: PARKERHOUSE GRILL & WINE BAR
Parkerhouse Grill & Wine Bar, 131-6 Ave SW
4PM - 8PM: MUSEUM of CONTEMPORARY ART (formerly Triangle Gallery)
15 Restless Nights by Derek Besant: Opening + Reception
6pm Opening Remarks
Delicious food by MJ Fine Foods, cash bar with assorted wines from vine arts
MOCA-Calgary, 800-Macleod Tr SE (just S of the front doors of the Municipal Bldg), free
4PM - 9PM: UBU THEATRE LOUNGE
1/2 price sushi and Sapporo beer
UBU Lounge in The Grand Theatre, 608-1 St SW
5:30PM - 10PM: The AUBURN SALOON
Auburn Saloon, #163, 115-9 Ave SE (in the Tower building)
5PM - 8PM: EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts
Centre Court (upper level), The EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, 205-8 Ave SE, free
5PM – 8PM: ART CENTRAL
First Thursday at Art Central: enjoy openings and meet the artists at 3 floors of galleries, shops & studios including:
- The New Gallery: Talisman by Jay Mosher & Rory Middleton
- AXIS Gallery: Encounters & Disguises by Audrey Mabee
100-7th Ave SW, free
5PM - 9PM: ORIGINAL JOE'S
Live Music with the Good Ol' Boys (see drink specials in the 11am listing)
109-8th Ave SW, no cover
5:30PM - 7PM: CENTRAL LIBRARY
Strategic Networking
Central Library, 616-Macleod Tr SE, 3rd Floor Noth, free
6PM: THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
Free tour of the NMC's renowned collection of historic keyboard instruments with a performer tour guide
The National Music Centre, 134-11 Ave SE, free (limited spaces available, tour starts promptly at 6)
6PM - 7:45PM: CENTRAL LIBRARY DROP-INs
Career Coaching - one on one help!
Computer Technology Coaching - Internet & Microsoft Office
Central Library, 616-Macleod Tr SE, 3rd floor North, free
6PM - 10PM: NEW TO FIRST THURSDAY - The ESKER FOUNDATION (Art Gallery)
Opening Receptions: Landon Mackenzie's Nervous Centre and PROJECT 35
A bit outside the Cultural District, but a fabulous new addition to Calgary's art scene that we want you all to know about:
The Esker Foundation, 444, 1011-9th Ave SE, free
6:30PM: The ART GALLERY of CALGARY
Meet the Artists Soiree: Curator Anne Ewen in conversation with Fall 2012 Exhibiting Artists
The Art Gallery of Calgary, 117-8 Ave SW, free
6:30PM - 7:30PM: CENTRAL LIBRARY
First Thursday Story Circle by TALES (The Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling)
Central Library, 616 Macleod Tr SE, main lobby, free
8PM (doors at 7:30): The NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
NMC, 134-11 Ave SE, $10 at the door
10PM (doors at 9): THE PALOMINO SMOKE HOUSE & SOCIAL CLUB
Clinton St John, Baleen and Ram Hoss
The Palomino, 109-7 Ave SW, $8
10PM: UBU THEATRE LOUNGE
10 @ 10: a 100 minute hip-hop showcase of beats and rhymes
UBU Lounge in The Grand Theatre, 608-1 St SW, free
FIRST THURSDAYS are presented monthly by restaurants, galleries, theatres, attractions and shops in the Cultural District. For further information contact Meg at cd@culturaldistrict.ca, 403-464-2371.