View this email in your browser

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM I TIKTOK  I PODCAST I STORE  

Pitches so good they write themselves . . . NOT!

Pardon the Borat reference, but I just want to welcome you back to another semester with Arts and Culture! We had our first pitch meeting of the semester this week and it was a blast! I introduced the section, there was some fun on Kahoot!, and as always, there was some great chat afterwards. If you weren't able to make it to the meeting, have no fear! There will be pitch meetings every Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. for the Winter semester, and afterwards I'll send out any remaining pitches in an email not unlike this one.Only one announcement this week so let's jump right in. In case you didn't know, our team got bigger! The Gateway hired three Deputy Line Editors over the break who are going to be helping out in Arts, News, and Opinion. Our Deputy Arts Editor's name is Mary and you might see her editing some of your articles or leading pitch meetings in the future, among other things. If you ever need to get in contact with Mary, feel free to send her a message on Slack.That's all for announcements, but hopefully you're all as pumped as I am about the new semester. The Gateway has a lot of exciting things planned this winter, and I hope to see as many of you in on them as possible!And now, as always, the recurring columns:

• The Hobby Hole: Tell us about any unique hobbies you have or give a fresh take on an old favourite. It could be a passion project or an activity you do when you want to lay back, unplug your brain, and watch the hours fly by.

• Paddling up the Livestream: Wax lyrical about your favourite livestreams, put us onto some hidden-away gems, or give your hot-takes on livestream culture!

• The First Time: Try something totally new and write about your experience. It could be a cuisine you’ve heard great things about, an unfamiliar type of music, or an activity you've never tried before. Tell us about it all from the POV of a complete novice.

• Dream Team: Write about your ultimate dream collab! It might be a Stephen King children’s books series or a Billie Eilish x Tyler, the Creator supergroup. Tell us what makes your dream team such a gamechanger.

• Off-Campus Gems: Tell us about a local gem in and around the University area. It could be a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, your favourite bar, or even your go-to convenience store. Celebrate all things U of A and Old Strathcona!

• Gateway to Gastronomy: Know any fun and easy to follow recipes? Share it in this recurring segment.

• Exploring Edmonton: Do you know any cool places around Edmonton that people should visit? Write about them in this new series!

• Lunch Break: An Arts & Culture series where we share fun recipes with humorous commentary. It's wholesome and lowkey, so check it out and send an installment over!

• Brew Crew/Vino Bitches: A fun, short review of your favourite (or not-so-favourite) beers, wines, or other alcoholic beverages of choice.

• Noodle Nation: Who loves noodles? You (might) love noodles! Write a column on your favourite noodles or noodle haunts.

• Pot Thots: Write about your favourite strains, equipment, dispensaries, and more in our column on the world of legal weed.

• Eating Edmonton: Write about your favourite (or not-so-favourite) local haunts in this miscellaneous foodie column. A great way to spotlight local restaurants in a time when they really need it!

• DatApp: Have an app that’s been a gamechanger? Wax eloquently about it (or a few of your favourites) in this column.

• Top 5: Top 5 streaming shows, places to cry in public, work-from-home tips...you name it, you can write a Top 5 on it!

• Diss Track: Are there 3-4 songs that grind your gears in the worst way possible? Diss the crap out of them in this column.

• Doin’ You: Everyone has something they do exceptionally well. Wanna teach others your wizardry? Walk us step-by-step through the process of a master for this column.

• Playlists: Have killer musical taste? Share it on The Gateway with a curated playlist.

• Retro on Retro: Is some classic piece of media on your mind? Reflect on it with the distance of time in this column. Discuss the qualities, staying power, and impact of your favourite old movie, video game, album, book, play, or whatever else!

• Double Take: Love spitting fire-hot takes on pop culture? You and a friend (or foe) can team up to write opposing takes on some piece of art/entertainment/media.

• ...AND MORE! I'm always open to any pitches you might have for me!

New podcast by YWCA Edmonton and ParityYEGSearching for Izena is a new podcast by YWCA Edmonton and ParityYEG that tells the untold stories of the women who have served as Edmonton City Councillors. The podcast get its name from Izena Ross, the first woman to sit on City Council and a trailblazer whose story has been largely lost to history. The podcast is set to debut on January 19, but in the meantime you can listen to the show trailer here. Let me know if you're interested in interviewing the team behind Searching for Izena!

Northern Light Theatre moves online!Due to Alberta's current COVID-19 case count, Edmonton's Northern Light Theatre has moved their upcoming production of Alexa Wyatt's The Look completely online. The Look follows an aged-out supermodel-turned-lecture who reminisces about her days as a covergirl while also being forced to confront her real self. The play will be streamed online from Jan. 22 - 24 and from Jan. 28 - 31. Let me know if you're interested in reviewing the play or interviewing the director and I can get you free media access!

Groundbreaking new book features queer FilipinX voicesHome is in the Body: 2SLGBTQIA+ PilipinX Femme, North of 49th Parallel is a new book by FilipinX artist, musician, and media creator jacqueline gallos aquines. The book features the voices of queer Pilipinx/Filipinx/Pinay(Filipina) who explore topics around community, identity, self, and love through essays, articles, poetry, and visual art. The book is also part of a larger project by aquines that will include a documentary. Let me know if you're interested in reviewing the book and/or interviewing aquines!

Public art in Churchill Square!Wildflowers by Sharon Rose Kootenay and Transformation by Kootenay and Jason Symington are two public art pieces on display in Churchill Square from now until January 21. Wildflowers is inspired by the lives of eight Metis women across various generations and recreates Metis beadwork from the 1800s. Transformation is a free-standing sculpture that's all about the changing seasons and what the future holds. These pieces would be great for a photostory, an interview with Kootenay, or even a personal reflection. Let me know if you're interested!