AMA Insider Winter 2016 | Page 61

Hockey and lasers: together at last band: Levi Manchak; SanTa: inhauScreaTive/iSTock; coffee: huberT kang/TraveL aLberTa Rocking the Big Winter Classic blahs during the Big Winter Classic. The second annual festival hosts dozens of indie acts at downtown Calgary venues. Don’t forget to raise a glass while you rock out: Local craft brewers will be tapping their best casks, and some have even partnered with headlining musicians on special collaborative beers. in Santa?” show is preceded by a buffet or plated dinner with live music at a converted historic general store. Nov. 11-Dec. 23 rosebudtheatre.com Collected Works Making art is a social affair at the Drawing Bar, the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery’s monthly meetup of enthusiast January 19-21 “Merry Christmas, pencil pushers. bigwinterclassic.com Rosebud!” The event welcomes drawers of all abilities; hone ARTS your sketching skills while viewing the current exhiSt. Nick on Stage bition and downing drinks Rosebud, Alberta is home from the cash bar. The to fewer than 100 residents, school’s 50th anniversary— but its reputation as an arts upcoming in 2017—is the incubator attracts many focus of this season’s sesthousands more guests. The sions, though artists are hamlet’s chief attraction is encouraged to colour outside its Rosebud Theatre, which the lines. Basic materials are this season presents the provided, but choosier guests Christmas classic, Miracle can bring their own media. on 34th Street. Performed at Rosebud’s intimate Opera Nov. 24, Dec. 8, Jan. 26, House, the “Do you believe Feb. 27; uleth.ca/artgallery DIVERSIONS Skates and Lasers Add a tactical element to your ice time by booking a hockey-based laser tag session with Adventure Tag. The Calgary company brings its arsenal to your rink of choice, sets up a variety of obstacles and splits your squad for team-oriented challenges—from Capture the Flag to sniper-style games—that put your skating and shooting the test. Hockey gear is required, but no previous laser-tag experience is necessary. adventuretag.ca EATING & DRINKING Warm Welcome Medicine Hat residents are definitely a well-caffeinated bunch. Locals boast that the city of 63,000 has the most coffee shops per capita in Alberta. Among the many notable javasipping joints are Madhatter Coffee Roastery, which micro-roasts its own internationally sourced beans, and airy Inspire Café, where lattes are served alongside local art. Or book a four-stop Progressive Café Tour for an in-depth look at The Hat’s vibrant coffee culture. mhcoffeetour.com Madhatter Coffee Roastery ETC. Meet and Greet Derived from French and British courtly traditions, New Year’s Day levees allow us to get reacquainted with government—and celebrate the new year—in a casual setting. Alberta’s Lieutenant-Governor, Lois Mitchell, receives guests at Government House in Edmonton, while Medicine Hat residents can visit their City Hall for tea and snacks with mayor Ted Clugston. Jan. 1 AMA inSider WinTer 2016 61