CF Pirate Party Fundraiser.

This year, the batshit crazy party is being held at the Artery. The max capacity is a little less so, for God's sake, get there early. There are also going to be some surprise guests that are not included on the poster for political reasons, so ask around. This is going to be the kickoff party of the summer like WHOA.

May really is the greatest month for us.

Ingenius.

The Last Hurrah.

So, our friend Marko has sold his beloved pub. We have been frequentling that little place every week, sometimes four times a week, for years. Greg has been going there since his first year of college. Greg and I met there. Our first date was there. We would joke about getting married there. So many of our friends met each other there, including couples like Boyle and Lindsay. Our friends Ritchie and Tiffany got engaged there. Greg's birthday and CF fundraiser pirate party was there. Every year. So many of our friends are in bands that started playing at the Crown. There was never a time that we weren't welcome there. In pajamas, in bad moods, broke, exhausted, in sickness, in health. It was our place. It was a lot of people's "our place."

We got a chance for one last hurrah on Sunday during a friend's fundraiser in memory of his father. And it was everything we wanted it to be.

Vangie and her sexy ass.

Karly is the greatest thing and pulls off a denim vest like whoa.

The pub, complete with Angelica and her sass.

Angelica and her beau.

Marko and Doreen.

Who's the guy on the left? I can't remember. Fred and Marko, making shit happen.

Fred went all out this year, and he hit his $5000 goal. So fantastic.

Vangie. Making metal out of me.

Marko. Confused by my camera case that looks like a bible.

Feeling the love.

Who is the new waitress again? Anyway, she is beautiful and good to us.

"How do you not love these sexy faces?", featuring Lindsay & Greg.

Speaking of sexy, well played Chad.

Tyler and a pretty lady I am unaware of.

Tyler has the kind of smile that makes everything okay.

The classic Chris Boyle, Lindsay, and Greg who is making a weird face.

Rebecca and I, but this time I was taking the pictures. And that is why they are so shitty.

Lindsay #17. There are so many Lindsays but this one is one of the sweetest.

Chad, being coy.

I don't recall this photo, nor do I know what the hell is happening.

I can only assume Rush was playing.

Bros.

Such a pretty shot of Lindsay.

I had such a good night.

Free Elliott, one last show.

Mark and Bobby and Philip, and a steaming pile of rock & roll.

Philip on drums.

Bobby, making bass & bartending look easy.

The back office and show posters... some of which was Greg's best work.

Cean and the boys, making the best fucking wings in the city.

Philip and I, being adorable.

Mark and I, being menacing.

Mark and I , trying again.

Philip does more for this city's local art scene than anyone I know.
Keep your eyes on the Artery.

The boys and Ajay- one of the best huggers.

We were there from 5pm until 1 in the morning. And we left too soon.

Now we wait. Wait to see what the new owners will do to the place. Wait until Kelly's opens up again in April. Wait to bump into so many people from the Crown that we never seemed to see anywhere else. Thanks again, Marko.

Cue Toby Keith's "I love this bar."

Well, it's a good thing people are drawing attention to breast cancer.

Amnesty International's 50 year history.

2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Amnesty International, which began with one person and an idea -- to protect the basic dignity and human rights of those imprisoned for their beliefs.

Slave Lake Fires Destroy 50% of Town. City in State of Emergency. UPDATES

“Ten minutes in the town and it was black," said volunteer firefighter Wayne Bacon. "You couldn’t see. People were going out of town like crazy. All four highways were closed. Finally they let us all get out."

"The town is gone," one woman sobbed. "There's nothing left. There's places where there should have been houses, and they're gone. We lost everything."

If anyone is able to help, here are some ways to do so:

TWITTER: Check the hashtags "#slavelakefires", "#slavelakefire", "#slavelake" and "#Wildfire". People are checking in to ask for assistance and offer help every minute.  Many have already found places to stay, families willing to allow their yards to be camping areas, and many many mothers parting with children's items for the misplaced families. And don't forget the Edmonton hashtag "#yeg".
FACEBOOK: Slave Lake and Community Message Board is connecting people through Facebook.  People are suggesting items the residents may need, offering places to stay, and alerting people as to what items they are willing to donate (baby clothes, food, blankets, etc.)
ALBERTA WILDFIRES LIVE is a live blog that is updating the situation in real time.
RED CROSS ALBERTA is taking donations via Twitter as well as their website for Slave Lake disaster relief. Their phone number is 1-800-418-1111.
FOR INFORMATION ON LOVED ONES call 1-800-565-4483.
WILDFIRE ROAD CLOSURE HOTLINE: 780-644-5653.
EDMONTON EMERGENCY RELIEF accepting slavelake donations starting at 10AM at 10255 104 Street. Unopened toiletries, clean bedding/towels.

If you have friends or family in Slave Lake who were medical patients - Call Alberta Health Service at 1-866-301-2668 to locate them.



http://watch.ctv.ca/clip467801#clip467801

Thanks for reading.

UPDATES:

- Athabasca shelter full.  All asked to head to Edmonton.
- town office, provincial building, Sawridge Mall, RMS School, Catholic church, Radio 97, Scope Newspaper, possibly SL Ford... ALL GONE.  12:06pm
- Mayor confirms hospital and school still standing, though damaged
- CTV Reporter Sean Amato also believes that the Sawridge Hotel and the college are also untouched
- Wildfire information officer also says they are expecting additional wildfires to be ignited due to lightning
- Stretches of following hwys closed: 2 east and west of slavelake, 88 north of slave, 750 from hwy 679-hwy 88
- AB Sustainable Resource and Development says 39 of the 116 wildfires currently burning in AB are burning out of control
- SOUTH OF THE HIGHWAY IS UNTOUCHED.
- All are being asked to go to the EXPO CENTRE in Edmonton.  There is food, water, cots, and counseling.  12:35pm
- If you need to direct someone to important numbers for Slave Lake, the site is: http://proudtobealberta.ca/2011/05/slave-lake-fire/
- Aerial view of Slave Lake:

http://twitpic.com/4yjozw/full

 

- Edmonton Humane Society is setting up emergency animal housing this afternoon @ edmonton expo centre thanks to northlands.
- FACEBOOK PAGE UPDATED WITH THE MOST URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115084005244550
 - Video of Slave Lake:



- Friend just tweeted "About 28 kms from #SlaveLake and just spotting the first plumes of smoke.."
- A Provincial emergency hotline has been set up: call 780-310-4455
- Water bombers and helicopters fly over #slavelake - smoke still billowing from almost every angle...
- Stelmach to arrive in Slave Lake within the hour
- Downtown core still appears to be intact near college at #slavelake
- Stelmach arrives in Slave Lake 1:41pm:

- Mayor of Slave Lake: http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/index.html?releasePID=CVfZceIQ9vnfjkILlRLzgBIQaHMHyywK
- 9 Street and 7 Avenue in #SlaveLake - Not much left of this neighbourhood:

- Apparently, the legion hall in Westlock is FULL and not taking any more donations at this time.

- AHS has issued an air quality advisory for Northern Alberta due to numerous wildfires
- Website created to help those misplaced by the terrible fires: http://www.rebuildslavelake.com/
- All banks safe. Rumour that Bank of Nova Scotia burned down unfounded. No banks lost.
- Now they are saying only 30% of town destroyed; better than the 50% they had estimated earlier.
- Slave Lake is low on gas and parts have been without power.
- There are now unconfirmed reports of looting in the area.
- Around 70 firefighters from the Edmonton area as well as 200 from B.C. and Ontario are expected to help fight the wind-whipped wildfires over the next few days.
- MAP OF ALBERTA WILDFIRES:
http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/story.html?id=4792284
- Slave Lake Fire and Aftermath, pictures from a Facebook page dedicated to cause:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150599730975527.674018.539910526