Venue / Location:
Various locations throughout the Cultural District, all within 3 blocks of the Calgary Tower
Ticket Price:
Various prices. Many events are free or discounted.
Event Description:
First Thursday is a "culture crawl" - the signature event of Calgary's Cultural District. All events are within a 3-block walk of the Tower, all on May 3rd! Join us on the First Thursday of every month for a quirky assortment of art, music, theatre, food and street events!
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 - 5PM: TRUCK GALLERY
The Slight Return by Jennifer Cherniack (Montreal) and David LaRiviere (Saskatoon)
TRUCK Gallery, lower level, 815-1 St SW (Grain Exchange Bldg), free
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
12:10PM - 1PM: THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
The National Music Centre, 134-11 Ave SE, free
12:10PM: LUNCHBOX THEATRE
Dad's Piano, a world premiere musical drama by Dave Kelly
The TransCanada Stage at Lunchbox Theatre, 160, 115-9 Ave SE, $20 adults, $17 students/seniors
1PM - 3:30PM: CENTRAL LIBRARY
Thursday Afternoon at the Movies: Stepmom
Central Library, John Dutton Theatre (2nd floor, Dutton Theatre), free
4PM - closing: PARKERHOUSE GRILL & WINE BAR
6 Ave SW, no cover
4:30PM - 1AM (or so): UBU LOUNGE, BLACK BETTY, UBU Asian Bistro and THEATRE JUNCTION
Black Betty Burger & Winebar, UBU Lounge, UBU Asian Bistro, 606, 608 and 610 1 St SW, free5PM: MUSEUM of
5PM - 6PM: The AUBURN SALOON
APPY HOUR 50% off appies if you mention First Thursday
Auburn Saloon, #163, 115-9 Ave SE (in the Tower building)
5PM - 8PM: ENDEAVOR ARTS
The Collaborative Spectrum, opening reception - artists in attendance
Endeavor Arts, #200, 1209-1 St SW, free
5PM - 8PM: EPCOR CENTRE for the PERFORMING ARTS
Artist Reception - meet the artists whose work is currently on view 6am-midnight
205-8 Ave SE, Ledge Gallery (up the stairs from Centre Court to the +15), free:
- Fun & Fanciful: Window Galleries
- The Uses of Enchantment by Erin Belanger, Ledge Gallery
- Mortality, Memory & History - 3 films (Gallery of Media Arts on monitors in the public corridors)
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
5PM – 9PM: ART CENTRAL
First Thursday at Art Central: Live music, exhibition openings, art demonstrations, meet the artists and much more!
100-7th Ave SW, free:
- This Is My City Festival Finale, live music, wall mural painting in the alley behind Art Central, ++
- The New Gallery: Monsantra by Wendy Deschene and Jeff Schmuki, upper level
- Axis Gallery: The Art of Leonard Cohen, (yep that Leonard Cohen!), Axis now located on the UPPER LEVEL
- artsASTRAY: Diane Langlois painting demonstrations and penguin painting,
- Studio C: Art Recruits, a mixed media collaboration, lower level
- and of course, many more events at the 50+ galleries, studios and shops in Art Central
5:30PM - 7PM: EPCOR CENTRE for the PERFORMING ARTS
yycARTS CoLAB: your opportunity to be creative and collaborate with artists!
EPCOR CENTRE's Arts Learning Centre, Centre Court, 205-8 Ave SE, free
5:30PM on: Presented by the Downtown Calgary Association and Mercury Opera
ALLEY OOP Sneak Preview! Watch for strolling opera singers who will be performing opera in the alley May 4th
Surprise locations throughout the Cultural District (check this site for more information coming soon)
5:30PM - 8PM: MUSEUM of CONTEMPORARY ART - CALGARY (MOCA)
SILVER: 25 Years of Children's Art - Opening talks at 5:30pm, Jeffrey Spalding's Talk & Tour at 6:15pm & 7:30pm
#104, 800 Macleod Tr SE, free admission, (gallery open from 4pm, free)
6PM: THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE (formerly Cantos)
Free tour of the NMC's renowned collection to the theme of Elton John's Rocketman!
The National Music Foundation, 134-11 Ave SE, free
6:30PM - 7:30PM: CENTRAL LIBRARY (last minute addition!)
Story Circle by TALES (The Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling)
Calgary Public Library, Central Branch, 616 Macleod Tr SE, main lobby
7:30PM: ALBERTA THEATRE PROJECTS
Playing with Fire, The Theo Fleury Story (audience warnings)
Pizza with Vee - pizza and a chat about the show at 6:30pm, free with ticket
Martha Cohen Theatre, EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, 205-8 Ave SE, Rush Seating (all available seats) $27 at 7:10, students $20 at 6:30, advance tix $35-65.
7:30PM: THEATRE CALGARY
Cats - the first made-in-Alberta production of the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical
Max Bell Theatre, EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, corner 9th Ave and Macleod Tr SE, $35 and up
8PM (doors open 7:30PM): THE NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE (formerly Cantos)
The National Music Centre, 134-11 Ave SE, advance tix $15, new fans two for one advance tix only (403-285-2848) plus children free with adult, limited tix available at the door $20
8PM: THEATRE JUNCTION
We're Gonna Die by Young Jean Lee (New York) (music/theatre) - part of the 1st Street BLOCK PARTY
Theatre Junction GRAND, 608-1 St SW, $28-35
8 - 10PM: THE PALOMINO SMOKE HOUSE & SOCIAL CLUB
The Smokin' 45s and Pernell Reichert and the Hard Drinkers
9PM: BEAT NIQ JAZZ & SOCIAL CLUB
The Gunn Blues Band featuring vocalist Corrine Bushmeyer'
811-1 St SW, lower level, tickets $15 at the door, $10 if you mention First Thursday!
9PM: AUBURN SALOON
Latin Night - DJ and dancing
9th Ave SE just E of the Calgary Tower, no cover if you mention First Thursday
10PM: UBU LOUNGE, BLACK BETTY, UBU Asian Bistro
The FIRST STREET BLOCK PARTY continues with 10 @ 10 at UBU Lounge and live music at all venues
1/2 price Sapporro beer
Black Betty Burger & Winebar, UBU Lounge, UBU Asian Bistro, 606, 608 and 610 1 St SW, free
